Kimchi-making culture added to UNESCO heritage list

The South Korean government said Thursday that the registration of the tradition of making and sharing kimchi, the spicy fermented cabbage, to the UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritages will contribute to the promotion and preservation of this culture.

UNESCO added South Korea's "Kimjang: Making and Sharing Kimchi" to its World Intangible Cultural Heritage list at a meeting of its Intergovernmental Committee in Baku, Azerbaijan on Thursday, making it the 16th South Korean asset added on the list, which also includes a percussion instrument performance known as "pansori" and a 5,000-year-old dance named "ganggangsullae".

The registration of making and sharing kimchi as a UNESCO heritage will help promote the South Korean culture around the world and also enhance citizens' awareness of this important culture heritage, South Korea's Cultural Heritage Administration said on Thursday.

In South Korea, now is the time to make kimchi before the cold sets in. Each household gets busy preparing for kimchi for consumption during the long winter months.

The government also launched a large-scale festival in the country's historic Gwanghwamun square to promote the kimchi culture.

"This event is aimed to cement our position in the world as the birthplace of kimchi, spread the tradition of sharing in kimjang culture at home and abroad and also promote consumption of domestic kimchi through dissemination of kimjang culture," the South Korean ministry of agriculture, food and rural affairs said in a press release.