By Eun Byoul Oh
For this month’s Editor’s Note, I wanted to reflect on the power of memories, and Korean Culture Project Monthly’s mission to share the many voices and memories of our community. I struggled a bit on deciding what to share with the community this month, but upon reading the news about The Danwon High School 4.16 Archive joining UNESCO Memory of the World Archive inspired me to talk about memories….

By April Maas

Last year, my mom decided I was old enough to be the keeper of my own administrative history and gifted me two overflowing file folders that contained everything from my naturalization paperwork to Sesame Street Live ticket stubs. Stuffed between my parents’ pre-adoption home visit report and a Frost Middle School Honor Roll certificate, I found an undated essay, written by me and notated with my mom’s neat copy edits…

By Jon Oaks

With November being National Adoptee Awareness Month, I've found myself reflecting on several experiences that have made me think differently about my upbringing. Growing up in Flint, Michigan, meant experiencing the world largely through what was familiar to my family. At the time, I didn't have much reason to question how things might have been different had I grown up in Korea. Today, even an ordinary day at work can leave me wondering how different my life might have been and how my upbringing continues to influence the person I've become….

By Celeste Newman

Growing up, I always knew I was adopted. My parents did a good job being transparent from an early age, and I never had to question where I came from. I understood that my birth parents, because of their young age as students and their unmarried status, would not have been able to give me a “good” life in Korea. And so my birth mother made the decision that I would be adopted. I was adopted from Korea, and in July 2002, at seven months old, I flew across the world into JFK, where I met my family for the first time…

By Jon Oaks
November is a particularly meaningful month for the Korean adoptee community. It's a time to recognize the experiences of adoptees and reflect on the many ways adoption continues to shape our lives. With Veterans Day also taking place on November 11, I thought this would be a fitting opportunity to recognize some of the Korean adoptees who have served in the United States Armed Forces…

By KCP Monthly Team

KCP community members attended many events sponsored by our partners. Special report on KOOM Live 2026 and Miclot Chamber Music Society concert! Upcoming events from our friends and more.

By Sharon Stern

In the middle of 1997, the financial systems in Asia began to collapse.  At the end of the crisis, South Korea was hit harder than almost all other Asian countries.  Right this minute, South Korea is facing another strong financial challenge, despite the fact that South Korea has the 12^th largest economy in the world.  This month we are going to look at the rise and fall of not just financial markets, but what creates and supports them, causes them to crumble and how those ups and downs affect all of daily life…

By Cynthia Salett
On October 25th our dedicated book club members gathered for a lively discussion of Yi Munyol’s Our Twisted Hero. My first thought was that the 120 page novella presented a fascinating and complicated perspective on the concept of “Hero”....

By KAPA Volunteers & Brianna Khayla Arlee
Whether you find yourself wrapping up year end reports, entering final exams season or searching for the perfect gift for family and friends, the last two months of the year are full of both holiday cheer and holiday stress. With this in mind, this month’s playlist has been designed to bring you a bit of peace. From original pieces to orchestral k-pop covers, relax as you enjoy the sounds of some of Korea's most talented classical musicians.

By Sharon Stern
As fall-into-winter drama season picks up, we have a big variety of choices, not only in subject matter, but also where to watch our dramas.  Fantasy, crime and legal dramas (including another Japanese/Korean collaboration), vampires, office rom-com/rom-drams, the pressure and horrors of the college entrance exam all hit our screens this month.  And there are several dramas that look really intriguing that have yet to announce a US streaming service or work through licensing for the US.  Fingers crossed we will see them appear soon!

By April Maas, Jon Oaks, and Celeste Newman

For National Adoption Awareness Month, KCP asked members of our community to share their personal essays about their experience as Korean American Adoptees. We hope you will spend time with each story, helping us to more deeply understand the experiences of adoptees. We are profoundly honored to share these with our readers.

By Eun Byoul Oh
안녕하세요? 반갑습니다!

I want to say a special greeting for our incoming session students, and those who joined our newsletter readership through Korea Fest! We welcome all of you into our KCP community. We want to learn and grow with you all, and bond over Korean language and culture!

By Justine Velasquez
2026 has been another successful year for KCP in the Korean Festival and Parade. Members of the KCP community were able to connect with many festival goers, whether it was through playing games together, learning Korean together, or simply just having a conversation about KCP’s offerings. As KCP enters a new chapter under a new name, its core values remain the same: rooted in community.

By Josh Kim
For the past month in Korea, I’ve eaten constantly. Gimbap (김밥) and fried chicken (치킨), samgyeopsal (삼겹살) cooked over a shared grill, bibimbap, noodles, bingsu, countless dishes of banchan, and one memorable bowl of chueotang (추어탕) that I’m not sure I’ll be trying again – but hey, when in Seoul.

By Sharon Stern

October 3^rd is National Foundation Day in Korea.  It is called Gaecheonjeol (개천절) in Korean – The Day the Heavens Opened.  This is a national holiday in Korea, but the celebration is connected to the ancient history of the Korean peninsula and origins of the peoples that lived there…