K-Culture Forum in London explores future of hallyu in digital age

Poster for the Korean Cultural Centre UK's K-Culture Forum / Courtesy of KCCUK

The Korean Cultural Centre UK (KCCUK) will host the K-Culture Forum at the Royal Society of Arts in London on June 9, bringing together cultural leaders, innovators and thinkers to explore new directions for Korea’s soft power amid a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Under the theme “Celebrating Creativity: Digitally, Boldly, Korean,” the forum aims to present a vision for the future of the Korean wave, also known as hallyu, while embracing uncertainty as an opportunity for creative transformation.

“Culture transforms uncertainty into possibility,” KCCUK Director Sun Seung-hye said.

“At the forefront of Korea’s soft power, we aim to present the future of hallyu here in the U.K. — the birthplace of the creative industries — while boldly navigating the digital era with Korean creativity and aesthetics.”

The event consists of two parts — a series of keynote talks in the morning, followed by an open forum and networking reception in the afternoon. It is expected to bring together prominent voices in Korean culture alongside international experts in art, economics, philosophy and digital content.

The first session will open with remarks from Sun, who will outline a vision of "digital humanism" as Korea’s next cultural frontier. Drawing on her experience with KCCUK's campaigns such as "Korean Culture, Now!" and "Connect Korea," she will propose a path forward that emphasizes the transformation of Korean cultural assets into future heritage using public digital archives and extended reality (XR) technologies.

Seungkyu Ryan Lee, co-founder of the Pinkfong Company behind the viral global hit "Baby Shark," will share insights on creating globally resonant Korean content, highlighting strategies for sustainable digital innovation and audience engagement across platforms.

Choi Do-bin, lecturer of Korean and Comparative Philosophy at Leiden University in the Netherlands, will close the first session by offering a philosophical framework for understanding Korean aesthetics in global culture.

The second session, an open forum and networking reception titled "The Future of Korean Culture," will provide space for deeper discussion among attendees, fostering dialogue on the evolving identity and future trajectory of Korean culture.

"The K-Culture Forum positions Korean culture not merely as a global trend but as a cultural inflection point. It aims to offer critical insight into the evolving identity, uniqueness and international potential of Korean culture," KCCUK said in a statement.