Immediate Press Release

Due to COVID-19, Gateway Korea Foundation’s Annual Chuseok Festival is going virtual this year with a 3-day series on YouTube Premiere from September 17th through the 19th! The online event is sponsored by the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea located in Chicago, IL.

“Chuseok”, which means “the great middle (of autumn)”, is a major harvest festival in Korea and is a celebration of the harvest season. Traditionally, it is celebrated over a three-day period with families visiting ancestral hometowns and partaking in singing, dancing, games, and traditional meals. Because of the ongoing health concerns with large public gatherings, GKF has moved this year’s Chuseok event from in-person to online so that members of our community may celebrate safely from the comfort of their homes.

This fun and educational series exploring and celebrating Korean culture will entertain people of all ages and backgrounds, and includes the following events:

Day 1: Thursday, September 17th (7 PM CDT) Music Performance by the Eine Ensemble

With the theme of “memory, hometown, and autumn,” the Eine Ensemble will play popular folk songs from Korea and around the world. Various Korean and American/Western folk songs and traditional music will be performed by the Eine Ensemble, including "Home on the Range," "When You and I Were Young, Maggie," "Arirang," "An Island Baby," "Home in the Spring," "Ave Maria," "Sicilienne," "Danny Boy," and other beautiful pieces in a harmonious manner.

Day 2: Friday, September 18th (7 PM CDT) Crafts, Games, Folk Songs & Folk Tales

To reflect the spirit of Chuseok, which promotes “togetherness of the family,” Day 2 is designated for making crafts, playing games, singing folk songs, and telling folk tales. Various video montages will be prepared by several families from the St. Louis metropolitan community.

Day 3: Saturday, September 19th (7 PM CDT) Korean Martial Arts, K-Pop & Samulnori

The final day of the program will feature a Korean martial arts demonstration by Y.S. Rho Martial Arts from Chesterfield, MO, a K-pop performance by the group K:ODE, and traditional Korean folk music known as Samulnori.

For more information about this year’s Chuseok program, please visit https://www.gateway-korea.org/chuseok" or check us out on our Facebook page or Instagram @gkf_stl. We hope you can join us in this celebration!