FILE PHOTO: Lee Ha-yeon, a recognized kimchi grand master and her apprentices prepare kimchi at the Kimchi Culture Institute in Namyangju, South Korea, August 21, 2024. REUTERS/Kim Soo-hyeon/File Photo
SEOUL: South Korea has unveiled a series of measures to stabilise the market for napa cabbage and daikon radishes, aiming to support preparations for gimjang – the traditional process of preparing kimchi for winter – as demand for these key ingredients is expected to rise during the peak gimjang season.
The initiative includes expanding supplies of key gimjang ingredients through government-contracted cultivation and additional reserve stock distribution, as well as offering price subsidies.
“The government will increase the contracted cultivation of napa cabbage by 10% compared to last year, supplying 24,000 tonnes. From late October, an additional 1,000 tonnes will be kept on standby for emergency stockpiling,” said Agriculture Minister Song Mi-rang during a policy meeting held at the National Assembly last Wednesday.
Song added that napa cabbage and radish would be sold at discounts of up to 40% in large retailers and traditional markets nationwide to help reduce ingredient costs for consumers, with the measures running from Oct 24 to Dec 4.
To further support this effort, the government will release 2,000 tonnes of key seasoning ingredients like red chili pepper powder, garlic and onions from its reserves.
The Oceans and Fisheries Ministry will also offer discounts on essential kimchi ingredients such as sea salt, fermented shrimp paste and anchovy sauce.
Additionally, special inspections will be conducted to verify the origins of ingredients, ensuring that consumers can buy products sourced domestically.
Unlike the spike in apple prices early this year, driven by abnormally cold spring weather and heavy summer rain last year disrupting supply, these measures are not a response to sudden shortages, according to multiple experts and officials.
Instead, they address the surge in demand during the gimjang season, based on kimchi’s importance in South Korea.
“Napa cabbage is cultivated year-round, so its supply is generally stable, and the same goes for daikon radishes. However, during the gimjang season, demand sharply increases as both households and manufacturers ramp up their preparations,” said an official from the Agriculture Ministry.
“About 50% to 60% of the annual supply, which averages around 1.2 million tonnes, is consumed during this period, with the remainder used by kimchi manufacturers. This policy aims to secure a stable supply for consumers and prevent potential price surges.”
Despite initial fears of supply disruptions due to the lengthy heat wave this year, the situation has been effectively managed, the official added.
Wholesale prices of napa cabbage grown in the summer, which had surged to 9,537 won or about US$6.85 per head in September – up threefold from July – have now stabilised to around 5,610 won per head in October as fall-harvested napa cabbage has entered the market. — The Korea Herald/ANN
