Foreign Media: Kimchi from South Korea is made in China, and the country's national dish is being priced out of its own market
Kimchi in South Korea has been hit by imported low-cost products from China, causing a setback for the local industry. In the first ten months of 2025, the value of kimchi imports into South Korea reached $159 million, almost all coming from China, while exports were only $137 million. Chinese kimchi is sold at about 1,700 KRW (1.15 USD) per kilogram, while the average price of locally produced kimchi in South Korea is 3,600 KRW (2.45 USD) per kilogram.
South Koreans' kimchi consumption habits are changing, with an increase in single-person households leading to a decrease in homemade kimchi. Restaurants rely on commercially produced kimchi and often provide it free of charge. Small-scale kimchi enterprises in South Korea find it difficult to compete with industrialized production. Climate crises have also affected the supply of cabbage, the main ingredient.
The South Korean government and industry have tried measures such as subsidies, tariff reviews, and promoting domestic labels to respond, but product quality remains the key competitiveness of South Korean kimchi.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1852175937619136/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.