The Mexican newspaper El Sol de Mexico on March 4 published the article titled "Kimchi, food that comforts the soul." (Screen capture from El Sol's website)

By Elias Molina and Lee Jihae

Latin American dailies have recently spotlighted kimchi.

The Mexican newspaper El Sol de Mexico on March 4 published the article titled "Kimchi, food that comforts the soul."

The daily explained the traditional way of preserving kimchi in a pot and how most Korean households have two refrigerators. It added that along with rice, kimchi is an important staple and merits a separate refrigerator for storage.

Kimjang, or the culture and process of making kimchi that is designated a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, is part of traditional Korean culture in which families gather once a year to make kimchi, El Sol said.

The report said the world might be surprised to learn that kimchi has more than 300 types in Korea, and is not only as a side dish but can also come in other forms such as stew and fried rice.

As fermented food, kimchi contains many antioxidants and is effective in slowing aging, it added.

To raise awareness that kimchi and kimjang are definitively part of Korean food culture, the Korean Cultural Center in Mexico City (KCC) held a kimchi contest from Feb. 2-28. (KCC in Mexico)

In Argentina, the daily La Nacion on Jan. 24 published an article on kimchi, while another newspaper, Clarin, released a similar piece on March 5.

Yonhap News of Korea on March 9 said Korean Cultural Centers (KCCs) abroad are the reason behind heavier media coverage of kimchi by their host countries. The El Sol article was contributed by the director of the KCC in Mexico City, Park Young Doo and the one carried by Clarin by the head of the KCC in Buenos Aires, Cho Moonhaeng.

The KCCs run promotional activities for kimchi besides those of media. The one in Mexico holds kimchi academic conferences, classes on kimchi recipes and kimchi contests aimed at locals.

In an interview with Yonhap, Park said, "Mexicans are already deeply aware that kimchi is Korea's own food culture," adding, "We will further ingrain this awareness via various activities."

eliasmolina@korea.kr