London Korean Links

Covering things Korean in London and beyond since 2006

Amnesty International spotlights Comfort Women issue

Just received Comfort Women: Still waiting for justice after 62 Years 13 November 2007 at 7pm Amnesty International UK | Human Rights Action Centre | 17-25 New Inn Yard | London EC2A 3EA Entry Free but booking essential at www.amnesty.org.uk/events Please note doors will close at 7pm and no latecomers will be admitted Gil Won … [Read More]

The Minimalist Fringe: Lee Ufan’s Biennale collateral show

Lee Ufan: Resonance Palazzo Palumbo Fossati Collateral Event in the 52nd Venice Biennale, 10 June – 21 November 2007 The Venice Biennale “Collateral Events” programme (Fringe, to you and me) is crammed with free exhibitions funded by generous sponsors. For example, while Tracy Emin flew the flag for Britain in the official British pavilion, there … [Read More]

Pseudo-scientist inventing reality: a visit to Lee Hyung-koo’s work at the Venice Biennale 2007

Lee Hyungkoo: The Homo Species Korean Pavillion, 52nd Venice Biennale, 10 June – 21 November 2007 In a Biennale dominated by the theme of war, AIDS, destruction and desolation, it was comforting to find some of the country pavillions conforming to national stereotypes. The French pavillion dissected a love letter written by a rather callous … [Read More]

Event news: Kayagum and dance at SOAS

As part of the SOAS autumn concert series there’s a kayagum recital, with traditional and contemporary dance, on 19 November at 7pm. Choi Jin (최진) : Evocative Korean Kayagum and Dance Choi Jin is one of the most brilliant kayagum players in the Korean music world. As a well-known performer, she has given many concerts … [Read More]

Hanbok day at the V&A – reader reviews and photos

Because of vacation and some railway engineering work LKL’s usual correspondents were unable to cover yesterday’s V&A Korean culture day. This post is therefore an open invitation to anyone who did manage to go along to please leave your comments or observations below. The Korean Cultural Centre UK, who supported the event, took some photos, … [Read More]

Suzannah Clarke’s musical diplomacy

A while ago I posted about Jason Carter’s trip to Pyongyang to participate in the annual Friendship Festival. While in Pyongyang, Carter met up with Middlesborough opera diva Suzannah Clarke, who has been performing at the Friendship Festival every year since 2003. Clarke’s North Korean connection is through football. She’s had a long association with … [Read More]

Clazziquai #3: Love child of the century

Clazziquai’s third album revisits much of the material from their previous efforts, but somehow fails to repeat the freshness. In an attempt to do something new, they have come up with a bigger, poppier sound, with the emphasis on a wall of synthesised support for their previously more transparent style. Take as an example of … [Read More]

Another FT guide to Seoul

Following the Weekend FT’s smooth (and expensive) guide to a weekend in Seoul — after which you would need a whole week to recover — the FT’s Korea Correspondent Anna Fifield has responded with a slightly more realistic schedule, published in their Korea supplement on 23 October. No ginseng facials, and no itineraries which assume … [Read More]

November events 2007

Here’s what I know about: Han Style comes to London 3 – 8 November, with a hanbok exhibition at the Royal College of Arts and an afternoon of Korean culture at the Victoria & Albert museum on 4 November. Asian Art in London has a number of antique Korean arts and crafts for sale, of … [Read More]

Donawhale debut album

Review by Jenny Wu When I first laid my ears on this album, all I could think was, “what loveliness!” Indie bands often fall into the trap of blandness when they take themselves too seriously. I have little patience when it comes to dull tunes. Thankfully, I found no such problem with Donawhale’s debut album. … [Read More]

The Korean Film Festival roadshow

This year the Korean Film Festival is not just showing in London. Selected highlights will also be showing in Warwick and Oxford. In addition, Park Chan-wook will be seeing some of the sights of Middle England, as he will be accompanying the tour, giving a talk on I’m a Cyborg at both locations. The festival … [Read More]

Stop piercing my Seoul!

An alternative travel experience summary by Aashish Gadhvi My first trip to Korea was something I had been looking forward to and preparing for with great enthusiasm. Since my initial interest in Korean cinema/sports, I had become a fully-fledged Korean fanatic and digested all sorts of Korean goodies at every opportunity. So going to Korea … [Read More]

Royal College of Art hanbok show

Further details of the event at the Royal College of Art. Fashion from the Far East: Hanbok by Lee Rhee-Za 3-8 November 2007 Seminar Rooms 1 & 2 Royal College of Art, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2EU 10am-6pm ‘Hanbok’: Hanbok (South Korea) or Chosŏn-ot (North Korea) is the traditional Korean dress. It is characterized by … [Read More]

The October 4 Declaration: Joint Communique from 2007 Inter-Korea Summit

Here is an English translation of the official Joint Communique from the Inter-Korea Summit held earlier this month (2-4 October). Declaration on the Advancement of South-North Korean Relations, Peace and Prosperity In accordance with the agreement between President Roh Moo-hyun of the Republic of Korea and Chairman Kim Jong Il of the National Defense Commission … [Read More]