The host of the 2018 Winter Games will be celebrating its culture all around town, offering plenty of free London 2012 Olympic attractions, including Korea House. We will be live-blogging from Korea House, plus we’ve got all the essential information for you to plan your visit below:
Live Blog
Monday, 30 July
6:23pm As soon as you’re in Korea House, you are thrust straight into the action. I had barely been taken through the front desk before I was guided into the performance room.
I caught the tail end of ‘Vinari’, a display of traditional Korean dance and music. It is a powerful display of drums and bright colours
that I was told by the house guide was formed because of South Korea’s oppression throughout it’s history.
Next up was JK, ‘Korea’s newest magical sensation’. JK’s act was a masterclass in sleight of hand with and he even broke the magicians’ code by showing the audience the method behind his tricks. However, some of his jokes with the audience just didn’t translate resulting in some cringe-worthy moments and awkward silences.
It was the exhibition downstairs that held the best of Korea House. Small robots, only a foot tall, dance to some crazy Korean techno music. The most impressive of all is artist Chang-Woo Seok, who paints traditional Korean masterpieces in under twenty minutes with a prosthetic arm. Truly inspirational stuff!
Need-to-know
Where is it?: Royal Thames Yacht Club, just to the south of Hyde Park at 60 Knightsbridge
Nearest tube: Knightsbridge or Hyde Park Corner (Piccadilly Line)
Hours: Open from 10am to 6pm
Cost: Entry is free but normally ticketed
Highlights: Dancing Robots showcasing Korean technology. Traditional Korean music performances. A dining room overlooking Hyde Park.
Restrictions: The House will primarily used for VIP’s and athletes so some areas will not be open to the public. There will be Ticketing for certain activities.
