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| ▲ This photo, provided by aT America, shows New Yorkers enjoying dalgona challenge at "2021 Korean Festival" that took place at New York Union Square on the 24th (local time). There were even citizens wearing "Squid Game" costumes to the festival. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, Oct. 26 (Yonhap) -- “Is this really the dalgona from ‘Squid Game’?”
Ten thousands of New Yorkers enjoyed K-cultures and “Squid Game” festival that took place in the middle of New York, a city also known as the capital of American culture and art.
Fans of the series and the local residents flooded into “2021 Korean Festival,” held by The Korean American Association of Greater New York (KAAGNY) at New York Union Square, all day long to actually play the games from the series and enjoy various K-cultures on the 24th (local time).
The square was full of those who wished to play the games and there were still people forming lines even after 5 p.m. which was the scheduled close-time. The estimated number of visitors is 10 thousand in minimum and 30 thousand in maximum, according to the KAAGNY.
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| ▲ This photo, provided by aT America, shows New Yorkers playing dalgona challenge like the players from "Squid Game" at "2021 Korean Festival" that took place at New York Union Square on the 24th (local time). (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
The highlight events were dalgona challenge and “Red Light Green Light” which became famous around the world through “Squid Game.”
The initial plan was to host 3 rounds of dalgona challenges to the afternoon with 300 dalgonas aT (Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp.) America asked the local chefs to prepare. But as the festival became swamped with people from the start, they had to urgently pause the game before-noon for the afternoon participants.
However, as the enthusiastic New York citizens wouldn’t leave and waited for over 1 hour for the challenge, aT resumed the game at around 1 p.m. and produced additional dalgonas at site as they ran out of the pre-arranged quantity.
The participants would lick or prick with a needle or a tooth-pick like the players in the drama to break out the preset shapes such as a triangle and a heart.
New York citizens visited the booth restlessly and showed immense interest asking whether the candies were the same dalgonas as those in the series or what the ingredients are and whether vegetarians could eat them.
All kinds of people waited in long line to participate in “Red Light Green Light” as well.
For those who completed missions during the game were given ‘K-Food Box’ gift set including hetbahn (precooked rice) and curry or prizes such as gochujang (red pepper paste) and gimchi.
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| ▲ This photo, provided by aT America, shows New York local residents experiencing gimjang at "2021 Korean Festival" that took place at New York Union Square on the 24th (local time). (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
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| ▲This photo, provided by aT America, shows New York local residents who entered ssireum contest at "2021 Korean Festival" that took place at New York Union Square on the 24th (local time). (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
There were even people who were not about just “Squid Game” and simply wanted to experience Korean cultures.
There were endless lines waiting to experience gimjang (preparing gimchi for the winter) until the end of the festival at the kimchi exhibition hall. Blue-eyed and blonde youngsters entered sand pit court for ssireum (Korean wrestling) contests.
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| ▲ This photo, provided by aT America, shows New York local residents trying out hanboks at "2021 Korean Festival" that took place at New York Union Square on the 24th (local time). (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
Also, the KAAGNY promoted the East Sea and Dokdo island to the Americans through events such as coloring large-scale Dokdo and making Dokdo-hair bands and necklaces.
A large number of the New Yorkers who enjoyed the festival uploaded a message against Asian-hate crimes on their social media pages, according to the KAAGNY.
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