Hansamo Expands Gimbap-Making Support to Three High School Korean Programs

In December 2025, Hansamo continued supporting high school Korean programs in the Bay Area by expanding its annual gimbap ingredient donations to three high school Korean classes. While Hansamo has traditionally supported the Pleasanton Virtual Academy Korean class, this year marked a meaningful expansion to include California High School and Emerald High School, reaching even more students through hands-on cultural experiences.

On December 5, 2025, Hansamo supported the Korean class at Pleasanton Virtual Academy for its annual after-school cultural event. Held once a year and open to students on a voluntary basis, the event saw especially high participation this year, with nearly all Korean 1 students attending. A total of 20 students gathered to make gimbap and play Korean-style games, using the time to experience food culture and build friendships in a relaxed and joyful atmosphere.

As students worked together, they helped one another roll gimbap, laughed over misshapen or bursting rolls, and enjoyed the shared experience of learning through food. Each student made two rolls, one to eat during the event with tteokbokki and another to take home to share with their parents.

“Thanks to Hansamo, this meaningful cultural event was possible,” shared Mrs. Yang, the PVA Korean teacher. “The students truly enjoyed the experience and the sense of community it created.”

That same day, Hansamo also supported a gimbap-making event at California High School. Students enthusiastically enjoyed making gimbap, creating memories that will remain a positive part of their high school years. The impact of the event extended beyond the classroom when the school principal featured photos from the activity in a newsletter sent to all students and parents, helping promote the Korean language program within the broader school community.

“We are deeply grateful for Hansamo’s support,” said Mrs. Im, California high school’s Korean teacher. “The students had a wonderful time, and the event helped raise awareness of our Korean program.”

On December 12, 2025, Hansamo’s support continued at Emerald High School, where many students were making gimbap for the very first time. Thanks to the thoughtfully prepared ingredients, students enjoyed choosing from a variety of fillings and proudly shared their creations with classmates and teachers, with some even packing extra rolls to take home.

A special highlight of the event was the inclusion of gardenia (chija), which allowed the teacher to demonstrate on the spot how natural yellow coloring is traditionally made. The students expressed strong interest in repeating the event next year.

“The students absolutely loved today’s gimbap activity,” said Mrs. Moon, Emerald High School’s Korean teacher. “Hansamo’s thoughtful preparation made the lesson richer and more engaging, helping our Korean program grow and flourish.”

Through its dedicated and heartfelt support, Hansamo continues to play a vital role in enriching Korean language education. By bringing cultural experiences directly into classrooms, Hansamo helps students connect with Korean culture in meaningful ways, strengthening both language learning and classroom communities.