Kwon Hyukyeol of Gangwon Provincial Council Urges Urgent Comprehensive Climate Change Response from Agricultural Research and Extension Services

Climate Change Response Projects and Training Decline, Specialty Crop Profits Also Drop
"Insufficient Preparation for Climate Disasters... Proactive Efforts Needed to Discover Specialty Crops"

Kwon Hyukyeol, Gangwon Provincial Council Member. Provided by Gangwon Provincial Council

Kwon Hyukyeol, a member of the Gangwon Provincial Council's Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Committee, strongly urged the Agricultural Research and Extension Services to establish comprehensive countermeasures against climate change during the administrative audit of the Agricultural Research and Extension Services held at the 342nd regular session on November 12, 2025.

According to materials submitted to Assemblyman Kwon by Gangwon Province, the number of climate change-related technology dissemination projects at the Agricultural Research and Extension Services decreased from 35 projects (covering 230 hectares) in 2023 to 33 projects (covering 173 hectares) as of 2025, representing a reduction of approximately 25%.

In addition, the number of technology dissemination training programs for farmers also declined by about 200 cases (approximately 20%), from 1,005 cases in 2023 to 804 cases as of September 2025.

Assemblyman Kwon pointed out, "The damage from the climate crisis is becoming more severe every year, with events such as droughts in Gangneung, autumn rainy seasons, and outbreaks of pests and diseases, yet the scale of related projects is actually shrinking." He also noted, "The number of regional specialty crops and varieties has remained stagnant for several years, showing no increase."

He continued, "Countermeasures for climate disasters are insufficient, and the discovery of specialized and revitalizing crops to respond to climate change is progressing slowly." He emphasized, "The Agricultural Research and Extension Services must make every effort to formulate effective strategies to address climate change."

In fact, it was found that profits from most key specialty crops, except for corn, have decreased. Rice revenue dropped by about 80%, from 22.8 billion won in 2023 to 7 billion won this year, while soybean revenue fell by 33%, from 10.3 billion won to 7 billion won.