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china news service, september 5th. according to a reuters report on the 3rd, some korean scientists, growers and kimchi manufacturers believe that due to rising temperatures, the quality and quantity of korean cabbage are being affected, and "kimchi is becoming a victim of climate change."

the report said that the cabbage used to make korean kimchi grows well in cooler climates and is usually grown in mountainous areas where temperatures rarely exceed 25 degrees celsius even in summer.

file photo: on november 2, 2020, in seoul plaza, south korea, thousands of people from district governments, businesses, non-governmental groups and citizens participated in the seoul winter kimchi making activity.

studies have shown that rising temperatures caused by climate change are threatening the survival of chinese cabbage, and there are even predictions that south korea may one day be unable to grow cabbage due to rising temperatures.

"we hope these predictions will not come true. chinese cabbage grows best in cool climates, with the optimal temperature being between 18 and 21 degrees celsius," said botanist lee young-gyu.

kimchi maker lee ha-yeon said that as the temperature rises, the heart of the cabbage will deteriorate and the root will become soft. "if this situation continues, south korea will have to give up kimchi in the summer."

data released by the korea national statistical office showed that in 2023, the cabbage planting area in south korea's high-altitude regions was less than half of that 20 years ago, decreasing from 8,796 hectares to 3,995 hectares.

researchers believe that in addition to rising temperatures, unpredictable rains and hard-to-control pests are also to blame for the decline in chinese cabbage production. the fungal infection that wilts the plants is particularly troublesome for farmers because it can only be observed close to harvest.

kim si-gap, a 71-year-old south korean farmer, lamented: "kimchi is an indispensable food on our table. if one day south korea can no longer grow chinese cabbage, what will we do?"