From the Chosun Ilbo:

Exports of Korea’s national delicacy kimchi have been in trouble since some Chinese brands were found infested with parasites last year.

Korean kimchi had recorded more than US$9 million in monthly exports, but the parasite scandal nearly halved that figure to $4.6 million in November. In December, exports recovered to $5.6 million but again fell below $5 million in January. The main reason is that the Japanese kimchi market, which takes more than 90 percent of exports, is still reluctant to return to the pickled-cabbage side dish.

“Korean kimchi is losing ground in the Japanese market,” says a staffer at kimchi exporter Dongwon F&B. “Korean-produced kimchi has been suspected of parasite contamination after the scandal surrounding heavy metals and parasites in Chinese-made kimchi broke out and lost much of its popularity as a result.”

It was Korean papers that broke this story, and the fear of foreign kimchi was happily fanned into a fury by local producers, who felt threatened by Chinese imports. Now the shoe is on the other foot.

As my father used to tell me, "When you throw mud, you lose ground."

All the more reason to make your own kimchi at home!