The five-day Cheonan K-Culture Expo, which kicked off June 4, 2025, invites visitors to dive into South Korea's vibrant spirit through a sensory immersion in music, fashion, food and future-facing tech. (Trevares Johnson/Stars and Stripes)
CHEONAN, South Korea — Beneath the massive double tower of Independence Hall in Cheonan, a cultural celebration is unfolding that offers far more than fanfare.
The Cheonan K-Culture Expo, which kicked off Wednesday and runs through Sunday, invites visitors, including U.S. service members and their families, to dive into the nation’s vibrant spirit through a sensory immersion in music, fashion, food and future-facing tech.
The Cheonan K-Culture Expo is designed to showcase South Korea’s modern cultural influence under the theme “Wonderful K-Spirit Blooms in the World.” (Trevares Johnson/Stars and Stripes)
The five-day Cheonan K-Culture Expo, which kicked off June 4, 2025, invites visitors to dive into South Korea's vibrant spirit through a sensory immersion in music, fashion, food and future-facing tech. (Trevares Johnson/Stars and Stripes)
A short 30-minute drive from Osan Air Base, and with shuttle service provided from Camp Humphreys, the expo is as accessible as it is ambitious. Hosted by the city and the Cheonan Cultural Foundation, the event is designed to showcase South Korea’s modern cultural influence under the theme “Wonderful K-Spirit Blooms in the World.”
Traditional drumming welcomes guests at the main gate, and the scent of tteokbokki — a spicy rice cake — and sizzling skewers wafts through the air as and colorful hanbok-clad performers move through a maze of bustling pavilions.
Inside the Game Industry Pavilion, the next generation of Korean developers showcase VR and indie titles — most coded and designed by university students. Elsewhere, hands-on booths allow visitors to try Hangeul calligraphy and explore K-beauty trends.
The Cheonan K-Culture Expo is designed to showcase South Korea’s modern cultural influence under the theme “Wonderful K-Spirit Blooms in the World.” (Trevares Johnson/Stars and Stripes)
The five-day Cheonan K-Culture Expo, which kicked off June 4, 2025, invites visitors to dive into South Korea's vibrant spirit through a sensory immersion in music, fashion, food and future-facing tech. (Trevares Johnson/Stars and Stripes)
“We’re happy to have people from the U.S. military,” Kim Jisoo, a game design instructor at Kookje University, told Stars and Stripes at the event on Wednesday. “My students are excited for people from around the world to experience the games they’ve worked hard to make.”
By day, the expo balances education and entertainment, with exhibits open from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. But it’s in the evenings that the main stage lights up, featuring an eclectic lineup that includes singer-songwriter Lee Mujin, rising girl group H1-KEY and Red Velvet’s Wendy. The final day culminates in the Cheonan Foreigners’ Festival, capped by a performance from Tak Jaehoon.
