Some of you may be aware of South Korea’s first astronaut to be sent to space last year with kimchi on board the spacecraft.

Just a few days ago, kimchi was sent on another important mission – to a South Korean destroyed deployed to fend off Somali pirates off the coast of Africa. The 300 naval Koreans complained of ‘high prices and poor quality’ of the kimchi that is imported through a local port.

The Chief of Staff for the Korean Navy has promised a gift package of 1 ton of fresh, genuine, Korean-made kimchi to ‘boost morale’ of the miitary on board the destroyer – a month supply for the Korean servicemen on the ship (AFP). South Korean sailors were among the hostages that were held by Somali pirates for three months this past February (Javno). Korean ships and cargo have been subject to Somalian piracy, hence the recent Korean military efforts.

Yes, kimchi is that important in a Korean’s diet! Kimchi is used in traditional Korean dishes such as kimchi soup, or kimchi jigae, and is traditionally served as a side dish for almost every meal.

Kimchi side dish