SWR Marks Lunar New Year With Korean Tribute at New Malden Station

South Western Railway has marked the Lunar New Year by unveiling a newly enhanced waiting room at New Malden station, celebrating what is recognised as Europe’s largest Korean community.

An estimated 20,000 people of Korean heritage live in New Malden and the surrounding area of south west London, earning the district the nickname ‘Koreatown’. The improvements coincide with Seollal, the Korean Lunar New Year, one of the most significant holidays in the Korean calendar.

Central to the tribute is a station sign displayed in Hangeul, relocated to Platform 4 after previously being positioned at the station entrance for Kimchi Day in November. The installation also features imagery of a sculpture of the 18th-century Duke of Cumberland in Cavendish Square, created by prominent Korean artist Meekyoung Shin.

The project was delivered in partnership with the New Malden Residents’ Association, which acts as the station’s volunteer adopter group, and local artists from The Koppel Project in Kingston upon Thames. Alongside its cultural elements, the refurbished waiting room offers upgraded facilities including accessible automatic doors, workstations, an information screen for onward travel, ambient lighting and sound-dampening floors and walls.

Historic features have also been preserved. Period windows dating back to the station’s early years in 1846 have been retained with support from a Railway Heritage Trust grant. The Residents’ Association has added new planters to brighten the station environment and introduced a small community library where passengers and staff can exchange books and magazines.

The Mayor of Kingston upon Thames, Cllr Noel Hadjimichael, formally opened the space, joined by Meekyoung Shin, Korean councillor Robert Kim, local residents and SWR representatives.

David Wilby, Regional Development Manager at South Western Railway, said:

“The waiting room is a wonderful example of how the railway can celebrate local communities and culture. We’ve also made improvements which will benefit all our customers that travel through New Malden station.”

Cllr Robert Kim, Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames said:

“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.”

New Malden Residents’ Association, the station adopters, said:

“We became station adopters in 2022, and since then the activities we have been involved with, including helping to organise Kimchi Day celebrations and the installation of the station sign in Korean, have helped us to make new friends and contacts in the diverse communities in New Malden. The station is an important part of our community, so we’re delighted to have a new waiting room and we’re looking forward to celebrating her 180th birthday in December this year.”

Image: South Western Railway