London Korean Links

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London Korean Festival 2015 – a celebration of Korean culture in Trafalgar Square, 9 August

It’s been a while since there was a big Korea-related event in Trafalgar Square – 7 years to be exact. Let’s hope the Korean food stalls clean up after themselves this time and so it won’t be another 7 years before the next big event.

There’s something for everyone in the line-up for 9 August. It looks fun.

London Korean Festival: Imagine your Korea

9 Aug 2015 12.00 – 20.00
Trafalgar Square

Imagine Your Korea

Londoners and visitors alike are invited to experience and celebrate the best of South Korean culture at the FREE one day ‘London Korean Festival’ in Trafalgar Square on Sunday 9th August 2015.

The event brings together an exciting mix of modern and traditional Korean culture with a dynamic programme of K-Pop, dance from classic to break dance, delicious Korean food, including live demonstrations by celebrity chef Judy Joo, plus E-Sports Games and live music.

Main Performances

K-Music

f(x)
f(x) (Image source – f(x) official website)

From the fastest growing brand of popular music ‘K-Pop’, five piece female super group f(x), who are leading the Korean wave Hallyu with their catchy electro-pop melodies and daring fashion will headline Trafalgar Square’s first K-Pop concert. Known to some as the Korean ‘spice girls’, f(x) are one of Korea’s leading K-Pop groups as well as being an internet sensation with YouTube views in excess of 30 million hits for their eye catching videos.

Guckkasten (국카스텐)
Guckkasten (국카스텐) Photo credit: Kwon Hyuk-jae (권혁재) / Korea JoongAng Daily)

Rock fans won’t be left disappointed as popular Korean psychedelic rockers Guckkasten are set to get the crowd moving with their energetic live band. The original meaning of Guckkasten in German language is an ancient Chinese-style kaleidoscope which showed psychedelic images and in honour of this the band tries to create an electrifying sound with a motif!

K-Dance

JinjoCrew
Jinjo Crew (Image source: Jinjo Crew official Instagram page)

Jinjo Crew, Korea’s World Champion B-boy group will show off their winning break dancing moves in a dance battle against the UK group the Soul Mavericks.

K-Fashion

A wonderful collection of hanboks, traditional South Korean dresses, will on display on the performance stage with a Hanbok Fashion Show presenting the latest creations of this traditional, vibrantly coloured design. There will also be talented UK based young designers showcasing their latest collections.

The K-Fashion Pavilion will feature a selection of pop up stores with clothing lines and accessories from Korean designers featured in London Fashion Week.

K-Performing Arts

Fans of traditional Korean performing arts will be treated to a range of fine instrumentals from the renowned National Gugak Centre who will play homage to thousands of years of tradition and history with their creative dances of peace, folk music, samulnoricelebratory drums and ganggangsullae, a 5,000 year old Korean dance that was first used to bring about a bountiful harvest.

Zones

At the event will be four fun filled interactive zones highlighting the best of Korean food, technology, arts and crafts and gaming to try:

K-Food Zone

Korean food is well loved in the capital, and is one of the tastiest, trendiest and healthiest cuisines in the world. Foodies are in for a treat with a live cooking demonstration from the Food Channel’s celebrity chef Judy Joo and Head Chef of Galvin at Windows Joo Won. As well as top cooking tips there will be a range of delicious meals and drinks on offer in the ‘Food Zone’ which will include stalls from the best of London’s Korean restaurants.

K-Contents Zone

Korea leads the world on gaming and technology and the Square’s ‘K-Contents Zone’ will host a selection of online games including the popular E-Sports where visitors can compete in a range of virtual activities.

Younger children will enjoy the K-character pavilion with soft play, arts, toys and a sticker wall. There will also be webtoons (online comics) to read and new animation screenings for all the family.

As well as modern games visitors can also try traditional folk games such as Yut-nori (a stick-throwing board game), Tuho (arrow throwing), Jegi-chagi (tassel kicking).

There will also be demonstrations of Korean calligraphy, the artistic tradition of artistic writing in Hangul.

K-Cultural Tourism Experience Zone

In the ‘Cultural Tourism Experience Zone’ people can get creative by making traditional crafts or trying on Korea’s traditional ‘Hanbok’ dress as well as enjoying a series of Family Workshops.

Anyone wanting to try playing a traditional musical instrument like a Gayageum or Janggu (the most widely used drum) or a Buk will be taught how to use them during a free ‘hands on’ music workshop.

K-Brand Zone

The ‘Brand Zone’ will include two ambassadors of Korean manufacturing and technology Hyundai Motors and LG Electronics who will be showcasing their latest new products, innovations and great offers.

The event is organised by the Korean Cultural Centre UK, Korea Tourism Organisation, Korea Creative Content Agency and supported by the Mayor of London.

Throughout the event look out for the PSY inspired ‘Gangnam’ flash mob dancers who will be encouraging everyone to join in and have a go at the popular fun dance craze that captured the world.

The flash mob will also be hitting the streets of London on a special themed bus the week before the event encouraging everyone to get dancing and show off their moves at the festival.

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(automatically generated) Read LKL’s review of this event here.

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