How do Korean stories travel from Seoul to readers around the world? What happens between the writer’s desk and the English-language page? And how are contemporary Korean authors reaching global audiences today? Join award-winning writers Kim Keum-hee and Hwang Bo-reum, together with translator Clare Richards and scholar Dr Eugene Kim, for a day of readings and conversations exploring the creative journey of Korean literature in translation.

Featuring

• Kim Keum-hee, The multi-award-winning novelist
• Hwang Bo-reum, The bestselling and award-winning novelist
• Clare Richards, The internationally renowned, award-winning literary translator shaping how the world reads
• Dr Eugene Kim (SOAS), Scholar of Korean literature

What to expect

• Live readings by featured authors
• In-depth Panel discussion
• Extended interactive Q&A with all speakers

Funded by the Literature Translation Institute of Korea and the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies. Hosted by the East Asian Translation research satellite.

Lunch and afternoon refreshments provided. Limited spaces available.

A new moon is rising, and with it, a brand-new chapter for Tabber.

Known for pushing boundaries and creating some of the most distinctive sounds in Korean R&B and alternative music, Tabber has never been an artist who stays in one place for long. This October, he returns to Europe with a completely reimagined live show, unveiling a side of his artistry fans have never experienced before.

Following the release of “New Moon,” Tabber steps into a bold new era, exploring new sounds, new emotions, and a new creative direction that marks the beginning of his most ambitious project yet. Expect the unexpected: genre-bending production, raw storytelling, and the signature vulnerability that has made him one of Korea’s most captivating artists.

To bring this new world to life, Tabber will be joined on stage by a live guitarist, adding a fresh dimension to a performance designed to immerse audiences deeper into his music than ever before.

Whether you’ve been with him since Deep End Mixtape, through the MATS era, or you’ve only recently discovered his music, this tour offers a rare opportunity to witness an artist in the middle of his evolution.

LUN8 is a K-pop boy group that debuted on June 15, 2023. Their name carries the meaningful message of “boys who embrace the moonlight that brightly illuminates the dark night.”

Since their debut, the group has garnered worldwide attention for their energetic performances, outstanding vocals, and captivating stage presence.

This August, LUN8 returns to Europe with their highly anticipated LUN8 2026 EUROPE TOUR: BEYOND THE MOON. The tour will visit eight cities: Warsaw, Amsterdam, London, Cologne, Munich, Budapest, Paris, and Lisbon.

Fans can look forward to an unforgettable live experience filled with music, passion, and special moments.

Rookie boy group Ampers&One bring their first European tour to London this September, marking a major milestone in their fast‑rising career. Formed under FNC Entertainment, the seven‑member team — Kamden, Brian, Jiho, Siyun, Mackiah, Kyrell and Seungmo — have been building momentum since their 2023 debut with On and On, followed by tracks such as Broken Heart, Kickstart and their latest release GOD. Their blend of hip‑hop, R&B and pop, delivered with sharp choreography and youthful energy, has quickly earned them an international following.

Presented by Cult of Ya, the London stop of the Born To Define tour promises a high‑intensity set showcasing the group’s growing catalogue and stage confidence, honed through a successful run of shows in Seoul and the US earlier this year. With this being their first solo concert in Europe, fans can expect a lively atmosphere and a rare chance to see a next‑generation K‑pop act at close quarters.

Co‑ed K‑pop powerhouse KARD return to London this September as part of their 2026 Europe Tour, bringing their signature blend of EDM, tropical house and hip‑hop back to the capital. Since their debut with Hola Hola, BM, J.Seph, Somin and Jiwoo have carved out a distinctive space in the K‑pop landscape with their bold concept, addictive choruses and high‑energy performances.

Expect a set packed with fan favourites, recent solo projects and the group’s latest releases, delivered with the charisma and precision that have earned them a loyal global following. With only one UK date on the tour, this Shepherd’s Bush Empire show promises an electric atmosphere and a rare chance to see one of Korea’s most dynamic live acts up close.

South Korea’s award-winning musical sensation arrives in London.

Following sold-out acclaim across Asia and a triumphant Edinburgh Fringe run, You & It transfers to the King’s Head Theatre, Islington, for a limited season.

A grieving widower meets an artificial intelligence built in his late wife’s image — and must confront grief, memory, and what it truly means to be human.

Winner of Best Musical at the Daegu International Musical Festival, this intimate two-hander asks: if AI could recreate the person you loved, would you let it?

With a soaring contemporary score and devastating emotional depth, You & It is Korean musical theatre at its finest.

Supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Korea Arts Management Service.
EG Musical Company & MCG Productions presentation
Love. Loss. Code. Consequence.

Cast & Creatives

Original Writers | Seoeun Oh and Q Lee
Original Lyrics and Composer | Q Lee
Executive Creative Producer| Eunggyu Lee
Art Director | Minje Lee
Artwork Designer | Gangwon Boo
AI Tech Director | Minkyoung Park
Planning & Production Producer | Ara Cho

If you’ve got friends in the area who are happy to accommodate you for a few days, here’s what you can enjoy in Edinburgh this August. Tickets for Haribo Kimchi at the main festival are hard to get, but it will be worth it: the performance in London two years ago was intimate, conversational and very rewarding. At the Fringe, there’s stand-up, dance, music and theatrical productions. In the list below we’ve included Korea-themed productions even where there are no Korean performers involved.

1. International Festival

Haribo Kimchi

Performers: Jaha Koo, with Gona, Haribo & Eel
Venue: Studio Theatre, 22 Potterrow, EH8 9BL
Thu 20 – Mon 24 Aug | 1 hour 10 mins | post show talk on Sun 23 August | Get tickets

Take a seat at theatre-maker Jaha Koo’s snack bar to discover the delights of Korean cuisine and the difficulties of cultural assimilation.

Theatremaker Jaha Koo invites you to to his pojangmacha, a late-night snack bar found on the streets of South Korea. Koo doesn’t serve sleep-deprived humans, instead, his customers are a robotic eel, a snail and a gummy bear, who take the audience on a culinary and cultural journey peppered with intimate and absurd anecdotes.

Koo has lived in Europe since 2011 and now often feels like a tourist when he visits Korea. In Haribo Kimchi, food and culture are endlessly intertwined. One moment he may cook up a sublime seaweed soup, and the next, reflect on painful racist experiences and his deep longing for home.

Koo’s 2019 production Cuckoo was described as a ‘powerfully affecting work’ (The Herald), and Haribo Kimchi promises a show that zigzags between cultural appreciation and the realities of cultural alienation. Combining music, video and robots, Koo’s performance plays on all the senses while serving up his personal stories with a dash of melancholy and a sprinkle of wit.

2. Fringe

Plastic

Genre: Music | Immersive
Performer: Minyoung Kim
Venue 26: Anatomy Lecture Theatre at Summerhall
6 – 31 Aug | 20:45 | 1 hour | Book tickets

Minyoung Kim is a composer and soloist from Seoul, who combines geomungo – a traditional Korean string instrument – with jeongga – traditional Korean singing based on poetry and electronic music. PLASTIC is her solo project first presented in 2025, in which she explores the contradictions of human beings: their fragility and, at the same time, their immense potential, offering a modern and updated version of traditional Korean music with accompanying psychedelic projection.

DeRuWa / Hazy

Genre: Dance
Performance company: The Busan International Dance Festival Organizing Committee
Venue 22a: DB1 at Assembly @ Dance Base
26 – 30 Aug | 13:15 | 1 hour | Book tickets

Busan International Dance Festival presents the next generation of Korean choreographers in a double bill featuring Kim Hyung-min’s DeRuWa, where five dancers are propelled by an accelerating beat, and Hwang Jungeun’s Hazy, a captivating, visceral and intimate solo.

Kimchi Comedy: A Spicy Korean Stand-Up Show

Genre: Comedy
Performers: Seo Seohee (Seo Heejeong) / Seong-eun Jeong / Free Festival
Venue 650: Basement Bar at Laughing Horse @ Boston Bar (New Town)
17 – 27 Aug | 19:00 | 1 hour | Book tickets

No more K-pop. Welcome to K-comedy. Two Korean comedians bring the spicy, chaotic and brutally honest side of Korean life to the stage. From dating disasters and family expectations to the bizarre rules of Korean society, nothing is off-limits. Sharp jokes, cultural chaos and the occasional emotional punch – this is Korean comedy without filters. If you think you know Korea from K-pop and K-drama, it’s time to taste the real thing.

Giuseppe Verdi and his 19th-Century Contempories – Celebrating Verdi’s 125th Anniversary (1901-2026)

Genre: Classical music | Song
Performers: Sungho Kim tenor, Llyr Williams piano
Venue 111 The Nave at Edinburgh New Town Church
Saturday 15 August 14:30, 1 hour | Book tickets

Starring the wonderful South Korean operatic tenor Sungho Kim, winner of BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Song Prize 2023, accompanied by his Cardiff pianist, the virtuoso Llyr Williams, this uniquely anniversarial recital celebrates the 125th anniversary (1901-2026) of Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901), the foremost composer of 19th-century opera, with Verdi’s greatest music for tenor contrasted by the music of Verdi’s contemporaries.

Beyond Time – Othello Part II

Genre: Theatre | Adaptation | Film
Performance company: Han Theatre Company
Digital screening available until 31 Aug | 1 hour 15 minutes | get access

After death, Othello and Desdemona meet again. In a quiet, intimate dialogue, love, doubt and memory collide revealing what remains after the tragedy, and what was never understood.

Harry Jun: Inside Jokes, Outside Voice

Genre: Comedy | Stand-up
Performer: Harry Jun
Venue 33: Bunker Three at Pleasance Courtyard
5 – 30 Aug | 20:30 | 1 hour | Book tickets
Harry debuts an hour of comedy full of frenetic storytelling. Inside jokes or “in-jokes” are jokes that are only understandable to people of a particular social group. The social groups for this show: Fans of Korea (North and South) and K-pop (North and South); people with and without real jobs; fans of travelling and fans of bed rotting; people seeking connection (non-WiFi related). ‘A real firecracker of a comedian who is on track for a stellar career’ (TheatreMatters.com.au).

Tether

Genre: Theatre | International
Performance company: Wonder Fools x Theatre SAN
Venue 26: Main Hall at Summerhall
6 – 31 Aug | 16:30 | 1 hour | Book tickets
Part ceilidh, part play, and a good night out, Tether is a bold new collaboration between Scotland’s Wonder Fools and South Korea’s Theatre SAN. Spanning 60 years and three generations, the piece weaves folk songs, love letters and war stories into a shared experience of music and memory. Beginning as a joyous communal gathering, it gradually reveals an intimate love story shaped by migration, oppression and time. Playful, powerful and deeply human, Tether invites audiences to collectively dance, laugh, listen and remember – tracing the invisible threads that bind two nations together.

Korean Tightrope Walking (now cancelled)

Genre: Dance | Physical Theatre | Circus
Performance company: Namchangdong Jultagi Team
Venue 363: Meeting Point at Meeting Point at The Meadows
8 – 12 Aug | 14:00 | 30 minutes | Book tickets

Step onto the edge of balance and freedom in this thrilling Korean tightrope performance. Jultagi is a living theatrical form inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List – blending breathtaking acrobatics, music and wit. Nam Chang-dong and ensemble Ajae bring this ancient heritage to life through dynamic movement and spontaneous humour. Experience the vivid flow of tradition as tension and laughter intersect high above the ground. Don’t miss this spectacular, free outdoor cultural experience at the meadows!

Truth Warrior Network… Live!

Genre: Comedy | Satire | Historical
Performance company: Little Green Men
Venue 53: Stephenson Theatre at theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall | Venue 9: Studio at theSpace @ Niddry St
7 – 22 Aug | Various times | 55 minutes | Book tickets

An incompetent CIA station chief, his new British-Korean interpreter, and an immortal Korean guerrilla find themselves entangled in reckless covert ops and secret psychedelic brainwashing experiments in 1952 Seoul. Flash forward to the present day where conspiracy king Andy Payne has been banned from every major platform and now takes his underground broadcast live, ranting about the lizard people and government mind control. History as hallucination, disinformation as fact, and conspiracy theories on acid.

The Spy Who Came in from the Park

Genre: Musical Theatre | Dark Comedy
Performance company: Five Days More Production Team
Venue 236: Forest Theatre at Greenside @ George Street
17 – 22 Aug | 15:00 | 50 minutes | Book tickets

A loyal North Korean sleeper agent in Japan receives a surreal mission: escorting the regime’s headstrong heir through a capitalist theme park. Inside this “dream factory,” his ideological devotion cracks. He realises both the park and his motherland are hierarchies built on manufactured delusions. Forsaking grand narratives, the agent discovers the value of ordinary individuals. Yet, as the agent finds his heart, the child finds his hunger. Atop the fairytale castle, the heir rejects toys for something far more addictive: the intoxicating power of looking down upon the world.

A briefing with the British ambassadors to South and North Korea, who will talk about their work and current issues on the Peninsula. After the presentations there will be a Question & Answer session and a reception with refreshments.

Colin Crooks has been the British Ambassador to the Republic of Korea since 2022. He previously served as Ambassador to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea from 2018 to 2021. His previous diplomatic appointments include Minister Counsellor in Beijing (2015 to 2018), and Deputy Head of the EU Mission in Indonesia (2011 to 2015), Chargé d’Affaires, Pyongyang (2008), and First Secretary in Seoul (1995 to 1999).

Simon Wood has been the British Ambassador to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea since September 2025. He has previous diplomatic assignments include: HM Consul-General in Rio de Janeiro (2017 to 2021) Deputy Head of Mission, British Embassy Copenhagen (2010 to 2014) Head of Media and Communications, British Embassy Tokyo (2007 to 2010), and Head of the FCO’s Crisis Management Department (2014 to 2017).

Organised by the British Korean Society and open to non-members

Former Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea, Dr Park Jin, will be giving a talk at Darwin on June 22nd from 4.00 to 5.30, exploring the importance of bridging the divide between the sciences and the social sciences and humanities. At a time when technological and scientific advances are transforming our lives, there is a strong argument for training public policy specialists, politicians and government officials in a wide range of areas of expertise. Dr Park brings his expertise as a professor at KAIST (the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) and his long experience in government in South Korea, to highlight the opportunities for new, innovative cross-disciplinary collaborations both in South Korea and internationally.

About the Speaker

Dr Park Jin CBE served as the 40th Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea (2022–2024) and is currently a Senior Advisor at Kim & Chang law office and a Distinguished Invited Professor at KAIST, where he teaches “Science Diplomacy.”

He began his public career as a diplomat at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and later served as Presidential Secretary for Press Affairs and Secretary for Political Affairs under the Kim Young-sam administration (1993–1998). He was subsequently elected to the National Assembly, serving four terms (2002–2012 and 2020–2024) representing the Jongno and Gangnam districts of metropolitan Seoul.

During his legislative career he served on key committees including the National Defense Committee, the Intelligence Oversight Committee, and the Foreign Affairs, Trade and Unification Committee. As its Chairman (2008–2010), he led the passage of the ROK–US Free Trade Agreement, the Korea–EU FTA, and the North Korean Human Rights Act.

Dr Park holds an LL.B. from Seoul National University, an M.P.A. from the Harvard Kennedy School, an LL.M. from New York University School of Law, and a D.Phil. in Politics from St Antony’s College, University of Oxford.

Organised by the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies and the Centre for Geopolitics, University of Cambridge

Registration 3:30 pm · Lecture 4:00–5:30 pm

Jay Park is considered as one of the most influential artists in hip-hop and popular music. He has established AOMG, H1GHR MUSIC and MORE VISION, released a diverse range of music including featuring for other artists and appeared as a mentor in various competitive music programs both domestic and international. Jay Park proved himself to the world when he became first-ever Asian artist to sign with JAY-Z’s label “Roc Nation”, and ever since, has successfully established himself as a globally acclaimed artist.

LNGSHOT is a teenage boy group from Jay Park’s independent label MORE VISION, built on the belief that a new generation of Korean artists can move with more freedom, authorship and instinct. Made up of Ohyul, Ryul, Woojin, and Louis, the group takes its name from “long shot,” a fearless strike meant to defy the odds. Since making their official debut in January 2026 with SHOT CALLERS, LNGSHOT has rapidly emerged as one of the most talked-about new acts in global music, growing to more than five million monthly Spotify listeners, hundreds of millions of streams globally, and millions of followers across TikTok and Instagram in just a few months

A New Dialogue Between Baroque and Jazz: Korean pianist and composer Jisu Jung brings her acclaimed project Baroque in Blue to Ronnie Scott’s as part of this year’s K-Music Festival. Blending the elegance of Baroque music with the spontaneity and rhythmic energy of jazz, Jung and her ensemble create a compelling dialogue between two seemingly distant musical worlds.

Drawing on her background in both classical music and jazz, Jisu Jung creates a distinctive musical language that brings the two traditions into conversation. Baroque in Blue reimagines the music of the Baroque era through the lens of jazz, combining the elegance and intricacy of composers such as Bach with the spontaneity, groove and improvisational freedom of contemporary jazz.

Performed by an ensemble that unites musicians from both classical and jazz backgrounds, the project explores the meeting point between composition and improvisation, structure and spontaneity. The result is a fresh and engaging programme that offers a new perspective on familiar musical traditions while showcasing Jisu Jung’s unique voice as a composer, arranger and performer.

“The most unexpected and freshest chamber music I’ve heard in years. Jisu Jung is a truly unique musician… new, fresh, and original. I guarantee you’ve never heard Charlie Parker’s Billie’s Bounce presented like this before!” – Vadim Neselovskyi, Berklee College of Music
“Among Korean musicians, Jisu Jung stands out for her rare ability to weave jazz and classical music together without distorting or diluting the essence of either.” — MM Jazz Magazine
“Just as Baroque’s straight lines can bend into curves, and jazz’s curves can refract into lines, Jung’s work reveals that meeting point… a testament to her remarkable artistic insight.” — Jazz People Magazine

LINE-UP

Jisu Jung Piano | Hachul Song Saxophone | Hyeonjin Jung Viola | Kanghyun Lee Cello

Dongyang Gozupa, the genre-defying Korean power trio, return with an electrifying fusion of post-rock intensity, electronic textures, and yanggeum-driven rhythms into a powerful, wordless sonic journey that expands across dynamic, shifting soundscapes.

Dongyang Gozupa, who previously wowed UK audiences with their London debut in 2021, returns to the UK stage with an even more dynamic and immersive sound. As part of their upcoming tour across the UK and Europe, the trio will present not only their signature repertoire but also premiere new material from their forthcoming release at K-Music this year, reaching wider audiences with their evolving musical vision.

Dongyang Gozupa’s music transcends genre. Rooted in progressive and post-rock, their sound is enriched by the psychedelic possibilities of the yanggeum (Korean metal-stringed zither), combined with bass and percussion to create a powerful, rhythm-driven sonic landscape. The name “Dongyang Gozupa,” meaning “Eastern High Frequency,” reflects their trailblazing approach—where intricate rhythmic “dots” connect into flowing “lines,” forming an expressive and ever-shifting musical narrative without the need for vocals.

Internationally acclaimed, the band was selected as an official showcase artist at WOMEX for two consecutive years (2020–2021), marking a significant milestone for an Asian act. Since then, they have continued to build a strong global presence through performances at major festivals and venues, including WOMAD Chile, the Rainforest World Music Festival in Malaysia, and London’s Southbank Centre, as well as appearances at the Lincoln Center in New York.

Blending tradition with innovation, Dongyang Gozupa invites audiences into a powerful, wordless musical journey that resonates across cultures and borders.

LINE-UP

Dohyuk Jang Percussion | Eunhwa Yun Yanggeum | Minhwi Ham Bass