My heart sank when I heard that someone was turning this eccentric piece of sporting diplomacy into a movie. And now it’s briefly in the cinemas… Dennis Rodman’s Big Bang in Pyongyang Director: Colin Offland. 2016. UK/North Korea. 93min Picturehouse Central Sat 31st Dec 16:35 | Sun 1st Jan 16:45 | Thu 5th Jan 15:30 … [Read More]
Month: December 2016
A look back at some of the books of 2016
To cut to the chase, here are my two books of the year for 2016. For more detail, read on. Literature in translation The world of translated fiction seems to have been dominated by two names this year, one Korean and one British. The Korean name of course is Han Kang. Just as The Vegetarian … [Read More]
A review of the London Korean year 2016
As is traditional at this time of year, we look back at some of the highlights of the London Korean Year. Exhibitions Is it my imagination, or was there less going on this year? Certainly from the perspective of contemporary art, we have been through a lull this year. With HADA Contemporary gone, Mokspace reborn … [Read More]
Event news: i, kid — the Korean Artists Association residency at the KCC
This is now the seventh exhibition by the Korean Artists Association UK to be held at the KCC. Their opening performance is always very popular and numbers are strictly limited so get your registration in early. Note that registration is via [email protected] and not the normal KCC address. i, kid — 우리어릴적 Exhibition and performance … [Read More]
Festival Film review: Spirits’ Homecoming
Spirits’ Homecoming depicts the abduction and suffering of Korean girls forced into sexual slavery during the Pacific War, interweaving wartime trauma with the present-day lives of survivors. The narrative seeks release from unresolved grief and historical denial through a shamanistic ritual. LKL’s review is informed by a Q&A and panel session with the director. [Read More]
Season’s greetings to all our readers
Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year to all of LKL’s readers, friends and contributors. Have a peaceful break. As in previous years, thanks are due to Jieun Kim aka The Drawing Hand for the London Korean Christmas design which adorns the cards that some of you will have received. This year thanks are … [Read More]
Event news: 43rd London Open Go Congress 2016
If you’re looking for something different between Christmas and the New Year and are in the Great Portland Street area, why not look in at the London Open Go (Baduk) Congress? This year it’s sponsored by DeepMind, the company whose AlphaGo computer beat 18-time world champion Lee Se-dol earlier this year. There’s a strong chance that the … [Read More]
Event news: Sewol documentary screening at Birkbeck, 9 Jan
A special screening of the newly released documentary film ‘SEWOL’ by Director Ok-Hee Jeong, hosted by the Birkbeck International Documentary Society. Sewol Director and Producer: Ok-Hee Jeong, 2016, 79mins Monday, 9 January 2017 at 18:30–20:30 Room B34 | Birkbeck | University of London | Malet Street | London WC1E 7HX Admission free. No registration required. … [Read More]
K-music review: Darkness Poomba at The Place, Euston
For the final event of K-Music 2016 we were introduced to the first UK visit of Modern Table headed by the multi-talented Kim Jae-duk, who choreographed the work as well as being an integral member of the dance troupe, though much of the time he was also front of stage singing or playing various wind … [Read More]
Gig review: Asian Chairshot + Danpyunsun and the Sailors @ RichMix
앤서방 reviews the second of 2016’s K-music festival gigs at Rich Mix Each year I look forward to visits from Korean indie musicians to the UK. Starting with ska-punk rabble rousers Crying Nut’s thrilling London show in 2006, over the years we have been treated to some of the most interesting, exciting and original acts: … [Read More]
Operation Chromite (인천상륙작전, 2016) review: high-stakes espionage marred by caricatures and casting
This war drama excels in its tense spy narrative and expertly directed action sequences but suffers from one-dimensional characterizations. A film is only as strong as its weakest link, and in the case of Operation Chromite the weakest link by far is Liam Neeson’s cringe-worthy dialogue, and indeed tortured performance, as General Douglas MacArthur [Read More]
Exhibition news: Memories of Korea, at Han Collection from 6 January
An interesting exhibition to start the New Year: Memories of Korea – Cross-vision from East and West 6th – 28th January 2017 Han Collection | 30 Museum Street | London WC1A 1LH | www.hancollection.co.uk A collection of woodblock prints from both eastern and western artists, using traditional Japanese woodblock printing techniques along with a mix … [Read More]
Book review: Without You, There Is No Us
Suki Kim: Without You, There Is No Us. Rider / Penguin Random House, 2015, 291pp I always come to books about the DPRK with a certain amount of reluctance, because there are far too many of them and I wonder what each successive book will have to say that is new. I approached this one … [Read More]
Event news: Practical Engagement with DPR Korea
News of a one-day conference in Cambridge early in the New Year: Practical Engagement with DPR Korea: Progress and Prospects Pyongyang University of Science and Technology UK Scholarship Programme You are invited to a Symposium to be held at Cripps Court | Magdalene College | 1-3 Chesterton Road | Cambridge CB4 3AD Saturday 7th January … [Read More]
HTB warns against Korean “cult”
An exclusive in yesterday’s Telegraph reports that Holy Trinity Brompton, among other evangelical churches, is warning against a group called Parachristo which is said to have links to ‘a controversial South Korean group known as Shincheonji (SCJ) – or the “New Heaven and New Earth” church (NHNE) – whose founder Man-Hee Lee is referred to … [Read More]
Vanishing Time: A Boy Who Returned (가려진 시간, 2016) review — childhood, time and impossible love
Blending fantasy, mystery and coming-of-age drama, Vanishing Time: A Boy Who Returned tells a hauntingly beautiful story of childhood, belief and love across impossible boundaries. With striking visuals, subtle special effects and strong performances, Uhm Tae-hwa’s film contrasts adult scepticism with the boundless imagination and emotional truth of youth. [Read More]