Crossroads of Youth is one of Korea’s earliest silent films, which would have at the time had narration by a byeonsa (the Korean equivalent of the Japanese benshi). The function of the byeonsa was to tell the story in the absence of diagetic dialogue (which in Western cinema was told through intertitles), in addition to … [Read More]
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Five from the archive
Discovering Korean Cinema book launch closes the 2010 festival
Colette Balmain reports from the book launch of Discovering Korean Cinema at the Korean Cultural Centre UK Tuesday 23 Nov 6pm For the launch of the book, Discovering Korean Cinema (edited by Daniel Martin and Mark Morris, The Korean Cultural Centre: London, 2010), both the editors, Daniel Martin and Mark Morris, and one of the … [Read More]
In pictures: the Kingston Korean Festival 2009
In the past, there’s always been some reason why I couldn’t get to the Korean Festival in Kingston. This year the way things panned out I could only manage to spend an hour there over lunchtime, but it’s a fun day out. A tip: there are two reasons not to go there by car. (1) … [Read More]
The Coronet Theatre’s “Tiger is Coming” festival: don’t miss any of it.
How long have we all been wanting Leenalchi and the Ambiguous Dance Company to come to London? Probably ever since their Naver Onstage performance went viral on social media. The piece they were performing was Tiger is Coming, which turned out to be the opening track of their subsequent album, Sugungga, a retelling of one … [Read More]
The London Korean Links Awards 2008
Here are the winners and losers of the third annual LKL Awards. Again, a personal and unscientific selection. Cultural event of the year (UK) There was a lot of competition for this particular award this year, but the winner is the Dano Festival in Trafalgar Square. The performance of Noridan was almost enough on its … [Read More]
Recent Posts
July events 2025
June turned out to be extremely busy, but in July we seem to be winding down for the summer. Undoubtedly the highlight for LKL is Leenalchi’s UK tour, coming to the Coronet at the beginning of the month and moving on to Manchester and Glasgow. K-pop fans can look forward to Stray Kids performing at … [Read More]
Veterans honoured on Kingston’s Fairfield Recreation Ground.
Veterans of the Korean War were honoured yesterday in an event marking the 75th anniversary of the start of the War on 25 June 1950. The event was divided into two: the formal ceremony in the morning, and the afternoon entertainments, in between which was a generous Korean lunch provided by the organisers. The dignitaries … [Read More]
1884 letter rediscovered in Cambridge giving insight into Kapsin coup
Earlier this month the Cambridge University Library blog uploaded an article telling the story of a letter recently rediscovered among the papers of Sir Harry Parkes by Jiyeon Wood, who is in charge of the Korean and Japanese collection at the library. According to Professor Kim Jong-Hak from Seoul National University: “[Prominent politician and leader … [Read More]
K-music – the archive
Here are all the concerts that have been part of the K-Music story over the years, together with links to reviews where we have been able to cover the events, or where we have identified reviews on third party websites. Although not branded under the K-music moniker, the series of five Korean concerts presented on … [Read More]
In introduction to the KCCUK’s 여운 | Lingering Fragments summer screening season
As in other recent summers, the KCC is collaborating with Birkbeck in curating a season of experimental and documentary films. The press release introducing the season is reproduced below. The season comprises the following programmes: 18 June: Han Okhi and Kaidu Club: A Cinema of Outsiders 25 June: Korean War Commemorative Screening: Forbidden Fatherland 2 … [Read More]
2025 travel diary 1: arrival and the foodie alleyways of Ikseondong
Gwanghwamun, Seoul, Wednesday 28 May. Following the trend of more recent Korea trips, there is no particular theme this year. I simply want to meet up with old friends, make new ones, and experience a few new destinations. Plus, I had to deliver the first of my waistcoat commissions to the friends who had requested … [Read More]
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Recent Event updates
Park Jiha joins K-music festival programme
The acclaimed composer and multi-instrumentalist returns with her latest album All Living Things: Park Jiha‘s fourth album is a radiant sonic meditation on the textures, rhythms, and quiet power of the living world. Performing as part of the K-Music Festival, Park will showcase her mastery of traditional Korean instruments: the piri (a double-reed bamboo oboe), … [Read More]
Hwang Sok-yong: The Voice of a Divided Nation
With a five-decade-long writing career and Korea’s most prestigious literary prizes under his belt, Hwang Sok-yong is unmatched in depicting the social and political realities of his ruptured homeland. A staunch promoter of the arts, he spent years in exile and prison. It’s a rare honour to welcome him to the Festival, discussing his remarkable life and … [Read More]
Seong-Jin Cho artist portrait, plus Yeol Eum Son and Clara-Jumi Kang in Barbican 25/26 classical season
For those keen to lock down their diary commitments well in advance, the Barbican has just announced its September 2025 – July 2026 classical music season. For Seong-jin Cho fans, you have four opportunities to see him – including two performances of Chopin’s 2nd piano concerto – in what is billed as an Artist Portrait. … [Read More]
Ga Kook-hyun – Sensible Still Life, at Mokspace
Ga Kook-hyun returns to Mokspace with a solo show inspired by the beauty of ceramics. ‘My work embraces the beauty of emptiness. Through gradual simplification and open spaces, object and void come to acknowledge one another. As the emptiness grows, the presence of the object becomes more intimate, more profound.’ Centred on the idea of … [Read More]
from20 x Hello Gloom — All Eyes on Me tour in London
K-R&B connoisseurs, take note: South Korea’s rising indie stars from20 (ex-BIGSTAR) and HELLO GLOOM (formerly of IMFACT) bring their genre-defying flair to London for the first time. These former idol group members have reinvented themselves through their creative label WAY BETTER, cultivating bold sonic identities rooted in alt-pop melancholy, neo-soul textures, and glitchy visual aesthetics. … [Read More]
DPR Cream x DPR Artic No Drugs Tour in Manchester & London
We know that the summer days have been scorching hot but the season is about to get even hotter as we are bringing the DPR crew for their first listening parties in Europe this July. This time around, you will have a unique chance to hear the latest DPR CREAM and DPR ARTIC’s collaborative EP … [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
Break Room [forthcoming]
A gripping and incisive psychological drama from the internationally bestselling author of DallerGut Dream Department Store. Eight unsuspecting people receive an invitation to participate in a mysterious new reality show called Break Room. But what starts as an opportunity to find fame is quickly revealed to be something far more unsettling when they learn how … [Read More]
The Crustacean [forthcoming]
The year’s most spiky and powerful novella “When I was 13 I knew nothing about anything. I only cared about love. And the older man, who I thought I fell in love with, never told me he was divorced. I made that up on my own.” Chichirim is a plain 13-year-old girl. An ordinary, misunderstood, … [Read More]
Blood for the Undying Throne [forthcoming]
Nothing can stop the Empire’s insatiable conquest. Not gods, not dragons, not armies. But heroes still rise. The Empire continues to enforce its so-called peace with massive war machines that destroy anything that opposes their might. Though the conquered are wholly at the mercy of the Empire, desperate odds such as these can be fertile … [Read More]
The Self-Esteem Class: Simple Lessons for a Lifetime of Contentment
The Self-Esteem Class teaches us about the influence of self-esteem on our lives and provides practical guidance for building the strongest image of yourself. This book will help anyone who would like to attain higher self-esteem but doesn’t know how to overcome the obstacles they face, as well as help recover the self-esteem of people who … [Read More]
Simple Heart [forthcoming]
In this moving exploration of dual identities reminiscent of Past Lives, a Korean writer’s pregnancy raises questions about her own childhood abandonment. Nana, a Korean playwright, was adopted as a child by a French couple. Before she was Nana, she was Esther Pak, a girl growing up in a Korean orphanage. And before she was Esther … [Read More]
Counsel Culture
From prize-winning Korean author Kim Hye-jin comes the contemplative, superbly-crafted story of a woman scapegoated by sudden tragedy, and the unexpected paths she must wander in search of redemption. Haesoo is a successful therapist and regular guest on a popular TV program. But when she makes a scripted negative comment about a public figure who … [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.