Bay salt producers suspend production due to falling prices

[Yonhap Photo]

SEOUL -- South Korea bay salt producers declared the indefinite suspension of production, complaining about a hopeless price fall caused by an inflow of cheap imports, especially from China, that have changed the tradition of making kimchi, which was listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

A committee of 20 sun-dried salt farm operators said on Friday that it would discontinue production indefinitely from July 16, citing plummeting prices that drove them to a critical situation. They said the producer price of a 20kg sack has plunged to less than 2,000 won ($1.7) from 15,000 won in 2011.

About 70 percent of solar salts have been consumed during the Gimjang season, but pickled cabbages from China and imported salts have flooded into South Korea, the committee said.

Kimchi, a staple in Korean cuisine, is a famous traditional side dish of salted and fermented vegetables. Gimjang is the traditional process of preparation and preservation of kimchi. For one month, starting from the tenth moon of the year, people prepare large quantities of kimchi, to provide nutrition throughout winter. Gimjang has been listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

South Korea underwent dramatic social changes. There are plenty of things to eat other than kimchi and many young housewives shun making kimchi because they are many factories run by kimchi masters.

Lim Chang-won cwlim34@ajunews.com

Bay salt producers suspend production due to falling prices

Related