This study was conducted to investigate the reasons for the decreased importation of fresh Shiitake mushrooms into Korea after implementation of the Korea–China Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Monthly time-series data from January 2009 to December 2022 were analyzed using regression analysis and vector autoregression (VAR) models to determine the relationship between the amounts of fresh and spawn Shiitake mushrooms imported. The analysis revealed that a major reason for the decreased importation of fresh Shiitake mushrooms was an increase in mushroom spawn imports after Korea–China FTA implementation. The same results were obtained from the VAR model analysis. However, in terms of the dynamic changes in amount of fresh shiitake mushrooms imported, it was confirmed that the impact of the change in mushroom spawn imports could increase the amount of Shiitake mushrooms imported.

• 정병헌(국립산림과학원 산림정책연구과) | FTAByung- Heon Jung (Division of Forest Management & Economics, National Institution of Forest Science, Seoul 02455, Korea)
• 김동현(국립산림과학원 산림정책연구과) | Dong-Hyun Kim (Division of Forest Management & Economics, National Institution of Forest Science, Seoul 02455, Korea) Corresponding author