LOS ANGELES — Traditional customs and contemporary pop culture joined forces April 29 and 30 at the Memorial Sports Arena in Exposition Park for "Dynamic Korea," a festival launched this year by the Korean government as part of a marketing campaign to promote its vast culture.

Over the two days, nearly 17,000 people wandered throughout the arena, taking in a variety of events. Over 500 combatants from 25 countries convened Saturday morning for a taekwondo tournament. And by the end of the day, screaming teens, as well as some adults, could be heard during the performances by pop stars Park Jin Young and Korea’s latest singing sensation, Bi, a phenomenon throughout Asia as well.

In between, there were demonstrations of Korean dancing and drumming, as well as a traditional wedding ceremony and screenings of recent Korean films. A hanbok fashion show of noted designer Lee Young Hee’s work illuminated how the traditional form of Korean dress could be updated and modernized for today.

Dozens of food vendors offered up Korean favorites, such as galbi and kimchi, and the grounds of the Sports Arena bustled as attendees also took in a tea ceremony, a presentation on manhwa, or Korean comic books, and even a Dance Dance Revolution video game competition.

A handshake before some hand-to-hand combat at the taekwondo tournament, which kicked off the events on April 30.

Sponsored by the Korean Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea, the Korea Culture and Contents Agency, the Korean Cultural Tourism Bureau and the City of Los Angeles, the festival attracted a diverse crowd, including Mayor James Hahn, who introduced one of the performances.