Touch of Korea ascends on USU

By Denise Starbird, Special to the On-Line Forty-Niner

Wednesday, November 25, 1998

Korean culture ascended on the University Student Union Tuesday from noon to 2 p.m., as traditional Korean dancers and tae kwon do students performed for Cal State Long Beach students and faculty.

Dancers from Ko's Korean Traditional Dance Institute performed popular folk songs from Korea, danced and introduced a variety of percussion instruments.

The instruments ranged from small hand gongs called kwaen guari, to deep thumping bass drums called puk. Four women displayed these instruments, as well as colorful Korean costumes.

Assistant instructor of tae kwon do, Andy Rodriguez, 18, brought students from Moon Stars Tae Kwon Do Academy, ranging from ages six to 18 years old. Rodriguez has been teaching for three years.

His students displayed the artistic dance-like motions of tae kwon do. Rodriguez instructed a few to perform mock fights so the audience could witness the graceful movements and discipline of his students. Moon Kyu Im is Rodriguez's Grand Master and has been teaching tae kwon do since 1976.

Korean barbecue, called bolkogi, was sold at a nearby table, giving students a chance to try a taste of Korean food.

Daewoo Motor America and Korean Airlines sponsored the event set up by Young Moon, president of the Korean Business and Economics Student Association.

Moon said the profits made from food sales during the event are going toward the opening of a Korean language class next semester. According to Moon, they already have 2,000 signatures on a petition to open the class and now need $3,000.