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Category Archives: Koreans in UK

Learn to cook Japche with Kie-jo Sarsfield

16-Nov-08

There's another opportunity to learn how to cook Korean food this coming Saturday, courtesy of Kei-jo Sarsfield. I had an enjoyable morning earlier this year learning the basics of making kimchi and belly-of-pork bulgogi, acting as willing guinea pig for Mrs Sarsfield's planned cookery lessons. She's done a couple of classes since then, and the upcoming one is her third. She plans to teach you how to make Japche, Kimchi jjigae and bindaetteok. Yum. The class will be at her home towards the end of the Metropolitan Line, from 11am - 2pm on Saturday 22 November. Expect to pay £30 assuming a class of 5 people. Click on the image of Kie-jo's business card to the left in order to get her ...

Also filed in Events news, Food & Drink | | Comments (0) »

40 Emerging Korean artists in one place

10-Oct-08

We all knew that there were a fair number of Korean artists living in London. But forty? Where did they all come from? And, actually, there's more than forty, because none of the artists I know personally are participating (or if they are, they've kept a Korean-style vow of secrecy about it). But 40 Korean artists will be participating in a group show at Bargehouse, OXO Tower Wharf, Bargehouse Street, London SE1 9PH, 16-19 October, 10am-6pm. The title of the show is 4482 - the concatenation of the UK and Korean international dialing codes - inspired by the "feelings of anxiety, strangeness or tension that the artists experienced when they had to dial a long and unfamiliar telephone number to call ...

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Korean bookshop in New Malden

16-Aug-08

Thanks to David Gomez for writing in with an answer to a question which lots of people have asked: where to buy Korean books in London. Not books about Korea, not books about how to learn Korean, but books written in Korean. My standard answer is that I haven’t the foggiest idea, but that if you’re lucky you can get a children’s book or two in Grant & Cutler. Undaunted, David did his own research, and discovered Book Village (책 마을) at 115B Burlington Road, New Malden, KT3 4LR, tel 0208 336 5916 [Map]. It’s right above a food store. It’s a snug little room, lined with more books than you can possibly imagine, with a couple of sofas. Kim Hye Sun (below) ...

Also filed in General book news, Koreatowns, Yellow Pages | Tagged Ticker | Comments (1) »

Westminster Council in bulgogi clampdown

08-Aug-08

When did a Korean barbeque last blow up in YOUR face? We live in dangerous times, and fortunately there are people whose job it is to protect us. A couple of weeks ago my big brother was staying with me, and I thought I’d introduce him to Korean food. So I took him to a place just off Piccadilly and ordered my usual. Yukhae, pajeon, galbi and kimchi chigae. A nice table-top barbeque is as good a place as any to start with Korean cuisine. Sometimes when dining solo or with just one other person I’ve had the problem where the restaurant can’t be bothered with the fuss of the table top barbeque and cooked the bulgogi in the kitchen. But as ...

Also filed in Food & Drink | Tagged Ticker | Comments (0) »

North Koreans in Britain

03-Aug-08

Every now and then a visitor to this site asks whether there are any North Koreans in the UK, apart from at the DPRK embassy. Journalist Michael Rank keeps his eyes open for evidence, particularly on the parliamentary website, and shares his findings with the BAKS list - little snippets of information such as the fact that in 2006 North Korean diplomats clocked up 90 unpaid parking tickets. Thanks to Aidan FC for pointing out an article on the Yonhap website yesterday, about two North Korean refugees who were jailed after having been caught working on a cannabis farm in Southport. The source of the story was Radio Free Asia, who reported that one of the pair had previously been "offered a ...

Also filed in DPRK | | Comments (2) »

Call for Artists

15-Jun-08

The British Council and the KCC are co-sponsoring an exhibition by artists of Korean origin working in the UK. The exhibition will be held in December 2008. A Call for artists notice has been published on the KCC website. Applications are due in by 1 August 2008. Details from the KCC. Links: Download the application form Related posts:AKSE Conference 2009: Call for papers 24th AKSE CONFERENCE 17—21 June 2009 CALL FOR PAPERS AND...Reminder - AKS Annual Dinner A reminder to members of the Anglo-Korean Society to get...Call for papers - 2008 BAKS conference Call for Papers: The 2008 Conference of the British Association... Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Also filed in General arts news, KCCUK | | Comments (0) »

Kimchi in Metroland – Korean Cooking with Kie-jo Sarsfield

14-Jun-08

It was a sunny Saturday morning. Louise and I found ourselves speeding through the leafy countryside of Buckinghamshire on the way to the Chalfonts, towards the end of the Metropolitan Line. We were to be the willing guinea pigs for Kie-jo Sarsfield’s Korean Cookery classes. The taxi was waiting for us at the station, and five minutes later we were welcomed at Kie-jo’s front door. From the kitchen, the very welcome burbling of a coffee percolator could be heard: I was feeling rough from the Yoon Band’s gig the night before. Even more encouraging, the table had been set for lunch. We tucked into the coffee. Waiting on the kitchen table were some carefully prepared recipes and instructions for what we were ...

Also filed in Food & Drink | Tagged Ticker | Comments (1) »

The craziest pub in London?

13-Jun-08

In a corner of Bermondsey, right by the river, is one of many traditional East End boozers. Outside: picnic benches, barrels to put your pint glasses on, hanging baskets of flowers, and a view towards Tower Bridge (right). Inside, it's cosy. High on the wall, a TV showing the footie (left). Oak paneled walls. In the 1970s, episodes of The Sweeney were apparently filmed there. It does pub food. Sunday roasts. Fish and chips. Steak. Vinegared whelks. You can't get more London than that. Take two. Let's read that again. Whelks with noodle salad in a spicy vinegar sauce. Hmmm... Poussin stuffed with rice and boiled in a broth of ginseng, dried jujube fruit, garlic and ginger. Sound suspiciously like samgyetang? On the walls, ...

Also filed in Food & Drink | Tagged Ticker | Comments (0) »

Candle-lit vigil in central London

08-Jun-08

It is the weekend when Korean culture is on display in Central London: today sees the Dano Korea Summer Festival, with traditional dancing, food, fan-making and more contemporary music in Trafalgar Square. Last night another traditional Korean activity was on show - the street protest. An estimated 250 Koreans gathered in Whitehall opposite Downing Street to protest about the President Lee's beef deal with the US. There were speeches and communal signing. Korean TV and press were there. And, in a nod to the 72-hour candle-lit protest in the streets of Seoul earlier this month, the protestors held up paper candles. There was an ominous moment when three policemen armed with automatic weapons approached the protestors from behind - but they were ...

Also filed in Mad Cows | Tagged Ticker | Comments (0) »

Welcome to The East

13-Mar-08

Hungry Brits frequenting central London restaurants for their periodic fix of bulgogi and kimchi will probably have noticed, on their way out, a pile or two of the local Korean-language newspapers. The two main newspapers, as far as I am aware, are the Korean Weekly and the Hanin Herald, though sometimes the UK Life, Eurojournal or Haninnews get a look-in. If you have not already, you will soon be noticing another newspaper, this one published in English. Congratulations to Lee Hyung Wook, publisher of The East newspaper, for getting this ambitious project off the ground. Currently it's a monthly publication (it's now in its fifth month). In its opening pages it focuses on business news of Asian companies (primarily Korean, Japanese and ...

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Welcome, Korean Artists

10-Mar-08

For a number of years, Korean artists in the UK have gathered together more or less formally in an Association to speak for their collective needs and promote their collective talents. They have, for example, lobbied over the years for the establishment of the Korean Cultural Centre. The most recent event to have showcased some of their members was the Chuseok event at Asia House in 2006. Partly to ensure a co-ordinated local artistic input into the 2008 Dano festival in Trafalgar Square, towards the end of last year there was a consensus that the Association needed to be reinvigorated. Earlier this month, the Korean Artists Association UK was relaunched with a new charter, new leadership and an expanded (and growing) ...

Also filed in KAAUK | | Comments (0) »

Long-awaited London Korean Cultural Centre nearly ready

24-Jan-08

When I walked past the new Korean Cultural Centre the day before yesterday the windows were still covered up, and, through the gaps in the covers, you could see the builders inside racing to finish before the grand opening day. The Centre officially opens at the end of the month, at a ceremony to be attended by Vice Minister Park Yang-woo from the Ministry of Culture & Tourism, and Ambassador Dr Cho Yoon-je, in one of his last official duties before returning to Seoul in February. From the official press materials: With generous support from the Korean Ministry of Culture & Tourism and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, the Korean Cultural Centre will showcase world-class examples of work from every ...

Also filed in Choi Jeong-hwa, KCCUK | | Comments (0) »

Koreans and Handball

27-Dec-07

A message recently received from a visitor to this site. Do Koreans in London play Handball or want to play? Thames Handball in Kingston upon Thames need players of all standards- men and women or children. see website http://www.thameshandball.com Also NEW The South Korean movie, "The Best Moment of Our Lives," will be released in South Korean theaters late 2007 / early 2008 and a promotional preview is now available for viewing online. http://www.veoh.com/videos/v1437437MYtc95T7 The movie revolves around the 2004 South Korean Olympic Team which lost to Denmark in the Gold medal final in Athens. The match was notable for going through 2 overtimes before being settled in a penalty shoot-out. The preview mixes scenes from the Gold medal match with training and preparation for the Olympics. ...

Also filed in Film, Sport | | Comments (0) »

Jackie Choi London showcases new designs

18-Sep-07

Jackie Choi London, the Korean designers whose "Eye" chair was featured on Graham Norton's show, are showing new designs at 100% Design 2007 (Earls Court, 20-24 September). The sideboard above was inspired by Lucio Fontana and his "Slash" series of works, (example right). The Choi sisters will also be launching a pewter candelabra (left) in collaboration with British lighting company Innermost. Meanwhile, at the Portico Rooms in Somerset House, 18-25 September, the Choi sisters will be presenting their project commissioned for Eureka 2007 (part of the London Design Festival): a sofa inspired by the landscape of the Malvern Hills (below). Links: 100% Design site Jackie Choi London site Fontana and spazializmo at the Tate website Related posts:Graham Norton sits on the best of Korean design Congratulations to ...

Also filed in Business, Design, Events news | | Comments (0) »

Jung at Heart

17-Sep-07

Eo-Ulim: In Harmony Review by Beccy Kennedy On first sight, you wouldn't realise that any of the three distinctive painting styles had been selected to represent a fusion of Korean and British artistic styles and experiences. The title, Eo-ulim, the Korean term meaning in harmony, particularly used in relation to inter-cultural adaptability ignites interpretations of hybridised, transcultural identities within these images. Additional investigation into the artists' backgrounds and influences further adds to the significance of this harmony. The exhibition works on a logical level due to this curatorial input, although the vivid tones and Surrealist vistas of the paintings make for an aesthetically enjoyable visit to the ArtsDepot, Finchley, regardless of whether the viewer is interested in Korean painting or painting ...

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Tripe, black pudding and a communal sing-song…

17-Jul-07

...but this is no East-End boozer. Jennifer Barclay reports from Saturday's Korean Food Festival The softly spoken Mr Kim tells me he thinks Korean food is the most highly developed in the world, while standing over the searing hot barbecue cooking galbi, beef marinated in 17 different ingredients. His white t-shirt somehow manages to remain immaculate, although he is slinging steaks onto the grill all day. 'French food is seen as the best in the world. The French, they have 170 different cuts of the cow, of beef. Koreans, we have more than 200. Close to 300.' An impressive fact, although I wonder privately if it is a good thing to eat that many parts of a cow. The thinly sliced meat tastes ...

Also filed in Food & Drink, Food Festival 2007, Koreatowns | | Comments (0) »

Support the SlowPokes

27-Jun-07

An enthusiastic team from the Korean embassy will be competing in the Standard Chartered Great City Race on 19 July. Calling themselves the Slowpokes, the all-female team are aiming to complete the arduous 5km road race in record time thanks to their kimchi-rich diet. They are also aiming to raise £2,500 for the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Charity. So visit their fundraising website and make your online pledge now. Links: The Slowpokes' fundraising page News item on the Korean Embassy website Korean Embassy home page Map of the race Related posts:Come & support the SamulNori stars of tomorrow. Or at least come and have a laugh at your...July events Here’s what I know about: Visual Arts The big news...Your input is valued Towards the end of last year ...

Also filed in Sport | | Comments (0) »

A listing of Korean food stores

25-Jun-07

Sitting at the counter when I ordered my lunchtime chicken katsu curry bento box at my local Japanese takeaway the other day was a copy of Eat-Japan magazine - a brochure promoting all the Japanese restaurants and food shops in London. The brochure also has a directory of some more general oriental food stores. I list below the ones which look like they do Korean groceries, and I'll update the list as people tell me of more (thanks for the Manchester one, Beccy). In London / New Malden Centre Point Food Store 20-21 St Giles High Street London WC2H 8LN Tel 020 7836 9860 Tube Tottenham Court Road www.cpfs.co.uk Hanna Supermarket 41 Store Street London WC1E 7DB Tel 020 7636 4118 Tube Tottenham Court Road, Goodge Street Jin Mi Food 127 Kingston Road New Malden Surrey KT3 3NX Tel 020 8336 ...

Also filed in Food & Drink, Koreatowns, Yellow Pages | Tagged Ticker | Comments (6) »

ULKS Korean night

23-Feb-07

As I wandered unchecked into the Conway Hall last night I had to negotiate several girls wearing hanbok and a chap who was steering a large stepladder into the auditorium. Inside the hall, trestle tables were arranged lengthwise, from the front to the back of the hall, lined with seated students chatting and eating as they waited expectantly. I stood at the back of the hall as the ladder was heaved onto the stage and erected between the open curtains. Loads of people were milling around, but it was not certain to what purpose. I wandered back out into the foyer. As you entered from Red Lion Square, stacks of bento boxes were piled up, available for all to feast on. There ...

Also filed in Event reports and reviews | | Comments (2) »

Korea Business Reception at London City Hall

24-Jan-07

By Peter Corbishley On Monday 15th January the glitterati of the Anglo-Korean business worlds were invited to network by Ambassador Cho and Mike Backhouse of Standard Chartered under the auspices of Ken Livingstone and Think London. Over 250 companies accepted invitations to an event originally scheduled to be part of Think Korea 2006, as the Korean Ambassador Dr Yoon-Je Cho reminded us. In the end 128 corporates turned up, 76 of whom were Korean. Although, apart from Sung-joo Kim CEO of the Sunjoo Group, there was a noticeable absence of women executives. Perhaps something more should be done to support businesses run by Korean Women in London? Overlooking Tower Bridge and the Tower of London Ken's welcoming speech could not resist referring ...

Also filed in Business | | Comments (0) »

Things Korean in London / New Malden

13-Jan-07

Prompted by another query from a visitor, I thought I'd catalogue all the things which people seem to want to know about in London and about which there is no information on this site. Do please let me know if these are available anywhere in central London or New Malden: A Korean public bath-house / sauna A Noraebang A tea shop Korean cookery lessons Korean dating agency Leave a comment below, or send me an email via the contact form. Related posts:Become an LKL reviewer: win a FREE ticket to the BFI London Film Festival We’re always on the lookout for new talent to join...Contact us Please fill out your details or send feedback in the...The London Korean Links Facebook Group Hi all I’ve recently set up ...

Also filed in Ask an expert, Koreatowns, Yellow Pages | | Comments (6) »

More 2006 statistics: theme parks and military thighs

10-Jan-07

First, some boring stuff December was a record month for advertising revenue: the princely sum of $11.17, making my life-to-date total $24.32. But if it stays at December's levels I'll be happy: that more than pays for webhosting. And something I get lots of, and wish I got less: my life-to-date spam comment count (as of the time of writing) is a staggering 34,000 Now this For those not hunting for celebrity news, or details of bookshops or restaurants in London, a very popular generator of traffic in 2006 was Chejudo Love Land theme park (100 visits to my site). The most work-safe image is above (credit: Matthias Streitz at Der Spiegl). There are links to less work-safe images in my original post here. Less ...

Also filed in 2006 year-end posts, Geek stuff, Lee Eon-jeong, Monthly site updates, Pictures | | Comments (0) »

A date with Rain? I’d rather have my hair done

07-Jan-07

"Sorry, I'm washing my hair that night" is the familiar put-down you get when the girl of your dreams doesn't fancy a date with you. But it's also true of LKL visitors. They're much more interested in finding the best Korean hairdressers in London, or reading about the techniques involved in a "Magic Straight" perm, than in perusing articles about the biggest male celebrity in Korea (and LKL Man of the Year 2006). I've been trawling the site statistics for the second half of 2006, and here are some of the shock facts: Lee Sabi continues to be the most popular Korean in the known universe (or at least on my site) In the battle of the Samsung babes, Hyolee is twice as ...

Also filed in 2006 year-end posts, Celebs, Geek stuff, Jeon Ji-hyun, Lee Eon-jeong, Monthly site updates, Rain | | Comments (0) »

Graham Norton sits on the best of Korean design

27-Dec-06

Congratulations to Korean-born Jackie and Lloyd Choi of Jackie Choi London for winning one of the Mayor of Hackney's annual Business Awards 2006. The awards are designed to "celebrate entrepreneurs with business acumen and innovative ideas that generate jobs throughout the borough". The awards were presented on 14 November, and the Choi sisters won in the best new product / product design category. Viewers of Graham Norton's show The Bigger Picture will be familiar with one of Jackie Choi's products: the Eye chair. The chair was a university project and was spotted by a furniture manufacturer at the Chois' graduate show in 2003. Since then they have expanded their product range. You should be able to find their "So" coat stand (below) ...

Also filed in Business, Design | | Comments (0) »

IBK celebrates London Branch opening

05-Dec-06

Industrial Bank of Korea celebrated the opening of its London branch yesterday evening, at an event attended by the ambassador. Set out below is the ambassador's speech. It is a great pleasure to be here with you all this evening. Firstly I would like to congratulate the Industrial Bank of Korea on opening its branch in London, one of the world's greatest financial centres. I would also like to thank President Kang for the invitation to this opening ceremony and kind hospitality. Under his strong leadership and support as Chairman and CEO of the IBK I am sure that the London branch will be very successful. The opening of IBK's London Branch not only signifies the ever-closer relationship between the financial communities of the UK ...