What’s Going On in Germany? Controversy Over Japanese Kimchi Labeling Follows Chinese Kimchi Dispute

According to the Financial News, the major German supermarket chain ALDI recently sparked controversy by labeling its private brand product as 'Chinese kimchi.' The issue has now escalated after the company referred to kimchi as 'Japanese kimchi' (Japanisches Kimchi) in the recipe section of its website.
Seo Kyung-deok, a professor at Sungshin Women's University, revealed on his social media on the 17th that, based on reports from Koreans living in Germany, he confirmed that ALDI labeled kimchi as 'Japanese kimchi' (Japanisches Kimchi) in a recipe featured on its website.
ALDI is a leading supermarket group representing the entire German distribution market, with annual sales exceeding 45 trillion won. The company operates not only in Germany but also in several European countries, including France, Spain, and Denmark.
Two years ago, the company faced criticism for labeling its kimchi products with the phrases 'Original from China' in German (Original aus China) and 'Originating from China' in Italian (Originale dalla Cina), suggesting that the product originated in China. These labels have since been removed.
Koreans living in Germany and domestic netizens continue to send protest emails, arguing that such labeling could lead to the misconception that kimchi is a Chinese or Japanese dish.
Professor Seo emphasized that, since Europeans might mistakenly believe kimchi is a Chinese or Japanese food, it is essential to ensure correct labeling.
ssuccu@fnnews.com Kim Seo-yeon Reporter