South Korean influences are on the rise in London. Fully backing the trend, we've sifted through the city’s Korean offerings, sorting the good, the bad and the delightfully bizarre. From the beauty products we can’t get enough of, to our favourite Korean exhibitions, films and Netflix mini-series – via our go-to haunts for delicious Korean cuisine – here’s where to enjoy a little bit of South Korea in London.
South Korea’s most famous artist Lee Bul landed on the London art scene this summer with her exhibition Crashing. Part of the Hayward Gallery’s 50th anniversary celebrations, the offering from Bul is 118 sinister and utterly beautiful works, spanning from the 80s to the present day. Bul was born in Seoul in 1964 under the military dictatorship of Park Chung-hee and grew up, like many of her contemporaries, in fear. Crashing reflects the political, social and economic traumas of her country's turbulent past, and is her first major UK show to date. On at the Hayward Gallery until 19 August, this is definitely one to catch.
Meanwhile, earlier this summer White Cube presented a survey exhibition of South Korean artist Seung-taek Lee, curated by Katharine Kostyál at Mason’s Yard. Lee trained as a sculptor before forming his own practice of negation, which he describes as ‘non-sculpture’, ‘non-material’ and ‘anti-concept’. One of the first wave of South Korean artists to embrace radical experimentation in art, Lee has remained at the forefront of the Korean avant-garde since the 60s.
South Korea is known for its innovative beauty products. Even if you’re not familiar with the more adventurous offerings, you almost definitely know (and probably own) a BB cream – the Korean product which revolutionised the skincare market when it first graced our shores and stores back in 2011, combining a foundation, moisturiser and SPF protector all in one.
Those in the know are likely to have several other South Korean beauty products in their make-up bag. Our favourites include the Tony Moly Aura Beam – its pearlescent finish is excellent for brightening skin and achieving an instant dewy look. Then there’s CosRx’s Blackhead Silk Finger Ball, which look like mini egg shells but are silky cocoons that sit on your fingers and are oh-so-great for exfoliating your skin. Another winner is the Oh K! Fruit Enriched Peeling Foot Mask, which was all the rage when it appeared last year, offering a weirdly satisfying way to peel all the dry, dead skin off your feet in sheets. To explore the lesser known products quietly making their way over to the West, take a trip to P2Bus in the West End, a retro-looking, quirky cosmetics store that sells Korean and Japanese products.
If you’re looking to add a touch of Korean style to your wardrobe, fashion brand Fayewoo is popular among the celebrity crowd, and luckily for Londoners, its first European store is in Soho.
Due a haircut? Korean café-cum-barber shop Hurwundeki (which you’ll find branches of under the railway arches in Bethnal Green and on Brick Lane in Shoreditch) offers quick cuts with straight-up prices. Women can expect to pay £19 for a 19-minute trim, or £33 for a 30-minute cut, while men’s cuts are even cheaper. But haircuts isn’t all Hurwundeki offers – the multi-purpose venue stocks rails of Korean clothing brands –vintage and new – while its café serves coffee, tea and tasty Korean favourites including fried chicken wings, bibimbap and dumplings.
For a traditional Korean meal in a modern setting, look no further than Jinjuu in Soho. Glamorous and famed chef Judy Joo is at the helm, showcasing the best of the country’s street food (think Kimchi Fries and a fancy take on Korean Fried Chicken) plus original cocktails and the chance to look at the work of street artist Victoriano Magdaleno while you dine.
Meanwhile those looking for new tableware as well as a quality meal should take a trip to Mee Market, an airy, modern Korean deli also in Soho. Here you can tuck into rice bowls and noodles freshly made to order, or browse the shelves for wholesome dried goods to take away.
If it's something quick and easy you're after, On the Bab in Covent Garden and Shoreditch serves up hearty buns, rolls, bibimbap and soups for cheap, all in a buzzy setting.
In 2017, the charming Netflix Original film Okja stole hearts the world over. Featuring Tilda Swinton and Jake Gyllenhaal, the story follows Mija, a young girl who has spent 10 years protecting her gentle giant of a friend, Okja.
Fast forward to May 2018 and Lee Chang-Dong’s adaptation of Murakami’s short story Burning caught everyone’s attention at the Cannes Film Festival, and is due to be released in the UK later this year.
Looking to delve deeper into the world of Korean cinema? In August, the London Korean Film Festival will showcase the best of new Korean cinema as well as screenings of long-standing favourites. All screenings and events are free, and will take place at Birkbeck Cinema and the Korean Cultural Centre from 11-19 August.
For those who can’t wait, our round-up of the best South Korean films should give you plenty to immerse yourself in for now.
South Korean TV shows, or K-dramas as true fans call them, are known for their action-packed plots, gripping story arcs and intense love stories. Often only one season long, these addictive mini-series are perfect for those who feel overwhelmed by the prospect of committing to endless episodes.
Hello, My Twenties (2016) is one to watch if you’re a sitcom lover. It follows five young women with radically different personalities who end up sharing a house. While if you're after something a little more emotional, Heaven’s Garden (2017) explores what happens when a young woman is forced to move herself and her daughters in with her estranged father after her husband goes to prison. With raw and real relationships, you’ll want to have tissues at the ready. Then on the spookier side of things, those who loved Inception might want to tune into Black (2017), which imagines a world in which people can see death just before it occurs.
While Karaoke was invented in Japan, it’s a key part of Korean culture, too. Jihwaja in Kennington is a singalong bar straight out of Seoul, offering small plates of noodles, fried rice and broths, as well as the chance to belt out your favourite pop numbers as late as 3am.
For those keen to listen to cheesy tunes and soppy songs of the K-pop variety live, head to the Korean Cultural Centre this Autumn, where the K-Music Festival will celebrate Korean bands and solo artists including Ssing Ssing and E-do.
Earlier this summer, a production of Trojan Women by the National Theatre of Korea that was staged as part of LIFT festival made everyone look up. Featuring 25 singers, actors and musicians, this fresh retelling of Euripides' tragedy used traditional pansori and K-pop to emphasise the connection between war and division in ancient Greece and contemporary Korea.
We’ve got our fingers crossed for more South Korean theatre following in its wake.
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