The volume of genetically modified organisms (GMO) imported into Korea last year edged down from the previous year. However, imports for food use increased, and the total import value fell for the third straight year.
According to the "2025 key statistics on genetically modified organisms" released on the 7th by the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB) BioSafety Information Center, total GMO imports for food and feed use reached 10,891,000 tons last year. That was slightly down from 10,922,000 tons the year before.
Import value has steadily declined over the past three years. It fell from $3.427 billion in 2023 to $3.0 billion in 2024 and $2.885 billion in 2025. The center cited falling prices of feed-use GMO corn as the reason for the downward trend.
By use, feed-use GMOs accounted for most of the total import volume. Last year's feed-use imports were 9,229,000 tons, or 84.7% of the total. In particular, feed-use GMO corn came to 9,105,000 tons, effectively driving the overall volume.
By contrast, imports of GMOs for food use increased. Last year's food-use GMO imports were 1,662,000 tons, up 197,000 tons from 1,465,000 tons a year earlier. By item, food-use GMO soybeans were 850,000 tons, and food-use GMO corn was 812,000 tons.
By country, the share of U.S. products expanded significantly. Based on approved import volumes, the United States accounted for 8,590,000 tons, or 78.9% of the total, followed by Argentina with 1,209,000 tons (11.1%) and Brazil with 1,030,000 tons (9.5%).
In particular, imports from the United States jumped by 5,426,000 tons from 3,164,000 tons the previous year, sharply boosting its market share. The increase is analyzed as U.S. products replacing reduced volumes from Brazil and Argentina.
The BioSafety Information Center also released findings from a domestic public perception survey on GMOs. In a survey of 800 adults ages 19 to 64, 71.3% said genetic modification technology benefits humanity. That was slightly higher than 70.3% in 2024.
As reasons for positive views, treatment of intractable diseases and cancer (64.2%) and solving food shortages (54.7%) were mainly cited. The center said the focus of negative perceptions has been shifting from past concerns about human safety toward impacts on ecosystems.
Willingness to purchase food showed differences by item. Relatively familiar plant-based crops such as tomatoes (35.4%) and soybeans (32.0%) saw higher acceptance, while animal-based foods such as sea bream (17.5%) and salmon (23.9%) showed greater psychological resistance.
Meanwhile, the BioSafety Information Center collects, analyzes, and releases annual statistics on cross-border movements of GMOs, research and development, and risk assessments.