There’s a crisis in South Korea and it doesn’t involve Kim Jong Il or karaoke. No, this crisis involves kimchi.
For those unfamiliar with the staple food of God’s chosen people, kimchi is basically spicy fermented Napa cabbage. It’s eaten with almost every meal in Korea as a banchan (side dish) and making it is like a big tradition for many families (right next to making the kids take piano lessons). Unfortunately poor weather conditions have created a massive shortage of Napa cabbage this year, resulting in soaring prices for this cherished vegetable. The result: a miniscule supply of kimchi that’s more expensive than ever.
Now I’m sure many of you are shrugging your shoulders and saying “cosi che cosa?” Let me try and put this in perspective for you. Imagine if there was no cable television in this country, a drought of Guinness in Ireland, an American suburb without a Chili’s or a shortage of chewing tobacco in Ohio. That’s what kind of emergency this is. Kimchi is that important to Koreans.
In Korea people don’t say “cheese” for the camera; they say “kimchi”. The average South Korean eats 75 pounds of kimchi a year. You can find kimchi-flavored chips and ice cream in Korean grocery stores. Seoul is the home of a kimchi museum. My people invented a kimchi that Korean astronauts could eat in outer space. I’ve heard Korean exchange students say they miss their kimchi more than their families. I’ve heard stories of broken engagements because the Korean bride-to-be couldn’t make a decent batch of kimchi. I’ve heard Jackie Chan sing a duet with Ani DiFranco.
So next time you see one of your Korean friends – or even a stranger – give them a hug. You might even want to throw a few shekels their way. Whatever you do, let them know you feel their kimchi pain.
