Evolution of Migration (이민의 진화, 서울: 푸른숲, 2025) introduces the last 150 years’ history of Korean migration to Australia. It discovers the first Korean immigrant in Australia, John Corea who landed in Australia in 1876, and the first Korean international student, Kim Ho Yul who studied in Melbourne in 1921-1924.

The book covers various types of migration such as onward chain, shuttle and return migration and carries stories of contemporary Korean migrants including working-holiday makers. The author travels around the Australian outback to investigate young Korean labour migrants in the late 19th century pre-federation British colony in Australia until today.

The author, Jay Song (송지영) is honorary associate professor at the Australian National University. Prior to her current affiliation, she was Korea Foundation associate professor at the University of Melbourne to set up the Korean Studies programme and the Korean Studies Research Hub (2017-2023). Besides her academic career, she also held various positions in government, think tanks and the UN in Seoul, London, Sydney and Geneva. She’s now based in Murrumbateman, rural New South Wales, Australia, raising alpacas and writing about Asian migration and race issues in Australia.

Su Scott visits Foyles to celebrate her cookery book ‘Pocha’

Su Scott is a Korean food writer and author based in London. Her first book, Rice Table (Quadrille, 2023), was shortlisted for Best First Book at the Guild of Food Writers Awards, and her latest title, POCHA: Simple Korean Food from the Streets of Seoul (Quadrille, 2024), was shortlisted for Best Cookery Book at Fortnum and Mason Awards 2025. She has contributed recipes and features to publications including Waitrose Food, BBC Food, and Condé Nast Traveler New York. She writes the weekly Substack newsletter Simple Supper, where she shares intimate, observational essays about family, food, motherhood, migration and the changing meaning of home.

Pocha; short for pojangmacha, which literally translates as ‘covered wagon’; pocha is a tented or tarpaulin-covered stall, bar or market vendor serving up cheap and unfussy Korean comfort food, snacks and drinks.

In Pocha, Su Scott is going home to the streets where she grew up and the food that shaped her. From daybreak to sundown, 80 delicious and playful recipes take you on a journey through the narrow streets of Seoul and sheltered halls of tarpaulin-roofed markets where dust motes and steam glitter in the glow of orange tungsten lights.

Filled with vibrant location photography from Seoul that weaves a tale of Su’s touching return to her home country, Pocha is an electric and tender cookbook.

The discussion will be followed by an audience Q&A and book signing. Your ticket includes a complimentary glass of wine.

Sohn Won-Pyung visits Foyles to discuss her books ‘Almond’ and ‘Counterattacks at Thirty’ with Ela Lee

Sohn Won-Pyung studied sociology and philosophy at Sogang University before studying film directing at the Korean Academy of Film Arts (KAFA). Her debut novel, Almond, won the 10th Changbi Prize for Young Adult Fiction and has since been translated and published in more than 30 countries, including the UK and the US. She is the author of the novels Counterattacks at Thirty, Prism and Tube, the short story collection The House of Others, and the children’s book series The Mighty Fox Tail. She also wrote and directed the feature film Intruder. Her honours include the Cine21 Film Criticism Award, the Jeju 4·3 Peace Literary Prize and the Japan Booksellers’ Award. Her fifth novel, The Land of Youth, set in a near future shaped by declining birth rates and an ageing population, explores the lives of young adults navigating a rapidly changing society and is slated for publication in English by HarperVia.

Ela Lee, the writer of Minbak, will chair the event with Sohn Won-Pyung.

The discussion will be followed by an audience Q&A and book signing. Your ticket includes a complimentary glass of wine.

Kim Cho-Yeop visits Foyles to discuss her work as a South Korean science fiction writer, with Barry Pierce

Kim Choyeop is a South Korean science fiction writer. She studied chemistry at POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology), where she went on to earn a master’s degree in biochemistry. She made her literary debut in 2017, winning the Grand Prize in the novella and short story category of the 2nd Korea Science Literature Award for “관내분실”, as well as an Honourable Mention at the same awards. Her debut short story collection, If We Cannot Go at the Speed of Light, won the 43rd Today’s Writer Award in 2019, and her short story Cognitive Space received the 11th Young Writers Award in 2020. Her published works include If We Cannot Move at the Speed of Light and “원통 안의 소녀” (The Girl in the Cylinder).

Barry Pierce is a critic and culture writer whose work has appeared in the Sunday Times, the Big Issue, i-D, GQ, and British Vogue. He regularly chairs discussions at venues across London, including Foyles, the Southbank Centre and the British Library, as well as at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. He has also contributed to documentaries produced by RTÉ and BBC Radio.

The discussion will be followed by an audience Q&A and book signing. Your ticket includes a complimentary glass of wine.

A screening of the webtoon ‘Study Group’, with books available to purchase on the day!

Yun Ga Min, a student at the struggling Yusung Technical High School, is determined to go to college despite his poor grades and knack for fighting. He forms a study group but is forced to use his fighting skills to protect his friends from bullies. His teacher, Lee Han Gyeong, who tutored him while he was a middle school student, returns as a temporary teacher with a secret and hopes to improve the school.

This event will look at the original Study Group publication and the adaptation that has come from it.

The discussion will be followed by an audience Q&A and book signing. Your ticket includes a complimentary glass of wine.

Join Foyles for a family-friendly kids event filled with K-Pop themed crafts, music, plus a reading and book signing from the author.

To celebrate Korean Culture Month and the publication of K-Pop Witch Academy: A Trainee’s Dream, Do Re Mi Books and author Fiona Scoble are hosting a K-Pop party!

Fiona Scoble is an editor of award-winning and internationally bestselling children’s books. She lives in Kent with her husband and daughter, where she will often instigate a kitchen disco.

Margins United 2026: A Festival Celebrating Alternative East & South-East Asian Culture, now expanded across two venues.

16 artists; 2 venues; 1 community: Live, Rave, Arts & Crafts, Workshops, Food and our Eternal Market.

As Margins United continues to grow, we want to make sure we can deliver the best possible version of the festival, for our artists, vendors and for you! We’ve now outgrown the Archives / Cub360 Festival Site. So to give Margins United the space it needs, both Day & Night are moving to new homes.

Day (3pm – 10pm)

Exhibition White City | Ariel Way | London W12 7SL | [Map]

YVES, F5VE, THE DEEP, JACKZEBRA, R!R!RIOT, YAKA, USER116 & HEROIC DRAGON join us for the Day.

Night (11:30pm – 4:30am)

Village Underground | 54 Holywell Lane | London EC2A 3PQ | [Map]

KIMJ, RUI (F5VE) b2b UMRU, DJ LOVE (SHERWIN TUNA), AMANDA SZE, TAMANARAMEN, KOMA, HAVEN & 大地360 take us into the Night. Last entry for the NIGHT is 2AM.

The festival is split into Day & Night, which take place across two venues. These events are ticketed separately, and there is a bundle ticket covering both.

KTAM UNLEASHED brings the UK’s K-pop community together through unforgettable, intimate performances and fan experiences.

From rising Korean artists to exciting special guests, every show is designed to create lasting memories for fans. Whether you’re attending your first K-pop concert or you’re a dedicated supporter, KTAM UNLEASHED offers and intimate atmosphere with incredible performances, fan interactions, exclusive merchandise, VIP experiences, and more.

Join us as we celebrate music, culture, and the passion that connects fans across the UK and further.

An event full of K-pop performances from: STUDIO L, ANOHRTS, COMMA, ANTARES and MC HYUNSOO.

First come first served, fully seated showcase.

Each artist will perform a half an hour set, including fun games and fan interaction. After all the performances, there is a chance to buy exclusive merchandise, and join a fansign, and photo/polaroid opportunities, with your favourites.

The 21st London Korean Film Festival (LKFF) returns from 2–16 November 2026. As in prior years, the first details to be released relate to the screenings at the BFI – to align with the BFI’s normal timetable of programme announcements for the coming weeks. The full programme will be announced shortly.

Below you’ll find a summary of the screenings in the festival, which we’ll update as more details are announced.

Travel through 2,000 years of Korean creativity at a special late evening hosted by the British Museum Youth Collective. From viral K-pop routines to fan dancing and exquisite porcelains, artistic expression has always been embedded into the culture of Korea.

Be inspired and get creative as you discover different art forms through Korean objects, crafts and performances. Throughout the evening there will be a range of activities including buchaechum performances, norigae-making workshops and Youth Collective-led tours of the galleries.

Programme overview

Activities run throughout the evening across multiple locations. All are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Age guidance is 14+ and under-16s must be accompanied by an adult.

BTS: Arirang

Trail
17.30–20.30
Korea (Room 67)
The Korea Foundation Gallery

Scan the QR code on the Families Desk and head up to the Korea gallery (Room 67) to follow a trail of objects connected to BTS and their latest album.

Korean katwalk

Fashion display
17.30–20.30
Great Court

Discover how hanbok styles have developed and changed through time, and what they represent with Eolbeat and Koltura.

Hangul: write here, write now

Craft activity
17.30–20.30
Great Court

Ever wondered what your name would look like in Korean script? Meet with our hangul expert Kilchan Lee and have it written on a bookmark for you to take home. While stocks last.

Knot, knot. Who’s there?

Workshop
17.30–18.15, 18.30–19.15 and 19.30–20.15
Great Court

Get stuck in and try your hand at the traditional craft of making norigae pendants with artist Hyekyung Choi, while learning about their place in Korean cultural heritage. Sign up at the Families Desk.

Visiting the ancestors

Youth Collective-led tour
18.00–18.45 and 19.00–19.45
Great Court and galleries

Join members of the Youth Collective as they explore hope through objects in the British Museum collection. Sign up at the Families Desk.

Sounds of Joseon

Music and dance performance
18.15–18.30, 18.45–19.00 and 19.15–19.30
Reading Room

Soak up the sounds and sights of Korea through traditional music and dance with Shilla Ensemble.

This is a research seminar from the University of Westminster’s Communication and Media Research Institute with Dr Namdoo Kim (Korea Information Society Development Institute)

This seminar examines the contrast between the growing global visibility of Korean content and the structural challenges facing the Korean broadcasting sector, particularly terrestrial broadcasters. It discusses the global rise of K-content, before turning to the domestic challenges facing legacy broadcasters, such as audience fragmentation, declining advertising revenue, competition with OTT platforms, and rising production costs. These developments will be connected to broader questions about public service media, media diversity, platformisation, and national media policy. It will be of interest to anyone working on or interested in audiovisual media industries, streaming and OTT platforms, public service media, media policy, and East Asian media.

Formed in Seoul in 2024, can’t be blue are a five-member band composed of Lee Dohun (vocals), Kwon Dahyun (keyboard), Lee Hwuiwon (bass), Kim Chaehyun (guitar) and Kim Daehun (drums).

The band defines its music as an expression of sadness without being confined by it, independently handling songwriting, composition, arrangement and production. Their sound moves between R&B-based pop and rock, combining contemporary arrangements, emotionally driven melodies and the distinctive vocal delivery of Dohun.

Since their debut “Within the Words I once Called Love” in June 2024, can’t be blue have experienced a rapid rise in Korea. The song’s music video surpassed 14 million views on YouTube, while the band earned recognition through major Korean music competitions and development programmes, including CMYK Rolling Hall × JUMF and INDIESTANCE.

Their growing reputation has also taken them to major stages outside Korea, including Hozo International Music Festival in Vietnam and the Golden Melody Festival in Taiwan, alongside appearances at major Korean festivals such as Grand Mint Festival, Soundberry Festa and Cass Cool Festival.

European tour dates include:
2 November — London, UK: Islington Assembly Hall
3 November — Manchester, UK: Manchester Club Academy
Tickets go on sale Tuesday, 15 September at 1 PM BST

Big Ocean bring their polished harmonies and bright pop energy to London on 3 November 2026, as part of their Fall Europe Tour, at a venue to be announced soon. Ticket sales open on 21 September.

The trio, managed by Parastar Entertainment, have been steadily building a following for their emotive vocals and inclusive message. Their London stop promises a compact, high‑impact set showcasing the group’s blend of classic K‑pop polish and heartfelt performance.

Oceanfromtheblue brings his introspective R&B and sleek Seoul‑pop aesthetic to London’s Courtyard Theatre on 12 March 2027.

Known for his fluid blend of soul, hip‑hop and dreamlike electronica, the singer‑producer has become one of Korea’s most distinctive voices in the alt‑R&B scene. Back to Blue marks his return to the UK with a set that promises both emotional depth and understated groove.

Consistency becomes the defining force in Ilhwa Kim’s practice, as she exemplifies the art of patience in every phase of her execution. Her work draws the viewer into a meditative state, shaped by a commanding interplay of precision, spatial depth, and perceptual complexity. Through this dominant perspective, she crafts elusive imagery that invites individual interpretation, offering each observer a unique visual journey.

The interplay and materiality of seeds on the canvas evokes a peculiar life presence, reminiscent of biological organisms that are still in growth. This interaction between the material elements and the essence of life creates an intriguing space on the surface of the artwork.

“I create my own version of seeds, gathering all the materials from scratch.

Using my tiny seeds, I bring a lifelike creature into being. It generates unique surfaces that are simultaneously young and old, physical and emotional, geographic and spiritual.

These surfaces begin to quarrel, betray, grow, and create their own history. Once they thicken into layers of wild timelines, an unexpected real-world reality plays out and grows upon the geographic surface. ”