Cabbage prices are soaring in South Korea amid poor autumn harvests and a short supply in the market, which have imposed an additional burden on people's livelihoods.
Cabbage is a key ingredient of kimchi, the country's famed fiery fermented dish which many South Koreans eat every day.
Due to the blistering summer heat and prolonged drought, cabbage grown in many parts of the country, including the main producing area Gangwon-do, suffered poor growth, rotten roots and diseases, resulting in a significant drop in output.
In the second week of this month, cabbage shipment for the largest wholesale market of farm products in the country's capital Seoul fell over 30 percent compared with the previous week. As a result, the average wholesale price of 10 kilograms of cabbage jumped 86 percent year on year to about 17.01 U.S. dollars.
"Although some cabbage hasn't fully matured, many farmers harvest them in advance when the cabbage prices are high in the market. This leads to a sharp decline in shipment from cabbage producing areas. Therefore, the vegetable's prices will remain high in the short term," said a staff member with the wholesale market.
Data from the Korea Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Corporation showed on Tuesday that the average retail price of a head of cabbage is about about 6.47 U.S. dollars, an increase of more than 30 percent from the previous year.
The high prices have dissuaded many customers despite their wish to use them to make kimchi.
"The cabbage prices are so high that I can't make kimchi now. I'll reconsider it when the price drops," said a customer.
The country has increased cabbage imports from its neighbor China to alleviate short supply in the market.
Data from the country's Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs showed on Tuesday that since the end of last month, South Korea has imported 48 tons of cabbage from China, with another 54 tons to arrive via the Pyeongtaek port on Thursday.
The total cabbage imports are expected to reach 1,100 tons by the end of this month.
Poor harvest, short supply fuel cabbage price surge in South Korea
Senior representatives from major regional news media organizations, gathering at the ongoing 12th Global Video Media Forum (VMF) in China, say they are looking to amplify the voices of the media in the Global South to help consolidate cooperation and friendship in an ever more challenging global environment.
The forum opened in Quanzhou in east China's Fujian Province on Tuesday, bringing together 200 media representatives from over 60 countries and regions in the historic coastal city.
By working more closely together, media organizations in the Global South can reap rewards that might otherwise be unavailable, according to Ahmed Nadeem, Secretary-General of the Asia-Pacific Broadcast Union.
"If we work together, there is an opportunity for us to bring out the best from these Global South countries who have much less resources," he said.
Other media representatives at the VMF stressed that in challenging times, it is even more important for developing countries to have their voices heard on the global stage.
"[The Global] South media have a lot of responsibility to build a new opinion," said Issoufou Sare, Director-General of BF1 Television.
"[The media can provide] solutions for misunderstandings or stereotypes. So the media have a major role. They can bridge our cultures and make us know each other better," said Feten Fardi, head of Arab and International Cooperation Unit, Arab States Broadcasting Union.
The event also witnessed the launch of the "Global South Media Dialogue and Cooperation Mechanism and Joint Initiative," a program to support closer cooperation led by China Media Group.
"That will help to promote our voices, our realities to make the world know better about our customs, realities, about our history, about our culture, customs, about our problems, but also our achievements," said Martin Hacthoun, chief editor of Press Latina News Agency.
The two-day VMF is being held under the theme "Intelligence Without Frontiers, Vision Beyond The Horizon -- Media's Role in Communication and Cultural Exchange."
Launched by the CCTV Video News Agency (CCTV+) in 2011, the VMF is an annual professional journalism forum focusing on the latest trends and innovations in news and journalism, which provides a highly specialized, unique and interactive platform for domestic and foreign media peers.
Media groups aim to amplify voice of Global South at VMF
