KIMJANG: A CELEBRATION OF LOVE AND CULTURE
It is Kimjang season in Korea. Kimjang is the making of kimchi in bulk for the winter season. Kimchi is the traditional food in Korea made of fermented vegetables and spices. It is the most famous preserved food in Korea and a must side dish in every meal. It has also been drawing attention and much love in the whole world not only for its hearty and tangy flavor, but for its valuable nutritional value. The schedule of Kimjang depends on the region. Families, especially, the elderly and women initiate this kind of tradition. It starts as early as mid-November until late December.
It requires a lot of labor for this kind of tradition. It includes preparation of the vegetables, brining of the cabbage, making of the spice paste, mixing, and storing. This culture has been so valuable in the Korean community. The virtue of solidarity and sharing became a legacy from generation to generation. In fact, Kimjang has been listed in the UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2013.
In the City of Gwangyang, Jeollanamdo province, Kimjang has been celebrated by the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation (Nonghyup Agribusiness Group) and the Gwangyang Women’s Organization, Farmers’ Housewives Association, and the Nonghyup executives and staffs recently. The event was held in front of the Hanaro Mart on December 12, 2024. Prior to this main event, the vegetables and the spice paste have been prepared by the meticulous hands of the Women's Organization. It includes the brining of the carefully selected Napa cabbage or Baechu. This two-days event produced 240 boxes of kimchi.
There were around 100 people who gave hands for this “Sharing Kimchi with Love” event. The kimchi produced from this event were delivered to the less privileged and vulnerable groups such as the local children center, youth protection facilities, senior citizens centers, and multicultural families.
Once again, this Kimjang “Sharing Kimchi with Love” event in Gwangyang City, showcased the intangible heritage of the Koreans. The legacy of unity, togetherness, and sharing of love continues in every Kimjang.
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