Mushroom Cultivation in South Korea

Mushroom cultivation in South Korea is increasing fast last decades. Mushroom cultivation of South Korea is 173577 tones and South Korea gains 800 million dollars income annually. Different kind of mushroom species are cultivated and 31% enoki mushroom (Flammulina velutipes), 26% king oyster (Pleurotus eryngii), 26% oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus), 13% white buton mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) and 4% rest of the total mushroom Lentinula edodes, Ganoderma lucidum, Phellinus vb. are produced in Korea. 764 ha mushroom growing area was used for mushroom cultivation. 31% of total growing area is oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) and 14% king oyster (Pleurotus eryngii), 6% winter mushroom (Flummulina velutipes), 16% white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus), 3% Phellinus, 3% reishii (Ganoderma lucidum) and 27% other mushrooms. Mushroom is consumed frequently in Korea and mushroom consumption per person is 4.2 kg. Growing on log culture (oak mushroom, reishi and Phellinus), growing on shelves (Agaricus bisporus and Pleurotus ostreatus) and bottle culture (Flummulina velutipes, Pleurotus ostreatus, Pleurotus eryngii) are commonly used growing systems.