It was a good time to launch a play called “This isn’t Romance”. Helium-filled red valentine’s day hearts floated from the balcony of the Soho Theatre, encouraging the passing trade. But people turning up on the Friday night (its second night) expecting to buy tickets were disappointed. It was a sell-out performance, and deserved to … [Read More]
Year: 2009 (page 28)
The BKVA annual report 2008
With the kind permission of Colonel GM Gadd OBE, National Chairman of the British Korean Veterans Association, we reproduce here the annual report of the BKVA’s activities, as presented to the annual general meeting of the Anglo-Korean Society last week. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT TO THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE ANGLO-KOREAN SOCIETY HELD AT THE KOREAN … [Read More]
President’s Last Bang gets uncensored DVD release
Im Sang-soo’s controversial black comedy receives a UK DVD release this month, with four minutes of documentary footage, excised by the censors, restored to the cut. Based on the true story of the events leading up to and immediately following the 1979 assassination of South Korean President Park Chung-hee, the controversial satirical black comedy The … [Read More]
Sandglass the best TV drama ever?
It’s official: Sandglass (모래시계) is the best Korean Drama since 1980. And maybe that qualifies it as the best Korean TV drama ever, but I’m sure there are knowledgeable people out there who will cite a gem from the 70s. Not only was it voted best Drama by those in the know – “20 star … [Read More]
Who’s Who Two
You take your eye off the ball for a couple of months, and everything changes. A while ago, I wrote an article for The East newspaper entitled Who’s Who in the Korean Blogosphere highlighting, in the limited space available, some of the top K-blogs out there. It generated a certain amount of comment, the gist … [Read More]
Free Study Day: Decorative Arts & Folk Customs of Korea
Later this month, SOAS will join with the British Museum to host an event on the Decorative Arts and Folk Customs of Korea. A day-long workshop will focus on Korean folk art and culture of the late Choson dynasty (AD1392-1910), highlighting aspects of Korea’s past, which are often overlooked. In focusing on decorative arts, the … [Read More]
The wave that never was? Mark James Russell’s Pop Goes Korea
Eighteen months ago, Mark Russell caused a minor stir at Naver and in the local Korean press by christening the hallyu the “Zombie Wave”. At the time, industry watchers were concerned that the momentum behind the overseas success of some of Korea’s TV dramas and movie seemed to be waning. Was the Korean wave dying? … [Read More]
Lord Alton and Baroness Cox return from Pyongyang
Press release dated 7 February UK PARLIAMENTARIANS RETURN FROM NORTH KOREA CALLING FOR US TO END HOSTILITIES British Parliamentarians Lord David Alton and Baroness Caroline Cox have returned today from a five day visit to North Korea and are calling on the new Obama administration to bring about a formal cessation of hostilities and normalisation … [Read More]
Surprise and a sense of fun: the UK’s gateway to Korean culture
Jennifer Barclay visits the Korean Cultural Centre on its first birthday, experiences Choi Jeong-hwa’s exhibition, and meets the KCC’s director, Kyuhak Choi. It’s been a few months since I visited the Korean Cultural Centre, so I’m pleasantly surprised to be surprised by it again. I arrive to find stern armed guards in helmets staring at … [Read More]
Good Bad Weird on general release
We saw it at the festivals last year, now it’s on mainstream release. Astoundingly, the normally hostile Wendy Ide in The Times gives it 4 out of 5, while Peter Bradshaw in The Guardian gives it a more measured 3 out of 5. LKL probably would split the difference, as does Tom Huddleston in Time … [Read More]
FT hails New Malden parakeets, and other recent London Korean stories
First up, Professor Keith Howard from SOAS got featured in the JoongAng daily in an article entitled Samulnori beats in an English heart, on the occasion of a recent trip to Seoul to attend a Samulnori symposium. Professor Howard will soon be off to sunnier climes, with a year in Sydney Australia. Howard was recently … [Read More]
The Annual ULKS Korean Night
From Facebook, details of the annual Universities of London Korean Society Korean Evening. Usually at the Conway Hall in Red Lion Square, this year it has migrated to SOAS, where there is now a lively Korean Society. Location: SOAS, Brunei Gallery Date: Friday 6th February Time: Food Market 5-7pm Cultural Performances 7-8pm Food Prices: Bibimbap … [Read More]
Movable Metal Type – another world-beating Korean technology
Matthew Jackson continues his series of features on treasures from Korea’s past. It was arguably the most far-reaching invention since the wheel. Whereas the wheel enabled greater ease in transporting people and physical objects, the invention of metal type printing enabled the speedy transportation of ideas. The new technology was introduced in Korea 200 years … [Read More]
February Events 2009
Here’s what’s coming up in February Visual arts: The Choi Jeong-hwa KCC first anniversary show Shine a Light continues at the KCC. There’s a discussion forum on 5 February. Lee Jae-hyo’s solo show finishes at the Albermarle Gallery on 3 Feb, while Bae Chan-hyo’s show wraps up on 7 Feb at Purdy Hicks, as does … [Read More]
February is classic film month at the KCC
The Korean Cultural Centre has now been screening Korean films on a bi-weekly basis for a year now since the centre has opened. And to celebrate their year anniversary, they are delighted to present to you the Korean classic film series, which begins on Thursday 5 February with the screening of Han Myeong-mo’s classic Hyperbola … [Read More]
Dulsori gets Chichester jumping to the beat
Jennifer Barclay meets Dulsori at their performance in Chichester’s Festival Theatre, 24 January 2009. I’m not sure the theatre staff were quite prepared when the drummer troupe led the audience dancing into the foyer, bashing gongs and drums in a frenzied finale to an energetic evening. Young and old, the Chichester crowd jumped, laughed and … [Read More]