SEOUL — If any of about 100 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers employees gathered at their compound here had managed to avoid absorbing Korean culture before, Tuesday was the day they could make up for lost time.

Traditional Korean fan dancing; folk songs; a demonstration of Kook-Sun-Do, a South Korean method for training body and mind; and Korean food: All were on the bill at that day’s Asian-Pacific Heritage Month celebration. Monte M. Howard, one of about 10 people on the organizing committee, said the goal was to introduce a culture to the work force.

The 90-minute show was followed by a free lunch of steamed rice, fried beef and beans.

“It’s a good opportunity for people to … learn from different cultures,” Corps employee Henry H. Miyamoto said during the celebration.

Contracting specialist Yoon Hwa-sook, 48, agreed.

“I think today’s event serves a good opportunity for the American people to understand a bit of Korean culture,” she said.

But she said she’d hoped to see other Asian-Pacific cultures represented.

“It would have been better for us Koreans to have some chance to experience the different cultures of other Asia nations,” she said.

Melvin Bell, with the Corps of Engineers’ design branch, said he liked the dance and fitness demonstrations.

“The program is very entertaining,” he said. “I think everybody learned a lot today.”