There will be a Celebration of Arkansas Korean Day with Friends of Korea on Saturday, August 13, 2022, from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM at MacArthur Park in Little Rock. This special event will include a ceremony in honor of Arkansas Korean Day, followed by opportunities to experience Korean culture through food, music, dance, fashion, and taekwondo.
August 15th marks the newly established Arkansas Korean Day, which coincides with the Korean National Independence Day. The Korean National Independence Day is a significant day in the country’s history, marking its liberation from Japanese colonization and the start of the building of a successful nation with some of the world’s leading industrial corporations. It is recognized that this aspect of the celebration is thanks in part to the bravery and sacrifice of the Korean War Veterans, some of whom were from Arkansas. Therefore, it is through this event that we would like to honor Arkansas Korean War Veterans for their contributions.
With the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been increasing amounts of racial discrimination against Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. In the greater Little Rock area, Asians are a part of the community and play active roles in business, medicine, education, and so much more.
This event is an opportunity not only to remind people of the historical significance of Arkansas’ relationship with Korea but to reveal the shared values that both groups embody and break down any barriers of prejudices.
The Rev. Dr. Naomi Rogers is the chairperson of the event. Dr. Rogers is an Arkansas United Methodist Clergy person. For more information, please contact her at naomi.rogers@arumc.org.