Kim Yunjin Promotes Kimchi in NYT Ad

Actress Kim Yunjin, star of the hit U.S. drama "Lost", has been featured in an advert in the New York Times promoting kimchi.

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It is part of the campaign promoting Korean food and culture around the world led by Seo Kyoung-duk, a professor at Sungshin Women's University in Seoul.

The ad reads, "When Michelle Obama tweeted her recipe for kimchi, the spicy fermented cabbage gained a huge new following. As kimchi is poised to join UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage, we are excited to share our culinary tradition with more people around the world. Add a healthy kick to your meals with kimchi this weekend".

It is already the third ad Seo has placed in the New York Times this year to promote Korean food. The other two were for bibimbab (rice with assorted vegetables) featuring actress Lee Young-ae in February and highlighting Michelle Obama's kimchi tweet in April.

The Cultural Heritage Administration said last month that the traditional Korean culture of making and sharing kimchi is to be included on UNESCO's intangible cultural asset list.

"Many foreigners think the origin of kimchi is in Japan or China, so I planned the ad for three months to make it clear that kimchi is Korean food", said Seo.

He added that he also plans to advertise makgeolli or traditional Korean rice wine. A Korean chicken company paid for the ad.