For one reason or another, today at the office I had my eyes glued to my PC screen most of the day. I didn’t have much time to enjoy the view from my window, from where I can see the Thames around the Greenwich peninsula. Which meant that I managed to miss one of the … [Read More]
Month: August 2016
Book review: Hwang Sun-won — Lost Souls
Hwang Sun-won: Lost Souls Translated by Bruce and Ju-Chan Fulton Columbia University Press 2010, 354pp Having quite enjoyed two of Hwang Sun-won’s fuller-length stories – Trees on a Slope and Descendants of Cain – though without necessarily being enamoured of the characters of the stories they inhabited, I was looking forward to tackling Lost Souls, … [Read More]
Inspector O in NYT feature
There’s a nice feature on James Church and his Inspector O series in the NYT. Well worth a read, as are the books themselves. Here’s a good quote from the article: “If you want to understand North Korea then you need to read Inspector O,” said Michael Madden, who has spent years studying the North … [Read More]
Frieze magazine city report on Seoul – and the come-back of Kim Kulim
There’s a very interesting feature on Seoul’s gallery scene in the summer issue of Frieze magazine, by Tate curator Lee Sook-kyung and artist and writer Travis Jeppesen. Lee’s contribution is particularly worthwhile, touching on the politics of Korea’s state-funded art institutions. Jeppesen mentions some fascinating exhibitions, which makes me wish I was able to be in … [Read More]
Conference news: the 4th World Congress for Hallyu
The 2016 World Hallyu Congress will take place at Oriel College, Oxford, 26-28 September. You can register to attend here. Students free, others $50 (plus accommodation). Draft timetable is below. Keep an eye on the conference website for updates. Time Harris Lecture Theatre Harris Room Sanders Room Monday Sep 26 14:00-18:00 Registration 18:00-20:00 Reception Dinner … [Read More]
Conference news: the Joint East Asian Studies Conference
This is a meaty conference, with something for all disciplines, co-organised by the British Associations for Chinese, Japanese and Korean Studies with the SOAS Centre of Taiwan Studies. The book of abstracts of the conference papers alone extends to 157 pages. The list of panelists is 12 pages long. And spread over 3 days at SOAS, … [Read More]
Event news: Korean Culture Day in Battersea
A day of Korean cultural and networking at the Royal College of Art Battersea Campus. Find out more on the event’s Facebook Page. K-Culture Day Hosted by AskCulture and Inspire Me Korea Saturday 3 September 12:30–17:00 1 Hester Road, London SW11 4AN If you’d love to know more about Korea, we invite you to our Korean … [Read More]
Chuseok at the British Museum – 17 Sept
A chance to catch up on the things you didn’t manage to fit in on Friday evening. This is the last of three special Chuseok sessions at the British Museum, and with so much going on you’ll need to plan carefully. Here’s LKL’s unofficial timetable to assist (click for a full-size version): Follow these links … [Read More]
Chuseok at the British Museum – 16 Sept
It’s going to be hard to choose between the various events on offer this Friday evening – the second of three special Chuseok days at the British Museum. The essential session is Kang Ik-joong’s talk about his installation on the Thames, at 7pm in the BP Lecture Theatre, but half an hour seems rather brief … [Read More]
Chuseok at the British Museum – 15 Sept
For those of you who don’t have a day job, or who can afford to take the day off, 15 September is shaping up nicely: a full programme of musical and educational events at the BM, and then you can head off to the KCC for Paul Quinn’s talk and a rather fun screening of … [Read More]
Event news: Chuseok celebrations in Kingston
There will be some Chuseok festivities on Saturday 17 September in Kingston marketplace, 12-4pm, organised by Korean British Cultural Exchange and supported by Kingston Council. It is said to be the first Korean street/outdoor festival to be held in Kingston town centre, and is certainly to be welcomed as an alternative focus to celebrate Koreanness there now the summer festival in … [Read More]
Event news: ArtTalk – Creative Relationships in London
A useful talk to illuminate the current exhibition at the KCC. Registration is required in the normal manner. ARTTALK – Creative Relationships in London An event that includes dialogue sessions with artists and curators about contemporary craft. 18.30 – 20.00 Tuesday 6 September Korean Cultural Centre UK, 1-3 Strand, London, WC2N 5BW Speakers include: Kyoungrin … [Read More]
Event news: Saving My Hubby and Scandal Makers are September’s screenings at the KCC
September’s screenings in the ongoing series Ha Ha Ha – Translating Korean Humour are set out below. Saving My Hubby has the added attraction of an introduction by Paul Quinn of Hangul Celluloid. Saving My Hubby (굳세어라 금순아) Director: Hyeon Nam-seop, 2002, 92 mins Cast: Bae Doo-na, Kim Tae-woo 15 Sep 16 7:00 pm Geum-soon (Bae … [Read More]
Fringe visit: The Tiniest Frog Prince in the World
I was feeling grumpy when I went into this show and had decided I was not going to enjoy it. I had rushed to get there having just got off the train. It had started late, and if it overran I wasn’t going to have time to get to the next show. And I’m not … [Read More]
Fringe visit: Girl
Modl Theatre Company is perhaps best known in this country for its work aimed at younger audiences, but it is a diverse company which also engages with more adult material too. And you can’t get much more adult than a graphic description of the surgical procedure that the Japanese forced upon young Korean girls so … [Read More]
Fringe visit: Dandelion’s Story
What on earth makes a theatre company think that creating a piece about doggy poo is a good idea? How do you persuade an actress that taking on the role of a talking turd is a big break for her? Well, firstly, this production is aimed at children, and kids of all ages find poo … [Read More]