SPECIAL REPORT: KCP x KAAGNY Korea Fest 2026

*Our opening crew! Photo Credit Sarah Trader-Brown*

By Justine Velasquez

On Saturday, October 3, 2026, Korean Culture Project (KCP) participated in the 42nd Annual Korean Parade & Festival hosted by KAAGNY. This was the second consecutive year that KCP participated in this event. This was an especially important occasion as this was the first event where the organization’s new name and logo have been officially unveiled.

This year, some members of the KCP community joined in the parade. The parade traveled down Broadway, starting on 38th Street and ending on 27th Street. A few of the parade participants donned a 한복 (hanbok) as they marched down Broadway, waving at parade attendees as they passed by. Our delegation was led by two young members of the KCP community.

As in the year prior, KCP had a booth on 32nd Street in between Broadway and 5th Avenue. KCP was among a variety of organizations and businesses that participated, ranging from food vendors to local non-profits.

KCP Parade group with Consul General of New York Kim Sang Ho.

At the KCP booth, volunteers spoke to interested passersby about the programs and events KCP offers, including the online Korean language classes as well as the Dosan Hakdang Book Club and After Class Events. Volunteers and attendees alike also enjoyed some traditional Korean games such as 딱지치기 (ddakjichigi, a paper flipping game), 공기 (gonggi, the South Korean version of jackstones), and 제기차기 (jaegichagi, the South Korean version of hacky sack) in the K-Experience section of the booth. Whoever was successful in flipping a 딱지 won some candy or chips. Just like last year, the games were a significant draw for festival goers.

KCP also offered four 30-minute beginner Korean classes throughout the day. These classes were led by KCP’s very own Korean teacher Oh Eun Byoul, assisted by KCP volunteers. In the classes, the participants learned 한글 (Hangul, the Korean alphabet) as well as beginner-friendly words and phrases. These “mini-classes” were a short demonstration of the online language classes that KCP offers. It also provides the festival goers a unique opportunity to be introduced to the language right in the heart of Manhattan’s Koreatown amidst a bustling atmosphere.

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.