EAST BRUNSWICK — Residents have the opportunity to learn about Korean culture when the Calvary Korean United Methodist Church in East Brunswick holds its first food and culture festival on Oct. 18.
All proceeds of the Calvary Korean Food and Culture Festival will go toward the “Future with Hope” campaign, an initiative started by the United Methodist Church of Greater New Jersey to help those affected by superstorm Sandy who were unable to receive aid.
But the festival also serves as a way to introduce Korean culture to the local community, according to the Rev. Sang-Won Doh, the church’s senior pastor.
“It seems that our Korean population is not much known to the East Brunswick folks. … We are just next to the East Brunswick Library and the municipal court, so this is one of the central places,” Doh said. “People just pass by the church all the time. They don’t have very much interaction with the Korean population.”
The goal of the festival is to change this. The church has been in East Brunswick since 1975, and will celebrate its 40th anniversary next year.
Festival attendees will have the opportunity to try Korean foods such as a kimchi burger and a bulgogi taco.
At 11 a.m. in the church’s main sanctuary, attendees will be able to enjoy a performance of Korean traditional dance, which includes buchaechum, a traditional dance performed with fans.
“It will be a really top-quality performance,” Doh said.
Matthew Lee, who is one of the church elders and co-chairperson of the event, said those who are unfamiliar with Korean culture are going to be treated to a brand-new music experience.
“The Korean country is a small country compared to say, China or other big countries, and we have kind of a unique culture maintained [over] the last 5,000 years,” Lee said.
In addition to food and music, the festival will include a yard sale, featuring furniture, toys and clothing.
Doh said that while he is unsure of the Korean population in East Brunswick, Middlesex County has about 20,000 to 25,000 Korean residents.
“I think East Brunswick is one of the most diverse communities, and it is always good to know the different cultures,” Doh said. “People tend to think that small ethnic groups are isolated from the main society, but they are not. We are sharing the concerns about Sandy together.”
The Calvary Korean Food and Culture Festival will be held at the Calvary Korean United Methodist Church, 572 Ryders Lane, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
For more information, call the church at 732- 613-4930.