Traditional performances, hands-on activities and fusion hanbok brought generations and cultures together for a day, drawing thousands of festivalgoers along with the Colorado Springs mayor, a U.S. senator and other community leaders.
The second annual Colorado Korean Festival, hosted by the Southern Colorado Korean Association under President Andrew Kim, returned this year with a fuller program, drawing Korean Americans from across Colorado, second- and third-generation Korean Americans and local residents to America the Beautiful Park in Colorado Springs. Held Sept. 12, the festival offered a full day of Korean cultural activities, food and traditional performances, reflecting the event’s growing reach within the broader Colorado community.
A Giant “Unity Bibimbap” Brings Colorado Together At the heart of the festival was a 150-serving “Unity Bibimbap Ceremony,” a community event centered on one of Korea’s most familiar dishes. Colorado leaders and festivalgoers gathered to mix the oversized bowl and share the finished dish together. Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper, Colorado Department of Human Services human resources executive Sandy Ho, Colorado Springs City Councilmember Kimberly Gold, Asian Chamber of Commerce representative Brandt Sabati, Filipino American Chamber of Commerce representative Verena Salvatore, RISE Southeast Executive Director Joyce Salazar, Mission Medical Center Executive Director Zelna Joseph and Southern Colorado Korean Association President Andrew Kim gathered around the oversized bowl. Using large wooden paddles, they mixed colorful vegetables, gochujang and sesame oil before the finished bibimbap was shared with festivalgoers. Mobolade said he was proud that the Korean community in Colorado Springs, which he estimated at about 10,000 people, had built what he described as the largest Korean festival in Colorado. An immigrant from Nigeria, Mobolade also spoke warmly about Colorado’s immigrant communities.
“It was a special experience that I will remember for a long time,” he said of the bibimbap event. “I have always liked Asian food, and I eat bibimbap from time to time, but today’s bibimbap felt even more meaningful.” Hickenlooper said his interest in Korean food, including bibimbap, began during his years in the restaurant business. “I’ve long been interested in Korean food, and I like many different kinds of kimchi,” he said. “At a time when there is so much division in this country, I was moved to see people coming together through Korean culture. I want to bring this amazing scene back to Denver.” Andrew Kim said people can grow through encounters with those who are different while still holding on to their own identities, pointing to Korea’s rise from one of the world’s poorest countries as an example. “Just as the different ingredients in bibimbap come together at one table, different cultures, histories and experiences can come together and unite a community,” he said, explaining the meaning behind the Unity Bibimbap project. Festivalgoers soon had a chance to taste the finished dish themselves. With cups of freshly mixed bibimbap in hand, visitors praised its spicy-sweet flavor, with some asking for another serving and others expressing excitement at tasting bibimbap freshly mixed on the spot.
From Gayageum to Korean Dance and K-pop The park’s main stage featured gayageum music, fan dance, Korean traditional dance, samulnori percussion, K-pop dance and taekwondo demonstrations throughout the day. Peter Choi, a reporter with Denver 7, served as emcee and added a lighter touch with spontaneous beatboxing between traditional performances. As the four samulnori instruments, traditionally associated with lightning, wind, rain and clouds, joined in rhythm, visitors moved to the beat of Korean traditional music. K-pop dance team Hallyuverse drew crowds with a random play dance, while 3456 Entertainment kept the energy up with a DJ set spanning retro K-pop and current hits.
Vegan Kimchi and Fusion Hanbok Reimagine Tradition Away from the stage, vendors showed how Korean traditions are taking on new forms for American audiences. Shelby Evans and her husband, Cory Evans, developed vegan kimchi for people with dietary restrictions. Instead of the fish-based jeotgal traditionally used in kimchi, they use a kelp enzyme mixture to add depth and umami. Visitors sampling the kimchi were surprised by how much the vegan version tasted like traditional kimchi. Lauren Mackey, who traveled from New Mexico, displayed handmade fusion hanbok combining elements of traditional Korean dress with influences from Hawaiian and other Asian clothing traditions. “Hanbok is my favorite traditional clothing,” she said. “The lines and colors are beautiful, but the fit can be difficult for many American body types.” Mackey adjusted the silhouette and fit while preserving the distinctive lines and colors of hanbok. At her booth, visitors tried on the clothing, checked the fit in mirrors and posed for photos.
An American Teacher Sings Korea’s National Anthem The opening ceremony also reflected the festival’s blend of Korean and American culture. Former Southern Colorado Korean Association President Elizabeth Kim sang the U.S. national anthem, followed by Sand Creek High School ESL teacher Jacqueline Renee, who sang South Korea’s national anthem in fluent Korean. Renee first became connected to Korea while working there for seven years as an English academy instructor. She said she has emphasized to her daughter, who is both Korean and American, the importance of feeling connected to both cultures. “I also teach my students how important it is to learn about other cultures and languages,” Renee said. Elsewhere in the park, one family drew attention in full traditional Korean dress. The father wore a durumagi, a traditional men’s overcoat, and a gat, a traditional Korean hat, while the mother and child wore brightly colored hanbok. The Cerasani family said the clothing had been specially made in Korea. “We finally had a chance to wear these precious hanbok,” the family said with a smile.
Student Volunteers Experience Korean Culture Up Close Students from Pine Creek High School’s National Honor Society also volunteered at the festival. Amit, volunteering at the Korean festival for the first time, said it was his first time hearing Korean instruments and songs. “They were unique and beautiful, and they really stayed with me,” he said. Eric, dressed in a “Squid Game” costume while helping lead traditional games, was volunteering for a second year. “I’ve been to Korea several times with my parents, so it feels good to experience Korean culture here in the U.S.,” he said. “I’m also happy that the festival is bigger than it was last year.”
Korean Communities Gather From Across Colorado Koreans from different parts of Colorado came together again in Colorado Springs for the festival. The Southern Colorado Korean Association offered hands-on activities including hanbok try-ons, traditional games, Korean musical instruments and fan-making. The Hansori Korean Traditional Arts Group and a Korean Baptist church welcomed visitors at Korean cultural experience booths, while a Korean American Methodist church and Springs Full Gospel Church contributed tables and chairs for the event.
Vendor booths offered Korean snacks, toys, design goods, fusion hanbok, galbi and Korean drinks. Food booths ranged from familiar Korean street foods such as gimbap and dakgangjeong to galbi and bulgogi, with Korean restaurants from Aurora and other parts of Colorado participating. Bob & Gogi in Centennial also contributed rice bowls, while M Mart in Aurora donated Korean snacks that filled the snack booth with colorful displays. A special K-pop fan booth brought together nine fandoms and traced the genre from first-generation idol group H.O.T. to BTS through fan goods and displays. Fans arrived wearing merchandise representing their favorite artists and searched the booths for their stars, while “K-Pop Demon Hunters” cosplayers posed for photos at a nearby photo zone. Korean makers and artisans also brought their work to the festival. Handmade cosmetics and natural soaps, intricately crafted cake toppers and party decorations, and handmade fashion accessories showcased the creativity and attention to detail of local Korean vendors. For local residents, the festival offered a chance to experience Colorado’s Korean community firsthand. For Korean attendees, it was an opportunity to reconnect with familiar culture, familiar faces and memories of home.
Looking Ahead to Next Year Andrew Kim praised the volunteers and sponsors whose work helped bring the festival to life. “Everyone made time despite their busy schedules, with many working late into the night to help,” he said. “There are so many people I cannot name individually. We couldn’t have done this without their continued support and generosity.” Scenes from the festival spread quickly across social media throughout the day. Now established as a signature Korean cultural event in the region, the Colorado Korean Festival is already looking ahead to next year.
By Susan Lee | Colorado Times
