Next Wednesday’s late-night (9pm) concert at Wilton’s Music Hall, featuring the extraordinary Korean musician Gamin, should be something special. (Book tickets here). Playing piri, taepyeongso (Korean traditional oboe family) and saengwhang (ancient wind-blow instrument), she is one of Korea’s most distinguished musicians, equally at home in traditional Court Music, (a member of the Contemporary Gukak … [Read More]
Year: 2016 (page 14)
Neon Bunny – please come back to London soon!
London has been doing well recently for live music: from B.A.P to Jambinai via Dead Buttons and more, there has been something for everyone. But the artist that I personally have been looking forward to seeing more than the rest is Neon Bunny (야광토끼) – whose debut album Seoulight made it into the list of … [Read More]
Event news: Sounds of Korea, at SOAS
The SOAS Korean Music Society presents a varied programme of Korean music this coming Friday (10 June) at 7pm in the main SOAS building. It is rumoured that they will be joined by guest performer Gamin (who will be playing with Notes Inégales at Wilton’s Music Hall on 14 and 15 June). Entry free but … [Read More]
The new Ambassador presents his credentials
The new RoK Ambassador, Hwang Joonkook, presented his credentials to the Queen on 1 June. Among the topics of conversation was Han Kang’s Vegetarian. More photos available on the RoK Embassy website. [Read More]
Exhibition news: Existing City/New Resource, at the KCC
Notice of a summer architecture exhibition at the KCC Existing City/New Resource KCCUK, 20 June – 16 July The Korean Cultural Centre UK (KCCUK) is proud to present an exhibition entitled Existing City / New Resource from 20 June – 16 July 2016 at the KCCUK. The pop-up version of this exhibition, which accompanied the … [Read More]
Brief review: The Priests – another excellent LKFF16 teaser
The second of the KCC’s “teaser screenings” for the 2016 London Korean Film Festival, which screened last night at the Picturehouse Central, was another hit. Let’s hope they keep this up. Jang Jae-hyun’s The Priests was a hugely fun (and suspense-filled) exorcism movie, and an impressive full-length debut for the director. It will win new … [Read More]
Book review: Cheon Myeong-kwan — Modern Family
Cheon Myeong-kwan: Modern Family Translated by Kyoung-lee Park White Pine Press Korean Voices Series, 2015 Originally published as 고령화 가족 by Munhakdongne Publishing Corp, 2010 The KCC has been running its Korean Literature Nights for more than two years now. The discussion group has an enthusiastic and regular following, to the extent that seats have … [Read More]
June events 2016
For me, I suspect this month’s highlight will be Gamin’s appearance at the Spitalfields Festival on 15 June with Notes Inégales. A bit of free improvisation on the saenghwang, with a band which includes a daegeum among other things… what’s not to enjoy, particularly if you catch the same group’s reimagining of Purcell’s King Arthur … [Read More]
Event news: Ambassador Kathleen Stephens gives Ra Jong-yil Annual Lecture
This Friday’s annual Ra Jong-yil lecture in Cambridge will be given by Kathleen Stephens, former US ambassador to the ROK. Attendance is free, but advance registration is required. Lessons from Korea Ra Jong-yil Annual Lecture at Cambridge Friday, 3 June 2016, 5:00 pm (RSVP in advance to [email protected]) Darwin College, Old Library Ambassador Kathleen Stephens … [Read More]
Event news: Purcell and improvisation with Korean instruments
I’m a fan of Peter Wiegold’s eclectic approach to music-making, and whether or not there’s any Koreanness involved at his regular venue, Club Inégales (where Kim Hyelim on daegeum is a frequent member of the house band), the music is always wondrous. So his reimagining of Purcell’s King Arthur, at the oldest surviving Music Hall … [Read More]
Hay Joung Hwang wins Silver Gilt at Chelsea Flower Show
Congratulations to Hay Joung Hwang for winning a silver gilt medal for her first show garden at Chelsea. Hwang’s LG Smart Garden combined soft pastel-coloured planting in a very English style with clean, modern lines for an outside living space. The feature which caught everyone’s attention was the cantilevered pergola which reached over the terrace, … [Read More]
Event news: Neon Bunny to perform in Kilburn
Since Beyond Hallyu broke the news of Neon Bunny’s 3 June performance in London back in early April, we have been eagerly awaiting venue information. Jason Verney of Mini Mini Movie has now provided the detail: The Good Ship | 289 Kilburn High Road | London NW6 7JR | www.thegoodship.co.uk 3 June, 7:30pm | Advance tickets … [Read More]
Han Kang’s Vegetarian wins the Man Booker International Prize
The news that Han Kang and Deborah Smith had won the Man Booker International prize for The Vegetarian, sharing £50,000 between them, reached me on Tuesday morning, 17th May, in a hotel room of a vast Lotte resort celebrating Baekje cultural heritage just outside of Buyeo, Chungcheongnamdo. I saw the news on Facebook, and just … [Read More]
Event news: Patients return for a UK tour
Indie band Patients, from Seoul, will be touring in the UK in late May and early June. Here are their UK tour dates: May 25 Chester @ The Live Rooms May 26 Manchester @ Night & Day Café May 27 Whitchurch @ Percy’s Cafe Bar May 29 Liverpool @ Liverpool Sound City (Cargo Stage) May … [Read More]
Event news: Architecture Arttalk at the KCC, 2 June
The next of the KCC’s Arttalks coincides with the London Festival of Architecture, which runs from 1–30 June: ARTTALK: Architecture and the Evolving “COMMONS” – London and Seoul In collaboration with the London Festival of Architecture and Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism 2017 Thursday 2 June 2016 KCCUK, 16.00–20.00 Please RSVP to: [email protected] / … [Read More]
2016 travel diary 22: Daeheungsa and the righteous armies
Gurim-ri, Samsan-myeon, Haenam-gun, Jeollanam-do, 19 May 2016, 6:00pm After our pleasant visit to Iljiam, we walk back down the hill to Daeheungsa, the mother temple, hoping to be there for the eventide ringing of the temple bell before retiring to our lodge at the temple’s entrance. Daeheungsa (대흥사) is said to date back to the … [Read More]