If you thought one Korean ajumma (older Korean woman with a curly perm and a 'tude) was scary, try 3,000 in one place. Just kidding. These housewives are Seoul's warmest-hearted -- they gathered on Wednesday to make kimchi for poor households who can't make their own.
It's the kimchi brigade! —
If you thought one Korean ajumma (older Korean woman with a curly perm and a 'tude) was scary, try 3,000 in one place. Just kidding. These housewives are Seoul's warmest-hearted -- they gathered on Wednesday to make kimchi for poor households who can't make their own.
chung sung-jun/getty images
Travelers staying at The Plaza hotel (top right) were treated to an unusual sight: Seoul housewives filled the 13,207-square-meter Seoul City Plaza for the largest kimchi-making event to date.
City center —
Travelers staying at The Plaza hotel (top right) were treated to an unusual sight: Seoul housewives filled the 13,207-square-meter Seoul City Plaza for the largest kimchi-making event to date.
chung sung-jun/getty images
Making kimchi is a labor-intensive process involving salting cabbage, mixing in pureed chili mixture and adding fish sauce and shrimp sauce. Rubber gloves are necessary to prevent chili burn.
Complicated cooking —
Making kimchi is a labor-intensive process involving salting cabbage, mixing in pureed chili mixture and adding fish sauce and shrimp sauce. Rubber gloves are necessary to prevent chili burn.
chung sung-jun/getty images
When making kimchi, timing is key -- it takes around five to six hours for the cabbage to get properly rubbery, and only then is it ready to be stuffed with the complicated marinade.
Stuff that cabbage —
When making kimchi, timing is key -- it takes around five to six hours for the cabbage to get properly rubbery, and only then is it ready to be stuffed with the complicated marinade.
JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
A total of 61,700 cabbages were used this year to make 250 tons of everyone's favorite fermented side dish.
Tons and tons —
A total of 61,700 cabbages were used this year to make 250 tons of everyone's favorite fermented side dish.
Getty Images
Given how complicated the process is, more and more households in South Korea are opting to buy pre-made kimchi in stores. According to a survey by research institute Gallup Korea last month, 67% of Korean households are making their own kimchi, compared to 95% of households in 1994.
Say "kimchi" —
Given how complicated the process is, more and more households in South Korea are opting to buy pre-made kimchi in stores. According to a survey by research institute Gallup Korea last month, 67% of Korean households are making their own kimchi, compared to 95% of households in 1994.
JUNG YEON-JE/afp/getty images
According to the same survey, 71% of households responded that kimchi was "absolutely necessary" for every meal. That's a decrease from 85% in 2003.
Kimchi or die —
According to the same survey, 71% of households responded that kimchi was "absolutely necessary" for every meal. That's a decrease from 85% in 2003.
GETTY IMAGES
To a Korean, this salted, choked-with-anchovy-sauce-and-pepper-powder slab of cabbage looks absolutely delicious.
There's a beauty —
To a Korean, this salted, choked-with-anchovy-sauce-and-pepper-powder slab of cabbage looks absolutely delicious.
jung yeon-je/afp/getty image