Korean Cultural Centre UK Hosts Diplomatic Cinema Lecture and Screening
Korean Cultural Centre in London explores history and cultural diplomacy through a classic film screening and academic lectura
September 10th, 2026
On August 14, 2026, the Korean Cultural Centre UK (KCCUK)—the cultural wing of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in London—hosted a special cinematic event featuring the 1960 historical classic To the Last Day. Organised at the KCCUK premises off Strand in central London, the evening combined diplomatic outreach with academic dialogue to explore historical memory, post-war Korean cinema, and the global resonance of the Korean Wave.
The event opened with a scholarly pre-screening lecture by Dr. Hyunseon Lee, Professorial Research Associate at SOAS University of London. Celebrating the publication of her research on Korean film and festival histories, the presentation contextualized how early Korean cinema navigated wartime trauma, displacement, and national reconstruction—giving international attendees a nuanced understanding of Korea's twentieth-century social history.
Following the lecture, attendees viewed a digitally preserved screening of director Shin Sang-ok’s landmark 1960 drama To the Last Day (which won the Special Jury Prize at the 1962 Berlin International Film Festival). The screening illustrated how diplomatic cultural institutes can utilize vintage cinematic archives to bridge the gap between historical heritage and contemporary global appreciation for modern Korean media.
The post-screening discussion provided a platform for British film critics, university students, and members of the diplomatic community to exchange perspectives on cinematic preservation and cultural storytelling. By curating rigorous academic discussions alongside artistic showcases, the Korean Cultural Centre reinforced its role as a key intellectual hub within London’s international cultural ecosystem.
The special screening at the Korean Cultural Centre UK highlighted the effectiveness of cinematic diplomacy in conveying complex historical narratives to an international audience. By combining historical scholarship with classic film, the Embassy’s cultural wing successfully strengthened cultural understanding and bilateral ties between Korea and the United Kingdom.
