Articles related to Korean culture and the arts.
SPRING & SUMMER 2019 ADULT KOREAN LANGUAGE CLASS REGISTRATION
Irvine King Sejong Institute: We offer the only comprehensive Korean language program in Orange County. Our adult Korean language program is now designated by S. Korea as a King Sejong Institute. Check us out in the OC Register , LA Times, and NBC News!
SPRING: April 6, 2019 – June 20, 2019 (10 Weeks) (No Class Saturday 4/20 and Monday 5/27) –
SUMMER SESSION I: June 4, 2019 – August 6, 2019 (10 Weeks) – Registration is closed
SUMMER II 2019 SESSION: Saturdays, June 29, 2019 – August 31, 2019 (10 Weeks) – Registration is closed
Please add yourself to our interest list and we will notify you when registration opens for our Fall semester which starts in September.
NEW CLASSES!!
This semester, we are offering 2 new Korean language courses: Professional (Formal) Korean and Korean for Travel.
Professional/Business Korean: Take your Korean to the next level!! This class will be conducted using only formal Korean 존댓말. This level is used beyond business settings, but also the level used when first meeting someone, when speaking to customers, elders, superiors, and when delivering presentations. It is the form used in the military, in many workplaces, and in news broadcasts. The goal of this course is to develop high communicative skills and to acquire further comprehension ability in a more formal situations. Students will use the formal “I” form 저, will learn to make a statement using ~ㅂ니다, ask a question ~ㅂ니까?, make a request using ~십시오, and express a proposition or expression using ~ㅂ시다. Prerequisite: Level 2 or equivalent proficiency.
Korean for Travel: Students will learn expressions, vocabulary, and conversation dialogues for various traveling situations that may occur between the student’s arrival to Korea through departure. Topics include transportation, accommodations, meals, shopping, pop culture, and sight seeing. Students will also learn about essential cultural and travel information. Prerequisite: Level 1 or have equivalent proficiency.
Each class runs for 2 hours during the course of the 10-week semester for only $199!
SPRING SCHEDULE: April 6, 2019 – June 20, 2019 (No Classes on Saturday April 20th and Monday, May 27th)
Students who can not read Korean must register in Korean Fundamentals.
| Spring 2019 Class Offering | Day | Times |
| Korean Fundamentals – Sat | Saturday | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
| Korean Fundamentals – Mon | Monday | 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM |
| Level 1 – Sat | Saturday | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
| Level 1 – Wed | Wednesday | 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM |
| Level 2 – Sat | Saturday | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
| Level 2 – Mon | Monday | 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM |
| Level 3 – | Saturday | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
| Level 4 | Saturday | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
| Level 5 | Saturday | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
| Professional Korean | Thursday | 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM |
Classes in the same level are the same, just different time and day. Select which works best for your schedule.
*No Classes on Saturday, April 20th. No Classes Monday, May 27th. All sections within a level are exactly the same – only the day and time are different. All classes will be in Irvine.
Classes held at: Korean American Center, 18 Truman, Irvine, CA 92620
Each class needs a minimum of 4 students to remain open. If minimum registration is not met, classes may be cancelled. Enroll now to ensure your class remains open.
PLACEMENT: For those students or those with no experience or background in Korean will automatically be placed in Korean Fundamentals. Students with a Korean heritage background who cannot read Hangul will also be asked to start with Korean Fundamentals.
All other students should review our Korean Class Descriptions
If you are still unsure which level to take, you can request a placement test by email so we can assess which level would be best. Please contact us by email to request the test.
BOOKS: We will be using books by King Sejong Institute. Each book will be used for multiple levels.
Books can be purchased on the first day of class for $25
- Classes: Korean Fundamentals, Level 1, and Level 2 Sejong Korean Conversation 1 by King Sejong Institute Foundation Publishing
- Classes: Level 3 and Level 4: Sejong Korean Conversation 2 by King Sejong Institute Foundation Publishing
- Classes: Level 5: Sejong Korean Conversation 3 by King Sejong Institute Foundation Publishing
- Korean for Travel: 여행 한국어 by King Sejong Institute Foundation Publishing
TERMS (Please read before registering):
- Registration is not complete until payment is received.
- FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE (except in the case of class cancellation by KAC). Please do not register if you are unsure.
- Fees are non-transferable to another semester. No Credits will be given for missed classes. Since we are a nonprofit organization, we do not have the administrative capacity to handle these requests.
- Fees do not include books. Books can either be purchased through Korean American Center. We only accept cash and checks only for book purchases.
- Fees may be tax deductible, talk to your financial advisor for details.
- Checks can be made out to: “Korean American Center“
- Fees must be paid prior to the beginning of class. Registration is not considered complete unless fees are fully paid.
Learn To Read Korean 3-Week Short Course
Students can select classes either on Wednesdays or Saturdays. There is an optional Thursday class for students interested in extra practice which is included in the price.
Wednesday classes: January 9, 2019 – January 23, 2019
Saturday classes: January 12, 2019 – January 26, 2019
Special 3 Week Korean Courses
During the month of December, the Korean American Center will be offering two unique Korean short courses. Classes will be held at the Korean American Center in Irvine. Both classes are perfect for ALL LEVELS. Class size limited.
Classes will take place at
Korean American Center
18 Truman St.
Irvine, CA 92620
Korean Idioms & Expressions (속담과 관용어)
TUESDAYS, Dec 4, 2018 – Dec 18, 2018
Like with any other language, Korean offers a lot of proverbs & idiomatic expressions. Often the meaning of these expressions completely differ from the literal meaning. In this class we will break down some of the most common expressions that every native Korean speaker knows. All Levels welcomed. Prerequisite: Must be able to read Korean. We will not be teaching Hangul. All material will be in Korean, there will be no Romanization.
Learn Korean Through K-Dramas
THURSDAYS, Dec 6, 2018 – Dec 20, 2018
Suitable for all levels, this Korean class is designed to expand your Korean language skills through dramas in a fun and entertaining way. It’s a great way to learn grammar, phrases, and expressions. Learners will explore Korean culture and lifestyle and participate in their own drama dialogue. Prerequisite: Must be able to read Korean. We will not be teaching Hangul. All material will be in Korean, there will be no Romanization.
Empowering the Korean-American Business Community
For the past 40 years, The Korean American Chamber of Commerce of Orange County (“KACCOC”) has played a vital role within the Korean business community. The role of the chambers has evolved to address the shift in demographics and strong contributions Koreans have made to the greater economy. No longer is the chamber limited to serving Korean “mom and pop” businesses in need of English assistance or help navigating though bookkeeping and licensing, but has evolved to serve as a bridge between Korean and mainstream businesses, local governments, and those looking to harness the power of the Korean business community. The chamber develops programs and workshops to empower Korean-American business owners as as providing access for mainstream business wanting to do business with those in the Korean community.
We sat down with the president of the Korean American Chamber, Ho-El Park to learn more about the chamber and its upcoming Asian Business Expo.
OCKorean: Tell us about yourself
Ho-El: I am a 1.5 generation Korean American and the 40th president of the Korean American Chamber of Commerce of Orange County (“KACCOC”). My day job is a lawyer mainly practicing business and real estate law.
OCKorean: Tell us about the Korean American Chamber of Commerce Orange County (KACCOC)
Ho-El: Established in 1978, KACCOC has been serving the Korean business community for 40 years. KACCOC serves as the bridge between Korean and the mainstream community. Our mission is to promote the success and advancement of our members through networking, education, advocacy and collaboration with all of Orange County area community.
OCKorean: What are some of the major accomplishments KACCOC has achieved?
Ho-El: Over the past 40 years, some of our accomplishments include building a Korean District Monument in Garden Grove, starting a Korean Cultural Festival in Orange County, partnering up with Hanyang University in Korea to launch a Global CEO program here in Orange County, and holding business education seminars by various professionals, civic servants, and elected officials. In 2011, KACCOC partnered up with Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce to start the Orange County Asian Business Expo (“OCABE”).
OCKorean: Why did the chamber begin the Orange County Asian Business Expo?
Ho-El: We recognize that Orange County has one of the largest Asian populations in the country and is growing exponentially as we speak. It’s hard to find places where Asian businesses have not yet surfaced. The Asian businesses are no longer the small “mom and pop” stores but leaders and innovators in various industries, reshaping the mainstream economy, locally and internationally! There is a rising interest in Asian businesses and the community’s continual desire to discover ways to learn more about them. Through the expo, we not only want to celebrate the success of the Asian Businesses in Orange County but to provide an opportunity for the participants and attendees to explore other ethnic markets and increase market/customer base. 
OCKorean: Is there a theme for the Asian Business Expo this year?
Ho-El: Yes, the theme is the “Taste and Beauty of Asia”. It’s apparent that the Asian beauty products and food are exploding in the mainstream market. We hope to attract more vendors and attendees to experience the increasing popularity of beauty and food products of Asian companies.
OCKorean: Who are some of the participants in this Asian Business Expo?
Ho-El: So far, we’ve confirmed that major companies like Smart & Final, Nongshim, and Costco are attending. We also have some franchises like 7 Leaves Café and Honeymee. The list is growing and you can only find out if you attend!
OCKorean: Who should attend this year’s expo?
Ho-El: Everyone! However, this event would be ideal and beneficial to those who want to expose their products to the OC mainstream but do not have much funds or network to do so. It would be a great way to introduce their products and perhaps find other B2B connections to launch and spread them throughout the mainstream end-buyers.
OCKorean: Is there a cost to attend?
Ho-El: If you are just attending, it is free, but you have to register through theasianbusinessexpo.com. There will be free give away items and items for purchase on the spot. If you are a vendor, you can purchase a booth, advertise via the LED screen and/or the program booklet.
OCKorean: What makes this expo unique compared to other expos?
Ho-El: This expo is a true collaboration. We have partnered with nearly every Asian American business organizations, such as the Vietnamese 
American Chambers, Friends of Thailand, China/US Business Association, and Hong Kong Association of California, just to name a few. We have also partnered mainstream local chambers throughout Orange County such as Irvine Chambers, North Orange County Chambers and Garden Grove Chambers. This strong collaboration makes us the most unique business expo in not only Orange County, but throughout the state of California.
OCKorean: What benefits can be seen by participating in this Expo?
Ho-El: This is a great opportunity for anyone to have direct access and contact with businesses that would otherwise be inaccessible and unapproachable. There’s no doubt that “face-to-face” networking is better than communicating via the Internet and social media. Accordingly, the success of this event depends on the level of everyone’s “participation”. I hope that all of the attendees would stop by each booth and take a good 10 minutes or so to learn about the participating businesses. Attendees should also mingle and get to know each other better, including our VIPs (local community leaders, elected officials, etc.)
OCKorean: How can one participate or learn more about the Asian Business Expo?
Ho-El: Go to TheAsianBusinessExpo.com or kaccoc.org.
The Asian Business Expo – Doing business in Asia,
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Power Korean Vocabulary Class
REGISTRATION NOW CLOSED
Korean American Center is offering a special three week “Power Vocabulary” class designed to expand your Korean vocabulary through Sino-Korean root words, or Hanja.
Classes will run from 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM for three weeks.
1. Wednesday, November 29, 2017
2. Wednesday, December 6, 2017
3. Wednesday, December 13, 2017
Why study Hanja? Sino-Korean or Hanja(Korean: 한자, Hanja: 漢字) is the Korean name for Chinese characters. Sino-Korean words today make up about 60% of the Korean vocabulary. Having a little background knowledge in Sino root words will give you clearer understanding about the Korean language. Since many Korean words are derived from Hanja even knowing some basic words can greatly increase your vocabulary and knowledge of Korean.
This class will not be focused on writing Hanja, but rather learning Sino-Korean root words that will help you understand more Korean words.
JOB OPPORTUNITY: Primary Care Physician
This is an excellent opportunity to serve the Korean community in a meaningful way, maintain great work-life balance, while earning competitive market compensation. Please share with anyone who you feel might be interested.
Position: Primary Care Physician
Location: KCS Health Center, Buena Park, CA
Full Time or Part Time
Based in Buena Park, CA, KCS Health Center is a non-profit community clinic that aims to serve the growing underserved population of Orange County, in particular the Korean population. KCS (Korean Community Services) was founded in 1977 with the goal of providing social services and community outreach to the ever-expanding population of Korean immigrants. Today, KCS Health Center has become a pillar within the community we serve. At KCS Health Center, Our mission is to improve the health of Orange County residents through excellence in patient care, education, and research. We thrive to provide individuals with comprehensive integrated care by delivering services for primary care, health navigation, behavioral health, and more. We seek to provide patient-centered health care in a linguistically appropriate, compassionate, and sensitive manner.
KCS Health Center provides primary health care services to improve the health and well-being of our patients. The services provided include:
- Routine Office Visits
- Physical Examinations
- Referrals for laboratory testing, imaging, and other specialty providers
- Health Education
- Diabetes Management
- TB Screenings
- Women’s Health (Pap Smear and Mammogram)
- Flu Shots
As a result of our growth, we are currently in search of a Primary Care Physician with a passion for improving the health of our community. As an NP or PA for KCS Health Center, you will look after the health of our patients and deliver continual care through health maintenance, disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment for acute and chronic illnesses.
The duties of this position will include:
- Interviewing and obtaining medical/psychiatric histories of development, illnesses, and treatments
- Obtaining medical records from outside health care providers
- Determining, ordering and performing diagnostic tests required by medical necessity
- Providing chronic and urgent care
- Providing specialty care referrals
- Suturing and small surgical procedures as required
- May provide treatment to individuals with behavioral health conditions (mental health and substance abuse)
- Developing, implementing, and monitoring patient treatments plans
- Serving as a liaison with other programs and departments in reaching satisfactory solutions and interventions
- Providing supervision to nursing staff
Overview of KCS Healthcare Center operations:
- Clinic operating hours: Mon-Fri, 9:00 AM-5:30 PM
- Full time
- Daily census is approximately 20 patients per day
- Panel Age range is 16-100
- Outpatient only
- Centralized case management
In order to be considered for this position, candidates must meet the required qualifications:
- MD or DO Degree
- Board Certification in family medicine
- Current California medical license
- Medi-Cal Approval
- Consideration will be given to candidates with Korean or Spanish language skills
Compensation package includes:
- Competitive salary commensurate with experience
- Medical benefits
- 401(k) Retirement Plan
- Paid malpractice insurance
- One (1) week of CME paid time off annually
- Annual CME reimbursement of $2,000
- $500 annually for additional professional memberships
- DEA and Board Certification renewal fees
- Paid holidays and accrued vacation
Interested and qualified candidates are encourage to send their CV directly to Tammy Kim at tkim@kcsinc.org
KCS Health Center is an equal opportunity employer.
Win Tickets To See GOOK
Samuel Goldwyn Films and Korean American Center have partnered up to give away two pairs of tickets to see the film GOOK on Saturday, August 26th at 7:00 PM at the Edwards University Town Center 6. LIKE and SHARE our post on Facebook or on Instagram for a chance to win.
SYNOPSIS
Eli (Chon) and Daniel (So) are two Korean American brothers that run their late father’s shoe store in a predominantly African American community of Los Angeles. These two brothers strike up a unique and unlikely friendship with an 11-year-old African American girl, Kamilla (Baker). As Daniel dreams of becoming a recording artist and Eli struggles to keep the store afloat, racial tensions build to a breaking point in L.A. as the “infamous” L.A. Riots break out.
WRITTEN BY
Justin Chon
DIRECTOR
Justin Chon
PRODUCED BY
James J. Yi
Alex Chi
Streetwear Brand That Celebrates Korean Culture and Heritage
Korean American Center of Orange County had the opportunity to speak with KORELIMITED founder Matthew Kim about his company and vision for the brand. While KORELIMITED (also known as KORE, which stands for KEEPIN OUR ROOTS ETERNAL) has been in the streetwear apparel industry for four years, it has a rapidly growing following. With support from fans all over the world, as well as celebrities from Korea and Hollywood, this is what Matthew shared with us:
OCKorean: For those who might not be familiar with KORELIMITED, can you give a brief introduction of the brand?
Matthew: KORE is a streetwear brand that celebrates Korean culture and lifestyle. We produce apparel that incorporate various aspects of Korean culture – like history, language, artists, etc. – into the designs.
OCKorean: When did KORE start? And how did you come about building this brand?
Matthew: We launched KORE in the middle of 2013 to be exact and have been blessed to continuously grow every year. I began KORE because as a father I wanted to provide something for my children and their generation about their heritage and roots. Growing up, I have always been closely connected to my Korean heritage, but I see that kids from today’s generation are becoming more oblivious of their cultural background and history. So I wanted to create something that would be educational but also relevant to their taste and desire.
OCKorean: Is there a reason for teaching about Korean roots and culture through Korean fashion and streetwear, rather than other media like art or video?
Matthew: Doing art, videos, or these types of media to celebrate Korean culture would’ve been cool, but I think there is something deeper about being willing to wear Korean clothing. Somebody could watch a video on Korean culture and be a supporter. But if you’re willing to pay money and physically wear the designs about Korean culture and roots, I think it shows a different level of appreciation and proudness for the culture. My goal is to make Korean culture cool and Korean fashion unique so that everybody would be excited to wear our brand. I want the brand to be a dope brand that isn’t solely about teaching Korean history, rather incorporating those elements so that people would be willing to purchase without even knowing what the design stood for. They could gradually find out the significance of the designs by others telling them or by figuring it out by themselves.
OCKorean: You’ve received a lot of love and support from celebrities from Korea and the States. How did that come about?
Matthew: I’ve been lucky with some personal connections, but a bigger piece of their support came from their genuine appreciation for our brand designs and what they stood for.
We have had a lot of people (like Hip Hop Artist Tiger JK, Rapper SanE, Singer Jong Kook Kim, Actress Arden Cho, Guitarist Jinjoo from DNCE, the dancers from 1 Million Dance Studio, and many more) reach out to us and express that they love our clothing and what we’re doing as a brand. Each season, we’re blessed with gaining more exposure and love from more celebrities, artists, and talents.
OCKorean: From the designs that you’ve produced so far, which would you say stands out to you the most?
Matthew: Man, I love all of our designs so much and each one has a significant unique meaning. One design that we produced with 1Million Dancer Lia Kim is the Salja hat. This hat is actually one of our top selling items. I did this design because I noticed a particular brand that used the Korean flag and language in a dark way. There was one design from that brand that had ‘자살 club’ (suicide club) written blatantly on the front of the hat. The brand is probably one of the biggest streetwear brands in 2017, and they always incorporate our Korean Flag in their design and in the 자살 design as well. The fact that this negative term was written in our language and worn by so many people, including Koreans, disturbed me a lot. Korea is known to have one of the highest suicide rates, and as a Korean I felt offended that a well-known brand would advertise this word as a mere fashion trend. So to promote a positive image, I flipped the word 자살 (ja sal) and proposed the 살자 (sal ja, let’s live) design to Lia Kim. She loved the idea of positivity and livelihood, and our Salja design has been the most successful design since day 1.
OCKorean: We can see that your brand is growing very quickly but your store is only online. Any plans to open physical shops? Also, do you have any future projects or aspirations for KORE?
Matthew: Yes, we definitely have plans to open physical shops in the near future. In terms of projects, we have a lot of collaboration projects lined up with amazing artists and talents who are excited to work with us. So definitely, be on the lookout. My aspirations for KORE is to grow and expand as a brand obviously, but more importantly the mission is about Keepin Our Roots Eternal; it’s what K.O.R.E stands for. I would like everyone to eventually learn about Korean culture and see how beautiful and awesome it is. Some people buy our stuff because they like the meaning behind the design and others learn the meaning after they buy it. Either way, I’m thankful that it’s an opportunity to share my heritage with them.
OCKorean: Thanks Matthew! We appreciate you taking the time to speak with us. We look forward to seeing more amazing things from you!
For those interested in learning more about KORELIMITED and supporting a company dedicated to keeping Korean heritage alive, please check out their line at KORELimited.com.
For those who love Korean clothing, Korean fashion, Korean style, Korean design, Korean apparel, Korean streetwear, designers, fashion, k-fashion, kpop, k-style.
KAC to Co-Host Citizenship Clinic For Orange County’s Korean Population
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SUMMER 2017 ADULT KOREAN LANGUAGE CLASS REGISTRATION
Summer Session Begins:
July 8, 2017 – August 31, 2017
New: Buena Park Class!
We are excited to announce that thanks to our partner organization, Korean Community Services, we will be able to offer one of our most popular classes, Korean Fundamentals in Buena Park starting in the Fall 2017. KCS is located at: 7212 Orangethorpe Ave, Buena Park, CA 90621
Registration Information: Registration is now closed for summer. Please sign up on our interest list and we will notify you as soon as the schedule is released for our Fall 2017 session.
Registration Form: All new and returning students must complete an application form each semester. Registration is not considered complete until payment has been made.
Summer 2017 Schedule and Fees: For the past several sessions, our Korean Fundamentals and Level 1 classes have reached maximum capacity. It is highly advised to register as soon as possible to secure your spot. Prices do not include book or $10 material fee.
[supsystic-tables id=”10″]
*Please Note: The only difference between Sections A, B and C are the DAYS and TIMES. The content is exactly the same. Section C will be in Buena Park.
Each class needs a minimum of 3 students to remain open. If minimum registration is not met, classes may be cancelled. Enroll now to ensure your class remains open.
**Supplemental Practice Lab is every Thursdays from 7:00 – 8:45 PM at Heritage Park Community Center in Irvine for our beginning levels. This is an instructor led practice class and a great opportunity to reinforce the class lessons through additional practice and application. There is no extra charge to attend for registered students and attendance is optional. Think of it as a free additional class during the week. This program is made possible through the support of our generous volunteers and donors.
Class Descriptions and Sample Lessons can be found on HERE
PLACEMENT TEST (OPTIONAL): For those students or those with no experience or background in Korean will automatically be placed in Korean Fundamentals. Students with a Korean heritage background who cannot read Hangul will also be asked to start with Korean Fundamentals. Students interested in Levels 1, 2, 3 and 4 will have the opportunity to take an optional online proficiency test if they are unsure which level to select. Please contact us by email to request the test.
BOOKS: We have selected books we believe to be the most practical and useful books for studying Korean. You may either purchase the books directly through KAC or you may purchase on your own. If you happen to purchase on your own, please be sure to purchase the correct edition as we are using the latest editions of all the books. Please note that these books may change based on
- Classes: Korean Fundamentals, Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3: Fun & Fast Korean 1 by Darakwon Publishing – 1st Edition (4th printing March 2015) ISBN: 978-89-5995-829-0 (KAC Price: $25)
- Classes: Level 4 and Level 5: Fun & Fast Korean 2 by Darakwon Publishing – 1st Edition (3rd printing February 2016) ISBN: 978-89-5995-717-0 (KAC Price: $25)
TERMS (Please read before registering):
- Registration is not complete until payment is received. Early bird discounts apply only towards completed registrations.
- Fees are non-refundable (except in the case of class cancellation by KAC). Please do not register if you are unsure.
- Fees are non-transferable to another semester. No Credits will be given for missed classes. Since we are a volunteer run organization, we do not have the administrative capacity to handle these requests.
- Fees do not include books. Books can either be purchased on your own or through KAC. We only accept cash and checks only for book purchases.
- Fees may be tax deductible, talk to your financial advisor for details.
- Checks can be made out to: “Korean American Center“
- Credit card payments are accepted after registration form is complete. To pay by credit card, you will be prompted to the page after you complete the registration form.
- Payment on this page is for Korean classes ONLY (Click here to purchase Private Lesson packages)
- Fees must be paid prior to the beginning of class. Registration is not considered complete unless fees are fully paid.