Korean community awaits opening of Hanwoori Garden

The park is an effort between Federal Way and its sister city in Donghae, South Korea.

The Korean community of Federal Way celebrated the construction of a traditional Korean pavilion called Palgakjeong and a traditional Korean gate for the Hanwoori Garden — and also honored young people at their quarterly event on Dec. 19 at City Hall.

Hanwoori Garden is a joint effort between the city of Federal Way and the sister city in South Korea, Donghae. Nine technicians came from Donghae City to help construct the Palgakjeong and gate at the new park.

Jae Wook Kim, chairman of construction for the park, described the challenges of navigating both Korean and United States building codes. Kim shared that while the original goal was to have the park completed in October, they are now looking at April 2025 for its completion.

“It’s taken 13 years to get to this point … they started working on it the year before I started on City Council,” Councilmember Susan Honda told the Mirror. She added that the park was originally planned to be build on the hill above the King County Aquatic Center, but eventually landed on the final location nearby on SW Campus Drive.

Once the park is completed, some of its upkeep will be done by youth in the Korean American Parents Association (KAPA), according to the Federal Way Korean American Association.

The KAPA group’s goal is “helping Korean parents through information seminars and counseling,” according to the website, but over the years, it has grown into an organization where parents and young people do volunteer work together.

At least 20 KAPA youth participants received awards for their volunteer service in the Federal Way community at the Korean Quarterly Meeting.

Awards included the President’s Volunteer Service Award and Outstanding Leadership Awards both from the state and the city.

KAPA volunteers help tutor elementary and middle school students at the King County Library Study Zone and assist with operations of the Federal Way Korean Association. They also do street cleanups and many other volunteer events throughout the community.

The evening ended with colorful paper airplanes launched at the front of the room, each with a message written on it with people’s hopes for the Hanwoori Garden.

A paper airplane ready to be thrown to celebrate the Hanwoori Garden. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror

A paper airplane ready to be thrown to celebrate the Hanwoori Garden. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror

Parks Director John Hutton, Federal Way Finance Director Steve Groom, Former Mayor Mike Park, Councilmember Jack Walsh and FWPD Deputy Chief Kyle Sumpter.
Parks Director John Hutton, Federal Way Finance Director Steve Groom, Former Mayor Mike Park, Councilmember Jack Walsh and FWPD Deputy Chief Kyle Sumpter. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror

Parks Director John Hutton, Federal Way Finance Director Steve Groom, Former Mayor Mike Park, Councilmember Jack Walsh and FWPD Deputy Chief Kyle Sumpter. Parks Director John Hutton, Federal Way Finance Director Steve Groom, Former Mayor Mike Park, Councilmember Jack Walsh and FWPD Deputy Chief Kyle Sumpter. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror

Leaders in the Hanwoori Garden project wore sweatshirts with the garden’s design on them at the Korean Quarterly Meeting. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror

Leaders in the Hanwoori Garden project wore sweatshirts with the garden’s design on them at the Korean Quarterly Meeting. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror