Beef Drives Over Half of South Korea’s Meat‑Related Emissions

*TL;DR: Beef supplies just a quarter of Korea’s meat by weight but creates more than half of the related greenhouse‑gas emissions.

Context South Korea’s domestic meat consumption generated roughly 56.94 million tonnes of CO₂‑equivalent emissions in 2024, according to a report by Solutions for Our Climate. That amount equals about one‑third of the nation’s annual coal‑plant output. The country consumed 3.08 million tonnes of meat, translating to 1,115 kg of emissions per person each year – the same as 21 one‑way flights between Gimpo and Jeju.

Key Facts The report applied a life‑cycle assessment (LCA), a method that adds up emissions from every stage – farming, slaughter, processing, transport and retail. Researchers multiplied the total kilograms of each meat type by emission coefficients: 58 kg CO₂‑eq per kg of beef, 13.36 kg for pork, and 5.36 kg for chicken. Beef’s coefficient is 4.4 times pork’s and more than ten‑fold chicken’s, reflecting cattle’s long rearing periods and methane output.

Beef represents about 24 % of the 3.08 million tonnes of meat eaten, yet it contributes over 55 % of the 56.94 million tonnes of emissions. Per‑capita beef consumption stands at 15 kg, roughly 2.5 times Japan’s level and 3.8 times China’s. About 60 % of Korean beef is imported, mainly from the United States, Australia and New Zealand, whose own production emissions range from 20.51 to 32.05 kg CO₂‑eq per kg. Imported beef alone accounts for an estimated 12.52 million tonnes of emissions.

What It Means The findings highlight that meat‑type choices, not just total intake, dominate Korea’s livestock carbon footprint. The analysis also notes a data gap: current national statistics omit emissions from slaughter, processing and distribution. Shim Hyun‑jung, the report’s author, calls for a government‑run, full‑cycle emissions database to close this blind spot. Until such data are available, the 56.94 million‑ton figure likely understates the true impact.

Looking Ahead Future monitoring will focus on expanding life‑cycle data and tracking policy measures aimed at reducing beef consumption or shifting to lower‑impact proteins.