By Honorary Reporter Gabriela Pimenta from Brazil 

Photos= Gabriela Pimenta

Bom Retiro is a Koreatown in Brazil's largest city of Sao Paulo.

Located in the center of Sao Paulo, Bom Retiro is a symbol of migratory movement and a neighborhood of the Korean community in Brazil. This Koreatown is known as "Bairro Coreano em Sao Paulo (Korean neighborhood in Sao Paulo)" by the city government.

One of the highlights of the neighborhood is its status as the hub of Korean clothing manufacturers, who dominate the clothing market in Brazil. As wholesale and retail markets for high-quality clothing are numerous there, Bom Retiro is a hub of fashion and shopping that attracts many people from other Brazilian states in search of good fabrics and clothing.

Bom Retiro is also a Korean gastronomic center. Enjoy delicious traditional dishes such as bibimbap (spicy rice mixed with vegetables) and samgyeopsal (grilled pork belly) or a good cup of coffee at a cafe like the ones in Seoul. There are also Korean markets with hard-to-find Hansik ingredients such as gochujang (spicy red pepper paste), soybean sauce and sesame oil.

Tteokbokki

Korean culture is also well preserved in Bom Retiro. Interestingly, Korean culture is mixed with that of Brazil in this neighborhood. Posters with Hangeul written on them are alongside those in Portuguese, and most people are fluent in both Korean and Portuguese in the area. Even those who can speak only one of the two languages can communicate there in some way.

Also, the residents of Bom Retiro preserve Korean culture while making it more vigorous and active. Cultural festivals including K-pop concerts are held there frequently, and many museums or workshops allow visitors to experience traditional Korean culture. Quite a few Korean artists also live in this community. For instance, Hwang Young-ah uses Bom Retiro as a platform to exhibit her collections and cultivate her artistic talent. And the Hallyu Cultural Center was opened a few years ago to offer a variety of programs on Korean culture including classes in the Korean language, K-pop dance and traditional handicrafts.

Hwang Young-ah uses Bom Retiro as a platform to exhibit her collections and cultivate her artistic talent.

Due to its fusion of cultures and harmonious atmosphere, the neighborhood was ranked the country's coolest neighborhood and 25th coolest in the world. So those planning on visiting Brazil after the pandemic cannot miss going to the nation's leading Koreatown, Bom Retiro.

chaey0726@korea.kr


*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.