The Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. (KCCDC) proudly welcomed the wildly innovative Korean percussion collective GongMyoung to the nation’s capital for a series of special events, culminating in a free public performance and livestream on the Millennium Stage in partnership with the Kennedy Center on Feb. 5 at 6:00 p.m. GongMyoung, renowned for its innovative reinterpretations of time-honored Korean music, captivated audiences with a modern jam-session flair, unconventional improvised instruments, and an effortless sense of cool. Formed in 1997, the group showcased its unique ability to recreate and rearrange traditional Korean music, highlighting the versatility and diversity of Korean culture through approachable and engaging performances. Their performances featured their namesake—a distinctive bamboo instrument they created, called the GongMyoung—along with a variety of wind and percussion instruments. As an ensemble, GongMyoung transcended genres, performing across major concerts, stage musicals, plays, dance performances, and film soundtracks. On Feb. 4, in coordination with the KCCDC, GongMyoung conducted music workshops with DC public elementary school students and performed at the International Monetary Fund during its Lunar New Year celebration (both events were closed to the public).The group’s tour in DC culminated in a free public performance on the Kennedy Center’s popular Millennium Stage at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 5, presented in partnership with the KCCDC.

The Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C., successfully concluded its 2025 Lunar New Year celebration on February 1, in collaboration with the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) and the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art (NMAA). The event drew thousands of attendees. The SAAM Lunar New Year Family Celebration held from 11:30 AM to 3 PM, attracted approximately 7,000 visitors. The event featured performances such as the Janggu (drum) and Sogo (small drum) dances by Di Dim Sae Korean Traditional Art Institute, traditional percussion music by the Washington Samulnori Team, and K-Pop dance teams from The George Washington University and American University. Exhibition and activity booths offered hands-on experiences, including a rich traditional charye (차례) table display, and hands-on craft activities including making lanterns, and paper crafts. Following this, from 3 PM to 7 PM, the NMAA Lunar New Year market event saw about 8,400 visitors. The market featured a variety of programs, including Tteokguk (rice cake soup), Makgeolli (traditional rice wine), and exhibits of traditional Korean crafts, allowing many  visitors to experience Korean culture up close. <Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) Lunar New Year Family Celebration> <National Museum of Asian Art (NMAA) Lunar New Year Market>

The Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. (KCCDC) proudly presents Us Within the World: TalkTalk Korea 2024 Award-Winning Works, a new exhibition of 80 selected multimedia entries from the annual global content contest representing creators from nearly 30 countries, on view January 3 – February 21, 2025. The dynamic exhibition kicks off with a public opening celebration featuring two content creators in person at the KCCDC on Friday, January 10 at 6:00 p.m., in addition to a special evening showing during the local community event ArtWalk Dupont on Friday, January 3 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

The Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. (KCCDC) and the Washington, D.C. Mayor’s Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs (MOAPIA) proudly presented Kimjang DC 2024: Making and Sharing Kimchi, a hands-on culinary event featuring Tae-Gu Kimchi, which invited the public to experience the flavors and community-building aspect of Korea’s most iconic food. The event was held at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, D.C., on November 22 at 6:00 p.m. Just in time for Kimchi Day on November 22, the evening included a kimchi-making demonstration, talk, and tasting with local chef Patrice Cunningham, who discussed her Korean heritage and the importance of foods like kimchi in her own identity while establishing her business, Tae-Gu Kimchi. Participants sampled a range of fermented flavors from Tae-Gu Kimchi and tried 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 aimed 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, they fostered genuine cultural appreciation, strengthened community bonds, and united the DMV region in a spirit of gratitude.

The Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. (KCCDC) partnered with the Kennedy Center to present three performances by the acclaimed Korean company Laboratory Dance Project (LDP) on Oct. 31, Nov. 1, and Nov. 2 at 8:00 p.m. as part of the 2024–2025 Kennedy Center Dance Season. This three-night series highlighted the cutting edge of contemporary Korean dance with one of its most recognizable and exceptional talents, LDP, performing two of their signature high-energy works: Ash and MOB. This event provided an unforgettable opportunity to experience the vivacious, world-class quality of contemporary Korean performing arts in Washington, D.C.