If I ever win the Euromillions lotto, LKL Towers will be adorned with a Kim Whanki or two. But as that will never happen, I have to content myself with an occasional visit to the Whanki Museum in Buam-dong. This May, there is a special group show in the museum, which includes work by London … [Read More]
Month: April 2014
90 Minutes (90분, 2012) review: the price of entitlement
With its pulse-pounding, sexually-charged story detailing female retribution against a self-serving male guilty of flagrant sexual indiscretions and abuses, ’90 Minutes’ not only stands as an utterly gripping thriller but also serves to further the ongoing trend for depictions of strong women in Korean cinema as a whole. [Read More]
Bongsu Park: Before Lines, After Lines — at Hanmi Gallery
Hanmi Gallery’s 34th interim exhibition is a solo show by Bongsu Park. Bongsu Park: Before Lines, After Lines Hanmi Gallery | 30 Maple Street | London | W1T 6HA | www.hanmigallery.co.uk 9 May – 1 June, every day, 12-6 PM Hanmi Gallery is pleased to present Before Lines, After Lines, an exhibition of multimedia works … [Read More]
Korean food at Urban Food Fest
Korean street food seems to be popping up everywhere in London nowadays, and it’s difficult keeping track of who’s where. But this Saturday they’ll all be in one place at the same time, though Kimchi Cult, who I think were the first on the scene, are now up in Scotland so won’t be there. So, … [Read More]
RIP Sena Lee
Many LKL readers will remember Dr Sena Lee, the Traditional Korean Medicine doctor, and LKL’s medical correspondent. She was in London for three years taking a PhD in western medicine to add to her Korean qualifications. Her articles for LKL can be found here. During her time in London she was a great ambassador for … [Read More]
10th Gwangju Biennale to be introduced at the ICA
Coming up on 1 May 2014 at 6:30 at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, Jessica Morgan, Artistic Director of the 10th Gwangju Biennale, introduces the curatorial framework of the next edition, Burning Down the House, opening in September 2014. This will be followed by a conversation with Sally Tallant, Director of Liverpool Biennial – The … [Read More]
Book review: Kim In-suk — The Long Road
Kim In-suk: The Long Road Translated by Stephen J Epstein MerwinAsia, 2010, 113pp First published as 먼 길, 1995 When you hear a Korean abroad refer to the locals as “stupid whiteys”, and soon afterwards refer to his fellow countrymen as “mannerless gooks” you know you are dealing with someone who doesn’t feel at ease … [Read More]
Woo Bock Lee: The Message — at Mokspace
The next exhibition at MokSpace is of collage and sculpture in hanji. Woo Bock Lee: The Message 12th May – 24th May 2014 Private View: Saturday 10th May 6.00 – 8.00 pm MokSpace | 33 Museum Steret | London| WC1A 1LH | www.mokspace.com MOKSPACE is delighted to host ‘The Message,’ a solo exhibition by Korean … [Read More]
Antarctic Journal: a promising start, a confusing end, and a film to be avoided
Antarctic Journal (Im Pil-seong, 2004) screened at the KCC on 24 April as part of the Year of the Film Professionals. The second professional to be so featured was cinematographer Chung Chung-hoon, who gives Park Chan-wook movies their distinctive look. Antarctic Journal is one of Chung’s rare films with another director. Given the poor reviews … [Read More]
Ha-joon Chang on anchovies and economics
Cambridge economist Ha-joon Chang’s next book, Economics: The User’s Guide will be available on 1 May. It is the first of a batch of new publications in Penguin’s Pelican imprint, which has been dormant for thirty years. He talks about his book in a diary article in this weekend’s FT: In saying that there is … [Read More]
Has anyone spotted any Korean ingredients at Waitrose, ever?
I really don’t know where this story has come from, because among frequenters of LKL’s Facebook group no-one will admit to having seen any Korean food products in any branch of Waitrose. And personally, neither have I, in Canary Wharf, King’s Road Chelsea, East Sheen, Marylebone High Street, or any other Waitrose store I frequent. … [Read More]
Three Korean underground bands come to Kensington
After last year’s Hyundai Card tour by four Korean rock bands, this year we have several more coming to England. In London we have Dead Buttons, asian chairshot and Patients performing at AAA on Friday 9 May; on Saturday 10 May Dead Buttons and Patients return to perform at the Astbury Castle in Peckham; while … [Read More]
Korean crafts and design at Collect 2014
COLLECT, the leading international art fair for contemporary objects, returns to the Saatchi Gallery in May 2014 with an impressive roster of 36 international galleries, alongside seven Project Space artists. This showcase of innovation and excellence will feature contemporary objects for sale from over 400 artists, ranging from ceramics and glassware to jewellery and woodwork, … [Read More]
Lee Jaehyo: Grass Flower — at HADA Contemporary
Once again, HADA Contemporary presents a familiar artist doing things you might not have seen before. Lee Jaehyo has shown his wooden sculptures and works featuring countless bent nails several times in London. But this is the first time I’ll have seen his work using stone. Lee Jaehyo: Grass Flower HADA Contemporary | 21 Vyner … [Read More]
Connie Talbot donates to Sewol disaster
Connie Talbot, the runner up in Britain’s Got Talent 2007 (she lost out to Jeju goodwill ambassador Paul Potts), is currently in Korea for some concerts – aged 13. The Chosun Ilbo reports that she will be donating the profits from this Sunday’s concert in Seoul to the ferry disaster. She thus joins the ranks … [Read More]
No-one’s in the mood for celebrating
In a brief article two days ago, Variety noted the impact of the Sewol ferry disaster on the Korean box office, on TV schedules, and on pop concerts. No one is in the mood for enjoying themselves right now. Not that such an injunction is needed, but I hear that government officials and diplomatic staff … [Read More]