It was one of the first Korean films I ever saw. Guided by Darcy Paquet’s list of top ten films of the 90, this was in my first ever batch of DVDs from YesAsia. And although you don’t see so much of Han Suk-kyu nowadays (and nothing of Shim Eun-ha) they were among the top … [Read More]
Year: 2012 (page 3)
‘I sold my blood to attend a K-fandom convention’ – and other recent K-wave articles
For those with time on their hands, here’s a few articles about how far K-pop is spreading, whether K-pop culture is beating J-pop culture and other copy generated by the Psy phenomenon. Highly recommended: Will the Korean pop culture boom have legs?, Tao Jones, 22 November, Wall Street Journal Speakeasy blog – has the shock … [Read More]
Screening: One Fine Day | 화창한 날 – a short film on the life of a Korean artist living in London
This looks like a really interesting project. One of the organisers of this screening, Daeun Dani Kim of Alpha Art Association, describes it as “A short film on the life of a Korean artist living in London. Unpretentious and surprisingly humourous!” But watching the trailer below is really disorienting. You’re used to seeing films about … [Read More]
Tesco rides Psy-driven K-food sales increase
Tesco, the UK’s biggest supermarket chain, who via Homeplus is also Korea’s second-biggest retailer, has been making cautious, very cautious, steps into selling Korean food in the UK. They marked the launch of the Korea-EU Free Trade Agreement last year by stocking some Korean food in one of its UK outlets. Yes, just one. For … [Read More]
Book review: Yoko Kawashima Watkins — So Far from the Bamboo Grove
Yoko Kawashima Watkins: So Far from the Bamboo Grove Harper Collins, 1986 Reprinted with letter from the author, 2008 183pp This time last year, Wikileaks revealed that when Mitt Romney, then Governor of Massachussetts, visited Korea in December 2006, one of the topics raised by the Korean Acting Foreign Minister Cho Jung-pyo was this short … [Read More]
Dress Classy, Dance Cheesy – the KCCUK’s seasonal K-pop party
Some early seasonal cheer at the KCCUK. Book soon. The tickets are bound to disappear fast. DRESS CLASSY DANCE CHEESY & LET’S PARTY To celebrate the graduation of the 2nd K-Pop Academy and a phenomenal year of ‘Gangnam Style’, we would like to invite you all to our ‘Merry K-Pop Night’ on Saturday, 8th December … [Read More]
The Shade of Prosperity – Korean art film / video art at Rivington Place, Hoxton
If you’ve seen Kim Ayoung‘s topical photo reconstructions before, or Hong Young-in‘s multicultural embroideries, you will be interested in seeing a new aspect to their work. Along with 3 other artsts – Kim Sejin, Kwon Hyewon and Japanese artist Saki Satom they are contributing to a collection of artistic films / video art in a … [Read More]
Which of these two should be the Time Magazine person of the Year?
Who would you vote for as Time Magazine Person of the Year 2012? This guy? Or this guy? I can’t remember there being two Koreans on the 40-strong shortlist before. And for the first time in recent history, you can’t vote for Rain. (HT Yoo Kwang-on) [Read More]
Futurology in Korean Studies: hell in a handcart or hallyu heaven? LKL reports from the 2012 BAKS conference
The annual BAKS Conference on 17 November ambitiously attempted to look into the crystal ball to see what the Korean peninsula might look like in 20 years time. To help in that crystal ball gazing, the list of speakers included some non-Koreanists in a valuable initiative to introduce specialists to provide a different perspective. The … [Read More]
Jerome De Wit at SOAS: Motivations for Writing during the Korean War
The final free seminar before the Christmas break is as follows: The War Within: Motivations for Writing during the Korean War Jerome De Wit (Leiden University) Date: 7 December 2012 Time: 5:15 PM Venue: Russell Square: College Buildings Room: G50 Abstract The first few months of the Korean War (1950-1953) saw dramatic shifts in the … [Read More]
Maybe one reason why Psy is the most-watched YouTube video ever
Me: So, he’s the most watched video ever! Korean friend: Yes. I click on it 50 times a day. Hmm. So is that how he did it? Well, maybe not (the video certainly deserves to beat Justin Bieber), but it’s an interesting thought. And on a related subject, the Joongang Ilbo reports on a story … [Read More]
South Korea’s boring beer and love of expensive whisky in the news again
It’s something of a paradox. Koreans are prepared to put up with some of the most tasteless, characterless beer in the world, but insist on top quality whisky. For an explanation of the former mystery, the Economist (Fiery Food, Boring Beer – a dull duopoly crushes microbrewers, 24 November 2012) expands on a theme discussed … [Read More]
2012 Travel Diary #21: Seong Cheol’s birthday, Park Chan-soo’s museum and Gaya period tombs
Sancheong County, Gyeongsangnam-do, Saturday 31 March 2012. The impact of the love shots is still fogging my brain when Mr Yoon arrives at 9:30 in the morning. Today, he is accompanied by his wife, who is to join us for the morning. It is, after all, a Saturday, so Mr Yoon is working overtime on … [Read More]
Who would YOU vote for as Woman of the Year?
Well, GQ Korea says it’s SiSTAR, but the girl group was picked “because there were not many other options.” Actor Ha Sung-woo was man of the year. Needless to say, Kim Ki-duk and PSY also get mentioned. [Read More]
Book Review: Martin Limón — Mr Kill
Damn. He’s never done this before. This is Martin Limón’s 7th novel in his exciting, action-packed series featuring George Sueño and Ernie Bascom, investigators in the military police attached to the US 8th Army in 1970s Seoul Although the novels have been written over the course of some 20 years (the first novel, Jade Lady … [Read More]
Exhibition news: Phobia – at Hanmi Gallery
Hanmi Gallery presents its 14th “interim” exhibition. Camden Council are sure taking their time in granting planning permission… Come on guys, what you need in Maple Street is a nice art gallery. Phobia Artists: Alexis Milne | Erik Bendix | Joey Holder | Ole Hagen | Sangjin Kim | Shauba Chang | Woon Zung Preview: … [Read More]