China and South Korea are arguing over a pickled cabbage dish called kimchi - a staple food in Korea. China wants an international certificate for its dish pao cai, also a savoury vegetable dish. South Korea is angry. It says pao cai is too much like kimchi. Kimchi is a traditional dish of fermented cabbage and radish. It uses seasonings, like chilli powder, garlic, ginger, and salted seafood. Pao cai is made from cabbage, mustard, peppers and ginger.
China says it has an international certificate for its kimchi making process. South Korean officials say pao cai, "has nothing to do with kimchi" and "that it is totally different. Koreans are angry that China is claiming the certificate. A professor in Korea said: "China lacks efforts to understand the culture." People in China said most kimchi in South Korea is made in China. One person wrote: "Even the pronunciation of kimchi originated from Chinese."