SEOUL, November 17 (AJP) - As the cold grip of winter descends, kimchi transcends its role as a staple food in South Korea to become a powerful symbol of communal love and sharing.
This spirit was vividly on display in Seoul on Nov. 17, where a massive kimchi-making event took place at Garak Market in Songpa-gu. It was to prepare thousands of heads of kimchi destined for low-income families and elderly residents living alone.
Enduring the biting wind, volunteers worked tirelessly, stuffing salted cabbage leaves with a vibrant, pungent red seasoning. The spicy fragrance of the seasoning filled the chilly air as mountains of freshly prepared kimchi were meticulously stacked.
Known as the Garak Kimjang Festival, this event is celebrating its 18th anniversary, having been a continuous tradition of giving since 2008.
The event is a true community effort. Funding is secured through a collaboration between market merchants and the city government, while the labor relies on a diverse group of volunteers, including local citizens, foreign residents, and children. This year, the participants collectively made an estimated 80,000 heads of kimchi. The entirety of the finished product is slated for delivery to 10,000 vulnerable households across Seoul.
Historically, Kimjang — the annual process of making large quantities of kimchi to last through the winter — was a major, multi-day undertaking. The meticulous work, which involves salting the cabbage, blending the seasoning, and stuffing the filling, was a crucial time when families and neighbors gathered to prepare for the long winter.
However, this grand scale has begun to shrink. Factors such as changing family structures, reduced domestic kimchi consumption, and a general labor shortage have led to a decrease in the overall volume of homemade kimchi. The sight of entire neighborhoods coordinating this effort is now rare.
Despite these modern changes, kimjang endures. It remains a deeply established custom that actively connects and preserves the memory of the Korean community's collective spirit.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.
