By Hyun Ji-hyang

"Kimchi Mask" for swine flu prevention has been recently introduced in New York City.

A picture of Kimchi with a phrase, "Kimchi Prevents Flu," is printed on a regular white face mask.

This face mask was manufactured by a Korean advertisement professional, Lee Jea-suk, working in the city. He designed Kimchi mask to publicize the distinguished effectiveness of Korean traditional side dish, Kimchi in an effort to prevent a worldwide swine flu epidemic.

The 28-year-old producer said, "Many Americans show interest in the mask because it gives a funny look of a head of Kimchi cabbage stuck to people`s lips."

Lee said, "In cooperation with local Korean associations and restaurants, I am going to create similar humorous advertisements for Korean food." He is planning to perform stages with Korean young adults, wearing the mask.

(jenellehyun@gmail.com)