The Korean Festival Committee of Orange County is gearing up to host the Arirang Festival, envisioning it as a vibrant space for the Korean and Vietnamese communities to intermingle.
Slated for October 12-15 at Garden Grove Park (9301 Westminster Blvd), the 39th Arirang Festival will be a collaborative venture with the Vietnamese community. While the foundation engages the Korean American community, Thomas Nguyen, president of QT Golden Marketplace, is building bridges with the Vietnamese community, leveraging his influence through Vietnamese-language TV and radio stations. To facilitate preparations, a temporary office has been set up at Stanton University within Garden Grove’s Arirang Galleria, in proximity to the festival location.
“The response from the Vietnamese community has been overwhelming,” remarked Chung, highlighting the growing interest. “We’ve seen a surge in food booths – from the usual 10 to an anticipated 30 this year. Notably, many of these are Vietnamese, offering a diverse range of dishes from Vietnam and beyond.”
Collaboration extends beyond just booths. The foundation, in tandem with the Vietnamese community, is curating the festival’s content. The intention is to appoint two festival chairs, one representing each community.
Nguyen is in the process of recruiting entertainers from Vietnam and locals. The festival will also feature traditional cultural performances from the Vietnamese community, as well as a corner where people can try on traditional costumes, including Ao Dai.
Highlighting the essence of the festival, Mr. Jung noted, “It’s a platform for mutual cultural understanding. Both communities will share responsibilities and potential profits. Any surplus will be given back to Garden Grove and both communities.”
K-pop, a shared passion among Vietnamese community members, will be a significant draw. “During my upcoming visit to Korea (September 23-September 6), I aim to engage K-pop groups for the festival. We’re planning prime-time K-pop shows and contests,” said Mr. Jung.
Given the festival’s strategic location near Little Saigon, a family-friendly carnival zone, with amusement attractions, will be another highlight.
A contentious issue was the proposal of an admission fee. Nguyen initially proposed a $3 charge, but after due deliberation, the foundation opted against it. “While the Vietnamese community might be accustomed to entry fees, the Korean American community might not resonate with the idea. We’ve decided to keep entry free,” clarified Jung.
The foundation is looking forward to setting up between 300 to 400 booths, with pricing set at $2,500 for food booths, $2,000 for agricultural produce booths, and $1,500 for general ones.
For additional details, interested individuals can contact 714-943-6918.
BY SANGHWAN LIM [lim.sanghwan@koreadaily.com]
