"Kimjang, If You're Going to Do It, Make It Simple" Small-Quantity Kimjang Packages Popular 'Soaring' (Comprehensive)

Increasing Consumers Seeking Convenience
Rising Prices Increase Kimchi-Making Burden
Popularity of Small-Size Kimchi Kits and Salted Napa Cabbage Rising

Market Kurly Easy Kimchi-Making Package

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Saeng-hye] This year, the number of Gimpo-jok (kimchi-making groups) has notably increased, with more people opting for small-portion kimchi-making for 1-2 people rather than large-scale kimchi-making. This trend is due to the growing consumer preference for convenience and the increased burden of kimchi-making caused by rising costs of ingredients amid this year's adverse weather conditions.

According to the distribution industry on the 12th, the sales volume of domestically produced salted napa cabbage in small packages under 10kg on Permill, a specialty food platform operated by Siktak-iitneun-salm, is estimated to grow about 2 to 2.5 times compared to the same period last year. Permill introduced the 'Value-packed Kimchi-making Kit' for consumers preparing small-scale kimchi-making for the first time this year. Choosing the minimum quantity of 2kg salted napa cabbage and 1kg kimchi seasoning costs 23,900 KRW, which is relatively affordable.

GS25 Kimchi-making Kit

GS25, a convenience store operated by GS Retail, also launched a 3.2kg 'Kimchi-making Kit' this year for single-person households to easily make small-portion kimchi themselves. It consists of 2kg salted napa cabbage from Goesan, Chungbuk, and 1.2kg of central-style kimchi filling made from domestic ingredients, delivering the most popular kimchi flavor. Even beginners can complete kimchi-making easily within 30 minutes. The price is 24,800 KRW. As the kimchi-making kit gains popularity, sales related to kimchi-making from the 5th to the 9th have increased about threefold compared to the same period last year.

Market Kurly started selling the 'Convenient Kimchi-making Package,' which bundles salted napa cabbage and kimchi filling for one-time kimchi-making, since last year. Based on sales from the 4th to the 9th, sales volume increased by 239% compared to last year. The two-person kimchi-making package, sold for the first time this year, accounts for 51% of total convenient kimchi-making package sales. The two-person package (10kg salted napa cabbage, 5kg kimchi seasoning) is sold for 62,284 KRW.

On Gmarket, sales of 10kg salted napa cabbage increased by 13%, and 5kg kimchi seasoning by 16% compared to the same period last year (October 9 to November 8). Sales of kimchi-making supplies such as kimchi mats (7%), fish sauce (23%), and red pepper powder (5%) also rose accordingly.

Meanwhile, according to Korea Price Information Service, due to prolonged rainy seasons and consecutive typhoons, prices of all kimchi-making ingredients except fermented seafood and ginger have risen compared to last year. Prices of vegetables such as napa cabbage and radish are expected to stabilize after mid-month.

As a result, the number of people giving up kimchi-making altogether has also increased. A survey conducted by Daesang Jongga Jip on its blog from the 19th to the 23rd of last month, targeting 2,845 housewives, found that 56.2% of respondents declared they would give up kimchi-making. The main reasons were 'concerns about hard labor and stress (31.2%)', followed by 'high vegetable prices due to prolonged rainy season (28.1%)', and 'unnecessary due to small family size (16.4%)'.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.