Korean Festival brings LA community together

The Korean Parade makes its way down Olympic Boulevard in Koreatown Saturday during the 42nd Los Angeles Korean Festival. (Park Sang-hyuk/Korea Times)

By The Korea Times Los Angeles staff

An annual celebration of Korean culture spanning four days, the largest of its kind in the United States, came to a close Sunday.

The 42nd Los Angeles Korean Festival saw tens of thousands of locals and out-of-towners this year partake in festivities that included the traditional Saturday parade, celebrity performances, demonstrations, hundreds of booths and talent shows.

City Councilman David Ryu, Mayor Eric Garcetti, Congressman Mike Honda and former comfort woman Lee Yong-soo were among the participants in a two-hour parade down Olympic Boulevard Saturday.

“I’m glad for the opportunity to directly meet with and thank locals and the Korean community for the first time after being elected,” said Ryu, who served as grand marshal.

“I hope the festival becomes a way for members of the Korean American community to cooperate,” said Kim Hyun-myung, Los Angeles Consul General.

A crowd cheers during Radio Seoul’s Youth Talent Show Saturday night at center stage inside Seoul International Park during the 42nd Los Angeles Korean Festival. (Korea Times)

Down the street inside Seoul International Park, festival goers munched on street food, corn on the cobs and plates of spicy rice cake as they picked up Korean goods — everything from makeup to mugs, accessories, regional specialties from South Korea, herbs, electronics, K-pop paraphernalia — from 330 white-tented booths.

Every year, the festival is a chance for goods from Korean regions to reach a new audience.

“For our first-ever time attending this festival, we brought traditional tea sets, seaweed, soy bean paste and other specialties,” said Lee Jung-ah, who works with the city of Seocheon’s specialty food association. “People have asked whether our goods are really from Seocheon. Yes, absolutely. We’re here to promote these items.”

Paula Lee, a Lucerne Valley resident who came out to the event Friday, said she felt like she was in Korea, being surrounded by farmer’s music and Korean pop.

“There are not many opportunities for so many Koreans to come together,” she said. “It’s a great thing, to feel this environment, which is so in tune with Korea, and to be able to all share these memories together.”

At the center stage, a diversity of acts, from contest participants to K-pop stars to trot performers, rocked the crowd through the weekend.

Among them were girl groups Mamamoo and Pungdeng-e, singer/songwriter eSNa and rapper Vasco. Comedian Sam Hammington and Arirang TV/radio host Jenny Cho hosted the stage.

“It’s difficult to find large Korean events like this in San Francisco,” said Stephanie Garcia, a San Francisco resident who came out to watch Radio Seoul’s Youth Talent Show Saturday. “I’m so glad to have come to Los Angeles to enjoy the festival and K-pop.”

“Each time I come out to the Korean festival, I can really feel the passion of the Koreans living in the U.S. who are working hard,” said David Jung, another festival attendee.

South Korean girl group Pungdeng-e stands on stage with MCs Jenny Cho, left, and Sam Hammington, right, at center stage inside Seoul International Park during the 42nd Los Angeles Korean Festival. (Korea Times)

Korean traditional arts and crafts experience tables were popular among young attendees during the 42nd Los Angeles Korean Festival inside Seoul International Park this weekend. (Korea Times)

Grand Marshal and City Councilman David Ryu, left, and Korea Times CEO Jae Min Chang, right, attended the Korean Parade Saturday during the 42nd Los Angeles Korean Festival. (Korea Times)

Festivalgoers order from a food vendor inside Seoul International Park during the 42nd Los Angeles Korean Festival. (Korea Times)

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti participated in the Korean Parade Saturday in an open car. (Korea Times)

The 42nd Los Angeles Korean Festival installed 330 booths, many of them vendors offering goods and regional specialties from Korea. (Korea Times)

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