Mid-September marks the Korean harvest moon holiday, Chuseok. It heralds the beginning of autumn and is a time of coming together to celebrate abundance, express gratitude, and strengthen bonds of solidarity. GYOPO is thrilled to announce the date and honorees of its sixth Chuseok Benefit Brunch. On Sunday, Sept. 15, GYOPO will honor trailblazing chefs and restaurant owners Mina Park and Kwang Uh of Shiku and Baroo.

The event is co-hosted by television producer Samie Kim Falvey and curator Mia Locks, as well as actor and podcaster Steffie Baik (“The Portrait”). The event includes a luncheon prepared by local chef, Justin Min (formerly of hanchic), and refreshments by Kikori Whiskey, Kim Family Wines, Dokkaebier and JUMO. Children’s activities and crafts will be available, and music will be provided by DJ R.E.A.

This year’s host committee includes actor and comedian Joel Kim Booster, author Mary H.K. Choi, fashion designer Carol Lim, visual artist Christine Sun Kim and actor Randall Park. All proceeds from the benefit go towards GYOPO’s year-round free public programming and fund the organization’s mission of generating progressive, critical, intersectional and intergenerational discourses and community alliances among diasporic Korean cultural producers and art professionals.

Since 2017, GYOPO has been organizing programs and events highlighting cultural producers of the Korean diaspora to re-define “Koreanness” in progressive, expansive and inclusive ways.  Proceeds from the benefit support the nonprofit’s mission and programs, which are often in partnership with larger institutions such as LACMA, the Hammer, MOCA, the Academy Museum and the Korean Cultural Center.

The brunch will be held from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. For information, visit gyopo.us/2024/08/08/6th-annual-chuseok-benefit. The location is included with a ticket.