KORUS is coming back to Annandale

Entertainment at a previous KORUS festival. [Korean American Association of Metropolitan Washington]

The annual Korean-American festival known as KORUS is coming back to Annandale. It’s going to be at the Kmart parking lot Sept. 28-29, one week before the Taste of Annandale.

Both fall events – KORUS and the Taste of Annandale – will shine a spotlight on the community.

KORUS had been at the Annandale Kmart for several years in the mid-2000s, but was moved to other locations beginning in 2011. Last year it was in Tysons.

The organizer, the Annandale-based Korean American Association of Metropolitan Washington, announced the venue change July 3, reports Chang Lee of the Korea Times.

The two-day festival will feature up to 120 food vendors and other booths along with live music, dance, and taekwondo performances. Two singing stars – Kim Bum-soo and Jung Dong-ha – will be brought here from Korea.

KORUS is expected to be open both days 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Participation costs are $1,200 for food vendors and $1,500 for other vendors. There is no charge to attend the festival.

The association is working on securing sponsors, but the government of Korea will subsidize the event, too.

The Taste of Annandale, Oct. 5, on Tom Davis Drive, features a 5K race, pet contest, beer garden,  chili cook-off, and children’s programming, as well as live entertainment and food.