The cost to make kimchi, the traditional Korean side dish made from cabbage, radishes and hot peppers, is expected to fall this year thanks to stable supplies of major vegetables and ingredients, the agriculture ministry said Friday. 

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said the cost to make kimchi, called "kimjang," for a four-member household was estimated at 244,070 won ($215.9) as of Oct. 20, down 10.8 percent from a year earlier.

Many Koreans make large quantities of kimchi in the late autumn season for the winter months. Besides the main ingredients, the dish eaten with almost all meals is fermented with garlic and salt, as well as various seafood.

The government annually compiles costs of major ingredients and announces the result ahead of the kimjang season.

Although the size of land used for cabbage and radishes decreased slightly from an average year, the harvest was good this year, which helped drive down their wholesale prices, the ministry said.

Production of red pepper and garlic was smaller compared with previous years, but there was enough produce in storage to stabilize the sales prices, it noted.

The wholesale prices of cabbage and radishes fell 16 percent and 39 percent, respectively, from an average year as of mid-October, while those of peppers and garlic jumped 74 percent and 11 percent, respectively, the ministry said. (Yonhap)