Gongju, Chungcheongnam-do, 16 May 2016, 2:15pm. The Royal Tombs in Songsan-ri Our first stop in Gongju is the set of seven or more tombs in Songsan-ri. The experts think there may be as many as ten tombs in the area. It seems odd, in an age when so much in the way of sophisticated electronics … [Read More]
Year: 2016 (page 16)
2016 travel diary 5: An introduction to the Baekje Historic Areas
Gongju, Chungcheongnam-do, 16 May 2016 The kingdom of Baekje had its beginnings as a small state founded on the south banks of the Han River in 18 BCE by King Onjo. The people were largely of Buyeo origins – an early kingdom absorbed into Goguryeo. The kingdom gradually grew, absorbing the small Mahan states to … [Read More]
2016 travel diary 4: National Folk Museum, Kim Soonam’s shaman portraits and the journey to Chungnam
Jongno, Seoul, Monday 16 May 2016, 9am A visit to the National Folk Museum The good thing about having a local companion sense-check your travel plans is that they can point out weaknesses that only a local is likely to know about. So when Chris saw that I was planning a day trip from Seoul … [Read More]
Event news: Jang Jae-hyun’s The Priests screens at Picturehouse Central
The second of the KCCUK’s teaser screenings for the 2016 London Korean Film Festival is on 2 June at Picturehouse Central. The screening also serves as a curtain-raiser for the annual Korean Screen Culture Conference which this year is held at King’s London. The Priests (검은 사제들) + Intro Director: Jang Jae-hyun, South Korea, 2015 … [Read More]
2016 travel diary 3: Seoul’s Fortress Walls, and genre painting at the DDP
Jongno, Seoul, Sunday 15 May 2016. The time lag has caught up with me. My intention this morning had been to go along to the Dongdaemun Design Plaza to visit the exhibition of Joseon dynasty genre paintings from the Kansong museum before joining the RASKB for a walk along the eastern sections of Seoul’s fortress … [Read More]
Conference news: 5th Korean Screen Culture Conference
The 5th Korean Screen Culture Conference will be held at King College London on 3-4 June. With six sessions each containing two parallel panels there are some tough choices to be made. The provisional programme is shown below – a very full agenda indeed. Updates and further information can be found on the Kings College … [Read More]
Exporting Enslavement: the Exploitation of North Korean Labourers
Thousands of North Korean workers have been exported across the world to raise hard currency for the North Korean Government. Working under conditions that can only be defined as ‘forced labour’, a political elite in Pyongyang is able to import luxury goods, finance an extensive concentration camp and surveillance network, and build a functioning nuclear … [Read More]
2016 travel diary 2: Buddha’s Birthday
Jongno, Seoul, 14 May 2016, 9am. Coffee with the Drawing Hand My first appointment of the day is at 9:30am with Kim Jieun, aka The Drawing Hand: I am due to pick up the original of her 2015 Christmas Card design for LKL – and also I am due to pay her the balance of … [Read More]
2016 travel diary 1: Arrival
Canary Wharf, London, 12 May 2016. In previous years I had always felt stressed in the run up to my departure for my annual Korea trip. Had I packed everything? Would I get everything done before I left? This time I was straining at the leash. I couldn’t wait. I had planned most of my trip … [Read More]
Wanted: Korean actors for upcoming projects
Two actors wanted for upcoming projects. Details below. 1. NOBODY by Evan Placey and Ko Sun Duck Mature Korean actor (native speaker) required for RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP Producer: National Theatre Company of Korea (Seoul), Hanyong Theatre (Birmingham) and Judy Owen Ltd Director: Peter Wynne-Willson Designer: Shin Dong Workshop dates: Mon 27 June – Fri … [Read More]
2016 travel diary: the index
Thu 12 – Fri 13 May Arrival Sat 14 May Coffee with the Drawing Hand Buddha’s Birthday 1: morning at Jogyesa. Exhibition of restored Hwaeomsa painting Wedding at Unhyeongung Buddha’s Birthday 2: lunch and afternoon concert at Giweonjeongsa Stroll through Ehwa Womans University Buddha’s Birthday 3: evening at Bongwonsa. Makgeolli and 2차 in Insadong Sun … [Read More]
Exhibition news: Lee Kang-hyo at Sylvester Fine Art
Lee Kang-hyo came to London in 2014 as part of the special exhibition hosted by the Korea Craft and Design Foundation at Tent London. This event was followed later that year by a solo show at Goldmark Gallery in Uppingham. Lee now has another solo exhibition, at Sylvester Fine Art in Belsize Village, in collaboration … [Read More]
Event news: Granny’s Got Talent and C’est Si Bon are May’s screenings at the KCC
The KCCUK’s series examining humour in Korean film continues in May with two further screenings: Granny’s Got Talent (헬머니) Director: Shin Han-sol (2014) Cast: Kim Soo-mi, Jung Man-sik, Kim Jeong-tae, Park Jun-geum, Lee Tae-ran 108 mins / Cert. 18 / Eng Subs 12 May, 7pm @KCCUK. Reserve your seat. The TV programme Cursing Battle is … [Read More]
The Reckitt Benckiser “death campaign” comes to London
Reckitt Benckiser’s problems in Korea haven’t had much attention in the UK until recently. But a growing campaign to boycott their products in Korea, and a small group of campaigners who came over to picket the company’s annual shareholder’s meeting on 5 May, have brought the issues into the mainstream. A week ago, Reckitt Benckiser (RB) … [Read More]
Event news: Sewol families visit UK
This coming week brings a chance to meet family members of the Sewol victims: 10 May: A street campaign in front of the National Gallery, 12 noon A panel session at SOAS, 6pm 11 May: A documentary screening and discussion at the Fountain Pub, New Malden (6:30 for 7pm) Meeting with families and lawyers of … [Read More]
Pojang Korean Street Food opens up in Druid Street Market
Another debut – today is the first day of the Pojang kimbab stall at Druid Street Market in Bermondsey. With so many Korean ‘street food’ ventures trying to reinvent the Korean street food wheel (bulgogi burittos, kimchi burgers, ramen burgers etc) it’s nice to see this enterprising English couple recreating the simple authentic food they … [Read More]