The Democratic Party and the Government: "Increase Supply of Cabbage and Radish... Up to 50% Discount on Agricultural and Marine Products"

Cabbage Supply Up 10%, Radish Supply Up 14%
"Supply Expected to Stabilize After November Despite Heatwave"

The People Power Party and the government will increase the supply of kimchi-making ingredients such as napa cabbage and radish and support agricultural product discount events to reduce consumers' shopping basket burdens during the kimjang season.

On the 23rd, Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, and others listened to the remarks of Nam In-sook, president of the Korea Consumer Organization Council, at the ruling and opposition parties' meeting on measures to stabilize the supply of kimchi-making ingredients held at the National Assembly. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

On the 23rd, Kim Sang-hoon, the Policy Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, after concluding the 'Private-Public-Party-Government Council on Stabilizing the Supply and Demand of Kimchi Ingredients,' stated, "We have decided to expand the supply of kimchi ingredients to the market by utilizing government reserves and contract farming volumes." He added, "Nonghyup will supply 24,000 tons of napa cabbage under contract farming, which is 10% more than last year, and the government will maintain a constant reserve of 1,000 tons to supply flexibly according to market conditions."

For radish, a major kimchi ingredient, Nonghyup will supply 9,100 tons under contract farming, a 14% increase from last year, and will also provide direct discounts (up to 30%) at traditional markets and marts. For seasonings such as domestic garlic and onions, 500 tons will be supplied to wholesale markets, and 5,000 tons of solar salt will be supplied at discounted prices.

Chairman Kim emphasized, "The government will invest in the agricultural and marine products discount support budget to reduce consumer burdens through discount support events offering up to 50% off." He added, "When purchasing kimchi ingredients at large marts and traditional markets, government support combined with company discounts will allow consumers to receive discounts of up to 40% on agricultural products and up to 50% on marine products." Accordingly, the government will provide information on major discount events and purchase locations during the kimjang season. To ensure consumers can purchase ingredients with confidence, inspections against false origin distribution and residual pesticide tests will also be conducted.

Despite poor crop conditions for napa cabbage and radish due to the ongoing heatwave this year, the party and government expect supply to stabilize after November, when the kimjang season intensifies. They also view the supply conditions for secondary ingredients such as red pepper powder and garlic as favorable, ensuring sufficient supply during the peak kimjang season. Consumer prices for marine products such as solar salt and salted shrimp are also maintaining levels lower than the previous year.