Kimchi Smuggling Trend in the US? Man with Grandma's Kimchi Says "This Is the Real Deal"

US Influencer Reveals 'Korean Kimchi Black Market'
"Bought Kimchi from Korean-Run Bakery"
Shared with Coworkers

American influencer Jake Hutchison posted a video saying he purchased "real Korean-style kimchi." [Source=Instagram @hutch.jake]

A story of a man who went out himself to taste 'real Korean-style kimchi,' not Americanized kimchi, has been revealed.

On the 24th, a video titled "The 'Real Korean Kimchi' Black Market Trending in the U.S." was posted on an online community. This content was posted on social media by influencer Jake Hutchinson, who lives in Orlando, Florida, on the 16th, and has attracted attention with over 2 million views.

In the video, Hutchinson holds a glass jar full of kimchi and explains the process of purchasing it. He said, "I just bought real Korean kimchi at a Korean bakery," adding, "A coworker married to a Korean wife worked in Korea for about five years and told me that if I go to a bakery run by Koreans and say 'Please give me kimchi,' it would work."

He continued, "When I entered the bakery, there were four Korean ladies who couldn't speak English," and "When I asked for kimchi, the ladies smiled and said it was $13 (about 18,000 won)." He added, "I couldn't understand what the ladies said, but it was a fun experience," and "I showed them a translation app that said, 'My Korean friend told me to come here to eat kimchi,' and they laughed. Then a man who came into the store saw me holding the kimchi and said, 'It's good for your health,'" he shared. Finally, Hutchinson said, "I got real kimchi made by Korean grandmothers for $13. I'm really looking forward to it," and recommended, "You should also look for Korean bakeries."

Later, he posted a follow-up video sharing the kimchi he bought with his coworkers at the office. Unlike Koreans who eat kimchi as a single side dish, they were seen eating it with rice topped with mango, avocado, dragon fruit, nuts, and more. An American netizen who saw the video commented, "A white guy living next door said, 'The Korean bakery in the neighborhood sells real kimchi made by Koreans,' so I went to check, and they really were selling it," expressing empathy.

Domestic netizens who saw the video responded with comments such as, "It's amazing to see foreigners falling for the taste of kimchi," "An interesting video," and "Now that they've discovered the taste of kimchi, they'll probably eat it every day."