OK, that’s a bit of an exaggeration. He is now missing one foot, exposing the metal armature which has been keeping the soapy statue in one piece. And the left foreleg of his horse looks like it is not long for this world. On the way to see Krys Lee in the global literary salon [...]

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K-music focus forum at the KCC

by Philip Gowman 17 May 2013
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To warm you up for the festival of Korean music coming up during June, a panel of speakers will talk about Korean music at the KCC on 21 March at 7pm. It’s particularly nice to see Songlines on the panel. John Lusk from that magazine did a great article on Kim Duk-soo and other Korean [...]

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Memories through Line and Colour: Anna Jung Seo at Vyner Street Gallery

by Philip Gowman 16 May 2013
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News of an upcoming exhibition at Vyner Street Gallery. Keep your eyes peeled for notice of Hada Contempoary’s June show, and maybe you can do two openings at the same time. Memories through Line and Colour Anna Jung Seo 4th – 9th June 2013 Private View : Thursday 6th June 18.00-21.00 Vyner Street Gallery | [...]

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The 2013 Terracotta Far East Film Festival line-up

by Saharial 15 May 2013
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Three Korean films including the hit thriller The Berlin File are included in the line-up for this year’s Terracotta Festival. Saharial reviews the schedule. It’s that fantastic time of the year again when the Terracotta Film Festival hits London, and the line up announced last week is really exciting, especially when tied in with the [...]

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Years of Radical Change: Korean Screen Culture – a 2-day conference at SOAS, 31 May-1 June

by Philip Gowman 14 May 2013
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Those who attended the free one-day Korean film seminar in SOAS’s Vernon Square building May last year won’t need persuasion. This year, it has expanded to two days, and is in the main Russell Square building. Free, but advance registration is required. Years of Radical Change: Korean Screen Culture Date: Friday 31 May & Saturday [...]

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London Book Fair 2013 – an overview of the Korean publishing market and a brief meeting with Choe Yun and Chung Young-moon

by Philip Gowman 12 May 2013
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London Book Fair 2014 will see Korea as the Market Focus Country. And in 2013 Korea was there to prepare the way. The Korea Publishers Association and the Literature Translation Institute of Korea jointly occupied a stall at the Earl’s Court exhibition, displaying among other things a wide range of translated Korean literature, including a [...]

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Wisdom & Compassion – an exhibition of Buddhist art at Mokspace

by Philip Gowman 12 May 2013
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To mark Buddha’s Birthday (17 May this year), Mokspace’s latest exhibition, which opens 14 May, is of contemporary Buddhist art. Note also the meditation class, lotus lantern making and tea ceremony events, which need to be booked in advance. Wisdom & Compassion Jewoo Jeon, Sooyung Lee, Sukhi Barber, Suzanne Rees Glanister, Venerable Sulgok Opening Reception: [...]

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Pochagi – A Tapestry of Korean Sounds

by Philip Gowman 12 May 2013
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June is turning in to quite a month for Korean music. To warm us up for the big K-music festival later in the month, Hyelim Kim (SOAS) performs with the Yin Yang Collective and launches her CD at the Royal Asiatic Society on 6 June: Pochagi – A Tapestry of Korean Sounds Yin Yang Collective [...]

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Eerie Tales from Old Korea – republished 100 years on

by Philip Gowman 9 May 2013
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100 years ago, Homer B Hulbert and James Scarth Gale translated and published “Eerie Tales from Old Korea”, a collection of Korean ghost stories. Now Brother Anthony of Taize has handpicked some of those tales, and Seoul Selection has republished them to celebrate the 150th birthdays of Gale and Hulbert. It’s definitely going on to [...]

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Korea Craft Design Foundation at Collect 2013

by Philip Gowman 6 May 2013
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COLLECT is an international art fair for contemporary museum-quality objects. It is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, and for the first time this year there will be a stall presenting the best of Korean contemporary craft and design. The exhibition is at the Saatchi Gallery. Korea Craft Design Foundation at Collect 2013 10 – [...]

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The Korean War in Colour screens at SOAS

by Philip Gowman 5 May 2013
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Something slightly different for SOAS’s evening Korean Studies seminar this time: a documentary film screening, with Q&A with the director, in this 60th anniversary year of the 1953 armistice. The Korean War in Colour Stewart Binns (Documentary Filmmaker) Date: 10 May 2013, 5:15 – 7:00 PM Venue: Russell Square, College Buildings, Room 4418 Film screening [...]

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Gig Review: Korea Rocks at the Barfly

by Saharial 2 May 2013
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It was a cold a windy day in Camden on Sunday, something easily forgotten at Barfly thanks to the energy that filled the venue during the four hours of Korea Rocks. I like the Barfly venue – just the right size space for a gig to feel busy but intimate, and the whole place as [...]

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May events

by Philip Gowman 1 May 2013
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Plenty on offer this month, particularly in respect of talks and seminars. Do let me know what I’ve missed. Talks, seminars, classes The Engage Korea conference is at Merton College Oxford on 4 May SOAS seminars this month are a screening of The Korean War in Colour, on 10 May, a look at Kim Sung [...]

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The Hidden Cost of Prosperity – a winning curatorial project at the KCC

by Philip Gowman 29 April 2013
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In December last year Anna Miyoung Kim curated an evening of video art work investigating the darker side of Korea’s economic growth – and possibly of capitalism more widely – in an interesting project called The Shade of Prosperity. Apart from presenting a diverse range of short videos loosely based on a theme – rather [...]

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Imaginative Space: duo exhibition at Mokspace

by Philip Gowman 26 April 2013
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News of Mokspace’s new show, which opens on Tuesday: Imaginative Space Sam Shiels & Sung Young Park Duo Exhibition Opening Reception: Tuesday 30th April 2013, 6:30 – 8:30pm Exhibition Date: 30th April – 12th May 2013 Venue: MOKSPACE, 33 Museum St, London WC1A 1LH Mokspace presents an exhibition of works on the theme of imaginative [...]

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The Korea Rocks tour – good for Hyundai Card, and good for the audience

by Philip Gowman 25 April 2013
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If you’re in London and a fan of quality rock music, this Sunday at the Barfly in Camden is a must for you. For fans of Korean culture in London, it is of course an unmissable opportunity to see some of the best indie rock bands that dominate the Hongdae music scene. And for their [...]

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The Suncheon Bay Garden Expo 2013 opens in Jeollanam-do

by Philip Gowman 21 April 2013
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Hwang Ji-hae, Korea’s best-known garden designer, won’t be at Chelsea this year. After two consecutive Chelsea gold medals, she’s taking a break from what is possibly the world’s most prestigious flower show, and instead has been concentrating on designing a garden closer to home: for Korea’s first International Garden Expo at Suncheon, Jeollanam-do. The Mayor [...]

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CD review: Nah Youn Sun — Lento

by Philip Gowman 18 April 2013
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Nah Youn Sun: Lento ACT Records, April 2013 Nah Youn Sun’s collaboration with Swedish guitarist Ulf Wakenius continues to bear fruit. This is her third album with Wakenius on the ACT label (and her 8th studio album overall), and like her previous ACT releases they are supported by Lars Danielsson on bass and Xavier Desandre-Navarre [...]

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Jeong Yun-kyung in Facing Surfaces at Bosse & Baum

by Philip Gowman 15 April 2013
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Jeong Yun-kyung is an artist whose work grows on you. At least, it’s been growing on me for the past few years, which is why I’m looking forward to her upcoming show near Sloane Square. Facing Surfaces Exhibition open 25th April – 17th May 2013 7-9 Tryon Street, London, SW3 3LG Bosse & Baum is [...]

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The Woman, The Gaze, The World: Hanmi Gallery’s 22nd interim exhibition

by Philip Gowman 14 April 2013
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Hanmi Gallery’s 22nd interim exhibition includes Korean photographer Seulki Ki. Note the two discussion events on 30 April and 2 May which accompany the exhibition. The Woman    The Gaze    The World Exhibition opens 23 April – 5 May 2013, Tuesday – Sunday 12 – 7pm PV: Wednesday 24 April 2013, 6pm – 9pm RSVP: info@hanmigallery.co.uk Hanmi Gallery [...]

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Shin Meekyoung at Couriers of Taste, Danson House

by Philip Gowman 13 April 2013
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Bexleyheath seems to be the place right now to view interesting art in a pleasing country house setting. Just down the road in the DA5 postcode is Lee Hyung-koo at Hall Place and Gardens. And in Danson House DA6, which the Bexley Heritage Trust describes as “a beautifully restored Georgian villa where sumptuous interiors tell [...]

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