COLUMBIA, S.C. — Columbia’s Korean Festival is back after three years of being away and is expected to be bigger than ever.
The Korean Festival has been welcoming people of all different cultures to come together for 17 years, and helpers like Sandy Lee say she is thrilled to be a part of such a wonderful experience.
“We stopped because of the pandemic for about three years and we're starting back.
The Korean culture here in South Carolina is a little different than before the pandemic, so we're expecting a lot more people this year," Lee said with a smile.
From the food to the music, the local Korean community is hoping to use Saturday to present all the traditions they love.
“It's so exciting and it's so much fun. It is a lot of work but it's so worth it in the sense that we can almost show off what we do," said Euri Kelley, a drummer in on this year's performances.
Although the festival will be full of things like spicy food-eating contests, K-Pop, and a traditional wedding ceremony, the focus is on one thing.
“I hope many people learn from this event and take away a lot from this," said James Kim.
The celebrations kick off at 11 a.m. at the Korean Community Presbyterian Church and last until 5 p.m. and the block of Richland Street between Bull and Marion will be closed.
To purchase food, you must purchase tickets. One ticket is equal to two dollars.
MENU
Korean Community Presbyterian Church
1. Cup bop: Bulgogi or Pork... 5 tickets
2. Bibimbop (mixed rice bowl)... 5 tickets
3. Tteokbokki (spicy stir-fried rice cakes) with Korean Corn Dog... 5 tickets
4. Hotteok (sweet pancakes)... 1 ticket
5. Korean cup noodles... 2 tickets
6. Korean ice bar... 1 ticket
7. Korean snack... 1 ticket
Columbia Korean United Methodist Church
8. Chicken skewer... 3/5 tickets
9. Kimchi bottle Small/Medium/Large... 3/4/5 tickets
a. Cucumber kimchi bottle small/medium... 3/4 tickets
b. Mandu (dumpling) 2/4 pieces... 1/2 ticket(s)
c. Kimchi Jeon (pancake)... 2 tickets
92 Chicken
d. Honey garlic chicken, 6 pieces... 5 tickets
e. Yangnyeom chicken, 6 pieces... 5 tickets
Columbia Korean School
F. Hot (8 oz.) Korean Coffee or Yuzu citrus tea... 2 tickets
G: Cold (12 oz.) Iced Korean Coffee or Iced Yuzu citrus tea or Boba milk tea... 3 tickets