London Korean Links

Covering things Korean in London and beyond since 2006

Market Root: the K-Creatives market

Welcome to Market Root – K-Creatives in London! Join us at 1 Adelaide Road for a day brimming with creativity and inspiration. Connect with fellow K-Creatives and explore unique handmade products including fashion, accessories, ceramics, and hand-woven textiles, complemented by authentic Korean desserts and drinks. Discover K-cosmetics, lettering posters, vintage jewelry, and even a flea … [Read More]

Korean crafts at Collect 2024

Collect, now in its 20th year, offers collectors an opportunity to acquire new, museum-quality handcrafted artworks from some of 21st Century’s finest craft talent. As in previous years, there is a strong Korean representation, with five Korea-specialist galleries exhibiting. You will also find individual Korean artists in galleries without a country focus: Gallery Sklo Booth: … [Read More]

Book review: Make, Break, Remix

Trying to encapsulate a country’s design aesthetic, even when looking back at the past, is a challenge. With Korea, one might start suggesting that the monochrome art movement of the last 50 years or so, the simplicity of hanok architecture and the purity of Joseon dynasty white porcelain points towards an overriding aesthetic of restraint … [Read More]

Virtuous Garden: Korea’s entry in London Design Biennale

Can we live harmoniously and sustainably in this age of globalisation? Design from past traditions can help to bridge the gap between humans, nature and the modern and future world by following the principles of balance, coexistence and collaboration. Visitors will be transported through time and distance to the ‘Virtuous Garden’ via the modern means … [Read More]

Fiona Bae in conversation with Na Kim

As part of a month-long festival of events at Foyles in partnership with the Korean Cultural Centre to celebrate Korean Culture Month, Fiona Bae, the author of Make, Break, Remix: The Rise of K-Style, discusses her bold and beautifully-made study of contemporary Korean style with designer Na Kim. Make, Break, Remix explores the extraordinary impact … [Read More]

Cereal Magazine: special Korean edition

Cereal is a biannual travel and style magazine based in the UK. Each issue focuses on a select number of destinations, alongside interviews and stories on design, art, and fashion. The current edition (#19) for the summer of 2020 focuses on Korea. The volume covers the architecture of Itami Jun, the photography of Koo Bohnchang, … [Read More]

Korean designers at Goldsmiths Fair 2019

Three Korean jewellers / silversmiths / designers appear in this year’s Goldsmiths Fair; Yeena Yoon in week 1 and Misun Won and Kyosun Jung in week 2: Goldsmiths Fair Week 1: 24 – 29 September 2019 Week 2: 1 – 6 October 2019 Goldsmiths Hall | Foster Lane | London EC2V 6BN | www.goldsmithsfair.co.uk Yeena … [Read More]

Paul Smith retrospective opens in DDP

A retrospective of designer Paul Smith’s work opened at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza yesterday. A good friend of LKL went along to the opening and took a few pictures. The exhibition is hosted by the Seoul Design Foundation and the Design Museum in London. The Korea Times describes it as “like walking into the renowned … [Read More]

VIDAK 2019 Korean Visual Design Exhibition

Late notice of an exhibition of work by Korean designers at the University of Westminster’s Harrow campus: VIDAK 2019 Korean Visual Design Exhibition London Gallery West University of Westminster Harrow Campus | Watford Road | Northwick Park Roundabout | Harrow HA1 3TP Tuesday 2 April – Sunday 14 April | 9am – 5pm | Admission … [Read More]

Asia Week at Design Centre Chelsea Harbour

A wide-ranging exhibition and events programme as part of Asian Art in London: Asia Week at Design Centre Chelsea Harbour Design Centre Chelsea Harbour | Lots Road | London SW10 0XE | www.dcch.co.uk 5 – 9 November, 9:30am to 5:30pm Full programme of events can be downloaded here A resurgence in the popularity of Asian … [Read More]

Exhibition visit: Nick Bonner’s Made in North Korea

When one thinks of North Korean graphic art, images of strident anti-American propaganda posters spring to mind. Fortunately, and in the current climate of reduced tension on the peninsula, the posters that greeted you in the first room of Nick Bonner’s exhibition at the House of Illustration focused less on stirring up national hatred against … [Read More]

Korean designers at London Design Festival

The London Design Festival is coming up in the middle of September, with 100% Design at Olympia in West London and Tent London in the East End. I’ve only managed to identify one Korean designer at Olympia (and I hope someone in the UK decides to stock their brassware). But there are plenty at Tent … [Read More]