London Korean Film Festival

Name: London Korean Film Festival
Address: Korean Cultural Centre UK, 1-3 Strand, London, WC2N5BW, GB
Telephone: +442070042600
Price range: Not applicable

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London Korean Film Festival

A film festival bringing the most fresh and exciting cinema of Korea to British shores

We believe that Korea has a huge and varied cinema that needs to be seen to be believed and strive to expose the British public to this fantastic range of films that the country has to offer.

21/05/2026

This June, we're marking 50 years of Korean film preservation with a very special screening — one of the most daring and visually stunning films of its era.

Visionary director 𝐇𝐚𝐧 𝐇𝐲𝐮𝐧𝐠-𝐦𝐨 changed the landscape of popular Korean film with his spectacular images of cosmopolitan Seoul — powered by brilliant camera movements and stylish editing, and a fearless lens on women navigating a 'liberalised' postwar Korea against the weight of traditional patriarchy.

𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐨𝐦 (𝟏𝟗𝟓𝟔) tells the story of Madame Oh Sun-young, a woman who appears to have an enviable life: married to a successful professor, mother to a young son, and living in one of the wealthiest neighbourhoods of postwar Seoul. When she accepts a job selling imported luxury goods, Madame Oh is introduced to a new social world, filled with exciting acquaintances and modern temptations. As she begins to explore this new life, her experiences threaten to spark scandal. Meanwhile, her husband becomes increasingly involved with one of his tutoring students, adding another layer of tension to their marriage.

The introduction will be delivered by Lottie Skala, a Film Programming and Curating MA student at Birkbeck, University of London.

📅 Date: Tuesday 30 June
⏰ Time: 18:00 – 20:30
📍 Location: Korean Cultural Centre UK⁠
🎟️ Tickets: https://www.koreanfilm.co.uk/events/celebrating-50-years-of-korean-film-preservation-madame-freedom/

30/04/2026

Our upcoming screening is Lee Byeong-il’s 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗮𝘆 (1956), a celebrated classic that helped bring Korean cinema to the international stage. It was not only a domestic success, earning critical acclaim for its comedy and strong moral tone, but also won the award for Best Comedy at the Fourth Asian Film Festival, signalling the beginning of Korean cinema’s emergence on the international stage.

Master Maeng is the head of a modest estate in the countryside, neither especially wealthy nor particularly distinguished. He is therefore overjoyed when, after travelling for a day to the affluent Kim family in Bellflower Valley, he succeeds in arranging his daughter’s engagement to their son. Although he did not actually meet the son during his visit, having heard of his scholarly achievements and seen the Kim family’s considerable wealth and property with his own eyes, he regards this as a minor detail.

However, a travelling scholar from Bellflower Valley soon arrives at the Maeng household, asking to stay for a few days to recover from his journey. In conversation with a manservant, he casually remarks that the Kim family’s son was born lame. Before long, rumours spread throughout the village; the Maeng family is thrown into a state of panic, and increasingly desperate measures begin to be considered.

The introduction will be delivered by India Smith, a Film Programming and Curating MA student at Birkbeck, University of London.

📅 Date: Monday, 18 May
⏰ Time: 18:00 – 19:20
📍 Location: Korean Cultural Centre UK⁠
🎟️ Tickets: https://www.koreanfilm.co.uk/events/celebrating-50-years-of-korean-film-preservation-the-wedding-day/

30/03/2026

Our second screening of '50/50: Celebrating 50 Years of Korean Film Preservation' ⁠features 𝙋𝙞𝙖𝙜𝙤𝙡(1955).

A band of ‘red’ partisans run up a mountain gorge under fire. We the spectators enter with them into Piagol – Pia Valley – at full speed, deep into the Jiri mountains. Their numbers will soon be reduced to a handful: captain Agari (‘big mouth’), his second-in-command Cheol-su, a few male adults, two women and a boy. This micro-society of revolution will gradually consume itself.

𝙋𝙞𝙖𝙜𝙤𝙡 ⁠was one of only 15 films released in 1955. Hindsight suggests this year as the beginning of a Golden Age, at least a remarkable decade and a half, for film in Korea. While the best-known products of the post-Korean War cinema would be predominantly melodramas and/or period films, Piagol attempted something more challenging: a historically informed, though still anti-communist, representation of leftist partisan fighters left stranded in the South after the main phase of the war ended in stalemate and the Armistice of July 1953 confirmed the bloody status quo.

The introduction will be delivered by Júlia Pujals Antolin, a Film Programming and Curating MA student at Birkbeck, University of London.

📅 Date: Wednesday, 29 April⁠
⏰ Time: 18:00 – 20:00⁠
📍 Location: Korean Cultural Centre UK⁠
🎟️ Tickets: https://www.koreanfilm.co.uk/events/celebrating-50-years-of-korean-film-preservation-piagol/

16/03/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our special screening of 𝐍𝐨 𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧-𝐰𝐨𝐨𝐤 at Korean Cultural Centre UK in collaboration with MUBI UK & Ireland.

It was a wonderful evening celebrating the work of one of Korea’s master filmmakers, and we’re grateful to all the guests who attended and took part in the reception and Park Chan-wook film quiz.

A special thank you to for hosting the quiz and bringing great energy to the evening.

🎬 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐒𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 - 𝐀 𝐅𝐞𝐰 𝐓𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐟𝐭
Don’t miss our upcoming screening of 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲 (𝟏𝟗𝟓𝟖).

📅 Date: Tuesday, 17 March
⏰ Time: 18:00 – 20:10
📍 Location: Korean Cultural Centre UK
🎟️ Tickets: https://www.koreanfilm.co.uk/events/celebrating-50-years-of-korean-film-preservation-the-money/

We look forward to seeing you again soon!

10/03/2026

The Korean Cultural Centre UK is pleased to present the programme “𝟓𝟎/𝟓𝟎: 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝟓𝟎 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐊𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐦 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧,” co-organised with the Korean Film Archive, marking its 50th anniversary in 2024.

This special series showcases four restored films from the 1950s. Each work has been digitally restored, and all of the selected titles hold an important place in the history of Korean cinema.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲 (1958)
Bong-su is a farmer who, even in a good year, struggles to repay his debts and support his family (his wife, his daughter, and his son who has just returned from military service). His difficulties are not due to a lack of effort; rather, farming offers little financial reward, and he lacks the opportunistic skills needed to protect or grow his income. Gradually, through card games at the local tavern and attempts to strike business deals in Seoul, he is drawn toward financial ruin.

Based on a play by Son Ki-hyun, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘺 offers a strident critique of capitalist society and reflects the strong influence of Italian Neorealism on postwar Korean cinema. At the time of its release in 1958, the film’s pessimistic tone likely resonated deeply with audiences who were experiencing similar hardships in the aftermath of war and economic instability.

The introduction will be delivered by Leo Krenzer, a Film Programming and Curating MA student at Birkbeck, University of London.

📅 Date: Tuesday, 17 March
⏰ Time: 18:00-20:10
📍 Location: Korean Cultural Centre UK
🎟️ Tickets: https://www.koreanfilm.co.uk/events/celebrating-50-years-of-korean-film-preservation-the-money/

27/02/2026

In collaboration with MUBI, we are delighted to present a special screening of 𝘕𝘰 𝘖𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘊𝘩𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 by master filmmaker Park Chan-wook, celebrating its release on the MUBI platform.

𝘕𝘰 𝘖𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘊𝘩𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 follows what happens when paper expert Yoo Man-soo (Lee Byung-hun) loses his job after 25 years of service and finds himself at risk of losing the life he has worked so hard for. To secure his next role, he plans to eliminate his competitors by any means necessary. Director Park’s delightfully wicked film features his signature twists, dark humour, and exquisite imagery.

A special guest will introduce the film. Following the screening, join us for a reception featuring Korean drinks and snacks and don’t miss our Park Chan-wook film quiz during the reception.

📅 Date: Friday, 13 March
⏰ Time: 18:30 – 22:00
📍 Location: Korean Cultural Centre UK
🎟️ Tickets: Link in bio

27/01/2026

🏆 Our first-ever LKFF Audience Award goes to 𝘿𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙟𝙪: 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙋𝙤𝙚𝙩, directed by 𝙇𝙚𝙚 𝙅𝙤𝙤𝙣-𝙞𝙠.

Director Lee shared this photo with the trophy to celebrate the moment with us 🤍

LKFF is presented by the Korean Cultural Centre UK

09/12/2025

The Movie Partnership is excited to announce that 𝙊𝙢𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧: 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙝𝙚𝙘𝙮 arrives in the UK on 𝟏𝟓 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 — available on Apple TV, Amazon, YouTube Movies and Rakuten✨

Since its first publication in 2018, the webtoon has gained global fandom achieving more than 300 million views. Its unique concept of reality and fantasy worlds being merged and the epic storyline in which Kim Dokja, the sole reader of a novel, has to write a new ending with the novel’s main character, Yu Junghyeok and the companions he meets, has captivated readers all over the world.

𝘒𝘪𝘮 𝘋𝘰𝘬𝘫𝘢, 𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 20𝘴, 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘣𝘴𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘺𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘸𝘦𝘣 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 — 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘮𝘯𝘪𝘱𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘠𝘶 𝘑𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘩𝘺𝘦𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮. 𝘈𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭'𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯, 𝘒𝘪𝘮 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘪𝘵𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘪𝘧 𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘷𝘦... 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥.

Featuring a powerhouse cast: 𝐀𝐡𝐧 𝐇𝐲𝐨-𝐬𝐞𝐨𝐩, 𝐋𝐞𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧-𝐡𝐨, 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐮𝐧𝐠-𝐡𝐨, 𝐍𝐀𝐍𝐀, 𝐊𝐰𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐮𝐧-𝐬𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐠, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐉𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐎 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐊𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐊.
Subbed & dubbed versions available.

27/11/2025

It’s been over a week since the Closing Gala, but we still can’t believe LKFF 2025 has already ended — especially with our closing film 𝙃𝙖𝙧𝙗𝙞𝙣 leaving such a lasting impression on our audiences.
Let’s hear what some of them thought about this epic historical drama that wrapped up this year’s festival✨

Hope to see you all in the cinema again next year at LKFF!

LKFF is presented by the Korean Cultural Centre UK

21/11/2025

🎬The 20th edition of the London Korean Film Festival came to an end on Tuesday, 18 November, with a screening of 𝙃𝙖𝙧𝙗𝙞𝙣 at BFI Southbank.

Across three strands and two special screenings, we presented 19 exceptional Korean titles to audiences in London. It was wonderful to see so many of you back in the cinema, celebrating Korean cinema and this important festival milestone together with us💙

A big thank you to everyone who joined us this year, and a huge shout-out to our incredible team of volunteers who made it all possible. We look forward to sharing many more years of LKFF with you!

LKFF is presented by Korean Cultural Centre UK

Address

Korean Cultural Centre UK, 1-3 Strand
London
WC2N5BW

Telephone

+442070042600

Website

http://www.koreanfilm.co.uk/, https://linktr.ee/london_korean_film_festival

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