Fans of K-Pop, KBBQ and Korean dance can celebrate as the vision of a group of Eastwood locals comes alive. On Rowe Street Eastwood a determined project group are working to share and enjoy these popular elements of Korean culture and much more with the wider community.
The project, funded by NSW Government, has been named “KoreaTown” and their vision for Eastwood includes K-Pop music festivals, street-dancing, Korean traditional dance performances, baked goods, Korean cuisine and night markets served up to a thriving night-time precinct around the clock.
KoreaTown is just one of 21 new projects supported by the NSW Government’s Uptown program. This program was brought in to encourage local businesses to collaborate and build a self-sustainable cultural district. Each district was then given tools and resources to brand their project and brought to the table their ideas. The goal is to create a vibrant area that is to be enjoyed by locals and visitors all year round.
Minister for Music and the Night-Time Economy John Graham said the Korean Community of Commerce will use the $198,200 Uptown grant to bring their vision of marketing Eastwood as ‘KoreaTown’ to life.
“The KoreaTown district team will use this funding to commence an advertising campaign with the goal of attracting four million visitors to Eastwood to enjoy the great food, entertainment and Korean goods on offer” Mr Graham said.
“Ideas like this will not only enhance our state’s global reputation, but it will also highlight the vibrant, diverse, and exciting opportunities available to visitors and residents across Greater Sydney.”
Moko Eastwood owner and KoreaTown representative Jong Hoon Park said Rowe Street, Eastwood was already home to 120 Korean shops and restaurants.
“We are only a small street, but we are full of Korean culture, and we want to encourage more people to come and experience what we have to offer,” Mr Park said.
“The Uptown grant will allow our collective to hire a marketing agency to promote Eastwood as KoreaTown through partnerships that will showcase our offering whether daytime or into the night.”
NSW 24-Hour Economy Commissioner Michael Rodrigues said KoreaTown was just one of the great district visions for Sydney to come out of the Uptown program this year.
“Uptown will help these districts to deliver brilliant night-time experiences that will enhance greater Sydney’s rich social fabric and bring more visitors to these great locations,” Mr Rodrigues said.
For more information visit Uptown grant program.
BACKGROUND
Over the last few years, Ryde Council recognised the areas need for its own identity, formally referring to the area as KoreaTown and installing a new car park to accommodate the influx of visitors to the area.
Among the 21 Uptown recipients are Little India Harris Park Business Association (City of Parramatta), an LGBTQIA+ Rainbow District in Darlinghurst (City of Sydney), as well as precincts in the Northern Beaches, Inner West, Hornsby, Woollahra and Blacktown councils.
