VOL.95/2026.06

 

[New Ways of Walking Through Cities ⑫]

The Global Hub of Culture and the Arts: London

 

2025.12.01

 

 

Once called “the empire on which the sun never sets,” Britain has seen its tangible influence fade over the two centuries since its golden age in the 19th and 20th centuries, yet its symbolic power remains intact. London, a city that still holds the historical and cultural legacy built during the days of the British Empire, exemplifies this most clearly. This is why tracing the history of London back to its beginnings as the Roman fortress of Londinium is no easy task, for the meanings contained within its past are countless. London is also a city inseparable from one of humanity’s most significant milestones - the Industrial Revolution.
During the Industrial Revolution, London was one of the fastest-growing cities in the world in terms of population. Its population, which stood at about one million in the early 19th century, rose to around 2.68 million in 1851 and reached about 6.54 million by 1901 - an almost sixfold increase in just a hundred years. These figures prove that it is no exaggeration to say that the world’s transformation began in London. From that time on, people from all over the world flocked to the city. The sweat and struggles of those who came to London in search of new challenges during this era of change became the foundation upon which the city grew into a symbol of civilization itself. Since then, London has long served as both the birthplace and the source of what many refer to as “Western culture.” From literature, music, and art to fashion, media, and sports, much of what continues to fascinate and excite the world, first began in London.
From Britain’s great playwright, Shakespeare, to world-renowned author J.K. Rowling, writer of the Harry Potter series; from countless musicians represented by The Beatles to the city’s passionate sports culture - football and tennis alike - and the film locations of Notting Hill and Kingsman, London offers them all. What is remarkable is that, regardless of era or genre, these names are universally familiar worldwide. That is why the stream of people visiting London never ceases: it is a city where the familiar feels new, where one can encounter both ancient history and ever-changing trends.

 

A North Korean diplomat decides to defect in London

 

 

North Korea is known as one of the most closed countries in the world. It is why it is rare to encounter North Korean people anywhere in the world. Even so, when you tell locals during a trip to Europe that you are from Korea, they sometimes ask, “South or North?” This is because, unexpectedly, North Korea maintains embassies and diplomatic relations with several European countries - one of which is the United Kingdom.
The author of The Pyongyang Lady from London (The Miracle) was a North Korean diplomat who lived in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Stockholm, Sweden, before eventually residing in London, the UK, where she defected to South Korea. Although she had received a special education in North Korea, 8 years of living abroad made her view the realities of her country with greater objectivity. Among those years, her life in London played a decisive role. Living near the Korean community in New Malden, about 20 minutes by train from central London, she became fascinated by South Korean culture and products.

 

 

The first duty assigned to North Korean diplomats is to spread the message of the greatness of the country’s Juche ideology. Yet, the country’s support is minimal. Even as diplomats, they must earn their own money to cover living expenses, including medical bills. In such circumstances, the free and open life of South Koreans that the author witnessed naturally became an object of admiration and curiosity. Meanwhile, her family, who had been recalled to North Korea, came face to face with a changed Pyongyang. The competition to show loyalty to the new leader, Kim Jong-Un, had grown unbearably intense, and bribery was rampant in every field. At a time when the country’s internal situation was worsening, the author was ordered to return to London, and there she made a decision for her family’s future. London ultimately became both the turning point and the new beginning of their lives.

 

From Busan to London, an imaginary journey by train

 

 

Many travelers prefer train journeys. It is because they offer the leisure of enjoying the travel process itself while keeping schedules largely predictable. Also, depending on the route, some trains are equipped with dining cars, sleeping compartments, and even shower facilities, turning travel into both an experience and a form of romance. Europe is the best place to enjoy the full charm of such train travel. From Cabo da Roca in Portugal, the westernmost point of the continent, to Vladivostok in Russia, the easternmost city, an immense railway network connects cities across the land. The picture book, From Busan to London by Train (Kidari Book), portrays a warm, imaginary journey of three generations of a family, traveling on the Trans-Siberian Railway through Berlin, Paris, Rome, and Milan, before finally arriving in London.

 

 

In 1994, the “Eurostar” began operating beneath the Dover Strait, linking London and Paris, and making Britain part of Europe’s vast railway network. Britain, in fact, is the birthplace of the railway. George Stephenson, who developed the steam locomotive and the railway transport system, was a British engineer whose design of a 1,435-millimeter track gauge became the global standard, connecting not only Europe, but the entire world today.
However, because South Korea remains in a state of armistice with North Korea, travelers cannot reach Europe by rail without detouring by air or sea, leaving the country isolated like an island. In contrast, North Korea can reach Europe by train through China or Russia. In The Pyongyang Lady from London, there is even a scene describing North Korean diplomats dispatched to Europe by train, a cheaper alternative to flying.
If the severed railway lines of the Korean Peninsula were ever fully reconnected, it would be possible to embark on a journey from Busan, at the edge of the Pacific Ocean, across the Dover Strait that links the North Sea and the Atlantic, and arrive at St. Pancras Station in London. It would surely become one of the most beautiful journeys dreamed of by train travelers around the world.

 

The unique charm of London, the city of design

 

 

British design is renowned worldwide for its history and quality. Not only mass-produced goods, but also many prototypes of classic clothing and housing originated in Britain. The Victorian fashions and architectural styles of the 19th century - icons of their time that came to represent all of Europe - also began in Britain, more precisely in London.
In A Walk Through London Design (Namusoo Book), the author explores the design sensibility found in the London Underground. London, which began digging tunnels and operating underground steam locomotives as early as 1863, had already mastered conveying simple yet clear and diverse information through its subway maps. It can be said that the origin of subway map design around the world today began in London.

 

 

It is not only the subway maps that boast clarity and high legibility. The author, who admits to having a poor sense of direction, recounts finding her destination in London - a city of narrow and intricate alleyways - using only street names and postal codes. This stands as proof of the excellence of the city’s urban and address system design. In addition, London is home to some of the world’s most renowned design universities and research institutes, attracting people from all over the world who reinterpret their inspiration into new forms of art. This is one of the reasons London continues to thrive as a city of design.
Having majored in visual design at university and worked as the head of a design research team at a stationery company in Korea, the author provides an engaging and friendly introduction to London’s many design elements. She kindly explains in detail how ordinary things, such as walls and trash cans, are reinvented through ingenious ideas. The book serves as an excellent guide for those seeking a fresh perspective on London. It also introduces various open studios unique to London, offering glimpses into the daily lives and creative processes of its designers.

 

 

Many people think of London as both the center of culture and a romantic city. It is a place where anyone can find something to enjoy, with an abundance of content across every field - culture, art, history, architecture, fashion, sports, music, and design. For that reason, London is considered one of the world’s most representative global cities, drawing international students and immigrants from across the globe. It is estimated that there are at least 50 immigrant communities in London, each with populations exceeding 10 thousand. In terms of diversity, the city stands on par with New York, often called the world’s greatest global metropolis. The election of Rishi Sunak, a British prime minister of Indian descent and Hindu faith, as the 79th leader of the UK, demonstrates the inclusivity of both London and Britain as a whole.
Despite being home to so many backgrounds and ways of life, London never loses its own sense of order. People remain unfazed when Royal Guards pass by on horseback or when sudden rain begins to fall, and they continue to drink hot tea even on warm days. Perhaps this composure comes from living in the only city in the world that sets the standard for Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), the basis of global time itself.

 

 

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Written by Jung Hwan-Jung