Fruit and vegetable prices are surging in South Korea after a severe heat wave followed by torrential rains damaged vast swathes of farmland. About 77 square miles of farmland have been flooded, and more than 561,000 livestock animals were killed, according to the agriculture ministry.

In response, the ROK agriculture ministry has designated a number of agricultural and livestock products for discounts in a bid to stabilize prices following the monsoon rainfall. Discounts of up to 30% will apply for lettuce, spinach and chicken at discount chains and traditional markets. The government plans to address a chicken supply shortage by importing more breeding stock. Furthermore, it aims to import its full quota of 30,000 tons under the allocation tariff by August. The ministry is also planning to release 10,000 tons of napa cabbage and 6,000 tons of radish from the state reserves.