Check the ingredients on the paste. many have thickeners added like flour or cornstarch and you end up with very cloudy and poorly absorbed brine.

Dave

Thanks, bought some hot pepper flakes to use in my cabbage kimchee but did use the paste in a fresh cucumber kimchee that is meant to be eaten within a week. The paste just has a nice "twang" that I enjoy.

I've made my cabbage kimchee but had another question. Is it possible to steal BJ's method of a loose fitting cap instead of weighing down the material with a brine bag? I have lots of juice on top.