Food and Nationalism: Kimchi and Korean National Identity

Abstract

In order to depen our understanding of the relationship betwee n food andnationalism in general, and of Korean national identity in part icular, this articleaims at investigating the case of kimchi, this representative c ulinary symbol ofKorean everyday life. My approach is to analyze historically th ree different phasesof the emerging process of kimchi as national symbol: 1) Declar ation ofindependence in taste, 2) Promotion of the national food, and 3 ) Internationalconflicts around kimchi as national food. The case of kimchi is particularlyinteresting because it demonstrates the strength of national sy mbols related tobasic human activities of eating and drinking; its’emergence is intimately relatedwith national economic development; its’main promoters were aut onomous actorsof civil society pursuing their professional or sectoral intere sts; and the state..............................