As in Japan, rural communities in Korea have been in decline, even as the national economy has grown very rapidly. Sensing an imminent crisis that would bring the collapse of agriculture, Nam Suncheon Farmers' Cooperatives has been engaged in Korean natural farming. ATJ's kimchi trade started when we met these cooperatives.
		ATJ met Suncheon Farmers' Cooperatives ATJ got to know Nam Suncheon Farmers' Cooperatives (later Suncheon Farmers' Cooperatives) through Mr. Chou Han Gyu from Association of Korean Natural Farming, whom ATJ met during its quest for agricultural technique in Asia. Since late 1960s, rural communities in South Korea, as in Japan, have steadily declined, while the country as a whole has enjoyed rapid economic growth. The South Korean government promoted large-scale industrial farming, which made it difficult for many individual farmers to continue farming. Both Nam Shuncheon Farmers' Cooperatives and Association of Korean Natural Farming sensed a crisis for the future of agriculture. ATJ shared this sense and launched the kimchi trade based on the two principles. (1) Kimchi trade is carried on in order to express solidarity with Korean farmers. (2) Trade shall be conducted directly with Nam Suncheon Farmers' Cooperatives. Nam Do Kimchi Kimchi Trade of ATJ started in 1993. Having traded various kinds of kimchi, including matkimchi (Chinese cabbage kimchi) and kaktugi (radish cubes kimchi), currently mustard cress kimchi, matkimchi, kaktugi and kochujan (fermented soybean paste with hot pepper) are traded. Later, Nam Shuncheon Farmers' Cooperatives became Suncheon Farmers' Cooperative/Nam Do Food which mainly produces kimchi. Pickling method and materials of Korean kimchi are different from place to place. Jeonra Nam Do where Suncheon City is located is famous for a Kimchi that is very tasty and hot and uses fish guts. ATJ's Nam Do Kimchi has the authentic taste with a little adjustment for Japanese consumers.