Kingston’s mayor Geoff Austin welcomed a Korean delegation of students on a cultural exchange visit as they lectured the councillor of east-Asian food and education.

The students met councillor Austin and mayoress Sheila Austin at a special meeting at the mayor’s parlour at the Guildhall on Wednesday, January 18.

The delegation, from Gwanak-Gu in southern Seoul, is taking a four-day tour of the borough, which has the largest population of Koreans outside of the country in Europe.

Woo Jin Shim, a student from the Korean delegation, said: “I’ve really enjoyed my time in Kingston. Visiting the Kingston Museum and the riverside were highlights for me.

“Also, the streets of Kingston have a great atmosphere and feel historical. I am looking forward to coming back one day.” 

The students gave a presentation on life in Korea, including education, food and K-Pop, a much-loved Korean music genre.

The students visited Kingston University’s art, design and architecture faculty, which has a world class fashion school, as well as the Youth Council and a number of local schools. 

Cllr Austin said: “It was great to meet the students and show them around the mayor’s parlour. They were particularly impressed with our ceremonial maces, which are 400 years old this year. I do hope that they had a good time and take away with them some great memories of our borough.”