Joyce (AKA Kimchee Girl)
I’m a proud first-generation American, the youngest of five children, and the only one born in the U.S. My parents legally immigrated from Seoul, South Korea, to Central Pennsylvania in the early 1970s, among the first Korean families to settle in the area. They worked hard to become proud American citizens, and my Korean heritage has always been a big part of who I am — especially the food.
I started making kimchee because I missed my mom deeply after she lost her battle with cancer in 2013. She would have turned 80 on October 6, 2013, the same day celebrated my 8th wedding anniversary. My mom’s cooking wasn’t just good — it was incredible. I know everyone says that about their mom’s food, but trust me, hers truly was the best. I have so many memories of Korean families coming to our house just to buy her kimchee. She always cooked in mass quantities to feed our family of seven, and we rarely ate out. Our neighbors often commented on the amazing smells coming from our home.
Over the years, I’ve been disappointed with supermarket kimchee and the limited Korean restaurants in my area. That’s why I started Kimchee Girl — to share my family’s authentic Korean kimchee with you while keeping my parents’ legacy alive. My dad, now 89 and still very active, and on occasion helps me make kimchee (and yes, he yells at me while we make it — and I wouldn’t have it any other way).
It brings me so much joy to see people enjoying my kimchee and sharing their experiences on social media. Thank you for being part of this journey. I hope you love my kimchee as much as my family does.
Joyce Park Williams
joyce@kimcheegirl.com
Founder & CEO
Kimchee Girl
@thekimcheegirl