By Adam Chau
Minnesota is home to the largest concentration of Korean American adoptees, with most estimates around 15,000 to 20,000 living in the state. A non-profit founded to support this community recently held its first Winter Market to highlight and support Korean adoptee small businesses and local artists.
While AK Connection has been around since 2000, this was their first Winter Market highlighting small business and local artists in St. Louis Park, MN, a suburb near the Twin Cities.
“AK Connection is a nonprofit organization that provides monthly cultural, educational and social events designed by and for the Minnesota Korean adoptee community. Through our organization, we’ve seen firsthand how many talented, resourceful and creative people we have in the Korean adoptee community – including entrepreneurs, authors, artists, and performers,” said board member Kimberlee Park about the impetus for the market.
On the importance of events like the Winter Market for Korean adoptees, Park said the event is a way for Korean adoptees to connect “over our shared background and experiences.” She emphasized such opportunities like this were rare among Korean adoptees growing up.
The sense of community was echoed as well by one of the business vendors Aimee Ladin.
“As the adopted Korean community is so big in Minnesota, it’s so fun to see everyone, see new adoptees that are just finding out about our community here, and coming together and seeing old friends, and supporting each other.”
The event had a number of different business vendors and artists selling everything from art and custom jewelry to makeup and skin care, photography, and even dental services.
The event also included raffles, a food buffet, picture/selfie area, and a stage for the performers.
According to final numbers from AK Connection, they had around 250 visitors by the end of the market (which lasted from 2:00 PM-5:00 PM) and will be planning to bring back the event next year.
AsAmNews is published by the non-profit, Asian American Media Inc.
We are supported through donations and such charitable organizations as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. This holiday season, double your impact by making a tax-deductible donation to Asian American Media Inc and AsAmNews. Thanks to an additional benefactor, all donations will now be matched up to a total of $12,000.
Please also follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube and X.