London Korean Links

Covering things Korean in London and beyond since 2006

Symposium – a group exhibition at Mokspace

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]