People who know me will be aware that my sincere appreciation of Hong Sang-soo’s work does not mean that I always stay awake during his movies. But having been to Tongyeong since the first time I went to the theatre when Hahaha was screening, I know I’ll be wide awake for the upcoming screening on … [Read More]
Month: March 2013
“This bad movie is more fun than anything else”
“In a bad movie week, this bad movie is more fun than anything else” – the FT’s verdict on GI Joe: Retaliation. The first one was such fun and such nonsense that really you’ve got to go and see this one too. [Read More]
LLGFF Festival Film Review: Leesong Hee-il’s White Night trilogy – seek it out if you can
It was not so long ago that writing an article on queer cinema in Korea was a real struggle, for want of source material. Adam Hartzell does an excellent job in his 2002 Film Journal article Queer Pal for the Straight Gal, referencing films such as Wanee and Junah, Bungee Jump, Memento Mori and others. … [Read More]
The Good Friday transatlantic K-blog meetup
9 o’clock in the morning on the Good Friday bank holiday at a Hammersmith coffee shop might not seem the likeliest place for a K-blog meetup. But Roy Ghim, from the Tavern of the Taekguk Warriors, a US-based Korean football site, had just arrived at Heathrow and was on his way into town. And as … [Read More]
Choi & Lager’s third Paris exhibition: Secret Garden
I always enjoy seeing arts works in a domestic setting rather than the sterile space of a gallery. So, if you happen to be in Paris, give Sunhee Choi a ring and pop over to the 16th arondissement to see some fine contemporary Korean work. CHOI&LAGER project is pleased to invite you to the exhibition … [Read More]
Four top Korean rock bands come to the UK
Thanks to Anna over at koreanindie.com for telling us the good news. Hyundai Cards have been promoting Korean indie music with videos and live performances at their Hongdae popup store, and now are bringing for top bands to the UK. The bands are Galaxy Express, Apollo 18, Goonamguayeoridingstella and Gate Flowers, and koreanindie.com gives us … [Read More]
The President’s Barber – an awkward film that’s difficult to categorise
Lim Chan-sang’s The President’s Barber (효자동 이발사, 2004) was the first KCC screening of 2013, in which we will be seeing films featuring four actors each of who will be coming to London for a Q&A. The first three months feature Moon So-ri, who will be in London for a screening of Hong Sang-soo’s Hahaha … [Read More]
Postcard Teas, near Bond Street tube – for your supplies of Korean nokcha
One of my top tips for London is Postcard Teas, tucked away in Dering Street, close to Bond Street and Oxford Circus. The genial and knowledgeable proprieter Timothy D’Offay sources his teas from small family estates using traditional tea growing methods, and the impressive list includes fine teas from China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Japan, India, Sri … [Read More]
Saharial’s Entertainment Weekly: another car crash of a week in the world of Korean celebrity
Rain is still on a no-show as a witness in the lawsuit against him by a fashion company investor citing that he is a soldier. But as he has had time to meet his girlfriend Kim Tae-hee, this excuse is not going down too well. This case is related to the debacle back in 2010 … [Read More]
No Space Like Home: Hanmi Gallery’s 20th interim exhibition
Notice of Hanmi Gallery’s latest interim exhibition: No Space Like Home art-workers’ daily grind as a case for art/sociological study Exhibition runs 27 March – 5 April 2013 Hanmi Gallery, 30 Maple Street, London W1T 6HA www.hanmigallery.co.uk Hanmi Gallery is pleased to announce No Space Like Home, the exhibition which examines the appearance of private … [Read More]
The Tainted: new work by Shan Hur and Aron Demetz at Gazelli Art House
Much of Hur Shan’s work is extremely site-specific and not very portable, so it’s well worth going to a gallery to see his work whenever you can. There’s an opportunity coming up this week, lasting for a couple of months, off Piccadilly. The Tainted: New Works by Shan Hur and Aron Demetz Dates: 28th March … [Read More]
Ten years of The Marmot
There’s a nice feature on Robert Koehler of The Marmot’s Hole in the Joongang Ilbo (along with a couple of other bloggers too), marking 10 years of the blog’s existence. Here’s to the next ten. Links: Korea by blog – Creating an expat blogosphere, Korea JoongAng Daily, March 19, 2013 [Read More]
Free Gayageum classes at the KCC
Many readers will have seen KAA Chairman Jung Ji-eun perform on her gayageum at various events. Now you can have some free classes from her at the KCC. Download an application form from the KCC website. Korean Music Classes: Introducing the Gayageum Would you like to learn a Korean Musical Instrument? The Korean Cultural Centre … [Read More]
Free Minhwa classes at the KCC
KAA member Eun-jung Feleppa will be giving free classes in Korean folk painting at the KCC. The weekly classes will be held on Thursday early evening, 5pm – 7pm. Application forms can be downloaded from the KCC website. More details below: Minhwa: Korean Painting Classes The Korean Cultural Centre UK is now taking applications for … [Read More]
DramaFever hosts fan choice awards for K-Drama
UK netizens possibly won’t make much use of DramaFever as their episodes of K-Drama series are limited to IP addresses in the Americas. But K-drama fans wherever you are may want to participate in their fan choice awards for K-drama, which are open for voting until the end of March. This is the first year … [Read More]
Exhibition visit: Bae Chan-hyo – Punishment, at Purdy Hicks
Tomorrow is your last chance to see the first public showing of Bae Chan-hyo’s Existing in Costume series, this particular project bearing the subtitle Punishment. Earlier in the series, Bae has focused on fairy tale characters, or aristocratic western women, each time with Bae dressing in immaculate costume to pose for his self-portrait. In Punishment, … [Read More]