Gangwon Province, known for its cool, high-altitude climate, produces 93 percent of South Korea's kimchi cabbage from the highland area during the summer time.
Rising temperatures and erratic weather patterns have reduced the area of highland kimchi cabbage by more than half since the 2000s, data from the government statistics agency shows.
According to the Rural Development Administration, a state farming think tank, climate change scenarios project the farmed area to shrink dramatically in the next 25 years to just 44 hectares, with no kimchi cabbage grown in the highlands by 2090.
Highland kimchi cabbage thrives in cool climates, ideally between 18-21°C. However, data from the Korea Meteorological Administration shows a significant increase in summer temperatures in the Yeongdong region of Gangwon province, a key area for kimchi cabbage production.
These temperature changes, coupled with reduced farmland, threaten not just farmers' livelihoods but also a staple of Korean cuisine — kimchi — a dish that Korean people eat every day.
REUTERS VIDEO