Check out the new K-pop culture academy at the @KCCUK. Get your application in by 15 February. Looks really interesting, and a good example of the new Minister’s K-Culture promotion initiative. http://t.co/g5HJL7m1 [Read More]
Month: January 2012
StorySeller gig cancelled
Aigoo! February’s London Korean event of the month, the StorySeller gig, has been cancelled. There’s still E J-yong’s Q&A to look forward to though. http://t.co/tATLndZf [Read More]
Girl’s Generation on David Letterman show
If you’re in America, don’t forget to watch David Letterman tonight for SM Entertainment’s latest marketing push – a performance from Girls Generation http://t.co/NQoasFfa. And here’s the video: [Read More]
KIA Motors and the Australian Open
KIA Motors, having sponsored the Australian Open since 2002, is getting some great worldwide TV coverage http://t.co/FUSNvaUK [Read More]
E J-yong is February’s Director at the KCC. First up, An Affair
After January’s successful focus on Lee Myung-se, February brings another Lee: E J-yong, or Lee Jae-yong (이재용). We start with An Affair (정사, 1998), starring Lee Mi-sook and Lee Jung-jae. It was one of the first Korean films I ever saw, at the 2001 London Korean Film Festival, and got me hooked on the Korean … [Read More]
David Heather’s North Korean art collection returns to La Galleria
Catch the last few days of the exhibition of North Korean propaganda posters and kitsch art from David Heather’s collection of works from Mansudae Studios, at La Galleria Pall Mall http://t.co/x8Io2z6C – till 3 February. [Read More]
Lee Myung-se interview: “the next Jacques Tati”?
Director Lee Myung-se reflects on his career from Nowhere to Hide to Duelist and M, discussing cinematic rhythm, memory, fantasy, and balance. In this thoughtful interview, he explores how his style evolves while remaining uniquely his own, and why film should be experienced as pure cinema. [Read More]
Yeosu (려수, 2011) review: shared burdens, broken expectations and the search for self
The beautiful surroundings of Yeosu provide the backdrop to the cathartic journey of a young man and woman who are both searching to understand and come to terms with their lives and choices. Visually stunning; narratively deep, Yeosu infuses its gently gripping story with intelligent, thought-provoking social commentary and critique throughout… [Read More]
A New Space around the Body – contemporary fashion at the KCC
To coincide with London Fashion Week, the KCC’s next exhibition showcases young Korean fashion designers in London. LKL’s review of the show can be found here. A NEW SPACE AROUND THE BODY: Emerging Korean fashion designers 1 Feb 2012 – 28 Feb 2012 Korean Cultural Centre UK | Grand Buildings | 1-3 Strand | London … [Read More]
SOAS seminar: The Vacillation of Culture in Neoliberal South Korea
I was really hoping to be able to get to this free talk in Thursday – it looks really interesting. But unfortunately I’m not going to be able to make it. Folks in Cambridge can catch Professor Kang on a similar topic on Friday 27th at Robinson College. If anyone wants to write up either … [Read More]
Joohee Chun at HF Contemporary Art
London-based Korean artist Joohee Chun is participating in the “Exclusive Asian Art” Exhibition, 31 Jan – 12 Feb 2012 at HF Contemporary Art, Lauderdale House, Waterlow Park, Highgate Hill, London N6 5HG. (Archway tube) [Read More]
Kim Jong-il’s Pulgasari: political metaphor or just a bad monster movie?
LKL reports from the Asian Movie Meetup at the Roxy in Borough High Street on 16 January: Pulgasari (1985). Director: Shin Sang-ok; Producer: Kim Jong-il. The snowy peak of Mount Baekdu in the background and a winged Chollima horse in the foreground is the ident which announces the start of Pulgasari. The two icons of … [Read More]
Duellist + Lee Myung-se Q&A
The KCC’s Lee Myung-se month comes to an end on Thursday 26 January with a Q&A with the director himself after a screening of The Duellist. Note that to accommodate extra people, the screening is at the Apollo – and needs to be booked via the Apollo box office rather than the KCC reception. Note … [Read More]
Feature on photographer Bae Bien-u
There’s a good feature on photographer Bae Bien-u (best known for his atmospheric pine tree images) in the JoongAng Ilbo http://t.co/V6Zr9GH7. See some of his photos of the Secret Garden on his website. [Read More]
Midnight Ballad for Ghost Theater (삼거리 극장, 2006) review: eccentric spirits, musical mischief, warm-hearted horror
Regardless of your particular preference within Korean Cinema, there are times when we all just want to be warmly entertained, and if that’s what you are hankering for, Jeon Kye-soo’s eccentric tongue-in-cheek gothic musical really is something to make a song and dance about. [Read More]
FT interviews with author Krys Lee
Small talk: interview with Korean American writer Krys Lee in the FT http://t.co/VN4wRXzT (via @rjkoehler). Her first book, Drifting House, a collection of short stories set in North Korea, South Korea and the US, is now available on Amazon. [Read More]