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NEWS
Korean-American Cultural Festival created for better
understanding of Korean church and congregation
 Within the East Ohio Conference there are
four Korean churches: Youngstown Korean; Mansfield
Korean; Hanmadang Korean; and Canton Korean UMCs. Six Korean
pastors: Rev. Youngsub Cha; Rev. Hangback Cho;
Rev. Eunchun Timothy Kim; Rev. Issac Keonyeon Moon; Rev.
Jaiseong Pi; and Rev. Bohyun Yu)
serve within the conference. In an effort to
help the East Ohio Conference better understand the
Korean church and their congregations the
Committee of Racial/Ethnic Empowerment Ministries
(CORE,) sponsored a Korean-American Cultural Festival on
Saturday, October 13. The
Mansfield Korean United Methodist Church
(Hang-Baek Cho, pastor) hosted the event, opening its doors
and hearts to the community. Mansfield Korean is
celebrating its 20th year anniversary.
To
begin the day, Rev. Eunchun Timothy Kim, chair of CORE, introduced the members of the
welcoming program. Devotions were led by Mahoning
Valley District Superintendent, Rev. Orlando Chaffee,
also a member of CORE. The welcoming program included:
special music performed by East Ohio Korean pastors; a
presentation by Dr. Jae D. Haar, a member of Mansfield
Korean UMC, highlighting the Korean community; and a
film presentation depicting today’s lifestyle and
culture of Korea along with travel tips and information.
Following the welcome, visitors enjoyed an outdoor
demonstration of Taekwondo,
the national sport of South Korea.
Taekwondo, the bare handed martial arts form, is
characterized by its fast, high and spinning kicks. The
demonstration was performed by youth and adult members
of the
Hwang’s Marshal Arts School in Canton.
Master Hwang is a member of the Canton Korean United
Methodist Church.
As
the martial arts demonstrated concluded the cultural
festival moved indoors to the fellowship hall for a
traditional Korean meal and entertainment. Festive food
such as egg rolls, Kim Chee (a spicy cabbage dish,)
Sanjeok (marinated beef skewered alternately with
carrots, scallions,)
Bul
Go Gee (Korean BBQ,) and Chap Chee (oriental noodles
with various vegetables)
were served.
While
dining on traditional Korean cuisine, (or the
alternative American meal for those less adventurous) a
beautiful setting of Korean furniture, writings,
embroideries, and art were arranged in a cozy area of
the hall. The display served as the backdrop for the
calligraphy demonstration by Asian calligrapher, Jeggy-Chagy, Yut-nori. As a special take home gift
visitors were treated to having their names written in
Korean by Yut-nori.
After-meal entertainment included a Korean traditional
dance performed in traditional Korean clothing (hanbok)
by members of Mansfield Korean Church. Mansfield Korean
youth, also traditionally clothed, added to the entertainment
with a skit and dance.
The
festival hosts were welcoming, friendly and eager to
share their traditions and culture. Visitors left the
festival with mementoes from Korea, a tasty Korean lunch
and a fuller understanding of their Korean friends.
10/25/07
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Korean-American Cultural Event
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