Korean Culture Club event celebrated as part of API Heritage Month.
By Camila Chavarria, Staff Reporter
Authentic Korean snacks, language lessons, and a chance to have their names written in the Hangul script drew students to the “Taste of Korea” workshop on Apr. 21. As part of CSUDH’s celebration of Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the event featured informative presentations about Korean culture and traditions by modern languages professor Seongin Lee and education professor Minhye Son.
Hosted by the Korean Culture Club and sponsored by the Los Angeles Korean Education Center, the event featured stations highlighting Korean history, language, culture, and traditional artwork. One table featured a map of Korea, while another offered books on Korean traditions and stories. At another table, a professional calligrapher personalized handheld fans with students’ names alongside traditional artwork.
Lee and Son also offered a workshop for Toros to learn how to write and pronounce their names in Hangul, the Korean script. Meanwhile, at another table, a professional calligrapher personalized handheld fans with students’ names.
The KCC was founded at Dominguez Hills in 2020. Son told The Bulletin that the goal of this year’s “Taste of Korea” was to create a space for students to connect over their interest in Korean culture and consider joining the club.
“I feel like Korean culture is not just for Korean people, it’s not just for that heritage—we really have to learn from each other,” Son said. “CSUDH is a great place for us to learn about different diverse cultures.”
Korean culture has experienced a surge in global popularity over the past decade. Underscored by the worldwide success of award-winning films like the dark comedy “Parasite” and Netflix’s dystopian survival thriller “Squid Game,” Korea’s culture, traditions, and even beauty trends have established their respective spots in the American mainstream. And that’s not even accounting for the K-pop phenomenon, which has seen groups like BTS, Blackpink, and ENHYPEN sell out arenas across the United States.
KCC member Christian Herrera told The Bulletin that K-pop and Korean serials, known as K-dramas, were among his go-to sources of entertainment when people were quarantined during the peak of the pandemic.
“K-pop came into the scene and had us motivated and to have a good time even if it was indoors,” said Herrera, a third-year theatre arts student. “Getting to experience new things, whether it was the food, K-dramas, or K-pop, has definitely grown over the years.”
The Modern Languages Department launched its first Korean language course two years ago and has since sparked significant interest among Toros, Son said.
“I feel like that [Korean language course] was pretty late in my opinion,” Son said. “This event brings people together, learning new things and meeting new people.”
Son emphasized the importance of honoring AAPI cultures year-round, not just during designated events. “We really have to celebrate and honor [API Heritage Month] whenever we can.”
Correction—May 1, 2025: A previous version of this article misspelled the name of education professor Minhye Son as “Minhye San.” The “Taste of Korea” event was also sponsored by the Los Angeles Korean Education Center.