The Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education held a cultural exchange event on Saturday for young children from Korean and American families affiliated with Camp Humphreys, the largest US military installation overseas, in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province.
The event, organized by the Gyeonggi Office of Education’s Southern Early Childhood Experience Center, drew some 120 participants, including Korean and American children aged 3 to 5 and their families related to soldiers and officials working at the military base, according to the education office on Sunday.
Participants took part in a range of traditional Korean cultural activities, including playing traditional musical instruments, spinning "beona" — a traditional dish-spinning performance — and pounding rice cakes with wooden mallets. The program also featured a "nongak," or traditional farmers’ music, performance and straw handicraft activities.
Families were also given traditional game kits to take home so that children could continue experiencing Korean culture after the event.
The program was held as part of the provincial education office’s “Gyeonggi Early Childhood Play-RAS” initiative, which combines reading, arts and sports. Local arts groups, including the Pyeongtaek Nongak Preservation Society, also took part in the event.
“We hope this provided Camp Humphreys families with a meaningful opportunity to experience Korea’s traditional culture and games firsthand while learning the values of respect and consideration,” said Seok Gwang-woo, head of the Southern Early Childhood Experience Center.
“We will continue working closely with outstanding arts organizations in Pyeongtaek to provide high-quality programs where families can communicate, participate together and create happy memories.”
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