K-pop music and dance acted as a draw for fans, who filled the lawn in front of a stage on Aug. 10 at the Chicago Taste of Korea Festival in Skokie at Oakton Park.
The Saturday and Sunday festival included food and fellowship. The 2 p.m K-pop Dance Competition on Saturday featured 13 entries. First, second and third place awards were given, and the top prize included a gleaming trophy.
Attendance was so large on Saturday afternoon that anyone trying to park a car might have had to look for legal parking a good one mile away.
But those willing to go the distance did.
The K-pop Dance Competition featured groups and solo acts. Be.Ez Reed of Chicago was a solo performer and is passionate about K-pop bands such as NewJeans. NewJeans appeared at last year’s Lollapalooza.
“It’s good music,” Reed said. “It’s amazing music and I love dancing and it’s music I can dance to.”
Coming in first place was HELIXX Crew. Holding the first place trophy was Leya Buena of Chicago.
“It feels so surreal,” Buena said of the first place win.
Second place was the trio group Rising. Third place was L+R featuring Amanda Wang of Chicago’s Chinatown, Jiyoung Seo of downstate Champaign and Diya Joshy of Round Lake.
“Honestly, I just love the music,” Wang said. “I’ve been dancing to K-pop since middle school and it’s always been like a really fun way to meet people and stay connected with friends.
“There’s always something for you to do in K-pop and push you forward and prove yourself,” Wang said.
Denise Channita of Chicago organized the K-pop Dance Competition and said, “It’s amazing because we bring people together through dancing and the love for K-pop.
“I’ve been a K-pop fan since I was 17 years old, so I am 32 years old and I’m still doing this because I love not only K-pop, but the Korean culture.”
Tammy Choi of Northbrook, formerly of Glenview, and vice president of the Korean American Chamber of Commerce of Chicago and vice chairperson/spokesperson for the Chicago Taste of Korea Festival, noted one of the main missions of the Chicago Taste of Korea Festival is community strengthening.
Choi is also vice president of a Korean food globalization committee.
“The Korean Festival not only benefits Koreans but also provides an opportunity for multiethnic communities from diverse cultural backgrounds to enhance cultural exchange and understand each other naturally,” Choi said.
“Most of all, Korean pop culture has one of the most powerful contents to affect the younger generations nowadays.
“Through this experience, our communities can connect the bridges between generations and grow richer, stronger and more harmonious, we believe,” Choi said.
Skokie Village Trustee Trustee Keith A. Robinson attended the opening ceremony and said, “I’m looking around right now and I can’t help but just be so excited and elated with this presence in our community.
“And I know this is a Chicago area festival but for this group to choose us (Skokie) to come and celebrate, it’s amazing and it really does display the richness of the different cultures and diversity of Skokie,” Robinson said.
“On behalf of (Skokie) Mayor George Van Dusen, the other village trustees and the clerk,” Robinson said, “we’re just honored to have them here.”
