This study aims to analyze the effect of the introduced international Codex standard for kimchi on the kimchi export industry, and to predict the volume of exported kimchi. The introduced Codex standard for kimchi contributed to increasing the volume of exported kimchi to yearly 6,185~7,232 tons, and the export amount to 26.9~31.4 billion won.
The scare of parasite eggs found in kimchi had a negative effect on the volume of exported kimchi, and reduced yearly 5,908 tons thereof. The effect of export increase by introducing the Codex standard for kimchi cancelled out the part of reduced export due to the scare of parasite eggs found in kimchi and then increased exported kimchi by yearly 277~1,324 tons. The volume of exported kimchi is predicted to be approximately 26,500~27,400 tons if there is given no significant impact on the supply and demand of kimchi for the coming 5 years.
It is predicted that the volume of exported kimchi will increase by approximately 0.23% if the price of exported kimchi rises by 1%. When the price of kimchi exported to Japan which is a major country for exported kimchi from Korea decreases by 100 JPY per kg, the volume of exported kimchi increases by 13,051 tons. When the GNP increases by 1,000 JPY, the volume of exported kimchi increases by 462 tons. This implies that it is highly likely that the volume of exported kimchi will increase when GNP of major countries, for example, Japan for exported kimchi increases.
The introduced Codex standard for kimchi contributed to reducing fluctuations of exported kimchi prices to stabilize the prices of exported kimchi. The scare of parasite eggs found in kimchi increased fluctuations of exported kimchi prices. Increases in the volume of exported kimchi imply increased demand for Chinese cabbage which is a raw material for kimchi in the Korean market, provided that other conditions are constant. Therefore, it is analyzed and thought that the introduced Codex standard resulted in increases in demand for Chinese cabbage in Korea to contribute to increasing Chinese cabbage growers’ income.
It is also thought that the increased volume of exported kimchi and the stabilized prices of exported kimchi after introducing the Codex standard for kimchi contributed to kimchi producers’ stable management and facilitated export of kimchi, including kimchi producers’ increased sales amount, stabilized production efficiency, levelled-out profitability, and stabilized financial structure.


Researchers: Kyung-Phil Kim, Dong-So Lee
Research period: 2013. 10. - 2013. 12.
E-mail address: kkhpil@krei.re.kr