South Korea faces kimchi shortage as cabbage prices hit record high

South Korea's agriculture sector is facing a kimchi shortage due to a poor harvest and record high prices for cabbage. According to South Korean media, the price of a single head of cabbage has increased by 80% compared to a year ago, to more than 9,500 won ($6.84). This is causing concern for households, as the season for making kimchi - a cultural tradition closely linked to the Korean way of life - is approaching. In recent years, South Korea's agriculture sector has become increasingly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. There have been consecutive longer and more intense heat waves, as well as droughts that have severely damaged crop yields. In 2024, extreme weather conditions sharply reduced cabbage yields. This phenomenon, often referred to as "heat inflation," describes inflationary pressures caused by extreme weather, pushing up prices of staple foods such as cabbage. Notably, the South Korean government's response to the surge in prices of cabbage, an ...