A Taste of Seoul - Annual Event

Korean arts and culture will be celebrated in high style on Saturday, October 1 as the Korean Parade & Festival returns to the streets of New York City. The event brings together different generations of Korean Americans, while providing New Yorkers with an up-close look at Korean culture—music, food, traditional attire, Korean martial arts (taekwondo), and more. Presented by the Korean American Association of Greater New York (KAAGNY) with the support of lead corporate sponsor the Korea Times, the Korean Parade will run from 12:00 pm until 2:00 pm. Grand Marshals U.S. Representative Charles B. Rangel, New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, New York City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer and Korean-born U.S. National Olympic Team Bronze Medalist (Torino, 2006) Toby Dawson, and others will lead the processional. The event is additionally sponsored by the Northshore LIJ Health System, Con Edison, Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea, the beautiful Korean island Dokdo (Gyeongsangbuk Province, South Korea), Overseas Koreans Foundation, the Korean Cultural Service New York and the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in New York.

A highlight of the parade will be a float introducing Big Apple residents to "Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea." The world exposition on ocean conservation takes place in Yeosu City, South Korea, a beautiful coastal town, from May 12 through August 12, 2012 and is expected to draw more than 8 million visitors, scientists and government representatives from more than 100 countries. Designed to enhance the international community's awareness and care for the ocean and coastal life, the Expo has the goal of creating international cooperation around sustainable marine development. New Yorkers are encouraged to attend the Expo, which consists of numerous cultural and other activities, part of a three-year "Visit Korea" tourism program sponsored by the Visit Korea Committee and Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Republic of Korea.

Picturesque Dokdo Island, an Ellis Island-size territory located in the sea at the eastern maritime border of South Korea, will also be spotlighted in the parade, sponsored by Gyeongsangbuk Province. The pristine nature found on Dokdo Island--officially known as Korean territory since the sixth century--has long made it a source of pride for South Koreans. Murals capturing the exquisite beauty of the island in each of the four seasons will be a part of the Festival. Visitors are invited to take pictures in front of the murals as a way to "experience" the nature of Dokdo on the streets of New York.

"We welcome the Korean American community and all New Yorkers to share this special day with us as we celebrate the beauty and uniqueness of Korean culture," said Chang Y. Han, president of KAAGNY, an umbrella group for the 1,000 Korean business, religious, artistic, sports and civic groups representing the approximately 500,000 Koreans living in the greater New York area.