0. Executive Summary
Judgment axis | detail |
| Item Identity | Corn is an annual grain crop belonging to the genus Zea of the family Poaceae, and its representative scientific name is Zea mays L. The Rural Development Administration also manages corn under the names Corn, Maize, and Zea mays L. ( Nongsaroo ) |
| Key role | Domestically, there is consumption of sweet corn such as waxy corn and sweet corn, as well as grain utilization, and industrially, it expands into a large-scale raw material market for starch, sugars, food processing, and compound feed. |
| Difference from the previous item | No.002 While wheat is centered on milling and gluten, noodle, and bread-making suitability, corn changes its product at the harvesting stage itself , and must clearly separate sweet corn, dried grain, starch, sugars, and feed ingredients. |
| Harvesting principle | For sweet corn, taste, kernel fullness, sweetness, gluten, and timely harvesting are important, whereas for grain corn, ripeness, kernel moisture, dryness, and storage stability are important, so the same harvesting standards are not applied. |
| Product separation | Glutinous corn, sweet corn, green corn ears, grain corn, dried grain, corn flour/powder, raw materials for starch, grain for popcorn, grain for feed, and grain for silage are managed as separate products. |
| Korean production | Based on the 2024 miscellaneous grain production data from the National Statistical Portal, the nationwide corn cultivation area is 8,698 ha, the yield per 10a is 241 kg, and the production volume is 20,997 tons. Areas and production volumes with different base years are not aggregated. ( KOSIS ) |
| production environment | The Rural Development Administration distinguishes between edible and feed corn varieties and suggests different planting times for the central and northern regions versus the south, making it necessary to manage cultivation calendars by region, variety, and intended use. ( Nongsaroo ) |
| Pest and disease risk | Official cultivation data identifies smut, stem rot, and brown spot as major diseases, and cutworms, armyworms, corn earworms, and tropical armyworms as major pests. ( Nongsaroo ) |
| Import supply chain | It is connected to the supply chain of large-scale imported raw materials to the extent that the government's 2025 tariff quota plan sets limit quantities at 11 million tons for feed corn and 1.9 million tons for other edible and some industrial corn. ( Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs ) |
| TRQ structure | Under the 2026 WTO TRQ operation plan, a separate allocation structure is in place for corn intended for popcorn and starch syrup; therefore, even for the same corn variety, the HS code, intended use, and end-user must be separated. ( Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs ) |
| AX Core | It links variety, plot, growth, harvesting stage, lot, drying/storage, processing, inspection, RFQ, delivery, and repurchase, and manages origin, use, quality, price, and logistics for domestic and imported products using separate datasets. |
| Final goal | Corn is not managed as a simple grain, but is operated as a supply chain intelligence connecting production, quality, processing, RFQ, and repurchase . |
1. Plant Identity & Product Master
division | Registration details |
| Korean name | corner |
| English name | Corn / Maize |
| Representative scientific name | Zea mays L. |
| classification | Poaceae, Zea |
| Edible parts | Immature or mature seeds |
| Non-edible · Separate management | Stems, leaves, cobs, fibrous hairs, roots, grains for seeds, plants for silage |
| Major harvesting stages | Emergence/Pollination → Softening → Flourishing → Sweet corn Red ripening → Yellow ripening → Fully ripened kernels → Risk of overripening/quality deterioration |
| Basic product form | Fresh ears, green corn, hulled raw grain, dried grain, ground grain, corn flour, raw material for starch, raw grain for popcorn, grain for animal feed |
| Basic processing stage | Sowing → Growth → Silking/Pollination → Harvesting → Peeling/Sorting → Shattering → Drying → Storage → Grinding/Milling → Starch Separation/Processing → Packaging |
| Basic use | Boiling, Steaming, Grilling, Frozen, Retort, Milling, Confectionery, Starch, Sugars, Popcorn, Alcoholic Beverages, Fermentation, Food Ingredients, Feed |
| Principle of similar items | It is separated from miscellaneous grains such as sorghum, millet, and foxtail millet, and within corn, it is separated into glutinous corn, sweet corn, grain corn, popcorn corn, and feed corn according to variety and use. |
Product | Key Management Standards |
| corn for seeds | Variety · Seed Lot · Germination Rate · Purity · Use |
| Sweet corn | Variety, Glutinousness, Ear Size, Grain Fullness, Harvest Date |
| sweet corn | Variety, Sugar Content, Ripness, Time After Harvest, Refrigeration |
| raw corn | Harvest stage · Ear size · Appearance · Freshness |
| frozen corn | Raw Material Lot · Blanching · Freezing · Packaging · Frozen Distribution |
| Retort and vacuum-packed corn | Raw Material Lot · Heating · Sterilization · Packaging · Use-by Date |
| grain corn | Variety, Harvest Year, Moisture Content, Weight, Damaged Grains |
| Drying grain | Original Grain Lot · Dry Moisture · Storage Conditions · Foreign Matter |
| Original song for popcorn | Variety, moisture, puffiness, grain uniformity |
| Corn flour/powder | Original Grain Lot · Milling Method · Particle Size · Moisture |
| Corn for starch | Starch content, yield, moisture, and origin |
| feed grains | Moisture, Energy, Mycotoxins, Foreign Matter, Country of Origin |
| Corn for silage | Variety · Harvesting stage · Dry matter content · Cutting · Fermentation conditions |
2. Product Classification & Use Segmentation
Classification criteria | Subdivision type | Management principles |
| Variety and taste | Glutinous corn / Sweet corn / Standard grain type | Separation of harvest season and consumption use |
| Harvesting stage | Young corn / Ripe grain / Whole plant | Even for the same crop, Product separation |
| Usage patterns | Ear of grain / Threshed grain / Dried grain / Powder | Step-by-step Lot inheritance |
| Processing use | Frozen / Retort / Milled / Starch / Sugars / Popcorn | Separation of processing conditions and specifications |
| Food and Feed | Edible / Food Industry / Feed | Separation of food safety and feed standards |
| cultivation method | Open field / Facilities/Tunnels / Paddy cultivation / Others | Classification of crop type, region, and weather risks |
| origin | Domestic / Imported | Separation of origin, quarantine, quality, and price |
| Supply type | 농가출하 / 산지조직 / 대량벌크 / 컨테이너 | 물류구조 분리 |
| 거래형태 | 산지매입 / 계약재배 / 수입조달 / 정기공급 | 계약·물량·단가는 Verified/NDA |
| 최종 수요처 | 소비자 / 식품제조 / 전분당 / 사료 / 급식·외식 | 바이어 규격 분리 |
3. Production, Harvest & Post-harvest
단계 | 필수 Dataset | 관리 목적 |
| 종자·품종 | 품종·용도·종자원·Lot | 최종 제품 적합성 |
| 파종 | 지역·필지·파종일·파종량·재식거리 | 생육·수확예측 |
| 발아·초기생육 | 기온·토양수분·출현율 | 초기 생육관리 |
| 영양생장 | 초장·엽수·시비·관수 | 생산성 관리 |
| 출사·수분 | 출사일·기상·수분상태 | 착립·수량예측 |
| 등숙 | 숙기·기온·수분·병해충 | 품질예측 |
| 풋옥수수 수확 | 품종·수확일·립 충실도·찰성·당도 | 생식용 적합성 |
| 곡실 수확 | 완숙도·수분·피해립·수확일 | 저장·가공 적합성 |
| 선별 | 이삭·립 크기·병해·이물 | 상품규격 |
| 탈립 | 원물 Lot·탈립일·파손률 | 곡실 Lot 전환 |
| 건조 | 입고수분·건조방법·출고수분 | 저장성 확보 |
| 저장 | 온도·습도·해충·곰팡이·재고 | 품질안정 |
| 냉각·냉장 | 풋옥수수 수확 후 시간·온도 | 식미·신선도 유지 |
| 가공입고 | 원산지·수분·품질·Lot | 제조 적합성 |
농촌진흥청은 논 재배 기준 식용 옥수수의 파종시기를 중북부 4월 중순~5월 상순, 남부 4월 상순~4월 하순으로 제시하고 있으며, 곡실용·풋옥수수·사료용에 따라 파종량도 다르게 제시한다. 따라서 지역–용도–파종–수확 Calendar를 분리해 관리한다. (농사로)
4. Quality Specification & Lot Management
품질 항목 | 풋옥수수 | 곡실용 | 전분·가공용 | 사료용 | 공개등급 |
| 품종·산지·농가·Lot | 핵심 | 핵심 | 핵심 | 핵심 | Verified |
| 수확일·수확단계 | 핵심 | 핵심 | 중요 | 중요 | Verified |
| 이삭·립 규격 | 핵심 | 중요 | 중요 | 참고 | Verified/NDA |
| 찰성·당도·식미 | 핵심 | 용도별 | 용도별 | 해당 없음 | Verified/NDA |
| 종실수분 | 중요 | 핵심 | 핵심 | 핵심 | Verified/NDA |
| 피해립·파손립·이물 | 중요 | 핵심 | 핵심 | 핵심 | Verified/NDA |
| 전분·가공수율 | 해당 없음 | 중요 | 핵심 | 중요 | NDA |
| 곰팡이·변질 | 핵심 | 핵심 | 핵심 | 핵심 | Verified/NDA |
| 곰팡이독소 등 안전성 | 핵심 | 핵심 | 핵심 | 핵심 | NDA |
| 잔류농약 | 핵심 | 핵심 | 핵심 | 적용기준 확인 | NDA |
| 원산지·수입 Lot | 해당 시 | 해당 시 | 핵심 | 핵심 | Verified/NDA |
| GMO 관련 확인 | 해당 시 | 해당 시 | 해당 시 | 해당 시 | Verified/NDA |
| 납품·클레임·재구매 | 핵심 | 핵심 | 핵심 | 핵심 | NDA |
Lot Master 필수 필드
Lot ID · 품목 · 제품형태 · 학명 · 품종 · 용도구분 · 산지·원산지 · 재배지역 · 필지 · 생산자 · 종자 Lot · 파종일 · 출사일 · 수확일 · 수확단계 · 이삭규격 · 립규격 · 당도·찰성 · 수분 · 피해립 · 파손립 · 이물 · 병해충 · 농약사용기록 · 잔류농약 · 곰팡이·곰팡이독소 성적서 · 탈립일 · 건조이력 · 저장시설 · 가공이력 · 포장일 · 원산지증빙 · 수입 Lot · 검사성적서 · 출고처 · 클레임 · 재구매
5. Korea Market & Demand Structure
수요처 | 구매 기준 | 협력 기회 |
| 산지유통조직·농협 | 품종·이삭규격·수확일·물량 | 풋옥수수 공동출하 RFQ |
| 신선 유통·온라인 | 외관·이삭크기·당도·찰성·신선도 | 산지직송·PB |
| 급식·외식 | 세척·탈피·규격·안전성·납기 | 생·냉동 옥수수 RFQ |
| 냉동식품기업 | 립 균일성·수율·색·당도 | 냉동립 원료 |
| 레토르트기업 | 이삭·립 규격·가열적성 | 상온제품 원료 |
| 제분기업 | 수분·입도·품종·원곡균일성 | 옥수수가루 RFQ |
| 전분당기업 | 전분수율·수분·대량공급·원산지 | 산업원료 RFQ |
| 제과·스낵기업 | 품종·팽화·분쇄·식감 | 스낵·팝콘 RFQ |
| 주류·발효기업 | 전분·당화·발효 적성 | 발효원료 RFQ |
| 사료기업 | 수분·에너지·곰팡이독소·가격 | 대량 곡물 RFQ |
| 축산농가 | 사료용 곡실·사일리지 품질 | 지역 사료공급 |
| 수입기업 | 원산지·가격·선적·검역·물류 | 해외조달 RFQ |
| 연구기관 | 품종·식미·사료·전분·기후 Dataset | 공동실증 |
2024년 공식 잡곡생산량 통계에서 국내 옥수수 생산량은 20,997톤, 재배면적은 8,698ha로 나타난다. 반면 산업용·사료용 옥수수는 정부의 대규모 수입·관세정책 대상이므로, 국내 풋옥수수 시장과 산업용 수입곡물 시장을 동일 수급시장으로 취급하지 않는다. (KOSIS)
6. Trade & Supply-chain Intelligence
단계 | 핵심 변수 | 운영 판단 |
| 종자·생산계획 | 품종·용도·면적·계약 | 생산목적 명확화 |
| 재배 | 기상·토양·병해충·생육 | 생산위험 |
| 풋옥수수 수확 | 적숙기·당도·찰성·수확시간 | 신선제품 가치 |
| 곡실 수확 | 완숙도·수분·피해립 | 저장·가공 적합 |
| 선별·탈립 | 규격·파손·이물 | Product 전환 |
| 건조·저장 | 수분·온도·곰팡이·재고 | 품질·재고관리 |
| 냉동·가공 | 블랜칭·동결·가열·포장 | 식품 Lot 연결 |
| 전분·당류 | 원료품질·수율·공정 | 산업소재화 |
| 사료 | 영양·안전·가격·대량조달 | 축산 공급망 |
| 수입조달 | 국가·HS·선적·단가·물량 | 공급위험 |
| 검역·통관 | 식물검역·식품·사료 기준 | 적합성 판단 |
| 항만·내륙물류 | 벌크·사일로·창고·운송 | 조달비용 |
| RFQ·재구매 | 규격·MOQ·검사·납기·성과 | 공급사 평가 |
2026년 WTO TRQ 운영계획에서 옥수수는 팝콘용과 전분당용 등 실수요자별 배정체계가 구분되어 있다. 따라서 옥수수 Trade Dataset은 단순 HS 1005 총량보다 세번·용도·배정기관·실수요자·관세조건을 세분화해야 한다. (농림축산식품부)
7. Processing, By-products & PRP Intelligence
제품·공정 | 주요 조건 | RFQ 전환 |
| 생 풋옥수수 | 품종·수확일·찰성·당도·이삭규격 | 신선유통 RFQ |
| 냉동 이삭 | 원물 Lot·블랜칭·동결·포장 | 급식·유통 RFQ |
| 냉동 옥수수립 | 탈립·립규격·당도·색·미생물 | HMR·급식 RFQ |
| 진공·레토르트 옥수수 | 원물·가열·살균·포장 | 소매·수출 RFQ |
| 팝콘용 옥수수 | 품종·수분·팽화율·립균일성 | 팝콘 제조 RFQ |
| 옥수수가루 | 원곡·제분·입도·수분 | 제과·제빵·식품 RFQ |
| 옥수수 전분 | 전분수율·순도·수분 | 식품·산업소재 RFQ |
| 당류 원료 | 전분·당화공정·원료규격 | 전분당기업 RFQ |
| 발효 원료 | 전분·당화·발효적성 | 주류·발효산업 RFQ |
| 사료용 곡실 | 수분·영양·곰팡이독소 | 사료기업 RFQ |
| 사일리지 | 수확숙기·건물률·절단·발효 | 축산농가 RFQ |
| 옥수수 배아 | 유지함량·분리·저장 | 유지·소재 RFQ |
| 옥수수 글루텐·부산물 | 단백질·수분·공정 | 사료·소재 RFQ |
| 속대 | 발생량·수분·오염 | 소재·바이오 전환 검토 |
| 줄기·잎 | 수분·발생량·수확방식 | 사료·바이오매스 검토 |
옥수수대 등 수확 부산물의 농업적 활용 가능성도 공식 재배자료에서 제시되지만, 식품·사료·바이오소재 전환 시에는 각 용도별 법령과 안전성을 별도 검증한다. (농사로)
8. AX Transformation
first of all | Execution item | Performance indicators |
| 1 | Variety–Use–Plot–Sowing–Harvesting Stage–Lot Mandatory | Production history connection rate |
| 2 | Separation of Glutinous, Sweet, Grain, Popcorn, Starch, and Feed Products | Misclassification reduction rate |
| 3 | Sowing–Shidding–Graining–Harvesting Weather Dataset Connection | Return forecasting accuracy |
| 4 | Datafication of ears, grains, sugar content, glutinousness, moisture, and damaged grains | Quality classification accuracy |
| 5 | Pest, Disease, Control, and Pesticide Use Runtime Connection | Risk early detection rate |
| 6 | Sweet corn harvest – pre-cooling – refrigeration – sales time linkage | Reduced freshness loss |
| 7 | Grain–Drying–Storage–Processing Lot Tracking | Lot tracking rate |
| 8 | Comparison of Quality, Price, and Country of Origin Between Domestic and Imported Products | Procurement judgment accuracy |
| 9 | Connecting RFQs and Supply Lots for Starch, Feed, and Food Processing Companies | Matching rate |
| 10 | Delivery evaluation, processing yield, claims, and repurchase feedback | Repurchase rate |
9. Industry Problem Bank
Problem group | Problem Definition | Required data |
| Mixed uses | Treating sweet corn, grains, animal feed, and starch as the same product | Variety, Harvest Stage, Use |
| Disconnection of variety information | Variety information weakens at the final distribution stage | Seeds · Lot · Distribution |
| Harvesting at the right time | The quality of sweet corn is sensitive to the time of harvest. | Shooting · Harvest · Sweetness · Stickiness |
| freshness deterioration | Variation in taste due to increased post-harvest distribution time | Harvest time, pre-cooling, temperature |
| weather changes | Rainfall, high temperatures, drought, etc. affect growth and moisture | Weather, Soil, Growth |
| pests | Risks of smut, stem rot, corn borer, etc. | Occurrence, Control, Weather |
| Original quality variation | Difference between moisture, damaged granules, and foreign matter | Quality inspection |
| Mycotoxins | Need for safety management of stored and imported grains | Moisture, Storage, and Test Report |
| Dualization of domestic and import markets | Structural differences between domestic sweet corn and imported industrial grains | Production, Import, and Demand |
| Origin management | Use of multinational raw materials in processing and feed supply chains | Country · Shipment · Lot |
| GMO Information Management | The level of verification required varies depending on the purpose of the transaction. | Origin, Proof, Inspection |
| Starch processing aptitude | Original song information is not linked to starch yield | Ingredients, Process, Yield |
| feed procurement risk | Sensitive to international prices, exchange rates, and freight costs | International prices, exchange rates, and inventory |
| Low value-added by-products | Lack of utilization of inner cores, stems, and processing by-products | Amount, Composition, and Demand |
| Repurchase non-refund | Delivery performance not reflected in next production and purchasing plans | Inspection · Claims · Reorders |
10. Farmer RFQ & Collaboration Model
RFQ Type | Public Registration | Verify/NDA |
| Glutinous corn sourced directly | Variety · Production Area · Harvest Period · Ear Size | Farm · Lot · Volume · Unit Price |
| Sweet corn procurement | Variety, Sugar Content Standard, Harvest Period, Use | Sweetness · Lot · Price · Contract |
| contract farming | Variety, Purpose, Harvest Period, Quality Standards | Contract Area, Quantity, Unit Price |
| For frozen processing | Product form, rib specifications, processing purpose | Actual Lot, Yield, and Test Report |
| For retort | Ear of grain · Grain size · Heating use | Processing Test · MOQ · Unit Price |
| For popcorn | Variety, Grain Size, and Puffing Requirements | Swelling test · Quantity · Contract |
| For starch | Country of origin, starch use, and basic specifications | Yield, Volume, Unit Price, Shipment |
| For food processing | Product forms such as powder, granules, and starch | Test results, prescription, contract |
| for animal feed | Origin, Grain Type, Supply Period | Ingredients, Mycotoxins, Unit Price |
| Silage | Variety, Production Region, Harvest Season | Building ratio, volume, contract |
| Import procurement | Country of Origin · Product Type · Port of Arrival | Shipment, Customs Clearance, Unit Price, Contract |
| by-product | coccyx, embryo, gluten, stem, etc. | Amount, Composition, Price |
| Technology demonstration | Purpose of variety, cultivation, and processing tests | Sample, Result, IP Conditions |
| Community project | Production, Sorting, Freezing, Processing, Branding | Investment, Production, and Sales Contracts |
Trading operations
RFQ Submission → Producer/Supplier Search → Verified → Sample → Lot Inspection → Report Verification → Processing Test → Negotiation → Contract → Quantity/Delivery Confirmation → Shipment/Dispatch → Incoming Inspection → Processing Performance Evaluation → Claim → Repurchase
11. RFQ Request First
① Need Products & Materials
Companies and institutions seeking necessary products, agricultural products, raw materials, and processed goods register purchasing demands. Registered requests are utilized to review cooperation with potential suppliers and producers based on the RFQ Intelligence Library.
Process:
RFQ Registration → Supplier/Product Review → Collaboration Connection → Future AI Matching
Register
② We are looking for production and manufacturing partners. (Need Suppliers & Manufacturers)
Register a request to find necessary production and supply partners, ranging from farms and producer organizations to processing companies, OEM, ODM, and private label manufacturers.
Process:
RFQ Registration → Review of Production & Manufacturing Capabilities → Collaboration Connection → Future AI Partner Matching
Register
③ We are looking for domestic and international buyers. (Need Buyers)
Farmers, producer organizations, and manufacturing companies are requesting cooperation with new buyers, such as domestic and international distributors, importers, brand companies, and food service and catering businesses.
Process:
RFQ Registration → Product & Supply Capability Review → Market & Buyer Connection → Future AI Buyer Matching
Register
Contact : mail@markethub.org
Version History
Version | Main contents | situation |
| v1.0 | Corn Plant·Product·Sweet Corn·Grain·Processing·Import·RFQ Basic Structure Registration | complete |
| v1.1 | Reflecting the latest official statistics on production, varieties, and cultivation types by domestic region | expected |
| v2.0 | Variety–Plot–Sweet Corn·Grain–Dry·Storage Lot Runtime Integration | expected |
| v2.5 | Linking Datasets for Frozen, Popcorn, Milling, Starch, Sugars, and Feed Processing Suitability | expected |
| v3.0 | Integration of Domestic–Import Origin, Quality, Price, TRQ, and Logistics Intelligence | expected |
| v3.5 | Farms – Local Distribution – Processing Companies – Starch & Sugar – Feed Companies – Buyers Verified Connection | expected |
| v4.0 | Production Forecast – Quality Forecast – Procurement – Processing Suitability – RFQ – Repurchase AI Runtime Application | expected |
