From the category archives:

Interviews and features

LKL meets the energetic Korean rock band Biuret, the overall winners of Sutasi 2009, during their brief visit to London.

I’ve come to the Royal Garden Hotel overlooking Kensington Gardens to meet Biuret, one of the latest Korean bands to win international recognition. The foyer is packed with music industry types, because this is the venue [...]

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Exclusive interviews with the Korean team

5 December 2009 Interviews and features
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Aashish Gadhvi gets up close and personal with Kim Nam Il and Lee Chung Yong
South Korea were recently in London to play Serbia, and thanks to the help of many people who I am very grateful to, I was able to interview two members of the team. Firstly I just want to say a very [...]

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Jeju’s destiny is set in stone

27 November 2009 Interviews and features
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Darren Southcott, recently returned from a stint in Jeju-do, appreciates one of the island’s unique attractions: Jeju Stone Park

In this age of globalisation, authentic Korea may seem elusive and challenging for the visitor to find, but there are many sites which seek to preserve the nation’s cultural spirit. Jeju Island, despite heavy tourist development, [...]

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Korea, recharge your energy

23 November 2009 Interviews and features
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In fifty years since the Korean War, South Korea was catapulted from being one of the poorest countries on the planet, on a par with Ethiopia and Bangladesh, to being one of the OECD countries with a GDP that hovers between 11th and 13th in the world, depending on exchange rates. Now Mr Charm Lee, [...]

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Tearliner revisited

23 October 2009 Interviews and features
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Anna Lindgren of Indieful ROK gets in touch with Tearliner again, two years after her first interview.

The past couple of years, my favourite Tearliner has gone from being the loveliest of indie musicians to becoming the excellent music director that perfectly sets the mood for any scene. Working on popular dramas he’s largely responsible for [...]

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Park Chan-wook: uncut (almost)

11 October 2009 Autumn K-film 2009
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Saharial provides a warts and all direct transcript of the Park Chan-wook Q&A at the Curzon Soho preview of Thirst. At least, up until the point when an officious usherette told her to switch her recorder off…
The Q&A was only a half hour long, a real shame, and the staff at the Curzon were quick [...]

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A meeting with Maangchi in Manhattan

2 October 2009 Bloggers and newspeople
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It was LKL’s first transatlantic trip for about two years, and I was keen to see what had changed in Manhattan’s Koreatown. In addition, I was keen to meet up with Maangchi, one of the winners of the first prize in the KTO’s Blog Korea, Visit Korea competition. I had been aware of Maangchi’s work [...]

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Younee and the British Invasion

17 September 2009 Interviews and features
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Younee, the versatile singer-songwriter-pianist from Korea, is in London to launch her new album and play the Pizza Express Jazz Club. She takes a break from her rehearsal schedule to talk to LKL about her musical influences.

It was not a good start to the interview. I had selected the Wigmore Hall bar as a good, [...]

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A meeting with Brother Anthony

23 August 2009 Food & Drink
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LKL talks to Brother Anthony on poetry, tea, temple stays and romanisation
On the twelfth floor of an anonymous building in the Sincheon area of Seoul there’s an overcrowded study. From a cassette player in the corner wafts the soothing sounds of kayageum and daegeum sanjo. Books line every available inch of wall space, and more: [...]

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Remembering the Forgotten War

21 July 2009 History & heritage
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“Freedom is not Free”, we are reminded by the inscription on the monument commemorating the Korean War. In the bustle of our daily lives, we can forget the sacrifices made by previous generations to secure our freedoms.
I have come to the War Memorial of Korea in Seoul to meet General Paik Sun Yup, the now-retired [...]

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Map the Soul – a revolution for the music industry

27 May 2009 Epik High
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Saharial shows her appreciation for the way in which hip-hop group Epik High’s new album is marketed: international fans are included, and even welcomed.

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Warrior at the Imjin

24 April 2009 BKVA
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Bob Warrior describes life as a prisoner of war in North Korea, over 55 years ago. Jennifer Barclay’s compelling interview.

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LKL meets Jasmine Choi

26 March 2009 Interviews and features
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An interview with the young Korean flautist Jasmine Choi

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Surprise and a sense of fun: the UK’s gateway to Korean culture

6 February 2009 Choi Jeong-hwa
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Jennifer Barclay visits the Korean Cultural Centre on its first birthday, experiences Choi Jeong-hwa’s exhibition, and meets the KCC’s director, Kyuhak Choi.

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KFA 75th Birthday – Top 5 Moments in Korean Football History

8 December 2008 Interviews and features
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Aashish Gadhvi celebrates some of the biggest events in Korean football history

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