Challenges for improved coordination of government soil test databases and maps in Korea

Abstract

The Republic of Korea has extensive data (HeukToram) and maps related to soil attributes. Since the 1960s, the Rural Development Administration (RDA) has conducted nationwide soil testing and mapping for commercial fields. This Korean Soil Information System, which continues to expand through data collection by local Agricultural Technology Extension Centers (ATC), is the primary official resource for supporting growers with organic matter management and chemical fertilization. While the database provides broad national coverage and fulfills its initial purpose, its application is mostly limited to farm or field levels. Several challenges undermine the data’s reliability and broader applicability, limiting its contribution to regional and global databases. This opinion paper addresses issues related to impractical data utilization, human errors in soil test results, spatial inaccuracies in soil maps, and the limitation of attributes and field-level soil profiling. It also proposes actions to improve the effectiveness and scope of these databases.