Jeonnam Province's 'Public-Private Cooperative Domestic Kimchi Certification Label System' Smoothly Progressing

Achieving 90% of This Year's Goal of 5,000 Locations

[Muan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jeonnam Province, which first implemented the public-private collaborative ‘Domestic Kimchi Usage Certified Business Labeling System’ nationwide last April, has achieved 90% of its annual target of 5,000 certified locations this year, indicating smooth progress and contributing to a reduction in domestic kimchi imports.

According to the province on the 6th, before the implementation of the ‘Domestic Kimchi Usage Labeling System,’ there was only one certified restaurant in the province, but as of the end of September, five months after the system was introduced, the number has significantly increased to 4,499 locations.

This accounts for 46% of the total 9,862 certified businesses nationwide, the highest number in the country.

By city and county, Yeosu recorded the highest number with 489 locations, followed by Suncheon with 438, Gwangyang 369, Mokpo 330, Haenam 297, Naju 281, Muan 240, and Sinan 220.

By type, restaurants were the most numerous with 326 locations, schools including kindergartens and daycare centers had 1,308, public institutions such as city and county offices, companies, hospitals, and other group meal service providers had 158, and rest areas had 7.

The number of businesses certified under the ‘Domestic Kimchi Usage Labeling System’ has increased significantly not only in Jeonnam but nationwide. As of the end of last year, there were only 1,220 locations, but this has surged eightfold to 9,862 locations.

This is analyzed to be because Jeonnam’s public-private collaborative ‘Domestic Kimchi Usage Certified Business Labeling System’ was selected as an exemplary case by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and has spread nationwide.

By city and province, Chungnam has 990 locations, Gyeonggi 818, Seoul 629, Gwangju 422, Jeonbuk 379, and Gyeongbuk 303.

Efforts to promote kimchi consumption, such as the Domestic Kimchi Usage Labeling System, combined with the avoidance of imported kimchi following reports of videos showing naked napa cabbage pickling from China, have led to a significant decrease in kimchi imports.

In fact, the cumulative kimchi import volume until the end of July was 141,627 tons (88.1 billion KRW), down 8.4% from 154,685 tons (96 billion KRW) during the same period last year.

The ‘Domestic Kimchi Usage Certified Business Labeling System’ promoted by the province certifies restaurants, schools, and others that receive kimchi made from 100% domestic ingredients from producers or make it themselves for use.

The province and the Domestic Kimchi Voluntary Labeling Committee are collaborating to promote this.

Restaurants and institutions wishing to be certified can inquire at the city or county agricultural departments, eup/myeon/dong community welfare centers, or the Korea Kimchi Association and apply via email.

Kang Hachun, Director of Agricultural Food Distribution at Jeonnam Province, said, “Having achieved this year’s target of 5,000 locations, we will expand the Domestic Kimchi Usage Labeling System into a nationwide kimchi consumption promotion campaign. We hope all citizens will participate in the kimchi consumption promotion movement by properly understanding kimchi and using restaurants that serve domestic kimchi.”

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