[Autumn Radish and Cabbage Field] “It’s Not a Problem Even if Production Amounts Decrease… I Wish the Government and Media Wouldn’t Make a Frantic Frenzy”

The article highlights the concerns surrounding the high prices of cabbage and radish, essential ingredients for kimchi, in South Korea due to supply issues and hot weather conditions. Despite the government's assurances of stabilization, the cost of kimchi is expected to keep falling due to decreased production and increased field management costs, leading to potential harm for both consumers and farmers. Affected farmers express frustration over the situation, noting that the climate crisis and rural labor shortage are exacerbating the problem. The article also discusses the effects of high temperatures and drought on radish production, contributing to a significant decrease in both quantity and quality, alongside declining prices. Despite these challenges, farmers in Gochang-gun and Buan-gun remain hopeful, believing that the reduction in production will not significantly impact consumption.

[Korea Agricultural and Fishery Newspaper, Woo Jung-soo and Ko Seong-jin] “I wish they would just leave cabbage and radish alone. If they just leave it alone, the prices will stabilize on their own, but because the media is making a fuss and the government is acting strangely, prices will eventually fall due to sluggish consumption, causing damage to both consumers and farmers.” There have been continuous media reports about the “Gimpo Tribe” who are giving up on making kimchi this year due to the ridiculously high prices of kimchi vegetables such as cabbage and radish. This year is particularly bad, and it has been concluded that problems with the supply of kimchi vegetables have occurred even before the autumn cabbage and radish used for kimchi have fully grown. The government explains that when the full-scale kimchi season begins, the shipping areas and supply of kimchi ingredients will increase, and the cost of kimchi, which is currently at 221,794 won, will soon stabilize at ...