The Future Is More Problematic... Professor Choi Jaecheon Explains Why Cabbage Costs 20,000 Won

"Environment Is Borrowed from Future Generations... Must Not Be Damaged"

Choi Jae-cheon, a distinguished professor at Ewha Womans University’s Department of Eco-Science, expressed concern that ecosystems are undergoing rapid changes due to the climate crisis. While wild flora and fauna are gradually migrating to adapt to climate change and survive, he pointed out that crops cultivated and harvested by humans, such as apples and napa cabbage, are unable to adapt, leading to poor harvests and consequently contributing to rising prices.

The price of a head of napa cabbage exceeding 20,000 won and the surge in agricultural product prices are primarily attributed to poor crop yields.
[Image source=Getty Images]

Choi, who previously served as the director of the National Institute of Ecology, appeared on CBS Radio’s "Kim Hyun-jung’s News Show" on the 4th and said, "Terrestrial animals are moving to higher latitudes and altitudes. Animals moving to higher latitudes are fine because the area is wide, but animals moving up mountains are facing problems." He added, "The area decreases as you go higher up the mountain. This creates competition, and animals are starting to die off. It’s truly bitter."

Professor Choi also mentioned that wild plants are migrating northward to cooler areas in response to climate change. He said, "Wild plants that cannot adapt are dying off, and those that survive are gradually expanding their distribution northward."

Choi Jaecheon, Distinguished Professor, Department of Eco-Science, Ewha Womans University. Photo by Kang Jinhyung aymsdream@

However, he pointed out that crops cultivated by humans are not properly adapting to climate change, causing problems. Professor Choi explained that the soaring prices of agricultural products, such as napa cabbage costing over 20,000 won per head, are mainly due to poor harvests. "Crops cannot move on their own; humans have to relocate them. Farmers expected good yields like last year and continued farming in the same locations, but they are now repeatedly facing poor harvests," he said.

He continued, "It’s not due to other market factors, but the harvest itself is in a very poor state. Apples originally come from Daegu, but now there are almost no apples from Daegu. Currently, the best apple harvests are near the Demilitarized Zone in Gangwon Province," he added.

Predicting a sixth mass extinction within this century, Professor Choi emphasized, "The environment is something we borrow from future generations. The most important thing is to 'avoid damaging it.'" He warned, "The default is that it’s not mine; it belongs to future generations, so the principle is not to do it and not to be able to do it. In our society, damaging the environment is considered normal and seen as beneficial to the economy. But there is no room for such wordplay anymore."