For Export Ramen, 'Labaichai' Instead of Kimchi... Seokyungdeok "Only Gives China an Excuse"

Domestic Food Company Labels Export Ramen to US as 'Rabicha'i'
"Proper Basic Labeling Needed to Prepare for 'Kimchi Process'"

A well-known domestic food company is causing controversy by labeling kimchi on the packaging of its export kimchi ramen sold in the United States as 'Rabai Chai (辣白菜)'.

Export kimchi sold in the United States is labeled "Rabaitchai" on the packaging.
[Photo by Seokyungdeok, Facebook capture]

On the 25th, Professor Seokyung Deok from Sungshin Women's University began by stating on his social media (SNS), "Netizens living in the United States have collectively reported this." In the photo of the kimchi ramen packaging posted by Professor Seokyung, the word for kimchi is written not as the English transliteration 'Kimchi' but as 'Rabai Chai.' Rabai Chai is a pickled cabbage dish from Northeast China and is completely different in meaning from 'Xinchi (辛奇),' the Chinese term for kimchi.

Professor Seokyung said, "In recent years, China has continuously engaged in 'kimchi appropriation,' including provocative articles about kimchi in the Communist Party's official newspapers, Global Times and Huanqiu Shibao, and distortions of kimchi's origin on Baidu Encyclopedia, China's largest portal site." He added, "In such circumstances, we must use the correct basic notation for kimchi both domestically and internationally."

He continued, "Using incorrect Chinese terminology only provides China with another excuse," and noted, "Our government has already partially revised the 'Guidelines for Foreign Language Translation and Notation of Public Terms,' specifying the correct Chinese notation for kimchi as 'Xinchi.'" He also emphasized, "As the country of origin of kimchi, our companies must unite to promote the correct notation of kimchi worldwide."

This is not the first time the issue of kimchi notation has caused controversy. In December last year, when searching for 'kimchi' on Chinese shopping malls AliExpress and Temu, which are increasingly used domestically, the results showed 'Pao Cai (泡菜),' a Chinese-style pickled vegetable, sparking debate. Professor Seokyung stated, "Since netizens worldwide may receive incorrect information when searching for 'Kimchi,' this issue must be corrected," and added, "We will strongly demand corrections through protest emails in the future."

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