Join the Korean American Coalition of Chicago (KACC) with the OPEN Center for the Arts for a special “Journey to Korea” in Chicago’s Little Village on August 29th!

KACC Members code: “JOURNEY” for $5 off
Tickets: $50 VIP (t-shirt included), $35 GA
Limited to 150 tickets total so RSVP at the link soon!

This event will feature the Korean/Korean-American community sharing the cultural treasures of Korea with the surrounding Little Village community which is predominantly Mexican/Mexican-American. This immersive evening will provide a unique opportunity to experience the Korean culture through a multidisciplinary event combining the arts, food, music, dance, and performances for entertainment. The hope is to begin conversations on ways these two communities can collaborate and strengthen movements on issues that impact them and all of Chicago in a cultural exchange steeped in learning, love and shared experiences with various stakeholders including artists, entrepreneurs, educators, community leaders, and local residents.

“Community and business boosters have proudly designated Little Village as the “Mexican capital of the Midwest.” They declaratively note that with over 1,000 businesses, 26th Street is the largest commercial source of tax revenue in Chicago after the posh Magnificent Mile.” -El Beisman

JOURNEY TO KOREA Schedule:

Main Level:

(1) Journey to Korea the Exhibition! Submerge in the arts as artists express in their style and technique the beauty of Korea and its culture.
(2) Native Chicagoan, Korean American Chef Andrew Lim, of Perilla will provide us with his version of traditional Korean Cuisine with a twist. For this special event he will create a total of five different dishes for our enjoyment.
(3) Watch as the Global Pungmul Institute, led by Byoung Sug Kim, puts on a performance of traditional drumming and dance.
(4) Get ready to learn the history of K-pop as Chemical X provides a choreography sampling the most popular K-pop dances of the last decade.

Lower Level:

(1) Join us at the bar where we will have Korean bar dried snacks along with traditional Korean beer and a fusion of Soju spirits with “aguas frescas”, jamaica, piña, and orchata. Casa Humilde of Chicago will also provide two new beers that they are currently brewing.
(2) Then get ready to sharpen up your dancing skills as members of Chemical X provide this interactive follow along workshop as you learn your new favorite K-pop moves all while K-pop is filling the room with its dance beats.

Upper Level:

(1) The Korean Cultural Center of Chicago (KCCOC) will be setting up shop with a pop-up museum. Learn about how KCCOC preserves and exhibits the history of Korean immigrants in the Midwest.
(2) Try delicious Bokbunja, black raspberry wine, and Makgeolli, lightly sparkling rice wine along with a spread of tropical fruits.
(3) Take home your name written out in Korean! The pop up museum will also feature a writing station where a KCCOC member will write up your name in Hangeul, Korean Alphabet.
(4) Travel back in time as Hanbok’s will be available to wear for a photoshoot provided by KCCOC.
(5) Step up front of this one-of-a-kind Mural created by our own artist Alma Dominguez with a fusion of Korea and Chicago.

More about OPEN:

The mission of Open Center for the Arts is to provide a space where all artists, can come together to share, showcase, refine, and develop their talents as well as support entrepreneurship opportunities in the arts while connecting their growth to the community. The “Journey to” series highlights various countries and cultures with the belief that a unity of two cultures has a more powerful voice. Visit www.opencenterforthearts.org/.

More about KACC:

The mission of the Korean American Coalition of Chicago (KACC) is to promote the civic participation of Korean Americans through advocacy, community service, leadership development, and cultural education with the goal to create a strong, vibrant community which embraces the best of our Korean heritage and the potential of our future in America. Visit www.kac-chicago.org/.

Questions about the event?
Fernando Aburto, fernando.aburto (at) opencenterforthearts (dot) org
Karen Hwang, khwang (at) kac-chicago (dot) org

Official Website

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Tags: Chicago, KACC & OPEN: Journey to KOREA, Korean American Coalition of Chicago, Lower West Side, OPEN Center for the Arts