Campers and teachers at Korean Culture Camp in St. Paul, Minnesota, start the day by saying “hello” in Korean. “Anyunghaseyo, Anyunghaseyo.” After a short group class, campers go off to a day of activities. They learn drumming, dance and Taekwondo, a Korean martial art. Some of these are usual activities for summer camps around the United States. This camp, however, has one big difference. The camp is a weeklong immersion in all things Korean. Elain Ekstedt is the director of the camp. She said it was started in 1977 by parents of adopted Korean children. The parents wanted their children to understand the country and culture they had left behind. “And they wanted their children to feel good about their Korean heritage and to experience Korean culture, so they began a summer camp.” The international adoption of South Korean children began after the Korean War in the early 1950s.
