From February 28 to March 1, Manifesto Market Anděl transformed into a lively hub of Korean culture. Organized by Manifesto Market, a popular open-air food and cultural venue in Prague that regularly hosts themed weekend events, the space filled with the sounds of K-pop, the aromas of Korean street food and a steady flow of visitors curious to explore different aspects of Korean culture.
Food was the most popular attraction. Stalls run by Basak, Matzip and Bab Rýže served a range of dishes that are becoming increasingly familiar to European audiences. Corndogs, rice bowls, hotteok (sweet pancakes) and tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) quickly drew attention and the smell of freshly prepared food spread across the market hall. Some visitors clearly knew what they were looking for, while others stopped out of curiosity to try Korean flavors for the first time.
At the stand of Cafe Banhada, visitors could try not only traditional bungeoppang, but also local variation called Praha Ppang - small pastries shaped like coins and decorated with the image of Prague Castle, blending a Korean street snack with one of Prague’s most recognizable symbols.
The weekend also reflected the growing international reach of Korean popular culture. The stand of K-Space offered K-pop merchandise, while Kosco presented a selection of Korean skincare products, introducing visitors to beauty trends that have attracted global attention in recent years.
Saturday’s program focused largely on participation. One of the most popular activities was the Korean Alphabet workshop held in both Czech and English. Participants were shown the basics of the Korean writing system, and lots of them ended up with their names written in Hangul on small cards - a simple and memorable keepsake from the event.
Traditional Korean games ttakji and konggi were also introduced during the afternoon. Alongside these activities, a K-pop lyrics challenge tested participants’ knowledge of Korean pop songs.
Later in the day the focus shifted to performance and short workshop led by the Prague-based group Moante brought visible energy to the venue, especially during the children’s dance session where young participants eagerly followed the choreography.
In the evening, the atmosphere changed once again. DJs played a mix of K-pop and pop house tracks and what had been a food market during the day gradually turned into an informal dance floor.
Rainy Sunday unfolded at a slower pace. Color analysis workshops introduced visitors to the concept of personal color palettes - a styling approach that has become widely used in Korean beauty culture and is now gaining popularity internationally.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the weekend was the variety of people attending. Families with kids, K-pop fans, food lovers, and curious people just passing by all came together in the same spot. Events like this show that Korean culture is still growing in Central Europe, not just with big festivals but also through smaller get-togethers where people connect over food, music and curiosity.
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