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Korean fest offers a taste of Jeong

At the heart of the best of Korea lies something loosely pronounced as “Jeong.” But its full meaning in English is almost impossible to translate.

At the heart of the best of Korea lies something loosely pronounced as “Jeong.” But its full meaning in English is almost impossible to translate.

Esther Lee, a teacher of the Korean language at Camosun College, said Jeong is not really about love, but it involves real affection.

It’s not really about hospitality, but it invokes a generosity of spirit.

Non-Korean visitors to the Korean Cultural Festival at Camosun College at the Lansdowne Campus today will likely not become immersed enough in the ways of Korea to experience Jeong for themselves, she said.

But Lee said by meeting Koreans, tasting their food, listening to their music and checking out their traditions, their curiosity might be piqued enough to learn more. Perhaps, in time, they might even visit the country and experience a little something of Jeong for themselves.

Visitors to the festival can try free samples of Korean foods such as bulgogi, japchae, sujeongwa, ddeokbbokgi, gimbap and Kimchi. They’ll have a chance to make the Korean dish gimbap, which is similar to sushi, as well as try on hanbok, traditional Korean clothes, and play traditional games.

Kuk Sool Won Victoria will demonstrate Korean martial arts, while students will perform a K-pop dance.

Lee said other cultures have notions of Jeong. But few have taken it as much to heart as the people of Korea.

She said most Western visitors to Korea are bowled over by the hospitality of its people. Senior-citizen-age visitors are always especially impressed by the respect they are granted by Koreans.

But for visitors to really experience something of Jeong, they would likely have to spend more time than a quick holiday.

Lee said Koreans begin to extend a little more of themselves once a certain level of familiarity and respect is achieved.

So a shopkeeper, instead of just ringing in your purchase, will make an extra effort to suggest something else that might better suit, in the spirit of Jeong.

The Korean Cultural Festival is free. It takes place 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at the Indigenous Gathering Place, (Na’ tsa’ maht) on the Lansdowne campus.