About WiKim
A hub of global Kimchi culture and the science of fermentation.
World lnstitute of Kimchi
About WiKim
2019~2025
2025
- 5Appointed Dr. Hae Choon Chang as the 5th President of the World Institute of Kimchi
- 4Awarded the Prime Minister’s Commendation on Science and ICT Day 2025 (Category: National R&D Performance Evaluation)
2024
- 6Rated “Excellent” in the 2024 Institutional Management Evaluation (National Research Council of Science & Technology)
2023
- 11Kimchi Microbial Resource Bank accredited as an Official Biological Resource Bank under KOLAS (ISO 20387) by the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards
- 11Developed the world's first optimal testing method for psychrotrophic kimchi lactic acid bacteria and received KOLAS accreditation as an official testing agency (ISO/IEC 17025) by the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards
2022
- 12Obtained certification for Safety and Health Management System (ISO 45001)
- 9Established Bank of Kimchi Resources and Information
- 6Acquired 1st-class safety management in public institutions
- 6Achieved the highest S grade in the evaluation of the research support system
- 6Official commendation as a group of merit in celebration of World Accreditation Day by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy
- 2Achieved "Excellent Grade" in customer satisfaction survey by public institutions (Ministry of Science and ICT)
2021
- 12Approval for extension (2 years) of the Family-friendly Certified Institution certification (2021 ~ 2023) by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family
- 10Expansion of the scope of recognition and renewal of international accredited testing institution (KOLAS) certification (2021 ~ 2025) (Korea Laboratory Accreditation Scheme of the Korea Agency for Technology and Standards)
- 8Appointed Dr. Hae Choon Chang as the 4th President of the World Institute of Kimchi
2019
- 4Designated as a Testing and Inspection (Self-Quality Assurance Testing) Agency for Foods, etc. (Gwangju Local Food and Drug Safety Agency)
2013~2018
2018
- 12Designation as a Family-friendly Certified Institution by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family
- 11Designation as an Outstanding Safety Management Laboratory by the Ministry of Science and ICT
- 1Designation as a Korea Excellent Laboratory Animal Facility (KELEA) by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety
2017
- 10Acquisition of international accredited testing institution (KOLAS) certification (2017~2021) (Korea Laboratory Accreditation Scheme of the Korea Agency for Technology and Standards)
- 7Changed supervising departments (Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning to the Ministry of Science and ICT)
2016
- 11Dr. Jae Ho Ha appointed as the 3rd President of World Institute of Kimchi.
2014
- 7Approved as the 2nd grade research facility for genetically modified organisms (LMO) (Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning)
- 6Changed the responsible research organization (Industrial Technology Research Institute to National Science and Technology Research Institute)
2013
- 10Appointed Dr. Wan Soo Park as the 2nd President of the World Institute of Kimchi
- 3Changed the overseeing agency from the Ministry of Knowledge Economy to the Industrial Technology Research Institute under the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning
2008~2012
2012
- 10Decided to establish World Institue of Kimchi as the top-level research institution for fermented foods (such as Kimchi) to restore the status of Kimchi as a staple food by the National Assembly.
2010
- 3Held founding ceremony of the World Institute of Kimchi within the Korean Food Research Institute
- 2Dr. Wan Soo Park appointed as the 1st President of World Institute of Kimchi
- 1Establishment of the World Institute of Kimchi as an affiliated organization of the Korea Food Research Institute
2009
- 12Approval for the establishment of the World Institute of Kimchi as an affiliated organization of the Korea Food Research Institute(132nd Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Korea Research Council for Industrial Science and Technology)
- 7Prepared the Master Plan for the Establishment of World Institute of Kimchi by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and selected the location in Gwangju Metropolitan City.
2008
- 10Decided to establish World Institute of Kimchi as the top-level research institution for fermented foods (such as Kimchi) to restore the status of Kimchi as a staple food by the National Assembly.
- 5Designated as a specialist training institution for Kimchi (National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service)