More than 2,300 people including 400 foreigners have gathered at the Seoul Kimchi Festival to make the classic Korean fermented spicy cabbage, for charity.

About 60 tonnes of kimchi were prepared during the 4th Seoul Kimchi Festival, a charity event organised by Seoul City.

Kimchi, a staple in Korean cuisine, is made with salted cabbage doused in a spicy chilli paste, and flavoured with garlic, ginger, fish sauce and fermented seafood.

People made kimchi to donate to needy neighbours in preparation for the winter season. ( AP: Ahn Young-joon )

Organisers said they were aiming to make total 120 tonnes of kimchi to distribute to the poor around 25 Seoul districts.

South Koreans consumed about 1.85 million tonnes of kimchi in 2016, according to the World Institute of Kimchi.

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) added the making and sharing of kimchi to its Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2013.

More than 2,300 took part in the kimchi-making festival. ( AP: Ahn Young-joon )

Reuters