Join us for a hands-on craft workshop exploring the beauty of Norigae and Jogakbo, two treasured elements of traditional Korean culture. Discover the history, symbolism, and artistry behind these unique crafts while creating your own meaningful keepsakes. Norigae Norigae is a traditional Korean ornament worn by women that added elegance and splendour to the attire of the Joseon Dynasty, an era in which modesty and restraint were highly valued in dress. Crafted from precious materials such as gold, silver, jade, gemstones, and mother-of-pearl, norigae embodies refined and harmonious beauty through the intricate combination of decorative knots, tassels, and its central ornament. Women selected and wore norigae with careful consideration of the seasons, the style of their clothing, and colour coordination, reflecting both a sophisticated sense of aesthetics and the wisdom of balancing practicality with adornment. More than a simple accessory, the norigae stands as a symbol of its time, revealing the devotion, aspirations, and everyday lives of the women who wore it. Jogakbo Jogakbo is a traditional Korean form of patchwork that transforms small leftover pieces of fabric into beautiful pieces of cloth through careful stitching and geometric composition. Originally born from a spirit of thrift and practicality, jogakbo has come to be admired for its balance, creativity, and understated elegance. Each piece reflects the maker's patience, resourcefulness, and appreciation for finding beauty in simplicity. Event Details Date: 26 June 2026, 6-8:30pm Venue: Korean Cultural Centre UK Free admission, RSVP required Photographs, videos and press photography This event will be video recorded with photographs taken through the venue. By entering and by your presence here, you consent to being photographed and filmed. Footage may be used for social media posts. Book Now

Join us for a craft workshop exploring Korea’s beautiful traditional Calligraphy. We’ll delve into the history of this elegant art form and offer a hands-on experience of this treasured cultural heritage. Korean Calligraphy Korean Calligraphy, known as Seo-ye (서예), is the traditional art of writing using a brush and ink. It has a long and rich history in Korea, flourishing particularly during the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1897). Deeply influenced by Neo-Confucian philosophy, it was regarded not only as a writing skill but also as a means of cultivating one’s mind and character. For centuries, calligraphy was been practiced by scholars, artists, and members of the royal court. It was used in official documents, poetry, and decorative screens. Beyond its aesthetic beauty, Korean calligraphy emphasises balance, rhythm, and inner spirit — the harmony between mind, breath, and brush movement. Korean Calligraphy utilises traditional tools known as the Four Treasures of the Study (문방사우): brush (필), ink (묵), paper (지), and inkstone (연). Each stroke reflects the beauty of empty space and flowing lines, creating elegant compositions that embody both discipline and artistic freedom. As a living cultural tradition, it continues to inspire modern art, design, and mindfulness practices today. The K-Creative Sessions provide a fun and engaging way to explore traditional Korean culture through hands-on activities. Event Details ●Date: 29 May 2026, 6-8:30pm ●Venue: Korean Cultural Centre UK ●Free admission, RSVP required Photographs, videos and press photography This event will be video recorded with photographs taken throughout the venue. By entering and by your presence here, you consent to being photographed and filmed. Footage may be used for social media posts. Book now: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/traditional-korean-calligraphy-workshop-tickets-1989220700664?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true

As part of the K-History Unlock series, this two-part lecture explores one of the most tragic episodes in Korean history through the life and death of King Danjong of the Joseon Dynasty. While many audiences may be familiar with the atmosphere of royal court politics through the acclaimed Korean film The King's Warden, this lecture offers a deeper historical perspective on the real events surrounding the young king’s downfall. It examines the themes of loyalty, betrayal, power, and political upheaval that shaped this defining moment in Korean history. The lecture series will also explore the broader political and historical aftermath of Danjong’s tragedy and how his story continued to resonate throughout later generations of the Joseon Dynasty. Book now: https://forms.gle/EavCyUqQAwkDSZRE8

K-Creative Sessions Join us for a craft workshop exploring Jogakbo. We'll delve into the history of this patchwork craft and offer a hands-on experience of these cultural treasures. Jogakbo: Jogakbo (조각보): Jogakbo is a traditional Korean form of patchwork. It's an art of creating a larger cloth by sewing together small, leftover scraps of fabric, typically in a geometric pattern. Key characteristics and history of Jogakbo: ●Origin: Jogakbo originated during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) in Korea. It was a practice born out of a philosophy of frugality and simplicity, where women would repurpose fabric scraps from making clothing and household items rather than discarding them. ●Purpose: The most common use for a Jogakbo was to create bojagi, which are traditional Korean wrapping cloths. Bojagi were used for a variety of domestic purposes, such as wrapping gifts, covering food, or carrying items. ●Aesthetic: Jogakbo is known for its distinctive and modern-looking abstract patterns, which often resemble a ‘windowpane’ due to the stitching technique. The geometric designs are created improvisationally as the artist pieces together scraps of different shapes, sizes, and colours. ●Cultural Significance: Beyond its practical use, Jogakbo also holds a cultural significance. It was a creative outlet for women during a time when their lives were largely confined to the domestic sphere. The finished pieces often tell a story, with the scraps coming from significant garments like wedding dresses or official uniforms, making them a type of family heirloom. This event provides a fun and engaging opportunity to explore traditional Korean culture through hands-on activities. Event Details ●Date: 24 April 2026, 6-8:30pm ●Venue: Korean Cultural Centre UK ●Free admission, RSVP required Photographs, videos and press photography This event will be video recorded with photographs taken through the venue. By entering and by your presence here, you consent to being photographed and filmed. Footage may be used for social media posts. Book now! https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/jogakbo-workshop-tickets-1986889126864?aff=oddtdtcreator&_gl=1*x2rl2a*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTU4MTIxNzI1MS4xNzc1NTU1OTQ1*_ga_TQVES5V6SH*czE3NzU1NTU5NDQkbzEkZzAkdDE3NzU1NTU5NDQkaj

Join us for a craft workshop exploring Korea’s Dancheong through mini lanterns. We'll delve into the history of this traditional craft and offer a hands-on experience of this cultural treasure. Dancheong Dancheong refers to traditional colouring on wooden buildings and artifacts in Korea for decoration and style that can be traced back to the period of the Three Kingdoms of Korea (57 BCE to 668 CE). For centuries, this art has been used in architecture, painting, sculpture and assorted crafts. Its usual function was to cover design defects and prevent cracks in wooden buildings, in addition to repelling pests and protecting buildings from the elements. Sacred places like temples or palaces adopted a variety of dancheong patterns and radiant colours to accentuate their designs. Dancheong utilises blue, red, yellow, white and black, the five cardinal colours that represent wood, fire, earth, metal and water, respectively, based on yin and yang and the Five Elements Theory. As Daniel Tribouillard, CEO of the French fashion brand Leonard, said, “The bold combination of vivid pink, blue green, yellow and purple is something I’ve never seen in any other part of the world.” Thus the colours used in dancheong is unparalleled. In addition, dark red pillars, green leaves, white and black stripes, and repetitive red and blue geometric shapes combine and contrast the principles of nature and art. The K-Creative Sessions provide a fun and engaging way to explore traditional Korean culture through hands-on activities. Event Details ● Date: 27 March 2026, 6-8:30pm ● Venue: Korean Cultural Centre UK ● Free admission, RSVP required Photographs, videos and press photography This event will be video recorded with photographs taken throughout the venue. By entering and by your presence here, you consent to being photographed and filmed. Footage may be used for social media posts. Book now! https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/making-mini-lanterns-with-a-dancheong-pattern-tickets-1984775722615?aff=oddtdtcreator