On May 8, 2012, The Korea Center in Los Angeles held a grand reopening to welcome students of the LA King Sejong Institute (Korean Language Program) with their family and friends.

Although Korea Center had previously been open, the new lobby features a futuristic, all-new design with interactive touch screens, exhibits and information booths for everything regarding Hallyu (i.e. the Korean Entertainment Wave) as well as online video games, animation and tourism. Two hundred enthusiastic guests and local media attended this even and it even featured delicious Korean food, which created a huge line in the center! After a brief welcoming remark, the centerpiece of the event was a 'Mini K-Pop Contest', with seven contestants singing their favorite K-Pop on the stage in the 'Noraebang' station. Contestants sang and even danced, with the audience clapping along and giving their full support. The event concluded on schedule, after which the students went off to their classrooms to resume their studies.