Another recent article in the JoongAng Daily reports on the Korean long-hours culture. I experienced this first-hand during my recent trip to Seoul. I thought I’d call in at the office, and maybe encourage my colleagues out for a beer or two. I was due to turn up at around 6pm, but because I spent … [Read More]
Year: 2007 (page 23)
Trot makes a comeback
To be perfectly accurate, I don’t think Trot ever really went away. Rather, like many trends in popular culture, its fanbase was getting older and there would come a point when no-one was listening to it any more. But when Trot compilations are selling millions through street vendors (see chapter 7 of Keith Howard’s book), … [Read More]
Korean literature talk at SOAS: Loanwords in Korean novels
Antonetta Bruno (La Sapienza) will be talking on the theme of “Loanwords in Korean novels at the beginning of the 21st century” at SOAS on Friday afternoon 23 February, 5pm, in Room G52. Literature boffins will know better than me what the talk is all about. I’m assuming it’s nothing to do with APRs and … [Read More]
Traditional Music masterclass at the Roundhouse
For those not up to an afternoon’s breakdancing, there’s a more sedate masterclass in the morning on March 18. Or do both. [Read More]
B-boy masterclass at the Roundhouse
The flier below tells you everything you need to know for a masterclass with some champion Korean breakdancers on 18 March. [Read More]
Oh Soojung Blogathon
To coincide with another retrospective of the complete oeuvre of Hong Sang-soo, Hell on Frisco Bay has announced a Blog-a-thon on the subject of A Virgin Stripped Bare by her Bachelors on March 21 this year. I gather that what this means is that anyone who runs a blog and who is interested can write … [Read More]
Korea Night at the Conway Hall
Very much word of mouth at the moment, but it’s the time of year when the University of London Korean Society have their Korea Night at the Conway Hall, near Holborn tube. I hear it’s this coming Thursday, 22 February, from 6pm. I’ll update this post as I hear more details – but maybe if … [Read More]
Charity concert at Asia House in aid of North Korean children
A charity concert in aid of Korea Foundation for World Aid (한민족 복지재단) has been organised for 23 February. Further details in the flier below (click on it for a larger, more legible version). [Read More]
Six party talks, round 5
The text of the joint agreement on North Korea’s nuclear disarmament as provided by the Chinese Foreign Ministry and reproduced in the International Herald Tribune: The Third Session of the Fifth Round of the Six-Party Talks was held in Beijing among the People’s Republic of China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Japan, the Republic … [Read More]
Kim Soyong at the Birds Eye View film festival
From the website of the Birds Eye View Film Festival, a festival of emerging woman filmmakers: In Between Days So Yong Kim, Canada/Korea, 2006, 85′ event total 95′ Subtitled Friday 9th March ICA CINEMA 2: 8.30PM Monday 12th March ICA CINEMA 2: 8.30PM “A slow-burning and memorable gem on the loneliness of a stranger in … [Read More]
Korean short films in Futureshorts February programme
Futureshorts’ February programme is themed for Valentine’s Day. Two Korean shorts will be making an appearance. A Vital Activity (생산적 활동) Dir: Joum-kyun Oh, 2003 An irrepressible need to make love sends a young couple on a quest for a suitable location A Path of Tears Dir: Sujin Jo, 2005 A beautifully sorrowful animation about … [Read More]
Dulsori celebrates New Year in New Malden
The lunar new year came to a girls school in New Malden yesterday with more than a few bangs. Samulnori percussion group Dulsori visited Coombe Girls School in Clarence Avenue for a spectacular one hour concert in front of an enthusiastic audience of pupils and visitors — including the mayor of Kingston. The audience didn’t … [Read More]
Happy lunar new year
Best wishes for the year of the golden pig to all our visitors. [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]
The Odd Couple at Gallery Yujiro
Seunghee Kang, creator of the “farting Mrs Blair” embroidery at the Still Dynamics show at the Jerwood Space in December, is one half of the Odd Couple currently showing at Gallery Yujiro in Bermondsey. Here’s the press release. The Odd Couple 16 February – 21 April 2007 Gallery Yujiro | Studio Unit A502 Tower Point … [Read More]
ARCO Madrid: final programme details
Here are the final details for everything that’s going on in Madrid this month. Korean events at ARCO Korean galleries at ARCO Complete ARCO social programme, including non-Korean stuff, but this is a day-by-day calendar, giving useful data such as timings of all the Korean films. Note that poet Ko Un will be making an … [Read More]