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)
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
The Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea made public on March 3, 2026
March 04, 2026
The Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea made public on March 3, 2026
Students in their final year at senior middle schools in Kangwon Province volunteered to join the Korean People's Army. Those in
March 04, 2026
Students in their final year at senior middle schools in Kangwon Province volunteered to join the Korean People's Army. Those in
The Korean people across the country spent the First Full Moon Day pleasantly. Family members and neighbours gathered together to
March 04, 2026
The Korean people across the country spent the First Full Moon Day pleasantly. Family members and neighbours gathered together to
The "National Exhibition of Sci-Tech Successes in the Field of Public Health--2025" was held in the capital city of Pyongyang in
March 04, 2026
The "National Exhibition of Sci-Tech Successes in the Field of Public Health--2025" was held in the capital city of Pyongyang in
Officials and workers of the Hungnam Fertilizer Complex are making innovations in the fertilizer production to carry out the
March 04, 2026
Officials and workers of the Hungnam Fertilizer Complex are making innovations in the fertilizer production to carry out the
The General Association of Koreans in China sent a floral basket to the bronze statues of the great leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim
March 04, 2026
The General Association of Koreans in China sent a floral basket to the bronze statues of the great leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim
Successes are reported at Kim Hyong Jik University of Education. The university put efforts into writing new textbooks and
March 04, 2026
Successes are reported at Kim Hyong Jik University of Education. The university put efforts into writing new textbooks and
The Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea made public on March 3, 2026
March 04, 2026
The Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea made public on March 3, 2026
The construction of greenhouses for growing rice seedlings is progressing apace across the country. The Agricultural Commission is
March 04, 2026
The construction of greenhouses for growing rice seedlings is progressing apace across the country. The Agricultural Commission is
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un received floral baskets from the National Committee of the All Progressive Congress of Nigeria
March 03, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un received floral baskets from the National Committee of the All Progressive Congress of Nigeria
Fishery units in South Hwanghae Province are speeding up the preparations for going out fishing without slackening the spirit of
March 03, 2026
Fishery units in South Hwanghae Province are speeding up the preparations for going out fishing without slackening the spirit of
The grand performance "Song Dedicated to the Motherly Party", which significantly decorated the commemorations of the Ninth
March 03, 2026
The grand performance "Song Dedicated to the Motherly Party", which significantly decorated the commemorations of the Ninth
The machine-building industry sector is pushing ahead with the production of ordered equipment and mechanical products. The Taean
March 03, 2026
The machine-building industry sector is pushing ahead with the production of ordered equipment and mechanical products. The Taean
Large-scale greenhouse vegetable production bases in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea are expanding successes through
March 03, 2026
Large-scale greenhouse vegetable production bases in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea are expanding successes through
The educational sector is pushing ahead with the work to improve the educational level of schools in rural areas and the academic
March 03, 2026
The educational sector is pushing ahead with the work to improve the educational level of schools in rural areas and the academic
Jo Jin Mi from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea won a bronze medal in the women's individual 10-metre platform diving of
March 03, 2026
Jo Jin Mi from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea won a bronze medal in the women's individual 10-metre platform diving of
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un received congratulatory messages and letters from different countries on the occasion of the
March 03, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un received congratulatory messages and letters from different countries on the occasion of the
The quality of education is precisely the qualifications of a teacher. Growing in 2026 is the enthusiasm of the educational
March 03, 2026
The quality of education is precisely the qualifications of a teacher. Growing in 2026 is the enthusiasm of the educational
More Articles
