Korean Day festival makes a return

Lizahn Bowers|Published 1 year ago

From left, are South Korean ambassador Chull-joo Park with Theo Mbaqe, Sive Zakani, Oyisa Malazibuye, Sundokuhle Vanga, Lithetha Ngece and Ayabonga Mhlungulwana.

The annual Korean Day festival, which celebrates the culture and cuisine of South Korea, has returned after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic.

Organised by the Korean Association of Cape Town, the festival is held on the Korean holiday of Chuseok.

Hundreds of people, including South Korean ambassador Chull-joo Park, attended the event at Groote Schuur High School’s sports field on Saturday September 23.

Stalls offered authentic Korean dishes such as kimchi, kimbap, tteokbokki and there were also traditional games and a K-pop talent competition.

“This event originally started in Korea to celebrate the harvest with families coming together for ‘thanksgiving’. With the growing Korean population in Cape Town, we decided to hold the event here. The event was previously well received and supported by the Korean community and locals,” said Korean Association of Cape Town chairman Don Park.

Mr Park said that before Covid-19 they had a Korean population of about 1 500 in Cape Town, but it was now down to about 900.

Chairman of the Korean Association of Cape Town Don Park, left, and Sharon Choi.

Kim Park and Terrie Kim sold traditional Korean food.