Best Kimchi Products of the Year 2025

Sejong, 4 September 2025 — On 25 August 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) announced nine winners of the 14th Korea Kimchi Contest held this year, including Cham-maesil Saebyeok Altari Kimchi of Saebyeokfarm Co., Ltd.

The Korea Kimchi Contest is an annual event hosted jointly by the MAFRA and the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT) and organized by the World Institute of Kimchi (WiKim). The purpose of the contest is to select the year’s best kimchi products to help improve the quality of kimchi products and enhance the competitiveness of the Korean kimchi industry.

The winners are selected through a multi-step process covering sensory evaluation conducted by a jury of experts and consumers, as well as evaluation of sanitary conditions at production facilities. The contest does not stop at simply selecting the most delicious kimchi products. It also promotes worldwide awareness of the excellence of Korean-made kimchi and supports the entry of Korean kimchi products into overseas markets.

This year’s grand prize was awarded to Cham-maesil Saebyeok Altari Kimchi of Saebyeokfarm Co., Ltd. in Jangseong-gun, Jeollanam-do. The kimchi product won high praise from the jury for its deep flavour, which was achieved by balancing the savoury flavour and consistency with the use of glutinous rice and rice paste, and by using green plum extract that was aged at a low temperature in traditional earthenware jars.

The highest excellence prize went to Pogi Kimchi (named Juan-yine Kimchi) of Jooan F&B Co., Ltd. Pogi Kimchi means baechu kimchi, and “baechu” means kimchi cabbage.

Three excellence prizes went to the following kimchi products:

(a) Bitgoeul Kimchi Yi-uh-on of BITGOEULKIMCHI Farming Association Corporation;

(b) Pogi Kimchi Gold of Cheongoneorganic Co., Ltd; and

(c) Chonggak Kimchi of Jooan F&B Co., Ltd.

Honorable mentions were given to the following four kimchi products:

(a) Kok-jibeo-kok Kok Pogi Kimchi of Dreamelfood Co., Ltd;

(b) Migumchi Yulmu Bossam Kimchi of Yimjinkang Kimchi Inc.;

(c) Osaeksoban Pogi Kimchi of the Yeoncheon Branch of the Korean Agricultural Cooperative Kimchi Association Joint Business Corporation; and

(d) Somssiga Shintoburi Chonggak Kimchi of Agricultural Corporation SOMSSIGA Co., Ltd.

The grand prize winner will receive the Prime Minister’s award and a prize of KRW 5 million. The highest excellence prize winner will receive the Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Minister’s award and a prize of KRW 3 million. Each of the excellence prize winners will receive the Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Minister’s award and a prize of KRW 2 million. Each of the four honorable-mention winners will receive three awards from the president of aT, one award from the president of the WiKim, and a prize of KRW 1 million. The awarding ceremony will be held on 21 November this year, as part of the event commemorating the 6th anniversary of Kimchi Day.