The 30thAnnual Orange County Korean Festival is coming to Buena Park on Thursday, Oct. 10, through Sunday, Oct 13.
The celebration is moving from Garden Grove, and will take place at the McCumber Shopping Center, 5450 Beach Blvd.
Orange County Korean Festival Foundation President Richard Jung said the event is growing and ready for the new location.
The 30thAnnual Orange County Korean Festival is coming to Buena Park on Thursday, Oct. 10, through Sunday, Oct 13.
The celebration is moving from Garden Grove, and will take place at the McCumber Shopping Center, 5450 Beach Blvd.
Orange County Korean Festival Foundation President Richard Jung said the event is growing and ready for the new location.
“The largest Korean population in Orange County resides in Buena Park and more people are moving here,” he said. “We estimate about 300,000 Korean people live in Orange County. The city of Buena Park is supporting us totally.”
The drive to change locations began right after the 2012 festival.
“We will decide after the event if we are going to stay in Buena Park,” Jung said. “Many high ranking Korean officials support the move and we are selling 150 booths. Politicians and businessmen are also giving donations for the event.”
The theme for the festival this year is a celebration of Korean customs, foods, songs and culture, including rice soup and clam soup, acorn gelatin, yeot (rice or pumpkin seeds) carried by a peddler, wild vegetable salads and green tea that will introduce and remind people of the good old days.
“We have invited many foreign entertainers and guests,” Jung said. “It is a global celebration, not related to just Koreans.”
The event will feature many Korean pop-stars, but their identities are being kept a secret, for now.
“There is an election for a new chairman every two years,” Jung said. “There are many nations represented in the United States, Our goal is to attract many races to the festival, not just Koreans.”
The event will feature a big raffle with a grand prize of a Hyundai automobile.
“Raffle tickets cost $2,” Jung said. “We are also giving away a smart T.V., and many appliances.”
Jung is looking to upgrade the festival.
“We tried to introduce more traditional Korean culture,” Jung said. “We are inviting all the neighborhoods, including Hispanic, Vietnamese, Chinese, American and Filipinos. We are close to achieving that goal.”
The festival will also include a gala parade.
“There will be a flower car and the Grand Marshalls will be Congressman Ed Royce and one or two governors coming from Korea,” Jung said. “The parade will be held from 2 until 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12.”
Wells Fargo Bank will also have its stagecoach with horses participating in the parade.
“There will be a big opening ceremony and all the local dignitaries have been invited,” Jung said. “That includes Royce, the Buena Park City Council and Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva. The vice chair of the Korean Congress has been invited and the Chairman of the Korean Overseas committee.”
One new feature at the festival this year will be traditional Korean alcoholic beverages.
“We have a beer and wine license,” Jung said. “We will have a separate area this year where people can taste Korean liquor. It is very unusual and more than just traditional food.”
There will be 40 events that will reflect the sights and sounds of Korean life
“For the children, there will be drawing, writing and speech contests,” Jung said. “Adults seniors and children will be celebrating at the festival.”
There will be a fashion show at the event that will feature elegant and colorful clothing.
“There are also traditional hair styles that women wear and they will be modeled at the festival,” Jung said.
The Korean Marine corps will also be part of the celebration.
“They will be in their full military outfits,” Jung said. “They will help us with security and seniors. They help us a lot every year.”
The group is expecting in excess of 150,000 people attending the festival. Admission to the festival is free.
“There will be more visitors this year,” Jung said. “The more the merrier. This is a depressed time, but our celebration is going to be a party that will put smiles on people’s faces. It is a revitalization of the community.”
For more information, visit ockoreanfestival.com.
