China and South Korea are arguing over a savoury pickled cabbage dish called kimchi. China wants an international certificate for its dish pao cai, also a savoury vegetable dish. However, South Korea is angry about this. They say pao cai is too much like kimchi - perhaps the most famous food in South Korea. Kimchi is a staple food in Korea. It is a traditional dish of fermented vegetables, such as cabbage and radish. It uses a variety of seasonings, like chilli powder, spring onions, garlic, ginger, and salted seafood. Pao cai is a pickle, usually made using cabbage, mustard, peppers and ginger.
China says it has a certification from the International Organization for Standardization for its kimchi making process. South Korean officials say pao cai, "has nothing to do with kimchi" and "that pao cai is different from kimchi." Koreans are angry that China is trying to claim the standard for the kimchi-making process. A professor in Korea said: "China lacks efforts to understand the culture...of surrounding nations." On social media in China, people said most kimchi eaten in South Korea is made in China. One person wrote: "Even the pronunciation of kimchi originated from Chinese."