4 out of 10 households in South Korea have family members, primarily children, who do not consume kimchi. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Mar. 21 (Korea Bizwire) – A recent survey has revealed that 4 out of 10 households in South Korea have family members, primarily children, who do not consume kimchi, the traditional dish of fermented vegetables. As households increasingly rely on store-bought kimchi, there is a growing demand for clearer labeling regarding levels of spiciness and fermentation duration.
The report on the kimchi industry, released on March 20 by the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT), surveyed 3,183 consumer households. A staggering 40.9% of respondents indicated that their children do not eat kimchi at all, followed by 15.3% reporting the respondent themselves, 12.7% citing their spouse, and 5.6% mentioning other cohabitants such as siblings.
When asked about the reasons for not consuming kimchi within the household, the primary factor cited was an inability to tolerate spicy foods (30.8%), followed by a dislike for the aroma of kimchi (16.6%), a lack of appealing flavor (16.5%), and concerns about high sodium content (14.1%).
The survey also revealed that 42.7% of households reported a declining consumption of kimchi, while only 6% reported an increase, and 51.3% stated no significant change.
In terms of kimchi procurement, 30.6% of households purchased commercial kimchi products, 28.8% obtained kimchi from family members such as parents or siblings, 24.7% made their own kimchi at home, and 15% received kimchi from relatives or acquaintances.
Interestingly, 71.6% of respondents stated that they check the country of origin labeling for the main ingredients in kimchi served at restaurants or cafeterias, with a higher rate among women (75.3%) compared to men (65.9%).
When asked about the reasons for not consuming kimchi within the household, the primary factor cited was an inability to tolerate spicy foods. (Image courtesy of Kobiz Media)
There was a strong demand for clearer labeling on commercial kimchi products, with 83.4% of respondents favoring the introduction of a labeling system for spiciness, and 90% supporting the implementation of fermentation level indicators. Additionally, 89.4% called for sodium content labeling, and 85.4% desired nutritional information on kimchi products.
Regarding grocery shopping habits, 44.1% of households reported making purchases two or three times per week, followed by once a week (28.3%), once every two weeks (10.2%), almost daily (8.8%), and once a month (5.8%).
The average household expenditure on groceries was 72,289 won per shopping trip, a 3.6% increase from the previous year and a 20.7% increase compared to two years prior. Expenditures between 50,000 and 100,000 won were the most common (36.9%), followed by over 100,000 won (30.9%), 30,000-50,000 won (18.1%), 10,000-30,000 won (13.5%), and under 10,000 won (0.5%).
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
