South Korea’s cheese imports are increasing along with the rise in cheese consumption.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said on Sunday that the country’s cheese consumption reached 118-thousand tons last year, posting a three-fold increase from 44-thousand tons in 2000.

The country’s cheese imports also tripled over the period from 30-thousand tons to 97-thousand tons.

Imports of natural cheese increased four-point-six times from 18-thousand tons to 87-thousand tons over the period.

Domestic production of natural cheese stood at a mere 85-hundred tons last year, which is one tenth of the imports.

High prices of domestic raw milk are cited for the country’s heavy dependence on imported cheese.