[INTERVIEW] Agriculture: Unsung hero of Korea’s economic miracle

Lee Joo-ryang, senior researcher on the Science and Expertise Coverage Institute / Courtesy of Lee

It’s well-known that Korea achieved the „Miracle on the Han River“ by means of fast industrialization. Nevertheless, few are conscious that this financial success wouldn’t have been doable with out the numerous development in agriculture.

„Whereas it isn’t well known domestically, Korea stands as the one nation to have achieved unparalleled compressed development in agriculture,“ Lee Joo-ryang, senior researcher on the Science and Expertise Coverage Institute, stated in a current cellphone interview with The Korea Instances. „Inside simply 70 years, Korean agriculture managed to succeed in productiveness ranges that took superior nations centuries to realize.“

Trying again to the Fifties and Sixties, flour and powdered milk provided by the U.S. had been staples for the general public. Addressing the meals scarcity was the federal government’s high precedence. Even the hierarchy of presidency ministries mirrored this urgency, with the agricultural ministry ranked just under the presidential workplace and protection ministry.

The expansion of agriculture, pursued alongside five-year financial growth plans, generated buying energy and helped facilitate the transition of the workforce from rural areas to city facilities.

Due to this, Koreans now devour extra, pay much less and supply their meals from extra distant areas than ever earlier than. Nevertheless, this has led to an sudden consequence: many individuals right now lack fundamental data about agriculture.

Elementary college college students take part in a conventional rice planting expertise in a discipline close to Yangjae Stream in southern Seoul, Might 2024. Korea Instances file

„Agriculture means meals. But many individuals do not know the way meals finally ends up on their desk or how rural and concrete areas coexist, largely as a result of agriculture isn’t taught in colleges,“ Lee stated.

Lee has been devoted to tackling what he refers to as „agricultural illiteracy.“

Not too long ago, he printed a e-book titled „The Untold Story of Actual Agricultural Economics“ (direct translation) to assist bridge the hole between the general public and the sector. As well as, Lee works as a mediator between Korea’s scientific and agricultural sectors, bridging coverage gaps and making certain the efficient use of funds invested in agricultural R&D.

Additionally a rice grower himself, Lee says probably the most rewarding moments are these spent with farmers within the discipline. „A coverage researcher who has visited the sphere 99 occasions is totally different from one who has visited it 100 occasions,“ he stated.

However why is it so vital to study agriculture in a rustic the place 9 out of 10 individuals dwell in city areas?

It is because agriculture serves as each an trade and a foundational pillar of the nation, in response to Lee. Whereas the commercial facets of agriculture might be defined by means of financial logic, its position as a pillar of nationwide stability falls throughout the area of coverage and requires collective public consensus.

Guests go searching a sensible farm exhibition at COEX in southern Seoul, November 2024. Yonhap

By totally using Korea’s 1.5 million hectares of farmland, 25 % of home manufacturing might be achieved. Which means Korea should import 75 % of its agricultural merchandise.

„Simply as no nation outsources its nationwide protection, public security or schooling completely based mostly on financial effectivity, there isn’t a nation on this planet that totally outsources its agriculture to different nations,“ Lee stated. „The extra individuals acquire an correct understanding of agriculture, probably the most sturdy and significant agreements might be reached (in supporting the sector).“

But, changing into a sophisticated agricultural nation isn’t about incomes important earnings by means of manufacturing itself, Lee added. Such a construction, he stated, is typical of growing nations.

As a substitute, in city Korea, agriculture ought to play a task just like that of defenders in a soccer sport — safeguarding and supporting offensive industries to allow them to generate higher earnings.

„We confer with specifics like semiconductors, vehicles or shipbuilding (in manufacturing industries). This needs to be the identical in agriculture. Rice is distinct from soybeans, wheat differs, livestock operates on completely separate methods and out of doors crops and floriculture are vastly totally different as nicely. But, we simplify all of it beneath the umbrella of agriculture,“ Lee stated.

„Whereas it could be not possible for everybody to completely perceive its huge complexity, scale and depth, I hope that at the very least its underlying philosophy might be shared and appreciated. That is step one towards changing into a sophisticated agricultural nation.“