A Celebration of Korean Traditional Culture: 2025 Hansamo Showcase Successfully Held

On Saturday, May 17, 2025, at 5:00 PM, the 11th Hansamo Showcase and Award Night was held successfully at Agape Presbyterian Church in San Ramon. The annual showcase is one of Hansamo’s signature events, fulfilling its mission to preserve and share Korean heritage. Despite their demanding school schedules, students dedicated their weekends to practice and proudly showcased the results of their hard work during this event.

This year’s showcase began with a dynamic Samgomu (three-drum) performance titled “Hope Carried by the Drums.” The opening was followed by congratulatory remarks from honored guests including Lim Jeong-taek, Consul General of the Korean Consulate in San Francisco; Candace Andersen, Supervisor of Contra Costa County; Jung Kyung-ae, President of the East Bay Korean Association; and Soonran Kim, Chair of the Kim Jin-deok & Kim Kyung-sik Foundation.

Consul General Lim expressed his admiration, saying, “It is truly impressive to see students working so hard to preserve the identity and beauty of Korean traditional culture.” Supervisor Candace Andersen added, “Hansamo’s work serves as a wonderful model for other cultural groups in our community.” Among the honored guests was Han-il Kim, President of the Korean American Association of San Francisco & Bay Area and a long-time supporter of Hansamo.Other guests included Heo Hye-jung, Director of the Korean Education Center in San Francisco; Dina Sanchez, executive assistant to California State Senator Tim Grayson; and San Ramon City Councilmembers Robert Jweinat and Marisol Rubio. All expressed deep appreciation for Hansamo’s dedication and highlighted its significant role in promoting diversity and inclusion in the community.

Following the speeches, five students performed a beautiful sogeum (traditional Korean bamboo flute) piece. A solo rendition of Sujecheon conveyed a wish for eternal life, while the ensemble performance of Arirang Alone moved the audience with its emotional depth. The performance was especially meaningful because the students prepared entirely on their own, guided only by a student leader without a formal instructor.

Next, the Alpha Martial Arts Taekwondo Team gave a powerful and artistic performance that blended music and martial arts forms, earning enthusiastic applause. This was followed by a gayageum solo by professional musician Hong Juhyun, whose elegant and poignant melodies filled the venue with the unique sound of Korean traditional music.

A fan dance titled “Dancing With the Wind – Where Petals Once Landed,” performed by both male and female students dressed in blue dopo (traditional robes), brought a modern twist to the traditionally female fan dance. Its androgynous appeal and refined choreography captivated the audience. Another highlight, “Joy On the Streets-A Dance of Laughter,” creatively blended traditional lion mask dance with hip-hop rhythms and moves, resulting in a vibrant and entertaining performance that had the audience smiling and swaying along.

The energy continued with a Nanta (percussion) performance, filling the stage with powerful beats and fiery rhythms. A traditional Filipino dance team from Dougherty Valley High School also performed Tinikling, a rhythmic dance performed between two bamboo poles, receiving a warm response from the audience.

The final act featured a samulnori (traditional Korean percussion) team performing “Pungmul,” bringing the showcase to a dramatic close. The lively sounds of the buk (drum), kkwaenggwari (small gong), janggu (hourglass drum), jing (large gong), and taepyeongso (traditional oboe) captivated the audience, and a joint performance with the lion mask dance team provided a dazzling grand finale.The sounds and rhythms of various instruments, combined with dynamic choreography, filled the stage. The final beona (plate-spinning) act reached its climax with a thrilling display of spinning plates soaring through the air, followed by a dazzling 12-foot sangmo performance.

After the performances, guests and participants enjoyed a communal dinner featuring a variety of delicious Korean dishes, providing a warm and festive ending to the event. The showcase was a meaningful occasion that shared the beauty and value of Korean traditional culture with the local community, while also giving second-generation Korean-Americans a chance to reflect on their heritage and identity.

Hansamo President Oh Yeon-soo remarked, “Thanks to the dedication of our students, teachers, and parents, the showcase was a great success.” She added, “I’m sincerely grateful to all the supporters and audience members who made this event so special.” She also expressed special thanks to Mr. Sangho Kim and Ms. Sophia Baek for their outstanding work in guiding the students and bringing the performance to life.

Finally, President Oh shared her commitment: “Hansamo will continue to work with the community to spread the beauty and value of Korean culture and help our children grow with a strong and healthy sense of identity.