Cold inhibits fermentation. Kimchee is stored in the fridge to prevent it from getting overly ripe. Overly ripe kimchee is gross unless you use it for jiggae

Cold inhibits fermentation. Kimchee is stored in the fridge to prevent it from getting overly ripe. Overly ripe kimchee is gross unless you use it for jiggae (soup). Typically the main jar of kimchee is stored under refrigeration, and smaller portions are kept out to ferment to the desired ripeness for eating. Source: am korean