<p>This study examines cross-cultural differences in kimchi perception and its cultural interaction as reflected in Korean- and English-language social media discourse. YouTube comments collected between 2021 and 2025 were analyzed through text mining, semantic network analysis, sentiment analysis, time-series analysis, and food pairing analysis. The results show that Korean-language discourse frames kimchi as an integral part of daily meals and traditional culture, characterized by a process-oriented discourse centered on ingredients, preparation, and communal practices. In contrast, English-language discourse approaches kimchi from an evaluation- and experience-oriented perspective, emphasizing taste, recipes, and cultural identity. Sentiment analysis of discourse referring to sensory-related descriptors indicates that taste is the most positively associated attribute in both corpora, while smell is associated with more negative sentiment in the English-language data. Fermentation and health are associated with English-language acceptance, highlighting discussion of kimchi’s functional food role. Time-series analysis suggests that, in English-language discourse, kimchi is increasingly discussed as a functional food and is increasingly associated with emotional, family-related expressions, rather than indicating a confirmed change in consumer perception or behavior. In addition, kimchi is increasingly mentioned alongside diverse cuisines, consistent with adaptation and hybridization in the discourse. These findings suggest that, within the analyzed discourse, kimchi is discussed as a multidimensional food that integrates cultural, functional, and emotional associations.</p>