Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman ELLEN J. PARK
District 37 (Bergen)
Assemblyman ROY FREIMAN
District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)
Assemblyman CLINTON CALABRESE
District 36 (Bergen and Passaic)
Senator JOSEPH A. LAGANA
District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywomen Jasey, Haider, Assemblymen Stanley, Karabinchak and Senator Greenstein
SYNOPSIS
Designates November 22 of each year as Kimchi Day.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution designating November 22 of each year as Kimchi Day.
Whereas, Kimchi is a traditional dish in Korean cuisine consisting of salted and fermented vegetables made with a widely varying selection of seasonings; and
Whereas, Kimchi has a rich cultural history with origins dating back to over two thousand years ago during the Three Kingdoms Period in Korea; and
Whereas, In 2013, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization officially recognized the Korean traditional process of preparing kimchi, “kimjang”, on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity; and
Whereas, Kimchi is widely recognized as an excellent source of probiotics, vitamins, and minerals, and has been associated with the promotion of many positive health benefits; and
Whereas, Many individuals of Korean heritage have immigrated to the United States, bringing with them rich histories and cultural traditions, such as the preparation and consumption of kimchi; and
Whereas, Korean-Americans are the fifth largest Asian American ethnic group in the United States, with a population of nearly 2 million and more than 100,000 in New Jersey alone; and
Whereas, New Jersey, particularly Bergen County, has been a welcoming home for residents with Korean heritage, and one of the epicenters of Korean culture in the United States; and
Whereas, Bergen County is home to the municipalities with the highest densities of Koreans in the western hemisphere, and the greatest concentration of Korean restaurants in a one-mile radius in the United States; and
Whereas, In South Korea, November 22 is celebrated every year by designating it as Kimchi Day; and
Whereas, New Jersey is dedicated to celebrating its ethnic and cultural diversity, and the longstanding traditions of all its residents; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. November 22 of each year is designated as Kimchi Day.
2. The Governor is respectfully requested to issue an annual proclamation calling upon public officials, citizens of the State, and other interested groups to observe Kimchi Day with appropriate programs and activities.
3. This joint resolution
shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This joint resolution designates November 22 of each year as Kimchi Day in the State of New Jersey.
Kimchi is a traditional dish in Korean cuisine consisting of salted and fermented vegetables made with a widely varying selection of seasonings. Kimchi has a long rich history dating back thousands of years. The preparation of kimchi allowed the Korean people a means of preserving food that served as a vital source of sustenance throughout history. Kimchi can be found in the homes of millions of Koreans around the world and is often eaten with every meal.
While kimchi has historically been a critical source of nutrients, it has become so ingrained in the culture of the Korean people that it is now a source of national pride and identity. Kimjang, the tradition of preparing kimchi, brings whole communities together to collectively prepare and share large quantities to kimchi to ensure that every household has enough to sustain it through the long, often harsh, Korean winters. Kimjang is so culturally important to the Korean people that it has been recognized by the United Nations by being added in 2013 to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Kimchi has been widely acknowledged as a probiotic food with well-established positive health benefits, serving as an excellent source of beta-carotene, calcium, potassium, dietary fiber, and vitamins A, B, C, and K, which can potentially lower rates of heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes.
National Kimchi Day is celebrated in South Korea on November 22 to promote the value of the kimchi. This date is in recognition of the 11 traditional ingredients of kimchi and the 22 health benefits its consumption promotes.
New Jersey has a significant population of approximately 105,000 residents of Korean descent with 60 percent living in Bergen County. By setting aside November 22 of each year as Kimchi Day, we can celebrate the culture and traditions of Koreans around the world and in the State of New Jersey.