As South Korea's traditional kimjang season approaches, an annual festival is underway at Imsil Cheese Theme Park in North Jeolla Province, offering visitors a chance to prepare kimchi using locally grown ingredients.
Kimjang is a traditional Korean practice of making large quantities of kimchi in late autumn or early winter to prepare for the colder months. Families, relatives and neighbors often gather to make and share kimchi, a staple of Korean cuisine.
Now in its 11th year, the festival, hosted by Imsil County and co-organized by Imsil N Seasoning Village, kicked off at 10:30 a.m. Friday and runs through Sunday.
Some 900 people from 300 teams registered in advance to participate in this year's hands-on kimchi-making sessions.
Participants can make their own kimchi using pre-salted cabbage and prepared seasonings provided by organizers, then take home the finished product, officials said.
The festival also features singing contests, prize giveaways and food stalls serving freshly made kimchi alongside boiled pork.
"We hope visitors enjoy making delicious kimchi with their family and friends using fresh cabbage, high-quality red peppers and carefully selected seasonings from Imsil," a county official said.
"We will continue to build on the festival to provide consumers with high-quality local produce while ensuring stable sales opportunities and income for local farmers."
cjh@heraldcorp.com
