Curated Korea 2026 brings together a selection of contemporary Korean culture across literature, screen and food in a month-long programme across London. Through screenings, conversations and live events, the programme offers different ways to experience Korea today — through the works, people and ideas that bring its culture to life. ●THE ORDINARY JACKPOT Screening and Conversation 1 October 2026, 6.30pm Korean Cultural Centre UK RSVP NOW What if winning the lottery changed everything — except going to work? The Korean Cultural Centre UK, in collaboration with CJ ENM, presents The Ordinary Jackpot, following an office worker whose lottery win brings not a new life, but a new sense of security. Following the screening, Diane Min of CJ ENM and Trang Nguyen of K7 Media will discuss the global growth of K-drama and how Korean stories connect with audiences across cultures and markets. ●STUDY GROUP Screening and Conversation 8 October 2026, 7pm Foyles Charing Cross Road RSVP NOW A coming-of-age action drama where studying is only half the battle. Based on the popular Korean webtoon, Study Group follows Youn Ga-min, a student determined to get into college despite having far more talent for fighting than studying. Following the screening, Shin Hyungwuk and Ryu Seung Yeon, the writer and artist behind the original webtoon, will discuss the story and its journey from webtoon to screen, moderated by Heonjin Lee of CJ ENM. ●BON APPÉTIT, YOUR MAJESTY Screening and Conversation 9 October 2026, 6pm RSA House, The Royal Society of Arts RSVP NOW A time-slip romance where food becomes a language of its own. Bon Appétit, Your Majesty follows chef Yeon Ji-young, who is transported to the Joseon era and finds herself cooking for a feared king, bringing modern culinary knowledge into the royal court. Following the screening, director Chang Tae You, Sehee Jang of CJ ENM and Ed Waller of C21Media will discuss the making of the series, its creative journey to screen and the growing international reach of K-drama. ●KIM CHOYEOP If We Cannot Go at the Speed of Light In Conversation with Barry Pierce 10 October 2026, 5pm Foyles Charing Cross Road  RSVP NOW Science fiction that looks to other worlds — and back at our own.  One of the leading voices in contemporary Korean science fiction, Kim Choyeop brings scientific imagination and emotional depth together to explore connection, difference and what it means to be human. In conversation with Barry Pierce, Kim will discuss her acclaimed debut collection If We Cannot Go at the Speed of Light, newly published in English, alongside her latest novel and the ideas that continue to shape her writing. ●SOHN WON-PYUNG Almond In Conversation with Ela Lee 15 October 2026, 7pm Foyles Charing Cross Road RSVP NOW From Almond to a near-future Korea — fiction about emotion, empathy and change. Sohn Won-pyung is the internationally acclaimed author of Almond, a coming-of-age novel exploring emotion, empathy and human connection. In conversation with Ela Lee, author of Minbak, Sohn will discuss Almond alongside her latest novel, set in a near-future Korea shaped by demographic and generational change, and the ideas about individuals and society that connect her work. ●DEAR X Screening and Conversation 16 October 2026, 6pm The Garden Cinema RSVP NOW A psychological thriller about ambition, image and the self behind the mask. Adapted from a Korean webtoon, Dear X follows Baek Ah-jin, a top actress whose flawless public image conceals a ruthless instinct for survival. As she reaches the height of her career, the world she has carefully constructed begins to unravel. Following the screening, Diane Min of CJ ENM will share insights into the drama, followed by a short audience Q&A. ●SU SCOTT Pocha: Simple Korean Food from the Streets of Seoul In Conversation with Jenny Lau 21 October 2026, 7pm Foyles Charing Cross Road RSVP NOW Korean street food, shared tables and the culture of pocha. London-based Korean food writer Su Scott draws on Seoul’s pocha — informal street stalls and drinking spots — to explore food, memory and a sense of home in her latest book, Pocha. In conversation with Jenny Lau, Scott will discuss the culture of eating together and the connections between food, memory, place and belonging.

The Korean Cultural Centre UK, in collaboration with CJ ENM, presents a special screening of the newly released K-drama The Legend of Kitchen Soldier. Blending themes of military life and food culture, the series has attracted attention for its uniquely Korean setting and universally engaging storytelling. Through this special event, audiences are invited to explore the global rise of Korean content and the ways in which K-drama continues to connect with viewers across cultures. Following the screening, Diane Min, Head of European Content Sales at CJ ENM, will join us for a conversation on the international growth of K-drama and the evolving landscape of Korean content worldwide. The discussion will explore how distinctly Korean themes and emotional storytelling resonate with global audiences, followed by an audience Q&A. Book now: https://forms.gle/dzC2AJvJNC8YbAWk7

Ballet Screening｜100 min｜24 July, 6:30 PM  La Bayadère is widely regarded as one of classical ballet’s most dramatic and visually striking masterpieces. This three-act production by the Universal Ballet Company presents a sweeping tale of love, fate, and betrayal set in a mythical royal court. The story centres on Nikiya, a temple dancer; Solor, a young warrior torn between duty and desire; Gamzatti, a princess of great power; and the High Brahmin, whose obsession leads to tragic consequences. With a cast of over 120 dancers, nearly 200 lavish costumes, and rich visual design, this production offers audiences an immersive and emotionally charged experience. Tickets: https://forms.gle/APFiuwg53Asq2MFc9

In 2025, the Korean Cultural Centre UK proudly launches K-Art Lab — an initiative dedicated to exploring the future of Korean art through immersive and experimental digital media. Discretely housed within the Centre, K-Art Lab is a dedicated exhibition space where visitors can experience Korean cultural heritage through cutting-edge technology. The space features interactive digital artworks, immersive VR (Virtual Reality) journeys, XR (eXtended Reality) reinterpretations of traditional themes, and media installations that connect the past with the present. Conceived as a platform for interdisciplinary collaboration, K-Art Lab supports the creation of hybrid content that merges Korean cultural heritage with contemporary media. It provides artists, technologists, and cultural practitioners with a flexible environment to experiment, innovate, and explore new ways of engaging with tradition — whether by prototyping immersive storytelling formats, testing interactive design concepts, or collaborating across disciplines to develop new modes of expression. The 2025 inaugural programme invites audiences to explore Korea’s historical and cultural legacy through digitally restored heritage, immersive storytelling, and sensorial experiences that challenge how we encounter tradition in the digital age. By transforming heritage into immersive encounters, K-Art Lab seeks to expand the reach of Korean cultural expression — bridging time, space, and discipline to inspire new ways of seeing the past. Tickets: https://forms.gle/1sp4E3iYnGhgex9A8

K-Art Lab is launched as a new initiative to experiment with digital and multimedia art. By restoring and reinterpreting Korea’s longstanding cultural heritage through XR technology, the programme creates innovative artistic experiences that connect the past with the present. K-Art Lab Leaflet: final.pdf