Cabbage Price Surge Leads to 'Kimchi Crisis'... Sold-Out Situations in Marts and Online (Comprehensive)

Shortage of Packaged Kimchi Online and Offline
Increased Demand Due to Rising Vegetable Prices
Supply Instability Amid Poor Harvests
Hoarding Following Price Hike News
Chinese Kimchi Gains 'Reflected Benefit'... Imports Increase

On the 23rd, as the prices of kimchi-making vegetables such as napa cabbage and radish continue to soar, a notice about the sold-out status of some products due to heavy rain and typhoons is displayed at the packaged kimchi sales counter in a large supermarket in Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporters Seung-yoon Song and Jin-young Jeon] "This is the first time I've seen a supermarket without any kimchi."

On the afternoon of the 22nd, at a large supermarket in Cheongna-dong, Seo-gu, Incheon, some brands of napa cabbage kimchi had disappeared from the kimchi display despite it being early evening. Except for types of kimchi that do not use napa cabbage, such as young radish kimchi, chonggak kimchi, and mustard leaf kimchi, napa cabbage kimchi was almost nonexistent. Those who came late to the kimchi section left disappointed, only touching other products. On that day, housewife In-ah Oh (34) said, "I came to the supermarket to stock up because kimchi prices were rising, but I couldn't buy any," adding, "Vegetable prices have risen so much that it seemed better to buy kimchi rather than make it, but I didn't expect it would be this hard to even purchase."

On the same day, a similar scene unfolded at a large supermarket in Yeouido-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. While other sections looked normal, the kimchi display selling packaged kimchi was crowded. Customers trying to buy kimchi in advance kept coming continuously, and those who couldn't purchase had to leave empty-handed.

As napa cabbage prices soar ahead of the kimjang season, the feared "kimchi crisis" is becoming a reality. The surge in prices of kimjang vegetables has increased demand for packaged kimchi, but poor harvests have destabilized supply. Shortages have already occurred in large supermarkets and online shopping malls, and some large supermarkets have even imposed purchase limits. As signs of further price increases for packaged kimchi appear, hoarding behavior has emerged among consumers.

As of the 23rd, most napa cabbage kimchi products on Daesang Cheongjeongwon’s online mall ‘Jeongwon e-Shop’ are temporarily out of stock, except for some items. Except for canned kimchi, stir-fried kimchi, and young radish kimchi, even children’s kimchi products are difficult to purchase. On CJ CheilJedang’s official online mall, The Market, ‘Sliced Napa Cabbage Kimchi’ and ‘Yeosu Dolsan Mustard Leaf Kimchi’ are sold out. Similarly, Pulmuone’s online mall Shop Pulmuone has temporarily sold out all items except ‘Radish & Napa Cabbage Kimchi’ and ‘Children’s Kimchi’.

The offline situation is similar. Large supermarkets in Seoul and Incheon visited on that day, as well as nearby small and medium-sized supermarkets, all had difficulty selling kimchi. In some residential areas, even small-packaged kimchi sold at convenience stores ran out.

Large supermarkets are closely monitoring the situation. However, the three major supermarket chains have not yet considered purchase restrictions. Lotte Mart reported that while there are differences by store, stock is typically sold out around 5 p.m., so they do not see a strong need for purchase limits yet. Homeplus is also monitoring the situation, expecting to secure stock through partner companies, including for key products. E-Mart has not issued any separate announcements.

This phenomenon was triggered by the soaring prices of vegetables used to make kimchi. According to data submitted by the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation to Lee Dal-gon, a member of the National Assembly’s Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee from the People Power Party, the cost of ingredients for kimjang for a family of four rose 35% from 240,000 won in November 2017 to 324,000 won in December last year. The price increase feels even more significant now. As of the previous day, the average wholesale price of 10 kg of napa cabbage was 34,080 won, a 128% increase compared to 14,900 won a year ago. Other kimjang vegetables also saw similar rises. Radish jumped over 148% from 12,365 won for 20 kg a year ago to 30,760 won now, onions rose 58% to 23,100 won for 15 kg from 14,591 won last year, green onions increased 18% from 7,176 won to 8,498 won per kg, and garlic (Daeseo variety) rose over 6% from 156,000 won to 166,200 won for 20 kg.

On the 23rd, as the prices of kimchi-making vegetables such as napa cabbage and radish continue to soar, citizens are shopping at a large supermarket in downtown Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

Given this situation, buying kimchi has become more practical than making it, increasing preference for packaged kimchi. However, due to pest damage caused by heavy rains this summer, napa cabbage harvests were poorer than usual, creating a supply-demand imbalance. Moreover, packaged kimchi prices, which had already risen earlier this year, are expected to rise again or have already increased, causing explosive growth in purchase demand. Daesang, the leading packaged kimchi company, plans to raise the price of Jongga Kimchi by an average of 9.8% starting next month. CJ CheilJedang raised Bibigo Kimchi prices by an average of 11% from the 15th, and the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation is also preparing to increase prices for Korean Agricultural Cooperative Kimchi. Other small and large companies are also joining the price hike trend.

Accordingly, imports of relatively cheaper Chinese kimchi are also showing signs of increase. According to Korea Customs Service trade statistics, imports of Chinese kimchi from the beginning of this year through last month totaled $109.62 million, a 27.6% increase from $86.099 million during the same period last year. In particular, last month’s kimchi import value was $13.376 million, more than 41.1% higher than August of last year.

An industry insider said, "Due to abnormal weather, napa cabbage harvests have been poor, and sudden demand increases have temporarily caused a kimchi supply shortage," adding, "We expect this situation to ease from the end of this month and prices to stabilize somewhat by the end of the year."

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