London Korean Links

Covering things Korean in London and beyond since 2006

Voices of Freedom: Performances, Escapee Talks, Documentary & Director Q&A

You’re Invited to “Voices of Freedom”: An Evening of Reflection, Tribute, and Unity Join us for a profound journey through the stories of North Korean defectors and the forgotten POWs of the Korean War, hosted by the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council. This unique event weaves together inspiring lectures, a compelling documentary screening, and heartfelt performances … [Read More]

Korean films at BFI Flare 2024

Last year BFI Flare had a Korean focus, giving us four feature films and a short. It’s only natural that this year’s offering won’t quite match up to last year’s feast, but still we have one feature and a short: Heavy Snow (폭설) Dir: Yun Su-ik (2023, 77 mins) Cast: Han So-hee, Han Hae-in Monday … [Read More]

SOAS seminar: An Atomic Age Unleashed

This presentation explores the common culture of Cold War scientism and atomic developmentalism in early North and South Korea. While tens of thousands of Koreans were subject to the atomic attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, early peninsular analysis of the bombings rarely grappled with the existence of these individuals. The general exclusion of colonial subjects … [Read More]

President Yoon’s State Visit

The President of the Republic of Korea, His Excellency Yoon Suk Yeol, accompanied by Mrs Kim Keon Hee, will pay a State Visit to the United Kingdom as the guest of His Majesty The King from 21st to 23rd November 2023. Their Majesties The King and Queen will host the State Visit at Buckingham Palace. … [Read More]

Site of first Korean legation in London unveiled

At a brief ceremony on 30 October, Ambassador Yoon Yeocheol unveiled a plaque marking the location of the first Korean legation to London, together with Mr Ian McDermott, representing the owners of the building. The building is at 4 Trebovir Road [map], a side street by Earls Court Station in West London, and is now … [Read More]

The Ties Through Time: an exhibition celebrating 140 years of UK-Korea Relations

Experience a world of enduring diplomatic relations that have stood the test of time. ‘The Ties Through Time’ is a grand tribute to 140 years of remarkable cooperation, cultural exchange, and diplomacy between the United Kingdom and Korea. Our journey begins with the first encounter in 1797, followed by early diplomacy from 1883 to 1903 … [Read More]

Cairo Declaration and Korean service in British army commemorated in SOAS conference

Hands up, anyone who had actually heard of the Cairo Declaration before this SOAS conference designed to mark its 80th anniversary? I certainly hadn’t. Winston Churchill was in Cairo with a contingent of over 100 diplomatic and administrative staff, in late November 1943, where along with Chang Kai-shek and President Roosevelt they were starting to … [Read More]

Healing Hearts: The stories and voices of North Korean refugees

Three North Korean refugees will share their experiences in North and South Korea through different voices. Co-founder of Freedom Speakers International will share his experiences meeting with more than 500 North Koreans refugees and why North Korean refugees speak out. After the forum, attendees will also be invited to watch “You Don’t Know,” a documentary … [Read More]

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]

North Korean human rights abuses and security concerns: A parallel challenge

The Centre for Geopolitics and Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Cambridge are co-hosting a special talk by Ambassador Shin-wha Lee (ROK Ambassador for International Cooperation on North Korean Human Rights). Talk Summary: The nuclear program and human rights abuses in North Korea are interconnected, yet often treated separately. However, … [Read More]

Korea – Europe Forum | The Global Transformation of Geopolitics and Geoeconomics: Responses from Korea and Europe

The war in Ukraine, US-China competition, and global supply chain restructuring have presented significant complex crises for European and Asian countries. At a moment of historical change, security is becoming more tightly interconnected across different regions while new types of economic alliances are reshaping individual countries’ national strategies for ensuring high-tech supremacy. This set of … [Read More]