A farmer plants rice seedlings in a rice paddy in the southeastern city of Busan, April 22, the year's first rice planting in the region. Yonhap

The average annual income of Korea's farming households rose more than 10 percent last year to reach an all-time high, data showed Friday.

The average annual income of farming households came to 50.83 million won ($37,102) by rising 10.1 percent from the previous year's 46.15 million won, according to the data compiled by Statistics Korea.

It marked the first time ever that the amount surpassed 50 million won.

The households' profits from selling products surged 17.5 percent on-year to 11.14 million won, as prices of farm produce went up and the fall in rice prices has eased, the agency said.

Their income from government subsidies and other transfer income also advanced 12.7 percent to 17.19 million won.

The average assets of farming households, however, fell 1.4 percent to come to 680 million won, with their debt soaring 18.7 percent to 41.58 million won.

The average income of households engaged in fishing or fish farming also climbed 3.5 percent on-year to 54.78 million won last year.

Their returns from fish and seaweed production, as well as state subsidies, went down, but their income from second jobs and other businesses logged a double-digit growth, the data showed. (Yonhap)