Melbourne officially welcomes Koreatown

Healeys Lane has officially become Melbourne’s own Koreatown, following a unanimous City of Melbourne vote at the Future Melbourne Committee (FMC) meeting on September 3 to “put a ring on it”.

Already home to nearly 25 Korean businesses, Healeys Lane – stretching from Lonsdale St to Little Lonsdale St – has existed as an “unofficial” Koreatown for many years.

With the council’s approval, Melbourne now proudly joins the likes of other major cities including New York, Toronto, Sydney and Los Angeles with an official Korean precinct.

“Healeys Lane has been synonymous with all things Korean for many years, and this formal endorsement is a win for the dedicated small business owners in the area,” the council’s business and global opportunities portfolio lead Cr Kevin Louey said.

“I can’t wait to see Melbourne’s Koreatown flourish – from culinary sensations like kimchi and bibimbap in some of our hottest restaurants to a thriving entertainment scene, Koreatown will invigorate the senses.”

Koreans represent the ninth largest diaspora in the City of Melbourne, with more than 2500 Koreans calling the municipality home.

As part of the establishment of a Koreatown, four authentic jangseung (traditional Korean totem pole) will be installed on either end of Healeys Lane.

Jangseung are traditionally found at the edge of villages in Korea, standing as a symbol to protect against evil spirits.

The three-metre-high poles will mark the entrances to the precinct, elevating “a sense of arrival and occasion” for visitors to the city.

While the four jangseung will be funded by the Consulate-General of the Republic of Korea in Melbourne, council will oversee its installation.

“Koreatown is a recognition of Korean people as member of Melbourne city,” Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Melbourne, Changhoon Yi said.

In collaboration with the Melbourne Korean Business Association (MKBA), the Consulate-General is aiming for an official opening ceremony in the first half of 2025.

The ceremony will kick off an exciting lineup of Korean festivities across the city, with Fed Square’s annual Korea Festival following in May.

Consul General Yi also hopes to commission a mural in Healeys Lane to begin welcoming Melburnians to Koreatown.

“Melbourne is a multicultural melting pot. We’re proud to have 2500 Korean-born Melburnians who call our city home and by formalising Koreatown, we hope to attract more visitors and businesses to the area,” Lord Mayor Nick Reece said. •