The Korean Food Global Association, supported by South Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Korean Food Promotion Institution, will host the 2023 Korea Kimchi Festival on November 19.
Following the proclamation of World Kimchi Day on November 22, 2020, the association hosted its inaugural Kimchi festival at Buena Park Source Mall that same year. Subsequent festivals were held at the Consulate General’s residence in 2021 and Harbor College in 2022. This year, the fourth annual Kimchi Festival returns to Buena Park Source Mall and will take place from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on November 19.
“This year’s event is especially significant as the Federal Congress is expected to pass a resolution to designate November 22 as Kimchi Day on December 6 officially,” said Jong Taek Lim, president of the Korean Food Global Association.
The festival will showcase a kimchi mixing demonstration involving more than 50 politicians, business leaders, and organization heads, including U.S. Representative Young Kim, Fullerton Mayor Fred Jung, and Irvine Vice Mayor Tammy Kim.
The association has prepared 80 kilograms of kimchi stuffing and 80 heads of napa cabbage, sourced directly from Korea for the event. Following the demonstration, they will serve 100 portions of boiled pork slices paired with freshly made kimchi. Additionally, Namdo Market from South Jeolla Province and Noksun, a renowned Korean side dish company, will set up booths to distribute free Korean chili powder and offer samples of popular Korean side dishes.
Building on the momentum of the Kimchi Day event, the association’s next venture is to launch a specialty store featuring Korean ingredients. “Korean ingredients are flavorful and hygienically processed, backed by HACCP certification,” Lim explained. “We plan to select and offer ingredients favored by Koreans, drawing on the association directors’ experience in the restaurant industry.” With non-Korean consumers increasing by up to 40 percent, the association intends to introduce dedicated refrigerators to market authentic Korean kimchi and side dishes.
The association notes that although the international popularity of Korean cuisine has been on an upward trajectory since 2010, it currently ranks seventh or eighth globally. By contrast, the Thai prime minister has spearheaded a successful globalization strategy that includes providing free food ingredients and loan support to leading companies, putting Thai cuisine well ahead of its Korean counterpart.
“Korean food globalization begins with using Korean ingredients,” said Lim. He expressed his ambition for the association to fully leverage its capabilities until Korean food is ranked among the top three cuisines globally.
BY EUNYOUNG LEE [lee.eunyoung6@koreadaily.com]
