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NEWS > EVERYONE ELSE > KIMCHI CRISIS THREATENS TO FURTHER DESTABILIZE KOREAN PENINSULA
KIMCHI CRISIS THREATENS TO FURTHER DESTABILIZE KOREAN PENINSULA
October 16 2010
Seoul, South Korea – For almost six decades the Korean peninsula has been a powder keg ready to explode, literally. While there is no debating that ancient Korea was enormously influential in the past, her recent history up until the 1950’s had been
a little more muted. Now though the entire region is dressed in eggshells, with valid fears that at any time the two countries could fall into war and anarchy, an eventuality that would destabilize the entire region and the economies of every country in the world.
In the midst of all that world-affecting drama is the sad human story that has continued to play out through the region. The dire misery felt by many people in the north resulting from too little money and too little food, and the constantly-on-edge attitude of the people in the south are certainly profound, but it is the little moments that have been lost. It is the families that have been split, it has been the division of the Korean people and the Korean identity that has most affected the region, something that looks as though may never be resolved. As if that misery weren’t enough, now people throughout the region are facing a new crisis, one that could end up being more destructive than and DMZ or bouffant-maned dictator, a Kimchi crisis.
“Our sales are much down from where they were last year even and it does not seem to be getting better. The prices of the ingredients are so expensive now that it has forced us to charge very high prices for our Kimchi and that has pushed many people away,” said Lee Byeoung-keun, owner Lucky Store. “I have heard that some restaurants are charging for Kimchi now which is something I have never heard of. I have never gone to a restaurant and had to pay for this and that tells us how bad things have gotten. It is a national crisis.”
The price of Napa cabbage has increased from $2.50 USD to as much as $14, while radishes have tripled in price in many places.
“While it may seem dramatic to call this a national crisis to outsiders, for the people of
Korea Kimchi is more than just a side dish. It is a representation of the culture of the country, something passed down through generations. Mothers teach their daughters to make it, who teach their daughters, and on down the line. This is more like Americans suddenly not having hamburgers,” said Scrape TV Asian analyst Wu Yao-nu. “Now it cannot even be purchased in stores except for unreasonable prices and that is a huge blow to the economy and to the identity of the Korean people. While things such as the sinking of the military vessel are certainly frustrating and damaging, this current crisis impacts everyone in their daily lives and that makes it much more impactful, and potentially much more dangerous, particularly with a regime change in the north.”
Kim Jung-un was recently introduced as the successor to leadership in the north, replacing his wacky father upon his death.
“While there is no evidence that the north has had anything to do with this crisis – it has to do primarily with an overly rainy season – it will not take many empty plates before the people start looking to someone to blame and inevitably that will be the North,” continued Wu. “Meanwhile in the North you will have an inexperienced and overly burdened new leader who will be very susceptible to the will of the military leaders which makes any unrest and anger in the South much more problematic and inflammatory. It would be wise for outside powers to intervene in whatever way they can.”
The U.S, government is reportedly mulling over a plea from the Korean government for special cabbage shipments.
Emil Uliya, International Correspondent
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