New Malden is the hub for Korean culture in the UK with it hosting the largest population of Koreans in Europe. You’ll find a Korean BBQ restaurant opposite a Greggs and a Bibimbap place a short walk from a Paddy Power.
With the recent rise in popularity of K-Pop, Korean Movies and K-Drama, New Malden has also become a natural meet-up spot for fans of Korean culture.
This September, the London Hallyu Diversity 2025 provided a weekend of fun and activities in New Malden’s Malden centre as organised by Nottingham-based shop K-Pop Corner.
Within the Malden centre, visitors could purchase such items as memorabilia and artwork of their favourite K-Pop idols and the latest trends in K-Beauty.
The Malden centre also housed a showcase of traditional Koran music followed a contest and global audition hosted by Pledis Entertainment, the label behind groups such as Seventeen, After School and fromis_9.
Outside in the nearby Jubilee Square, visitors were given the opportunity to partake in a number of activities. These included learning to write their names in Hangul, a chance to wear hanboks, and Jegichagi, a game in which players kick a piece of paper in the air for as long as they can without it touching the ground.
The day was concluded with a Random K-Pop Dance Challenge as arranged by BKT K-Popevents.
