London to host first Korean food festival in King’s Cross this May

London’s inaugural Korean food celebration, Jung Festival, will take place at Canopy Market, King’s Cross, from Friday 1^st to Monday 4^th May Bank Holiday. The four-day event aims to showcase the diversity and depth of the nation’s cuisine to Londoners, bringing together around 20 food and dessert traders and ten independent packaged food and culinary brands – and entry is free!

The weekend is organised by Rollin Lee (the prominent Korean food content creator known as @rollinjoint), in partnership with Market Root, a platform founded by HyeonJu Kim and SooJin Yang, who have previously hosted six creator markets in the capital. According to the organisers, the event was conceived to highlight the breadth of the Korea’s food culture in London, moving beyond the city’s established favourites such as kimchi, bibimbap and fried chicken.

Jung Festival is named after the concept of Jeong (정), which refers to a sense of warmth, connection and the emotional bond formed through sharing food. The organisers explain it is intended to provide a “more immersive way to experience one of the world’s most dynamic cuisines”, aiming to go beyond “trend-led dining” and instead invite guests to experience Korean cuisine as “a layered, evolving and culturally rich food scene”.

Across the Bank Holiday weekend, visitors can expect a curated line-up of traders, including Chickenhaus, Hoho London, Hongdae Pocha, Cheemc and Kiwa, among others. These vendors will offer a range of dishes, from traditional street food and cult favourites to contemporary interpretations and dessert-led treats. The event also gives a platform to independent brands and emerging talent within London’s Korean food industry.

Rollin Lee and the Market Root team have expressed their intention to provide opportunities for independent brands to reach new audiences, as well as offering the public a real taste of Korea. “We want to spotlight Korean food culture in a way that feels both authentic and accessible,” they said. The festival is being described by its creators as a “city-wide moment” reflecting the growing influence of the South East Asian country’s food and culture in London.

Food Desk

Jung Festival is on at Canopy Market, West Handyside Canopy, London N1C 4BH, from 1^st until 4^th May 2026. For further information, visit their website here.