Orange County Festival Celebrating Korean Culture Marks 10th Anniversary

In recent years, the Korean wave has become a formidable force in shaping global culture. K-pop, K-drama, K-food, K-beauty, and Korea’s cutting-edge technology are now widely known and enjoyed throughout the world. For instance, K-pop is ranked at number six among the top ten music markets worldwide according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry's "Global Music Report 2019", with BTS and Blackpink cited as artists leading the market growth. In 2020, K-pop experienced a record-breaking year when it experienced a 44.8% growth and positioned itself as the fastest-growing major market of the year.

Remarkably, South Korea has surged into the top 10 ranks in both economics and military strength, as well as securing a place in the top 20 for its education systems. This extraordinary transformation stands in stark contrast to the economic struggles the country faced just 60 years ago, when South Korea was considered an economic wasteland with one of the world's poorest GDPs.

The K-Food Festival Offered more than just delicious cuisine. It presented a walk-through exhibition which showcased the history of South Korea post-WWII. The exhibit, which made it's debut during 2022’s Korean Culture Experience event, highlighted Korea’s rapid economic growth, global impact, and the surge in popularity of K-culture worldwide. After a heavy investment in the country's education, Korea became a global leader in electronics and automobiles, and companies like Samsung, Hyundai, and LG arose.

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The development of the K-Food Festival, held by the World Mission Society Church of God, serves as a great example of the rise of curiosity in South Korea. Initially titled the Hudson Valley Kimchi Festival, the K-Food Festival celebrated it's 10th anniversary this year. What began as a small kimchi-making event a decade ago has evolved into a cherished celebration of Korean culture.

Alex Lee from the Church of the God said this about the event,

“Over the past few years, interest in South Korean culture has risen dramatically. The World Mission Society Church of God began in South Korea so this event is not only a great way to share Korean culture—it’s also great for sharing why this church has grown to have a large international presence in such a short time.”

A concert commenced towards the end of the festival, featuring several musical performances. These performances included the buchaechum fan dance, an ancient dance called ganggangsullae, and traditional drumming styles such as modeum buk, sangmo and samgomu. The last performances added some modern flare to the event with an octet singing the patriotic Korean song “A Beautiful Country.” Lastly, the Church of God Choir and Orchestra performed the lively and upbeat Korean hymn “Mother Builds the Temple.”