KF뉴스레터-Korean Cultural Events at George Washington University

The George Washington University shares a special relationship with Korea and Koreans. In 1907, Syngman Rhee, who later became the first president of the Republic of Korea, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from this university. With many leaders of industry and government of their country coming through the same doors, there is a special sense of pride among the Korean students here.

To share this pride and develop this community, the Korean Cultural Organization (KCO) was formed as a vehicle to promote Korean culture and nurture a community for Koreans and Korean-Americans. KCO was launched in 2007 by Korean-Americans to promote Korean culture and awareness among the GWU and DC communities by presenting events that showcase Korean films, food, and politics. As such, KCO is grateful to have received support from the Korea Foundation and the Korea International Trade Association, which enabled it to stage a greater variety of events this year than in any previous year.

Arouse Curiosity in Korean Films and Food

One of the easiest ways to learn about a particular culture is watching movies. This year, KCO was able to present a series of Korean films, graciously provided by the local offices of the Korea Foundation and the Korea International Trade Association, for audiences that included GWU students, Koreans and non-Koreans. This year’s films included: “Cyrano Agency,” “Don’t Cry for Me Sudan,” “Poetry,” and “Jeon Woo Chi.” The films ranged from a romantic comedy to a serious ary on Korean missionaries working in Sudan, an action fantasy about Taoist wizards traveling into the future, and a beautifully written drama of a woman’s appreciation for poetry.

These movies were presented at “KCO Film Night” events. The movie nights were scheduled throughout a semester so that students could take a break from their studies and wind down, while learning about Korean culture. Though each film was of a different genre and dimension, students were given a brief glimpse of today’s Korean film culture. KCO hopes that these film showings will spark a curiosity to watch and learn more about Korean film among the general student body.

Besides showing movies, KCO has been active in promoting what Korea has recently become very popular for ― its food! One does not have to be Korean anymore to know about kimchi or bulgogi. Since GWU’s student population is one of the most ethnically diverse in the nation, many students were already familiar with Korea’s best-known dishes. KCO has introduced Korean food multiple times. In October 2011, KCO was part of the Asian Student Association’s Night Market, where it made and sold jeyuk bokkeum (spicy stir-fried pork) to raise funds for the organization. Just like the year before, the spicy pork dish sold out faster than any other dish.

In spring this year, KCO participated in ASA’s Day Market, for which we made ddeokbokki (spicy stir-fired rice pasta) and odeng (fish cake in hot broth). These common snack items that are sold by street vendors in big cities like Seoul and Busan gave the customers a taste of Korea’s street cuisine. Lastly, Korean food is not complete without an array of side dishes, or banchan, eaten with the main dishes. At its annual Talent Show and Korean Culture Night, KCO has also provided some of Korea’s most popular dishes, such as galbi (beef short ribs), pajeon (green onion pancake), kimbap (rice rolls in laver), and kimchi.

Showcase for Korean Culture

KCO hosts cultural events in the GWU and DC areas twice a year. We held our 3rd annual Talent Show last fall. The goal of the show is to introduce the many talented students at GWU in the style of “Korea’s Got Talent” or “Birth of a Star.” The long list of performers, which included dancers, singers, and poets, entertained an audience of over 200 people, making it one of KCO’s largest events. On April 14 this year, KCO hosted its 4th annual Korean Culture Night in conjunction with the Asian Pacific Islander Awareness Month, jointly organized by several on-campus Asian organizations to stage performances dedicated to their cultural roots.

Korean Culture Night is KCO’s major opportunity to showcase Korean culture to the students and faculty of GWU and the local DC community. The theme for this year’s event called for featuring Korean culture through the ages, beginning with a traditional folktale and concluding with performances of modern pop music. Students acted, sang, and danced to introduce various elements of Korean culture. The program included a performance based on the hit TV drama “Secret Garden,” versions of G-Dragon, T.O.P, Park Bom’s “Oh Yeah!,” and GWU’s traditional Korean drum team, and a lot more. With a large audience turnout, Korean Culture Night was a huge success!

KCO’s success lies with the people that work hard to make it all happen. The Executive Board this year did much to revamp the organization for the future. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the following people who are truly dedicated to KCO and the promotion of Korean culture: Hae Jun Chung, vice president; Jason Hong, executive officer; Catherine Angwin, ASA representative; Nelson Wong and Julianna Ngo, program directors; Andrew Kim, treasurer; Janice Kim, secretary; Jessica Han, public affairs officer; Scott Kim, social chair; Gloria Yun, historian; Sang Ho Han and Rosa Kim, freshmen representatives.

On behalf of KCO, I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to the Korea Foundation and the Korea International Trade Association for the most generous support and assistance they have extended to our organization and Korean student groups across the United States.