US House to Adopt Resolution Declaring December 6 as 'Kimchi Day' (Update)

The United States is expected to officially commemorate November 22 as "Kimchi Day" at the federal government level every year.

According to the Korean American Immigration History Museum on the 25th (local time), the U.S. House Oversight Committee has decided to bring the Kimchi Day resolution to the floor for adoption on December 6. While some U.S. states such as California, Virginia, and New York have previously declared Kimchi Day as a commemorative day, this is the first time that Congress will designate it as an official commemorative day at the federal level.

'Kimchi Day' held last year at the Library of Congress in Washington DC [Image source=Yonhap News]

The Kimchi Day commemorative resolution will be adopted without a vote, with Korean American Republican Representative Young Kim (California) announcing the contents on the floor. Representative Kim is the lead sponsor of the resolution, which includes 14 members from both the Republican and Democratic parties. The resolution to designate Kimchi Day as an official federal commemorative day was first introduced last year but was discarded due to the expiration of the congressional session.

The Korean American Immigration History Museum, which led the efforts from drafting to persuading individual lawmakers alongside Representative Kim, explained, "The leadership of both parties coordinated so that it would be adopted without a vote as a gesture of appreciation to the Korean American community."

The resolution that Representative Kim will announce includes that kimchi is a traditional Korean food rich in probiotics, vitamins, and various nutrients, and that recently it has been loved by a diverse range of consumers in the U.S., not just Korean Americans. It also mentions that this year marks the 120th anniversary of Korean immigration to the Americas and the 70th anniversary of the Korea-U.S. alliance, as well as the various contributions of the Korean American community to the United States. The Korea Kimchi Association designated November 22 as Kimchi Day, which has been a legal commemorative day in Korea since 2020.

In line with the adoption of the Kimchi Day resolution, the Korean American Immigration History Museum plans to hold a commemorative event for the establishment of Kimchi Day on December 6 at the Cannon Caucus Room in the Rayburn Building of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC.

Republican Representative Michelle Park Steel, who participated in sponsoring the resolution, stated, "Kimchi is no longer a simple side dish seen only in Korean households," adding, "As a proud first-generation Korean American and a lover of kimchi, I am proud to announce this resolution to promote Kimchi Day as a national commemorative day."

Representative Young Kim also expressed, "Since Korean immigrants settled in the U.S. over a century ago, kimchi has transformed into an icon reflecting the influence of Korean culture," and said, "I am pleased to announce this resolution to celebrate Korean culture and food in the United States."

Meanwhile, a source from the U.S. Congress explained, "Resolutions adopted by Congress do not have legal binding force, so they can be effective even if passed by either the House or the Senate."

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