Government Pours Record 64 Billion Won into Kimjang Season, Offering Up to 50% Discounts

▲ Making Kimchi for Kimjang (File Photo)

The government is injecting 64 billion won to support discounts on agricultural and marine products for the Kimjang (making kimchi for the winter) season, while managing the supply and demand of key ingredients such as napa cabbage and radishes.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced the 2026 Kimjang Ingredients Supply and Demand Stabilization Measures containing these details today (November 3).

The measures will run from November 9 to December 6.

According to the Korea Rural Economic Institute (KREI), the proportion of households making their own kimchi this year dropped 5.86 percentage points from last year to 58.6%.

The scale of Kimjang for a four-member household stands at 23.4 heads of cabbage, similar to last year, but demand for Kimjang napa cabbage is projected to decrease by 9.1% to 583,000 tons.

On the other hand, production of autumn napa cabbage and radishes for Kimjang this year is expected to increase by 18.5% and 11.1% to 1.214 million tons and 372,000 tons, respectively.

With increased supply, the prices of major Kimjang ingredients are lower than last year.

According to KREI, as of October 30, the average consumer price for a head of napa cabbage was 3,969 won, down 23.5% from a year earlier.

Radishes fell 9.2% to 2,038 won each, while onions and green onions dropped 14.9% and 30% to 1,890 won and 2,274 won per kilogram, respectively.

In contrast, salted fermented shrimp (saeujeot) rose 25.8% to 19,025 won per kilogram.

Seo Joon-han, Director General for Food Policy at MAFRA, stated, "Prices of napa cabbage and radishes are expected to form at levels lower than average years and maintain a slightly weak downward trend."

He explained, "Although production of some items such as garlic and salted fermented shrimp has decreased slightly, the supply for the Kimjang season is sufficient, and consumers' Kimjang burdens are expected to ease somewhat."

The government plans to secure 46,500 tons of napa cabbage and 9,000 tons of radishes in advance to prepare for temporary supply shortages, and supply 500 tons of stockpiled dried peppers, 515 tons of garlic, and 1,500 tons of onions to processing and distribution companies.

A record-high 64 billion won will be funneled into discount support to promote consumption.

This is a 28% increase from last year's 50 billion won.

Among this, the budget for agricultural product discounts expanded from 30 billion won last year to 44 billion won this year.

With price drops feared due to increased supplies of napa cabbage and radishes, alongside lower prices for fruit-vegetables like cucumbers and zucchinis, the initiative aims to ease the burden on farming households by boosting consumption.

Director General Seo said, "Due to high production of autumn napa cabbage, it is difficult to support prices solely by isolating some volume at the source."

He added, "We expanded the scale of discounts so that consumers can make even one more head of kimchi and increase consumption volume."

He also noted, "Discount programs have been shown to have the effect of increasing demand and improving prices received by farmers."

With 44 billion won allocated for agricultural products, large supermarkets and traditional markets will offer up to 40% discounts on Kimjang ingredients and pork for boiled pork slices (suyuk).

Agricultural discount gift certificates worth 20 billion won will also be sold at a 20% discount.

For marine products, 20 billion won will be injected to offer up to 50% discounts on sea salt, salted fermented shrimp, anchovy sauce, and oysters.

The government will also promote kimchi-making and sharing campaigns involving local governments and the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation (Nonghyup), alongside rural experience-type Kimjang events.

Crackdowns on the labeling of country-of-origin for Kimjang ingredients and pesticide residue safety inspections will also be intensified.

MAFRA Minister Song Mi-ryung stated, "While the supply of Kimjang vegetables is sufficient this year, farmers may suffer difficulties due to falling prices."

She urged, "Please participate in making one more head of kimchi and sharing it with your neighbors."

Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Hwang Jong-woo emphasized, "We will do our utmost to ease the shopping cart burden during the Kimjang season."

(Photo: Yonhap News)

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