Choi Min-sik reflects on screen quotas and cultural diversity, his director-led approach to choosing roles, and portraying extreme characters through empathy. He discusses violence as social commentary, collaboration with auteurs, international work, historical roles, actor responsibility, and sustaining Korean cinema beyond commercial imperatives. [Read More]
Month: September 2013
Theresa Hak Kyung Cha screens at the ICA
A screening of some of Theresa Hak Kyung Cha’s films at the ICA, followed by a discussion. It dovetails nicely with the exhibition devoted to Cha at the KCC which closes on the same day as the screening. It would have been nice to have had the screening slightly earlier so that one could go … [Read More]
Korean films at the 57th BFI London Film Festival
The London Film Festival is upon us with its annual treat of Hong Sang-soo premieres and one or two other films, mostly screened at inconvenient times and / or places. Didn’t we have a Choi Min-sik gangster movie which broke the sensitive two-hour barrier last year too? This year’s looks a bit more promising though. … [Read More]
Event news: Super Junior’s Super Show 5
It seems that following Big Bang’s performances in Wembley Arena last year the K-pop promoters have gained confidence that there is a market in London for the big groups. So here comes one of the most established ones, on 9 November. Super Junior – Super Show 5 World Tour 9 November, Wembley Arena, 8pm £56 … [Read More]
Current Developments in North Korea – Aidan Foster Carter at the Japan Society
A North Korea related event in mid-town this week, courtesy of the Japan Society: Current Developments in North Korea – Aidan Foster-Carter Wednesday 2 October 2013, 12.00 for 12.30pm JETRO MidCity Place 71 High Holborn London WC1V 6AL £12 for members of Japan Society & JCCI and those introduced by JETRO £18 for non members … [Read More]
The autumn season of evening seminars at SOAS
The programme of evening seminars at SOAS for October and November is set out below. Briefly, the agenda is: Thursday 17 October: North Korean nukes Friday 18 October: Economic Democracy in South Korea Friday 25 October: Anxiety and Nostalgia of Korean Contemporary Artists Friday 15 November: North Korean army in the Economy of North Korea … [Read More]
A quick thank you to the many who once again made my Korea trip so special
While this year’s trip to Korea is still fresh in my mind, here are a few thank-yous to the many people who made the trip special. Write-ups will follow over the coming weeks, not necessarily in chronological order. Thanks… To former LKL contributor Shin Eunjung and Tim Anderson for the splendid Gwangyang Bulgogi in, er, … [Read More]
Jungho Oak at 43 Inverness Street
43 Inverness Street is hosting a solo show by Jungho Oak, from 4 October: Jungho Oak at 43 Inverness Street 4 October – 9 November PV 3 October 6~9pm 43 Inverness Street is pleased to present a solo exhibition by South Korean artist Jungho Oak. Jungho Oak will be presenting photographs and one single channel … [Read More]
Bongsu Park and Jae-Bum Myoung: Lineage, at Blackhorse Lane Studios
A brief exhibition near Blackhorse Road station: Lineage: Bongsu Park and Jae-Bum Myoung Private viewing 3rd October 6pm – 9pm Exhibition 4th until 6th October 1pm – 5pm Location: 114 Blackhorse Lane, E17 6AA Park Bong-Su and Myoung Jae-Bum are two Korean artists who share a fascination for the meeting of line and form. This … [Read More]
Exhibition news: Meekyoung Shin in Heritage Reinvented at new Tryon St gallery
The former British Museum curator Anna Harnden is launching a new contemporary commercial gallery off the Kings Road in Chelsea. Opening on 3rd October 2013, Tryon St Gallery aims to bring together artists from different artistic and cultural backgrounds in order to create new dialogues concerning heritage and the contemporary. Meekyoung Shin adds the opening … [Read More]
Crime and Punishment in Chosŏn Korea
Three years ago SOAS held a conference entitled Historians, clerks and accountants: Methodological issues in the use of sources on Chosŏn History. One of the more interesting elements of that day was a consideration of court records of criminal trials and a discussion of Joseon dynasty autopsy techniques. The speaker, Kim Ho, returns this Friday … [Read More]
Meekyoung Shin: Archetype, at Sumarria Lunn
Meekyoung Shin continues her hectic programme of exhibitions at Sumarria Lunn from 26 September. Sumarria Lunn are now representing her in the UK, since the closure of Haunch of Venison. Meekyoung Shin: Archetype Exhibition runs: 26th September to 8th November 2013 Sumarria Lunn Gallery | 36 South Molton Lane | Mayfair | London W1K 5AB … [Read More]
Here’s where you can wash your hands with a Meekyoung Shin soap sculpture
Meekyoung Shin is re-running her Toilet Project at selected venues across the UK. This iteration is a UK-wide public art programme that sees works displayed in the toilets of 16 galleries and museums in 15 cities across the United Kingdom between July and October 2013. As visitors use them to wash their hands the details … [Read More]
Dalkey Archive launches the Library of Korean Literature
A bit of exciting news for those interested in getting your hands on more Korean contemporary literature in English translation: Dalkey Archive Press have been working with the Literature Translation Institute of Korea to bring out a series of 25 titles over the next two years. The first ten will hit the shops and your … [Read More]
Theresa Hak Kyung Cha (1951-82): a portrait in fragments
I really struggled with Theresa Hak Kyung Cha’s book Dictée when I read it a few years ago. But I’m not one to give up easily, and I’m hoping that this upcoming exhibition will provide another way in to this multi-faceted artist. Theresa Hak Kyung Cha (1951-82): a portrait in fragments 24 Sep – 26 … [Read More]
Hongdae hosts rap v pansori battle
An interesting stunt pitting rappers against pansori performers was held in Hongdae last Friday. When I was waiting for Love X Stereo to come on stage at Freebird, I really should have been down at V-Hall, where the RapPansori battle was held. And a pansori singer was the victor. Source: Joongang Daily [Read More]