SEOUL MATES
The London suburb that’s like visiting Korea – with restaurants and karaoke bars
And the Korean airline that serves the best plane food in the world
SOUTH KOREA has grown in popularity as a holiday destination in recent years, with Brits becoming more and more interested in Korean culture and food.
However, getting there is expensive and difficult, requiring long haul flights that take more than 10 hours.
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Yet there's a place in London where people can get a taste of Korean culture, with restaurants, businesses and even bars part of a huge Korean population.
New Malden is home to a big Korean community, with a number of shops, restaurants and businesses all run by Koreans living in the area.
As a result, it's known as "Korea Town" by some, with around 10,000 Koreans from both South and even North Korea, resident in the suburb.
That's close to a third of the UK's overall Korean population, all in one small part of London - the biggest in Europe.
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It's understandable why the community exists, with the South Korean embassy was originally based in the area.
Korean tech giant Samsung set up its first European headquarters in New Malden, while a weekly Korean language newspaper, Euro Journal, is published from there too.
Huck Magazine explained how visiting the suburb can provide people with a unique experience in London.
They wrote: "New Malden is home to the largest South Korean community in Europe, and it serves as a commercial and cultural hub for Koreans living in the UK.
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"The suburb has come to be known as London’s very own Koreatown, despite the fact it’s around 11 miles from the centre of the city.
"In New Malden, you can find almost anything that’s related to Korea: there are Korean supermarkets and restaurants, Korean hair salons and churches, a Korean school, a Korean kindergarten and even a Korean elderly community centre."
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Among the Korean cultural experiences people can have in New Malden are a number of restaurants serving authentic Korean food.
They include the likes of You Me Korean, described by Another Mag as "a noteworthy dinner spot" that's owned by the New Malden Restaurant and Supermarkets Association president.
The restaurant has been open for more than 35 years now and serves traditional dishes like bibimbap, mandu dumplings and jajangmyeon noodles.
Elsewhere, Chick and Beers is another popular spot, serves "thoroughly succulent" Korean chicken wings alongside Korea's favourite beer, Cass.
Airlines with the best plane food
Korean Air
Korean Air won best airline cuisine in last year's Global Traveler's awards.
Some of their popular dishes onboard include bibimbap, a Korean rice dish, and ssambap, Korean rice lettuce rolls.
It also made the top 10 for airlines with the best plane food in CN Travelers 2023 Readers' Choice Awards.
Japan Airlines
Coming in first place in the Reader's Choice Awards was Japan Airlines.
The airline has partnered with six Michelin-star chefs, each of whom have three stars - so you can expect it to be good.
Passengers can choose bento boxes and miso soups onboard.
Singapore Airlines
Often voted one of the best airlines in the world, it is no surprising Singapore Airlines is said to have some of the best plane food.
Chef Dennis Littley said: "Their gourmet meals rival those of ground-based restaurants."
Dishes include congee, a rice porridge, as well as Singaporean rice and curry options.
Anyone interested in cooking their own Korean food could visit the town's sizeable H Mart, London's biggest Korean supermarket.
Another Mag added: "It’s a mini-mecca of fresh produce, store cupboard essentials, and offbeat bric-a-brac.
"There are more idiosyncratic goods to be found: fish sausage corn dogs; tteokbokki mouse pads; and brew-your-own makgeolli (Korean rice wine) kits."
Getting to New Malden takes less than half an hour by train from London Waterloo.
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Meanwhile, this UK seaside town has been compared to a Greek island.
And this park in London feels like you're visiting Japan.
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