Jongga Kimchi: Is It Vegan, and How Should You Store It?

Jongga is the kimchi brand of Daesang, a Korean food company. Its kimchi is sold in more than 90 countries, and there’s a separate vegan version.[1] Kimchi needs no cooking, so this page covers what the label tells you: whether it’s vegan, and how to store it.

Classic or vegan?

The classic Jongga kimchi sold in the UK and EU lists fish sauce made from anchovies.[2][3][4] Jongga also makes a Vegan Kimchi, sold in the US as Jongga Original Vegan Kimchi and in the UK as Jongga Fresh Vegan Kimchi.[1][5][6]

If you have a fish allergy, read the jar itself. Kroger’s listing for the US Vegan Kimchi says “Contains Fish and their derivates” although no fish appears in its ingredients, and the UK vegan pack says it may contain traces of fish.[5][6] One UK listing for the classic kimchi also names shrimp in its allergen line, but not in its ingredients.[2]

Storing it

• Keep it in the fridge. US listings say “Keep refrigerated”; the Korean packs we checked say 0–10°C, and UK packs say 2–7°C (classic) or 2–8°C (vegan).[7][8][9][10][3][6] One UK shop’s listing says to store it in a cool, dry place and refrigerate after opening, so check your pack.[2]
• Store the pack upright. Lying it down or shaking it hard can make the liquid leak; the UK pack says through the valve.[3][6][10]
• The Korean packs we checked say to eat them within 30 days of the production date.[10][11] Check the date printed on yours.

Reading a Korean Jongga label

On a Korean-language pack, the allergen line ends in 함유 (contains). On a 500 g 맛김치 pack it names 새우 (shrimp) and 대두 (soy), not fish.[9] Yet Jongga’s Korean ingredient lists can include 멸치액젓 (anchovy fish sauce).[10] To check for fish, read the ingredients line, 원재료명, not just the allergen line.

What the labels say

Store listings show badges such as halal, gluten-free or keto. We couldn’t trace them to the maker, so we don’t repeat them.

Korean words on this pack

Tap the speaker to hear each word. More in the label words list.

• 김치gimchikimchi
• 맛김치matgimchicut napa cabbage kimchi, in bite-size pieces
• 포기김치pogigimchiwhole-cabbage kimchi
• 냉장 보관naengjang bogwankeep refrigerated
• 멸치액젓myeolchi aekjeotanchovy fish sauce
• 새우saeushrimp
• 함유hamyucontains
• 원재료명wonjaeryomyeongingredients
• 비건bigeonvegan
• 소비기한sobigihanuse-by date

Ways to serve it

• Eat it as a side dish with rice, or chop it into fried rice or kimchi stew.

These are serving ideas, not part of the pack’s directions.