Kyung Hyun Kim: The Remasculinization of Korean Cinema Duke University Press, 2004 This book is for a restricted academic readership only. I can empathise with the feeling of inadequacy, crisis and male lack which, according to Kim, plagues the majority of protagonists in Korean film (though there is a difference between me and them, namely … [Read More]
Month: September 2006 (page 2)
Brief review: Baudeogi at the Bloomsbury
Another entertaining evening from Think Korea. As the year progresses, the sponsors are learning about how best to introduce their wonderful shows to a western audience. This time, there was a glossy programme which set out some of the background to what we were about to see, which was helpful. There was also some useful … [Read More]
Conference report: the 2006 BAKS conference
The BAKS conference in Sheffield last week had a broad range of speakers. What follows is a personal response to the proceedings, and isn’t meant to be in any way an official account. I apologise to those speakers to whom I devote fewer words. No disrespect is intended. In any occasion like this, some talks … [Read More]
More bookshops in central London
While in the centre of town for the session on Mingei at the British Museum yesterday I thought I’d check out some bookshops. It turned out to be an expensive trip. Firstly, Arthur Probsthain. A lovely pokey little bookshop for Oriental and African books just opposite the British Museum (41 Great Russell Street WC1B 3PE). … [Read More]
An event for British lawyers eager for a Korean vacation
From this week’s Law Society Gazette The British-Korean Law Association will hold its inaugural meeting at the Law Society on 12 Sepember at 6pm. The bilateral association aims to develop ties between the UK and Korea. The meeting will include a discussion of Korea’s draft Legal Consultants Bill. For information, email fiona dot whittenbury at … [Read More]
Korean film at the Firecracker Showcase
This year’s Firecracker Showcase has four Korean films: Another chance to see Bong Joon-ho’s record-breaker The Host (Friday 22 September, 9:00pm, Renoir) Jang Jin’s fun assassin flick Guns & Talks (Monday 18 September, 4:00pm, Curzon Soho | Friday 22 September, 6:45pm, Renoir) Kim Ki-duk’s The Bow (Wednesday 20 September, 9:15pm, Curzon Mayfair) and Lee Chang-dong’s … [Read More]
DPRK e-bulletin: American sanctions
Another e-bulletin which arrived recently: DPRK Foreign Ministry Spokesman Demands U.S. Lift of Financial Sanctions Pyongyang, August 26 (KCNA) — A spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry released a statement on August 26 accusing the United States of more persistently escalating its financial sanctions against the DPRK. It said: In the wake of the publication … [Read More]
DPRK e-bulletin: “Ulji focus lens” exercises
Apologies for the delay in posting this and the following e-bulletin from the London embassy of the DPRK: KPA Panmunjom Mission Terms “Ulji Focus Lens” War Action Panmunjom, August 22 (KCNA) — A spokesman for the Panmunjom Mission of the Korean People’s Army issued a statement Tuesday condemning the “Ulji Focus Lens” joint military exercises … [Read More]
Korean books in London
We were unable to give a decent answer to the recent visitor to this site who asked where he could buy Korean books in London. The best anyone could come up with was to try a trip to New Malden. [Update: there’s a Korean bookshop in New Malden which I visited recently. More info here.] … [Read More]
Foreign bank first half results
Korea’s foreign banks had a rosier first half of 2006, after a not too hot full year 2006, where the results were hit by poor positioning in their interest rate books – they were caught out by interest rate increases. Below are the results for the first six months, compared with the same period last … [Read More]
Explanation of Operational Control
Courtesy of Tom Coyner, here’s an explanation of what operational control is all about. The recent Washington Post article is a reasonably good survey of some of the current tensions between Korea and the U.S., specifically over their respective policies toward North Korea and over a number of alliance issues involving the U.S. military presence … [Read More]
Why Koreans have so many bank accounts
This is such a fun article I have to quote it in full. High frustration in a low-trust country By Harold Piper, JoongAng Daily, 3 September 2006 Korea is a funny country. Actually, I quite like it. There is a lot to be said for a big city where a woman can go out safely … [Read More]
The Asian fine wine craze
The FT’s rather silly How to Spend It magazine had a feature this weekend on the growing popularity of fine wine in the far east, particularly the top Bordeaux. The main picture accompanying the article was of a glamorous young woman sipping a glass of red, purportedly in a fashionable Seoul wine bar. The article … [Read More]
Mingei one-day workshop at the British Museum
Those who enjoyed the Traditional Yet Contemporary exhibition during the Korean Festival this year may appreciate this one-day workshop at the British Museum on 9 September, 10am-6pm. While the focus is on Japanese work, there is a common thread with the exhibition earlier this year: Bernard Leach. One or two of his works were on … [Read More]
Think Korea: Fantasia
An evening of traditional dance as part of Think Korea: Fantasia Cultural Foundation of the National Museum of Korean Performing Arts Group 14 September 2006 7:30pm London, The Bloomsbury Theatre 16 September 2006 7:30pm Manchester, Bruntwood Theatre, Royal Northern College of Music CFNMK Performing Art Group was founded on 20 July 2004, with the founding … [Read More]
Think Korea: Baudeogi
An evening of traditional street performance as part of Think Korea: Musical: Baudeogi 11-12 September 2006 The UCL Bloomsbury Theatre | 15 Gordon Street | London WC1H 0AH Introduction It is one of the most superior musicals to be staged on a traditional Korean open stage on a large scale. It features a panorama of … [Read More]