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The New Year’s Eve Party of the Korean Businessmen's Cooperative Association of B.C.
Country
Canada
Date
2023.01.11

송년회 행사 현장The New Year’s Eve Party of the Korean Businessmen's Cooperative Association of B.C.


The largest New Year’s event in the Korean community filled with the laughter of 250 people


The Korean Businessmen's Cooperative Association of British Columbia hosted its New Year’s Eve party at a restaurant in Vancouver at 6 PM on November 22. This New Year’s Eve event is the earliest and largest event among the Korean organizations in Vancouver. Jong-ho Kyun, Consul-General of the Republic of Korea in Vancouver, Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart, Managing Director Gwang-ik Seok of Sharons Credit Union, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Langley as well as the heads of Korean organizations and 250 Koreans participated in the event which was presented by Advisor Min-wu Jang of the Korean Businessmen's Cooperative Association of B.C. Before the event, everyone had a moment of silence for the Itaewon accident that had happened in Korea.


Photo: Chairman Park and executives greeting.

Photo: Chairman Park and executives greeting.



Photo: Key members

Photo: Key members



“Thank you all for working hard over the year. I hope you put down your worries and enjoy delicious food and delightful music today,” said Chairman Man-ho Park. Consul-General Kyun shared a congratulatory message saying “It’s beautiful to see how our members actively cooperate despite COVID-19. I hope the Association continues to play a pivotal role in economic development between Korea and Canada and be at the heart of the Korean community as it always has been.” Mayor Stewart said “Our city values Koreans and we know the Korean community is important. As a multi-ethnic country, Canada will listen to and support the voices of the Korean community.”


Photo: Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Langley

Photo: Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Langley



In particular, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Langley with Korean officers participated in this year’s event. Everyone burst out in laugh when the Langley RCMP said, “We are going to run a breath test for your safety.”


Photo: Congratulatory music by S-Town band from Vancouver

Photo: Congratulatory music by S-Town band from Vancouver



S-Town band from Vancouver played music and brightened up the mood. The band played old Korean songs and pop songs for the participants of the baby boomer generation to excite nostalgia and longing for home.


Photo: Members dressing up for the drag show

Photo: Members dressing up for the drag show



Photo: Drag show members

Photo: Drag show members



Photo: Dance time

Photo: Dance time



The night also held time for contests and games, such as a drag show, a dance-off, a nonsensical quiz, and team games, along with many giveaway awards. The participants took many gifts through a raffle, which is the pride of the New Year’s Eve event of the Korean Businessmen's Cooperative Association. Lucky female members won two flight tickets to Korea sponsored by the Korean Air Vancouver and Sharons Credit Union.


Photo: Donation giveaway ceremony

Photo: Donation giveaway ceremony



Chairman Park donated CAD 5,000 that was fundraised at the BC Korean Businessmen's Cooperative Association golf contest to UKPAINE Children’s Charity for helping war-suffering children of Ukraine “We would like to thank the Korean community for taking an interest in Ukraine and the money will be delivered to war-suffering children,” said the Director of UKPAINE Children’s Charity.



INTERVIEW

Chairman Man-ho Park of the Korean Businessmen's Cooperative Association of B.C.

Chairman Man-ho Park of the Korean Businessmen's Cooperative Association of B.C.



Q. Closing the year
First of all, I would like to thank the hard efforts of the members for riding out the difficulties of COVID-19 during the last three years. The Korean Businessmen's Cooperative Association of B.C. maintained a surplus for four consecutive years since 2018 and I can proudly say we are more stable and exemplary than any other organization in British Columbia. We had zero discord over 34 years of tradition. It is the only organization that delivers rights and difficulties of family-oriented small businesses through regular meetings with the state and federal government. As things are returning to normal slowly, I hope the members of the Korean Businessmen's Cooperative Association of B.C. working in small and medium businesses such as grocery, laundry, and restaurants quickly recover from economic difficulties.


Q. Plans of the Executive Committee
The Executive Committee will draw new plans and put efforts into the development of the association. The committee is finding multilateral ways to solve difficulties that the local retailers experience from changes in the government policies and market environment.  The committee also will meet members of the association in other states and listen to their opinion.


Q. Information sharing through seminars
We host business startup presentations every year. The association shares 30 years of field experience with Korean people who are starting a new business or changing the business in uncertainties of the world economy. We provide practical helps to members in the areas of most interest such as the selection of a business type and investment considerations. We will put every effort to help new Korean immigrants in Canada with local business conditions that are different from Korea so they can settle in the Korean community.


Q. An association of sharing
We promote friendship between members and practice sharing through the annual golf fundraiser in August. We support the underprivileged classes such as war-suffering children of Ukraine and the disabled children of the Milal Mission. The executive committee will continuously support various sponsoring events.



Overseas Korean correspondent