Song Miryeong "Cabbage at Large Mart Costs Around 3,000 Won per Head... Don't Worry About Kimchi-Making"

At the Press Conference on the 30th

Song Miryeong, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, announced on the 30th that "the price of one head of cabbage at large supermarkets will drop to the 3,000 won range."

Minister Song held a press briefing at the Government Complex Sejong on the same day and said, "I directly confirmed the cabbage selling price at large supermarkets, which is set every Thursday," adding this statement.

Song Miryeong, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, announced on the 30th that "the price of one head of cabbage at large supermarkets will drop to the 3,000 won range."

Song Miryeong, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, is speaking at a press briefing held at the Government Sejong Complex on the 30th.

Minister Song explained, "The wholesale price of cabbage, which was 9,500 won per head in mid-September and 8,000 won in mid-October, dropped to 2,900 won on the 29th. The production areas have expanded to Chungbuk, Gyeongbuk, and Chungnam, and from November, cabbage will also be available in the southern regions, increasing the supply. Large supermarkets set prices by adding a margin to the average wholesale price from two weeks prior, so from this Thursday (the 31st) to next Wednesday, the price of one head of cabbage will be in the 3,000 won range."

Minister Song anticipated that with the main kimchi-making season approaching, increased supply and additional discounts will further reduce the burden on consumers. He said, "Major kimchi ingredients will receive 20% government support and 40% store discounts from the 7th of next month until December 4th. Especially, three items including salt and salted seafood will be discounted by 50% for ten days starting from the 20th of next month. Since pork is consumed a lot during the kimchi-making season, the Korean Pork Producers Association will also offer a 20% discount, so people can make kimchi without worries and in large quantities."

On the same day, Minister Song announced plans to reduce rice cultivation area by 80,000 hectares next year to resolve the recurring problem of rice oversupply. He emphasized, "We should have strongly reduced the cultivation area to stabilize rice prices, but the failure to do so remains a regret. We do not want to repeat the same mistake next year. We will strongly promote an 80,000-hectare reduction in rice cultivation area next year."

According to Statistics Korea, this year’s rice cultivation area was 697,714 hectares, a decrease of only 12,980 hectares compared to last year’s 708,012 hectares. Accordingly, Statistics Korea projected that this year’s rice production will be 3,657,000 tons, a 1.2% decrease from last year’s 3,702,000 tons.

Minister Song stated, "Since rice supply is abundant, rice prices are falling, but if rice prices rise (even with a reduction in cultivation area), farmers’ income will increase. We have set the target for reducing rice cultivation area to 80,000 hectares next year and will promote reductions by receiving regional requests."

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