The prolonged heatwave has disrupted the supply of napa cabbage, leading to what is being referred to as a "Kimchi shortage."
One restaurant owner has reluctantly discontinued the self-serve kimchi bar, which allowed unlimited servings, and now only offers kimchi to customers who specifically request it.
Additionally, the owner of a Korean restaurant in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, lamented, "My supplier informed me that it might be difficult to provide the cabbage I ordered next month. The procurement of napa cabbage has become tough, and I can no longer prepare kimchi at the previous price, so I’ve limited the servings to customers who ask for it."
According to the Agricultural and Fishery Food Distribution Corporation’s Agricultural Distribution Information (KAMIS), the price of one head of napa cabbage in the first week of October was 8,800 won (about 970 yen), a 27.6% increase compared to the same period last year. Although this is slightly lower than the peak price recorded on September 27, which reached 9,963 won (about 1,065 yen), prices remain high.
As this situation drags on, some consumers are turning to pre-packaged kimchi, which is less affected by price hikes. However, unusual occurrences are happening—5,000 sets of kimchi sold out in just four minutes after a TV shopping program began, and online shopping malls are seeing similar trends.
Industry insiders warn that unless the price of napa cabbage, the key ingredient in kimchi, stabilizes, it’s only a matter of time before the cost of packaged kimchi also rises.
For Korean shopping and business agency services
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