[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The New York Korean Association and the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT) North America Regional Headquarters have embarked on a full-scale campaign to establish Kimchi Day in New York State.
Charles Yoon, President of the New York Korean Association, and Shim Hwa-seop, Head of the aT Americas Regional Office, are holding a proclamation for the establishment of Kimchi Day in New York State.
The 2021 Korean Festival held on the 24th (local time) at Union Square in the heart of Manhattan, New York City, served as a promotional venue for the establishment of Kimchi Day in New York State.
The event took place at a time when interest in Korean culture was growing due to the popularity of "Squid Game," attracting thousands of locals who crowded around each booth.
The kimchi experience booth prepared by aT was so popular that the long line hardly shortened. Participants made kimchi themselves with the help of a Korean chef and took it home. aT also prepared seasoning made from Korean red pepper powder, garlic, and pear to maintain the pure taste of kimchi. The Korean Association distributed 10,000 kimchi samples donated by Daesang to the participants.
Shim Hwa-seop, head of aT's North America Regional Headquarters, explained, "As interest in Korean culture grows, kimchi is gaining popularity as a health food. No one complains about the smell of kimchi." He added, "Everyone who experienced kimchi today is a potential kimchi consumer."
Ron Kim, a New York State Assemblyman who attended the event, promised to strengthen legislative efforts for the establishment of Kimchi Day, although this year is difficult.
On the 24th, participants at the kimchi experience event held by aT in Manhattan, New York, are mixing kimchi seasoning with the help of a Korean chef.
As China claims that pao cai is the origin of kimchi, Korean communities in the U.S. are promoting the establishment of Kimchi Day at local government levels. California has already designated November 22 as Kimchi Day starting this year, and New York State as well as neighboring New Jersey are also pushing for the establishment of Kimchi Day.
At the Kimchi Day event held in New Jersey on the 9th, many politicians including Governor Phil Murphy and U.S. Representative Andy Kim expressed their support.
This Korean Festival was successfully held at Union Square, moving away from the traditional Korea Town where past events were held. Most participants were locals. They experienced making kimchi, enjoyed dalgona, banquet noodles, old-fashioned lunch boxes, fish cake skewers, and watched the Korean Association President’s Ssireum (Korean wrestling) competition. The winner of the "Mugunghwa Flower Has Bloomed" game, which hundreds participated in, received kimchi as a prize.
Charles Yoon, president of the New York Korean Association, said, "More people enjoyed the Korean Festival than any other year," expressing expectations that interest in Korean culture in New York will grow even further.
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