Hyundai Bulgyo reported on events introducing Korean lantern traditions to local audiences in London, where participants engaged in lantern-making and cultural experiences.
The Korean Cultural Centre in the UK hosted a workshop on October 30 to teach British participants how to construct traditional lanterns and understand the history behind Yeondeunghoe. The lantern-lighting festival spans more than 1,200 years of history in Korea, earning a designation as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2012 before gaining inscription on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2020.
Center director Park Hyogeon oversaw the programs, which began as Buddhist celebrations for Buddha’s Birthday before evolving into public festivals open to people across different generations and backgrounds. Participants at the center learned about the origins of the practice and assembled their own lanterns while discussing themes of peace, happiness, and sharing.
Explore Korea at the British Museum
Activities expanded to the British Museum starting October 31, running an overnight family stay program titled “Explore Korea” through November 1. Museum members and their families took part in lantern-making workshops alongside traditional Korean dance performances and storytelling sessions.
On November 1, the museum opened a separate lantern-making session to the general public. Visitors constructed traditional lanterns by hand and joined a lantern parade inside the museum galleries.
| Date | Location | Event Type | Target Audience |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 30 | Korean Cultural Centre UK | Lantern-making workshop | Local UK participants |
| October 31 – November 1 | British Museum | Explore Korea family overnight stay | Museum member families |
| November 1 | British Museum | Lantern-making and parade | General public visitors |
Cultural Exchange Plans
The Korean Cultural Centre stated its intention to continue organizing hands-on programs highlighting both tangible and intangible Korean cultural heritage.
