Drastic action taken by the government as Korean cabbage prices go through the roof

An alarming increase in cabbage prices in South Korea has caused the countries President to step in and take drastic action.

Kimchi, a traditional pickled vegetable dish, is eaten three times a day in the country and the native cabbage makes up a hefty portion of the diet.

The dish, which many Koreans believe has huge health benefits, has strong cultural significance with festivals and museums dedicated to it.
But after a freezing winter affected this years harvest the price of the vegetable rocketed from 88p in 2009 to around £8.80 this month.

This dramatic hike in cost has forced President Lee Myung bak to place a block on stable food stuffs rising above international prices stating:
"There is no reason for people on low incomes to purchase items that are necessary to daily life at higher than international prices,"
Seoul Metropolitan office of education spokesperson Sun Mi Lee highlighted the significance of the issue:
‘Kimchi is more than just food stuff to Koreans. It has cultural and historical value relating to starving people burying and storing it during the Korean War. It can be thought of as a life saver and there has been real pandemonium in the supermarkets and even fierce competition over schools in trying to get hold of it’.

The domestic economy is notorious for having been built on a ‘buy korean’ philosophy but many consumers are thought to be looking abroad to get their hands on the spicy snack.
‘Many customers and organisations are getting their cabbage from China now which is a genuine source of shame because we are very proud of our national dish’ Said Miss Lee.