KoreanBritish

Korean British is a term used to describe British citizens and residents with Korean ancestry, as well as people of mixed British and Korean heritage who identify with both cultures. The phrase covers the South Korean-born population living in the United Kingdom and their descendants, reflecting the wider Korean diaspora in Europe. Identity among Korean Britons can be diverse, varying with generation, upbringing, and community ties.

Migration from Korea to the UK began in small numbers in the mid-20th century, but grew stronger from the 1990s onward as students, professionals, and families joined existing communities. London is a central hub, with New Malden in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames hosting the largest cluster of Korean residents in Europe. Other pockets exist in Manchester, Glasgow, and Cambridge, often anchored by cultural businesses, churches, and schools.

Korean British communities sustain language and cultural practices through family networks, language schools, churches and temples, and Korean-language media and associations. Korean restaurants, supermarkets, and cultural events contribute to a visible presence in urban areas. Intergenerational ties often involve bilingualism in Korean and English, with many second-generation Koreans navigating both Korean and British identities in education and employment.

Like many immigrant groups, Korean Britons participate in broader British society while maintaining distinctive customs. Debates about assimilation, bilingual education, and representation appear in local communities, academic studies, and media coverage, reflecting ongoing social integration and the evolution of a Korean-British identity.