London gives birth to new society dedicated to promote K-culture and entertainment
On November 24th was born the London Hallyu Society (LHS), a non-profit organization aimed at federating Londoners interested in “Korean dramas, K-pop and all the modern Korean art and entertainment.” That day is also the birthday of London Korean Drama Club’s founder, an unbelievably timely and ironic coincidence!
The LHS was founded by two bubbly fans of all things-Korean, both studying digital culture at King’s College London:
- Vidana is Egyptian-Swiss, and discovered Korean dramas as the Middle East Broadcasting Centre (MBC) started airing a selection dubbed in Arabic on its female entertainment channel MBC4, in particular Boys over Flowers.
- Klara is Malaysian and like many of her home country’s generation is a big fan of Kpop, in particular BIG BANG, but also Kdramas. Actually, the website cool2vu.com, on which you can watch Korean dramas for free in the UK since March 2015 (thanks to a partnership with Viki), initially launched in Malaysia and was called Maaduu!
Despite being from very complete backgrounds, Vidana and Klara have forged a friendship through their love for K-culture and food, and wish to welcome “people from all nationalities and ethnicities” to be members and even “part of the ruling committee”.
Walking in the steps of our first Korean drama screenings and panel talk, they plan to also have screenings, K-drama nights, discussions and social events” for members “to get to know each other better”, as well as get-togethers when Kpop concerts happen in London. Down the line they hope to be able to invite “Korean producers, screenwriters, actors, singers and bands as guest speakers.”
Many of you may have noticed the LHS already had their first event, a screening of Korean comedy drama “Oh My Venus” – which is currently available to watch on Viki (only in the U.S. for DramaFever).
With the London Korean Drama Club (founded in April 2014) and the Queen Mary University London Korean Society (founded almost one year before, on 29 November 2014), the London Hallyu Society (LHS) is the third society organizing public screening events for Korean dramas in London, and per haps the UK!