Park Chan-wook: one of the obscurest DVDs in his collection is Zinda, the Indian movie that appears to be based on Oldboy (source: interview in today’s Time Out magazine). # [Read More]
Month: January 2010 (page 2)
The Ministry of Love
South Korean Ministry of Health sends workers home to make babies: one way to increase the birth rate. From today’s Evening Standard http://bit.ly/5iFV1e. Also reported by John Sudworth on the BBC #. [Read More]
Another girl gugak band
Are there any male Gugak players? Sorea, Sookmyung Kayageum Orchestra, now Miji, the latest gugak girl band. The eight-member all-female ensemble hopes to become known as “the Girls’ Generation of traditional Korean music.” Their debut album, The Challenge, hits the stores this month. Source: JoongAng Daily. # [Read More]
The April 3rd Massacre Tree
An alternative, historical, tourist destination in Jeju – the April 3rd Massacre Tree. Great article in Jeju Weekly highlighting the incident whose wounds are still felt today. http://bit.ly/4Lwr07. # [Read More]
Saharial reviews Beethoven Virus
Story: Ru Mi, a violinist for 17 years has had little or no luck playing in orchestras, they all seem to disband or fall apart. Now working as a copywriter, she comes up with an idea to make Sukwon, where she lives, a capital for classical music. Her luck has not changed though and the … [Read More]
A Witness to Change: Three Decades of Korea-watching
A reminder of this Friday’s talk at SOAS. Friday, January 22nd, 5pm, room G50 (main building) Warwick Morris, Former UK Ambassador to ROK A Witness to Change: Three Decades of Korea-watching Abstract: Posted in Seoul in January 1975 as the FCO’s first Korean language student, Warwick Morris was to experience the start of tremendous economic … [Read More]
Bae Doo-na named Best Actress
Bae Doo-na has been named Best Actress twice over in Japan for her role in Air Doll, which showed at the London Film Festival last year. Bae will pick up her trophy at the 23rd Takasaki Film Festival on March 28, after claiming her honor at the 33rd Japan Academy Awards on March 5. Source: … [Read More]
Portrait of a Beauty (미인도, 2008) review: art and obscenity; morality and hypocrisy
Sexually explicit in both narrative content and imagery, the sumptuously filmed Portrait of a Beauty asks what dictates whether visual depictions of the sexual act are deemed as art or seen simply as pornography, deftly critiquing Joseon-era Korea, in the process. [Read More]
Kimchipedia Part 1 – Everything you wanted to know about Kimchi, but were too polite to ask
Introduction Kimchi has been eaten in the Korean peninsula for over 2,000 years. The modern Korean consumes about 30 kilograms of it per annum. It is credited with keeping obesity at bay in the country, and is believed to combat stress and to slow the ageing process, as well as fighting cancer and a wide … [Read More]
Re-papering the Sarangbang at the British Museum
An extra reason to visit the British Museum in the next couple of days: Conservation in focus: re-papering the sarangbang Watch conservators at work in the Korea Foundation Gallery Monday 11 – Tuesday 19 January, 10.00–17.00 Room 67 Free, just drop in Conservators from the Hirayama Studio in the Department of Conservation and Scientific Research … [Read More]
E-Government in Korea – The Spirit of Sillok Lives On!
The forthcoming publication ‘Leveraging e-government at a time of financial and economic crisis’ from the United Nations reveals the Republic of Korea to be at the top of both E-Government Development and E-Participation Indices. The website where the new report is introduced remarks: While technology is no substitute for good policy, it may give citizens … [Read More]
Book Review: From Wonso Pond
It’s the 1930s. In colonial Korea, economic development brings factories and work to Incheon, Seoul and other centres of population, while in the countryside the semi-feudal lifestyle continues. The local yangban plots which local lass to deflower next, and keeps the local rent-farmers as much in debt to him as he can. We are introduced … [Read More]
Sulki Yu in the QEH foyer
Violinist Sulki Yu plays in a free foyer recital at the Queen Elizabeth Hall today, Friday 15 January, at 5pm. Programme as follows: Bela Bartok: Violin Sonata No.1 Witold Lutoslawski: Subito for violin & piano Sulki Yu violin Elizabeth Rossiter piano Part of the Park Lane Group Young Artists New Year Series LKL correspondent Colin … [Read More]
Yang Ik-June’s Breathless gets theatrical release
And an opportunity to meet other Korean film fans. Yang Ik-June’s Breathless was LKL’s film of the year 2009. It had a screening at the Korean Film Festival at the Barbican in November, and it is due for a UK release on 29 January at the Institute for Contemporary Arts in Pall Mall. The release … [Read More]
Antique: A delicious slice of feel-good cinema
Saharial samples the delights of Antique, described as “entertaining and fabulously fruity” by one reviewer Story Based closely on the 2002 Yaoi manga Antique Bakery (西洋 骨董 洋菓子店, Seiyō Kottō Yōgashiten, “Western Antique Cake-Shop”) by Fumi Yoshinaga, the Korean adaptation broke through the million mark of legitimate viewers three weeks after opening. It was invited … [Read More]
On glamorous advertising
Could you imagine hot Hollywood stars modeling for an air conditioner? Han Ye-seul & Song Seung-heon earn their fees – from an article in the Korea JoongAng Daily (article no longer on their website). 11:35 PM Jan 9th from bit.ly JamesTurnbull: @lklinks See what Londoner Bruce Haines says to understand why (is head of Korea’s … [Read More]