Chae-jin Lee: A Troubled Peace — US Policy and the Two Koreas Johns Hopkins Univ Press, 2006 A very thorough review of the history of the relations between the US and (the two) Korea(s) over the past hundred or so years. To me, there’s rather too many trees and not enough wood, but I guess … [Read More]
Front Page
Five from the archive
Freestyle #3
(July 2004) Primarily for rap-lovers. Strangely, 5 out of the 14 tracks have no musical content whatsoever, being recordings of one end of a phone conversation. Not understanding Korean, I don’t know whether there is any deep significance in these tracks. The first four tracks I can happily live without. Then suddenly, out of nowhere, … [Read More]
No Wonjogyoje, but lots of bum cleavage
You can’t use refined language when it comes to Seunghee Kang’s work. It’s vibrant, lively, robust, and anything but refined. The colours leap out at you, the images full of fun but also somehow disturbing. And it’s difficult to know what to make of them. The centrepiece of the “Odd Couple” show in Bermondsey is … [Read More]
John Sweeney in BBC Panorama North Korea Undercover
“I compromised the LSE and my tour guides, and all I could produce was a lousy tourist video,” would be a suitable slogan for the T-shirt of tonight’s BBC Panorama programme. OK, so they also interviewed BR Myers, John Everard and a defector or two, but really it was not worth all the hype and … [Read More]
A review of the Korean cultural year 2020
It would be an understatement to say that the cultural year 2020 has been markedly different from previous years. The pandemic has had a huge impact on the cultural scene, with most live events cancelled and event promoters falling back on the internet to provide us with our cultural fixes. Some of these attempts have … [Read More]
Recent Posts
March events 2025
Today is LKL’s 19th birthday – we launched on 1 March 2006. I’m hoping to celebrate by getting myself a ticket for one or two of the Korean movies at BFI Flare. Somehow. But there’s plenty else to keep me occupied if I’m not successful – like Sun-Mi Hong at the Vortex. Screenings BFI Flare … [Read More]
Festival of Korean Dance 2025 – programme details announced
Here’s the official press release for the 2025 Festival of Korean dance. This year, in addition to performances at The Place in London, the festival tours to Bournemouth, Salford and Newcastle. A Festival of Korean Dance returns for its eighth year with 17-strong ensemble headliner and a live rock band Presented by the Korean Cultural … [Read More]
Snowy Day – a new collection of Lee Chang-dong short stories
I’ve been following Korean literature in translation now for around 25 years. Back in the day, I’d buy everything I could lay my hands on – after all, there wasn’t much of it around, so there wasn’t much financial commitment involved. At the time, most of the literature available was originally written more than thirty … [Read More]
Season’s Greetings to all our readers
Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year to all of LKL’s readers, friends and contributors. At a time when nowhere in the world seems immune from division, disruption or worse, we remember that it is our personal connections and friendships that bring healing and sustenance. Have a restful holiday season with your loved ones, … [Read More]
London Korean Film Festival Announces 2024 Programme
Here’s the official press release for this year’s London Korean Film Festival, released today. Some good things here! Korean Cultural Centre UK announces London Korean Film Festival 2024 Programme Opening Gala Film: Park Beom-su’s VICTORY Closing Gala Film: E.oni’s LOVE IN THE BIG CITY Special Screening: Choi Dong-hoon’s ALIENOID: RETURN TO THE FUTURE London, 1 … [Read More]
Theatre round-up: four recent Korean stage productions
This year in London we have been fortunate so far to have enjoyed four Korean stage productions: two imports with a run of several weeks each, and two shoestring-budget local productions with a handful of performances. Which would we go to see again? Do the plucky locals win out over the imports? [Read More]
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Recent Event updates
Hyangmok Baik: Home, at Beers London
Because I attach to things both passionately and irrationally, I politely requested (read: asserted my intention) to write the text for Hyangmok Baik’s sophomore exhibition at the gallery, Home. After all, in 2023, I wrote the text for his debut exhibition at the gallery. At that time the work drew allusions to childhood, dreams, and … [Read More]
K-Women: Celebrating Korean Female Artists
Korean art group 4482 (SASAPARI) showcases inspirational artworks by 17 Korean female artists in Kingston, home of the largest Korean community in Europe. In collaboration with Kingston Museum, Korean art group 4482 (SASAPARI) presents an exhibition showcasing inspirational artworks by 17 Korean women artists in Kingston, home of the largest Korean community in Europe. This … [Read More]
ARTMS: Lunar Theory tour, at the Troxy
We rise together, back to the moon and beyond. ARTMS is composed of LOONA members HeeJin, HaSeul, Kim Lip, JinSoul, and Choerry, who built one of the most creative lores in K-POP. In July 2023, ODD EYE CIRCLE, a unit of LOONA, released the album VERSION UP, marking the beginning of ARTMS. In October 2023, … [Read More]
Sun-mi Hong launches new album at the Vortex
Sun-Mi Hong, the South-Korean-born and Amsterdam-based musician, stands as one of the most inventive drummers and composers of her generation, continuously pushing the boundaries of jazz and its intersections with diverse musical traditions. Her new album, entitled Fourth Page: Meaning of a Nest, is the second release on Edition Records following Third Page: Resonance with … [Read More]
Korean Folk Tales: A Blend of Korean and Western Music
Come and experience the magical world of Korean traditional music intertwined with captivating folk tales at St Giles Cripplegate. Immerse yourself in the rich cultural heritage of Korea through mesmerising performances that bring beloved folk tales featuring animal stories to life. This special programme features original compositions by the talented EPM (Electronic & Produced Music Department) composers, … [Read More]
SMTOWN LIVE 2025 in London
The SMTown 2025 world tour kicks off in Korea on 11-12 January at Gocheok Sky Dome, Seoul, with performers including K-pop veterans Bada (S.E.S) Hwanhee (Fly to the Sky) and Tony An (H.O.T). Wouldn’t it be great if similar legends made it to the London show on 28 June? This is the roadshow’s first visit … [Read More]
The above events list includes recent updates to events which might have been uploaded some time ago (eg an update confirming venue or ticket link). A chronological listing of all event notices published, most recent first, can be found here. A list of all upcoming events can be found here.
Recent Book updates
Hidden Heroes: Anthology of North Korean Fiction
Hidden Heroes is a collection of short stories from the 1980s to present that unveil the lives of ordinary North Koreans. Through themes of identity, community, and power, it reveals a complex society, offering readers a nuanced understanding beyond prevailing stereotypes Hidden Heroes offers a rare and intimate glimpse into the lives of ordinary North … [Read More]
A Century of Queer Korean Fiction
Following decades of LGBTQ+ activism, South Korea has seen a flowering of queer literature, film, and Internet culture. Many openly gay, lesbian, transgender, and other queer Korean writers find themselves in the national and international spotlight. But the rich variety of queer representation also extends into the Korean past, as this volume illustrates. Beginning with … [Read More]
Ryu Sŏngnyong, Chancellor of Chosŏn Korea
This biography of Ryu Sŏngnyong presents a new view of his childhood and education, his career as a government official, and his scholarship during retirement. The narrative includes descriptions of the Imjin War between Hideyoshi’s Japan and Chosŏn Korea, and their negotiations with imperial China. With the Japanese invasion of Chosŏn, King Sŏnjo’s court was … [Read More]
The Routledge Handbook of Early Modern Korea
Korea is a historical region of prominence in the global political economy. Still, a comprehensive overview of its early modern era has yet to receive a book-length treatment in English. Comprising topical chapters written by 22 experts from 11 countries, The Routledge Handbook of Early Modern Korea presents an interdisciplinary survey of Korea’s politics, society, economy, and … [Read More]
Generals and Scholars: Military Rule in Medieval Korea
Generals and Scholars is the first work in English to examine fully military rule during the Koryo. Although it lasted for only a century, the period was one of dynamic change–a time of institutional development, social transformation, and the reassertion of the civil service examination and Confucian ideology coupled with the flowering of Son (Zen) Buddhism. … [Read More]
Lee Chang-dong
This is the first full monograph on the widely acclaimed South Korean director Lee Chang-dong (born 1954), whose 2018 film Burning was the first Korean production shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film. With his six features made since taking up filmmaking at the age of 43 (after working as a novelist), Lee has distinguished himself … [Read More]
The above booklist includes recent updates to books which might have been uploaded some time ago (eg an update to reflect a release of cover art, or a new review). A chronological listing of all books uploaded, most recent first, can be found here.