28 July 2015

Wellington’s K-Culture Festival offers a taste of Korea

Korean food, drums, kite-making, K-Pop and hip-hop will feature at Wellington’s first K-Culture Festival on Saturday at Shed 6 on Wellington’s waterfront from 11am to 4pm.

The family-friendly Korean festival will feature traditional and contemporary Korean culture including the Korean fan dance, performer Song-yi Kim, and the Zion Dance Crew.

Korean Ambassador, Hae-Yong Kim, says the festival is part of the growing friendship between Korea and New Zealand.

“It is an honour to partner with Wellington City Council and Korean community to create a festival that gives everyone an opportunity to enjoy a taste of Korea here in the coolest little capital in the world,” says Ambassador Kim.

Mayor Celia Wade-Brown says Wellington’s relationship with Korea is very strong.

“Wellington is the cultural heart of New Zealand and the Korean community is a vital part of our city.”

Chair of the Economic Growth Committee, Cr Jo Coughlan, says there have been increased economic opportunities between New Zealand and Korea since the 2014 Free Trade Agreement.

“This festival is very important and enables Wellingtonians to embrace Korean culture and appreciate diversity,” she says.

Calligraphy, making kites, trying Korean instruments and sampling traditional Korean dishes from a range of food stalls, including a giant dish of Bibimbap, will be part of the fun at the festival.

Entertainment includes the K-Pop festival competition, where members of the public will sing and dance their way to the top of the New Zealand finals, with the winner in with a chance to go to Korea for the world finals in October.

The 2015 K-Culture Festival – Experience Korea has been developed by Wellington City Council and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea with support from the Korean Association of Wellington.

ENDS

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