Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Real Reality]

Korea Imports More Kimchi Than It Exports
This may be a bit difficult to understand but Korea actually imports more kimchi than it exports abroad. According to figures released by the Korea International Trade Association, the country purchased some 14,700 tons of kimchi from overseas during the year's first four months, that's a staggering 174 percent jump from the same period last year. During this period, kimchi exports declined by close to 10 percent to about 12,000 tons. KITA officials note the increase in kimchi exports can be explained through what's called the "boomerang" effect. In recent years, local kimchi producers have moved their facilities to China to make kimchi at a cheaper cost.
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200405/200405240019.html

[weatherman]

It is good to see that Korean companies are getting smart. Kimchi is Kimchi to me. As long as it is made the Korean way, I don't have a problem were it comes from.

[bignate]

[hellofaniceguy]

This was a "free talking topic" and NOT a single student out of 13 believed the article! They all thought is was bogus and the news people were starting rumors!
Go figure!

[peppergirl]

[VanIslander]

Gimchi has a long history in Korea dating way before the Portuguese brought the hot chillies beneficial to preserving and fermenting the vegetables. I have no doubt that China may have had a means of preserving cabbage, leeks and the like, through long winters. But I doubt whether gimchi, with its distinctive hot spice, came from China. I suspect Korean businessmen simply find it cheaper to produce their products in the nearby nation and then import it (plus serve a small percentage of a very large market there).

But it would be interesting to read more on the subject, to get at what's really what.

[schwa]

I'm gonna guess that 14000 tons is a tiny proportion of the amount consumed here. Thats just a bit over half a pound per person per year.

[dogbert]

[bibimbap]

uh... this isn't difficult to believe considering koreans undoubtedly *consume* more kimchee than any other country.

americans can't get enough oil - so they import more.

koreans can't get enough kimchee - so...

[just because]

bibimbap...you missed the point.

Koreans can produce enough kimchi to feed themselves however they are buying their needs from China instead of locally because it is cheaper.

[Sliver]

At least they do export the stuff at all Just Because.

Not to many exports of Vegemite in the world (much to my dismay - have three jars in the cupboard (the 2003 commemorative glasses too - the "Oliver - Can I have some more please" is now empty).

Why is this relevant ????????????????

Peace

[just because]

I can't see Australians having vegemite made off shore and imported in.

However, the more I think about it....it is now owned by Kraft so maybe it is happening. Who has a bottle on them????

[Real Reality]

High Lead Content Found in Chinese Kimchi
Made-in-China kimchi contains on average three times more lead than the average Korean-made kimchi, a lawmaker said Sunday. The Seoul Institute of Health and Environment (SIHE) found 0.302 mg of lead per 1 kilogram of kimchi, about three times the 0.11 mg average of Korean brands. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, about half of the Korean restaurants in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. That is, 39,663 out of 79,311, serve kimchi imported from China.
Chosun Ilbo (September 25, 2005)
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200509/200509250017.html

[jaganath69]

[mindmetoo]