Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Real Reality]

Korea Loses in Kimchi War
Korea saw the trade balance of kimchi, one of the most internationally acknowledged Korean traditional dishes, post a deficit for the first time ever in the first six months of the year. "Imports of cheaper Chinese kimchi have been soaring since last year due to the growing demand from domestic restaurants," a corporation official Ha Jung-ah said.
By Kim Yon-se, Korea Times (July 31, 2006)
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200607/kt2006073117305010160.htm

[Juregen]

Losing a battle?

It is just International Economics at it best.

Don't forget the governement can still slap a few traderestrictions on the Kimchi import.

[rocklee]

Wah? Does anybody here think Kimchi is overrated?

[mindmetoo]

The first great kimchi war was I think during the Atlanta Olympics when Japan wanted to claim kimuchi as a national dish. The Koreans went ballistic. The UN had to step in and declare kimchi an important Korean cultural artifact. The Japanese could make kimchi but they had to call it kimuchi (the Japanese don't ferment the cabbage and if you've ever tried unfermented kimchi, it's really, really good). I think the fermentation creates some dangerous enzymes that increase your risk of stomach cancer.

Anyway, they won that one.

They I think they tried to use the flap over garbage mandoo to scare people into not eating Chinese kimchi by claiming Chinese kimchi had parasites. The Chinese were like "what are you doing? The balance of trade is so ridiculously in favor of Korea why are they going after this small beer?"

Of course most of the kimchi in China is made my Koreans.

The Chinese fired a few shots over Korea's bow, banning the import of certain Korean foods that no one actually imports. The Koreans got the message that they could seriously be the bottom biatch if China reall flexed its go chu.

Within a few days, the Korean government was saying they also found parasites in, gasp, Korean kimchi. So like, lets all go back to being friends.

I remember when I saw the story about Chinese kimchi having parasites I noticed there was zero mention in any of the articles about the levels of parasites. All food has parasites. If it goes over a certain limit (usually based on international standards) then it's pulled. I commented to my GF that Korean kimchi no doubt has parasites too but the lack of numbers and comparison made the whole thing a lil fishy. Sounded like some one's idea of protectionism.

Anyway, when the Korean kimchi has parasite thing came out, my GF was like "OH MAN YOU WERE SO RIGHT! I DIDN'T BELIEVE YOU!"

[Real Reality]

[rocklee]

Last 2 posts were very informative, thanks!

[RACETRAITOR]

Wasn't there a big recall a couple months ago because they discovered all the kimchi from China had too much feces?

[Real Reality]

[brento1138]

[Paddycakes]

[jacl]

You know? I liked kimchi for a while, but stopped eating it pretty much. I'll buy a kilo here and there and end up throwin most of it away. Same with Korean food. Don't eat it much nowadays.

With kimchi though, I think it comes down to the good quality kimchi. When you get a taste of the better stuff and that goes away, you don't much want anything to do with the lower quality. Whenever I do go to a korean restaurant (and it's been a while save chicken hoffs), I'll eat the kimchi right up, but...

Rice, too. I'll cook up some pork and veggies with vinegar and red pepper paste and I hardly touch the rice and end up throwing that way. Same goes for what I cook up. The huge lefotvers will sit there on the stove for a fukin' week and I'll finally decide to throw it all down the toilet.

Some Koreans don't really dig the kimchi thing either.

[rocklee]

You keep rice for up to a week?

[pastis]

[neandergirl]

[Real Reality]