On the afternoon of the 15th, a ship docked in the inner harbor of Jung-gu, Incheon. A quarantine officer, dressed in a full-body protective suit along with gloves and a helmet, descended the stairs into the hold, which contained 8,000 tons of American wheat. On top of the stacked wheat piles, the officer spread out a white cloth and sifted through it. This is a procedure to check for any insects or eggs.
The onboard quarantine, conducted in pairs, targets high-risk or bulk-imported grain products and is performed on-site immediately. If even a single pest is found, a detailed inspection must be carried out, and only those that pass will be allowed for distribution.
On the same afternoon, inside the refrigerated bonded warehouse on Chukhang-daero in Incheon, garlic shoots, sweet potato stems, chrysanthemums, carnations, and other floral and vegetable products from China, Japan, and Southeast Asia were awaiting inspection on pallets.
The quarantine officers randomly selected samples and placed them on the inspection table, then held the chrysanthemums upside down, shaking them as if to clap, and examined each stem under a magnifying glass with light. This is because thrips or moth larvae could be hiding inside. That day, the target for quarantine included over 1,200 stems out of approximately 220,000 cut flowers.
Garlic shoots imported from China are also subject to inspection. For products with flower buds remaining, the quarantine officers meticulously examined them by cutting open the flower buds with a knife to check for pests. This is a precautionary measure against the possible entry of foreign pests.
According to the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Incheon Port is a major entry point for fresh vegetables and cut flowers from China and Southeast Asia, leading to a high risk of pest infiltration. It is recognized as the largest quarantine hub, responsible for more than 50% of the nation's imported plant quarantine.
Kim Jeong-hee, the Deputy Minister of the Quarantine Agency, noted that "the daily repetition of plant and animal quarantine is the first line of defense in ensuring the safety of the public's dining table," and added, "Especially the Central Regional Headquarters, which oversees Incheon Port, is tasked with the significant responsibility of preventing pest infiltration due to the high volume of goods coming from China and Southeast Asia."
The Central Regional Headquarters is an institution responsible for half of the nation’s agricultural product imports and 11% of livestock imports, covering Incheon Port, Pyeongtaek Port, Daejeon, and the Chungcheong area. It conducts continuous monitoring and pest control against major pests, including plant diseases like fire blight and red imported fire ants and fruit flies. Red imported fire ants are found more than 10 times a year.
Recently, in response to the diversification of import logistics, the quarantine system has also been strengthened. Previously, the focus was on large-scale quarantines at the container level, but with the increase in small parcel shipments and less-than-container-load (LCL) shipments, a real-time response system has been established. Starting this year, the quarantine agency has also operated a pest control investigation unit to systematically block illegal imports of agricultural and livestock products.
According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, 4,707,000 tons of food were imported in the first quarter of this year. The number of cases reached 203,000, a 2.9% increase compared to the previous year. As the government expands the use of allocated tariffs for supply and price stability, the trend of increasing imports of foreign agricultural and marine products is observed. An increase in imports also raises the quarantine burden.
The quarantine agency also plays a role in opening the export pathways for domestic agricultural products. Recently, through international quarantine negotiations, it has successfully facilitated exports of Shine Muscat to Australia, as well as melons from Vietnam, strawberries from Brazil, and rice from New Zealand.
A quarantine agency official stated, "Border quarantine goes beyond just preventing pests; it serves as a frontline base for protecting agricultural competitiveness and export capabilities," and added, "We will continue our strategic response that encompasses expanding exports, improving quarantine requirements, and blocking illegal imports."