South Korea tests cancer-causing chemicals in Chinese cabbage

The Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) said on August 26 that no formaldehyde was detected in eight recently inspected batches of Chinese cabbage imported from China, after reports emerged that this chemical was used to preserve Chinese cabbage in some areas of China, according to The Korea Herald.

The strict control took place after social networks spread a video recording the scene of some small businesses in Khang Bao district, Truong Gia Khau city, Hebei province (China) dipping Chinese cabbage in formaldehyde solution to keep the product fresh. Local authorities in China confirmed the above incident was true, but have not announced the scale of the violation or the possibility of these shipments being smuggled to Korea.

In addition, authorities also inspected kimchi and pickled cabbage produced by China and imported into Korea. Results will be announced after the test ends.

Chinese cabbage is the main ingredient in kimchi, a fermented dish that appears in most Korean meals. The incident caused great concern in public opinion because China supplies about 99% of the country’s imported kimchi.

Customs Department data shows that Korea imported 336,221 tons of kimchi from China in 2025, the highest level ever, an increase of 39.7% compared to 2021. By the end of July this year, imports reached 194,401 tons, putting 2026 on track to set a new record.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified formaldehyde in group 1, a group of substances with sufficient evidence to cause cancer in humans. Formaldehyde also causes irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat, with the level of damage increasing with the amount and duration of exposure. MFDS representative affirmed to continue to closely monitor the situation and promote inspection work related to imported cabbage batches in the coming time.