London Korean Links

Covering things Korean in London and beyond since 2006

Conference: The Korean Independence Movement and the United Kingdom

To commemorate the 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and the United Kingdom and the 80th anniversary of the Cairo Declaration, SOAS University of London and the National Memorial of the Korean Provisional Government are jointly holding this international academic conference. Scholars from Korea and the UK will gather to engage … [Read More]

Cobweb screens at BFI London Film Festival

‘Incredible scenes play out in my dreams,’ insists impassioned film director Kim Ki-yeol (manically played by Bong Joon-ho regular Song Kang-ho), resolute in his determination to remake the ending of his latest film. With his cast and crew persuaded to do a two-day re-shoot, delicious chaos ensues as strict censorship regulations, the personal affairs of … [Read More]

Untitled f*ck m*ss s**gon play

Kim is having one of those days. A terrible, very bad, no-good kind of day, and the worst part is…it all feels so familiar. Caught up in a never-ending cycle of events, she looks for the exit but the harder she tries, the worse it gets and she begins to wonder: who’s writing this story? … [Read More]

September events 2023

This is the busiest month we can remember post-Covid for live events. And for K-pop it’s the busiest month ever, with the o2 Arena hosting no fewer than five nights of performance. Plus two superb dance companies and three talking rice cookers. Live performance: – Dance The Ambiguous Dance Company comes to the Coronet Theatre … [Read More]

Elegance in Porcelain: Exploring the Legacy of Joseon Dynasty White Ceramics

White porcelain held immense value during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). It symbolised not only the Royal family and intellectuals’ pursuit of moderation, dignity, and freedom but also embodied the aspirations and pride of the Joseon people. Furthermore, it served as a potent symbol of Joseon’s power, encapsulating the life, dreams, and pride of its citizens. … [Read More]

A North Korean Chuseok 2023

Join Connect: North Korea this September 29th for a North Korean Chuseok! Come and celebrate North Korean food and culture in the heart of New Malden. You’ll have the chance to try traditional North Korean food, prepared by our talented chefs. And we’ll be celebrating the Chuseok holiday with performances from North Korean classical guitarist … [Read More]

쿠쿠 | Cuckoo by Jaha Koo

Three talkative rice cookers take you on a journey through the last 20 years of Korean history. Cuckoo is a bittersweet and humorous dialogue, a documentary of sorts. Economist-turned-artist Jaha Koo sits with his electronic friends, three rice cookers. Together they discuss the catastrophic market crash of 1997 and subsequent national phenomena, including unemployment, depression … [Read More]

Book talk: A New History of South and North

KCCUK is pleased to announce an in-person talk about Korea: A New History of South and North with Ramon Pacheco Pardo and Victor Cha. Published by Yale University Press, Korea: A New History of South and North was released June 2023. About the book Korea has a long, riveting history—it is also a divided nation. … [Read More]

Kingston ESEA Culture Festival 2023

Celebrating the Richness of East & Southeast Asian Culture. Join us for the first ever ESEA (East & Southeast Asian) Culture Festival in Kingston! Supported by the Royal Borough of Kingston, KBCE proudly showcases the rich diversity of ESEA heritage in Kingston. The festival kicks off with the ESEA World Music Festival featuring two live … [Read More]

Jung Jae-il in Conversation

Award-winning composer Jung Jae-il is has created some of South Korea’s most popular scores. He has worked on titles such as Kore-eda Hirokazu’s Broker, Hwang Dong-hyuk’s Squid Game series and collaborated with Bong Joon Ho on Okja and Parasite. At this event, he will talk about the growing appeal of Korea’s cultural output overseas and … [Read More]

Book review: JM Lee – Painter of the Wind

In The Investigation (2012, English version 2014), JM Lee gave readers an historical novel combined with a course in poetry appreciation. Somehow, it didn’t work for us. In Painter of the Wind, Lee gives his readers an historical novel combined with a course in art appreciation and it works a lot better. The novel was … [Read More]

Ambiguous Dance Company: Rhythm of Human

Korean dance sensations Ambiguous Dance Company return to The Coronet Theatre following last year’s sold-out Body Concert with the UK premiere of their award-winning piece Rhythm of Human. Rhythm of Human follows a modern Korean man who fights to break free from societal expectations and norms. The dancers blend genres and defy all preconceptions to present a fresh, exciting and electric … [Read More]

Ransomed – UK theatrical release

Ransomed is a movie set in Beirut 1986, during the Lebanese civil war. A Korean diplomat is taken hostage without a trace. Two years later, a young diplomat, Min-jun, receives a phone call proving that the hostage is still alive. The movie follows the story of a South Korean diplomat who receives a coded message … [Read More]

Royal British Legion commemorates the Forgotten War

Seventy years to the day after the signing of the armistice, the Royal British Legion marked the anniversary of the so-called Forgotten War with dignity and style in Horseguards Parade, the venue for many ceremonials such as the Trooping of the Colour. In the presence of HRH the Duke of Gloucester, numerous veterans and their … [Read More]