Lactobacillus plantarum has been reported to be responsible for acid increase at the later stage of kimchi fermentation and considered not inappropriate as a starter of kimchi. If functional L. plantarum strain can survive in large quantity in kimchi during fermentation, it may endow new functionality to kimchi. After 12 day fermentation at $4^{circ}C$, L. plantarum, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Weissella cibaria, Weissella confusa, and Lactobacillus sakei were the most prevalent ones in kimchi without a starter. In kimchi with a starter, L. plantarum was detected from the 1 day fermentation and throughout 25 day fermentation. There was no difference in pH between 2 kinds of kimchi. The acid content after the 21 day increased more in kimchi with starter when most kimchi is consumed before this time. Survival of a starter strain throughout the whole fermentation suggested the possible use of various functional lactic acid-producing bacterias (LABs) to kimchi endowing a new beneficial function to kimchi.