South Korea's food safety authority is launching intensive inspections of spring vegetables as "bomdong bibimbap" emerges as the latest viral food trend on social media, following the popularity of Dubai chocolate cookies.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced Wednesday it will conduct concentrated collection and testing of spring produce through March 20 in collaboration with local governments. The inspection targets bomdong (spring cabbage), shepherd's purse, wild chives, and other seasonal vegetables popular among Korean consumers.
The ministry plans to strengthen inspections of bomdong in particular, as consumption has surged due to the trending dish. Other vegetables subject to testing include mugwort, stonecrop, chwi-namul (edible greens), fatsia shoots, butterbur, water parsley, sebal-namul, and deodeok (mountain root).
Authorities will collect 340 samples from wholesale markets and online shopping platforms, including products with compliance violations over the past three years. Items will be tested for pesticide residues and heavy metal levels, with non-compliant products to be promptly disposed of.
Last spring's inspection found nine agricultural products exceeding permitted pesticide residue levels, including three cases of young radish, two of bomdong, and one each of shepherd's purse, radish greens, cucumber, and mustard greens. All were subsequently destroyed.
"We will continue to implement agricultural product safety management that reflects consumption trends and seasonal demand to create a safe food environment," the ministry said.
Meanwhile, bomdong prices are climbing alongside demand. According to the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation, the wholesale price for a 15-kilogram box of premium bomdong at Garak Market stood at 47,099 won ($34) on Tuesday—up more than 33% from early February, though still below year-ago levels.
Major retailers are also seeing increased demand. E-Mart reported bomdong sales jumped 78.3% in February compared to the same period last year. On delivery platforms, bomdong bibimbap has risen to the top of search rankings.
Food companies are responding to the surge in demand. Jongga, the kimchi brand under Daesang Corporation, has sold more than 20,000 units of its limited-edition "bomdong geotjeori" (fresh kimchi) within two months of its January launch.