Narumi Hishinuma

MM 202-A
Professor Kristen Grimmer
March 27, 2018
International Center of Topeka Getting to Know Korea 2 Event

The International center of Topeka held the “ICT getting to know Korea 2 Event” at

Washburn Tech University on Friday, March 9, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.to provide education on

Korean culture. It included a presentation on Korea, a clarinet performance, a K-pop dance by

Topeka high school students, a Kimchi lecture, and a Korean dinner.

The first presentation of the event was done by professor Rachel Goossen, who teaches

history classes at Washburn University. She talked about her time spent in Korea.

“I enjoyed professor Goossen’s lecture about her journey to Korea,” said Mingzhu Zhu, a

volunteer at the event. “She introduced her experience about Korea’s history, culture, food, and

people, as an American.”

After the first presentation, Peng Su, a Chinese exchange student at Washburn

University, played traditional South Korean folk songs on his clarinet, including “Arirang” and

“Spring in my hometown.”

“I was so glad to perform clarinet on that special stage,” Peng Su said. “As a Chinese

student, I am in favor of the South Korean cultures as well. After performing that, it just

reminded me of some past time in my hometown and I missed my family more than ever.”

Most people who attended the event said that it made them miss their hometown more.
 “His clarinet was so beautiful and touching. I don’t know why I felt so sad,” said Linda

Yelim Kim, a Korean exchange student at Washburn.

Three Topeka high school students danced to the K-pop song, “Cheer Up” by Twice, to

bring attention to Korea’s popular music trend of K-pop.

“I was so impressed by them because they are not Korean. It was cute dancing,” Kim

said.

There was also a kimchi lecture by Sangyoub Park, who teaches Sociology at Washburn

University. He taught the audience how to make kimchi and the history of kimchi.

“I learned about Korean culture, including various places in Korea, food, and customs

through presentations given by a couple of professors,” said Miyuki Nishimura, senior at

Washburn University.

After all the presentations, lectures, and performances were finished, the Korean dinner

was served and included bibimbap, kimchi, japchae, bulgogi, and other Korean dishes.

Bibimbap was the most popular dish at the event. It is made from rice mixed with

vegetables and marinated beef.

“I love bibimbap,” said Zhu. “The sauce added to bibimbap is the best. I like the spicy

one.”

The reason that Washburn hosted the event was to educate students about Korea. People

who attended the event learned about Korea through the presentations, lectures, performances,

and food.
 Photo by International Center of Topeka

Photo by Mingzhu Zhu

Photo by Narumi Hishinuma