The public can try on a Korean outfit called a hanbok and enjoy a mix of traditional Korean performances, contemporary dance, martial arts demonstrations, and live music during a two-day festival devoted to all things Korean.
The Korean Society of BC, in partnership with World-OKTA Vancouver and the Korean Cultural Heritage Society, is hosting the first festival south of the Fraser River. It will be at the Willoughby Community Park beside the Langley Events Centre on Saturday, June 6, and Sunday, June 7.
“As the Korean Society of BC, we wanted to bring Korean food and culture to a broader local audience in the Fraser Valley and create a welcoming community festival that people of all backgrounds can enjoy together,” said Chris Shin, the society’s administrator.
The free-admission festival brings together food, performances, activities, and more.
“The festival is open to everyone and all ages are welcome. We hope to see families, neighbours, local residents, visitors, and anyone interested in Korean food and culture,” he said.
The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day.
“We are expecting more than 20,000 visitors over the two days of the festival, depending on weather and day of attendance,” Shin said.
A long list of entertainment has been scheduled. Performers include ARIA Gayageum Ensemble, Canada Chung-Ang Dance Society, Namsadang Cultural Institute, Kyunghee Taekwondo Demo Team, Now or Never Crew, Yunik Dance, MAMAKEISH & KRUSH, Simon Yoo Quintet, Babyface Brass, SweetPan Entertainment, Tuesday Groove, and Project Ink.
The program will include gayageum, Korean traditional dance, percussion, taekwondo demonstrations, K-pop dance, breaking, jazz, funk, brass, and other live music. The breaking program will also include Now or Never Crew, one of Canada’s well known breaking crews. Thaiyo Seo, a Korean born internationally recognized dancer, Now or Never member, and Team Canada Breaking coach for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, is helping bring this part of the program to the festival.
The festival will include a wide range of food, retail, community, sponsor, and cultural experience booths.
“Visitors can enjoy Korean and festival foods such as Korean fried chicken, kimbap, tteokbokki, ramyun, Korean waffles and pancakes, tanghulu, baked goods, coffee, Korean style drinks, churros, and other snacks,” Shin said.
Food will be offered by a mix of food trucks, restaurant style food booths, dessert vendors, and beverage vendors. The food vendors include local businesses and commercial food operators.
“Food has a way of crossing language barriers, and visitors do not need to speak Korean to enjoy Korean food, performances, vendors, and cultural activities,” he said. “Anyone who enjoys Korean food or is curious about Korean culture is welcome to join.”
Retail vendors will offer items such as handmade goods, accessories, lifestyle products, Korean bronzeware and tableware, packaged foods, snacks, teas, freeze dried fruits, and other Korean goods.
World-OKTA Vancouver will also present Korean imported specialty products, including selected regional products from Korea such as kimchi, traditional snacks, sesame oil, perilla oil, dried yellow corvina, and other specialty goods. This will give visitors a chance to discover products brought directly from different regions of Korea.
There will also be community and sponsor booths, along with cultural experience areas such as hanbok try-on and taekwondo activities.
The festival goes ahead, rain or shine, unless there are severe weather concerns.
“The festival will take place in a large outdoor park setting,” Shin explained. “Visitors are welcome to bring picnic blankets or lawn chairs, and there will be space throughout the park to sit and enjoy the food and performances. Public washroom access will be available on site.”
The Korean Society of BC has held a few previous festivals, one in Burnaby in 2023, and another in 2025 as a way to bring people together.
“The festival is open to everyone and all ages are welcome. We hope to see families, neighbours, local residents, visitors, and anyone interested in Korean food and culture,” Shin said.