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)
Seminars on exploits of President Kim Il Sung held abroad
April 25, 2024
Seminars on exploits of President Kim Il Sung held abroad
Senior Party and government officials visited the Korean Revolution Museum on the 24th on the occasion of the 92nd founding
April 25, 2024
Senior Party and government officials visited the Korean Revolution Museum on the 24th on the occasion of the 92nd founding
Kim Tok Hun, Member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and
April 25, 2024
Kim Tok Hun, Member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and
The daily Rodong Sinmun on the 25th carried an editorial titled "Invincible Forever Is the Korean Revolution Carried Forward with
April 25, 2024
The daily Rodong Sinmun on the 25th carried an editorial titled "Invincible Forever Is the Korean Revolution Carried Forward with
Birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung marked at DPRK missions abroad
April 25, 2024
Birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung marked at DPRK missions abroad
A meeting of workers and trade unionists was held at the Central Hall of Workers on the 23rd on the occasion of the 92nd founding
April 25, 2024
A meeting of workers and trade unionists was held at the Central Hall of Workers on the 23rd on the occasion of the 92nd founding
Officials and members of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea held a meeting at the Kuksabong Revolutionary Battle Site on
April 25, 2024
Officials and members of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea held a meeting at the Kuksabong Revolutionary Battle Site on
Kang Jin Song, an international affairs analyst of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, released an article titled "Who Are
April 25, 2024
Kang Jin Song, an international affairs analyst of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, released an article titled "Who Are
Kim Yo Jong, Vice Department Director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, issued the following statement
April 24, 2024
Kim Yo Jong, Vice Department Director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, issued the following statement
Im Chon Il, Vice Foreign Minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in Charge of Russian Affairs, released the
April 24, 2024
Im Chon Il, Vice Foreign Minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in Charge of Russian Affairs, released the
The Chief of the Foreign News Section of the Department of Press and Information of the DPRK Foreign Ministry issued the following
April 24, 2024
The Chief of the Foreign News Section of the Department of Press and Information of the DPRK Foreign Ministry issued the following
Im Chon Il, Vice-Foreign Minister for Russia of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, issued a press statement on the 24th
April 24, 2024
Im Chon Il, Vice-Foreign Minister for Russia of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, issued a press statement on the 24th
The Head of the External Service Section of the Department of Press and Information of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the
April 24, 2024
The Head of the External Service Section of the Department of Press and Information of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the
The United States behaves like a guilty party filing the suit first, making stereotyped assertion as ever that the activities of
April 24, 2024
The United States behaves like a guilty party filing the suit first, making stereotyped assertion as ever that the activities of
Active efforts are made in all parts of the country to implement the "Regional Development 20×10 Policy" of the Workers' Party of
April 24, 2024
Active efforts are made in all parts of the country to implement the "Regional Development 20×10 Policy" of the Workers' Party of
The Second Workshop of Information Officials of the Workers' Party of Korea took place at the People's Palace of Culture between
April 24, 2024
The Second Workshop of Information Officials of the Workers' Party of Korea took place at the People's Palace of Culture between
The participants in the Second Workshop of Information Officials of the Workers' Party of Korea conducted diverse political and
April 24, 2024
The participants in the Second Workshop of Information Officials of the Workers' Party of Korea conducted diverse political and
Foreign organizations and personages made public statements and articles on the occasion of the 112th birth anniversary of the
April 24, 2024
Foreign organizations and personages made public statements and articles on the occasion of the 112th birth anniversary of the
The public health delegation headed by Minister of Public Health Jong Mu Rim returned home by air on the 23rd after visiting
April 24, 2024
The public health delegation headed by Minister of Public Health Jong Mu Rim returned home by air on the 23rd after visiting
Universities and colleges in North Hwanghae Province are improving the contents, forms and methods of education in an innovative
April 24, 2024
Universities and colleges in North Hwanghae Province are improving the contents, forms and methods of education in an innovative
More Articles
