By Honorary Reporter Samantha Pinto do Nascimento Rosado from Brazil
Photos = Samantha Pinto do Nascimento Rosado

The Bom Retiro neighborhood of Sao Paulo, Brazil, an area considered the country's largest Koreatown, from Aug. 16-17 hosted the 18th Korean Culture Festival.

This celebration of Korean culture through food, art and educational activities featured traditional cuisine, performing arts, workshops and a debate for an engaging journey into Korean heritage.

Main stage of festival

The gastronomic section featured street food stalls with everyday foods like tteokbokki (spicy rice cake), gimbap (seaweed rice rolls), bibimbap (rice with vegetables and meat), kimchi and bulgogi (stir-fried marinated meat). Other booths allowed visitors to sample ramyeon (instant noodles), tteokbokki, snacks, beverages and sweets. 

Other aspects of Korean culture featured included beauty products with explanations of the benefits of popular ingredients such as ginseng, green tea and cica. Visitors also tried on Hanbok (traditional clothing) in a variety of colors and styles and took photographs.

Sotteok sotteok (sausage and rice cake skewer) and spicy fried chicken with rice (left) are served at the event, and a Hanbok booth allows visitors to wear outfits to take photos.

The cultural fair highlighted craftsmanship and art through booths with books, personalized eco-bags, street food sampling, keychains, caricatures, Hangeul calligraphy, bookmarks and fans. 

The Sejong Choir from the Korean Cultural Center (KCC) in Sao Paulo also performed traditional and contemporary songs accompanied by K-Sarau, who recited poems and literary works to show Korea's literary heritage.

Additionally, textbooks and learning materials on the Korean language and culture were distributed. Booths also informed visitors of study abroad opportunities in Korea, with representatives from universities and language schools providing counseling on language courses, undergraduate and graduate programs, the Global Korea Scholarship and Test of Proficiency in Korean, aka TOPIK. 

The KCC also hosted the second K-Debate, in which 14 guests discussed Korean literature, art, cinema, history and traditions. And performances were held of taekwondo, traditional dance and the gayageum (zither), while the "Masked Diva" singing contest awarded three emerging artists with cash prizes.

The evening's highlight was an appearance by the K-pop boy band YOUNITE, whose choreography, costumes and energy captivated the audience.

The K-pop boy band YOUNITE takes to the stage for a soundcheck at the event.

msjeon22@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.