Last year, South Korea exported about $102 million worth of kimchi worldwide, including $2 million to the United States.

South Korea banned Chinese imports of kimchi in October, saying that samples contained eggs of parasitic worms. China retaliated, saying South Korean products also contained parasitic eggs.

In 2000, Seoul fought Japanese attempts to have the International Olympic Committee designate the Japanese their style of kimchi, called "kimuchi," an official Olympic food. In the end, South Korea's recipe for kimchi was recognized as the standard by an international vegetable committee.

Los Angeles TimesNov. 24, 2005

Japan's increasing share of the world kimchi market has reminded Korea of the past Japan's invasion. Despite the fact that Japanese way of making kimchi does not follow Korean traditional style, Japan's imitation products are floating around the world as "kimchi." For Koreans, this is not only Japan's market domination but also insult of national pride as they experienced before.

The New York Times February 5, 2000

Kimchi cuts cholesterol, prevents obesity, diabetes and stomach cancer, constipation and colon cancer, and to top it off, keeps a person young and their skin healthy. Kimchi has been shown to help improve the fight against bird flu or other types of flu viruses.

CNN November 13, 2005

According to Yonhap, he claimed kimchi proved helpful in preventing the spread of SARS in 2004.

Yahoo! Asia NewsNovember 27, 2005

Sales of kimchi, a Korean dish made with fermented cabbage and spices, are surging after scientists found that a lactic acid bacteria in the dish helped poultry fight bird flu.

Breaking News on Food - EuropeNovember 16, 2005

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