Here Come the King and Queen! Korean Language School Exhibit Celebration

On Monday, we held a small celebration for the Korean Language School in honor of the “Meet Our Neighbors: The Korean Language School” exhibit! Guests were invited to check out the exhibit and celebrate in the kitchen classroom. 

We were incredibly honored to have the Honorable Ki-Jun You, of the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Boston and Portland City Councilor Tae Chong attend the celebration. Families of the Korean Language School community were also in attendance, including Yeongrae An, Young-ok Shin, Ip Boon Park, and Hyeri Yoon, who helped to design the exhibit. 

Executive Director Julie Butcher Pezzino and the Honorable Ki-Jun You

The Korean Language School in Portland, Maine and the Children’s Museum & Theatre have partnered to bring celebrations and co-curated exhibits to the community for over a decade. The Museum & Theatre is honored to continue this partnership at Thompson’s Point. The “Meet Our Neighbors'' exhibit on the second floor is designed to shine a special spotlight on neighbors in our community. In this inaugural exhibit, Korean Language School students, parents, and teachers invite visitors to explore the Korean language of Hangeul and how South Korean culture is shared and celebrated here in Maine. Visitors can hear the history of the language from community members, experience why Hangeul is said to be the most miraculous alphabet in the world, and even write their names in Hangeul! Visitors can explore and learn about the clothing, arts, and traditions that play a part in the Korean Language School. 

A highlight of the celebration was when the “King and Queen of Korea” graced our exhibit with their presence! They wore traditional Korean dress for royalty and posed for pictures with attendees. How exciting! 

Later in the celebration Anne Sibley O'Brien presented a donation of Korean American books to Melissa's Seaside Cottage on behalf of I'm Your Neighbor Books. I’m Your Neighbor Books is a local Maine nonprofit organization that builds welcoming communities for New Arrivals and New Americans using children’s literature. We are so grateful and excited to be able to add these books to the collection here at the museum! Sibley O’Brien presented the books with her grandson. With the help of Mr. Park, she read “Where’s Halmoni?” by Julie Kim, a delightful story that weaves korean language and folklore into a fun story about looking for Halmoni (grandma). Everyone enjoyed listening to the story and we cannot wait to get into the other donated books. 

We extend a huge thank you to Yeongrae An, Young-ok Shin, Ip Boon Park, and Hyeri Yoon, for the time, knowledge and experience they put into this exhibit. To learn more about the Korean Language School, please email: k.languageschoolme@gmail.com. 

Guests pose with the “Korean Royal Family”. Portland City Councilor Tae Chong stands to the left of the Queen and the Honorable Ki-Jun You stands to the right of the King.

Author Anne Sibley O’Brien and Mr. Park read the book “Where’s Halmoni"?” by Julie Kim.

I’m Your Neighbor Books donated 10 Korean American books.

Here is the list of the books kindly donated by I’m Your Neighbor Books: 

Sunday Funday in Koreatown by Aram Kim

Danbi Leads the School Parade by Anna Kim

I’m New Here by Anne Sibley O’Brien

My Tree by Hope Lim illustrated by Il Sung Na

Here I am by Patti Kim illustrated by Sonia Sánchez 

The Girl in the Gold Dress by Christine Paik, illustrated by Jung Lin Park 

What Will You Be, Sara Mee? by Kate Aver Avraham, illustrated by Anne Sibley O’Brien

Let’s Go To Taekwondo! by Aram Kim 

Grandpa Across the Ocean by Hyewon Yum 

Where’s Halmoni? by Julie Kim