The Korean title only partially sets the scene: “A family having affairs”. On the surface, Im Sang-soo’s A Good Lawyer’s Wife positively pulsates with explicitness while, at its heart, beats a deeply intelligent critique of family and the scars that familial bonds can create. In short, an utterly astonishing film. [Read More]
Year: 2010 (page 22)
Present from the Past: meet the artists
The Korean Cultural Centre UK will be hosting an Artists’ Talk to go with the current exhibition: Present from the Past: the 60th Commemoration of the Korean War on 9 July, 2010. Participating artists will be invited for the talk and each will introduce their portfolio including the work submitted for this exhibition. A Q&A … [Read More]
The Korea Teddy Bear Association
Korea has a Teddy Bear Association? I thought it was only Brits who were so cranky. Do you think that group of bears is meant to be Super Junior T? http://bit.ly/cNoXQ6 # [Read More]
Demick wins Samuel Johnson prize
Congratulations to Barbara Demick for winning the Samuel Johnson Prize for Nothing to Envy (reviewed by LKL here) Through extensive interviews with defectors, Los Angeles Times journalist Barbara Demick shows in a compelling and unforgettable way that this hermetic country is Orwell’s 1984 made reality. Sources: Samuel Johnson Prize website | Guardian # [Read More]
Asian Dawn!
Aashish Gadhvi reviews the rollercoaster World Cup campaigns from the Asian sides. Before the World Cup started I pictured myself sitting in front of a typewriter like Angela Lansbury in Murder She Wrote penning conspiracy theories and plans of deception at how South Korea were knocked out of the group stage yet again by the … [Read More]
To the Last Round: Andrew Salmon to talk about the Imjin Battle
News of a topical talk to be given at the KCC on 15 July. To the Last Round: The Epic British Stand on the Imjin River, Korea, 1951 By Andrew Salmon Date & Time: Thursday, 15th July 2010 6.30pm Venue: Multi-purpose Hall, Korean Cultural Centre UK Email to [email protected] or call +44 (0)20 7004 2600 … [Read More]
Bae Chan-hyo: Fairy Tales
News of Bae Chan-hyo’s summer show at Purdy Hicks: Bae Chan-hyo: Fairy Tales 2 July – 31 July 2010 Following on from his previous series of photographs, Existing in Costume, Bae Chan-hyo’s new work continues to explore themes of identity, alienation and memory through the form of exquisitely staged scenes of traditional fairy tales. The … [Read More]
July events 2010
Now that the football’s over, there’s something for everyone this month: an Asian food festival at Tower Bridge, a Korean Romeo and Juliet in Kingston and the continued Korean War commemorations at the KCC including the Present from the Past exhibition, plus the return of Korean Eye at the Saatchi Gallery. Here’s the list as … [Read More]
2010 Travel Diary #22: A sense of direction
Thursday 6 May 2010. I’m somewhat stiff from sleeping on the floor. Throughout the night different parts of my body were suffering from pins and needles. But the location was peaceful, and I get up rested. Overnight rain has made everything seem greener, but low cloud clinging to the hilltops and wisps of mist rolling … [Read More]
An evening with Changrae Lee
LKL reports from the evening with Korean American author Changrae Lee, chaired by Erica Wagner, as part of the Asia House Festival of Asian Literature, 24 May 2010. The Asia House Festival of Asian Literature, now in its fifth year, for the first time included Korean representation this year. With such a title, you might … [Read More]
Struggling with all the Shinga
Well, I just finished this year's essay book (Park Wan-suh’s Who ate all the Shinga?) and it's even harder than last year. Nothing to get your teeth into. And that wasn’t meant to be a pun. Last year’s text at least gave you a challenge in trying to understand it. This year’s adds very little … [Read More]
Republic of Korea thanks UK war veterans
LKL reports from an event commemorating the 60th anniversary of the start of the Korean War, held on HMS Belfast on 25 June 2010. The HMS Belfast was the perfect venue for one of many events taking place across the globe to mark the 60th anniversary of Kim Il-sung’s troops storming south over the 38th … [Read More]
DPRK in the Football World Cup
“North Korea will receive at least US$10 million from FIFA for fielding its national team in the World Cup” says the Chosun Ilbo http://bit.ly/bccbuj. That should keep its nuke programme going for a while… # An amazing invention by the Dear Leader: the invisible mobile phone. http://bit.ly/cT9Aw8 # British blogger in Pyongyang reports on the … [Read More]
2010 Travel Diary #21: The jjimjilbang experience
Wednesday 5 May 2010. It was only a couple of hours ago that we had eaten lunch, but Koreans seem to have dinner early. During the tea festival, our guide Isabelle does well for food: she is usually entertained by the people she is showing around, and this time is no exception. We go to … [Read More]
Pimatgol at Night, by the Metropolitician
"To Hell and Back" and the "Dirty" Streets of Seoul. The Metropolitician’s essay on Pimatgol and Seoul at night is well worth a read: http://bit.ly/9QhkKv # [Read More]
Brother Anthony translates Until Peonies Bloom
UNTIL PEONIES BLOOM: Brother Anthony brings the complete poems of Kim Yeong-Nang to an English-speaking audience. http://bit.ly/d1TdT0 # [Read More]