Made from fermented cabbage, salt and chili peppers, this traditional Korean side dish is served at almost every meal in Korea and holds great cultural importance.
Kimchi is also popular in other Asian countries. Rabaikai (spicy white cabbage) and Paocai (Fermented vegetables).
The latest controversy stems from a Netflix reality show. South Korea’s super-richwhich premiered in May, showcases the lavish lifestyles of wealthy Singaporeans, Italians and Pakistanis living in South Korea.
In episode 6, while the cast was preparing kimchi, the Chinese subtitles translated as: RabaikaiThis drew opposition from Koreans.
They claim that the translation has Chinese cultural connotations, leading them to start an online petition calling for Netflix to amend the subtitles.
Professor Seo Kyeong-deok of Sungshin Women’s University in Seoul, South Korea’s capital, also sent a letter to Netflix, calling on it to correct the errors to “prevent viewers around the world from misunderstanding Korean history and culture.”
Known for addressing the Sino-Korean cultural debate, Xu has often faced criticism for his unilateral and aggressive anti-China stance.
For example, on January 28, he posted on X, calling for the English term for Chinese New Year to be changed to “Lunar New Year,” arguing that the festival is celebrated not only in China but also in several Asian countries.
In response to the kimchi controversy, Netflix offered the following explanation: Rabaikai It was chosen first to enhance comprehension as it is more familiar to overseas Chinese speakers.
However, the translation has been updated, CinchyThis is as recommended by the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2021.
Despite the changes, Cinchy Little known to most Chinese speakers, Rabaikai.
The kimchi issue is not new, with China’s Vice Foreign Minister Hua Chunying addressing the issue at a press conference in January.
“Fermented vegetables are not unique to some countries or regions. In China, PaocaiOn the other hand, it is known as kimchi among the Korean people on the Korean Peninsula and in China.
“Though there are similarities, the ingredients, the flavors and the preparation methods are different,” she said.
The Minister stressed the importance of maintaining friendly academic exchanges on cuisine and urged parties involved to avoid prejudices that could lead to conflicts.
The issue is further compounded by the fact that a significant portion of the kimchi consumed in South Korea is made from cheaper imported cabbage from China.
According to a 2016 report by the World Kimchi Institute, 89.9 percent of the food purchased by South Korean restaurants is imported from China.
The revelation sparked further outrage on social media in mainland China.
“South Korea is really weird – they import cabbage from China but claim kimchi is a local product,” said one online observer.
“They are making a fuss eating the cabbage they import from us. We should stop supplying them with cabbage and see what they do. Or, given the drought in Shandong this year, why not double the price of export cabbage,” said another.
“Isn’t it made with white cabbage? Isn’t it spicy? So what’s wrong with calling it ‘spicy white cabbage’? That’s much more straightforward and easy to understand,” interjected another.
