한인 이민 120년 기념 ‘코리안 페스티벌’

An open concert-type festival on the 4th of next month

A festival commemorating the 120th anniversary of the official immigration of Koreans abroad will be held on the afternoon of the 4th of next month at Convensia in Songdo, Incheon.

The Overseas Koreans Foundation announced on the 23rd that it will hold a festival with the theme of ‘2022 Korean Festival – 120 Years of Dream’ with Incheon Metropolitan City and KBS.

On December 22, 1902, the first immigration group of 121 young people of the Korean Empire left Wolmido, Incheon.

They boarded the Japanese ship Genkai Maru and crossed over to Nagasaki.

There, 102 people, excluding 19 who failed the physical examination, were transferred to the US Merchant Ship Gaelic and arrived in Honolulu, Hawaii on January 13 of the following year.

Nine people, whose health deteriorated from the long journey, returned home, and only 93 people were put into Oahu’s Mokuleia sugar cane plantation. It is the first official immigration history in Korea.

Beginning with the Gaelic and ending with the Mongolia, which arrived on August 8, 1905, Hawaii immigrant ships dropped off 7,226 Koreans on 56 occasions.

Excluding the 479 who failed the physical examination, the actual number of immigrants was 6,747.

The Overseas Koreans Foundation planned the festival to inform and comfort the noble spirit of immigrants who have lived with patriotism and passion even in this history of immigration, as well as overseas Koreans who are active in various fields without losing their Korean identity.

Actor Kim Min-ha, who recently made a strong impression on the public by playing the role of Seon-ja in the Apple TV Plus (+) drama ‘Pachinko’, will appear as a special presenter retracing the 120-year history of Korean immigrants.

Through the voice of Kim Min-ha, we look into the stories of compatriots living in over 200 countries who do not forget their roots.

Hosted by actor Joo Jong-hyuk, musical actor Kim So-hyun, Korea’s representative cross-of group ‘Forte di Quattro’, Seodo Band, Sohyang, Ailee, Hwang Chi-yeul, Kim Jae-hwan, and Weki Meki’s Choi Yoo-jung will appear on the stage to impress. .

The event will be recorded by KBS 2TV and aired at 10:40 pm on October 9th.

Promotional poster for the ‘Korean Festival’. Provided by the Overseas Koreans Foundation