Chinese Imports Dominate Korean Tables... Domestic Vegetables Lose Out to Value for Money [Why&Next]

Some Vegetable Imports Surge Over Tenfold... 90% Sourced from China
Kimchi Imports Reach Record High... Trade Deficit Widens
Soaring Prices Cause Drop in Domestic Produce... Food Service Industry Shifts to Imports

Imported foods are rapidly taking over Korean dining tables. Amid prolonged high inflation and the added impact of abnormal weather, imports have surged not only for vegetables such as cabbage, onions, and especially napa cabbage, whose domestic production has declined, but also for mackerel. The government's policy of expanding the list of items eligible for quota tariffs to stabilize prices has further fueled the increase in imports.

According to the Korea Trade Statistics Promotion Institute and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on May 21, the value of imported food in the first quarter of this year reached $8.669 billion (4.707 million tons), up 3.5% from the same period last year. The overall increase was driven especially by higher imports of agricultural and marine products.

Prices of vegetables such as cabbage, radish, and carrots are rising one after another, turning concerns about food costs into reality. On the 24th, radishes were displayed at Yangjae Hanaro Mart in Seoul. The selling price of radishes is approaching 5,000 won, about 2,000 won higher than last year. 2025.03.24 Photo by Yoon Dongju

Some vegetable imports surge more than tenfold... 90% from China

The item with the largest increase was cabbage. Cabbage imports soared more than thirteenfold to $6.08 million (19,989 tons). Onion imports also more than doubled, rising from $5.52 million (14,509 tons) to $12.82 million (42,678 tons). Carrot imports increased by over 30% to $12,830 (29,917 tons), compared to last year’s $9,840 (25,153 tons). Kimchi imports also rose by 17% to $47.56 million (80,970 tons), up from $40.74 million (73,515 tons) the previous year. More than 90% of imported vegetables come from China.

The main reason cited is the poor domestic harvest of napa cabbage, cabbage, and radish last fall and winter, due to abnormal heat and cold waves. As prices soared, the government applied quota tariffs to these items to stabilize prices and increased import volumes. For cabbage, radish, napa cabbage, and carrot, the tariff rate was reduced to 0% until last month.

Although the tariff rate for onions is as high as 135%, the government expanded supply by introducing a quota of 20,645 tons at a lower 50% tariff rate until early last month. Until now, the government has maintained high tariffs on major cash crops such as napa cabbage, radish, and onion to cushion price shocks through market opening. Carrot and radish have been subject to a 30% tariff, while napa cabbage and cabbage have had a 27% tariff. In the first quarter of this year, cabbage prices rose by more than 60% compared to the previous year. Prices for onions and carrots increased by 80% and 20%, respectively.

Sesame seeds are no exception. Import value jumped from $26.02 million (11,230 tons) to $39.38 million (18,829 tons). As sesame, widely used in kimchi and vegetable dishes, saw its domestic price rise by 10% recently, dependence on imports has increased.

Among seafood, mackerel, a staple side dish, saw its import value jump by more than 55%, from $36.49 million (16,399 tons) to $67.89 million (25,454 tons). Norway is the main supplier of imported mackerel, and as domestic catches decline, competitively priced imports are rapidly gaining ground.

Kimchi imports hit all-time high... Trade deficit widens

During this period, kimchi imports reached an all-time high. In the first quarter, kimchi imports amounted to $47.56 million (about 67 billion won), up 16.7% from $40.75 million a year earlier. The import volume of kimchi increased by 10.1% to 80,970 tons. Due to the high exchange rate, the growth rate of import value outpaced that of volume. Last year, kimchi imports also reached a record high. If this year’s first-quarter trend continues, kimchi imports are expected to surpass last year’s record.

As imports outpace exports, the kimchi trade deficit is widening. Last year, kimchi exports reached a record $163.57 million (about 230 billion won), up 5.1%. However, imports have grown even more rapidly, resulting in a trade deficit for three consecutive years since 2022. In particular, last year’s deficit was $26.29 million, 3.3 times greater than the previous year’s $7.98 million. In 2021, when a video surfaced of Chinese workers making kimchi while naked among massive piles of napa cabbage?the so-called "naked kimchi" scandal?the trade balance was in surplus.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety explained, "A combination of factors such as reduced domestic production, poor harvests due to abnormal weather, and rising international grain prices have all contributed. With the government applying quota tariffs, import volumes are rapidly increasing."

Soaring prices lead to decline in domestic produce... Food service industry shifts to imports

With vegetable prices remaining high, the distribution industry is also turning to imports. A representative from a major supermarket said, "As domestic vegetable prices have surged, there are more cases where Chinese cabbage or carrots are bundled and sold. This is a strategy to meet consumer demand for value for money."

The food service industry is also rapidly shifting to imported products. A representative from a Korean set menu restaurant that uses kimchi stated, "Domestic prices have risen so much that we are substituting imported kimchi for some menu items." The food ingredient distribution sector is also increasing its use of imported agricultural products.

The expansion of imported food consumption is closely linked to price-driven consumer sentiment. An official from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety analyzed, "As the economy slows, there is a growing emphasis on cost-effectiveness and convenience, leading to a steady rise in demand for imported foods."

Experts warn that while expanding imports may be effective for short-term price control, it could undermine the foundation of domestic agriculture in the long run. A representative from the Korea Rural Economic Institute said, "Repeated use of quota tariffs increases import dependency and weakens the production motivation of domestic farmers."

There are also calls for greater attention to the hygiene and quality of imported foods. Since issues such as pesticide residues and foreign matter in imported vegetables are repeatedly pointed out, more precise inspections and strengthened post-import management are necessary.

According to data from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, in the first quarter, there were 303 cases (1,288 tons by weight) of imported foods that failed to meet standards, accounting for 0.03% of total imports. The main reasons were violation of standards and specifications (25.2%), improper use of food additives (22.3%), and excessive pesticide residues (21.9%). In fact, some imported cabbages and onions from China were found to have excessive pesticide residues. The government plans to respond by adjusting inspection ratios and strengthening inspection standards for items with increasing import volumes.