K-Pop Takes Over Talent Show

More than 180 people flocked to the Korean Cultural Center’s
“K-Pop KCC’s Got Talent” show last Saturday in Wheeling.

According to Toni Jo, programming director, 18 teams consisting of
30 total members competed in the competition.

Jo said teams were made up of a diverse group of
participants.

“Of the 18 teams, eight were non-Korean teams and 10 were Korean,”
she said.

Groups performed songs and dances from what Jo called a popular
trend in Korean culture called K-Pop.

“K-Pop is a mixture of Korean music, hip hop, pop, rock, RB
and electro pop,” she said. “It’s a big subculture all around the
world among Korean children and adults.”

She added: “It was amazing watching non-Koreans sing Korean songs.
The energy level was high.”

First place winner of the contest was Jeong Kim.

Nikki Guevarra took second place.

The team made up of Chloe Foronda and Samantha Lisson took third
place.

The talent show was just one part of series of programming that has
taken place at the center located near Palatine and Wolf
roads.

The center, which opened last June, has more than 30,000 sq. ft.
and five buildings that were renovated to include an art gallery,
museum, dance studio, library and community hall.

According to Jo, the center has seen an increase over the summer of
local residents interested in using its services and visiting
exhibitions.

“It’s been great after the open house,” she said. “Our museum has a
constant flow of visitors as well as field trip groups.”

The center is also accomplishing its goal of exposing those from
other cultures to the Korean language and culture, Jo said.

“We have Korean language classes and more than half of the students
are non-Korean,” she said.

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