Kimch'i is a salted and pickled dish, often presented as a traditional side dish in any meal. The fermentation of vegetables, complemented by salted and other seasonings, give it a unique flavor. The hot and taste of kimch'i stimulates one's appetite. It is also a dish, providing vitamins and . Kimch'i can also be preserved for long periods of time.
Red pepper was to the making of kimch'i in the 17th . The introduction of red pepper in the process was a innovation to the Korean food . By using red pepper with vegetables and fish, a unique of food preservation was born, thus leading to the adoption of kimch'i as a Korean staple.