From April, South Korean consumers can use cosmetics with high antibacterial effects made from lactic acid contained in the indigenous Korean dish, kimchi.

A local team led by Seoul National University Professor Gang Sa-wook has discovered that lactic extract from kimchi is exceptionally effective in removing bacteria and viruses.

The technology has been transferred to a local cosmetics firm, COTDE. The company will use the new application to produce a product designed to prevent wrinkles and skin discoloration.

Gang said his team's application of lactic acid from kimchi to cosmetics is the world's first, and that kimchi extract shows far stronger antibacterial effects than from other methods.

The team developed the product as part of a government-led project in the field of new-concept materials and parts.

COTDE specializes in functional beauty care items and will release the new brand on April 10th. Annual exports worth 10 million dollars are already expected under a deal with an American distributor.