At South Korea’s Incheon International Airport, security officials have been busy seizing not only the usual items like water bottles, shower gels, and face creams, but also a surprising item—kimchi. This traditional Korean dish, made from salted and fermented vegetables, is a common feature at every Korean meal.
In fact, last year, airport authorities confiscated a staggering 10.7 tons of kimchi from passengers who violated the carry-on liquid restrictions. The reason? Pre-packaged kimchi often comes in bottles or plastic bags and is soaked in a spicy sauce, making it qualify as a liquid. Like many other airports globally, Incheon follows strict rules that limit liquids and gels in carry-on bags to 100ml, leading to this unexpected crackdown on the beloved Korean dish.
In 2023, airport officials at Incheon International also seized 10.5 tons of jang, a term that refers to various traditional fermented sauces and pastes used in Korean cuisine.
A YouTube video by a well-known Korean travel influencer, which warned travelers that kimchi must be checked in rather than carried on, gained significant attention, amassing 1.2 million views.
The confiscated food items, along with other prohibited goods, are either discarded or donated to a local community welfare center, as reported by airport officials.
This isn’t the first time South Korean authorities have taken a firm stance on popular food items.
In 2024, Korean Air, the nation’s flagship carrier, announced it would stop serving ramyeon instant noodles to passengers in economy class on long-haul flights. The airline explained that the growing frequency of turbulence made it too risky to serve the noodles, which require boiling water.
Additionally, travelers bringing Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel seasoning mix into South Korea have faced problems with authorities. This seasoning, which has gained viral popularity on TikTok, is a common “souvenir” for travelers returning from the U.S. However, it was deemed illegal because it contains poppy seeds, an oilseed banned in South Korea.
One blogger shared her experience of bringing 20 bottles of the seasoning back from the U.S. When she retrieved her luggage, the bottles were marked with a yellow lock and later confiscated by officials. As a result, signs in both Korean and English have been posted at the airport warning travelers not to bring the seasoning into the country.