It was found that Chinese kimchi imported annually exceeds 280,000 tons (t).
We spend 180 billion won on purchasing kimchi from China.
According to the data submitted by the National Statistical Office ahead of the National Assembly's Planning and Finance Committee's audit, today (12th), 285,186 tons of Chinese kimchi imported into Korea last year.
Although social awareness of Chinese kimchi is not good, such as a so-called 'naked kimchi video' that makes unsanitary pickled cabbages unsanitary, about 280,000 tons of kimchi from China is being imported steadily every year.
Last year, the cost of buying Chinese kimchi amounted to 152.42 million dollars (182.3 billion won).
According to a survey conducted by the Food Service Industry Research Institute on 1,000 domestic restaurants in April of this year, the proportion of imported kimchi was 43.1%.
However, since the 'naked kimchi' scandal, the ratio has decreased by 4.0%.
More than 4 out of 10 restaurants use imported kimchi, where imported kimchi means made in China.
Regardless of consumer perception, restaurants are not very willing to replace Chinese kimchi with domestic ones.
because of the price difference.
In particular, there are many analyzes that it has become more difficult to use domestically produced kimchi in a situation where the company is experiencing financial difficulties due to the COVID-19 crisis.