SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA — Thai food took center stage at a multicultural festival in Seoul’s Dongjak District over the weekend, with residents lining up for a taste of authentic som tam and traditional watermelon juice.
The “Da-gachi Global Hanmadang” festival, organized by the Dongjak District Office under Mayor Park Il-ha, ran from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on June 20 at the Dongjak Family Culture Center. The event drew large crowds eager to sample food and culture from around the world.
Key Takeaways
- Attendees take part in the “Da-gachi Global Hanmadang” multicultural festival at the Dongjak Family Culture Center in Seoul
- Volunteers at the Thai food booth prepare som tam, a Thai green papaya salad, during the “Da-gachi Global Hanmadang” multicultural festival at the Dongjak Family Culture Center in Seoul on June 20.
- Thai Som Tam Booth
At the festival’s food stalls, vendors sold an array of international dishes for just 1,000 won — roughly 75 cents — including Thai som tam (green papaya salad), Thai watermelon juice known as taeng mo ban, Turkish ice cream, Taiwanese nougat candy, and Filipino calamansi slush. The Thai food booth in particular saw a steady stream of curious visitors. Proceeds from the sales go toward supporting multicultural families in the district.
“We don’t usually get many chances to interact directly with local residents,” said a representative at the Thai som tam booth. “This event gave us a meaningful opportunity to introduce Thai food and connect naturally with the community.” The vendor added that watching participants bond over food was a highlight of the day.
One attendee said he had always known som tam as a spicy green papaya salad but had never seen it made from scratch. “Watching it being prepared right in front of me helped me understand Thai food culture a little better,” he said.
The Turkish ice cream booth also drew attention — and laughter — with vendors performing a playful “push-and-pull” routine, teasingly pulling cones back before handing them over, a move that delighted both children and adults waiting in line.
The festival featured several themed zones, including diversity awareness campaigns, career exploration programs for youth from immigrant backgrounds, and craft workshops. A musical performance of “Mamma Mia” and a violin recital added to the festive atmosphere.
Kang So-hyun, head of the Dongjak Family Culture Center, said overall feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, noting that children especially seemed to enjoy the food booths.
The event has been held annually since the center first opened in 2007, with the exception of a pause during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We hope this festival served as a chance for multicultural families and local residents to understand and embrace one another across barriers of nationality and culture,” said Dongjak District Mayor Park Il-ha. “We will continue building a community culture that respects differences and grows together.”
By Jungkil Park – Voluntary Contributor
