On Tuesday, 17th February, South Western Railway opened a new waiting room at its New Malden station in southwest London.

In recognition of the area’s large Korean community and its local name of ‘Koreatown’, with around 20,000 people of Korean heritage living in the area, the reopening coincided with the Lunar New Year, known as Seollal in Korea and celebrated as one of the country’s most important holidays.

As well as the usual features expected in a modern waiting room, such as a passenger information screen and accessible automatic entrance doors, it has calming ambient lighting, and the floors and walls incorporate sound-dampening materials. Extending the station’s Korean theme, the waiting room has an illustration by Meekyoung Shin, a notable Korean artist, of a sculpture of the Duke of Cumberland in London’s Cavendish Square.

The official opening was attended by the Mayor of Kingston upon Thames, Cllr Noel Hadjimichael, accompanied by Meekyoung Shin, a Korean local councillor, Robert Kim, residents, and South Western Railway staff.

The station dates back to 1846, and its history has been recognised by the Railway Heritage Trust, which provided a grant to restore period windows.

The station also has a station sign in the Korean language, Hangeul. Last November, it went on temporary display at the station entrance for Kimchi Day, but has now been relocated to platform 4/

Elsewhere on the station, planters to add colour and life to the station have been provided by the New Malden Residents’ Association and local artists from The Koppel Project in Kingston upon Thames; they also created a small community library for sharing books and magazines.

Several waiting rooms throughout the country are being upgraded, including in the Greater Anglia region at Saxmundham in Suffolk and Wivenhoe in Essex.

“This opening is a deeply meaningful moment for New Malden. There was a time in Korea’s history when our language and even our names were suppressed. To now see Hangeul proudly displayed in our town, and to celebrate Korean culture and art freely in this space, reflects how far we have come. New Malden is home to Europe’s largest Korean community, and this initiative demonstrates how diversity and democratic inclusiveness are not just values we speak about, but values we live. The partnership with South Western Railway shows how transport hubs can also become cultural spaces – bringing communities together and strengthening local pride.”

Cllr Robert Kim