The Kimchi Festival celebrates interethnic friendship and cultural dialogue
The Kimchi Festival, held in Tashkent, aimed to promote Korean national culture and foster unity among peoples.
Kimchi, one of the oldest and best-known dishes in Korean cuisine, is made by fermenting vegetables with a special blend of spices.
This dish is valued not only as a gastronomic staple of the diet but also as a cultural symbol embodying national unity, family values, and intergenerational continuity.
The festival, organized by the Committee on Interethnic Relations and Friendly Ties with Foreign Countries of the Republic of Uzbekistan in cooperation with the Association of Korean Cultural Centers of Uzbekistan, brought together department leadership, national cultural centers’ activists, media representatives, and the general public.
The main objective of the event was to introduce the people of Uzbekistan to the centuries-old customs, traditions, and culinary culture of the Korean people, as well as to strengthen friendship, mutual respect, and harmony among representatives of various nations and nationalities.
At the event, participants discussed the history of kimchi, the secrets of its preparation, and the special place of the dish in the everyday life and family traditions of the Korean people. Special attention was paid to the custom of making kimchi together and treating each other, kimjang, which embodies the values of kindness, mutual assistance and solidarity.
In 2013, this tradition was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The festival has become an open platform for cultural exchange and for strengthening mutual respect among representatives of different nationalities, fostering understanding of each other’s cultures and customs, and showcasing culinary mastery.
Today, representatives of the Korean diaspora are actively involved in the socio-economic, scientific, cultural and spiritual life of Uzbekistan, making a significant contribution to the development of society. Cultural-enlightenment projects, national holidays and festivals organized by the Association of Korean Cultural Centers of Uzbekistan help preserve the original heritage of the Korean people, pass it on to the younger generation and expand humanitarian cooperation.
All conditions have been created in Uzbekistan for representatives of over 130 nations and nationalities to live in peace and harmony, develop their native language, culture, and traditions. National cultural centers operating in the country play a key role in fulfilling these tasks, strengthening public harmony and an atmosphere of tolerance.
The Kimchi Festival has become a vivid example of respect for cultural diversity, strengthening friendly ties between peoples, and raising young people in the spirit of mutual respect and solidarity.
Nigora Rahmonova, UzA
