In Korea, there is a saying "gimjang (kimchi for winter use) is half of one's winter provisions." No matter how sumptuous a banquet may be, a banquet spread without kimchi is unimaginable. Just like rice, another staple, kimchi is an indispensable food to all Koreans, rich and poor alike.
Since the Joseon Dynasty, preparing kimchi for the winter was an enormous domestic event. As many as 100-150 cabbages were prepared at once. As gimjang season approached, relatives and neighbors would consult with each other to avoid the overlapping of gimjang days among different families. In gimjang season, it was customary to help each other out by lending a hand to one another. However, over time, and in recent decades in particular, buying ready-made kimchi ceased to be unusual or odd. There is a book from the old days that mentions that depending on others for kimchi and jang (soy sauce and bean paste) was embarrassing. In Joseonmussangsinsigyorijebeop (a cookbook from 1943), it says, "To Koreans, kimchi is next to rice. No matter how sumptuous a feast may be, it cannot be complete without kimchi. Our palate is also accustomed to kimchi; it cannot go without it. It is indeed precious. Among things we ask of others, asking for jang and kimchi is a huge embarrassment."
Since the Joseon Dynasty, preparing kimchi for the winter was an enormous domestic event. As many as 100-150 cabbages were prepared at once. As gimjang season approached, relatives and neighbors would consult with each other to avoid the overlapping of gimjang days among different families. In gimjang season, it was customary to help each other out by lending a hand to one another. However, over time, and in recent decades in particular, buying ready-made kimchi ceased to be unusual or odd. There is a book from the old days that mentions that depending on others for kimchi and jang (soy sauce and bean paste) was embarrassing. In Joseonmussangsinsigyorijebeop (a cookbook from 1943), it says, "To Koreans, kimchi is next to rice. No matter how sumptuous a feast may be, it cannot be complete without kimchi. Our palate is also accustomed to kimchi; it cannot go without it. It is indeed precious. Among things we ask of others, asking for jang and kimchi is a huge embarrassment."
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| Ingredients used in kimchi (cabbage, spices, etc.) |
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