2010 is Korea’s fourth year of participation in the Thames Festival, and each year the participation seems to get more ambitious. This year, the location moved from Tower Bridge, where there are possibly fewer punters strolling by, to the high-profile Jubilee Gardens, under the shadow of the London Eye, where the crowds are much more … [Read More]
Year: 2010 (page 13)
Book Review: Your Republic is Calling You
Kim Young-ha: Your Republic is Calling You Translated by Kim Chi-young Harcourt, 2010. First published in Korean: 2006 Ki-yong, a North Korean agent, has lived undercover in Seoul for half his life. Inactive for the last 10 years, he is suddenly given an order to return home. Is the order a hoax? Is he being … [Read More]
Korean Jazz to Korean Ceramics via the Daily Telegraph
How does one get from a Korean jazz singer resident in France to a Korean artist resident in the UK via Britain’s best-selling broadsheet daily newspaper? There are many celebrity twitterers, but there is only one remotely famous person that I happen to “follow”: pianist Stephen Hough (@houghhough). I came across his Daily Telegraph blog … [Read More]
Sand Castle Prelude: Mr Kwang branches out into indie gaming
During my trip to Korea earlier this year I was introduced to Kim Jin-sung, better known to Korean indie music fans as Mr Kwang, probably the most accessible on-line store for Korean CDs. Mr Kim recently started a sideline in indie gaming, in collaboration with husband-and-wife team ArcShock. The first release is a physics puzzle … [Read More]
Korean Level 1 Evening Language Classes 2010-2011 at Kings College
For those who don’t manage to get in to the heavily over-subscribed classes at the Cultural Centre, there’s now an alternative. Korean Level 1: Complete Beginners The Modern Language Centre at King’s College London will be offering an exciting new course in Korean from October 2010. No prior knowledge of the language is required as … [Read More]
Foreigners struggle to preserve Seoul’s hanok heritage
Foreign hanok defenders battle obliteration of Seoul’s architectural heritage. Andrew Salmon writes for Yonhap on David Kilburn and Peter Bartholomew (above). http://bit.ly/97IhMI Also echoed in the Joongang Ilbo. #. I’ve been trying to arrange for David Kilburn to give a talk on preservation at the KCC in London, but I think the whole thing is … [Read More]
Korean gardens and other top travel ideas
Check out Korean Gardens on the KTO website – this is how I’m going to persuade my wife to come to Korea # And Nanoomi has a great feature on the top 10 vacation spots in Korea – some suggestions you might not have come across before (http://bit.ly/ciIKL9 #) including the Hwansun Caves in Samcheok, … [Read More]
This weekend: Korea at the Thames Festival
A reminder of the timetable for the Korean events by the London Eye this weekend. Weather is forecast to be better on Sunday. All timings approximate and subject to change. Saturday 11 September: 12:00 – Taekwondo demo 13:00 – Taekwondo workshop 13:30 – BreakOut (Extreme Dance Comedy) 14:30 – B-boy experience 15:00 – Winterplay jazz … [Read More]
An early celebration of Chuseok for Children
The Korean Cultural Centre UK is proudly hosting a free family workshop to celebrate Chuseok at the Centre on the 11th and 12th of September, coinciding with all the Thames Festival events on the south bank. Animation screening (Pororo, Dibo), traditional Korean folklores by a professional storyteller, contemporary amd traditional board games are waiting for … [Read More]
Economic growth the priority for Korea in Laos
Even for those familiar with the world of development aid, Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) – the Korean government overseas aid organisation – may be a bit of an unknown entity. Arguably lacking the stature of a USAID or the pedigree of a DfID, KOICA has had to build its reputation from scratch in recent … [Read More]
Time (시간, 2006) review: identity, insecurity and the limits of reinvention
More a discussion of perception than a depiction of the increasing trend for plastic surgery, Time ably shows that a physical change in appearance only scratches the surface, literally, of who a person is and the mental issues they have. [Read More]
Empowering the Taekwondo Generation: TKD demos in London and southern England
As last year, the Taekwondo demonstration team showcasing their talents at the Thames Festival will be staying to do a mini tour of the south of England. The first demo before they leave London after the festival is at Tottenham Green Leisure Centre, 1 Philip Lane, Tottenham, London, N15 4JA at 7pm on Monday 13th … [Read More]
Official story on the Cheonan fails to convince many
My London Korean friends are obviously not alone in doubting that the DPRK sunk the Cheonan: only 32.5% more or less trust the findings of the international enquiry http://bit.ly/cDdWhE # [Read More]
The Philharmonia Orchestra in Sorok-do
Video of London’s Philharmonia Orchestra in tour to Korea in May 2010, including concert in Sorok-do. Ashkenazy with Cho Yong-pil, sponsored by Lady Rothermere. http://bit.ly/d8LyYB. Also reported in the Korea Times. # [Read More]
Baramgot at the South Bank
Baramgot’s Barbican concert in 2008 was undoubtedly the live performance of the year. Won Il’s creative traditional Korean music ensemble are in town this weekend to perform at the Thames Festival, and will be staying to give a concert at the Purcell Room on 13 September. Too often the reinvention of traditional music can turn … [Read More]
Destination: Daegu International Body Painting Festival (2010) (NSFW)
Author’s note: this post is rated NSFW (Not Safe For Work) due to some nudity – this IS a body painting festival, people. Please go elsewhere if you’re looking for pornography – this is tasteful and beautiful art. As one might notice at a body painting festival, there’s plenty of paint, a touch of toplessness, … [Read More]