FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 “Chuseok” Festival to Feature Korean Dance Troupe,

Traditional Korean Food, Folk Games, Kite-Making, K-pop and More

Local group invites the public to learn more about Korean traditions

St. Louis, Missouri (Aug. 19, 2014)— Traditional and modern Korean music and dance will be a highlight of St Louis’s first-ever Chuseok festival in St. Louis on September 6th. The Gateway Korea Foundation is planning the event, which includes numerous other cultural activities such as Korean folk games and crafts, Taekwondo martial arts demonstrations, and calligraphy. A traditional dance group from South Korea will perform at the festival, and at a Sept. 7 event.

Chuseok means "the great middle (of autumn)" and is a major harvest festival and a three-day holiday in Korea. Chuseok is a celebration of the good harvest, when Korean families visit ancestral hometowns, enjoy song, dance and folk games, and share a feast of traditional foods.

One of the founders of the Gateway Korea Foundation, Young-Hie Nahm Kromm, remembers celebrating Chuseok when she was a child. “We always looked forward to the festival because of the good food and great fun,” Kromm said.

Han Ko, a board member of the Foundation, is the chairperson of the Chuseok  festival committee. He hopes this event is the first of many future Chuseok celebrations in St. Louis. “We want to share our wonderful Korean traditions with people from St. Louis, so they can learn more about our culture. The festival offers something for everyone, so we hope to see people of all ages and background,” he said.

            A favorite Chuseok dish is Kimchi, also spelled Kimchee or Gimchi, which is a traditional Korean side dish made of vegetables with a variety of seasonings. It is often described as spicy. Other foods that will be offered include Bulgogi and Song Pyon.

Chuseok Festival Details

Saturday, Sept. 6

12 Noon – 7 p.m. 

McGrath Elementary School - auditorium and school grounds

2350 St Clair, Brentwood, MO 63144                                  

Admission:  Free

Sunday, Sept. 7

Hong Jin Hee Dance Troupe Performance

Horton Watkins (Ladue) High School Auditorium

1201 South Warson Rd., Ladue, MO 63124

7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Admission:  $10 per person.  Tickets can be purchased at the door.

For more details, please visit www.gateway-korea.org. 

###

About the Gateway Korea Foundation

Founded in 2012, the Gateway Korea Foundation provides opportunities for the public to learn about and experience Korean culture.  Based in St. Louis, Missouri, the Gateway Korea Foundation draws from communities across the American Midwest to nurture a greater understanding and appreciation for Korean culture.  www.gateway-korea.org