The stars of the fashion world were out in force at the V&A last Thursday to witness the catwalk show for the London College of Fashion MA candidates. A quick name-check of the fashion students taking the MA this year indicates a fair number of Koreans. Two of the highest profile students in the LCF … [Read More]
Year: 2010 (page 39)
Free love, chastity and nationalism in Han Yongun’s novel “Death”
Brief notes from the recent talk at SOAS, which probably involve getting hold of the wrong end of several sticks… Han Yongun was the most renowned Buddhist nationalist poet of the colonial period. He was jailed for his involvement in the March 1st movement, and composed his famous poetry cycle “Silence of my love” while … [Read More]
Murakami dominates Korean bestsellers list
Another story demonstrating the popularity of Japanese fiction in Korea: Murakami’s 1Q84 occupies the number one slot in the Korean bestseller list for 19 weeks – finally dislodged by historical novel about Princess Deokhye, the last Princess of Korea. http://bit.ly/cqOrVm # [Read More]
How not to globalise Korean food
Bibimbap as funeral food: how not to globalize Korean cuisine (and how not to transliterate 막걸리). The Korea Herald has a rant about food promotion. http://bit.ly/98YQDe # [Read More]
February events 2010
Featured event It’s the biggest group show of the year: SASAPARI | 4482 makes another appearance at the Bargehouse, with more than 50 Korean artists, 25-27/8 February Other exhibitions Supervisions continues at the KCC until 6 February Ways of Seeing part 2 continues at I-MYU until 20 February, with a gallery talk on 4 February. … [Read More]
Jang Dong-gun & Ko So-young wedding plans
I never understand the Korean celebrity system: Jang Dong-gun reveals when it is that he will reveal his wedding plans with Ko So-young. How about spilling the beans now? http://bit.ly/9JCqtB # [Read More]
KIA gets plenty of quality airtime in Australian Open
I wonder how much KIA had to pay for all those advertising billboards at the Australian Open men's final? Whatever, they’re getting plenty of quality airtime. # [Read More]
Samsung now the biggest technology company in the world
‘All hail Samsung Electronics’ says the Lex column in the Financial Times on the 28th of January. The news (reported fully here) that Samsung Electronics has overtaken Hewlett Packard as the world’s largest technology company may come as a surprise, especially to those who regard Samsung as a poor relation of the erstwhile dominant Japanese … [Read More]
Kimchipedia Part 2 – Obesity, Cancer and Global Pandemics
Kimchi’s anti-cancer properties are a focus of growing interest. Professor Park of Pusan University injected a Kimchi extract into mice with cancer cell transplants. After one month, the control set had an average tumor weight of 4.3 grams, whereas the group that were fed with Kimchi extract had an average tumor weight of 2.0 grams. … [Read More]
Pleasure Squad defector tells all
Dear Leader’s Pleasure Squad defector tells all: “His favourite delicacy contains the reproductive organ of sharks.” Interesting article from Sunny Lee in The National. Pleasure Squad candidates over 165cm tall are excluded because Kim Jong Il is short, says the defector [Read More]
Han Yongun: Questioning a monk’s nation-building project
More details about this Friday’s seminar at SOAS Friday, January 29th, 5pm, room G50 (main building) Jung-Shim Lee, Leiden University Han Yongun’s posthumous novel Death: Questioning a monk’s nation-building project Abstract: This paper will explore how a Korean monk Han Yongun produced Confucian-inspired nation-building ideas in his novel Death (죽음, 1924). Han Yongun (韓龍雲, 1879-1944) … [Read More]
Ji-Yeoun You lunchtime recital at LSE
Ji-Yeoun You piano Thursday 25 February 2010 1:05pm Shaw Library, Old Building Beethoven Eroica Variations, Op.35 Ravel Gaspard de la Nuit A first prize winner in several international competitions, she gives concerts round Europe and teaches music at Berlin University of the Arts. [Read More]
Showbiz agent to focus on indie music
“There’s no other place in the world as lacking in musical diversity as Korea” – says Jeon Do-yeon’s former agent Park Sung-hye, who plans to focus on indie music in the future: Source Chosun Ilbo [Read More]
LKL’s top 10 K-films of the noughties
Mark Russell led the way with his fascinating list of films of the decade – in which the biggest shock was that there was no Park Chan-wook. GI Korea also has a list, which redresses the balance somewhat. So here is mine. Over the years I’ve been reasonably diligent in giving marks out of 10 … [Read More]
Two Korea-related talks at the Senate House
News of two upcoming Korea-related seminars in the Comparative Histories of Asia Seminar hosted by the Institute of Historical Research at Senate House, University of London. Thursday 28th January, 5.30pm Dr Owen Miller (Cambridge / SOAS) “The Idea of Stagnation in Korean History from Fukuda Tokuzo to the New Right” Thursday 25 February, 5.30pm Professor … [Read More]
January cooking with Kiejo
The next date for cooking with Kiejo is this Saturday, 30 January. Menu: Tteokbokki (Rice cake and Vegetables with Spicy sauce) Galbi Gui (Grilled short rib of beef) Miyuk and cucumber salad (Seaweed and cucumber salad) Time: 11 AM — 2 PM. Venue: The Chalfonts Contact: kiejosarsfield at hotmail dot co dot uk [Read More]