Korea Street Fair wore a look of Mini Korea as thousands enjoy Korean life & culture

NEW DELHI/GURUGRAM: Thousands of people flocked incredible Korea Street Fair 2023 offering the lively feel of Korea recently when ‘32 Avenue’ was decorated with traditional Korean lanterns, Korean food and beverage stalls, Korean innovative products, and Korean cultural programs added much to the real falvour of Korea. The occasion was a 3-day Korea Street Fair April 21-23 that was organized by the Korean Youth Commerce Association (KYCA) in association with the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, and the United Korean Community Association in India.  

Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to India Chang Jae-bok inaugurated the fair.  Park Euy Don, Chairman, United Korean Community Association in India was also present among other dignitaries from Korea such as Myong Kil Yon, Director, Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), India. Leading from the front representing KYCA were its president Kim Jin-bum, and general secretary Lee Yoo-kyung.     

The visitors had the opportunity to have a close feeling of the real life and culture of Korea and they felt like as if they were walking through the streets of Korea.

In his inaugural address Ambassador Chang Jae-bok said that several commerce stalls by the Korean small and micro enterprises (SMEs) selling Korean merchandise and Korean food stalls by Korean food restaurants were significant features of the event as they depicted the true picture of Korea. The visitors also enjoyed taking photos at the specially crafted photo zones.

The venue lawns and pathways were decorated with traditional Korean lanterns making the venue more lively and animated. Korean cultural performances such as Samulnori added to the beauty of the evenings during three days from April 21 to April 23.   

“Korea Street Fair 2023 is one important event as part of the series of events we are going to organize throughout the year 2023 that is being commemorated as the 50^th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and India,” said the Ambassador.  

While congratulating KYCA for the excellent arrangements made for organizing Korea Street Fair, Park Euy Don, Chairman, United Korean Community Association in India said that through this event Indian friends were able to have a true taste of Korean goods and culture together.

“This year is the 50^th anniversary of the India-Korea diplomatic relationship. During the last 50 years, we have made a big growth in bilateral relationships and partnerships. Now we extended our trade volume to around USD 30 billion for the first time and people on both sides traveling to India and  Korea are now two lakhs every year. The Korean expat community in India also has grown significantly to 17,000. Also, the presence of Indian people in Korea has gone more than the population of Korean in India,” Park said in his address.

He said that that was just the beginning of what was going to come in the near future.

“We believe this is just a starting foundation figure before the grand picture of the next 50 years which is on the horizon. This golden Jubilee year could prove to be the catalyst point for the next 50 years’ relationship hopefully. A lot of events will be following to celebrate 50 Anniversary of two big potential countries. Let us make this together the year 2023 as the Korea year, the Year of Korea in India.”

The KYCA president Kim Jin-bum introduced the newly formed organization that he said was formed as a NextGen trade body to support Korean self-employed youths, micro-entrepreneurs, and start-ups, and attract more young entrepreneurs from South Korea to India

“We have ambitious plans to handhold and assist about 100 young entrepreneurs and startups during the current year. We are reaching out to all Korean young self-employed, micro-entrepreneurs, and startups in New Delhi and NCR towns, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, and other cities of India,” Kim added.