Many of you will be familiar with the tale of Chunhyang as a pansori performance, and maybe you were introduced to it by Im Kwon-taek’s famous film of the same name. The story has been interpreted in dance by Ahn Eun-me, and Hyun Je-myeong has created a western-style opera out of it. Excerpts from this … [Read More]
Month: May 2009
Yeah Seoul! – the FC Seoul theme tune
For those who were disappointed, on reading Ash’s recent corker of an article on Korean Soccer Wars, that they could not find the FC Seoul theme tune on the FC Seoul website, we’ve managed to find a copy of it for your delectation. It’s a catchy little number, complete with lyrics for you to follow. … [Read More]
A Veteran’s impression of the Miracle on the Han
News of an interesting talk coming up at the KCC: A Veteran’s impression of the Miracle on the Han Date: Wednesday 10th June 2009, 6~7pm Venue: Multi-purpose Hall, KCC Speaker: Mike Swindells Admission Free (booking required) [email protected] or 020 7004 2600 A drinks reception will follow this lecture About the lecture A tank Troop Leader … [Read More]
Korean Aesthetics at Albemarle Gallery
Notice of an upcoming exhibition at Albemarle Gallery, commencing 4 June. Korean Aesthetics Albemarle Gallery | 49 Albemarle Street | London W1S 4JR | www.albemarlegallery.com 4 June – 27 June 2009 Lee Jaehyo “I drive countless nails into wood, bend them, grind them and then burn the wood, making nails protrude and at the same … [Read More]
Map the Soul – a revolution for the music industry
Saharial shows her appreciation for the way in which hip-hop group Epik High’s new album is marketed: international fans are included, and even welcomed. On 21 March 2009, a website went live and promptly crashed under the weight of 300,000 hits. It was unexpected, but the kind of unexpected that you almost hope for in … [Read More]
Blue Blood v Red Blood: the K-League 2008 Finals
Aashish Gadhvi dishes up a sporting treat for your Bank Holiday Monday. Something is a-brewing in the world of K-League football. Think of the great club football rivalries, Man United v Liverpool, Real Madrid v Barcelona, Celtic v Rangers, AC Milan v Inter Milan, Roma v Lazio, Boca Juniors v River Plate, the list goes … [Read More]
Roh Moo Hyun RIP
One of the sad things about ex-President Roh’s death is the lack of news coverage it has received in the UK. The sad event was on Saturday morning 23 May, Korea time. Reuters, with the advantage of the date line on their side, managed a 22 May report. To their credit, the BBC has had … [Read More]
Mayor Boris in Seoul
The most bizarre (at least initially) news item on the BBC a couple of days ago was (a) Bill Clinton praising a building project in (b) London’s dowdy Elephant and Castle area (c) while in Seoul. What was the former president doing in Korea talking about one of London’s least loved tube stations? We discover … [Read More]
Min-jin Kym at the Wigmore
News of Min-jin Kym’s violin recital at the Wigmore tomorrow evening, 23 May. Min-Jin Kym violin Ian Brown piano Stravinsky Suite italienne arr. from Pulcinella for violin & piano Beethoven Violin Sonata in A Op. 30 No. 1 Brahms Violin Sonata No. 1 in G Op. 78 Bartók Rhapsody No. 1 The distinguished duo, Min-Jin … [Read More]
Calling all Seoulites in Cambridge and London
A request for help from a PhD student in Cambridge. Do help out if you can. There’s some pocket money in it for you: 안녕하세요? Cambridge University Phonetics Lab 에서 서울말 연구를 하고 있는 박사과정 학생입니다. 간단한 듣기 실험 (한국말 소리를 듣고 질문에 대답하는 것) 도와주실 분을 찾고 있습니다. 실험은 1시간 ~ 2시간 정도가 소요 … [Read More]
Sung Hwan Kim: Pieces from “In the Room”, at Wilkinson Gallery
Sung Hwan Kim has his second solo show in London starting this month: Sung Hwan Kim: Pieces from “In the Room” Wilkinson Gallery, Main Galleries | 50-58 Vyner Street | London E2 9DQ 29 May – 12 July 2009 I thought of a room as a box, from which a story vibrates, and I began … [Read More]
Ragnarok – one of Korea’s top manhwa
Manhwa in Korea was born 100 years ago. From their beginnings as cartoons in the newspapers, they have grown into long-running graphic novel serials with spin-offs in online games and big screen adaptations. Among the most celebrated of modern Manhwa series are Priest (Hyung Min-woo) and Ragnarok (Lee Myung-jin). Both of these have been translated … [Read More]
Ernest Bethell in Korea
The ambassador’s blog reminds us that it is 100 years since the death of Ernest T Bethell, “a name all but unknown in his homeland”. Bethell merits half a page in Don Clark’s Living Dangerously in Korea – the Western Experience 1900-1950, but occupies the first (very brief) chapter in Don Kirk and Choe Sang-hun’s … [Read More]
Youn Sun Nan [sic] on BBC World Service
![Thumbnail for post: Youn Sun Nan [sic] on BBC World Service](https://londonkoreanlinks.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/nys_laugh_sq.jpg)
While in London at the beginning of the week for the UK leg of her world tour, Youn Sun Nah found time to pop into the BBC World Service studio to meet Mark Coles of the Arts programme The Strand. Coles’s researcher had done some of the background work, having read the relevant press materials … [Read More]
100 years of Manhwa at the KCC
Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) and Korean Cultural Centre (KCC) UK celebrate the centenary of Korean comics ‘Manhwa’ with a host of interrelated special exhibitions, events and film screenings, 21 May – 24 June 2009. Special Exhibitions Manhwa: A Language of Unlimited Imaginations Manhwa celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2009. This popular art form holds … [Read More]
Korea’s least-known best films?
Mark Morris from Cambridge University’s Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies discusses two films shown at the Barbican on Sunday. The International Buddhist Film Festival (IBFF) chose the Barbican Centre for its venue between 7-17 May. Two remarkable Korean films stood out among an eclectic mix of documentary and narrative films. The 1949 Hometown … [Read More]