While the price of kimchi has risen by more than 30% over the past five years, it is expected that it will increase even more this year, suggesting that measures are urgently needed.
According to the data received from the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation on the 21st by Rep. Lee Dal-gon, a member of the National Assembly’s Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock, Food, and Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Committee, the consumer price of kimchi ingredients for a four-person household was 324,000 won last year from 240,000 won in 2017. increased by 35%.
This year, consumer prices for kimchi ingredients are highly likely to increase.
The average wholesale price of 10 kg of cabbage from the 1st to the 15th of this month was 34,644 won, 2.6 times higher than a year ago (13,354 won).
The wholesale price of radish (20 kg), another main ingredient, also rose by 192.8%, and onion (15 kg) became more expensive by 60.3%.
The wholesale price of dried red pepper (30 kg) and peeled garlic (20 kg) rose 9.5% and 6.2%, respectively, compared to a year ago.
The Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation cited a decrease in production as the cause of the increase in the price of agricultural products.
This year, the cultivated area of each agricultural product has decreased, and the crop is sluggish due to the high temperature during the growing season and the heat wave, rainy season, and typhoon during the harvest season.
He also explained that the price of raw materials such as pesticides, fertilizers and oil rose, and an increase in labor costs also had an effect on the price increase.
(Photo = Yonhap News)