The Korean British Cultural Exchange (KBCE) is inviting residents to take part in the final event of their 7th anniversary of the Kingston Korea Festival this Saturday, November 19.

The Kimjang Festival will be held at St Georges Square in New Malden between 11am - 3pm and will include activities such as kimchi stuffing, tasting, Korean cuisine and cultural events.

Kimjang is the act of making kimchi, the national food of Korea and traditionally produced to preserve vegetables during the winter months, it is produced nationally and is becoming increasingly popular worldwide.

In recent years, as well as becoming globally recognised for its taste, it has been considered to have a range of health benefits, with many nutritionalists and health specialists recommending it for gut health.

Saturday's festival will provide the opportunity for kimchi enthusiasts and those at the start of their culinary journey to take part in kimchi making sessions in St Georges Square and kimchi-tasting sessions with complementary food pairings in Bar Malden.

The sessions, hosted by Chef Cindy from The Korean Pantry, will include an in-depth look into the process of making different types of Kimchi and the long history and importance of the food within Korea.

Tickets for Saturday's event can be purchased HERE.

Chef Cindy has over 10 years of experience in Korean cuisine and will be hosting the Kimchi making and tasting sessions this Saturday.

There has been a considerable increase in awareness of East and Southeast Asian culture in the UK in recent years due to social media, the growth of popular culture and accessibility to travel, however often the origins and traditional aspects are missed or promoted inaccurately.

The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames has one of the largest expatriate communities of South Koreans in Europe, and is said to be one of the most densely populated areas of Korea outside of South Korea. An estimated 20,000 South Korean's currently live in New Malden.

The annual Kingston Korea Festival aims to celebrate the bringing together of Korean cultures and educate people about authentic experiences or traditions they may never know about.

KBCE's initial 2022 celebration, Harvest Fest, was rescheduled due to the late passing of Queen Elizabeth II, however, the organisation, alongside Kingston's ESEA (East and Southeast Asian) communities were able to host their festivities at the Rose Theatre over the weekend, Sunday 13 November.

The programme was split into two parts, the first showcasing the community aspect of the ESEA community, bringing cultures together through music, dance and storytelling.

The second exhibited the extremely talented artists from across Asia including Dr Hyelim Kim playing the Daegeum, Hibiki Ichikawa playing the Shamisen and Jason Lau playing the Guzheng . There was also a dance performance by SY Park and emerging artists from Kingston to commemorate the late Queen Elizabeth II.

This Saturday's Kimchi making and tasting marks a fascinating end to the 2022 Kingston Korean celebrations and provides a unique experience for residents to enjoy over the weekend.