Taiwan's cabbage has made waves in South Korea, emerging as a highly sought-after agricultural product among expatriates living there. After a fresh produce platform listed cabbages sourced from Yunlin County's Xiluo township, group-buying orders surged dramatically. South Korean fresh produce platforms now list items explicitly labeled as produced in Xiluo.
Taiwanese residents driving this massive surge say the distinct flavor and texture closely replicate what they grew up eating back home. The familiar crunch offers a comforting taste of their homeland abroad.
A Stark Culinary Contrast
A popular Korean-Taiwanese influencer named Chihchen Lu recently released a video highlighting the trend, which quickly flooded social media feeds with cabbage-related posts.
Taiwanese expats report that this specific regional labeling makes the imported agricultural products feel immediately familiar and trustworthy. They described eating locally grown Korean cabbage as chewing plastic wrap, claiming they lack both sweetness and crunch, and complaining that it remains difficult to soften regardless of the cooking time.
One Korean consumer echoed that view regarding the stark culinary difference, noting that Taiwan's cabbage, particularly the premium varieties grown at higher mountain elevations, is noticeably crisper.
Affordable Prices Fuel High Demand
In South Korea, approximately 10,000 Korean won (roughly NT$212, or approximately $6.50) buys six heads of Taiwan-imported cabbage, bringing the per-unit cost to around NT$35 (approximately $1.10) — a price point that has prompted widespread group purchases among Taiwanese expatriates. One buyer said they organized a group order with fellow Taiwanese coworkers and found that two heads of cabbage were not enough, leading them to place back-to-back bulk orders.
Expanding Export Markets
According to statistics from Taiwan's Agriculture and Food Agency, South Korea recently ranked as the second-largest export market for Taiwanese cabbage. Total exports across all international destination markets reached an impressive 840 metric tons.
The strong reception for Xiluo cabbage in South Korea has expanded beyond the Taiwanese diaspora community. Korean consumers have also taken notice, widely describing the imported product as crispier and sweeter than domestic varieties.
This has turned South Korea into a standout international destination for Taiwan's agricultural exports, successfully offering Taiwanese expats a taste of home while introducing Korean buyers to a distinctly Taiwanese flavor profile.
