London Korean Links

Covering things Korean in London and beyond since 2006

“Hostages in the Hermit Kingdom”

I can’t remember seeing any positive coverage of the two journalists (Laura Ling and Euna Lee) who managed to get themselves captured by the North Koreans on March 17, before getting released following a special visit by Bill Clinton. Here’s a random selection of some of the articles. Bradley K Martin (Global Post, 18 June … [Read More]

LKL annoys the Seoul Podcast

Seems I upset someone on the Seoul podcast for not plugging their Twitter account in my post on the use of Twitter in the K-blogosphere. 90:40 in. http://bit.ly/Evrru. # Nice to be noticed, even though they don’t seem to understand what LKL, or the post, is about. [Read More]

Kim Ka-hyun at St Vedast, Foster Lane

News of a piano recital organised by the British Korean Law Association, in association with the Anglo-Korean Society. KA HYUN KIM (PIANO) Thursday, 29th October 2009 at 6:30pm at St Vedast-alias-Foster Church, Foster Lane, Cheapside, London EC2V 6HH [Map] (nearest underground station: St Paul’s) by kind permission of the Rector and Churchwardens Programme: Debussy: Suite … [Read More]

Younee and the British Invasion

Younee, the versatile singer-songwriter-pianist from Korea, is in London to launch her new album and play the Pizza Express Jazz Club. She takes a break from her rehearsal schedule to talk to LKL about her musical influences. It was not a good start to the interview. I had selected the Wigmore Hall bar as a … [Read More]

Another Park Soo-keun under the hammer

It seems to be a quite frequent event nowadays: a work by one of Korea’s most popular and most expensive modern artists comes up for sale in a US saleroom. And so it is that another Park Soo-keun comes under the hammer at Christie’s New York tomorrow, with an estimated price tag of up to … [Read More]

Dulsori at the Tower Festival

If last weekend’s Thames Festival has whetted your appetite for al fresco Korean culture, there’s more on offer this weekend on the north side of the river. The fantastic samulnori percussion group Dulsori are playing at the Tower Festival on 19 September as part of a programme of performances put together by Womad. Dulsori has … [Read More]

Learning Korean with Alud: part 2

Here’s a quick tip. A couple of weekends ago I found myself back in Seoul on a very last minute trip. So last minute in fact that I found out on the Saturday morning that I needed to go, and left that afternoon. After arriving on the Sunday, a quick sleep and then dinner, I’d … [Read More]

Younee’s autumn UK tour and CD release

News of a UK tour by Korean singer-wongwriter and pianist, Younee, in collaboration with British-based musicians: Younee, from Seoul, Korea is ‘beyond category’ as a singer, songwriter and pianist and known as “Key’s Piano” in her native Korea and has 2 albums to her name. Her exquisitely vulnerable voice can also express raw power. An … [Read More]

Photos from the Thames Festival

It was a perfect day in More London, by Tower Bridge, and the crowds were out in large numbers to enjoy the Thames Festival. The Korean contingent had taken possession of The Scoop for the weekend, and over 70 performers had come over from Korea to entertain the festival-goers. Reflecting the current marketing push to … [Read More]

Rags in the Wind III

Following Francesca Cho’s participation in the Free International Artists group exhibition in Graz two years ago, she again joins group for their exhibition in Mozirje, Slovenia, 12 September – 12 October 2009. Francesca Cho: Rags in the Wind Mozirje Park, Slovenia 12 Sept – 12 Oct 2009 One of the latest works by Francesca Cho … [Read More]

Six ways to see South Korea

If you are travelling by Finnair this month, you will see a striking image on the front page of their in-flight magazine, Blue Wings. A shamanistic dancer in a bright yellow costume looks you in the eye, advertising the lead article on the delights of Korea as a travel destination. Finnair flies non-stop to Seoul … [Read More]