By Michael Rank North Korean films are as hard to find as kimchi-flavoured ice cream, so Koryo Tours have done us a big favour by releasing on DVD Centre Forward, a highly watchable and fascinating Pyongyang production from 1978. It’s the tale of talented novice footballer Cha In-son (Kim Chol), who’s been on the bench … [Read More]
Month: May 2010 (page 3)
Breen under pressure from Samsung
Which is more likely to make me stop buying Samsung products: an irreverent article by a British writer, or Samsung's heavy-handed response? http://bit.ly/cWnWfy # Update 13 May 2010: Samsung backs off from the civil suit, but Mike Breen still faces criminal charges [Read More]
Barefoot Ki-bong at the KCC
News of this month’s first film screening at the KCC: Film title: Barefoot Ki-bong, 2006, 100mins Director: Kwon Su-kyung Cast: Shin Hyeon-jun, Kim Su-mi Genre: Drama / Comedy Venue: Multi-purpose Hall, The Korean Cultural Centre, Grand Buildings, The Strand, London WC2N 5BW Time: Thursday, 13th May, 7:00pm Last week was Children’s Day (5 May) and … [Read More]
Royal Ancestors: the index
The diary of LKL’s 2010 trip to Korea at the invitation of the Korean Culture and Information Service’s Foreign Media Fellowship programme. Preface About this travel account A note on intangible cultural heritage Introduction 1. Royal Ancestors and Lee Young-ae 2. The Schedule Friday 30 April: Arrival 3. Moon Vases and Kim Gun Mo Saturday … [Read More]
From Brawn to Brain: Korean Economy at a Crossroads
South Korea’s opposition leader and corporate innovator is coming to Cambridge. The former candidate for South Korea’s Presidential Election 2007, Mr Moon Kook-Hyun is coming to Cambridge to deliver a special lecture on “From Brawn to Brain: Korean Economy at a Crossroads” on 14th May (Friday, 5 pm) at the Umney Theatre, Robinson College. He … [Read More]
Royal Ancestors – the Live Tweets
8 March: Just heard some good news. Time to start planning a trip to Seoul in early May # 13 April: Really looking forward to my Korea trip later this month. Jongmyo rituals in Seoul and springtime herbs in Sancheong, Gyeongsannamdo. Perfect. Provided the volcanic ash lets up.# 18 April: Will the 30 April Indieful … [Read More]
“The best North Korean Football-themed film of All Time”
The 1978 North Korean feature film Centre Forward is showing in London this Saturday May 8 at 9 pm at the Shortwave Cinema, Bermondsey. Details from their website: The classic North Korean football film based around footballer In Son who is about to make the leap from benchwarmer to key player of Taesongan FC, but … [Read More]
How close is this to your typical Korean TV drama?
Here’s collection of YouTubes of a Korean TV Drama spoof courtesy of MADtv. Although I’ve never watched a Korean TV drama from start to finish (the most I can claim is two episodes of Winter Sonata), I can kind of see that this spoof looks spot-on. How true to the mark is it? Starring Bobby … [Read More]
Death Bell (고死: 피의 중간고사, 2008) review: classroom carnage in mid-term exams
Death Bell is unlikely to cause viewers to alter their list of the best ever Korean horror films. But its old-school feel combined with nods to more recent horror fare, alongside references to the pressures that Korea’s school system places on pupils, parents and teachers alike, make it a welcome addition to the genre. [Read More]
Historiography and the Remaking of North Korea’s Ideology in the Age of Globalization
News of the first SOAS Friday evening seminar of the summer term: Friday, May 14th, 5pm, room B102 (Brunei Gallery, opposite SOAS main building) Professor Youngsoo Yook (Leiden University/Academy of Korean Studies) Historiography and the Remaking of North Korea’s Ideology in the Age of Globalization – Interpreting the Revised Edition of Dictionary of History Speaker … [Read More]
May Events 2010
Here are the events that I know about for May. Apologies for the poor presentation of this post, and probably a greater number of omissions than usual: a snail’s pace netbook, poor internet connection (yes, even in Seoul) and limited free time are conspiring against me at the moment. Featured event Chang-rae Lee, author of … [Read More]
What to do about the Cheonan?
Ask a Korean has a great article proposing various responses to the Cheonan sinking, including the eccentric "buy stealth bombers" http://bit.ly/aqrKWb. Someone else suggests the ingenious "sink the Pueblo" #. And another in-depth think-piece from AAK is here: ROKS Cheonan — What You Need to Know, What You Need to Think About [Read More]
“Antique” to screen at Terracotta Film Fest
Now in its second year, the Terracotta Far East Film Festival is 6-9 May 2010. The there’s loads of great films to see, and the Korean interest is provided by Antique on Saturday 8 May 2010 at 13:15 at the Prince Charles Cinema. LKL’s Saharial called it “a delicious slice of feel-good cinema“: Screening: Saturday … [Read More]