Myeongdong, Saturday 30 April 2011. I usually try to arrive in Korea on a Friday evening; or even, if I’m being profligate with my holiday entitlement, a Thursday evening. But my trip this year was curtailed at the front end. Why? Because at home there was a Royal festive occasion: the wedding of Prince William … [Read More]
Month: April 2011
Korean Rockets Part 2 – Hwacha, the Mobile Multiple Rocket Launcher
The power of the 15th century singijeon rocket was taken to a new level by the Hwacha launcher, a radical device which could fire 100 singijeon rockets in a single volley. Here is a reconstructed version. In 1492, it played an integral role in repelling an invasion from the North. Its full potential was demonstrated … [Read More]
2011 travel diary – the index
30 April Arrival: Rain in Samcheongdong 1 May The Changdeokgung and Biwon Korean Rhapsody at the Leeum 2 May The hangover in Busan, including a brief visit to Beomeosa 3 May The private side of Sancheong: Jeongchwiam and Suseonsa 4 May Sanshinje by the sacred stones and the opening of the annual herbal medicine festival … [Read More]
The Royal Wedding – the Korea-related Tweets
LKL delayed our 2011 Korea Trip by a couple of days so that we could watch the live coverage of the Royal Wedding on TV. Needless to say, while we were watching, we were looking out for Korean angles, and here are the resulting tweets (along with some which have no Korean relevance at all): … [Read More]
AKS members-only visit to Standard Chartered HQ
Here’s your excuse to join the Anglo-Korean Society, which you have been meaning to do for a while. Tour of Standard Chartered Bank 1 Basinghall Avenue, London, EC2V 5DD Wednesday 18th May 2011. 6.00pm for 6.30pm Walk into Standard Chartered’s London Head Office; you will find a piece of Asia transplanted into the Square Mile. … [Read More]
Korean Rockets Part 1 – the Singijeon
As stated previously (in Korean Naval Firepower Part 1), there is evidence to suggest that gunpowder was in use in Korea during the Three Kingdoms period (57~668 AD). If, as some scholars believe, saltpeter firearms were invented in Korea in the 7th century, this would place the invention 100 years before it is believed to … [Read More]
The Trip (여행, 2009) review: three lives at a crossroads on Jeju Island
Set on Jeju Island, The Trip weaves three interconnected stories of love, loss and self-discovery. From tentative first love, to a daughter seeking her absent mother, to a woman reclaiming her identity, the film explores life’s turning points across generations against a striking natural backdrop. [Read More]
Victoria gets Korean
Yesterday I had a spot of luck. I was venturing into central London via my usual train terminus, London Victoria and whilst negotiating my way around the busy junction where Vauxhall bridge road meets Victoria Street when I spotted something rather interesting, a new Korean eatery. I may have a sixth sense when it comes … [Read More]
Korean Buddhists Arts of the Koryŏ and Chosŏn Kingdoms
Last year was court painting; the year before it was folk art. Now we move on to Buddhist art. Details of the full day seminar, with a behind-the-scenes look at artefacts in the British Museum, are below. Korean Buddhists Arts of the Koryŏ and Chosŏn Kingdoms 10am on Thursday, 19 May 2011 G3, Main Building, … [Read More]
Korean Culture Report – the podcast you’ve been waiting for
Here’s something that deserves your attention. The latest podcast to arrive in the K-blogosphere is focused without being too brief, and informative and discursive without outstaying its welcome: The Korean Culture Report is run by the Korean Modern Literature in Translation blogmeister Charles Montgomery, with partners in crime Paul “Ajosshi” Matthews – often to be … [Read More]
Summer 2011 Korean studies seminars at SOAS
Two Friday evening seminars have been announced so far – see below. I’ve posted a brief review of Chris Springer’s book here. Date: Friday, 6 May 2011 Time: 17.00-19.00 Title: Representations of colonial Korea in print and in visual imagery Speaker: Dr Susan House Wade (University of Brighton) Venue: Room G50, Ground Floor, Main Building … [Read More]
Unsuk Chin explains why classical music in Korea isn’t thriving
There’s a fascinating interview with the hugely talented composer Unsuk Chin in the Joongang Ilbo today. LKL has been an unashamed fan of Chin since the world premiere of her Cello Concerto in London in 2009, and we braved a 12-hour marathon session of performances of her music at London’s Barbican Centre earlier this month. … [Read More]
The Secret of Seokguram
It is a common feature that Korean artworks ‘hide’ their beauty from you on a superficial viewing. The Seokguram grotto, which appears on many brochures and could lay claim to being the most recognisable of Korea’s national treasures to outsiders, conforms to this rule. You would rarely meet someone who had been bowled over or … [Read More]
Obama lauds South Korean education
Most people who have had contact with South Korean culture, especially in a teaching context, know that Koreans take education seriously. I asked a Korean friend for chapter and verse on this, and she told me the following. Elementary schools start at 8:30 and finish between 12:30 (first grade) and 2:30 (sixth grade). Pupils usually … [Read More]
Kang Yi-kwan’s Sakwa screens at the KCC
The last of the wedding themed films at the KCC this month is Sakwa (2008). It didn’t get brilliant reviews when it came out, but it does have Moon So-ri as the lead, so it’s got to be worth watching. This Thursday, 28 April. DIRECTOR: Kang Yi-kwan RUNNING TIME: 118 mins DATE: 7:00pm, April 28 … [Read More]
Suh Do-ho’s Floor becomes a table
I don’t think Suh Do-ho intended this when he created “Floor”, but it kind of works as a coffee table (from the Financial Times) http://twitpic.com/4ny6vx # [Read More]