Readers may recall that during this year’s World Cup I spotted a couple of news items reporting how Korean banks were using football to get in new business. But it’s not just the national team which pulls in the financial punters. Park Ji-sung, the sportsman with the biggest brand power in Korea, has been used … [Read More]
Month: November 2006
Che Guevara in Korean poetry
Here’s a fascinating query I just received from a reader. I am compiling a book of poetry from around the world about the Argentine-Cuban revolutionary Che Guevara. I have been referred to the titles of two Korean poems that make indirect references to Che: In front of Kim Nam-ju’s grave written by Min Yeong in … [Read More]
The magic straight perm
After receiving two requests from readers about Korean hairdressers in London who do hair straightening, I thought I’d do a bit of research. My first problem was this: why on earth would Koreans (and Japanese for that matter) want to develop complex mechanisms for straightening hair when their hair is straight anyway? The Chosun Ilbo … [Read More]
Liberalisation of the Korean legal services market: a view from inside
Last week the England & Wales Law Society posted a press release on their site announcing the publication of the draft bill that “would give foreign legal consultants access to the country’s legal services market”: The publication of the draft bill on foreign legal consultants paves the way for solicitors’ firms to open offices in … [Read More]
Pyongyang’s latest statue and other DPRK humour
One view of recent events: Pyongyang’s latest statue © Chappatte – www.globecartoon.com (where you can find more along the same lines: filter on “Nuclear North Korea”). Plus, for “On-the-spot whimsy and wisdom from a Benevolent Despot” – an irreverent blogger claiming to be from within the DPRK – visit the Beloved Leader. And some unintended … [Read More]
“Through the Looking Glass” panel discussion at Asia house
Yesterday morning’s panel session gave a priveleged (1) insight into the work of some of the artists represented at the stimulating show at Asia House. Chaired by Beth McKillop of the V&A, the discussant panel included Alessio Antoniolli from Gasworks, Hans Ulrich Obrist from The Serpentine, curator Jiyoon Lee and artists Duck-hyun Cho, Yeondoo Jung, … [Read More]
Fame at last?
Thanks to UK fan for letting me know that a (thankfully) heavily-edited version of my recent interview aired today on YTN as part of a bigger piece on the hallyu in the UK. The Times’s recent Korean supplement was featured, as were Korean footballers in the premier league. They also interviewed Mr Choi who will … [Read More]
Is Korean cinema’s heyday over?
Darcy has a thoughtful piece on his “What’s New” page, sensing a lack of dynamism in mainstream Korean cinema. While noting that Korean films in September took 83% of local box office, and Hollywood was beaten into third place by Japan, But you’ll have to forgive me if, despite the numbers, I feel a lack … [Read More]
Pyongyang rock festival to be managed from London
I was browsing the DPRK’s Voice of Korea yesterday while writing an upcoming more flippant post. The site contains information of a rock festival in Pyongyang next year organised by the VoK. The festival is billed as “Rock for Peace” – the 2007 version of Woodstock. The story is picked up in the Guardian and … [Read More]
Traditional Yet Contemporary sale at Bonhams
The sale of contemporary Japanese and Korean ceramics at Bonhams on 7 November was the first time that a London auction had a focus on Korean work. As such, there was a lot of admiration from buyers as to the quality of the work, but when it came to putting hands in pockets buyers were … [Read More]
DPRK responds to UN “anti-DPRK” resolution
Received from the DPRK embassy on 21 November 2006 A spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry on 20th Nov. 2006 gave the following answer to a question put by KCNA Monday as regards the adoption of a “human rights resolution” against the DPRK at the third committee of the UN General Assembly: The anti-DPRK “human … [Read More]
Beer-bottle VC honoured
The Korean War featured briefly in the first episode of a Channel 5 series, presented by Prince Charles, on Sunday. The series is about holders of the Victoria Cross, Britain’s highest award for military bravery. The first Victoria Cross awarded by our current monarch was to Bill Speakman (left) of the Black Watch, attached to … [Read More]
Symposium on Shakespeare and Asian Theatre at Asia House
To accompany the staging of Oh Tae-seok’s adaptation of Romeo and Juliet at the Barbican a special symposium will be held at Asia House: Symposium: Shakespeare and Asian Theatre Saturday 2 December at Asia House 10.30am – 1.30pm With panellists John Russell Brown, Kim Ah-jeong, Oh Tae-seok and David Tse Ka-shing Over the past decades, … [Read More]
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]
BoA #5: Girls on top
BoA’s 5th Korean album is leagues ahead of her 2nd, (No 1). Since then, she’s worked on her voice, and her managers have hired some decent songwriters and pushed the music in a more international direction. Let’s get the final track, 가을 편지, out of the way first, as it’s atypical. It comes as a … [Read More]
BoA #2: No.1
With the emphasis on electronic sounds rather than compositional inspiration, this is not a recommendable album. The robotic drum machine, brainless key shifts and silly noises do not make for engaging listening. BoA’s voice is nothing remarkable, a bit nasal – though not unpleasant. Perhaps the video is worth watching, but I’m not going to … [Read More]