Week 7: Tell us about somewhere nice you've been this summer; you can use words, pictures, both, and you can take us through the entire day with you or just the main events.
I know this blog was technically a week late but I decided to wait because the only event I've been to all summer was on Sunday and there was absolutely no way I'd be able to edit the entire vlog (yes, there's a video) and write the blog post all in one evening! But as they say, better late than never, right?
Anyhow, the event I went to last week was called 'Imagine Your Korea: London Korean Festival' and it was the first ever festival of its kind! It was really nice to see Korean culture being embraced and celebrated in my home country, so there was no way I could miss this event for the world, and I didn't want you guys to miss it either, so I decided to take you with me!
As you can see, it was a really fun packed and exciting day, but in this blog post I'm just going to give you a bit more of a personal perspective, information on some of the performances that happened and of course, some exclusive footage that didn't make it to the video!
The Attractions
While f(x) were arguably the main attraction for most of the people there, for those of you who would have come for a more in-depth culture experience, you absolutely wouldn't have been disappointed. The day featured all different aspects of Korean culture, from traditional music and food to modern fashion and dance.
While we were in Korea, Hanzel had the opportunity to play 사물놀이 (Samul-Nori) - the traditional Korean quartet - but at this event I got the chance to see a full performance from them as well as other traditional music and dances that I wouldn't have had the chance to see without being invited to a special event.
I particularly loved the performances by 'PAN' & 'Yun Myung Hwa Dance Company' as they really got the crowd going, even though lots of people did come for the kpop element, it was clear that they were captivated by the excitement of the traditional performances as well. Also I was reminded of just how beautiful the Hanbok is with every performance, besides historical dramas and chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) we rarely get to see how many beautiful variations there are of this lovely traditional gown.
It was also interesting to see a modern take on the Hanbok and other designs by the UK based Korean Designers. As someone into fashion I thought it was really nice and thoughtful that the event planners took the time to seek out the designers and include them in the festivities; the designers were all quite young and I can only imagine how terrifying it would be to put on a show in front of a crowd you're not sure even cares about fashion. However, I'm sure they were more than reassured by the cheers from the crowd during each show!
*Fashion Show Video Coming Soon!*
Speaking of young artists, another performance worth of mention were the Jinjou Crew! They're a b-boy dance crew originating from Korea and their performance was absolutely amazing! Unfortunately I wasn't able to capture most of it but I do highly recommend checking them out on YouTube if you have the time.
Alongside the Jinjo Crew were the finalists of the Kpop World Festival, who also put on an amazing show of singing and dancing, and they knew exactly which songs to since to get the crowd going!
And finally, what was for most people the highlight of the day, a heartwarming message from PSY promising his appearance at next years event (assuming there will be one) and of course, the lovely ladies of f(x)! If you're interested in kpop then you probably know f(x) have had a lot of controversy with one of their 5 members, Sulli, officially leaving the group quite abruptly, and lots of their fans feared whether or not they would still attend the event. But f(x) did not disappoint, even though it was their first appearance as a group of 4, they still commanded the stage with their charisma and gave their all into their performance, and they seemed to enjoy it too!
The stage aside, there were a few stalls around the perimeter of the event, although the only one I personally visited was one of the food stalls to get my k-food fix XD However there were a few stalls where you could find out information about the different aspects of Korean culture that had been shown on stage and even experience a little like trying on Hanbok and playing traditional Korean games. 
All in all, it was an event overflowing with different ways for you to appreciate different aspects of Korean culture. Considering the amazing turnout I have my fingers crossed they'll be back again next year, and they've already started hinting at other events that will be happening soon!List of Performers
- f(x)
- Guckkasten
- Jinjo Crew
- Soul Mavericks
- Yun Myung Hwa Dance Company
- Yeon Hee Company 'U-Hee'
- PAN
- 4 in Nori
- So Project
- Chef Judy Joo
- Chef Joo Won
- Kpop World Festival Finalists (Milae 3 & So Project)
My Day
The main event and all its glorious-ness aside, for me this day was significant for some other reasons too. Primarily, it was my first time being back in my hometown: London!
Okay, well technically we've been home for months now, but we actually don't live near Central London at all, we leave about 2 hours away from the center, so its not exactly cheap or quick for us to get there. That said, it was nice to finally be able to walk around the place that really did feel like 'home', especially as Central London was one of the things we missed the most while we were out in Korea.
She first caught my eye a few months back when I happened to stumble onto one of her pictures in an Ulzzang group on facebook, I honestly felt like she really upheld some of the traditional looks and values of the style, so really it was only a matter of time before we became friends. Since we live in different areas we unfortunately never had a chance to meet, until the day of the event that is! We clicked instantly and we ended up spending a majority of the day together and we got on really well~ who knows, in future we may even collab? Fingers crossed!
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, the day was absolute amazing. While it wasn't exactly what I was expecting, for a free event taking place in one of the busiest tourists spots in the heart of Central London, it definitely wasn't half bad!
No matter who you are an what you're into, there was definitely something to take away from the day, and as a K-culture enthusiast, it was really nice to see that the majority of the people there were actually non-Koreans showing so much love and appreciation for their wonderful culture.
It was an amazing day and I can't wait for next year!
한국, 위하여! 대한민국, 만세!
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