From street food to KPOP performances, Montrealers can now celebrate the South Korean culture with POCHA MTL.
“It’s all about gathering together with a friend, your loved ones, and your families. You all gather, even your children as well, and you eat together, drink together, and just enjoy—you enjoy the moments,” said Chesun Lee, owner of Madame Kimchi and in charge of community business development at the festival.
The four-day Korean market runs until August 11 at Hangar 1825 in Griffintown.
“Pocha is a Korean street food festival, and we want to gather all the local restaurants and the merchants together to celebrate the culture, to celebrate Korean culture in general,” said Lee.
Many came to the festival, ready to get a taste of what’s in store.
“As a lover of Asian food, this came at the exact right time. So I’m here mostly for the food and also the vendors. I’ll look, I’ll shop,” said one festival attendee.
Get ready for the gastronomic experience as more than 27 culinary kiosks will be in place at the festival. Korean dishes, desserts and drinks will be sold to satisfy your taste buds.
Twenty-five exhibitors and a full program of cultural activities are also in store for festival goers, including KPOP performances.
“K-pop is very much a community since I see a lot of people internationally like it. So I wanted to bring this community into Montreal so I could show everyone that just because we’re individuals, if we share a common interest—which for me was music—I’ll be able to find a happy place, a safe place, and that’s where I met a lot of my friends,” said Elizabeth Huynh, in charge of the K-pop programming at Pocha MTL.
The festival serves as an important event for the Korean culture.
“It is very important because all throughout Canada, I believe, like all the major cities like Vancouver and Toronto have a very strong cultural acknowledgment. But Montreal is up and coming where a lot of Asians and Koreans are trying to move to Montreal and trying to embrace all cultures. And I think it’s really important, especially when in Quebec, we want to embrace our Quebec culture also with Korea,” said Lee.
“This year is our fourth edition, so I really, really hope that you guys enjoy it. All the team of Pocha, we work really, really hard to prepare, to show you guys the culture of food, and then for me, I’m in charge of all the programming, so we really hope you guys enjoy it,” said Huynh.
Read More: POCHA MTL: Korean street market & KPOP