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How Korean culture is bringing Belfast together

Zahra BazBBC News NI
BBC A landscape image of two sisters smiling at the camera - one with long blonde hair and the other with long, lightly curled red hair. The sister with blonde hair is wearing a black top and silver necklace, while the other is wearing a white t-shirt with denim over the top of it. They are sitting at a wooden table on a wooden bench. In the background, more wooden tables and benches can be seen amongst plants and blue and green fairy lights.BBC
(L-R) Aimee and Eve Hannon travelled to South Korea for the first time together because of their interest in the culture

From lifelong K-Pop fans, to those with personal ties to South Korea, a growing community is connecting through Korean culture.

At an event to celebrate Korean culture, newcomers and longtime fans came together amid music, spice, and sesame-filled aromas, each sharing how their interest began - and why it continues to grow.

Eve Hannon has been a fan of K-Pop for more than a decade - long before it became widely recognised.

"When I was younger, nobody really knew what it was outside of South Korea," she said. "Now it's everywhere."

What often begins with music has deepened into a wider passion, inspiring many to learn the language and travel abroad.

"It's important to share culture from other countries and meeting people who want to learn together is a great thing for community," she said.

She recently travelled to South Korea with her sister on a trip they feel has only furthered their interest in the culture, language and history.

"It's completely different to anything we've seen here. I came away so excited to learn more.

"When I saw there was going to be noraebang (karaoke) here, I got so excited", added Aimee Hannon. "I can't wait - it reminds me of being right back in Seoul."

A landscape image of three women smiling at the camera. All with dark brown hair and brown eyes. The woman on the left is sitting with her arms folded and is wearing a light blue cardigan. In the middle, the woman is wearing a black hoodie and white t-shirt with her hands in her lap. Also with her hands in her lap is a woman dressed in a red dress.
(L-R) Song Yi-Yang, Lisa Tsang and Chung Ahe-Seo became friends because of their children and are now out for a girls night

Others say the growing visibility of Korean culture has changed how they experience it.

Lisa Tsang feels access is very different from when she initially became interested in the early 2000s.

"You used to have to really seek it out," she said. "Now it finds you."

For Tsang, the growing influence of K-pop culture has had a positive impact on her family.

"My household is mixed race, and it's important for my kids to see other children who share their features.

"My husband is from Hong Kong and grew up here, and he felt like he was very 'other' and that he didn't fit in so I think this shift we're seeing is very important.

"My four-year-old will part his hair in the middle and say he's Jungkook from BTS; I think that's really, really lovely."

'It makes me feel proud to be Korean'

For Seryeon Lee, who moved to the city last year from South Korea, Belfast's growing interest has had a personal impact.

She said she has found a stronger connection to her identity and heritage.

"My culture is so loved. I've found it so easy to make friends and people want to learn Korean so they can speak more with me.

"I wasn't really a fan of K-Pop before coming to Belfast but now I am a massive fan because of the friends I've made and the community it's helped me build here.

"I've become more proud to be Korean, and it makes me want to share more of my culture," she added. "I've had a great experience in Belfast so far, I really like it."

Sean Armstrong, who owns the Korean BBQ restaurant, Gogi Belfast, said it's about "bringing people together to experience it collectively".

"I'm not Korean and I don't claim to be an expert, the aim is always about celebrating and sharing something that I admire in a way that's respectful."

Jae Shon, Seoul Food + Studio An image of a smiling young woman with black hair tied back wearing a dark grey t-shirt that says "Seoul Food" in white writing. She is sitting on a beige sofa with wooden backing. The wall behind her is white and there are wooden shelves on the wall to the right.Jae Shon, Seoul Food + Studio
Seryeon moved to Belfast 10 months ago to study after recommendations from a lecturer in Seoul

Jae Shon, owner of Seoul Food + Studio, has lived in Northern Ireland for 10 years and said she has seen that interest grow steadily over time.

"When I first came here there wasn't a very visible Korean community," she said.

"A lot of people discover South Korea through K-Pop or K-Dramas, but what keeps them interested is the people behind the stories."

That, she believes, is what makes the culture resonate more widely.

"It's very people-centred," she said. "That's something people from any background can connect with."

For Jae, seeing that interest translate into real engagement is meaningful.

"It makes me really happy. When I first opened, I was overwhelmed by the positivity. People are so open in willing to learn and to try.

"People aren't just consuming Korean culture, they are appreciating it."

Kirsten Gibson A photo of three young women smiling at the camera for a selfie. The woman on the left is wearing a sleeveless red top with brown and dyed hair in two plaits; in the middle, the woman is wearing a grey and white checked jumper and is cupping her cheeks. She has long brown hair and has a pink clip in. On the right, the woman has shoulder length blonde hair and is wearing a black hat. She can be seen wearing a red bow necklace and is holding a small purple banner.Kirsten Gibson
(L-R) Kirsten Gibson, Clodagh Donaghy and Catherine Adams recently interviewed K-Pop group TRENDZ following their first concert in Dublin, making them only the second K-Pop group to perform in the Republic of Ireland

Interest in Korean culture has grown rapidly in recent years, driven in part by the global success of K-Pop, film and television.

Locally, this has translated into a growing community of fans and creatives.

Kirsten Gibson, co-founder of the Belfast K-Pop Society, says the shift has been noticeable.

"People were always interested, but it was considered niche. Now it feels like people are more open about it and with that comes more curiosity.

"It helps people realise they're not alone in their enjoyment," Gibson said. "That sense of community is a big part of it."

She believes events like this can also play a role in breaking down barriers.

"Having something tangible, like food or music, really gives people a strong starting point.

"It can challenge assumptions and encourage people to learn more by looking further into other cultures."