The Korean Cultural Centre UK (KCCUK) launched its 2025 outreach program with a series of vibrant "Korea Day" festivals across three major cities in the central-northern region of the United Kingdom during March and April. These cultural celebrations took place in Sheffield, Manchester, and Liverpool, focusing on engaging the next generation through various aspects of Korean culture, including the Korean Wave (Hallyu), traditional heritage, history, and cultural industries.
The Sheffield Korea Day festival, held on April 27, 2025, drew over 600 attendees and featured an impressive lineup of performances and cultural activities. Highlights included a traditional Pansori performance by Professor Park Chan-eung from Ohio State University, Korean traditional music by the Shilla Ensemble, Taekwondo demonstrations by the Sheffield University Taekwondo Society, and energetic K-pop cover dances performed by the Sheffield University K-pop Society. Interactive cultural experience booths offered visitors hands-on opportunities to engage with Korean traditions through calligraphy, Hanbok dress-up experiences, Ddakji chigi (traditional paper flipping game), and Gongginori (traditional Korean jacks game).
This year marked the seventh anniversary of the Sheffield Korea Day festival, which first launched in 2018 and has since become a beloved annual cultural event in the Sheffield area. The festival has consistently attracted enthusiastic participation from local residents, establishing itself as a significant celebration of Korean culture in the region.
Liverpool hosted its second Korea Day festival on April 29, building on the success of last year's inaugural event. The program was specially designed around Liverpool's status as a UNESCO City of Music, featuring a diverse range of activities that celebrated both Korean and musical culture. The event included an informative lecture on the Hallyu industry, a special career guidance session for university students, and multiple experience booths where visitors could try on traditional Hanbok clothing and play traditional Korean games such as Ddakji chigi, Gongginori, and Tuho (arrow throwing game). A Korean culture quiz added an educational and entertaining element to the festivities.
Manchester welcomed its first-ever Korea Day festival on March 23, marking a historic milestone for Korean cultural promotion in the city. Organized in collaboration with the University of Manchester and the Korean Society in Manchester, the event attracted approximately 150 participants. The Manchester festival featured a comprehensive program that included various experience booths offering traditional Korean games, calligraphy workshops, and Hanbok try-on sessions. Cultural performances by the Shilla Ensemble showcased traditional Korean music, while local K-pop enthusiasts performed cover dances that demonstrated the global appeal of contemporary Korean entertainment.
Dr. Seungyhe Sun, Director of KCCUK, emphasized the significance of these festivals in building cultural bridges between Korea and the UK. "The Korea Day Festivals led by the next generation lay the foundation for a new cultural heritage," Dr. Sun stated. "As diverse communities connect through Korean culture in cities like Manchester, Sheffield, and Liverpool, a new future for K-culture begins."
The Korean Cultural Centre UK regularly organizes Korea Day festivals in major cities throughout the United Kingdom as part of its ongoing mission to promote Korean culture and foster international cultural exchange. Looking ahead, KCCUK plans to expand its festival program by organizing additional events in collaboration with major UK universities and cultural institutions. These future festivals will explore various themes including Korean traditional culture, the music industry, and the broader Hallyu phenomenon, ensuring continued growth in Korean cultural awareness across the UK.
Those interested in learning more about the 2025 Korea Day festival series and upcoming events can find detailed information by visiting the KCCUK official website at kccuk.org.uk or following their social media channels for the latest updates and announcements.
