In the past few years, the potters and other artisans of Icheon have shown off the beauty of their work at the Collect craft fair, in partnership with Han Collection. That arrangement worked well for a few years, but had its limitations. On the one hand, Collect gave them the opportunity to find buyers for … [Read More]
Featured Posts
In pictures: Songs beneath the Sacred Tree
It was a huge privilege to be one of the few members of the audience when two leading practitioners of the East Coast Byeolshin Gut tradition displayed their talents in Durham’s music department towards the end of May. Husband and wife team Hong Hyojin and Jung Younrak continue the traditions of the hereditary shaman practice, … [Read More]
K-music Festival 2026: the official press release
Here is the official press release for the 2026 K-music festival, released earlier today. Much to look forward to! Europe’s Largest Korean Music Festival Beyond Genre Boundaries 28 Sep – 23 Nov 2026 From folk traditions and experimental sound art to gaming soundtracks, jazz, hip-hop and indie rock, K-Music Festival returns to showcase the depth, … [Read More]
June events 2026
If K-pop and club music isn’t your thing, June so far seems to be a reasonably quiet month, which after such a busy May is no bad thing. Exhibitions Architect Byoung Soo Cho has a solo exhibition at the Coronet Theatre until 6 June The KCCUK’s current exhibition Icheon and Beyond — The Space Within … [Read More]
Intelligence with Soul: Dr Seunghye Sun on AI, K-Culture, and the Art of Human Connection
Jennifer Paun, who organised and hosted KCCUK Director Seunghye Sun’s valedictory talk at the University Women’s Club, gives her impressions of the evening. On the evening of Tuesday 24 March 2026, it was a great pleasure for me to welcome Dr Seunghye Sun to the University Women’s Club for her lecture, K-Everything with AI: Rethinking … [Read More]
Hangul Celluloid content is now available on LKL
Three months ago Hangul Celluloid‘s Paul Quinn made the shock announcement that he was going to close down his site, taking it offline today, 23 March. He also extended an invitation: So, for those of you who still feel there’s stuff worth grabbing from there, grab it now… ‘coz when it’s gone, it’s gone… And … [Read More]
What do you think about Korean literature in translation?
Long story, but I find that I have managed to get myself committed to giving a talk on how Korean literature in translation is received by English-speaking readers. It’s a bit of a tall order. And while I can of course articulate the ways in which I personally am drawn to Korean literature, why I … [Read More]
Festival of Korean Dance 2026 – programme details announced
Here’s the official press release for the 2026 Festival of Korean dance. This year, festival returns to the Tramway in Glasgow, as well as touring to Bournemouth, Salford and Newcastle. A Festival of Korean Dance tours five venues in its ninth year 2025 Olivier Award nominee Young-doo Jung presents a new work inspired by the … [Read More]
When life becomes war: a look at Park Chan-wook’s darkly humorous No Other Choice
Park Chan-wook’s latest offering is, as expected of the legendary director, a dark and morally complex exploration of its subject matter – overtly the state of the contemporary job market, and covertly cycles of generational trauma and violence. It is dark and violent, like many Park Chan-wook films, but also at times deeply funny. [Read More]
“Unfolding the heart”: LKL meets KCCUK Director Seunghye Sun
Reflecting on her KCCUK tenure, Dr Seunghye Sun outlines a strategy of partnership, emotional diplomacy and ‘digital humanism’, positioning Hallyu as an introduction to a deepening understanding of Korean culture. She discusses extending UK–Korea exchange beyond pop culture into literature, heritage, visual arts and technology, and argues that Korean soft power is widening, not peaking. [Read More]
President Lee’s New Year address
President Lee outlines 2026 as a year of Korea’s “great leap forward,” emphasizing people-centered governance, regionally balanced economic growth, safety, cultural leadership, and peace. Building on last year’s recovery, he pledges innovation, support for SMEs and startups, and global engagement, urging national unity and citizen participation to transform Korea’s growth paradigm and ensure shared prosperity. [Read More]