Outsiders looking in on the city of Columbia often have expectations of the local environment. Being in the South, many guess the capital is "backwards" in its ways, holding on to its rocky past. Despite these assumptions, Columbia is a diverse city where people from all backgrounds and walks of life come together to celebrate each other's cultures – a characteristic especially apparent at the annual SC Korean Festival. Since 2005, South Carolinians from every corner of the state have met at the Korean Community Presbyterian Church to appreciate art, enjoy delicious foods, engage in cultural ceremonies and support the local Korean community – and to say they enjoy this is a complete understatement.
2025 marked a significant year for the festival, drawing in over 10,000 visitors this year – 3,000 more than the attendance in 2024. The event also highlighted the blend between Korean tradition and pop culture through the food, music, performances and merchandise. While the standard crowd was drawn in to appreciate Korean culture, another sector of fans was also attracted to join by their love of K-pop, K-dramas and the Netflix Originals "KPop Demon Hunters" and "Squid Game".
As the MC of the performances, Brian Shelton gets a bird's-eye view of both the variety offered and the diversity of the crowd gathered on Richland Street. He and his wife, Sue Shelton, are both long-term members of the church and serve on the organization committee. Sue commented on the main goals during the planning process and how the heart of the matter is education and unity within the community, a mission directed towards everyone, regardless of what drew them in.
"I would say, really, the main goal would be just to allow other people in the community to kind of get to know what Korean culture is like and, similarities and of course differences, we're all people, we're all trying to live in this country together peacefully."
One of the most unifying aspects of the festival was the showcase of performances. At the stage, located directly in front of the Korean Community Presbyterian Church, crowds gathered to watch musical acts, traditional displays and local K-pop performers. The variety of options provided something for every person to enjoy, and enjoy it they did, as there was a constant gathering of onlookers, regardless of what act was on stage.
Photo by James Hedrick / Garnet & Black
The event opened with the vibrant Samulnori, which combines movement, rhythm and music with percussion instruments to create a wonderfully energetic display. Multiple forms of dance were also showcased, such as the elegant worship fan dance and modern K-pop dance covers by artist Garrick Jordan. Performers of all ages were welcomed onto the stage, with young students at the Legacy Martial Arts school masterfully showcasing their Taekwondo skills. One of the biggest draws to the stage was the K-pop showdown, a competition that began in 2023. This match-off features different performers – both solo and group acts – against each other to see who the best K-pop performer is, with groups coming from across the state to compete. This is an incredibly unique experience, as the platform for K-pop style performance in the United States is limited, so providing this space allows these artists to showcase their work outside of the online sphere and bring joy to the viewers at the festival.
Just a short distance away from the stage were the food stands, a major draw to the festival. Much like the local Greek Festival, hundreds attend the festival with the intent of trying new cultural dishes they cannot easily access in their day-to-day lives. There are multiple stands, run by both the Presbyterian Church and other local businesses and groups, throughout the festival selling freshly made dishes. Whether you’re looking for spicy or sweet, seafood or vegetarian, there are various options available for everyone’s desires. With the popularity of the food items and the size of the festival, ensuring there is enough supply is a large challenge faced by the planning committee.
"We actually got 20% more food this year than we did last year and it still sold out," said Brian. "I just don't think in any of our imagination we thought it'd be 3000 more people than it was last year because last year was the largest crowd we ever had. And this year was over 10,000 people."
A popular option for festival goers was the tteokbokki, which is a stir-fried rice cake dish that includes fish cakes, chili paste, beef broth, onions and carrots. The spice and warmth were perfect for the chilly November weather, so Arirang’s line never died down as they served this savory dish. The kimchi from both New Universe Food and the Columbia Korean Global Methodist Church was also a big hit. Both groups offered various sizes and options, with there being cabbage, radish and cucumber variations of the fermented vegetable dish for people to either enjoy on site or take home and use in their cooking.
Photo by James Hedrick / Garnet & Black
Across the grounds from the food section, vendors sold traditional Korean goods as well as pop-culture merchandise. From Binyeo (hairpins) and tea to well as Manhwa (Korean comics) and light-sticks, there is something for everyone. One booth featured an experience where one could participate in a Korean tea ceremony, a unique encounter that can teach so many people about the tradition and culture while enjoying delicious tea. Other booths, such as Almond Kat, offered cute merchandise for fans of K-pop and the Netflix original movie “KPop Demon Hunters”. There was a great blend of historical Korean culture and what is seen in modern media. This was especially apparent as kids lined up to purchase Ddakji Squares, a Korean children's game played with two folded paper squares that gained immense Western popularity through the Netflix show “Squid Game”.
Even after the conclusion of the event, once all the food is eaten and merchandise is taken home, community efforts remained central, as all profits are donated to charities in the Columbia area. While the event is free to enter, the food stands (and some merchandise stands, such as official festival merch) take “tickets”, which are of $2 value each and purchased at their own tent. In 2018, the festival donated $4,500 to the Thornwell Home for Children and another $4,500 to the Oliver Gospel Mission. In subsequent years, the festival has shown continued support for these groups through donations and has also donated to the Presbyterian Communities of South Carolina, the Columbia Police Department and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Not only does the festival give back to Columbia by spreading Korean culture, but it also supports local causes through the money it raises.
"It does bring people together from all backgrounds, from all over the state," said Brian Shelton. "We had people coming from Florida, we had people coming from Georgia, from North Carolina. It's like, that's a big deal when you have people that are doing that and you get everybody in that one area to celebrate Korean culture. I think that's wonderful."
The couple also remarked on how the whole church comes together to put on this event, and how it has grown from its humble beginnings to where it is now through their support.
"It started out so small, really. It just started out as like a, you know, a fall festival for children as an alternative to trick or treating, you know? Like a lot of churches will do. And then it also happens to coincide with the Korean Thanksgiving called Chuseok," said Sue.
Over time, the festival has amassed a large following of thousands of people gathering to appreciate and celebrate Korean culture. Much like the past years, this year's festival was a major success, largely due to the incredible turnout. The Sheltons expressed their immense gratitude for the results.
"We're just thankful that we were able to still do the Korean Festival. We're thankful to the community and the church members that work hard to put it together. It's definitely a whole church event and we're just excited that a lot of people enjoy it, really."
The festival brought together the community in the most wholesome way to spend a Saturday together and enjoy what Korean culture has to offer. Whether someone showed up because they have a favorite K-pop idol, are associated with the church or maybe even just wanted to try something new, this event brought the people of Columbia together to celebrate something beautiful: the flourishing Korean community of South Carolina.
