Kimchi, a widely known Korean dish, is experiencing rapid growth due to the recent surge in global interest in K-food. Companies such as Daesang, CJ CheilJedang and Pulmuone are stepping up their efforts to tap foreign markets by establishing local factories and developing new technologies. In 2022, Daesang completed the construction of a large-scale kimchi factory in the United States, while CJ CheilJedang introduced "Bibigo Sliced Kimchi," a product designed for export that can be stored and distributed at room temperature for up to 12 months. The global kimchi market was estimated at USD 3.4 billion last year, highlighting the immense global popularity of kimchi.

In particular, kimchi is the only pickled food product that is showing growth trends in the Japanese market. According to a recent survey in a Japanese food newspaper, kimchi was reported as the most frequently purchased pickled food across generations, showing the highest figures. Among the younger generations, the preference was 78% (an increase of 6.7% year-on-year), while the preference among the older population was 69.3% (an increase of 6% year-on-year). Last year, umeboshi (pickled plums) had the highest rate among the elderly, but this year kimchi has taken the lead. Various types of kimchi are available on the Japanese shopping platform Rakuten, making it easily accessible to Japanese consumers. Rakuten offers a variety of kimchi types, including cabbage kimchi, cucumber kimchi, radish kimchi, green onion kimchi, and white kimchi. Popular kimchi brands in Rakuten's kimchi category include Jongga Whole Cabbage Kimchi, CJ Bibigo, and NongHyup Pungsan Kimchi.
Notable reviews from Japanese consumers who have purchased kimchi on Rakuten include: "It has a good fresh taste and is delicious," "Korean kimchi has a cooler and spicier taste compared to the sweeter Japanese kimchi," "It's great to eat as is or use in various dishes," "I learned from my Korean friend that stir-frying kimchi and rice with sesame oil tastes amazing," and "With proper fermentation, it tastes fresh at first, but storing it enhances its deeper flavor." Rakuten Mall offers a variety of fresh Korean kimchi as well as processed products such as sauces, frozen foods, snacks and more. Products available include Ottogi's 3-Minute Kimchi Tuna Rice Sauce, Paldo's Tofu Kimchi Snack, Bibigo's Kimchi Dumplings, and NC Nature's Seoul Seasoning.