By Honorary Reporter George Barker from U.K.

Photos = Korean British Cultural Exchange

The Korean British Cultural Exchange (KBCE) organizes cultural and educational festivals to promote Korean culture in the U.K. The popularity of its events has grown in tandem with the sensational rise of Hallyu across the globe.

For more about such events, the KBCE's festival director Justina Jang gave an interview.

British teens sing a Korean song at a KBCE festival.

What is the KBCE?

We are a registered charity that organizes cultural and educational activities as well as social media content to promote Korean and British culture in the U.K. and abroad under a cultural program of the Kingston Council started in 2016. The KBCE is run by volunteers from across the U.K.

What festivals does the KBCE hold?
We organize the Kingston Korea Festival that includes Harvest Fest in September, K-pop U.K. National Competition in October and the Kimjang Festival in November. The K-pop competition will turn into a Europe-wide event next year.

How have British people received Korean culture?
Youth passion for K-pop has driven "Korea fever" in the U.K. for many years. Recently, however, Korean films and dramas have grown popular. Korean food, especially kimchi, barbecue and Korean-style fried chicken, is also enjoyed by many people. Former British Prime Minister Theresa May is among Britons who've made kimchi at home.

Which Korean festivals do British people like most?
Harvest Fest is popular among our events because it's for everyone. The kimjang (traditional process and culture of making kimchi) event is specifically for foodies and that of K-pop for lovers of the genre.

What do people in the U.K. like most about Korean festivals?
Audiences love tasting food, seeing taekwondo demonstrations and taking part in interactive programs like playing Korean folk games or making traditional Koreans crafts. For example, we started in 2019 a community dance program allowing attendees to perform with professional dancers. 

What plans does the KBCE have for the next three to five years?
We hope to work more closely with third- and fourth-generation Korean Britons with little to no experience with Korean culture. We will also jointly organize cultural activities with communities to showcase the similarities and differences between Korean and British culture. 

Furthermore, we aim to introduce British culture to ethnic Koreans in the U.K., especially first- and second-generation immigrants from both Koreas and ethnic Koreans from China. They've had difficulties in communicating because of language and cultural barriers. In addition, we will launch cultural educational programs for Koreans and Brits in New Malden (a suburb of London).

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.