South Korea’s kimchi association launches campaign to boost domestic kimchi sales
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The Korea Kimchi Association began a campaign to counter increasing imports of kimchi, primarily from China, by partnering kimchi companies with restaurants. The association held a ceremony with ‘Baeknyeonbaekse Chuncheon Dakgalbi Samgyetang’ restaurant in Incheon, South Korea, to launch the ‘1 Company, 5 Restaurants’ initiative.
This program will have kimchi companies supply five restaurants currently using imported kimchi with competitively priced, domestically produced kimchi.
The association aims to support Korean farmers, maintain the country’s agricultural base, and help kimchi businesses struggling with economic hardship. The campaign responds to a growing trend of kimchi imports.
South Korea’s kimchi imports rose from 241,000 tons in 2021 to an estimated 336,000 tons in 2025, with imported kimchi accounting for over 50% of kimchi used in restaurants as of 2024. ‘Baeknyeonbaekse Chuncheon Dakgalbi Samgyetang’ had planned to switch to Chinese kimchi in 2025 due to cost, but will now receive domestically sourced kimchi through the program.
The kimchi supplied will carry the association’s ‘Hanchaedam’ (Korean Vegetables) brand and will use only Korean-grown ingredients, including cabbage, radish, garlic, and onions. The origin of the red pepper powder will also be clearly labeled to build consumer trust. Hong Hanpyo, the restaurant’s owner, reported a reduction in food waste after switching back to Korean kimchi, noting that they previously spent around 10,000 won (approximately $7.50 USD) per day on food waste disposal.
Kimchi Association President Kimchi Eun stated the campaign will create a safe food environment with transparent labeling and appealed for wider participation from restaurants and kimchi producers.
