If you had read the blurb on the Bloomsbury Theatre website you might have been expecting two seperate pieces to be on the programme at the NewRa Dance Company’s performance: a performance of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring; and a performance of a Korean springtime ritual. Here’s the material from the Bloomsbury site, which was repeated … [Read More]
Month: June 2006 (page 2)
Photos of Danoje: springtime rites at the Bloomsbury
After my lacklustre snaps of Lee Soo Young at the Fairfield Hall on May 1st, I thought it was time I entered the 21st century, and persuaded Louise that we needed a pocket digital camera for my birthday. Last night was its first outing in the service of this site. In case anyone’s interested, they … [Read More]
Book now for Madrid 07
First the good news. You have an excuse to escape from the UK in dreary February next year for a long weekend in Madrid (15-19 February 2007): ARCO, a contemporary art expo in Madrid, has Korea as a guest of honour, so 20 Korean galleries will be exhibiting. Not so good news: in a classic … [Read More]
DPRK: Japan and the abduction issue
It’s been a while since I last received a copy of the DPRK e-bulletin. Here’s the latest one. The related BBC story is here. DPRK FM Spokesman Exposes Japan’s Moves to Internationalize “Abduction Issue” Pyongyang, June 13 (KCNA) — A spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry issued a statement on June 13 as regards the … [Read More]
Koreans masquerading as Japanese (and vice versa) – a visit to Yoshi Sushi in Hammersmith
There’s a presumption that when you go to an ethnic restaurant the staff are going to be from the country whose food is on offer. Of course, it’s not always the case. The first counter-example I came across in respect of London Korean restaurants is Young Bean Kwan, where I can often be found stuffing … [Read More]
In love with Seoul
I’m pretty sure the FT’s coverage of Korean affairs has increased both in quality and quantity over the past year. For example, they were the only western paper I noticed that covered the publication of the annual profits of the foreign banks operating in Seoul — data only available in Korean on the financial regulator’s … [Read More]
Korean banks gamble on world cup results
I know I promised that this site would be a world cup free zone. So I claim that this is a business story, not a sport story. Tom Coyner’s excellent Korean Economic Reader service sent me the following editorial from the Korea Herald a couple of days ago. As it was a sports story I … [Read More]
Teaching English in Korea
I’m going to tread, very gingerly, into the minefield of discussing matters relating to English language teaching in Korea. A dangerous topic for an outsider to get involved in, firstly because the majority of English-language bloggers on Korea seem to be ESL teachers, and secondly because there are some hot issues. I’m not sure that … [Read More]
Think Korea: A Midsummer Nights Dream
News of a special Korean Shakespearian adaptation at the Barbican, as part of Think Korea 2006 Details provided by the Barbican follow. Check out their website for more fun images. Yohangza Theatre Company: A Midsummer Night’s Dream Directed by Jung Ung Yang, in association with AsiaNow Productions 27th June – 1st July, Barbican Theatre, Silk … [Read More]
Korean Film – History, Resistance and Democratic Imagination
Eungjun Min, Jinsook Joo, Han Ju Kwak (Praeger, 2003) Proof that an academic book on film does not have to be unreadable; and apart from the first chapter this book is accessible to the general reader. The first chapter can, however, be safely ignored, as it seems simply to serve to establish that the authors … [Read More]
Exhibition Visit: Traditional yet Contemporary
Air Gallery, London, May 29 – June 3 2006 As Stephanie Seung-min Kim says in her article introducing the exhibition, “…culture can only be seen in a clear light when compared with other cultures. I believe that is why Korean ceramic works have to be judged more in an international setting.” The exhibition demonstrated the … [Read More]
June events 2006
The 2006 London Korean Festival is now over. You can still comment on the films here, and also please give some feedback on the film festival generally by filling out my survey here. Comment on the Traditional Yet Contemporary exhibition here. If you managed to get to the final event, Professor Kim Chang-nam’s talk, please … [Read More]
A new Korean export opportunity?
With Japan’s supplies of cheap disposable chopsticks coming under threat, and the alternative re-usable plastic chopsticks a bit naff, Japan’s very way of life is under threat. There is surely an alternative: Korean metal chopsticks. An undreamed-of export opportunity. The (London) Times provides the background. Chopstick tussle adds bite to Orient’s diplomatic spat The Times … [Read More]
Oxford to retain Korean Studies programme
From yesterday’s Korea Times. Thanks to Aidan FC for spotting this. Oxford University will continue to run its Korean studies program, which was initially scheduled to close down in June 2007, thanks to financial support a Korean nonprofit organization and a private company. The Korea Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to promoting international understanding of … [Read More]
Thanks for the mention – but you missed someone
Every City worker, or at least every sensible one I’ve come across, whether they be lawyer, accountant, banker or whatever, longs to be involved in non-City things. Most of them, given the chance, would give it up and take up garden design, travel the world, do something arty, charitable, anything so long as it involved … [Read More]
Watch all the South Korean footie matches for free
I just received this from Hyun-ho. Sounds like fun. I promise I won’t post anything more about the World Cup or I’ll be breaking my pledge to you. Watch all SOUTH KOREA World Cup Matches LIVE for FREE at this big London venue. This venue can take 1000 Korean fans so invite all your friends. … [Read More]