The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the United Kingdom and the Korean Cultural Centre UK (KCCUK) hosted ‘Korea Forum 2026: Beyond Soft Power – From K-Wave to K-Initiative’ on Monday 29 June 2026 at the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) in London.

Held as part of Korea Week 2026, a new initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea, the forum discussed how Korea’s globally recognised cultural influence can be translated into broader leadership across business, innovation, technology and international cooperation. Following the inaugural forum, Korea Forum: Across Futures, held in April, this second edition brought together leading voices from industry, academia, and diplomacy to discuss the future trajectory of Korea’s global engagement.

The first session explored how the global success of the Korean Wave is driving new developments across industry, technology and consumer culture.

Youngjin Yoo, Professor of the London School of Economics and Political Science, presented K-Wave & Korean Firms: The Role of Business in the Shaping of Culture. He argued that Korean business organizations play a critical role not only as economic actors but also as cultural forces shaping contemporary society. He highlighted how Korean firms have provided leadership in shaping a positive, unabashedly growth-oriented entrepreneurial culture, building the technological, financial, and cultural infrastructures. He further emphasised that the Korean case demonstrates how creativity, technological advancement and cultural confidence can reinforce one another in generating global influence.

Jisu Han, Managing Director of CJ Foods UK, delivered a presentation ‘From Trend to Table: Can K-Food Become Part of Everyday Life in the UK?’ She examined how Korean food is moving beyond a cultural trend to become part of mainstream British consumer culture. Through examples from the UK market, she explored how K-Food is making that transition, from restaurants and social media into retail shelves, home cooking, and mainstream dining culture. She further examined the factors that help transform curiosity into routine consumption and considered what it would take for K-Food to build a lasting place at the global table.

Monica Lee, CEO of FrontRow Global, explored the changing dynamics of global fandoms and digital communities. Her presentation highlighted how Korean K-pop content and entertainment brands are engaging audiences in new ways through technology-enabled platforms and examined the future potential of fan communities as drivers of cultural and economic value.

The forum continued with a panel discussion moderated by Julie Lee, Senior Journalist at the BBC, followed by an open forum and networking reception.

Participants discussed the sustainability of the Korean Wave, the competitiveness of Korean brands in global markets, and the role Korea can play in shaping future ideas, standards, and systems. The discussions also explored how Korea’s experience at the intersection of culture, industry and technology can contribute to new models of global partnership.

Korea Forum 2026 demonstrated the growing potential of the K-Initiative as a platform for sustainable international collaboration and innovation. By bringing together perspectives from culture, business, technology and academia, the forum highlighted how Korea’s soft power continues to evolve beyond cultural influence into a broader vision for global engagement and leadership.

For more details about the ‘Korea Forum', please visit https://kccuk.org.uk/en/programmes/k-culture-forum/korea-forum/