Gwangju 'Kimjang Festival' Sells 257 Tons... Largest Ever

About 12,000 Participants Achieve 1.65 Billion Won in Results
Organizations and Groups Expand Donations and Sharing for the Underprivileged

During the "2024 Bitgoeul Love Sharing Kimchi Making Event" held from the 2nd to the 15th, about 12,000 citizens participated, and kimchi sales reached 257 tons, setting a record high. Provided by Gwangju City

Ordinary citizens made Kimjang kimchi themselves, while companies practiced sharing with neighbors in need at the "Bitgoeul Sarang Nanum Kimjang Daejeon," which achieved its highest results ever.

According to Gwangju City on the 18th, more than 12,000 people participated in the "2024 Bitgoeul Sarang Nanum Kimjang Daejeon," held from the 2nd to the 15th, selling 257 tons of Kimjang kimchi (worth approximately 1.65 billion KRW), marking a record high.

This is the highest achievement since the Kimjang Daejeon began in 2014, an increase of 19% (41 tons) compared to last year’s 216 tons (1.487 billion KRW). On-site pick-up and courier orders for finished kimchi products surged by 40% compared to last year. Forty-nine organizations and institutions, including Gwangju Urban Corporation, donated 44 tons of Kimjang kimchi to vulnerable groups, further spreading the culture of sharing.

This year’s Kimjang Daejeon kimchi was made using a recipe jointly developed by the World Institute of Kimchi and winners of the Kimchi Festival Presidential Award, embodying the taste of Gwangju kimchi. Ingredients such as napa cabbage, salt, red pepper powder, and anchovy sauce were jointly purchased from Gwangju and Jeonnam.

Joo Jaehui, Director of Economic and Startup Affairs, said, "This year, reservations for the Kimjang Daejeon were completed early and applications for finished products surged, so we paid special attention to quality control," adding, "We will continue to work hard to further develop the Kimjang Daejeon based on the high trust citizens and organizations have in Gwangju kimchi."

Meanwhile, the city operates a year-round kimchi-making program on the 2nd and 4th weeks of each month from May to November, so that delicious kimchi can be made at any time, not just during the Kimjang season. This year, about 2,800 citizens participated.