Following the US, November 22 is also 'Kimchi Day' in the UK and Brazil

aT Establishes 'Kimchi Day' Worldwide to Promote Excellence of Kimchi
Following California in 2021, Georgia, Texas, and Others Proclaim
Federal-Level Establishment Attempted Again

The Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT) is promoting the value and excellence of kimchi, a representative item of 'K-Food,' and is working to establish 'Kimchi Day' worldwide to strengthen the status of Korea as the origin of kimchi and to globalize kimchi. aT expects that the establishment of Kimchi Day will help increase kimchi export performance and enhance the brand value of K-Food.

Kimchi Day (November 22) is a legally designated commemorative day established in South Korea in 2020 to promote the value and excellence of kimchi. The date symbolizes the combination of the ingredients used in making kimchi, such as napa cabbage, radish, and red pepper powder, represented by 'each one (11),' which together provide '22 benefits' including immune system enhancement, antioxidant, and anticancer effects.

aT is focusing its efforts on ensuring that Kimchi Day becomes a celebration enjoyed by people worldwide to elevate Korea's status as the origin of kimchi. Since 2021, aT has taken the lead in spreading the movement to establish Kimchi Day in the United States by leveraging local networks such as Korean associations, consulates general, members of the U.S. House of Representatives, and the U.S. Embassy in Korea to engage relevant stakeholders.

As a result, starting with California in 2021, Kimchi Day was officially designated as a commemorative day in Virginia, New York, and the capital Washington D.C. last year. In December of last year, aT held the first-ever commemorative event at the U.S. Congressional Library in Washington D.C. to urge the establishment of Kimchi Day at the federal government level, directly meeting federal lawmakers and officials to promote the value and excellence of kimchi. Thanks to these efforts, in January this year, the New Jersey State House passed a resolution to establish Kimchi Day, followed by declarations in Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, Texas, Fairfax County, and Fullerton City.

Additionally, a federal-level resolution to establish Kimchi Day in the U.S., which was first proposed last year but expired with the end of the session, was reintroduced on the 6th of last month. The resolution is being led by Korean-American Representative Young Kim, jointly sponsored by Representatives Michelle Steel, Andy Kim, and Marilyn Strickland, marking a renewed effort.

An aT official stated, "Thanks to the growing popularity of kimchi in the U.S., kimchi exports to the U.S. reached $29 million last year," adding, "aT plans to continue various export marketing activities this year to sustain kimchi's popularity and expand exports."

This year, to further elevate kimchi's status, aT visited S?o Paulo City in Brazil, the first in South America to pursue the establishment of Kimchi Day, and resolved to promote the designation of Kimchi Day in S?o Paulo together with Aurelio Nomura, a S?o Paulo city council member who led the initiative. In Argentina, a resolution to establish Kimchi Day was introduced and passed in the Senate. In the United Kingdom, the Kingston district in southwest London proposed the establishment of Kimchi Day, marking the first such initiative in Europe, reflecting a global movement to expand the establishment of Kimchi Day.

Kim Chun-jin, president of aT, said, "Expanding Korea's Kimchi Day to a global Kimchi Day and positioning kimchi as a flagship of K-Food will contribute to expanding agricultural and fishery food exports." He added, "We will continue to promote the value and excellence of Korean kimchi worldwide, including in Canada and New Southern countries, to maintain Korea's status as the origin of kimchi and contribute to expanding the export territory of K-Food."

President Kim Chunjin delivering a speech at the United States Library of Congress at the end of last year.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.