Mayor Adams of New York City and other Korean American mainstream society leaders gathered to promote the excellence of Korean culture to mainstream American society and once again show off the power and status of Korean Americans.
The ’40th Korean Parade’, which was suspended for four years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and held again after five years, was held splendidly on the 5th, filling the section from 38th to 27th Streets on America Avenue (6th Avenue) in Manhattan with the largest wave of Koreans ever in the clear autumn weather.
Hosted by the New York Korean Association and organized by the New York Hankook Ilbo, the parade, which started at noon that day, featured 18 colourful floats reminiscent of autumn foliage and the spirited music of a percussion band, while around 200 participating teams from various sectors of the Korean community, including local Korean associations, economic organizations, cultural and artistic organizations, veterans’ groups, sports organizations, and Korean schools, created a spectacular show for about two hours.
In particular, the participation of many leaders in mainstream Korean-American society, including New York City Mayor Eric Adams as the grand marshal, Federal Representatives Grace Meng and Tom Suozzi, New York State Representatives Ron Kim, Grace Lee, and Edward Brunstein, New York City Council Members Linda Lee, Julie Warn, and Keith Powers, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levin, Palisades Park City Council Member Jason Kim, and Fort Lee City Council Member Peter Suh, fully demonstrated the elevated status of the Korean community.
On this day particularly, the Korean Parade featured a flower float submitted by the Seoul Economic Promotion Agency under the Seoul Metropolitan Government, as well as invited Korean traditional culture and art performance teams, which performed the quintessence of traditional culture such as Jindo Bukchum, Hallyangmu, Buchaechum, Jangguchum, and 12-step Sangmodolligi, receiving praise from New Yorkers lining the street. In addition, dance performances, K-pop performances, Korean traditional dance, children’s choir performances, and taekwondo demonstrations were held throughout the parade, livening up the audience.
On this day, tens of thousands of New Yorkers, including Koreans, whites, Hispanics, Asians, and blacks, flocked to the Avenue of the Americas to cheer, showing that the Korean Parade has firmly established itself as a festival symbolizing New York, encompassing all multi-ethnic communities beyond the Korean community.