A list of articles on the subject of the Jang Song Thaek purge: Kim Jong Un’s uncle ‘very likely’ removed from power – Washington Post, 3 December 2013 N. Korea announces purge of Jang Song Thaek for “anti-party, counter-revolutionary factional acts” – Free Korea, 8 December 2013 Report on Enlarged Meeting of Political Bureau of … [Read More]
Month: April 2014 (page 2)
Dancer / Choreographer Cho Yong-min is Performer in Residence at Asia House
Cho Yong-min has been an active supporter of and participant in the cultural scene over the past few years. He choreographed the dance performance at 오방색 O Bang Saek – the UK Korean Artists’ Association 2012 residency at the KCC – and more recently gave a performance at the University of Brighton’s exhibition Mobility of … [Read More]
LBF sketch: Hwang Sun-mi on following your dreams
LKL reports from two events involving Hwang Sun-mi at the London Book Fair in Earls Court. So you think Hwang Sun-mi’s bestselling book The hen who dreamed she could fly is all about maternal sacrifice? Think again. It could be that you’ve been influenced by the film adaptation Leafie, a hen into the wild. During … [Read More]
Fitzrovia Lates: artist talk and tour at Hanmi Gallery
Coinciding with Fitzrovia Lates (Thursday 24 April, open late till 9pm) and the final week of their current exhibition of work by Swedish-Korean artist Leonard Johansson, Hanmi Gallery is hosting a talk and tour by the artist. LKL’s review of the exhibition can be found here. Leonard Johansson: Artist Talk and Tour Where: Hanmi Gallery, … [Read More]
In pictures: Jeung Hyun — Jardins Croisés, at Mokspace
Jeung Hyun’s current exhibition at Mokspace lives up to expectations. Her last solo show at Mokspace was back in the summer of 2012, when she presented woodblock prints of gingkos, peonies, persimmons, jasmine and apples. This time, while retaining some beautifully autumnal gingkos in luminous golds she has introduced several works involving the fragile poppy. … [Read More]
LTI Korea video: Yi Mun-yol in conversation with Claire Armitstead
Here is LTI Korea’s video of Yi Mun-yol in conversation with The Guardian‘s Claire Armitstead at the English PEN Literary Salon, Earls Court on the last day of the London Book Fair 2014, 10 April 2014: Links: LTI Korea website | YouTube channel [Read More]
Write-ups of the London Book Fair
Here are some links to articles about the London Book Fair, to which I’ll add as I find more. Ten Korean writers on a country sawn in half, Claire Armitstead, Guardian, 7 April 2014 South Korean lit as proxy for every Korea, past, present, and future, kokkiri comments on the above Guardian article, Subject Object … [Read More]
LTI Korea video: Shin Kyung-sook in conversation with Arifa Akbar
Here is LTI Korea’s video of Shin Kyung-sook in conversation with The Independent‘s Arifa Akbar on the first day of the London Book Fair. The topic is mainly Please Look After Mother, but also we talk about I’ll be Right There, and we learn about what Shin is working on right now. LKL’s question comes … [Read More]
K-P.O.P – Contemporary Korean Art at MOCA Taipei
An interesting way of branding an exhibition, in one of the first countries to get enthusiastic about K-pop. If you’re in the area, it’s definitely worth a visit according to LKL’s former visual arts correspondent. On from 19 April to 15 June 2014. K-P.O.P: Contemporary Korean Art Process. Otherness. Play K-pop is commonly used today … [Read More]
Podcast: Kim Hyesoon reads at the Poetry Library
For those who decided to go to see Shin Kyung-sook and Krys Lee at Asia House rather than Kim Hyesoon at the Poetry Library, MPT Magazine has kindly recorded the latter event and put it on Soundcloud. “They’re poems that really change your life … completely visceral,” says the moderator, among other things. The event … [Read More]
Myungji Ye: ‘Glowing Lines’, in the Burlington Arcade
A two-day exhibition by Korean jewellery designer Myungji Ye is the first exhibition to be presented by No Artificial Flavour, in the opulent surroundings of the Burlington Arcade: Myungji Ye: ‘Glowing Lines’ Unit 73, Burlington Arcade, London, W1J 0QR 10.00am-08.00pm 1 and 2 May, 2014 5.00pm-8.00pm 1 May, 2014 (The evening view invitation only) A unique … [Read More]
Tesco in Korea: high returns despite opening restrictions
Tesco has just reported a 4.3% like for like sales decline in Korea for the 52 weeks to 22 February 2014. This follows a 5.3% decline last year. But nevertheless: Our business in Korea continues to generate high returns despite the impact on sales from the regulatory restrictions on opening hours. Whilst we annualised the … [Read More]
Exhibition visit: Chun Kwang-young’s Mulberry Mindscapes at Bernard Jacobson Gallery
Somehow, the recent acquisition at the V&A of Chun Kwang-young’s Aggregation10-SE032RED, placed as it is in a glass display case, lacks the impact of the new works by the distinguished artist currently on at Bernard Jacobson Gallery in Cork Street. Because of the glass, you can’t get right up close; and because of the compactness … [Read More]
Yoshiko 1945 – at Tristan Bates Theatre
As part of FIRST 2014: A Festival of Solo Performances at Tristan Bates Theatre: Yoshiko 1945 Starring Yuna Shin Directed by Linda Miller 19 April 2014, 4pm. Peking. 1945. Yoshiko Kawashima receives a shocking letter from her adoptive father, forcing her to look back on her incredible life and unforgivable actions. Yoshiko, born a Chinese … [Read More]
North Korea: Threat or Bluster? — at Asia House
On paper, this looks rather an odd talk to have at a literature festival: the controversial journalist John Sweeney who accompanied some LSE students on a tour to North Korea in 2013; and the China and North Korea specialist Paul French, who gave a very interesting talk on foreign investment in North Korean industry at … [Read More]
New phase of Shin Meekyoung project launched at BAFTA
On the second evening of the London Book Fair there were no author events. No panel sessions, no “conversations with…” And that was because all the Korean authors, along with interpreters, LTI Korea representatives, British Council, Ministry of Culture folks and sundry hangers-on such as myself, were at BAFTA for a reception. It was at … [Read More]