Hosted by the Korean School Association of Colorado,
featuring traditional games
The Korean School Association of Colorado (President Kristy Yoo,유미순) successfully hosted the “Korean Cultural and Historical Experience Day” on Saturday, October 5th, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at New Gate Korean School(새문한국학교). This annual event aims to provide students at local Korean schools with the opportunity to experience traditional Korean culture firsthand.
This year, the event saw participation from six schools, including New Gate Korean School(새문한국학교), Disciple Korean School (제자한국학교), St. Lawrence(성로렌스 한국학교), New Life(뉴라이프 한국학교), Fort Collins(포트콜린스 한국학교), and Colorado Springs Korean American School (콜로라도 스프링스 통합한국학교). Over 200 students, teachers, and volunteers came together for this meaningful experience.
A highlight of the day was the visit from the Aurora Fire Department, who brought a fire truck and introduced the students to their firefighting equipment. The students were thrilled to witness the firefighters in action as they responded to an emergency call during the event, marveling at the bravery of the firefighters who seemed like real-life heroes.
Hands-On Korean Cultural Activities
The event featured a variety of outdoor programs where students could engage in traditional Korean cultural activities. Students had the chance to try their hand at calligraphy, write their names in Korean, play traditional games such as Jegichagi (Korean shuttlecock), Tuho (arrow throwing), and Ddakji (paper flipping game), and participate in other activities like mask making, kite flying, and wearing hanbok (traditional Korean attire) for photos. Popular booths also included making dalgona (a Korean honeycomb candy) and preparing sotteok-sotteok (skewered sausage and rice cakes), where students eagerly lined up to enjoy these traditional treats.
Parents and students alike enjoyed the activities, with many taking part in games together and learning more about Korean culture. The vibrant atmosphere was filled with laughter and a shared sense of cultural pride.
A Shared Celebration of Korean Heritage
During lunch, participants were treated to pizza and juice as they continued to explore the various cultural stations. The event offered a valuable opportunity for both the older generation, who grew up in Korea, and younger generations raised in the U.S. to connect and share in their heritage.
One parent expressed their joy, saying, “It’s so wonderful to see the children learning and experiencing Korean culture firsthand. I hope there are more opportunities like this for them in the future.”
Yumi Soon, the president of the Korean School Association of Colorado, thanked everyone who participated and highlighted the importance of continuing to share Korean cultural traditions with younger generations. She added that the organization plans to offer more programs to help Korean American youth experience and learn about their cultural roots.
By Colorado Times
