Considering the natural and climatic features, Korean ancestors devised a method to pickle vegetables harvested in autumn so as to eat them for a long time from winter to next spring. It was the kimchi-making method.
In November every year, every family makes kimchi. People call the late autumn just before winter the kimchi-making season.
Researcher Kim Kyong Il at the Folklore Institute under the Academy of Social Sciences says:
"Korean ancestors, resourceful and diligent, made fermented foods suited to their appetite and tastes and widely used them for diet from ancient times. While using pickled vegetables for diet, they discovered the fermentation and introduced it purposefully to make fermented food--kimchi.
According to 'Haedongjukji' and 'Tongguksesigi', the historic documents of the feudal Joson dynasty, every family makes kimchi by admixing radish and bok choy with ginger, shallot, garlic, pulverized red pepper and others before storing them under the ground, and it is a great event of the family during a year."
The kimchi-making custom has been handed down since the ancient times.
Neighbours, relatives or workmates help each other in making kimchi in late autumn, pickling, washing and mixing bok choy with spicy seasonings. They also send kimchi or pungent ingredients they just made to neighbours or relatives or take them to workplace to share them with workmates. They also get others' advice or boast, sharing delicious kimchi with pleasure. It has become a custom.
A food-making process is done commonly, simultaneously and collectively, deepening harmony and friendship between the people. This is the kimchi-making custom of the Korean nation.
Amid the growing world interest in the Korean kimchi, the traditional kimchi-making custom of the Korean people has been registered as a world intangible cultural heritage in 2015.
More From Voice of Korea (EN)
Agricultural women workers met with winners of the Communist Mother Honour Prize at the Wonhwa-ri House of Culture in Phyongwon
March 06, 2026
Agricultural women workers met with winners of the Communist Mother Honour Prize at the Wonhwa-ri House of Culture in Phyongwon
The Namsi Stockbreeding Machine Factory is vigorously pushing ahead with the work to manufacture a greater number of efficient
March 06, 2026
The Namsi Stockbreeding Machine Factory is vigorously pushing ahead with the work to manufacture a greater number of efficient
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, sent a reply message to To Lam, General
March 06, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, sent a reply message to To Lam, General
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, President of the State Affairs of the
March 06, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, President of the State Affairs of the
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un received a floral basket from the Dandong Branch of China of the Kim Il Sung-Kim Jong Il
March 06, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un received a floral basket from the Dandong Branch of China of the Kim Il Sung-Kim Jong Il
Army-people joint meetings for implementing the decisions of the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea were held
March 06, 2026
Army-people joint meetings for implementing the decisions of the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea were held
The "Exhibition of Sci-Tech Successes in Different Sectors of National Economy--2025" came to a close. Its closing ceremony was
March 06, 2026
The "Exhibition of Sci-Tech Successes in Different Sectors of National Economy--2025" came to a close. Its closing ceremony was
The farm machine exhibition "Development of Farm Machines--2025" came to a close. Its closing ceremony was held in the Hall of
March 06, 2026
The farm machine exhibition "Development of Farm Machines--2025" came to a close. Its closing ceremony was held in the Hall of
A new history of regional transformation has opened in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea under the leadership of the
March 06, 2026
A new history of regional transformation has opened in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea under the leadership of the
Workers and trade unionists met with winners of the Communist Mother Honour Prize at the Central Hall of Workers on the 5th on the
March 06, 2026
Workers and trade unionists met with winners of the Communist Mother Honour Prize at the Central Hall of Workers on the 5th on the
This is the gift--woodwork "Long Life in Good Health"--presented to the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un on April 11, 2011 by a
March 06, 2026
This is the gift--woodwork "Long Life in Good Health"--presented to the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un on April 11, 2011 by a
Regional-industry factories in Unsan County of North Phyongan Province are working hard to normalize the production on a high
March 06, 2026
Regional-industry factories in Unsan County of North Phyongan Province are working hard to normalize the production on a high
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the
March 05, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the
A shooting contest of snipers of units at all levels was held at Pyongyang Training Base No. 60 directly under the Capital City
March 05, 2026
A shooting contest of snipers of units at all levels was held at Pyongyang Training Base No. 60 directly under the Capital City
An enlarged plenary meeting of the Party Committee of the Cabinet was held on the 4th to implement the decisions of the Ninth
March 05, 2026
An enlarged plenary meeting of the Party Committee of the Cabinet was held on the 4th to implement the decisions of the Ninth
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un received congratulatory messages and letters from different countries as regards his reelection
March 05, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un received congratulatory messages and letters from different countries as regards his reelection
Army-people joint meetings for implementing the decisions of the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea were held in South
March 05, 2026
Army-people joint meetings for implementing the decisions of the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea were held in South
Party organizations at all levels are making an intensive study to firmly arm all the officials, Party members and working people
March 05, 2026
Party organizations at all levels are making an intensive study to firmly arm all the officials, Party members and working people
Ryanggang Province has remodelled the Provincial Forest Science Research Institute. The institute has all conditions necessary for
March 05, 2026
Ryanggang Province has remodelled the Provincial Forest Science Research Institute. The institute has all conditions necessary for
Regional construction and rural construction are vigorously carried on along with the capital city construction in the Democratic
March 05, 2026
Regional construction and rural construction are vigorously carried on along with the capital city construction in the Democratic
More Articles
