Written by: Warwick Morris  |  Posted on: July 7th, 2014

I am delighted to welcome you to our newly-designed website, coinciding with our new name: British Korean Society (BKS).

As you will know, a resolution to change our name (from the Anglo-Korean Society) was proposed at the AGM last March and was voted in by a very large margin. As well as being more inclusive, the new name – without a hyphen! – links better with other sister organisations and will be more easily recognisable.

I hope our redesigned website, and our smart new logo, meet with your approval. Your Committee is strongly behind the changes, and in this age of social media and online activity it is essential that we move with the times. I feel we are in very good shape now to celebrate our 60th Anniversary in 2016.

Our Secretary and Communications Officer Cathy Kim has been very much in the lead on the new website and logos, and has put in a great deal of work. I thank her most sincerely.

Another pleasing thing to report is that our Events Secretary Sylvia Park was awarded an MBE in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours. Sylvia became actively involved in the Society some 25 years ago and has been our Events Secretary for over 17 years. She has worked tirelessly to increase understanding and awareness between the Korean and British communities in Britain, and continues to do so. Many, many congratulations Sylvia!

Also encouraging is news that construction of the British Korean War Memorial, for which a ground-breaking ceremony was held in Embankment Gardens during President Park’s State Visit, is about to commence. A dedication ceremony is tentatively scheduled for late November this year. I hope you will be pleased to know that I recently presented a cheque for £2000 on behalf of the BKS as a contribution and gesture of support. Letters of appreciation to the Society have come from HE The ROK Ambassador and from The Lady R Foundation, who are both hugely supportive of this very welcome project.

A quick word on events. I was delighted that the Society held an event on 29 May in Hoxton, open to all members but with an emphasis on young professionals and those studying here. It tapped in part into a new crowd and provided an opportunity for a very relaxed and fun evening. My thanks to Elliot Han for taking this initiative. Our next event is on 3 July when Laura Devine Solicitors are kindly hosting us for a reception. Laura herself is a longtime member of the Society. Finally, let me remind you that the City of London Festival has a special Korean flavour this year, with several fine musical events this summer. Do look on their website for details. As with the London Book Fair last April, it is great to see more organisations in this country taking Korea as their special theme.

Once again, welcome to our new website, and do please let us know if you have any comments.

Enjoy the rest of the summer, and let’s hope this fine weather lasts.

Warwick Morris

Chairman

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