“Pink Kimchi’s bold, tangy kick is its signature — I want to build it into a brand that grows alongside our customers.”
Based in Ganghwa-eup on Ganghwa Island in Incheon, Pink Kimchi is a local agricultural brand offering roughly ten products, from turnip kimchi to a variety of pickled specialties.
Turnips from Ganghwa are firmer and have a sharper bite than typical radishes. Locals credit that distinctive flavor to Ganghwa’s unique soil and the sea breeze; turnips grown elsewhere simply don’t taste the same. As the turnip kimchi ferments, it gradually takes on a pink hue — the inspiration behind the name Pink Kimchi.
Turnips are surprisingly versatile. Pink Kimchi keeps tradition alive with kkakdugi-style turnip kimchi and dongchimi, while also experimenting with recipes like turnip-and-carrot râpé and som tam–inspired turnip salads.
Those râpé and som tam–style offerings are great alongside bread or grilled meats, and have become popular with women in their 30s and 40s who are watching their diets. Turnip kimchi is also an unexpectedly perfect match for jjajang ramen.
The brand was built by 40-year-old entrepreneur Kim Kyung-min. In an interview with the Incheon Ilbo on the 29th, he said, “We’re growing into a brand that people who love the turnip’s sharp flavor keep coming back to.”
Kim registered the business in March 2020 and launched operations soon after. He previously worked as a magazine editor in Seoul and had long wanted to create his own brand.
His mother’s cooking was the real catalyst. She once won the top prize in the kimchi contest at the Ganghwa Dolmen Festival, and in the early days her produce and reputation provided a strong foundation for the business.
Initially, Kim named the brand after his mother — An Ok-cheon Turnip Kimchi — but he switched the sign to Pink Kimchi not long after.
Kim explained, “The name 'An Ok-cheon Turnip Kimchi' had the advantage of sounding like a master craftsman’s product, but I felt that if I kept it I would always be relying on my mother. I needed to lead the business independently.”
Pink Kimchi has been showing steady market growth.
In October 2022, the company won a merit prize for its turnip dongchimi at the Republic of Korea Kimchi Contest, held during the World Kimchi Festival in Gwangju — a meaningful recognition. Kim laughed, “I was lucky to win among masters featured on the TV program Hansik Daecheop. I think the award was an encouragement to keep focusing on this work.”
Pink Kimchi’s goal is mutual growth with its customers. When asked what kind of brand he wants Pink Kimchi to become, Kim paused and said, “I want customers to taste Pink Kimchi and think, ‘This is going places.’ I want them to feel like we’re growing together.”
He added, “Rather than endlessly adding new items, I want to build Pink Kimchi’s customer base as solidly as a Ganghwa turnip.”
“The value of Ganghwa turnips is already evident — now it’s time to spread the word. Not everyone knows the taste of turnip kimchi yet, so I want to convince people of the turnip’s appeal.”
/Story and photos by An Ji-seop, reporter ajs@incheonilbo.com
