One of the more anticipated films of the 2013 London Korean Film Festival was Lee Joon-ik’s Hope, a harrowing family drama examining the long-term effects caused by the traumatic sexual assault on a young girl by a construction worker near her school. It’s a powerful film which one won’t watch for pleasure, or indeed watch … [Read More]
Year: 2013 (page 2)
Kimjang gets a UNESCO listing
Kimjang, the making and sharing of kimchi in the Republic of Korea, was admitted to the UNESCO register of intangible cultural heritage on 5 December 2013. Note that, like the listing of Arirang, this pan-Korean cultural item has been registered by South Korea. Links: Kimjang page at UNESCO Update 13 December: The South China Morning … [Read More]
Official announcement of Jang Song-thaek’s arrest
Here is the formal announcement of Jang Song-thaek’s arrest, from the KCNA Japanese website. A lesson for anyone who might dare to dream different dreams or eat in a restaurant’s private dining room. Report on Enlarged Meeting of Political Bureau of Central Committee of WPK Pyongyang, December 9 (KCNA) — A report on the enlarged … [Read More]
Grace Yeo at the Wigmore Hall
Grace Yeo will be providing relief from the post-Christmas sales with a piano recital at the Wigmore Hall on 27 December: Grace Yeo (piano) 27 December 2013, 7:30pm Wigmore Hall Ticket Prices £8 £9 £11 £13 Programme Haydn: Piano Sonata in Eb HXVI:52 Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor Op. 57 ‘Appassionata’ Bartók: … [Read More]
Cha’s portrait remains in fragments
What is one supposed to do when a scary woman in a white hoody comes up to you and declaims an impenetrable text at you in a threatening manner? Well, what we all did at the opening evening of the group show at the KCC which pays tribute to the artist Teresa Hak Kyung Cha, … [Read More]
In a bookshop yesterday…
No, this is not *my* bookshelf (it’s part of the Korean section at the university bookshop yesterday), though I do have a couple of these. I don’t have the yellow one, and don’t propose buying it. But I really recommend Sonia Ryang’s Reading North Korea – a look at how North Korea’s relationship with the … [Read More]
The tweet that launched a podcast
I was watching Nobody’s Daughter Haewon as part of the BFI London Film Festival this year, and was rather enjoying it. I’ve done a little review of it here. It was nice to see some familiar locations in the film. And then I saw something even more familiar: one of the characters in the film … [Read More]
Festival Film Review: Nobody’s Daughter Haewon
I often find myself falling asleep during Hong Sang Soo films. But my two most recent experiences – a second viewing of HaHaHa as part of the KCC’s Moon So-ri season – and Nobody’s Daughter Haewon at the ICA, coinciding with its screening at the 57th BFI London Film Festival, have been exceptions. Part of … [Read More]
Local Foreigners’ Story: Souvenirs from Seoul Exhibition
An interesting exhibition coming up at Goldsmiths focusing on non-Koreans’ impressions of Seoul: ‘Local Foreigners’ Story’: Souvenirs from Seoul Today, we travel to countries all over the world with great ease. When we begin living outside our usual environment we become foreigners, engaging with our surroundings in new ways depending on where we are, but … [Read More]
Jihoon Kim Lunchtime recital at the Royal Opera House
Coming up on Monday 9 December, a programme of classical Korean works selected by Korean Jette Parker Principal Jihoon Kim, to be performed with piano, traditional Korean instruments and a Samulnori percussion group. Check out the Classical Iconoclast for a detailed preview of what to expect. At the Paul Hamlyn Hall, Royal Opera House Covent … [Read More]
A reason to go to Gangnam?
LKL has never been a particular fan of South of the Han. Most things we want to do and see tend to be North of the river. But like it or not, it’s where the money is. Reflecting the opulent demographic, in September this year Diageo opened Johnnie Walker House Seoul in Cheongdam-dong, its third … [Read More]
Art14 London announces participating galleries
Art13 London, held at the beginning of March this year, was a feast of contemporary art which needed at least half a day to enjoy the Korean artists alone, forgetting about everything else. Looking forward to next year, Art14 has announced the participating galleries for the second incarnation of London’s latest art fair. Here are … [Read More]
Pluto (명왕성, 2012) review: fear, power and violence in Korea’s elite classrooms
While several of Pluto’s storyline elements will likely combine to bring Yoon Sung-hyun’s Bleak Night (2010) to viewers’ minds, Shin Su-won’s low budget thriller nonetheless manages to stand on its own as a dissection of fear within a dark and twisted tale laced with social commentary; ultimately feeling far more a companion piece than a derivation. [Read More]
CFP for South Korean Screen Culture Conference 2014
In 2014 the “Years of Radical Change” Korean Screen Culture Conference moves to Sheffield, after two successful years at SOAS. The Call for Papers has just been issued. CFP for South Korean Screen Culture Conference 2014 Friday 13 – Saturday 14 June 2014 Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, United Kingdom Call for presentations: The Korean Screen … [Read More]
Artist talk by Jukhee Kwon, 7 December
To accompany her first solo exhibition at October Gallery, Jukhee Kwon will talk about her new work and how she creates sculptures from discarded books. Saturday, 7th December, 2013. 3pm. Admission £Free. October Gallery Please reserve a place on https://jukheekwon.eventbrite.co.uk/ October Gallery | 24 Old Gloucester Street | Bloomsbury | London WC1N 3AL [Map] | … [Read More]