This study was conducted to examine the effect of mustard root on the shelf life of kimchi. Ethanol extract was prepared from the mustard root (Brassica juncea) and antimicrobial activities were examined against Lactobacillus plantarum and Leuconostoc mesenteroides which are the representative lactic bacteria in kimchi. Growth of lactic bacteria were inhibited by ethanol extract from mustard root and the growth time of Leuconostoc mesenteroides was delayed more than 24 hours compared with that of Lactobacillus plantarum. Also, the fermentative and sensory characteristics of kimchi with mustard root were evaluated during fermentation at 10℃. The pH and acidity was lower than that of the control kimchi and the fermentation period was retarded in proportion to the increase in mustard content. The total numbers of microorganism and lactic bacteria in the control kimchi were higher than those in kimchi with mustard root during fermentation. Leuconostoc sp. in the initial stage of growth was more inhibited than Lactobacillus sp. While the pH of kimchi were in the initial stage, the sensory evaluation score for savory flavors of the kimchi with mustard root was lower than that of control due to bitterness and pungency. But when the pH of kimchi reached the optimum stage, the scores for texture and savory flavor of kimchi with mustard root were higher than that of the control. Then overall quality score for kimchi with mustard root increased as bitterness decreased.