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L.A. Korean Parade brings community together

September 22, 2014

The Korean Parade comes down Olympic Boulevard Saturday in Los Angeles’ Koreatown. (Park Sang-hyuk/The Korea Times)

By Tae Hong

A two-hour parade of more than 2,000 marched down Olympic Boulevard in Los Angeles’ Koreatown Saturday of the 41st annual Korean Festival.

Before thousands of spectators lined up along the boulevard stretching from Catalina to Western Avenue, dancers, drummers, soldiers, bands, taekwondo demonstrators, police cars, Korean political luminaries, community leaders and glittering floats glided past, a celebration of Korean tradition and culture in the heart of one of America’s largest cities.

“I’ve lived overseas for a long time, so it’s great seeing a parade so rich with Korean culture,” said Jang Sung, 28.

Korean National Assembly Member Na Kyung-won, left, poses with Korea Times Los Angeles President Jang Jae-min at the Korean Parade Saturday. (Park Sang-hyuk/The Korea Times)

Korean National Assembly Member Na Kyung-won, left, poses with Korea Times Los Angeles President Chang Jae-min at the Korean Parade Saturday. (Park Sang-hyuk/The Korea Times)

Na Kyung-won, a member of Korea’s National Assembly, acted as grand marshal this year alongside honorary grand marshal Los Angeles City Council President Herb Wesson.

“I’m proud of Koreans standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the rest of American society,” Na said. “I hope they have strength even in difficult situations and promise to support them through Korean government and its politics.”

Joining them in festivities were National Assembly members Kim Eul-dong and Song Ho-chang, Los Angeles City Councilmembers Tom Labonge and Mitch O’Farrell, Los Angeles Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief Emile Mack, Carson Mayor Jim Dear, Los Angeles County Department of Consumer Affairs Commissioner David Ryu, Los Angeles Korean Festival Foundation President Kim Joon-bae, Los Angeles Korean Festival Founder Kim Jin-hyung, Los Angeles Pyung Tong President Choi Jae-hyun, Los Angeles Korean Consul General Kim Hyun-myung and Korean American Federation of Los Angeles President James Ahn.

“The Los Angeles Korean Festival is not just an event for the Korean American community anymore. It has the role of a cultural missionary,” Consul General Kim Hyun-myung said. “I will support the festival as a diplomatic space in which relations between Korea and the Korean American community can strengthen and in which they can also share culture with other communities.”

The Korean Parade is put on for the festival by The Korea Times each year.