Rice consumption falls further in South Korea as dietary shift continues

서울의 한 대형마트에 쌀이 진열돼 있다.[사진=연합뉴스]

SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - South Korea’s per-capita rice consumption declined again last year, extending a decades-long slide as household eating habits continue to shift, government data showed on Thursday.

According to the National Data Center’s survey results, annual per-capita grain consumption in the household sector fell 3 percent from a year earlier to 62.5 kilograms. Rice consumption accounted for 53.9 kilograms, down 3.4 percent, or 1.9 kilograms, from the previous year.

Annual per-capita rice consumption is now about half of the 106.5 kilograms recorded in 1995 and has been on a steady downward trend since 1981. Average daily rice consumption also declined, falling 5.2 grams from a year earlier to 147.7 grams.

In contrast, rice use in the business sector rose, driven by demand from food manufacturers. Rice used as an ingredient in food and beverage production increased 6.7 percent to 932,102 tons.

Within that total, rice consumption by food manufacturers climbed 12.6 percent, while usage in beverage manufacturing declined 5.2 percent.

By industry, rice cake manufacturers accounted for the largest share of business-sector rice consumption at 28.3 percent, followed by distilled alcohol producers at 23.2 percent and makers of other processed and ready-to-eat foods at 16.6 percent.

* This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP.
Park Ki-rock 기자 kirock@ajunews.com

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