Cases / Disease outbreaks · South Korea · 2018

Korea and China swine-fever swill-feed bans

Nature's voice · report

No measurement of the harm done to me here is on record.

Did nature suffer? Not measured.

Not on record

The record does not name which of my species, waters, soils or forests were harmed.

What the record lacks: 1 none on record · 1 insufficient · 1 not measured See the gaps

China banned feeding food leftovers to pigs in 2018 and South Korea in 2019 because of African swine fever. Korea partly lifted its ban in 2025, and swine-fever cases were reported to have risen about fourfold in 2026.

34%Share of China's 2018 swine-fever outbreaks linked to feeding food leftovers
23 outbreaks, as reported from a November 2018 Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs briefing.

Status As of April 2026: Korea has partly re-allowed feeding food leftovers to pigs; swine-fever cases were reported to have risen about fourfold.

What?

Bans on feeding food leftovers to pigs, introduced in China (2018) and South Korea (2019) against African swine fever, and Korea's partial reversal in 2025. Daum

Where?

China and South Korea. Daum

When?

China 2018; Korea 2019; Korea partial re-allowance 2025; case rise reported April 2026. Daum

Who?

Gained

None on record

Lost

None on record

Harmed

None on record

Why?

To limit the spread of African swine fever; 23 outbreaks (34%) in China in 2018 were linked to feeding leftovers. Daily Economic News (每日经济新闻)

How?

Prohibition of feeding food leftovers to pigs, later partly lifted in Korea. Daum

5 of 6 questions answered from the record · open: who

What happened

The record, in order.

China banned feeding food leftovers to pigs in 2018 because of African swine fever. South Korea did the same in 2019.

In November 2018 a report on a Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs briefing, carried by Daily Economic News, said that 23 swine-fever outbreaks, 34% of the total that year, had been linked to feeding leftovers.

South Korea partly allowed feeding food leftovers to pigs again in 2025. A Daum report of April 2026 said that African swine fever cases then rose about fourfold.

2018China bans feeding food leftovers to pigs; 23 outbreaks (34%) that year linked to such feeding (briefing reported in November)
2019South Korea bans feeding food leftovers to pigs
2025South Korea partly allows feeding food leftovers again
2026Swine-fever cases in Korea reported to have risen about fourfold (April report)

How it looked

What was shown, beside what was recorded.

Shown

Recorded

In 2018, 23 African swine-fever outbreaks in China, 34% of the total, were linked to feeding food leftovers.
Daily Economic News (每日经济新闻)
Korea banned feeding food leftovers to pigs in 2019 and partly allowed it again in 2025; cases of African swine fever were reported to have risen about fourfold in 2026.
Daum

In court and with insurers

Every proceeding and every insurer decision on record.

Lawsuits and rulings

No court case on record. No court has ruled on this case.

Insurers

No insurer decision on record.

What nature saw

Outcomes measured on the ground, and nature's note.

Nature's report opens this page. Below: further outcomes measured on the ground.

China 2018 outbreaks linked to leftover feeding

23 (34%)

Ministry briefing, as reported November 2018

Korea swine-fever cases after partial re-allowance

about 4 times

Daum report, April 2026

What we don't know

Undisclosed, unproven, untried: recorded as data.

Nature

Not measured Harm to nature: The record holds no measurement of harm to nature.

Record

Insufficient The sources reviewed do not state whether the 2026 rise in Korean cases was caused by the partial re-allowance; they report the two events in sequence.
None on record The sources reviewed do not give the number of pigs affected in either country.