We do not need reminding that the Korean peninsula is divided. But the implications of that division for Koreans in Britain are not so obvious. I remember at a British Korean Society event ten years ago at which the North and South Korean Ambassadors were speaking, as audience and speakers mingled over drinks afterwards, one … [Read More]
Category: Koreatowns
The Kimjang Project is officially launched
The Kimjang Project launched yesterday in New Malden with congratulatory messages from the Mayor of Kingston Thay Thayalan and the local MP Sir Ed Davey among others. The project celebrates the various aspects of kimjang, for example the communal character of kimchi-making and its health-giving properties. New Malden, sometimes known as New Mal-dong (뉴몰동), as … [Read More]
The 73rd Independence Day celebrations in New Malden
Kingston’s Koreans today celebrated the 73rd anniversary of Independence Day. It was the first public engagement of the new ambassador, HE Park Eun-ha, who is to be thanked for making the time: she only arrived in London to take up her post two days ago. In attendance were Kingston’s Mayor, Thay Thayalan, and the leader … [Read More]
Event news: the 2018 Independence Day Korean Festival
The big Korean festival on Kingston’s Fairfield Recreation Ground seems to have run its course. Instead, this year we have a slightly smaller celebration in the heart of Koreatown: The 73rd Independence Day Ceremony and Festival Saturday 18 August 2018, 11:00am – 4:30pm Glasshouse Pub Courtyard | 14 Coombe Road | New Malden KT3 4QE … [Read More]
War Veterans honoured in Kingston’s Guildhall
Yesterday a group of Korean musicians and performers entertained a group of British veterans from the Korean War in Kingston’s Guildhall. The event was organised by the Korean Veterans Association UK, a group of volunteers committed to the continuing remembrance of the sacrifice made by soldiers who came to the aid of the Republic of … [Read More]
Little Pyongyang – screening and Q+A
A screening and associated events in aid of Connect North Korea. Separately, a reminder that you can contribute to their Crowdfunding campaign to launch their community centre to provide targeted assistance to North Korean refugees in the UK. Lush Film Fund presents… Little Pyongyang Thursday 21 June 2018 7:00pm – 10:00pm Lush Studio Soho | … [Read More]
Connect: North Korea launches community centre crowdfunding campaign
LKL is happy to pass on this press release from Connect: North Korea: In 2003, the first North Korean refugee arrived in the UK. Today, nearly 700 North Korean refugees live in New Malden, Surrey. Upon arriving in the UK, North Korean refugees are ill-equipped to integrate and settle into British society and few services … [Read More]
Jeju teachers in Kingston exchange
I do like receiving these occasional press releases from Kingston Council as I wouldn’t normally get to hear about things like this: Kingston schools welcome teachers from Korea in cultural exchange programme Seven teachers from Jeju in South Korea, Kingston’s partner town, are working in local schools and staying with local families as part of … [Read More]
Exhibition news: Korea Town, at Wimbledon Space – and a Korea Day
It’s a bit difficult to tell from the below announcement what artists are participating in this Wimbledon College of Art show. The accompanying blog post assumes almost a similar amount of insider knowledge. But it may be of interest to this readership. There is a Korea Day at the college on 4 February in the … [Read More]
Event news: Korean Cultural Day(s) at New Malden Methodist Church
It was nice of someone to post this in the LKL Facebook group yesterday. Too late to provide much advance notice, but I’m posting it now for the archives. I hadn’t heard of the Association of Korean Communities in the UK before. This sort of event used to be sponsored by an organisation called the … [Read More]
Award for Korean Information Centre Co-founder
Congratulations to Bona Shin of the Korean Information Centre in New Malden for winning the Mayor’s Community Award for outstanding service to the Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames. The award was presented on 31 March 2016. The Korean Information Centre opened on 2 February last year with the aim of building a healthier and happier Korean … [Read More]
Event report: the stories of our North Korean friends in New Malden
During last year’s New Malden Festival, the founders of the Korean Information Centre, Bona Shin and Glenna Debosco, hosted an evening looking at the experiences of North Korean refugees in New Malden. The event was a valuable opportunity for local residents and others to raise their awareness of this small community in their midst, and … [Read More]
Event news: Highlights of the 8th New Malden Arts Festival
The 8th New Malden Arts Festival runs from 7th to 20th September. For full details, visit the Theatre for All website and view the official brochure. A summary of the timetable is laid out below, and a details of a couple of highlighted events which may be of interest to LKL readers. But there’s something … [Read More]
The Korean Information Centre is launched
Theatre for All’s ambitious project, the Korean Information Centre (KIC), has been set up to help the Korean community by increasing access to information and to promote integration. Aim: To build a healthier and happier Korean community by transcending cultural barriers. Objectives: To integrate with the local community To increase access to information To empower … [Read More]
The experience of North Koreans in New Malden
A panel session about the experiences of North Korean defectors in New Malden is at first sight a strange event to promote as part of an arts festival. But the 7th New Malden Arts Festival overlaps with Malden Fortnight, a celebration of New Malden’s varied community, of which Koreans are of course a significant part. … [Read More]
The life of North Koreans in New Malden
As part of the 7th New Malden Arts Festival (19th July ~ 2 August 2014), Theatre4All are presenting an evening focusing on the lives of North Koreans in New Malden. Life of North Koreans in New Malden Malden Centre | Blagdon Road | New Malden | KT3 4TA Saturday 26 July 2014 7:30pm ~ 9:00pm … [Read More]