Conversations and seminars
- Hwang Sok-yong will be launching the English translation of Princess Bari at Asia House on 13 May as part of the Asia House Bagri Foundation Literature Festival 2015 (discount available for LKL readers)
- Two seminars at SOAS: Producing Political Landscape on the Korean Peninsula (Robert Winstanley-Chesters and Sherri Ter Molen, 1 May) and Female Same-Sex Marriage in the Hetero-Patriarchal Imagination of Postwar South Korea (Todd Henry, 15 May)
- The KCC’s K-food session this month is on the subject of bibimbap, 26 May, and there is the ongoing series of other classes at the KCC (details on their website)
- The KCC’s Korean Literature night on 27 May focuses on Park Wan-suh’s The Naked Tree.
Film and other screenings
- There will be a screening of two TV drama pilot episodes (Triangle and Pinocchio) at the KCC on 7 May
- Hur Jin-ho is this month’s director at the KCC, with Christmas in August on 14 May and (my own favourite) One Fine Spring Day on 28 May.
- The KCC is resuming its screenings of theatre performances with Madame Ong on 21 May.
- Also on 21 May at Raindance Film Centre, a documentary on the Jeju massacre, Reiterations of Dissent.
- Im Kwon-taek’s Festival screens at RCA Battersea on 11 May, with an introduction by Tony Rayns.
Exhibitions and Festivals
- At Collect 2015 (8-11 May at Saatchi Gallery) the Korea Craft and Design Foundation will be showing the work of eleven designers and artisans, and Gallery LVS will present the work of four Korean ceramists.
- Several Korea-focused galleries will be attending Art 15 London at Olympia on 21-23 May
- Noh Suntag’s solo exhibition at HADA Contemporary commences on 7 May.
- Yva Jung’s solo exhibition at the KCC, Mooning Mondays, closes on 16 May.
- Ben Nathan’s solo exhibition at 43 Inverness Street, of work completed during his Seoul residency, continues all month.
- Kim Chang-kyum’s participation in Watershed at Hall Place & Gardens continues all month.
- Festival Asia is at Tobacco Dock, 15-17 May
Music
- The Fournier Trio performs at the Conway Hall on Sunday 3 May
- Sunwook Kim will be performing at Mill Hill Music Club on 10 May
- The KCC is hosting a rock music showcase on 19 May and the same bands with two others will be performing at Liverpool Sound City on 24 May.
- Also on 19 May, Hangjun Lee and Chulki Hong appear with Will Guthrie at Cafe Oto
- Sadly, this year’s Breakin’ Convention seems to lack any Korean b-boys
Outside the South East…
- The Oriental Museum in Durham is hosting a two week Korean cultural festival 18-31 May
- Korean involvement at the Venice Biennale includes Sleepers in Venice curated by ISKAI Contemporary Art, Dansaekhwa in Venice organised by Kukje Gallery and Tina Kim Gallery and of course the official pavilion which contains work by Moon Kyungwon and Jeon Joonho