Garden Grove Shows a Touch of Seoul

Wan Pae Chu taught his two young children a little something about his homeland Saturday by introducing them to the Korean Festival of Orange County.

“We’ve never seen this before,” Chu said, while watching the marching bands and colorful floats pass by during the festival’s parade. “This is letting them know about our heritage.”

He greeted parade participants in Korean, and his 6-year-old son, Joseph, followed suit.

“Anyong ha se yo (‘Hi, how are you?’),” the smiling boy said to a Korean dignitary.

The Chu family joined thousands of others at the weekend festival, expected to draw more than 100,000 by its conclusion today.

Highlighting the festival was Saturday’s parade, featuring Korean folkloric dancers, 15 marching bands and Grand Marshal Bul-Am Choi, a well-known actor in Korea. Parade participants marched west on Garden Grove Boulevard from Brookhurst Way to Magnolia Avenue, passing onlookers who lined the streets, many waving Korean and American flags.

With rollers in her hair, Chong Tastor stepped outside a beauty salon on the boulevard to watch the show.

“I couldn’t miss this,” the 46-year-old Victorville woman said. “I’m Korean and I’ve always wanted to watch the parade up close. I’ve seen it on TV but today, I’m seeing it in person for the first time.”

Euiwon Chough, co-chairman of the 14th annual Korean Festival, sponsored by the Korean Chamber of Commerce, said its purpose is to share Korean traditions, culture and food with the community and to promote Koreatown businesses.

“It’s a good tradition we are building,” Chough said.

“It promotes harmony and introduces the Korean culture to people of other [nationalities],” said Joo Ok Mitchell, owner of Cafe Rose, a Korean restaurant on Garden Grove Boulevard.

Korean Consul General Tae Hee Park added: “The American society is very rich in diversity. These kinds of events promote understanding.”

More important, said Westminster Councilman Tony Lam, who rode in the parade, “it teaches the children about their heritage.”

That’s why Linda Kim, 40, of Garden Grove, said she brings her sons to the festival every year. “This is something special--something that shows you why you should be proud to be Korean,” she said.

Kim and her 5- and 7-year-old sons joined 1,000 people in the Turtle Walk, a 1.5-mile walkathon Saturday. Prizes included a trip to Seoul, Korea, and televisions.

Other activities included carnival rides, Korean games, Korean karate demonstrations, a chess tournament, a talent show and folk dancing.

“I’m always homesick for Korea but here, I get to release that feeling and enjoy my culture,” said Kum Nam Pak, 69, of Garden Grove, who emigrated from Korea 17 years ago.

Today’s events include an all-day open-air market, free health check-ups starting at 11 a.m., a Korean wrestling demonstration at 11 a.m., folk dance performances starting at 4 p.m., an 8:30 p.m. talent show starring Korean actors and actresses and closing ceremonies at 9:30 p.m.

All activities are at KD (Kyung Dung) & Seoul Plaza on Garden Grove Boulevard between Brookhurst and Magnolia.