Edutainer: Yeon-hwa
📌 Heads up before you read
Kimchi is a must-have side dish on every Korean table. It’s not just food—it’s part of daily life and deeply connected to Korean culture. Here's the cool part: the types of kimchi, the ingredients, and even the flavors change from region to region. But let’s save the endless variety of kimchi for another time (don’t worry, I’ll share more in the next post 😁). For now, I want to tell you about something even more special: [gim-jang]—the big, family-style culture of making napa cabbage kimchi together. And it’s [gim-jang] season in Korea right now, as everyone gets ready for winter!
🔎 Table of Contents
Part 1: What Is [gim-jang]?
Part 2: Enjoying Kimchi Varieties
What Is [gim-jang]?
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[gim-jang] is a unique Korean culture where families and neighbors gather to make enough kimchi to last an entire year. This usually takes place between December and January, and for good reason: napa cabbage is at its peak during this time, and the cold winter weather helps keep freshly made kimchi crisp and flavorful.
The Cultural Importance of [gim-jang]
[gim-jang] isn’t just about making kimchi—it’s about bringing people together. Families and neighbors gather to make and share the results of their teamwork. It’s a fun and meaningful event filled with laughter, cooperation, and, of course, delicious food.
Here’s a fun fact: the kimchi made during [gim-jang] reflects each family’s unique style. For example, my family adds fish to our kimchi, while my friend's family uses a mix of Sichuan pepper, apples, and pears to give theirs a sweeter flavor. Even though it’s all [gim-jang] kimchi, each family’s recipe is one-of-a-kind! 😁 The kimchi you’ve tried at a restaurant? That’s just a tiny glimpse of the full variety.
This December, even our edutainer Eun-ji’s family made [gim-jang]! And guess what? We’ve got some fun photos to share with you—capturing all the laughter, teamwork, and, of course, lots of kimchi! 👏🏼
Eun-ji’s Family [gim-jang]
Eun-ji’s family, which includes her mother, her father, and herself, made [gim-jang] together this year.
They made kimchi with 20 heads of napa cabbage!
(That’s enough for a whole year!! 😲)
They made glutinous rice, ground it, and mixed it with ingredients like persimmons, radish, garlic, ginger, and various salted seafood, along with red chili powder.
(Eun-ji’s family adds persimmons to their kimchi! 😮)
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Next, they prepared fresh, seasonal oysters along with
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fresh vegetables like chives and green onions
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to mix into the chili paste and create the perfect kimchi filling.
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The filling is then carefully stuffed into salted napa cabbage leaves and thoroughly coated.
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⭐ FYI, the napa cabbage used for kimchi is always salted beforehand.
The napa cabbage in the picture above is salted cabbage—not raw!
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Ta-da! Eun-ji’s family [gim-jang] kimchi is ready!
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The final step?
Storing the finished kimchi in airtight containers, and it’s all done! 👏
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These days, with busy lifestyles, more families are choosing to buy kimchi instead of making their own [gim-jang]. However, during this season, it's still easy to find markets and stores filled with [gim-jang] ingredients for sale.
The True Charm of 김장[gim-jang]
The Perfect Pairing of Fresh Kimchi and 수육[su-yuk]
Eun-ji's [gim-jang] kimchi and [su-yuk]
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The real highlight of [gim-jang] is enjoying freshly made kimchi with 수육[su-yuk]—steamed pork belly! After finishing [gim-jang], placing a slice of freshly seasoned kimchi on top of warm, tender [su-yuk] and taking a bite is simply unmatched.
The rich, savory flavor of [su-yuk] combines perfectly with the crunchy, spicy kick of freshly made kimchi, creating a unique delight that you can only experience during [gim-jang] season. This is why [gim-jang] isn’t just about making kimchi—it’s also about sharing these heartwarming moments with the whole family. 😊
Photos of [su-yuk] from
other families' [gim-jang]
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Did you know that [gim-jang] was recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2013?
Now is the perfect season for [gim-jang]! If you ever get the chance, I hope you will experience the unique charm of this special culture. 😊 Curious about trying [gim-jang] yourself? Share your thoughts with us on KONOGRAM!
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