Can I substitue dried Thai chilis for Korean peppers in Kimchi?!
Answers:
Yes you can and you are right they are 2-3 times spicier than the Korean hot fresh peppers, I use dried ones and the Korean Chili paste called Tomijun Go, it is salty and like Japanese Miso in consistency, for a small batch of Kimchi I would use 2-4 chopped and if you have some sweet paprika add it for colour, even if you have dried chili flakes like the ones use in restaurants, Chinese chili garlic paste is also a good alternative.
No, this is a bad idea. The complete product will be edible but the taste and the color will be way off.
Chili peppers used to make Korean kimchi got an unique, almost smoky aroma and they got a pretty strong reddish tint. Korean chili power also tasted fairly mild when compared to Thai chili peppers. The spiciness of Thai chili peppers is different too. Even if you tone down the spiciness, Thai chili peppers will still stimulate your tongue differently.
PS: Gasoline and diesel are both fuels but they are not that interchangeable. Using Thai chili peppers instead of Korean chili peppers is like pouring gasoline into a diesel engine.
First hand experience.
Of course you can but you won't get the kimchi taste and smell, I have done that and I won't do that again.