London Korean Links

Covering things Korean in London and beyond since 2006

Book review: Hwang Sun-won – The Descendants of Cain

Hwang Sun-won: The Descendants of Cain Translated by Suh Ji-moon and Julie Pickering East Gate / UNESCO / Routledge 1997. Originally published 1954 Novels set in post-liberation Korea, or during the Korean war, often make uncomfortable reading, particularly those set in the Soviet sphere of influence, and where the story is set in the countryside. … [Read More]

Kim Jong-il’s Comedy Club – the tweets

It’s not often that Twitter is alive with Tweets about a documentary on BBC4, but Kim Jong-il’s Comedy Club was special. Here are some of them. LKL: Game for a laugh? Don’t forget Kim Jong-il’s Comedy Club tonight, BBC4, 10pm http://bit.ly/bT9eZE # LKL: Wow this documentary is bizarre!! # Alex_Hoban: @lklinks you’re telling me…! Alex_Hoban: … [Read More]

A historical mystery that’s well worth a look

Eternal Empire (1995) – a nice-looking costume drama about murder and court intrigue in the Yi dynasty soon after the death of Prince Sado. One of Darcy’s top 10 K-films of the 90s. Not one of mine, but well worth a look. Does a secret royal commentary on the Confucian Classics contain heavily coded political … [Read More]

Contributions sought for adoptee anthology

A message just received from Perlita Harris for the British Association of Adoption and Fostering. We are editing an anthology of writing and poetry by adopted adults who were adopted in England, Scotland, Wales or Ireland including adoptees born in another country (e.g. Korea) and raised by their adoptive family in the UK. This collection … [Read More]

iPhone boosts sausage sales

Snack sausage in alternative use as meat stylus – a substitute for your bare finger: Sausage sales have soared by 40% following a bout of cold weather and some smart chap discovering that CJ Corporation’s snack sausages have electrostatic properties that are rather similar to that of the human finger. Source: http://bit.ly/cQh6jY # [Read More]

Kim Yeon returns to the Albemarle Gallery

One of LKL’s favourite exhibitions of 2009 was Korean Aesthetics at Albemarle Gallery. One of the artists from that exhibition, Kim Yeon, returns to the Albemarle in a group show which also includes work by David Reimondo and four talented graduates from 2009. From the exhibition catalogue: Kim Yeon’s sculptures encourage moments of meditation and … [Read More]

Makgeolli extends its reach

More on makgeolli: exports surge to record levels, and in some quarters the milky alcohol becomes a political metaphor for Lee Myung-bak’s presidential style – “down to earth, and up close and personal” #. Sources: Chosun Ilbo | Korea Times [Read More]

Jang Na-ra’s ten years as an undergraduate

Jang Na-ra is about to graduate from university after 10 years as an undergraduate. Is that a record? “Her career in Korea and China delayed her studies,” explains the Chosun Ilbo. She started at the Department of Theater in the Faculty of Fine Arts at Chungang University in March 2000 – so just think of … [Read More]

Kimsooja: Talking Art at Tate Modern

News of an artist talk coming up next weekend. Saturday 20 February 2010, 14.00–15.30 Korean born artist Kimsooja is internationally known for her installations, films, photographs and performances. Her interest in fabrics references nomadic life in her trademark Bottari -bundles made of traditional Korean bedspreads, usually used to pack clothes. This sense of wrapping and … [Read More]

Pansori in York

News of a rare Pansori performance on UK shores: Pansori: Heungboga Friday 12 February 2010 at 7.30PM Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall Kim Eun Yeong pansori Barrie Webb director Pansori tells traditional folktales in song to a drum accompaniment and is a key part of Korean heritage dating from the 17th century. Heungboga, the story … [Read More]

A pizza shovel for the Dear Leader: was he amused by “Kim Jong-il’s Comedy Club”?

Kim Jong-il’s Comedy Club is a Danish documentary which follows the two-week visit to North Korea by a Danish comedy double-act who had received permission to perform in Pyongyang’s National Theatre. The documentary is fascinating on many levels. First, the two comedians are ethnic Korean adoptees, born in South Korea but brought up in Denmark, … [Read More]

Saharial reviews Stranger than Paradise

Story: No Yoon Jae (Lee Sung-Jae) was adopted as a child and taken to Canada and now, at age 33 has been looking for his parents for some time. A successful lawyer with a love for coffee and his girlfriend he travels to Korea to meet once more with disappointment. Kang Son Ho (Uhm Tae … [Read More]