South Korean kimchi consumption drops sharply as eating habits change

A joint analysis by scholars at Chung-Ang University, Jeju National University and the World Institute of Kimchi examined Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data spanning 2010 to 2024. Their findings reveal that the proportion of South Koreans reporting no kimchi consumption in the prior 24 hours more than doubled, moving from 11.7% to 22.7% over the period. The rise was observed across genders, with men increasing from 10.2% to 20.6% and women from 13.1% to 24.8%.

The decline was most pronounced among adults aged 20 to 39, whose daily kimchi side-dish intake fell from 82% to 66%, while younger children were excluded from this trend. Instead of serving kimchi as a standalone side, more people are incorporating it into dishes like kimchi jjigae. Socio-economic analysis showed that the lowest income bracket still ate kimchi more often than the highest income bracket. The researchers suggest that public-health policies should shift from merely promoting kimchi to encouraging overall balanced diets.