"Why Is This Happening?" After "Chinese Kimchi," Now "Japanese Kimchi" Appears

Two Years Ago, Labeled as "Originated from China"
Seo Kyungduk: "Continuous Protest Emails Are Being Sent"

German supermarket Aldi labels its own brand kimchi as from Japan and China. Seokyungdeok Facebook

ALDI, known as Germany's "national supermarket," has sparked controversy once again by introducing "kimchi" as "Japanese kimchi" on its official website. Recently, the company was also embroiled in controversy after it was revealed that it was selling kimchi labeled as "Chinese kimchi."

On October 17, Professor Seo Kyungduk of Sungshin Women's University stated via his social media that he learned about the issue through reports from Koreans residing in Germany. He added, "This time, it was labeled as 'Japanisches Kimchi' (Japanese kimchi)."

ALDI, Germany's leading discount supermarket, operates over 12,000 stores worldwide. As of 2023, it recorded sales of approximately 112 billion euros (about 165 trillion won), making it one of Europe's largest retail companies. The stores are run under a "no-frills" strategy, minimizing unnecessary decorations and advertisements, and focusing on private label products. This approach has enabled ALDI to maintain high efficiency and price competitiveness, earning strong support from consumers.

Professor Seo explained, "In particular, two years ago, the company’s kimchi products were labeled with the phrase 'Original aus China' in German and 'Originale dalla Cina' in Italian, indicating that the kimchi originated from China. I immediately sent a protest email, which led to the removal of this phrase." He continued, "Currently, Koreans living in Germany are continuously sending protest emails to demand the removal of the 'Chinese kimchi' and 'Japanese kimchi' labels."

He emphasized, "If this situation continues, Europeans may mistakenly believe that kimchi is a Chinese or Japanese dish. Therefore, it is essential to change the labeling to reflect the correct origin."