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Museum Kimchikan Introduction Contents
Korea's First Kimchi Museum : 1986~1999
1986
Kimchi Museum first opened in Pil-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul.
1987
Pulmuone assumed management of the museum.
May 1988
The museum moved to the Korea World Trade Center Complex
in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
Numerous foreign tourists who visited the country for the 1988
Seoul Olympics stopped by the Kimchi Museum.
This marked the start of the globalization of Kimchi.
March 1993
Officially registered with the Ministry of Culture,
Sports and Tourism as Korea’s 49th specialized museum.
Kimchi Museum for the World : 2000~2015
May 2000
Reopened at COEX Mall in Gangnam, Seoul.
Introduced exhibitions and kimchi-making programs for children
to encourage greater familiarity with kimchi.
2006
Health magazine in the U.S. listed Kimchi among the five healthiest foods
in the world, people around the world became more interested in its taste
and nutritional benefits.
Major broadcasters including BBC, NHK, and CNN featured
the Kimchi Museum, strengthening its global reputation.
December 2013
Selected as “kimchi experience training institution” by aT
March 2015
Selected by CNN as one of the world’s 11 best food museums.
A Space to Experience Food Culture Through the Five Senses : 2015~Present
April 21, 2015
Reopened in Insa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, as Museum Kimchikan.
March 2017
Selected by ELLE DECOR as one of the world’s 12 best food museums
and recognized as Korea’s representative food museum.
2018
Selected by Korea Tourism Organization as a “Best of the Best”
destination among Korea’s recommended monthly travel sites.
2019
Received the Jongno District Mayor’s Award on Volunteer Day 2019.
2022
Selected by BollyInside as one of the 12 must-visit museums in Seoul.
2023
Hosted the 1st Museum Kimchikan Contest in celebration of Kimchi Day.
(Annual children’s art contest and exhibition of award-winning works
launched.)
2025
Surpassed 1.4 million cumulative visitors.
(More than 90,000 international visitors recorded over 10 years since
relocating to Insa-dong.)