Korean
Korean
2022.08.18 06:09
The "Sounds of Korea" full video is available on our YouTube site here. Enjoy!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdqPpkU77M8
2022 Korean Liberation Day/Korea Day Celebration
The Korean American Association of Rhode Island (KAARI) held the 2022 Korean Liberation/Korea Day celebration on Sunday, August 14th, at the Bishop McVinny Auditorium in Providence. The Celebration consisted of commemorating the Korean Liberation Day commemoration, the RI "Korea Day" Proclamation, and "Sounds of Korea," traditional Korean music/dance performances.
The event was designed as a 'Meeting Place' and focused on promoting and sharing Korean culture by inviting all KAARI and RI communities. RI Governor Daniel McKee, US Senator Jack Reed, Boston Consul General Ki-Jun You, and Rhode Island State Council on the Arts Community (RISCA) Director of Community Arts Elena Patino were in attendance to support the event. More than 600 participants attended the ceremony and traditional Korean music performances. After the show, the Korean Association served dinner with Korean food (bulgogi, japchae, tteokbokki, dumplings, rice, honey rice cake). All the guests enjoyed the Korean food. Many are already familiar with Korean culture and food, so the 'Meeting Place' was a resounding success.
The 'Sounds of Korea' performances were coordinated and produced under the direction of Jeonghee Oh, who taught gayageum classes at KAARI in 2019. The 90-minute performances of Samgomu, Gayageum Sanjo, Sword dance, Boy drum, Fan dance, Sounds of Korean Soul, and K-Pop featuring the "Gihwaja" team were a good mix of modern and traditional Korean music, dance, and instruments. This KAARI event consisted of performers from NY/NJ, Rhode Island, and South Korea, so it was a truly global event. Chung Eun Han, who came from Seoul, Korea, is a master of Korean bamboo flutes, Deakeum, and Sokeumdag. Guitarist Soowan Chung is a K-Pop musician and has performed with the world-famous BTS. Seoyeon Kim, who played a Gayageum Byungchang, currently attends Wheeler High School in Rhode Island and participates in several KAARI events. Also, "DAEBAK," which received a lot of attention from the audience, is a K-Pop group made up of Brown University students.
In the last Curtain call for the "Arirang Medley," all the performers appeared with a giant Korean flag in the background, wowing the audience. The 'Gihwaja' team led by Junghee Oh and the members of the 'Worrigarak Dance' team put a quite a show for the event.
After nearly three years of the pandemic, it was so good to see smiles in the audience. The 2022 'Sounds of Korea' event was a special moment for all of us.
Finally, we thank all the KAARI executive and Cultural Committee members and the event volunteers for their hard work!
Thank you so much!!
*Photo credit: Christina Cho
2022 "RI Korea Day" Proclamation signed by Governor Dan McKee
"Sounds of Korea' Program Brochure
volunteers
US Senator Jack Reed and volunteers
KAARI Board Director Heonjo Park, KAARI President Sangwook Ji, KAARI Culture Committee, Bongsup Cho, Governor McKee, Senator Jack Reed, Consul General Ki-Jun You
KAARI Treasurer Suzanne Sharkey
KAARI Secretary General Sun Kang
KAARI President Sangwook Ji
KAARI Culture Committee Chair Angela Sharkey (MC)
RI Governor Dan McKee
RI Governor Dan McKee presents the August 15, 2022 "RI Korea Day" Proclamation to KKARI President Sangwook Ji
US Senator Jack Reed
Boston Consul General Ki-Jun You
RISCA Director of Community Arts Elena Patino
Three Drum Dance
Giwhaja Band
Soowan Chungm Junghee Oh, Jasin Yoo, Eun Hye Park,
Chung Eun Han, Daegeum Player
Jennifer Jeon
Junghee Oh
Eunjoo Kang
Angela Sharkey (MC)
Sword Dance
Boys Drum
Oh Gayageum Ensemble (Rebecca Kim, Junghee Oh, Seoyon Kim)
Fan Dance
Jamon Maple
Junghee Oh
Seoyeon Kim, Junghee Oh: Love Song
Jamon Maple and DAEBAK K-Pop (Michael Jia, Annie Liang)
Angela Sharkey, Junghee Oh
Thank you very much !!!
Rice Cake 
