South Western Railway (SWR) unveiled a celebration of Europe's largest Korean population in a new waiting room at New Malden station last Tuesday (17 February) to mark the Lunar New Year.

Up to 20,000 people of Korean heritage live in New Malden and its vicinity, with locals affectionately dubbing the area 'Koreatown'.

The Lunar New Year, known as Seollal in Korea, is one of the country's most important holidays. 

Meekyoung Shin, the Mayor of Kingston and Cllr Robert Kim (L to R) cutting a ribbon (Credit: South Western Railway)

Following its temporary display at the entrance of the station for Kimchi Day in November last year, SWR has relocated a station sign in Hangeul (Korean) to the space on Platform 4. 

The unique sign is accompanied by imagery depicting a sculpture of the 18th-century Duke of Cumberland in Cavendish Square by leading Korean artist Meekyoung Shin.  

SWR designed the tribute to New Malden in collaboration with the station's volunteer adopters, the New Malden Residents' Association, and local artists from The Koppel Project in Kingston upon Thames. 

The Mayor of Kingston, Cllr Noel Hadjimichael, officially opened the waiting room for customers on Tuesday, attended by Shin, Korean local councillor Robert Kim, other residents and SWR colleagues. 

Korean artist Meekyoung Shin with an image of her sculpture of the 'Duke of Cumberland' (Credit: South Western Railway)

David Wilby, Regional Development Manager at South Western Railway, said: "The waiting room is a wonderful example of how the railway can celebrate local communities and culture. 

"We've also made improvements which will benefit all our customers that travel through New Malden station." 

Kingston councillor, Cllr Robert Kim, added:  "This opening is a deeply meaningful moment for New Malden. There was a time in Korea's history when our language and even our names were suppressed. 

"To now see Hangeul proudly displayed in our town, and to celebrate Korean culture and art freely in this space, reflects how far we have come. 

"New Malden is home to Europe's largest Korean community, and this initiative demonstrates how diversity and democratic inclusiveness are not just values we speak about, but values we live. 

"The partnership with South Western Railway shows how transport hubs can also become cultural spaces – bringing communities together and strengthening local pride." 

New Malden Residents' Association, the station adopters, said: "We became station adopters in 2022, and since then the activities we have been involved with, including helping to organise Kimchi Day celebrations and the installation of the station sign in Korean, have helped us to make new friends and contacts in the diverse communities in New Malden. 

"The station is an important part of our community, so we're delighted to have a new waiting room and we're looking forward to celebrating her 180th birthday in December this year." 

The new waiting room (Credit: South Western Railway)

The new waiting room provides a modern and comfortable place for all SWR customers to relax or work while they wait for their trains. 

Features include an information screen for onward travel updates, accessible automatic entrance doors and workstations and calming features such as ambient lighting and sound dampening floors and walls.  

Recognising the station's history, dating back to the early decades of the railway in 1846, period windows have been retained thanks to a grant from the Railway Heritage Trust. 

The New Malden Residents' Association has also installed new planters to add renewed colour and life to the station environment, as well as a small community library for customers and colleagues to share books and magazines.