The Korean Parade and Festival has returned to New York after a five-year hiatus due to the pandemic.
On Oct. 5, Korean Americans in New York marked 121 years since Koreans first immigrated to America with the festivities, hosted by the Korean American Association of Greater New York (KAAGNY).
“We’re marching toward better community, and this community should contribute to the betterment of the USA that’s the meaning of the marching,” KAAGNY chair Kwang-Seok Kim said. The association first hosted the parade and festival in 1980. “And through the festival we share our traditions, our intention to spread our culture and also learn from neighbors, sharing it.”
Euy Whan Kim, consul general of the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in New York, said it was cause for celebration.
“I’m so proud as consul general and as a citizen of Korea to see how our country is really developing like this,” said Kim, who participated in the parade.
He said that South Korea was facing increasing pressure from the Chinese Communist Party, and he was happy to see that Koreans overseas were “not losing our culture and our national identity,” but instead “standing proudly in the world.”
“We hope that this event will make our compatriots feel even more proud of Korea,” Kim said.
This year’s parade featured 18 colorful parade floats and more than 50 local Korean community groups marching in the parade with banners. Some 50 vendors participated in the festival section of the event, some hosting traditional Korean games such as a top-spinning game, and others providing an opportunity for families to try on hanbok—traditional Korean clothing—to take photos.
Hyunhae Park, team manager with event sponsor Seoul Business Agency, attended the event with a delegation of representatives from eight companies, with product launches and gifts to promote South Korea’s capital city of Seoul.
“In the case of New York, there are city brands such as ‘I Love NY,’ but Seoul has created a city brand called ‘Seoul My Soul,’” Park said.
Organizers noted that in 2023, the pandemic was no longer an issue, but the weather was, and the event was canceled due to rain.
“Heaven helped with today’s weather, and we have a large turnout,” said Woncheol Choi, chair of the KAAGNY 2024 Korean Parade and Festival preparation committee.
New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams said New York was excited to welcome the parade and festival again.
“America is made up of so many beautiful, wonderful, and vibrant cultures, so Korean American culture is an American culture,” Williams said. “So I’m very proud and excited whenever I’m able to come and celebrate. I’m the son of immigrants so I know the whole immigrant story and what that means in this country.”
Enjoy these photos from the 2024 Korean Parade and Festival.
