Credit: Public domain.
In 2023, South Korea collectively used 1.6k tons of antibiotics across humans, livestock and farmed fish, according to the first-ever government-wide survey of antibiotics use, released on April 6. Approximately 650 tons of antibiotics were used for humans, 758 tons for livestock, and 208 tons for farmed fish.
South Korea is notorious for overusing antibiotics in all areas. Per-capita antibiotic use (for humans) ranks second among Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, and is 60% higher than the OECD average. Overuse has resulted in a steep increase in antibiotic resistance for major diseases of both humans and farmed animals.
