Gyeongbuk Assemblyman Choi Taerim: "Farmers Producing 60% of Nation's Apples in Crisis as Abnormal Climate Devastates Crops"

Include Disaster Compensation and Expand Purchasing
Calls for Concrete Support Measures

Choi Taerim, a member of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Council (People Power Party, Uiseong 1), issued a statement at the Gyeongbuk Provincial Council on November 4, urging immediate and substantial support measures for apple farmers affected by heat damage. He called for the unprecedented heat damage caused by abnormal climate conditions to be recognized as a "climate disaster" and demanded prompt action to support the affected farms.

In the statement, Assemblyman Choi emphasized, "Due to persistent high temperatures and abnormal weather conditions continuing from last year into this year, severe heat damage has occurred, particularly affecting the major apple varieties in Gyeongbuk, causing significant hardships for farmers' livelihoods. Since Gyeongbuk accounts for more than 60% of the nation's apple production, the damage here directly translates into a crisis for the entire national fruit industry."

Choi Taerim, Gyeongbuk Provincial Assembly Member

In particular, Assemblyman Choi pointed out the shortcomings of the current crop disaster insurance system, stating, "Since heat damage is classified as a 'physiological disorder,' it is excluded from compensation, leaving farmers to bear the full brunt of losses caused by climate change. The system, which should serve as the last line of support for farms, is turning a blind eye to reality."

Assemblyman Choi called on the central government and Gyeongsangbuk-do to immediately implement measures such as including heat damage in the crop disaster insurance coverage, expanding support for purchasing apples for processing, and strengthening support for the expansion of agricultural infrastructure to respond to high temperatures.

He stressed, "Farmers should no longer be unilateral victims of the climate crisis," and urged, "Gyeongbuk Province and the central government must take responsible action and devise effective and fundamental countermeasures so that farmers can recover."