South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and First Lady Kim Hye Kyung visited New York’s Koreatown ahead of Chuseok, greeting Korean residents and interacting with local citizens and tourists.
The presidential couple was in New York for President Lee’s scheduled attendance at the United Nations General Assembly.
According to a written briefing released by presidential spokesperson Ahn Gwi-ryeong on September 21 local time, President Lee and First Lady Kim toured Koreatown in Manhattan, one of New York’s best-known Korean commercial districts.
New York Koreatown Shows the Growing Popularity of Korean Culture
Located in the heart of Manhattan, Koreatown is home to numerous Korean restaurants, stores and cafés.
But today, the neighborhood represents more than just a place for Korean Americans to gather.
With the growing global popularity of K-Food, K-Beauty and K-Pop, Koreatown has become a place where visitors can experience Korean culture in everyday New York life.
During their visit, President Lee and First Lady Kim heard about the history and development of Koreatown from South Korea’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Cha Ji-hoon.
They also looked around Korean-language storefronts and showed interest in Korean products, including cosmetics displayed in local stores.
“South Korea’s President!” — Locals Welcome the Presidential Couple
The presidential couple met Korean residents throughout Koreatown and exchanged greetings with members of the Korean community.
Some local residents and tourists reportedly welcomed them by calling out, “South Korea’s President!”
President Lee and First Lady Kim responded by waving, giving thumbs-up gestures and taking photos with people who asked.
One particularly memorable encounter came from a Korean student studying at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA).
The student reportedly recognized President Lee and asked, “Aren’t you the president?”
The student also shared that a Korean food-related course had been introduced at the school this year, highlighting the growing interest in Korean cuisine in the United States.
Korean Food Takes Center Stage in New York
The visit also highlighted how far Korean cuisine has traveled beyond Korean communities.
President Lee and First Lady Kim ended their Koreatown tour with a Korean dinner at Deo Keun Jip, where they enjoyed dishes including dolsotbap (stone-pot rice), baechutguk (Korean cabbage soup), taronguk (taro soup) and grilled silver pomfret.
For global fans of Korean culture, this scene is another reminder that Korean food is becoming an increasingly familiar part of international city life.
From Korean restaurants and instant noodles to kimchi, snacks and traditional dishes, K-Food is expanding its presence far beyond Korea.
And Koreatown in New York is one of the places where that change can be seen up close.
From Korean Community Hub to Global K-Culture Destination
The presidential couple’s visit also highlighted the changing role of New York Koreatown.
For decades, Koreatown served as an important home base for Korean immigrants and their families. Today, it is also attracting New Yorkers and international tourists interested in Korean food, beauty and pop culture.
Ahead of Chuseok, the visit provided an opportunity for President Lee and First Lady Kim to greet Korean residents who have built their lives and communities far from their homeland.
At the same time, their tour offered a glimpse of how deeply Korean culture has become part of New York’s everyday landscape.
KOREA FBI Editor’s Comment
What I found interesting about this visit is not simply that the Korean president stopped by Koreatown.
It was the fact that K-Food, K-Beauty and K-Culture are now part of the everyday New York experience.
A Korean restaurant in Manhattan, Korean cosmetics on store shelves and even Korean food courses at an American culinary school show how much the global image of Korea has changed.
For foreign visitors, New York Koreatown can be more than just a place to eat Korean food. It can be a fun starting point for experiencing Korea without actually getting on a plane to Seoul.
And with Chuseok just around the corner, seeing Korean food and culture connecting Koreans and international visitors in New York feels especially meaningful.
#KFood #KBeauty #KCulture #KoreanFood #NewYorkKoreatown #Korea #KoreanCulture #Chuseok #KPop #KFoodGlobal #KoreanCuisine #Manhattan
작성자 소개
