South Korea's self-sufficiency of beef and pork decreased together for the second consecutive year in 2015, data showed Sunday, amid the falling number of cattle raised and the rising demand for pork-related products in the country.
  
According to the data compiled by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, South Korea's self-sufficiency rate of beef came to 46 percent in 2015, down from 50.1 percent posted in 2013.

The figure is anticipated to reach 38.8 percent in 2019.
  
Industry watchers said the decrease is tied to the government's reduction of the number of cattle raised in the country to control the supply. Rising demand for imported beef products also added to the trend, they added.
  
The self-sufficiency rate of pork came to 72.3 percent last year, down from 84 percent posted in 2013.
  
"While the number of pigs raised in the country increased, rising demand and imports led to the decline of the self-sufficiency rate," a ministry official said. (Yonhap)