- Immersive VR experiences of 'Time Scape' showcase Korean cultural treasures ahead of 2025 APEC Summit

The Korean Cultural Centre UK(KCCUK) has announced the launch of ‘K-Art Lab’, a groundbreaking platform for experimental and immersive art that blends tradition with innovation, open to the public on July 2025. Introduced as part of the KCCUK and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the United Kingdom's Cultural Diplomacy project, ‘K-Art Lab’ seeks to pioneer new forms of multidisciplinary artistic expression at the intersection of art, technology, cultural heritage, and digital creativity.

'Time Scape', the inaugural programme of K-Art Lab, commemorates the 80th anniversary of Korean Liberation by presenting Korean history and cultural heritage through immersive digital content. This landmark launch holds additional significance as it precedes the 2025 APEC summit in Gyeongju, Korea. In collaboration with the National Museum of Korea and the Technology Research Institute for Culture & Heritage (TRIC), the project aims to promote the Korean soft power to UK audiences by reimagining the ancient city's heritage sites through VR technology.

Dr. Seunghye Sun, Director of the Korean Cultural Centre UK, said: "We are delighted to share the spirit of the APEC Summit with the world through digital cultural heritage. K-Art Lab represents the convergence of Korean aesthetics and technology, showing how digital soft power can establish Korea as a leading cultural force." She also added: "K-Art Lab will expand traditional cultural heritage into the futuristic aesthetics that everyone can experiences using technologies such as AI, VR, and XR that transcends time and space."

Immersive Korea - A 360-degree Journey through Korea's Cultural Landscapes

K-Art Lab seeks to provide an immersive cultural experience using VR technology that goes beyond traditional physical viewing. Visitors gain sensory understanding and emotional connection beyond the audio-visual through the experience of walking through cultural heritage sites in digital space. In collaboration with the National Museum of Korea, K-Art Lab presents 'Reliquaries from Gameunsa Temple' and 'World Contained in Celadon'—VR experiences that engage audiences through interactive, game-based experiences, allowing them to actively explore the beauty of Korean Buddhist art and Goryeo celadon. The 360-degree VR journey also features paintings 'Royal Procession with the People', 'Endless Mountains and Rivers: A Prosperous World Unfolds in Nature', and 'Climbing Mt. Geumgang'. K-Art Lab's VR Korean cultural heritage experiences have been showcased at multiple venues, including the K-Culture Forum at the Royal Society and Oxford University's Korea Day.

Sacred Spaces: Exploring Korea's Spiritual Heritage in Restored Timelessness

Created in partnership with TRIC, Sacred Spaces presents two immersive VR works that reimagine Korea's cultural heritage. 'Pensive Bodhisattva: One Moon, A Thousand Rivers' presents two statues of the pensive bodhisattva floating gently on water. Inspired by the Room of Quiet Contemplation at the National Museum of Korea, the setting creates a virtual meditative space, evoking a sense of calm and introspection. Layered on this experience is a poem generated by artificial intelligence, based on 'Songs of the Moon's Reflection on a Thousand Rivers' (Worin Cheongang Jigok). Specially created for the Gyeongju APEC Summit, 'Seokguram Hyperreal: One is All, All is One' recreates the interior and exterior of Seokguram Grotto. Passing through the "Gate of Time" (Hongmun), viewers travel over Seorabeol, the ancient capital of Silla, and the majestic Hwangnyongsa Temple, eventually re-entering the grotto. The experience invites viewers on a philosophical journey that reflects the Buddhist cosmology embodied in the Seokguram Grotto.

Stories in Motion: Reliving Tradition Through Interactive Storytelling

Collaborating with the Korean Culture Information Service Agency (KOCIS), K-Art Lab introduces three immersive experiences that combine storytelling with interactive engagement. Viewers can walk through scenes of palace reconstruction in 'Suwon Hwaseong Haenggung' and experience Joseon martial arts by competing with virtual characters in 'Martial Arts of the 24 Techniques'. Additionally, 'Jejeumok Government Office' allows viewers to roam freely around the interiors and exteriors of a Joseon government office, deepening their understanding of Korean architecture and its beauty.

KCCUK seeks to continuously experiment with innovative content that organically connects digital technology, art, and culture through K-Art Lab, expanding it into a cultural diplomacy platform for the 21st century.

For more details about ‘K-Art Lab’ , please visit kccuk.org.uk