Russian crab craze in South Korea stirs ethical debate over Ukraine crisis

SEOUL, April 8 (Reuters) – Plunging costs for Russian crab have South Koreans flocking to seafood markets and eating places however some customers are questioning whether or not to boycott the imports on issues the purchases not directly help Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The dinner-plate sized king crabs from Russia, together with barely smaller snow crabs and lobsters, have been as soon as an expensive delicacy in South Korea, although they’ve turn into extra in style at supermarkets and on-line retailers in recent times.

However costs have almost halved since late February as america, European Union and different nations banned Russian seafood imports over the Ukraine invasion, which Russia calls a “particular operation”, and China’s lockdown on main cities over coronavirus outbreaks has additional boosted shipments to South Korea. learn extra

Information from the Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market, one in every of South Korea’s largest seafood markets, confirmed reside Russian snow crabs costs fell to 23,000 gained ($18.80) per kg (2.2 kilos) on the finish of March from 50,000 gained ($40.80) in mid-February, earlier than rising barely this week. The provision greater than doubled throughout that interval.

The market doesn’t observe king crab costs, however Kim Mi-kyeong, who has been working a fish retailer at Noryangjin for 10 years, mentioned she offered them at 85,000 gained ($69.40) per kg, down from 110,000 gained ($89.80) two months in the past.

“We did not have sufficient provides again then, however much more quantity has are available in from Russia for the final two months. Costs are decrease now, so twice as many individuals are coming,” she mentioned.

Choi Myung-sook, 54, mentioned she couldn’t miss out on getting her favorite king crabs cheaply.

“I hope extra Russian seafood will probably be introduced in in order that costs will go down even additional,” she mentioned.

However others say the federal government ought to be a part of world efforts to ban Russian seafood, and that customers ought to chorus from shopping for it.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is ready to present a digital speech to the South Korean parliament on Monday, has urged the worldwide neighborhood to ditch Russian exports. learn extra

South Korea has curbed Russian coal imports and joined different financial and monetary sanctions, however didn’t limit meals.

“We must always not purchase these crabs,” mentioned Jung Mi-jung, 40, who mentioned she was visiting the marketplace for different gadgets. “That is not even a necessity, and Russia waged an unjustifiable warfare in opposition to Ukraine. We must always be a part of the boycott.”

($1 = 1,224.5700 gained)

Reporting by Dogyun Kim, Daewoung Kim and Hyonhee Shin; Writing by Hyonhee Shin; Modifying by Gerry Doyle and Christian Schmollinger

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Belief Ideas.