Korea Day in Sheffield, Liverpool and Manchester brings Korea to UK’s most vibrant cities
The Korean Cultural Centre UK, (KCCUK) began its 2025 outreach programme with a series of exciting 'Korea Day' festivals across the central-northern part of the UK during March and April. Visiting the cultural power houses of Sheffield, Manchester and Liverpool, the 'Korea Day' festivals focused on the ‘Next generation’, covering various topics including the Korean Wave (Hallyu), Korean culture, history, and cultural industries.
The Sheffield 'Korea Day' festival, held on 27 April 2025, attended by over 600 people, featured various performances including Pansori by Professor Park Chan-eung (Ohio State University), Korean traditional music by Shilla Ensemble, Taekwondo demonstrations by the Taekwondo society of Sheffield University, and K-pop cover dances by the Sheffield University K-pop society. Cultural experience booths offering traditional Korean culture inlcuded calligraphy, Hanbok experience, Ddakji chigi (딱지치기), and Gongginori (공기놀이) were also operated. First held in 2018 and marking its 7th anniversary this year, the Sheffield 'Korea Day' festival has become a popular cultural festival in the Sheffield area, drawing enthusiastic participation from local residents.
The Liverpool ‘Korea Day’ festival was held for the second time this year on 29 April, after its first event last year, was operated with a program themed around being a UNESCO City of Music. Various programs, including a lecture on the Hallyu industry, a special lecture on employment for university students, booths for experiencing traditional games like Hanbok, Ddakji chigi (딱지치기), Gongginori (공기놀이), Tuho (투호) and a Korean culture quiz were akk highlights of the event.
The Manchester 'Korea Day' festival, held on 23 March, was organised in collaboration with the University of Manchester and the Korean Society in Manchester, marking the first time the 'Korea Day' festival visited the city. The Manchester 'Korea Day' festival, attended by approximately 150 people, consisted of various experience booths including traditional Korean games, calligraphy, and Hanbok experience, as well as traditional music performances by Shilla Ensemble and K-pop cover dances.
The Director of KCCUK Dr. Seungyhe Sun said: “The Korea Day Festivals led by the next generation lay the foundation for a new cultural heritage. As diverse communities connect through Korean culture in cities like Manchester, Sheffield, and Liverpool, a new future for K-culture begins.”
KCCUK holds various 'Korea Day' festivals in major cities across the UK. KCCUK plans to organise festivals in collaboration with major UK universities and institutions to promote the spread of Korean culture in the UK on various themes such as Korean culture, music industry, and Hallyu. For more details about the 2025 'Korea Day' festival, please visit the KCCUK website (kccuk.org.uk) and SNS.