Join the Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. (KCCDC) and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art (NMAA) to celebrate one of Korea’s most important traditional holidays together at the 2025 Chuseok Family Festival on Saturday, October 4!  Now in its third year since starting in 2023, the festival has quickly become a signature program for the KCCDC and the NMAA, drawing more than 5,000–6,000 visitors of all ages for a full day of cultural experiences. This year’s highlight include a first-ever introduction and live demonstration of 씨름 (ssireum), Korean traditional wrestling, in Washington, D.C. presented by the Korea Ssireum Association, plus live traditional and K-Pop performances, dance workshops, Korean fashion photo booths, unique cultural heritage displays, and arts and crafts activities.   Chuseok (추석), also known as Hangawi (한가위) or more casually as Korean Thanksgiving, is one of Korea's most important and beloved holidays. For many Koreans it is a time to journey home, reconnect with family and loved ones, and to give thanks for life’s blessings. Chuseok traditionally falls on the day of the largest full moon according to the lunar calendar, signaling the end of the harvest season and a time to relax while thanking one’s ancestors for the season’s abundance. For more on Chuseok and its rich traditions, scroll down below. Don’t miss this chance to immerse yourself in the exciting and heartwarming traditions of Korea’s beloved autumn holiday that’s all about family, fun, and connection: Chuseok! Chuseok Family Festival  Saturday, October 4, 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM The Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art 1050 Independence Ave. SW Washington, D.C. MORE INFORMATION & REGISTRATION ON THE NMAA WEBSITE! HIGHLIGHTS Presented by the KCCDC Ssireum: Traditional Korean Wrestling presented by the Korea Ssireum Association Location: Gallery 30, East Building (Arthur M. Sackler Gallery) Photo Display: 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Demonstration Matches: 11:00 – 11:20 a.m., 12:30 – 12:50 p.m., 2:30 – 2:50 p.m. Hands-on Workshops:* 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., 12:50 – 2:00 p.m., 2:50–4:00 p.m. *Workshop particpants will be selected through an on-site raffle and required to sign a safety waiver, per museum regulations. Participation may be limited.   K-Pop Music and Activities Location: Freer Plaza (West Building Plaza) Featuring music sets by DJ Taeon Lee, performances and workshops by N2 Studios, and music throughout the day, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Traditional Music & Dance Location: Meyer Auditorium, West Building Korean Traditional Dance & Drumming by Di Dim Sae Korean Traditional Art Institute 1:30 – 2:00 p.m. Presenting Giwonmu (Ritual Dance), Mega Drum Performance, Burna Spin, Hwaraengi Chum (solo dance), and Samgomu (Drum Dance), under Director Soo Kyung Jung Samulnori Traditional Percussion Ensemble by Washington Samulnori 2:10 – 2:40 p.m. Presenting Samdo Sul Changgo Garak and Samdo Nongak Garak, under Director Sebastian Wang Korean Folk & American Old-time Fusion with Global String Band JOOL 3:00 – 3:40 p.m. Featuring Yoona Kim and Sammy Wetstein, and the Korean ajaeng (bowed zither)   Cultural Displays & Activities All day 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Life Size Charye (차례) Ancestral Rites Table Location: West Building (Freer Gallery of Art), North Corridor Korea Ssireum Association Photo Display  Location: East Building (Arthur M. Sackler Gallery), Gallery 30   Crafts, Coloring Activities & Traditional Fan Decorating Location: West Building, South Corridor Hanbok (한복) Traditional Korean Clothing Photo Booth Location: East Building, Gallery 27 (Flex Space) Additional programs presented by the NMAA can be found on their website! This event is co-presented by the Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C., the Korea Ssireum Association, and the National Museum of Asian Art. Generous support is provided by the National Museum of Korea. ABOUT CHUSEOK   Chuseok (추석), also known as Hangawi (한가위) or simply referred to as Korean Thanksgiving, is one of Korea's most important and beloved holidays. For many Koreans it is a time to journey home, reconnect with family and loved ones, and to give thanks for life’s blessings. Traditionally it is on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar, which in 2024 falls on September 17. Chuseok literally means “autumn evening” and originates with agricultural society as a celebration of the harvest coinciding with a full moon. The holiday’s other name, Hangawi, also means “great ideas of autumn.” According to the lunar calendar, the largest full moon of the year appears on this day, signaling the end of the harvest season and a time to relax while thanking one’s ancestors for the season’s abundance.   Today, many families still gather to share food, games, and fond memories during Chuseok, wherever they live. Many families also maintain the tradition of holding a ritual of thanks with newly harvested crops, expressing their appreciation to their ancestors and to nature itself. Just like Thanksgiving and other harvest festivals worldwide, Chuseok is a blissful time to reconnect and be grateful for all of life’s blessings. As the Korean saying goes, “No more, no less—may it always be perfect like Chuseok” (더도 말고 덜도 말고 한가위만 같아라).   In Korea, the day before and after are also typically part of the public holiday, allowing people to travel to their ancestral hometowns and be with family. A traditional Chuseok feast includes an array of treats and delicacies, including half-moon shaped rice cakes known as Songpyeon (송편), deep-fried, honey-soaked wheat confections known as Yakgwa (약과), savory pancakes of meat, fish, or vegetables known as Jeon (전), and herb-infused rice wine known as Baekju (백주) or newly-made rice liquor known as Shindoju (신도주).   Chuseok is also often marked by other important cultural traditions. During Charye (차례), the family visits their ancestral gravesite for Seongmyo (성묘), to bow and present a symbolic offering of favorite foods or drink, usually accompanied by Beolcho (벌초), the act of tidying up the gravesites by removing weeds to maintain a cared-for appearance, perhaps while wearing traditional Hanbok (한복) clothing.     ABOUT CHARYE (차례)   What is Charye? Fundamentally, Charye is a way to remember, thank, and honor one’s ancestors, as well as to invite their continued blessings. Akin to an intimate memorial service or rite, it is often performed in the home during Seollal (Lunar New Year's Day), Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving Day), and other traditional holidays. The Charye tradition centers around the Charye table; an array of foods are lovingly prepared by family members and displayed on the table, which also serves as a place to pay one’s respects with a formal bow. Traditional holidays in Korea often include merrymaking and family fun, but the presence of the Charye table is a quiet reminder that today’s blessings are made possible thanks to one’s ancestors.   Who performs Charye? Charye is a tradition that brings together all members of the family and extended family, each of whom has a chance to briefly offer their respects with a formal bow. Traditionally and when possible, the family's eldest son and his eldest son host the Charye table itself.   Where is Charye held? If a family has a dedicated ancestral shrine site, Charye would likely take place there. Otherwise, the Charye table would be set up in the main room of the home. Different families and regions in Korea may have their own Charye traditions.   How is Charye held? The constraints and pace of modern life can often impede time-honored traditions, but Koreans will generally make a good faith effort to meet the requirements of a proper Charye as best they can. After all, Charye is as much or more about one’s pure sentiment and good intentions as it is about adhering to protocol. While not an explicitly religious tradition in the Western sense of the word, Charye nonetheless has an important spiritual aspect.   Traditionally, one prepares prior to Charye by keeping the mind and body clean for three days. On the morning of, the room housing the Charye table is purified with a brief ritual. Then, under the supervision of the lady of the house, particular foods are prepared for display, including soups, tteok (rice cakes), and jeon (savory pancakes). Meanwhile, male members of the household prepare a written invocation, memorial tablets, ritual vessels, and meat and fruits, all to be included on the table. When it is time to hold the Charye ceremony, the table is carefully set according to tradition with a folding screen behind it. The table also includes a small cup for sul (traditional liquor).   Elements of the Chuseok Charye Table Charye tables can vary depending on region and family. However, an important foundational principle is Jinseol, or the proper directional arrangement of dishes according to their essential nature: for example, fish in the east and meat in the west, sweet sikhye drink in the east, and jujubes, chestnuts, pears, and persimmons arrayed from west to east. Some foods will appear in arrangements that contradict traditional Korean dining etiquette, indicating the table’s otherworldly significance. The table often features five rows of food items in total, all of which can take significant time to prepare by hand. The table itself also faces south, so that those taking part can face north.   The names of deceased family members are written on traditional Hanji paper and placed at the head of the table just in front of the screen to represent those ancestors’ spirits. Essentials like rice, soup, rice cakes, utensils, and liquor cups are placed in the first row just beyond the inscriptions; while Koreans universally eat with their rice bowls to the left of their soup bowls, here the rice is placed to the right of the soup—the proper position for those in the spirit world. During Chusoek, rice and soup will be replaced with Songpyeon, a traditional filled rice cake that resembles a half-moon.   The next row usually features beef and fish dishes, while the third row typically has three soups, each with a different base: beef, seafood, and tofu. The fourth row has dried fish on the left, sikhye at the opposite end, and vegetable side dishes in between. The last row is for sweets like fruit, nuts, and traditional confections; dates, chestnuts, pears, and persimmons are placed in this order from the left. Yakgwa (deep-fried, wheat-based cookies) and hangwa (airy and crunchy rice cookies) are on the right. Interestingly, peaches and red beans are never offered during these ceremonies as they are symbolically used to ward off spirits in other contexts—the opposite of the intention of the Charye table.   To learn more about Charye at Korean traditions, visit the National Folk Museum of Korea, the Korean Culture and Information Service, and  Korea’s main information website, Korea.net.

Get ready for DC’s diplomatic party of the year, as the Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. and embassies across the city open their doors for Passport DC’s Around the World Embassy Tour on Saturday, May 3 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.!  The Around the World Embassy Tour is a signature cultural event in Washington, D.C., organized by Events DC, during which embassies welcome in the public and introduce their unique cultures through performances, activities, workshops, demonstrations, tastings, and more. The Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. is always a must-visit stop on the tour and this year will offer programs for the whole family, including K-Pop cover dance performances, Squid Game experience zones, special exhibition viewings, photo zones, and traditional Korean arts, crafts, and games. Also returning to the stage is the always-incredible Di Dim Sae Korean Traditional Art Institute!  Live on-stage performances will feature Konnect DMV and K-Pop dance clubs from American University and Johns Hopkins University. Visitors can also get in on the action and learn iconic K-Pop choreography through interactive workshops with the performers. Drama fans can also learn and compete in family-friendly traditional Korean games inspired by the global hit Netflix series Squid Game, such as jegichagi (Korean hacky sack), gonggi (jacks), and ddakji-chigi (paper tile flipping,or pog). Families and young visitors can also take a break with hands-on crafting activities to create their own coloring art depicting the Korean flag, Korean traditional clothes, and other important symbols of Korea.  Passport DC is always free and open to the public, and no RSVP or tickets are required. Lines can get lengthy late in the day though, so come early for the best experience and check out the full schedule below!  Passport DC: Around the World Embassy Tour Saturday, May 3, 2025 KCCDC Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM Main Stage Schedule of Performances ●10:00 AM – Doors Open ●11:00–11:30 AM – K-Pop Dance and Workshop by K-District (American University K-Pop Club) ●12:00–12:30 PM – K-Pop Dance and Workshop by Konnect DMV ●1:00–1:30 PM – K-Pop Dance and Workshop by KPM (Johns Hopkins University K-Pop Club) ●2:30–3:00 PM – DI DIM SAE Korean Traditional Art Institute: Mega Drum and Dance, and more ●3:30–4:00 PM – DI DIM SAE Korean Traditional Art Institute: Mega Drum and Dance, and more Indoor Activities (10:00 AM – 4:30 PM) ●Try traditional Korean games from the Netflix series Squid Game (Jegichagi, Gonggi, Ddakji-chigi) ●Experience Korean traditional instruments (Jing, Kkwaenggwari, Janggu, Buk) ●See the exhibition Unfolding Koreanness (2nd floor)  Outdoor Activities (10:00 AM – 4:30 PM) ●Korean DIY crafts (Hanbok & Korean flag coloring, Ddakji making, etc.) ●Write your name in Hangeul (Korean) ●Try on Korean traditional accessories and take a picture at our photo spot ●Take home some free gifts! (K-POP albums, Korean culture magazines, Korean-themed pins)

Celebrate the Lunar New Year and the Year of the Snake in 2025 with the National Museum of Asian Art (NMAA) and the Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. (KCCDC)! This year NMAA is hosting an early evening market at the Smithsonian Arts + Industries Building (AIB) where guests can enjoy hands-on activities, lion dances, food, artisans and makers, and more!   Special Korean highlights from the KCCDC include displays of traditional Lunar New Year foods, cheongsachorong (청사초롱) lanterns, and bokjumeoni (복주머니) gift pouches, plus special giveaways of K-Pop albums and merch while supplies last! Visitors are also invited to enjoy other non-Korean NMAA cultural activities and family fun at the main museum, 1–3 p.m. Lunar New Year Market Saturday, February 1, 3:00 - 7:00 PM Smithsonian Arts + Industries Building (AIB) Presented by the National Museum of Asian Art (NMAA) in partnership with the KCCDC Visit the NMAA website for a complete schedule of performances, activties, vendors, talks, and more!

Celebrate the Year of the Snake with SAAM and the KCCDC! Join us for SAAM's 11th and final year of showcasing the ways different Asian cultures celebrate the Lunar New Year. Attendees will enjoy dance and musical performances, crafts, traditional Chinese and Korean art demonstrations, family-friendly activities, and more. The Courtyard Café will offer special holiday treats for purchase to honor the occasion.   Special Korean highlights to celebrate Seollal (설날) include performances by Washington Samulnori, Di Dim Sae Korean Traditional Art Institute, and K-Pop dance teams from The George Washington University and American University, a rich traditional charye (차례) table display, and hands-on craft activities including making lanterns, and paper crafts. Plus, stop in for special giveaways of K-Pop albums and merch while supplies last!   This program is presented by SAAM in partnership with the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center and the KCCDC. Seollal, known generally as the Lunar New Year outside Korea, falls on January 29 in 2025. It is one of the most important traditional holidays in Korea and other countries where it is celebrated. Traditionally, Seollal is an intimate family-oriented holiday with a rich history that binds generations together. It is a time to reconnect with loved ones at home, enjoy traditional foods, pay respects to ancestors and elders, wear Hanbok clothing, play folk games, and wish one another well. All of these fulfilling cultural traditions have been part of Korean life and society for centuries. The KCCDC hopes to share this sentiment through these events while bringing together the greater DC community. Lunar New Year Family Celebration Saturday, February 1, 11:30 AM - 3:00 PM Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) Presented in partnership with the KCCDC Visit the SAAM website HERE for details and free ticket reservations! SCHEDULE Music and Dance Performance Schedule 11:45-12:05 PM | Opening Lion Dance, CYC Dance Team 12:15-12:45 PM | DI DIM SAE Korean Traditional Art Institute Mega Drum and Dance (KCCDC) 12:50-1:05 PM | Wah Luck Dancers 1:10-1:30 PM | K-Pop Dance by GWU & AU student K-Pop student club (KCCDC) 1:35- 2:10 PM | Simba Dojang demonstration 2:15-2:35 PM | Samulnori Performance by Sebastian Wang (KCCDC) 2:40-3:00 PM | Hung Ci Lion Dance KCCDC Experiences & Activities  - Tradition Charye (차례상) Ancestral Rites Table Display  - K-Pop Album Giveaway (while supplies last, visit for details!) - Arts and Paper Crafts: - Cheongsachorong (Korean Lantern) - Bokjumeoni (Lucky Pouch) - Ddakji (Folded paper squares game) - Gyeongbokgung Royal Palace Coloring

The Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. (KCCDC) and the Washington, D.C. Mayor’s Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs (MOAPIA) proudly present Kimjang DC 2024: Making and Sharing Kimchi, a hands-on culinary event featuring Tae-Gu Kimchi inviting the public to experience the flavors and community-building aspect of Korea’s most iconic food at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, D.C. on November 22 at 6:00 p.m. (Doors open at 5:30 p.m.).   Just in time for Kimchi Day on November 22, the evening will include a kimchi-making demonstration, talk, and tasting with local chef Patrice Cunningham, who will discuss her Korean heritage and the importance of foods like kimchi in her own identity while establishing her business, Tae-Gu Kimchi. Participants can sample a range of fermented flavors from Tae-Gu Kimchi and try their hand at mixing their own kimchi to take home in a free communal workshop—a time-honored community-building tradition known as Kimjang.   The KCCDC, MOAPIA, and Tae-Gu Kimchi hope to activate the neighborly, service-minded spirit of this rich cultural tradition to bring together the vibrant, diverse communities of the Capital region. Through making and sharing kimchi, we hope to foster genuine cultural appreciation, strengthen community bonds, and unite the DMV region in a spirit of gratitude.   A centuries-old tradition, Kimjang often happens once or twice a year in Korea as a way for communities to stock up on essential foods, especially before winter. Although a labor-intensive process rooted in the tight-knit rural communities of the past, the culinary and social bonding benefits of kimjang remain a treasured aspect of Korean culture.   This second annual Kimjang partnership between the KCCDC and MOAPIA featuring Tae-Gu Kimchi marks 11 years since the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) inscribed Kimjang on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2013. Washington, D.C., Maryland, Viriginia, and several other states also already recognize Kimchi Day on November 22, and the U.S. House of Representatives is processing similar resolutions at the national level, mirroring national celebrations in the Republic of Korea on the same day.   Kimjang DC 2024: Making and Sharing Kimchi is free and open to the public, but due to limited space and supplies, advance registration is required.   Kimjang DC 2024: Making and Sharing Kimchi Friday, November 22 at 6:00 p.m. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library (901 G St. NW, Washington, DC 20001) Free with an RSVP! Space and supplies may be limited. RSVP UPDATE: This event is currently full and is no longer accepting RSVPs. Thank you for your interest and understanding!