South Korea reports 4 outbreaks of ASF in Jan, impact on domestic pork minimal so far

South Korea reported four new outbreaks of African swine fever (ASF) in January, a significant increase compared to the six cases reported for all of 2025, according to the ASF Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on Jan. 27.

The first 2026 case was detected on Jan. 17 at a pig farm in Gangneung, Gangwon Province. Over the next ten days, three more farms tested positive, and the fourth case was confirmed on Jan. 27, according to multiple local news outlets.

Outbreaks of African Swine Fever are occurring at alarmingly short intervals—often just one or two days apart—and are quickly spreading to the country's main pork-producing regions, a trend that has raised serious concerns among South Korea-based market participants.

A South Korean seller said that the virus seems to be spreading along highways rather than through mountains and wild animals. With Lunar New Year rapidly approaching, the expected increase in seasonal migration is likely to worsen the situation, helping the virus spread further during this period, the seller said.

The short gaps between ASF outbreaks are truly concerning, but the situation needs close monitoring because it is still too early to determine the full impact, a South Korean buyer said. So far, the damage from the outbreak is less than 1% of South Korea's annual hog slaughter, so the overall effect remains limited.

A South Korean trader expressed a similar view, noting that the outbreak has had little effect on the domestic market. He also mentioned that the number of culled pigs is much lower than in previous ASF outbreaks.

Another South Korean trader noted that the current ASF situation might help absorb the large influx of pork products expected to arrive later this year. The increase in pork volumes is driven by strong demand for competitively priced Spanish pork and the recent reopening of German pork imports into South Korea at the end of 2025.

Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, assessed CFR North Asia pork belly at $4,455/mt Jan. 27, unchanged from Jan. 26.