Kimchi, K-pop and Seoul vibes take over Joburg at K-Culture Town Festival

Ever wondered where you can buy kimchi in Joburg?

Well, I have the answer for you.

If the thought of spicy kimchi, Korean street food and K-pop makes your heart do a little dance, then Rivonia recently became the place to be.

The K-Culture Town Festival brought a generous slice of Seoul to Sandton from 31 July to 1 August, transforming Kokoro Rivonia Gardens into a colourful celebration of Korean culture, food, beauty and entertainment.

A little taste of Seoul in Rivonia

More than 3 000 visitors made their way to the two-day festival, and judging by the queues around the food stalls, Joburg was very ready for its Korean fix.

Foodies could tuck into an impressive selection of authentic Korean street food, snacks and drinks, with kimchi naturally taking centre stage.

For anyone who has only experienced Korean food through TikTok videos or their favourite K-drama, the festival was a delicious introduction to the real thing.

There was plenty to discover, from familiar Korean favourites to treats that encouraged visitors to be a little more adventurous with their taste buds.

Seoul meets Sandton

The festival cleverly recreated the feel of Seoul through a series of K-Culture stations inspired by the city’s metro system.

Visitors could browse lifestyle and K-beauty products (my delight was amplified seeing all the Olive Young beauty products laid out and for sale at a good price), explore traditional Korean clothing and stop for photographs at colourful themed photo zones.

And yes, there were plenty of opportunities to dress the part and capture that perfect Instagram moment.

The experience was playful, interactive and wonderfully visual, making it easy to forget for a moment that you were actually in Rivonia rather than wandering through Seoul.

K-pop, workshops and karaoke

Of course, no Korean culture celebration would be complete without music.

Live K-pop performances brought plenty of energy to the festival, while hands-on workshops allowed visitors to explore different aspects of Korean culture.

Then there was noraebang, the Korean version of karaoke, where aspiring stars could grab a microphone and live out their K-pop fantasies.

For two days, Rivonia offered Joburg a taste of Korea without the long-haul flight.

And for anyone still wondering where to find kimchi in Joburg, perhaps the answer is simply to keep an eye on the next K-Culture Town festival.