The 39th NYC Korean Parade

The Grand Marshals, including New York public officials and KAAGNY President Charles Yoon, kick off the official ceremony with the Bibimbap mixing showcase. Since the Korean Parade’s beginnings in the 1980s, this has been the traditional way of initiating the event and symbolically bringing community leaders together.

On Saturday, October 5, the Korean American Association of Greater New York and the Korea Times organized the 39th annual Korean Parade and Koreatown Street Festival. Over 100,000 participants and viewers gathered in midtown Manhattan to watch the Parade and enjoy the festivities at the Street Festival on 32nd Street.

Pictured, from left to right: Judge Judy Kim, Taxpayer Advocate Eunkyong Choi, Councilman Barry Grodenchik, Councilman Keith Powers, Consul General Hyo-sung Park, Council Speaker Corey Johnson, KAAGNY President Charles Yoon, State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, Korea Times President Hak Yun Shin, Palisades Park Mayor Christopher Chung, Councilman Peter Koo, Assemblyman Ed Braunstein, and State Senator Luis Sepulveda

Over 150 Korean-American community organizations and businesses marched in the Parade and participated in the Street Festival, ranging from non-profit community service groups, local restaurants, Korean beauty companies, civic empowerment groups, and more. The Baekje Cultural Festival sent 50 performers from South Korea to perform and showcase the rich culture, art, and history of the Baekje Kingdom, which endured on the Korean peninsula for nearly seven centuries. The Street Festival also featured a K-pop talent contest, where the contestants of all ages competed for a round-trip airline ticket to South Korea.

During the official ceremony, KAAGNY honored its Grand Marshals by presenting plaques of appreciation for their leadership in uplifting communities of color and advocating for the protection of the rights and dignity of immigrants in New York City.

Check out the 2019 NYC Korean Parade Re-Cap Below!