One of the longest-running film festivals, the London Korean Film Festival (LKFF), will return from 5 November to 18 November, taking place at BFI Southbank, Ciné Lumière, and ICA London.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the LKFF is dedicated to Korean cinema outside the country itself. Organised by the Korean Cultural Centre UK (KCCUK) and supported by the Korean Film Council, it serves as a milestone edition to honour the vibrant present and rich history of Korean filmmaking.
“As we celebrate the London Korean Film Festival, I am reminded of a phrase that guides my reflections on Korean aesthetics: all that is called is love,” says Seunghye Sun, Director of the Korean Cultural Centre UK.
“At its heart, cinema embodies this truth by offering us not only stories but a deeper understanding of the wide spectrum of the human condition,” he adds. “From tender lyricism to profound historical narratives, Korean film reveals how love, in its many forms, binds us to one another and to the world we share.”
The festival will open with the world premiere of Frosted Window (2025), an anthology film exploring the human condition through three interconnected stories, each set in a different season in Seoul’s Seochon neighbourhood. Directed by Kim Jong-kwan (Come, Closer, The Table, Shades of the Heart), the film unfolds like a lyrical love letter to the city. Director Kim and actor Yeon Woo-jin will join audiences for a post-screening Q&A.
The Closing Gala presents Harbin (2024), the latest feature from Woo Min-ho (Inside Men), a sweeping historical drama centred on Korean independence fighter Ahn Jung-geun. Shot by Parasite cinematographer Hong Kyeong-pyo and scored by Cho Young-wuk, the film stars Hyun Bin, Park Jeong-min, Jo Woo-jin, and Jeon Yeo-been, following its acclaimed world premiere at TIFF.
The LKFF returns with its signature constituents, Cinema Now, Women’s Voices, and a Special Screening, to each host the movies featured in the festival.
Cinema Now amasses a selection of the creative vitality of Korea’s new cinema, spanning bold thrillers, psychological dramas, and imaginative debuts:
- Commission (2024, Shin Jea-min) – a sophisticated psychodrama reimagining the webtoon industry as the setting for a serial killer mystery.
- Silver Apricot (2024, Jang Man-min) – a debut about a vampire webtoon artist returning home to confront family estrangement.
- Time to Be Strong (2024, Namkoong Sun) – a poignant exploration of ageing K-pop idols seeking renewal on Jeju Island.
- The Informant (2024, Kim Seok) – an action comedy featuring Heo Sung-tae (Squid Game) as part of a chaotic cop-informant duo.
- The Land of Morning Calm (2024, Park Ri-woong) – a haunting portrait of a decaying seaside community, winner of three Busan International Film Festival awards.
- 3670 (2025, Park Joon-ho)– an award-winning exploration of identity and sexuality starring Kwon Yu-ri (Girls’ Generation).
- Somebody (2025, Kim Yeo-jeong) – a psychological thriller delving into the dark side of a mother-daughter bond.
Women’s Voices: Defining a New Era
Curated by Son Si-nae of the Seoul International Women’s Film Festival, Women’s Voices champions emerging female storytellers pushing Korean cinema into new emotional and political territory:
- Red Nails (2025, Hwang Seul-gi) – a moving drama about a daughter and her dementia-stricken mother navigating debt, duty, and love.
- SAVE (2025, Bang Mi-ri) – a story of unexpected solidarity between a girl from an orphanage and a mysterious stranger from her past.
- The Meryl Streep Project (2024, Park Hyo-sun) – a documentary chronicling one woman’s journey toward feminist activism, inspired by her Hollywood idol.
Setting the celebratory tone of this year’s edition will be a Special Screening of Hi-Five (2025), a light-hearted superhero comedy by Kang Hyoung-chul, the creator of numerous blockbusters including Sunny (2011) and Scandal Makers (2008).
More information about the Festival’s schedule and booking a screening for each film can be found here.
This year will also see the launch of the LKFF Audience Award, giving festival-goers the chance to vote for their favourite film and play a part in shaping this special anniversary celebration.
For both long-time admirers of Korean cinema and newcomers eager to expand their cinematic horizons, the 20th London Korean Film Festival promises an exciting opportunity to discover the creativity, emotion, and depth that define one of the world’s most dynamic film industries.
With its mix of premieres, retrospectives, and fresh voices, this anniversary edition offers a journey through the heart of Korean storytelling. It is a celebration not to be missed by any moviegoer looking to broaden their taste in world cinema.
The 20th London Korean Film Festival will take place from 5-18 November 2025.
Venues: BFI Southbank | Ciné Lumière | ICA London
