South Korean officials and farmers are promoting onion kimchi to combat a roughly 50% plunge [1] in fresh-onion prices caused by overproduction.
The price crash has left many growers unable to cover their production costs, threatening the livelihood of farmers across several provinces. This economic strain sparked "onion-overturn" protests on May 15, 2024 [1], as producers sought government intervention to stabilize the market.
To address the surplus, the Korean Agricultural Technology Promotion Agency organized a consumption-promotion campaign in Iksan, Jeollabuk-do. The agency purchased two tons [2] of onions from Hamyeong to produce onion kimchi. Approximately 100 people [3], comprising nearly all of the agency's staff, participated in the kimchi-making activity.
The agency is distributing the finished kimchi to staff, senior centers, and welfare facilities to encourage the public to view onions as a health food. Lee Seok-hyung, director of the Korean Agricultural Technology Promotion Agency, said the goal is to encourage people to eat more of the health food [4].
Farmers in the region expressed uncertainty about the future of their crops. Jeon Myeong-ja, an onion farmer in Iksan, said prices have crashed to the point where they cannot even recover production costs. She said she is seriously considering whether she should continue farming onions [5].
The crisis has been felt across multiple regions, including Jeollanam-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and Gyeongsangnam-do [1]. While the kimchi campaign provides immediate relief by absorbing some of the surplus, farmers continue to call for more sustainable price supports to prevent future volatility.
“Fresh-onion prices have plunged by roughly 50% due to overproduction.”
The South Korean government's shift toward consumption-led relief, such as the kimchi campaign, highlights the vulnerability of the domestic agricultural sector to weather-driven overproduction. By converting raw surpluses into processed goods for social welfare, the state attempts to floor the price, but the lack of long-term structural price guarantees continues to discourage farmers from maintaining crop stability.
