Kimchi, the most favourite subsidiary food of all Koreans, is a distinctive national food which is tasty, of high nutritive value and appetizing.
Kimchi is a processed food made mainly with vegetables and edible grass including fresh bok choy, radish, cucumber, eggplant, parsley and leaf mustard which are flavoured with a mixture of red pepper, spring onion, garlic, ginger, fruit, fish and pickles to go through lactic acid fermentation.
According to a documentary record, Koreans already made kimchi with radish in the period of Koryo Kingdom (918-1392) and made different kinds of tasty kimchi during the feudal Joson dynasty.
Originally it was called kumchae in the sense that it is as precious as gold. Later it was called kimchi as the sound of the word kumchae gradually changed.
Kimchi stimulates appetite as it is refreshing, cool, savoury, pungent and sweet and sour.
Food should look palatable above all and kimchi is mouth-watering at first sight as it is stuffed or mixed with various spices.
That is why there came into being in the DPRK Song of Bok Choy Kimchi and Cubed Radish Kimchi whose words partly read: Even a sumptuous feast is not tasty without bok choy kimchi and cubed radish kimchi.
Kimchi is also famous as health food for its high nutritive value.
The soft fibre of bok choy and radish, the main materials for kimchi, is a source of vitamin C and pickles and raw fish as auxiliary materials for the food provide protein.
As kimchi matures gradually, protein of the raw fish dissolves into amino acid and so do the bones of the fish to be a source of calcium.
Fully matured kimchi boosts appetite as it contains organic acid and so on.
Korean kimchi with countless kinds which are different in taste is spreading in not only the country’s neighbours but all other countries in the world and it is increasingly popular and in great demand day by day.
The kimchi-making custom was inscribed on the list of national intangible cultural heritage in the country and in 2015 it was put on the UNESCO’s Representative List of ICH of Humanity.
More From Pyongyang Times
The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on April 27 to criticize the anti-Russian sanctions of the European Union. The EU
May 05, 2026
The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on April 27 to criticize the anti-Russian sanctions of the European Union. The EU
The Flower Festival-2026 took place at the Okryu Exhibition House on the banks of the picturesque Taedong River. The festival,
May 05, 2026
The Flower Festival-2026 took place at the Okryu Exhibition House on the banks of the picturesque Taedong River. The festival,
A national industrial design exhibition, which opened on April 8 in commemoration of April 15, the birth anniversary of President
May 05, 2026
A national industrial design exhibition, which opened on April 8 in commemoration of April 15, the birth anniversary of President
Artistes of Russia, China, Vietnam and Laos who took part in the 34th April Spring Friendship Art Festival put colourful pieces of
May 05, 2026
Artistes of Russia, China, Vietnam and Laos who took part in the 34th April Spring Friendship Art Festival put colourful pieces of
The first-term camping began at the Kyongsong Children's Camp. A ceremony of kicking-off the camping took place on the spot on May
May 05, 2026
The first-term camping began at the Kyongsong Children's Camp. A ceremony of kicking-off the camping took place on the spot on May
The 39th National Festival of Science and Technology is going on at the Sci-Tech Complex in Pyongyang. The State Academy of
May 05, 2026
The 39th National Festival of Science and Technology is going on at the Sci-Tech Complex in Pyongyang. The State Academy of
Spring tree planting is brisk in different parts of the DPRK. The Ministry of Land and Environment Protection examined the plans
May 04, 2026
Spring tree planting is brisk in different parts of the DPRK. The Ministry of Land and Environment Protection examined the plans
Meetings took place in China, Pakistan, Norway, Denmark, Romania, Switzerland, Sweden, Iceland, France, Finland and Nigeria in
May 04, 2026
Meetings took place in China, Pakistan, Norway, Denmark, Romania, Switzerland, Sweden, Iceland, France, Finland and Nigeria in
The World Meteorological Organization announced on April 24 that it is anticipated that El Nino will occur from the middle of this
May 04, 2026
The World Meteorological Organization announced on April 24 that it is anticipated that El Nino will occur from the middle of this
A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry censured the US for insulting his country’s AI industry development achievements at
May 04, 2026
A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry censured the US for insulting his country’s AI industry development achievements at
The participants in the Eleventh Congress of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League rendered labour assistance in the construction
May 04, 2026
The participants in the Eleventh Congress of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League rendered labour assistance in the construction
An endless stream of visitors flows into Saeppyol Street, which sprang up in Pyongyang as the epitome of reverence for the martyrs
May 04, 2026
An endless stream of visitors flows into Saeppyol Street, which sprang up in Pyongyang as the epitome of reverence for the martyrs
A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry denounced the Japanese reactionaries for their visit to the Yasukuni Shrine at a
May 03, 2026
A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry denounced the Japanese reactionaries for their visit to the Yasukuni Shrine at a
An art performance of the artistic information team of the Central Committee of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League and
May 03, 2026
An art performance of the artistic information team of the Central Committee of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League and
All the people across the DPRK significantly celebrated May Day. Streets, villages and industrial establishments and farms full of
May 03, 2026
All the people across the DPRK significantly celebrated May Day. Streets, villages and industrial establishments and farms full of
The whole country was full of joy and optimism marking May Day, the international holiday of all working people throughout the
May 03, 2026
The whole country was full of joy and optimism marking May Day, the international holiday of all working people throughout the
A national meeting took place at the People's Palace of Culture in Pyongyang on May 1 in commemoration of the 136th May Day, the
May 03, 2026
A national meeting took place at the People's Palace of Culture in Pyongyang on May 1 in commemoration of the 136th May Day, the
There took place a short course for the participants in the Eleventh Congress of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League in Pyongyang
May 03, 2026
There took place a short course for the participants in the Eleventh Congress of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League in Pyongyang
The Chinese art group that took part in the 34th April Spring Friendship Art Festival sent a flower basket to the statues of
May 02, 2026
The Chinese art group that took part in the 34th April Spring Friendship Art Festival sent a flower basket to the statues of
The Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea sent a congratulatory message to the participants in the Eleventh Congress of
May 02, 2026
The Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea sent a congratulatory message to the participants in the Eleventh Congress of
More Articles