The Korean-American Association of Southern Maryland (KAASM) celebrated the Lunar New Year on Saturday evening, February 17th.  My husband and I joined hundreds of other local residents and visiting dignitaries at the South Potomac Church to celebrate in full style.

Upon arrival, we took time to explore detailed exhibits of traditional Korean food, calligraphy and clothing.  Where American formal clothes tend to favor black or muted colors, traditional Korean formal clothes are spectacularly colorful.  All through the crowd and during an on-stage fashion show, floor-length ensembles of stiff silk and satin whispered of richness, history and confidence as they rustled past. 

I moved from the clothing display to calligraphy. Kwon Myoung-Won (master calligrapher) bent carefully over his work, fulfilling a long line of requests for free samples of his craft.  Beyond Mr. Kwon, lay a long display table of beautifully prepared traditional foods.  Ladies behind the table graciously answered questions about ingredients and purposes. 

Before we moved into the banquet room, my husband stopped at a front table overflowing with Korean flags, maps and booklets of information.  The Consulate for the Republic of Korea in Washington, D.C. generously donated all the materials which were free to anyone at the festival who asked for them.

The main hall of the Church teemed with tables of families and groups waiting for the ceremonies to begin.  The emcees introduced the Association’s honored guests in both Korean and English. 

After each introduction, a child in traditional dress brought the honoree a beautifully wrapped bouquet of flowers.  Commissioner Wayne Cooper accepted a token of appreciation from KAASM president Tammy Pantages for Charles County’s cooperation with the association’s work. 

 

The Consul General, Kwon Teamyon, of the Korean Embassy in D.C. offered words of greeting and appreciation.  Consul Kwon was presented with the seal of Charles County. 

President of the southeastern U.S. federation of Korean associations, Eugene Yu told the assembly that Korean-Americans (now numbering 2.5 million) are the fastest growing ethnic group in the county.  He encouraged Korean-Americans in the audience to respect American culture and learn to blend into it even as they remember old-world traditions.  President Yu explained that although as a nation it is vitally important for us to be unified, diversity is also one of our great national strengths.  He received a rousing round of applause when he expressed his opinion that “Americans have the best form of government at any level” and “We are far, far better off than being anywhere else in the world.”