London Korean Links

Covering things Korean in London and beyond since 2006

Mysterious Creature: Jang Jin at the London Korean Film Festival

Director Jang Jin is sometimes referred to as “The Future of Korean Cinema” but also as a “Mysterious Creature”. Nyomi Anderson tells us more. This year’s London Korean Film Festival featured a retrospective of the films of writer-director Jang Jin. Jang began his career in theatre before making his first film was The Happenings, which … [Read More]

Three Korean traditions named world treasures

Three Korean traditions named world treasures: gagok (lyrical songs), daemokjang (wooden architectural craftsmanship) and maesanyang (falcon hunting). That UNESCO list keeps getting longer! http://bit.ly/9Ia99y # Daemokjang is Important Intangible Cultural Heritage No.74; Gagok is Important Intangible Cultural Heritage No.30 [Read More]

Discovering Korean Cinema book launch at the KCC

For those keen to find out more about Korean film there’s an interesting talk, together with a book launch, at the KCC on Tuesday 23 November. Three distinguished speakers: Daniel Martin will be chairing the panel and giving a brief talk on the history of the LKFF, Mark Morris will be talking about War films, … [Read More]

Korean art – two millennia of globalisation

“Why did it have to end so early?” asked a member of the audience at the conclusion of the British Museum’s study morning “Korea at the Crossroads” last weekend, 13 November. Strictly, the event had overrun by about five minutes, but you knew what she meant. More to the point would have been the question … [Read More]

Korea’s Laboratory Dance Project perform at The Place

This is one event I’m going to be sure to get to. Laboratory Dance Project Tuesday 23 November 2010, 8pm UK Premiere The award-winning Seoul company Laboratory Dance Project, founded by artistic director Shin Chang-Ho, makes its London debut at The Place with a triple bill of incredible, physically charged, acrobatic dance work, which combines … [Read More]

Inaugural Military History Award Goes to Book on ‘Forgotten War’

I’m a few days late on passing this on, but congratulations to Andrew Salmon for the success of his “To the Last Round”: Aldershot Military Museum, 10th November. On the eve of Remembrance Day 2010, a book on Britain’s bloodiest – but almost completely unknown – post-1945 battle won the inaugural Hampshire Libraries (Special Collections) … [Read More]

Irrational exhuberance or sober restraint? The contrasting tastes of 18th century neighbours

Leaving aside the question of whether you would fork out £53 million (including taxes and buyer’s premium) for an object that a careless cat could smash to smithereens in an instant, which vase would you rather have on your mantelpiece? On the left, the exhuberant, flamboyant, labour-intensive masterpiece produced by Qing dynasty ceramic artisans (and … [Read More]

The G20 Summit at the Seoul Lantern Festival

It was a nice idea to create a special lantern in honour of the G20 leaders as part of the Seoul Lantern Festival. The bit in the red circle contains their likenesses. But unfortunately there was a misunderstanding about the country represented by one leader: Korea welcomes 'Julia von Trapp'. As the Marmot says: Australia, … [Read More]