To investigate the effect of natural plants on the prolongation of optimal fermentation time of kakdugi, various kakdugies, added with hot water extract from 105 kinds of natural plants(68 medicinal plants and 37 vegetables), were fermented at 20oC until optimal fermentation time. In case of control without addition, the time required to reach the optimum acidity(0.6% lactic acid) was 60 hr. Among 105 kinds tested, 48 plant(42 medicinal plants and 6vegetables) extracts decreased the acidity after 60 hr fermentation to less than 50% of control. In addition, these extracts extended the optimal fermen tation time(>120 hr) by more than 2 folds. Moreover, among the above 48 kinds, 12 sorts of extracts raised the hardness of kakdugi, by more than 30%, compared to control. And the number of lactic acid bacteria in kakdugi added with the above 12 kinds was not smaller than that of control. In sensory test, 8 kinds of medicinal plants(including Phyllostachys edulis) were found to be acceptable. Based on these results, it is suggested that kakdugi added with 8 kinds of medicinal plants was adequate in the prolongation of optimal fermentation time of kakdugi.