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Cal State San Bernardino will celebrate the 10th anniversary of its Korean Festival on Friday, April 18. The event, hosted by the Department of World Languages and Literatures in CSUSB’s College of Arts and Letters, will spotlight Korean culture, cuisine and performance. The campus community and the public are invited to attend this cultural celebration.

The festivities will begin at 2:30 p.m. with a hands-on kimchi-making workshop in the Santos Manuel Student Union (SMSU) North Conference Center. The workshop is free and open to the public.

At 5 p.m., the celebration continues with a dinner reception in the SMSU South Event Center, followed by a cultural performance showcase at 6:15 p.m. Tickets for the dinner are $10 and must be reserved in advance. 

“We are deeply grateful to CSUSB students, staff, faculty, family and friends for their support in building the 10-year history of the CSUSB Korean Festival,” said Bomi Hwang, Korean lecturer and coordinator of the event.

The Korean Festival began in 2014 when a group of Korean exchange students and domestic students passionate about sharing Korean culture formed Sarangbang, CSUSB’s Korean Culture Club. Together, they launched the festival with a mission to foster a deeper appreciation for Korea’s rich cultural heritage.

This year’s festival holds special significance as it coincides with the 80th anniversary of Korean National Liberation, or Gwangbokjeol, which commemorates the end of Japanese colonial rule in 1945. Celebrated annually on Aug. 15, Gwangbokjeol — meaning “Restoration of Light Day” — is a powerful symbol of freedom and national pride for Koreans worldwide.

Each year, the festival features an interactive cultural experience. This year, guests will learn the art of making kimchi, often referred to as Korea’s national dish. Using traditional ingredients, such as napa cabbage, radish, cucumber, red pepper powder, garlic, ginger and salted seafood, participants will prepare their own batch of this flavorful and probiotic-rich staple to take home.

At the evening reception, guests will enjoy a traditional hansik meal featuring bap (rice), banchan (side dishes), and Korean beverages and desserts. The cultural showcase will include a vibrant lineup of Korean art, traditional music and dance, and K-pop cover performances, offering a dynamic window into both Korea’s past and present.

“We hope that the CSUSB Korean Festival is remembered as a memorable and meaningful event and all attendees enjoy the experience,” said Hwang.