(Fort Lee, NJ) - As of now, no cases of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) have been reported in Korea. Indeed, Korea is still one of the safest places in the world to travel to. As a side note, Kimchi, the fiery pickled cabbage dish at the heart of South Korean cuisine, could provide resistance against SARS, according to South Korea's Rural Development Agency. The agency said the large amount of garlic in Kimchi might explain why none of the country's 48 million people have yet to succumb to SARS. "I don't think it is just a coincidence that a country with a food culture like Korea's is free of SARS," said Hong Jong-woon, a researcher at the agency. Garlic has long been recognized for its medicinal qualities, reducing people's chances of developing cancer and heart disease Mr. Hong admitted that more research was needed to prove his theory that Garlic prevents SARS.

Kimchi, strips of cabbage fermented in garlic and red pepper, is served as a side dish with almost every Korean meal, including breakfast. George Slama, a representative of the World Health Organization in Seoul, agreed that Kimchi was a healthy food, but said people should not rely on it to prevent SARS. "There are hundreds of different substances in garlic and many of them are good for health, but it is impossible to prove a link with SARS," he said.

Kimchi is the latest in a series of foods and medicines claimed to give immunity to SARS, which has caused panic in many parts of south-east Asia. Taiwan's China Post newspaper last week published a list of recipes designed to combat SARS. For those daring enough, salmon's head is among the recommended ingredients.

For more information, please call 1-800-TOUR-KOR(EA) or visit www.tour2korea.com.