Growing interest in Korean music, food and language is spurring new community connections in Belfast, with enthusiasts of all backgrounds coming together at a recent cultural event.

Eve Hannon has followed K-pop for over a decade, back when the genre was little known outside South Korea. She said the music drew her in and eventually inspired her to study Korean and travel to the country with her sister Aimee. The trip deepened their fascination with the culture and its history.

At the celebration, a noraebang session prompted Aimee to recall her time in Seoul. Their journey, they said, has only strengthened their commitment to learning more.

Lisa Tsang became interested in Korean culture in the early 2000s and has watched access change dramatically. What once required active searching now reaches audiences on its own, she noted. For her family, the increased visibility is significant. Her husband, of Hong Kong heritage, grew up in Belfast often feeling like an outsider. She said their four-year-old son now sometimes copies the hairstyle of a BTS member.

Seryeon Lee moved to Belfast from South Korea ten months ago for study. She said local enthusiasm for her culture made it easy to make friends and inspired her to become a K-pop fan herself. Many people have told her they want to learn Korean.

Restaurant owners are also part of the shift. Sean Armstrong runs Gogi Belfast, a Korean barbecue spot, and said his aim is always to bring people together to experience the cuisine collectively while remaining respectful of its origins.

Jae Shon, who has lived in Northern Ireland for a decade and operates Seoul Food + Studio, observed that when she arrived there was little visible Korean community. She now sees widespread openness to learning. The culture is very people-centred, she explained, which helps it resonate. Customers are not just consuming but engaging deeply, she added.

Kirsten Gibson, a co-founder of the Belfast K-Pop Society, said what was once considered a niche interest is now met with far greater curiosity. The society helps fans connect and share their enthusiasm. She believes tangible elements like food and music offer a way to challenge preconceptions and prompt deeper cultural exploration.