SOAS kicks off its Spring term of evening seminars with an unusual subject: Korean Cannibalism: Production of Transgression in a Climate of Social Ills Dr Se-Woong Koo (Center for Korean Studies) École des Hautes Études Date: 18 January 2013 Time: 5:15 – 7:00 PM Venue: Russell Square, College Buildings, Room G50 Abstract The Chosǒn Dynasty … [Read More]
Year: 2013 (page 34)
The Road (길, 2006) review: past wounds and quiet healing
Bae Chang-ho’s scenic road movie follows a blacksmith and a troubled young girl whose chance meeting leads to a shared walk and an emotional reckoning. A physical journey on foot to a specific geographical destination soon becomes a journey of the heart, mind and soul in search of an inner place of peace. [Read More]
No Artificial Flavour: an upcoming online gallery for Korean artists and designers
At LKL we hadn’t realised, until Hanmi Gallery drew our attention to it in December, that the vitality of the London Korean art scene had been dealt a damaging blow by the closure of the Tier 1 (Post-study work) Visa to new applicants from 6 April 2012, which pretty much means that overseas students have … [Read More]
Kimchi Cult in Camden residency
If you came to the Korean Village at the Thames Festival in 2011 you may have tried some of Kimchi Cult’s amazing burgers, which went very well with the London Pride which was for sale at a nearby stall. Kimchi Cult’s Sarah Hogg and Danny O’Sullivan have been serving their sliders at various locations over … [Read More]
_Complete: a collaborative arts project at The Forge, Camden
News of a live music and video art event in Camden: _Complete A Collaborative arts project organised by Alpha Art Association Jazz Performance by KO Heean 고희안 Video Art Screening by SHIN Kiwoun 신기운 Date: Sunday 27 January 2013, 3pm (Doors open at 3pm and the performance starts at 3.30pm) Venue: The Forge | 3-7 … [Read More]
Moon So-ri is the first of 2013’s four actors. First up, The President’s Barber.
Following on from the year of the 12 directors, we have the year of the 4 actors. The first to be confirmed is Moon So-ri, who for me is pretty high up in the list of my favourites – particularly for her role in Im Sang-soo’s A Good Lawyer’s Wife, which I hope will get … [Read More]
Saharial’s Entertainment Weekly: Rain, Tablo, Psy and Propofol
In 2008 Choi Jin Shil, a popular actress, committed suicide after threats and pressure from netizens and from her personal life. Two years later in March 2010 her brother committed suicide, and now on 6th January 2013 her ex husband Jo Sung Min also took his own life in the same manner. A former basketball … [Read More]
Ramyun and the Dons: AFC Wimbledon announces Nongshim Noodle deal
Noodle soup while watching the footie? Sounds great: AFC Wimbledon are pleased to announce the launch of a new commercial partnership with Nongshim, South Korea’s number one noodle manufacturer. The deal, which will run until the end of the season, will see the chance for Nongshim products to be sampled at the Cherry Red Records … [Read More]
Year of the Four Actors – the schedule
After 2012’s Year of the 12 Directors, 2013 brings Year of the 4 Actors, with 24 films and three Q&As featuring Moon So-ri, Jeon Do-yeon, Choi Min-sik and Ha Jung-woo. Here’s the schedule: Date Title Director Moon Sori 17 January The President’s Barber Lim Chan-sang 31 January A Good Lawyer’s Wife Im Sang-soo 14 February … [Read More]
You followed the blog, now buy the book
You’ll probably have visited Kim Jong Il Looking at Things once in a while for some gentle entertainment at the expense of the late Dear Leader and his propaganda unit. The blog closed in December 2012, a year after his death, but now you can buy the book, from Jean Boîte Éditions, price EUR24 plus … [Read More]
A visit to Seoul’s Noryangjin Fish Market
Whenever I am in Korea, I always visit the markets, especially the fish markets. I love looking at all the fish and seafood — the colours and shapes, the noise — all of it. They are my childhood memories. On the third day of my last trip, I went to Noryangjin fish market (노량진 수산시장), … [Read More]
Yonhap feature on living in New Malden
Very interesting feature on the Koreans of New Malden, by Niels Footman of Yonhap. Two contrasting quotes set the scene: Two years ago, at a meeting of the Kingston Racial Equality Council … the incumbent member of parliament Ed Davey said that because much of the Korean population is transitory, “they feel less of a … [Read More]
The Taste of Money (돈의 맛, 2012) review: power, sex and emotional emptiness
While Im Sang-soo’s The Taste of Money’s narrative is without question an interesting concept in its extension of a subject previously dissected in his Housemaid remake, by the very nature of the characters portrayed it was always going to risk falling flat emotionally. And fall flat The Taste of Money does. [Read More]
LKL Critics’ Choice 2012: Saharial
Thanks to a hectic work schedule, concerts and a rather filthy cold – I’m just getting down to reviewing my purchases for last year and in some cases – listening to them! The final list of five are as follows: Nell Vol. 5: Slip Away – released 10 April 2012 This 5th album is the … [Read More]
King of Pigs (돼지의 왕, 2011) review: the cost of becoming a monster
Through fractured memories of brutal school bullying King of Pigs explores how rigid hierarchies, violence, and desperation shape identity. While the ideas of ‘violence begets violence’ are indeed inherent to the narrative, they really are just the tip of the iceberg within this dark, brooding and brutal dissection of humanity itself. [Read More]
The Uninvited / Table for 4 (4인용식탁, 2003) review: a haunting exploration of real-life horror and family secrets
Ominous, brooding and foreboding throughout, The Uninvited/Table for 4 centres on horrors, atrocities and tragedies based in reality and, as such, is far more powerful, worthy and indeed horrifying than the majority of New Korean Cinema wave vengeful ghost-fests ever could be. [Read More]