By Kwon Mee-yoo
Kimchi-making, one of the major food cultures of Korea, has been designated as an intangible cultural property.
The Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) announced Wednesday it had designated kimchi-making as Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 133, after it received preliminary notice in September.
The concept of kimchi-making is broader than "gimjang," or making and sharing kimchi in Korean, which was inscribed in UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2013, along with the tradition in North Korea.
Kimchi-making encompasses the general culture around the fermented dish and regionally specific variants of kimchi.
Kimchi is an inextricable part of Korean cuisine. It is a side dish made from vegetables seasoned and fermented with various condiments such as red pepper powder, garlic and "jeotgal" (salted seafood).
It has been a staple on Korean dining tables, with origins dating back to the early period of the Three Kingdoms (37 B.C.-7 A.D.). Historically, kimchi has evolved to feature various local ingredients. As seen in early records, kimchi did not originally use garlic or chili pepper. Chili pepper is now a common ingredient of the vegetable dish, but it was introduced to Korea in the early 17th century by Portuguese traders.
The CHA said kimchi-making encompasses the sense of community and fellowship such as cooperation and harmony and includes traditional knowledge.
"The tradition also has been passed down through the generations, still exists and many Koreans take part in kimchi-making routinely, so we decided kimchi-making is recognizable as an intangible cultural heritage," the CHA said.
When gimjang made the UNESCO list, the collective practice was credited for reaffirming "Korean identity and is an excellent opportunity for strengthening family cooperation" and "also an important reminder for many Koreans that human communities need to live in harmony with nature."
However, the CHA said kimchi-making is more of a lifestyle and does not require a high degree of skills, so they will not acknowledge specific holders or organizations of the intangible heritage.
"We will research and document to discover the cultural value of kimchi-making," the CHA said.
Kimchi-making, one of the major food cultures of Korea, has been designated as an intangible cultural property.
The Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) announced Wednesday it had designated kimchi-making as Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 133, after it received preliminary notice in September.
The concept of kimchi-making is broader than "gimjang," or making and sharing kimchi in Korean, which was inscribed in UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2013, along with the tradition in North Korea.
Kimchi-making encompasses the general culture around the fermented dish and regionally specific variants of kimchi.
Kimchi is an inextricable part of Korean cuisine. It is a side dish made from vegetables seasoned and fermented with various condiments such as red pepper powder, garlic and "jeotgal" (salted seafood).
It has been a staple on Korean dining tables, with origins dating back to the early period of the Three Kingdoms (37 B.C.-7 A.D.). Historically, kimchi has evolved to feature various local ingredients. As seen in early records, kimchi did not originally use garlic or chili pepper. Chili pepper is now a common ingredient of the vegetable dish, but it was introduced to Korea in the early 17th century by Portuguese traders.
The CHA said kimchi-making encompasses the sense of community and fellowship such as cooperation and harmony and includes traditional knowledge.
"The tradition also has been passed down through the generations, still exists and many Koreans take part in kimchi-making routinely, so we decided kimchi-making is recognizable as an intangible cultural heritage," the CHA said.
When gimjang made the UNESCO list, the collective practice was credited for reaffirming "Korean identity and is an excellent opportunity for strengthening family cooperation" and "also an important reminder for many Koreans that human communities need to live in harmony with nature."
However, the CHA said kimchi-making is more of a lifestyle and does not require a high degree of skills, so they will not acknowledge specific holders or organizations of the intangible heritage.
"We will research and document to discover the cultural value of kimchi-making," the CHA said.
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