London Korean Links

Covering things Korean in London and beyond since 2006

The annual Harvest Fest moves online

Congratulations to the organisers of the annual Korean Harvest Fest for putting something so enticing together in these difficult times. The Chuseok celebrations organised by Korean British Cultural Exchange have moved online this year. Plans for screenings in the heard of Koreatown (New Malden) have had to be shelved at the last minute because of … [Read More]

Event news: Chuseok celebrations in Kingston

There will be some Chuseok festivities on Saturday 17 September in Kingston marketplace, 12-4pm, organised by Korean British Cultural Exchange and supported by Kingston Council. It is said to be the first Korean street/outdoor festival to be held in Kingston town centre, and is certainly to be welcomed as an alternative focus to celebrate Koreanness there now the summer festival in … [Read More]

Event news: Chuseok at the British Museum

Advance notice of the Autumn festivities at the British Museum, coinciding with the start of the K-music Festival. More details coming soon Chuseok Festival at the British Museum Thursday, 15 September 2016, 11.00am-5.00pm: “Understanding Chuseok” Lectures and musical performances Friday, 16 September 2016, 6.00-8.30pm: “Celebrating Chuseok: the Korean Harvest Moon Festival” Musical performances, K-pop DJ, … [Read More]

Chuseok in Chessington

The King’s Centre was opened last year by Cliff Richard. It’s a multi-purpose venue in Chessington designed for the local community, with facilities for business meetings, conferences and sporting activities. The main users of the space are the Chessington evangelical church. But last Saturday evening there was a multicultural audience of Korean and Korean-British families, … [Read More]

Celebrate Chuseok with the Euro Journal

Celebrate Chuseok (추석), the Korean Mid-Autumn Festival. Chuseok, also called Hangawi (한가위: meaning “great middle”), is one of the two main holidays in Korea (the other being New Year’s Day). It is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar Korean calendar. It is to celebrate a good harvest, and Koreans … [Read More]

Chuseok at the BM — part sprint, part marathon

It is a commonplace observation that Korea is caught between two larger neighbours. Similarly, in marketing terms, the Korean events at the British Museum last Saturday were dwarfed by the blitzkrieg advertising for the Chinese “First Emperor” and the Japanese modern design exhibitions, both also at the British Museum at the same time. But although … [Read More]

Moon jars old and new

There were moon jars a-plenty at the British Museum on Saturday: old and new, whole and smashed, real and fake and, as is the nature of these objects, none of them perfectly spherical. In pride of place in Room 3, just as you enter the museum, is one of the prized items in the British … [Read More]