South Korea's 'kimchi deficit' hits record high

Seoul

SOUTH Korea's trade deficit in kimchi, its proud traditional side dish of fermented cabbage, reached an all-time high last year as low-priced Chinese imports flooded the market, statistics showed on Wednesday.

The spicy foodstuff is emblematic of Korean cuisine and accompanies almost every meal served in the country, whatever its culinary origins, and kimchi-making remains an important annual ritual for many families.