What are the South Korean farmers suing KEPCO for?

The South Korean farmers are suing KEPCO, the state utility company, for its reliance on coal and fossil fuels, which they allege has accelerated climate change and damaged their crops.

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South Korean Farmers Sue Power Company Over Climate Change Damage

Q: How has the changing climate impacted Hwang Seong-yeol's rice farm?

Hwang Seong-yeol, a South Korean rice farmer, has experienced a remarkably rainy autumn, a bitterly cold spring that stunted plant growth, summer floods, and a fungal disease outbreak, all of which have led to a 20-25% decline in his rice yields this year.

Q: How is climate change affecting other South Korean farmers?

Apple farmer Ma Yong-un is using more pesticides to combat pests and diseases thriving in the prolonged heat and humidity, while tangerine, strawberry, and other farmers are struggling to devise ways to survive the increasingly erratic weather patterns.

14 Nov

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Summary

Farmers sue state utility over fossil fuel emissions and climate change
Extreme weather events like heavy rains and heat waves destroy crops
Yields down 20-25% as farmers struggle to adapt to changing climate

South Korean Farmers Sue Power Company Over Climate Change Damage

As of November 14th, 2025, South Korean rice farmers are taking legal action against the state utility KEPCO, claiming its heavy use of coal and fossil fuels has exacerbated climate change and severely damaged their crops. Hwang Seong-yeol, a farmer of three decades, says this has been one of his toughest seasons, with a remarkably rainy autumn followed by a bitterly cold spring that stunted plant growth. Summer floods and a fungal disease outbreak during the wet autumn have further decimated his yields, which he expects to be 20-25% below normal.

Farmers across the country are struggling to adapt to the increasingly erratic weather patterns. Apple grower Ma Yong-un is using more pesticides to combat pests and diseases thriving in the prolonged heat and humidity, while tangerine, strawberry, and other farmers are devising ways to survive. The lawsuit, the first of its kind in South Korea, seeks to hold KEPCO accountable for its outsized role in driving climate change and the resulting agricultural losses.