Dimchae Top-Opening Kimchi Fridge Recall and How to Apply

If your Dimchae top-opening model was made before September 2005, compare its model name and manufacture date to check whether it is covered by the recall. Find the official application process, what the free service covers, and how to ask if you cannot determine whether your model is covered.

Check the label on the product for its model name and manufacture date.
Search for the model name on Q-Aid's recall registration page to check whether it is covered.
If it is covered, stop using the product and submit a request through the dedicated recall channel.
Tell the representative whether you want aging parts replaced or the product disposed of.
After the service visit, check the work record to confirm that the recall work is complete.

Among Dimchae kimchi refrigerators, top-opening models manufactured before September 2005 should be checked for recall eligibility. Have the model name, manufacture date, contact numbers, and address ready, then request the free recall service through Q-Aid. No application deadline is listed on the request page.

The eligibility criteria and number of models are based on a January 24, 2025 announcement by the Korea Consumer Agency and the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards.

How to request the free recall service

Check your model on Q-Aid’s dedicated recall page before submitting a request. Q-Aid handles recall requests and service on behalf of Winia. For telephone assistance, call the Winia call center at 1588-9588.

Check the product label for the model name and manufacture date.
On the Q-Aid home page, find Service Request/Change > Kimchi Refrigerrator Recall Request.
Compare the model search result with the full model name printed on the product.
Enter your name, mobile phone number, another contact number, and address.
Read the personal information consent terms and submit your request.

The menu’s actual name is “Kimchi Refrigerator Recall Request.” On the request page, you can search using at least two characters of the model name. Do not register a similar model instead if your product does not appear in the search results.

You can check the required fields on the Q-Aid recall request page. No separate deadline is shown on that page. You will receive information about the visit schedule after submitting your request.

Dimchae recall models and eligibility criteria

The official announcement covers 412 top-opening models from the specified production period. Top-opening models have a lid that lifts from above. Do not determine eligibility by manufacture year alone; check the model name as well.

Q-Aid’s “Winia Co., Ltd. Old Kimchi Refrigerator Recall Request” states:

Products requiring action: Models manufactured before September 2005

Item to check	What to compare
Product	Winia Dimchae kimchi refrigerator
Design	Top-opening model with a lid that lifts upward
Manufacture date	Official criterion of manufacture before September 2005
Model	Full model name on the product and official search result
If eligibility is unclear	Give the model name and manufacture date to customer service

The model examples in the official promotional material are not a complete list. Do not rule out your product simply because it is not among the examples. If the manufacture month is close to the cutoff, ask the recall service center to confirm eligibility.

Labels needed to check the Dimchae manufacture year

Check the manufacture date on the label attached to the product itself. The official promotional material directs owners to check the production year on the side of the product. You can also find the model name on the energy efficiency rating label.

Find the product information label on the side.
Write down the “model name” or “model designation” exactly as shown.
Check the “year and month of manufacture” or “date of manufacture.”
Take a photo of the entire legible label.

The model designation shown in the official example is DD-C2205RT(B). The manufacture date in the same example is October 28, 2002. On your own product, check the characters inside the parentheses too.

Manufacture date versus purchase date

The recall’s production-period criterion is separate from the purchase date. Do not use the receipt date alone to determine the manufacture month. The date a listing was posted on a shopping site cannot replace the manufacture date printed on the product.

Type of date	Meaning	How to use it to check eligibility
Manufacture date	Date the product was made	Check the label on the product
Purchase date	Date the product was bought	Does not replace the manufacture date
Shopping site listing date	Date the sales information was posted	Do not use it to determine eligibility

What to do based on your findings

If the label is unclear, request assistance rather than assuming the product is ineligible. An online answer estimating the year cannot replace an official check. Follow the steps below according to what you have confirmed.

What you have confirmed	Next step
Production period, design, and model match the eligibility criteria	Stop using the product and submit a recall request
Only the manufacture year is known	Check the manufacture month and full model name
The label has worn off or fallen off	Give any remaining product information to customer service
The model does not appear in the search results	Check what you entered, then request assistance
The product is an upright model or was made in a different period	Ask about fault or safety inspections separately from this recall

Eligible products need recall service even if they are cooling normally. The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards advised owners to stop using eligible products. Details are available in the joint announcement of January 24, 2025.

Recall repair, disposal, and standard A/S compared

The free recall service is a safety measure for the affected aging components. It does not mean that every fault will be repaired for free. The announcements checked also do not specify a replacement with a new product or a cash payment.

Service	Official guidance	What to confirm when making a request
Recall repair	Safety inspection, including free replacement of aging components	Eligibility and visit schedule
Disposal of an eligible product	Free collection from your home if you want to dispose of it	Whether you want collection and the schedule
Standard A/S	Charges may apply depending on warranty terms and the cause of the fault	Visit, repair, and parts charges

If the product has another fault, explain it when submitting the recall request. It is best to confirm separately whether any additional work is free. The components of standard repair charges are listed in the Q-Aid service charges guide.

If eligibility is unclear or the product has a problem

If you cannot determine eligibility, ask the Winia call center to check. You can also request a Q-Aid home visit for a standard fault consultation. If you notice a problem such as a burning smell, stop using the product and describe the symptoms.

Have the model name and any manufacture date you can confirm ready.
Record any symptoms you have noticed, such as smells, noises, or cooling problems.
Say first that the product needs to be checked for recall eligibility.
If the request is treated as a standard home visit, confirm the charges.

A standard home visit may incur an inspection charge whether or not a repair is made. Check the guidance on the home visit request page before booking. There is also an option you can select if you do not know the model name.

Checking the user manual and recall service history

Search for the user manual using the exact model name. You can find it under Quick Solutions > Product User Manuals on Q-Aid. Check the manual for your model for explanations of storage modes and the display.

You can download manuals from the Q-Aid product user manual search. Finding a manual does not, by itself, establish recall eligibility. Check eligibility separately through the recall service.

Previous repairs versus completed recall service

Do not assume the recall service was completed just because the product previously received A/S. Standard fault repairs and recall component replacements serve different purposes. It is also best to check the service history of a secondhand product or one for which a family member submitted a request.

Check whether the previous work record lists any recall-related service.
If you have no record, ask customer service how to check the service history.
After this visit, keep a record of the service date and work performed.

FAQ

Are all products made in 2005 subject to the recall?

Do not judge by the year of manufacture alone. The official criteria cover lid-type products made before September 2005, and you must also check the full model name.

How can I check if the month of manufacture is September 2005?

Do not interpret the official wording as specifying a particular cutoff date. Give the service center the date of manufacture and model name shown on the product to confirm whether it is covered.

Where can I find the model name?

Check the model name on the energy efficiency rating label. You can also find it under ‘model designation’ in the product information.

Do I need to get the recall service even if the product works normally?

Products covered by the recall need action regardless of whether they work normally. The Korea Consumer Agency and the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards have advised users to stop using affected products and take safety measures.

Will I get a new product in exchange if I use the recall service?

The notice I checked calls for a safety inspection, including free replacement of aging parts. It does not specify a new product exchange or cash payment.

Can I dispose of the product instead of having it repaired?

The official announcement says free on-site pickup is available if you want to dispose of an affected product. When you make the request, check the available pickup dates and procedure.

Can I apply if the product label has worn off?

Do not assume the product is excluded just because you cannot read the label. Ask customer service to check using any model information you still have.

I had the product serviced before. Do I need to check again?

Check whether the previous work was part of the recall. A record of an ordinary repair alone does not confirm that the recall service was completed.

Is regular on-site service free too?

Regular on-site service may incur a charge depending on the warranty terms and the cause of the problem. Check the charges before booking, as this is separate from the free recall service.

Sources

Images

A technician inspects the side of an unplugged, open chest-style kimchi refrigerator while a woman watches in her kitchen.

Two workers wheel an old top-opening kimchi refrigerator from an apartment entrance as a resident watches.