Notice of Mokspace’s latest exhibition, which opens today. Symposium – Group Exhibition 2012 Private View: 23 Aug 2012, 6pm Exhibition Dates: 23 Aug – 3 Sep 2012 / Opening Hours : 11am – 6pm, Every day Artists: Karen Parry, Valeriya Vygodnaya, Taegyun Kim, Yonghyun Lim_Jackie, Sanghyun Kim, Hyerim Kim, Kyungmin Lee, Sungmin Han, Sooji Shin, … [Read More]
Month: August 2012 (page 2)
Lee Yoon-ki’s My Dear Enemy screens at the KCC
There are still seats available for Lee Yoon-ki’s My Dear Enemy (2008) this evening, which comes with LKL’s recommendation. And that’s not just because Cannes best actress winner Jeon Do-yeon is in it. My Dear Enemy (멋진 하루) Director: Lee Yoon-ki Running Time: 123 mins Screening Date: 7pm, 23 August, 2012 Theatre: Multi-Purpose Hall, KCCUK … [Read More]
Damn! I’ve run out of shelf space
I’ve run out of shelf space, so I have no room for the recently issued Volume 17 (enlarged edition) of Kim Jong-il’s selected works. Now I’ll never get the full set, or find out how to “More Firmly Strengthen Socialist Revolutionary Position by Doing Party Work Well”. [Read More]
Kim Jong-un buys British
The new North Korean leader is said to be negotiating to buy two British-made luxury yachts. Of course, he’s asking for a discount. Make sure you get payment up-front, chaps, and don’t take any banknotes. (source: Chosun Ilbo) [Read More]
Lee Yoon-ki’s Love Talk captures the drifting, rootless nature of an immigrant community
Lee Yoon-ki is a director who divides opinion. He is known for his delicate, nuanced character portraits which delight many an art-house enthusiast but which for those who like things to happen in their movies are a big turnoff. Love Talk will appeal to those who are in between. Love Talk (2006) is Lee’s second … [Read More]
CNBlue comes to the indigO2
Not many commercial K-pop bands play their own instruments, but CN Blue is one of them. And in fact their story on Wikipedia has them debuting as an indie band. But they are now with the same conglomerate that runs Hyori and T-ara. CNBLUE at the indigO2 22 September 2012, 6pm The smash hit 4-piece … [Read More]
Korea’s latest theme park celebrates the toilet
Suwon is home to Korea’s latest theme park: the “Restroom Cultural Park” (수원 화장실 문화공원), which opened on 4 July 2012. Suwon is the city that launched the “Making Beautiful Public Restrooms” project in 1997, and lists its top conveniences on the city website. (via Rocket News; photo: KBS) [Read More]
Fashion, food and music: Korea Shining Bright with Lie Sang Bong at the V&A
It’s not often that an honour guard in Joseon dynasty costume greets you as you enter a London public building. In fact the last time I can recall it happening was at the celebration of Korean food and fashion at the Banqueting House in 2009. And at the Victoria and Albert Museum on 30 July … [Read More]
Seoul’s host bars
Lucy Williamson on an interesting emerging phenomenon in Seoul: host bars, where women pay for men’s company. First on the Today Programme (15 August), then on Crossing Continents (16 August), now in the Magazine (18 September) [Read More]
Love Talk screens at the KCC
After all the hectic activity of the Olymic fortnight it’s time for something more restful. Lee Yoon-ki is a director that divides opinion, but on balance his delicate and restrained portraits have more admirers than detractors, as was evidenced by the packed house last week for This Charming Girl. Those who like something to happen … [Read More]
The second KCC-sponsored K-pop contest
Now you’ve had the training at the KTO-sponsored K-pop workshop, it’s time to enter the KCC’s K-pop contest, in conjunction with YG Entertainment. Details of how to enter are on the KCC website here. Apply by 24 August. [Read More]
A London 2012 Korean Olympic round-up
Here are some of the highlights and headlines from the past two weeks or so of Korean athletes at the London 2012 Olympics: 25 July North Korea’s Olympic women’s football team walked off the pitch for an hour at their opening London 2012 match tonight after organisers mistakenly introduced the players using South Korea’s flag. … [Read More]
Mask dance and K-pop covers at the Kingston Korean Festival
During the Olympics, the Korean Tourism Organisation has been sponsoring a K-pop vocal and dance workshop in Chelsea Town Hall. The results were on show today at the 15th annual Korean Festival organised by the Korean Residents Society. I think I managed to miss all the traditional performances this year – the otherwise informative programme … [Read More]
Im Kwon-taek visits London for the Olympics
As part of the VIP delegation visiting from Seoul to launch Korea’s bid for Olympic glory in London 2012, a surprise dignitary was legendary film director Im Kwon-taek. I first caught sight of him at the Korea Shining Bright event at the Victoria and Albert Museum on Monday night, 30 July. I wondered if I … [Read More]
Needles and a mouth organ at Team Korea House
Yes, there have been K-pop flashmobs, dancing robots, traditional music performances and comedy magic shows at Team Korea House. There has even been a live radio show broadcast from there, with presenters dressed in royal hanbok. Last Saturday (4 August) was the final performance by Dulsori before they head off to Germany. They opened with … [Read More]
An interview to forget
LKL has been interviewed three times in the past three weeks. Easiest was Yonhap, an unrecorded newspaper interview where it was easy to chat at the same time as being interviewed, and where you could clarify and explain to ensure that you were understood properly. No time restriction. I don’t know what the write-up was … [Read More]