Summer cabbage production drops 25%... Government pledges "full mobilization of available means" amid golden cabbage concerns

Published Jun 15, 2025

Tridge summary

(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Shin Seon-mi = As projections emerge that this summer's cabbage production will be at just three-quarters of the normal level, concerns are rising about a potential repeat of the summer "golden cabbage" crisis.

The government plans to be fully prepared by increasing cabbage reserves and releasing them into the market if supply becomes unstable.

On the 15th, the Korea Rural Economic Institute (KREI) predicted in its 'Agricultural Outlook June Issue' report that this summer's cabbage production will decrease by 24.5% compared to normal levels, reaching 236,000 tons.

However, production is expected to be 6.0% higher than last year, which experienced a summer cabbage supply shortage.

The production forecast reflects planted (intended) area and yield (unit production).

KREI projected that this summer's cabbage cultivation area will be 3,418 hectares, decreasing by 8.8% from last year and 23.9% from the normal year.

KREI noted that "cultivation area is expected to decrease due to continuous cropping damage, fallow land from seed selection, and difficulties in cultivation from temperature increases."

They further explained that "the weak cabbage market price during planting season will also influence the reduction in cultivation area."

When cabbage production decreases, prices will rise.

Last year, abnormally long high-temperature periods and drought led to poor summer cabbage growth. Consequently, reduced production caused retail prices to surge to nearly double the previous year's levels.

At the time, not only consumers but also food companies like Daesang and CJ CheilJedang experienced cabbage supply difficulties, temporarily suspending sales of some packaged kimchi products.

In response, the government released reserves into the market and imported cabbage from China. Simultaneously, they supported discount events by distributors to lower retail prices.

As the summer "golden cabbage" crisis has been recurring almost annually, consumers worried about cabbage prices were easily found.

On the 13th, a consumer at the Dobong-gu Nonghyup Hanaro Mart Changdong branch said, "I'll buy and make kimchi before prices rise significantly..."

Original content

(Seoul=Yonhap News) By Shin Sun-mi = As projections emerge that this summer's cabbage production will be at just three-quarters of the normal level, concerns are rising about a potential recurrence of the summer "golden cabbage" crisis. The government plans to maximize preparations by increasing cabbage reserves and releasing them into the market if supply becomes unstable. On the 15th, the Korean Rural Economic Institute (KREI) predicted in its 'Agricultural Outlook June Issue' report that this summer's cabbage production will decrease by 24.5% compared to the average, totaling 236,000 tons. However, production is expected to be 6.0% higher than last year, which experienced a summer cabbage supply shortage. The production forecast reflects the cultivation area and unit yield. KREI projected that this summer's cabbage cultivation area will be 3,418 hectares, a decrease of 8.8% from last year and 23.9% from the average. KREI explained that "the cultivation area is expected to ...
Source: Yna

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