According data of last year's farm and fishery household economy released by the Ministry of Data and Statistics on Friday, average annual farm income climbed 8.0 percent from a year earlier to 54.67 million won — the highest level since the ministry began compiling the data.
Agricultural income alone surged 22.3 percent to 11.71 million won, powered by an 8.3 percent jump in gross farm receipts that outpaced a 3.4 percent rise in operating costs. Livestock revenue soared 28.5 percent, while crop revenue edged up 1.1 percent.
"Farm receipts had temporarily contracted in 2024 due to falling rice and livestock prices, but prices rebounded last year and pushed receipts back into growth," said the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, adding that firmer prices for certain fruit crops also lifted the headline figure.
Transfer income, which includes government subsidies, rose 9.1 percent to a record 19.89 million won on the back of higher direct payments to farmers and an increase in the maximum monthly basic pension to 342,510 won.
By farming type, livestock households led the gains with income jumping 64.0 percent to 88.39 million won, followed by fruit growers and rice farmers, while vegetable producers saw a 3.2 percent decline.
Fishery households, by contrast, posted average income of 58.98 million won, down 7.3 percent from a year earlier as what the ministry explained as base effect from 2024's record seaweed prices unwound and abalone prices weakened. Fishery income tumbled 31.6 percent to 19.06 million won, with aquaculture revenue plunging 26.3 percent even as catch-based revenue rose 9.0 percent.
Average farm household assets reached 662.85 million won at the end of 2025, up 7.6 percent, while debt rose 6.0 percent to 47.71 million won, reflecting increased borrowing tied to smart farm investments and policy-loan deferrals for disaster-hit producers.
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