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

19-Nov-08

By Aashish Gadhvi All together now... Happy Birthday to you! The Korea Football Association is officially 75 years old, and unlike many 75 year olds, they are just getting going in making Korean football a worldwide force to be recognised as one of the premiere football forces in Asia. It's been a long time coming for Korean football, which boasts a prestigious history and the most successful record of any other Asian footballing nation. Here's to another 75 more! To commemorate this occasion, I have compiled two lists for the ages. The first one being a list of the top 5 most important people in Korean football history, and the second a list of the top 5 most successful moments. Here ...

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Korea at the 2008 Beijing Olympics

05-Sep-08

by Aashish Gadhvi The Beijing Olympics was a fortnight of sporting gold, a plethora of the world’s top athletes going head to head in the greatest show on Earth. This year's Olympics was always going to be major headlines, not just for the sports but also for the tirade of anti-Chinese media which preceded it (Tibet, Pollution, Human Rights, blah blah). But forget all that for now, we’re here to talk about the Korean campaign, which in its own way, got off to a pretty controversial start. First came the news that the North and South Koreans were not going to walk together under a united Korean flag at the opening ceremony, something which they had done previously. Different issues resulted in ...

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The Euro Journal LKL interview

10-Aug-08

Jeon Sung-min recently interviewed LKL’s blogger-in-chief for an article in the Euro Journal. The interview was conducted in English, and he translated it into Korean for publication in the newspaper. Here’s a slightly polished-up transcript of the interview, published with Jeon Sung-min’s kind permission. Euro Journal: How and when did you get interested in Korea and Korean culture? Philip: In the late 1980s and early 1990s I was lucky enough to work at one of the leading accounting firms. One of my favourite clients was the first European investment fund permitted to invest directly in the Korean market – the Korea Europe Fund. That got me started. They were always expanding because the Korean market was booming, and whenever they issued new ...

Filed in About LKL, Bloggers and newspeople, Interviews and features | Also tagged Ticker | Comments (0) »

A veteran remembers

27-Jul-08

Today, 27 July, is the anniversary of the end of the Korean War in 1953 – a war in which millions died, and which only ended with a ceasefire, Korea remaining divided by a heavily guarded border for fifty-five years now. Jennifer Barclay marks the occasion. Peter Poole served in the Korean War as a member of the Royal Military Police, and having met him through the Anglo-Korean Society, I asked if he would share his recollections of that time with me. He was eighteen years old, with two years of national service ahead of him. After eighteen weeks of training at Woking, they were off on the troop ship. Like many of his comrades, he hadn’t heard of Korea before. ‘We ...

Filed in BKVA, Historical, Interviews and features | Also tagged Ticker | Comments (1) »

Impossible landscapes

07-Jul-08

Recently in London we’ve seen two seemingly very different responses to traditional Korean and Chinese landscape painting. In March we had Lim Taek (임택) at I-MYU; just finished at Union we had Lee Sea-hyun (이세현). Both artists portray the familiar mountains, the occasional ancient pavilion dotting the landscape. But Lim’s mountains are simple blocks of white against a rich blue sky, and while Lee respects the conventions and has a blank background against which his carefully delineated peaks are set, he defies conventions in another way by presenting his landscapes in a ghostly red. Considering the two responses side by side allows some interesting similarities and contrasts to be highlighted. Left: Lim Taek: Transferred Landscape. Right: Lee Sea-hyun: Between Red Stand in ...

Filed in Event reports and reviews, I-MYU, Lee Sea-hyun, Lim Taek, Other exhibitions, Union Gallery | Also tagged Ticker | Comments (0) »

A meeting with Sunflower - 해바라기

05-Jul-08

Anna Lindgren meets with one of the fathers of modern Korean folk music, with special assistance from Jeon Sung-min. A few years ago I came across a stunningly beautiful folk piece. It was called 내마음의 보석상자 and it had been recorded by 해바라기, Sunflower, in 1986. After getting my hands on a couple of Sunflower compilations, I could conclude that Sunflower offered some of the highest quality music I had ever heard coming out of Korea. By a lucky chance it turned out that a friend of Philip, Jeon Sung Min, is the nephew of Sunflower founder and leader Lee Joo Ho. He kindly agreed to interview his uncle for me when they would meet next time. The text below could ...

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New Kim on the block

17-Jun-08

Aashish Gadhvi introduces Kim Do-Heon, the new Korean star in the Premier League. After an impressive season, West Bromich Albion were great contenders to be beamed up Star Trek style to the Premiership, and by the end of the year they were crowned champions of a very tight, highly competitive Coca-Cola Football League. Whatever can be said about the quality of football in the league, the Championship is one of the tightest leagues around, and any one of four or five teams could have won been crowned top dogs. Make no mistake, West Brom thoroughly deserve to be in the best league in the world. West Brom’s promotion to the Premier League next season also sees the introduction of Kim Do-Heon, ...

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Im Sang Soo: Uncut

04-Jun-08

As part of the Tiger Asian film festival Im Sang Soo, director of socio-political films ‘The President’s Last Bang’, ‘A Good Lawyer’s Wife’ and ‘The Old Garden’, held a Q&A session on 30th May 2008 at the Korean Cultural Centre in London. There was a small but select feel to the gathering that took place in the multipurpose hall. It was an illuminating event, even for those who had neither seen nor heard of the films prior to this event – of which there were more than a few. Questions and answers were translated on the spot by Seh Hyun Rho to whom we extend our thanks and also to the Korean Cultural Centre for hosting the event. The following is a ...

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Filed in Conference reports, Film, Im Sang-soo, KCC Film Club, KCCUK | Also tagged Ticker | Comments (2) »

Dr Hyun-key Kim Hogarth: how to be an anthropologist of your own culture

24-May-08

Known to her neighbours in Kent as Kim Hogarth, Hyun-key left Korea in 1968 before she’d even learned to cook Korean food. Her CV says ‘Nationality: British’. But it’s her academic work on Korean shamanism that keeps her busy giving papers and publishing books. Jennifer Barclay met the social anthropologist in London to find out more. I first met Dr Hyun-key Kim Hogarth, fellow of the Royal Anthropological Institute, at an Anglo-Korean Society gathering at the Korean Cultural Centre, and wanted to find out more about her work. So I was delighted when she agreed to come and have lunch with me at Asadal and tell me her story. She arrives in a bright pink dress and knee-high black boots, very ...

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A diplomatic career in Korea

14-May-08

Jennifer Barclay reports from the AKS Evening with Warwick Morris at the KCC Wednesday 7 May, 2008 Warwick Morris retired from the British Diplomatic Service in February 2008 after 38 years, 13 of which he and his wife spent in South Korea in three very different postings. Members and guests of the Anglo-Korean Society had a real treat on Wednesday 7 May when we were invited to hear him speak at the Korean Cultural Centre off Trafalgar Square, followed by a buffet with the opportunity to mingle afterwards. Morris is an immensely likeable, entertaining and self-effacing speaker and in the brief time allotted gave a clear view of the changes in South Korea over three decades. Former British Ambassador to the Republic of ...

Filed in Anglo-Korean Society, Interviews and features | Also tagged The East, Ticker | Comments (0) »

A meeting with The Invisible Fish

05-May-08

Anna Lindgren continues her series of interviews with interesting musicians When only a few days remained of 2006, Korea's most distinguished indie folk duo said "goodbye" with the release of their second full album. We were many that didn't quite want to believe it - of course there were other prominent folk acts, but nothing quite like Bluedawn. The two members still make music on their own, however, and last month the male half, slowzz, released an EP that should make all former Bluedawn fans still restless feel more at ease. With much assistance from mrkwang I managed to perform an email interview with him to learn more on his solo project, The Invisible Fish. slowzz, real name Jung Sang Hoon, ...

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The Return of the King

03-May-08

Aashish Gadhvi deconstructs the return of Park Ji-sung In case you don’t know, my birthday’s coming up, and what I want is a Man United shirt, with printed number 13, ‘J.S. Park’ on the back. The reason I ask is because the damn shirt doesn’t even exist in Manchester United’s Megastore in Old Trafford. Upon visiting the store I noticed shirts with Rooney, Ronaldo, Nani, Tevez and Giggs, but not one sign of my Korean hero. Surely, if anywhere there was to be merchandise of Park it would be in United’s own Megastore? Apparently not, as I wondered around and the absence of Park merchandise became more and more apparent. I had taken my photo with the giant United team photo at ...

Filed in Manchester, Sport | Also tagged Ticker | Comments (3) »

Who’s who in the Korean blogosphere

02-May-08

LKL is now providing articles for The East, the monthly English-language East Asian business & culture newspaper published in London. LKL’s remit for The East is, for the moment, pretty much undefined, which means I can write whatever I like. And Editor Lee can reject it if he doesn’t like it. It’s an interesting discipline to write for a completely different audience, and in a different medium. For a start, I’m finding that sentences have to get shorter. This is an edited version of the first article. I’m expecting lots of corrections from all you experts out there. HT to the Daily Kimchi for the Blog Juice idea. If you want to know what's going on in Korea, where should you ...

Filed in Bloggers and newspeople | Also tagged The East, Ticker | Comments (17) »

Radio Pyongyang

28-Apr-08

Anna Lindgren explores some music from north of the DMZ Two years ago, I found myself browsing the homepage of Seattle-based label Sublime Frequencies. They offer some really interesting CDs and DVDs, but with my interest in most things related Korea the CD called "Radio Pyongyang: Commie Funk and Agit Pop from the Hermit Kingdom" was the one that got me most curious. I got myself a copy and finally - here's a review! From Sublime Frequencies: Schmaltzy synthpop, Revolutionary rock, Cheeky child rap, and a healthy dose of hagiography for Dear Leader Kim Jong-il, this is the now NOW sound of North Korea! A hermit kingdom with a rich folk history and an even richer tradition in over-the-top praise for the ruling House ...

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We are not Chinese: Do not miss JUMP!

20-Apr-08

JUMP! Yegam Theatre at Sadler's Wells Peacock Theatre, till 10 May 2008 Winner 'Comedy Award' at Edinburgh Festival Fringe, 2006 Korean National Assembly 'Grand Prize for Drama & Musical,' 2006 BBC TV 'The Royal Variety Performance,' December 2006 Review by Grace Kim To start with what everyone already knows, it's pretty much impossible not to enjoy JUMP! even if you happen to be a sad old grouch sucking on rotten lemons all day. If you haven't seen it already, and even if you have, take another look at this international smash hit Korean classic-- before someone gets hurt! "Don't go to the cinema, don't stay in and watch TV. Go and see the movie length Korean show Jump! and you'll get ...

Filed in Event reports and reviews, Physical theatre & mime | Also tagged Ticker, Ye-Gam | Comments (3) »

A meeting with Zitten

17-Mar-08

By Anna Lindgren In January, Korea's premier indie label, Pastel Music, released a 5CD compilation to commemorate its 5th birthday. On those five CDs there are 71 songs in total. Needless to say there is plenty of good music on those CDs - I had expected as much when I pre-ordered it. What I did not expect was to find that the best song, out of all those 71 tracks, came from somebody I hadn't even heard of till I read the tracklist for the first time. The song in question was 곁에 - an "early recording version" of it, to be specific - and the artist responsible was Zitten (짙은). With a little help from the guy that created the ...

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Art for the People, Art by the People

07-Mar-08

Beccy Kennedy muses on an unnoticed exhibition at the Korean Cultural Centre: Korean Folk Painting on White Porcelain : Kim So Sun (30 January – 28 March 2008) There is another exhibition on at the new Korean Cultural Centre at the moment and it doesn’t involve vociferous video installations by trans-cultural 20th century big wigs. In fact, there are several potential exhibitions contained within the same space that generates Good morning Mr Nam June Paik. The other titled exhibition to which I am actually referring resides in the basement area, above the PC library, as if a part of Jeong Hwa Choi's eclectic interior design scheme, rather than a discernible display in itself. It is a contemporary show of what is often referred ...

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Ruby Salon and the digital singles phenomenom

25-Feb-08

Anna Lindgren meets the people behind Ruby Salon I know I'm not alone in feeling frustration over the digital singles concept; artists releasing music only available through paid downloads - a not too uncommon way for Korean artists to get a few songs out before the next CD. Sure, in this day and age most people don't treasure CDs like I do (it's not just the materialist in me, I love flipping through the booklets and, especially when it comes to little known artists, feel good about supporting good music) and it is a very environmental friendly way of distributing music, but what to do when there's no way for you to actually purchase the music you so want to hear? Last ...

Filed in Music features, Music: K-pop | Also tagged Ticker | Comments (1) »

We Love Kim Soo Hee (she said)

31-Jan-08

Two of your regular LKL writers were so taken with Kim Soo Hee's concert on 26 January that we both felt moved to write about it. Here's Jennifer's take. Kim Soo Hee, we love you! Especially when you make that heart shape with your arms above your head and blow a kiss. Please come back to London. We'll try to take Korean lessons in the meantime. OK, Philip and I thought we were a little mad going to see a Korean pop singer who made her name back in the seventies or eighties (we think). We were indeed the only non-Koreans in the audience, bar one or two with Korean company, because the event was only advertised through ...

Filed in Kim Soo Hee, Trot | Also tagged Ticker | Comments (0) »

Korean film - a review of 2007

30-Jan-08

Jason Bechervaise, founder of koreanfilm.org.uk, gives his perspective on the ups and downs of the Korean film industry in 2007 By all accounts 2007 was a year that has been difficult one for the Korean film industry where it seems that the golden years of the Korean film industry has passed. Rising costs have meant it is more challenging to make a profit. A recent study by KOFIC (Korean Film Council) estimated that while in 2006 the average film earned 77% of its budget, in 2007 this dropped significantly to 39%. To make things look little better, only 10 films broke even with 2 million admissions or more. However, although 2007 saw a drop in theatrical admissions -- the first ...

Filed in 2007 year-end posts, Film | Also tagged Ticker | Comments (0) »

LKL quiz of the year: the answers

01-Jan-08

Question 1: Corporate crooks and corruption Match the alleged quote with the appropriate chaebol The conglomorate had run a vast network that bribed government officials, prosecutors, tax collectors, journalists and scholars I don't want to take a gamble on causing a crisis in the country's economy The sentence of one year and six months is a bit too heavy A. Hanwha B. Hyundai C. Samsung Answers: 1: C; 2: B; 3: A This has been such a good year for this type of thing that it was a struggle to select the appropriate quotes. The Hanwha quote, of course, relates to the get-out-of-jail trick by convicted thug, loving father and budding pyjama-model Kim Seung-youn, Hanwha's Chairman. 'The sentence of one year and six months is a bit too ...

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A nomination for artiste of the year

18-Dec-07

In more than a footnote to her Critic's Choice article, Saharial reviews the achievements of Lee Minwoo this year My personal nomination for artiste of the year goes to Lee Minwoo a.k.a. 'M'. In the last 12 months he has not only released a live album and a third solo effort, and held successful tours in both Korea and Japan, but also started his own company, produced and written songs for other artistes and started his own line of clothing merchandise designed by himself. The year hasn't been an easy one with his 3rd solo album being leaked onto the net a week before its release date. Four months after its release, there was a completely bizarre and late-timed decision from the ...

Filed in 2007 year-end posts, Music features, Music: K-pop | Also tagged Ticker | Comments (1) »

Korean football in crisis?

16-Dec-07

Aashish Gadhvi has some issues to get off his chest about the state of Korean football. Its time to face facts, people. The golden generation is finished. The players are all overpaid, high-ego celebrities with more money than talent. The fans don't get behind the team and no manager in their right mind would take the vacant position. Now enough about England, let's talk about Korea. Over the past few days both Mick McCarthy (above left) and Gerrard Houllier (above right) have turned down the vacant managerial position of the South Korean national team, and this has led to the Korean team being something of a joke amongst factions of the English media. They claim that the Korean national team is a ...

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LKL critics’ choice: Saharial

15-Dec-07

Saharial, a moderator in the soompi forums and a self-confessed pop junkie, presents her selection of 2007 releases - and has some words of comfort for a disappointing release which didn't make her list First up is the King of Ballads -- Sung Si Kyung. This sixteen track 5th Album called The Ballads opens with the number On The Street written by singer-songwriter Yoon Jong Shin, a long-time collaborator with Sung Si Kyung, and it's a partnership that works very well. The song was the first single released from the album and proved very popular with fans and in the charts. Who do you love?, the follow-up single, also by Yoon Jong Shin, showcased Si Kyung's ability to sing in English, ...

Filed in 2007 year-end posts, Albums of the year 2007, CD reviews | Also tagged Ticker | Comments (5) »

LKL Critics’ Choice: Anna Lindgren

10-Dec-07

To me, 2006 was a pretty weak year, music-wise, and it wasn't really till the very end of November that it began to shape up. That's when - after a two month delay - adultchild finally released their debut album, B TL B TL. Filled with soft slow paced mellow music, cosy guitar play and lovely female vocals, adultchild had with the assistance of Soda (aka Oldfish) refined the sound from their demos and came off as full worthy label mates of Pastel Music's premier mellow act, Bluedawn. Their formula with a careful beginning that gradually builds up towards a stronger end works great on me. Hopefully the attention adultchild have gotten from their participation on Tearliner's Coffee Prince OST ...

Filed in 2007 year-end posts, Albums of the year 2007, CD reviews | Also tagged Ticker | Comments (0) »

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