The Kimchi Festival London was held on Nov. 23 at St. Bride’s Foundation on the British capital’s Fleet Street. Shown are Ambassador to the U.K. Yoon Yeocheol (sixth from left), Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames Mayor Liz Green (third from left) and Yoon Sook-ja (fifth from left), president of the Traditional Korean Food Federation, posing for photos with kimchi masters from in and out of Korea at the event’s opening.
By Yoon Sojung
Photos = Traditional Korean Food Federation
“Kimchi is the best!”
This cheer echoed in the heart of London.
The third Kimchi Festival London on Nov. 23 was held the day after Kimchi Day at St. Bride’s Foundation on Fleet Street, the heart of the British capital.
The Korean Restaurants & Supermarket Association of the U.K. has hosted the event for 36 years to promote Korea’s status to Britain and Europe as the birthplace of kimchi. Earning the official name “Kimchi Festival” in 2021, the event this year was hosted by the association and organized by the Seoul-based Traditional Korean Food Federation (TKFF).
Visitors learned more about the iconic condiment from 16 kimchi masters: TKFF President Yoon Sook-ja, 10 chefs from across Korea including Seoul, Gyeonggi-do Province, Sejong, Daejeon and Busan, and six from around the world such as Tokyo, Beijing, London and Paris.
They showcased 17 kinds of kimchi including baechu (kimchi cabbage), bossam (wrapped), tomato and vegan kkakttugi (diced radish kimchi) and presented lectures, sampling and kimchi-making classes.
The Euro Journal, a news outlet run by ethnic Koreans in London, said the venue was jam-packed with visitors of many nationalities including the U.K., Japan and the Philippines, attesting to the global popularity of kimchi.
Those attending kimchi-making classes proudly showed off their creations with a big smile. They looked at the displays and attended lectures in showing keen interested in the food’s efficacy and kimchi culture in Korea. 
Participants in a kimchi-making class on Nov. 23 show their freshly cooked creations along with master chefs at the Kimchi Festival London.
“The Kimchi Festival is a meaningful event publicizing the excellence of Korean food to the U.K. and European society,” Ambassador to the U.K. Yoon Yeocheol said. “Since the Royal Borough of Kingston in London designated Kimchi Day in July last year in a first for Europe, kimchi, which is at the center of globalizing Korean food, is again raising Korea’s status this year.”
“We and the locals who attended the event all shouted ‘Kimchi is the best!’ to clearly prove that Korea is the food’s birthplace,” TKFF President Yoon added. “I’m so touched and proud that kimchi is at the center of Korean food, which has gone global and everyone loves it.”
“I’ve visited London quite often from 15 years ago, when Korean food was relatively unknown there. At the recommendation of then Korean Ambassador to the U.K. Cheong Young-woo, I once cooked at his residence royal cuisine such as sinseollo (royal hot pot) for the British royal family and received compliments.”
She added that her latest visit to London held more significance.
Visitors to the Kimchi Festival London on Nov. 23 listen to a lecture on kimchi culture in Korea from Yoon Sook-ja, president of the Seoul-based Traditional Korean Food Federation.
This year’s Kimchi Festival London on Nov. 23 showcases 17 kimchi varieties such as baechu (kimchi cabbage), bossam (wrapped), tomato and vegan kkakttugi (diced radish kimchi).
arete@korea.kr
