Last year, the amount of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) imported into the country was recorded at 10.92 million tons.
The Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology's Bio-Safety Information Center released data on 'Key Statistics of Genetically Modified Organisms for 2024' on the 2nd. The Bio-Safety Information Center publicly discloses key statistics on genetically modified organisms annually in accordance with the law concerning the transboundary movement of genetically modified organisms.
In 2024, the amount of food and feed genetically modified organisms imported into the country reached 10.92 million tons, a 6.2% increase from the previous year. The researchers analyzed that this was due to continuous stable imports from major trading partners such as Brazil, Argentina, and the United States, despite concerns over disruptions in grain supply caused by the conflict in Eastern Europe.
Although import volumes increased, the import value actually decreased. The total import amount was about $3 billion (approximately 4.4 trillion won), marking a decline of more than 20% compared to 2022 ($4.26 billion) and recording a downturn for three consecutive years. This is believed to be mainly due to the drop in international prices for feed-grade genetically modified corn.
By usage, feed accounted for 87% (9.457 million tons), while food accounted for 13% (1.465 million tons). By crop, corn accounted for 90.4%, totaling 9.875 million tons, followed by soybeans (907,000 tons) and cotton (140,000 tons).
By country of import, Brazil was the largest at 3.741 million tons (34.3%), followed by Argentina (3.199 million tons, 29.3%) and the United States (3.164 million tons, 29%). Notably, the import share of U.S. GMOs surged from 12% the previous year to 29% this year, significantly expanding the market share of U.S. agricultural products in the domestic market.
Kim Ki-cheol, head of the Bio-Safety Information Center, noted, "The import volume of genetically modified agricultural products in the country has maintained a certain level since the COVID-19 pandemic, and in terms of value, it is continuously decreasing due to the global decline in grain prices," adding, "We plan to continue various activities to provide the latest information related to domestic and international genetically modified organisms and to help the public understand these issues."