Gaya-eup, Haman-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, Sunday 30 April, 12 noon. Ever since I had seen a small ancient Gaya kingdom burial area in the hills above Saengcho, a town in Sancheong County, I had been intrigued. The tombs’ location was so different from the imposing tumuli laid out in the plains of Gyeongju or the geomantically auspicious … [Read More]
Month: April 2017
Baek Seung-hwa’s Queen of Walking is the 3rd LKFF Teaser
The LKFF Teasers this year are showing the wide range of film genres in contemporary Korean cinema. This month, a comedy. Queen of Walking (걷기왕) Director: Baek Seung-Hwa Cast: Shim Eun-Kyung, Park Joo-Hee 2016, 93 mins 7pm, Monday 22 May, Regent Street Cinema | Book here Hailed as one of the funniest Korean comedies of … [Read More]
2017 travel diary 1: Min Young-ki’s solo exhibition in Busan
Seoul Station, Saturday 29 April 2017, 12:30pm. It is the first full day of my Korea trip. I had arrived in Seoul the previous evening, catching the bus to my mid-range hotel near Jogyesa. I had found my favourite coffee shop, had dinner with good friends in Hoban, a traditional, earthy eating house in Nakwondong, … [Read More]
Event news: the 2017 International Symposium on North Korean Human Rights
News of an upcoming conference organised by the National Human Rights Commission of Korea and European Alliance for Human Rights in North Korea: 2017 International Symposium on North Korean Human Rights 18 May 2017, 10am – 6pm Aldersgate Room | Central Hall Westminster | Storey’s Gate | London SW1H 9NH Register by 14 May 2017 via [email protected] On … [Read More]
That Robert Kelly BBC interview…
Gathered together in one place for your entertainment… The original live BBC interview with Robert Kelly in March 2017: A follow-up interview with the whole family: Ellen DeGeneres analyses the footage: And the best spoof I’ve come across: The Guardian has an interview with Robert Kelly here. [Read More]
Event news: Undercover in Pyongyang – a discussion at Asia House
This year’s Asia House Bagri Foundation Literature Festival brings us two talks with a Korean interest. The second of these is a discussion of North Korean issues between Suki Kim, author of Without You, There Is No Us (LKL review here) and Paul French, author of North Korea: State of Paranoia. Sin Cities: Undercover in … [Read More]
Event news: Reflections on the East Asian 20th Century, at Asia House
This year’s Asia House Bagri Foundation Literature Festival brings us two talks with a Korean interest. The first of these is a conversation between Min Jin Lee (LKL review of her debut novel Free Food for Millionaires here) and former Man Booker Prize for Fiction judge Erica Wagner. Reflections on the East Asian 20th Century Min Jin … [Read More]
Event news: DPRK Youth Para-Ensemble UK tour 2017
The DPRK Youth Para-Ensemble makes its second UK appearance: DPRK Youth Para-Ensemble UK Concert Tour 2017 DULA International is a UK charity (CHARITY NO. 1166701) dedicated to the promotion of disability welfare and the improvement of living conditions of people with disabilities in North Korea. Founded in 2012, DULA has been collaborating with the KFPD (Korean Federation for the Protection … [Read More]
Event news: The Barberettes + Sultan of the Disco @ Borderline
It’ll be nice to see the Barberettes again, and this time they are joined by Sultan of the Disco for a fun filled evening of retro-chic (note that this event was originally scheduled for the previous day at a venue in Camden). K-Music Showcase: The Barberettes + Sultan of The Disco Tuesday 23 May 7pm … [Read More]
Say Sue Me plays at 100 Club, supporting Otoboke Beaver
A great way to start the K-indie touring season: Otoboke Beaver + Say Sue Me 100 Club, Monday, 1 May 2017 Book tickets here Sample Say Sue Me’s track Big Summer Night here Otoboke Beaver Otoboke Beaver are an all-female quartet from Kyoto, Japan, consisting of Accorinrin (lead vocals and guitar), Yoyoyoshie (guitar and vocals), … [Read More]
Book review: Song Sokze — The Amusing Life
Song Sokze: The Amusing Life Translated by Se-un Kim Dalkey Archive, 2016, 233pp Originally published as 재미나는 인생, Kang Publishing Ltd, 1997 The most recent book to be discussed at the KCC’s monthly book club was Song Sokze’s The Amusing Life, a collection of around 50 short “stories”. None of these pieces will detain you … [Read More]
Exhibition news: Between Serenity and Dynamism
The next exhibition at the KCCUK is timed to coincide with London Craft Week: Korean Ceramics: Between Serenity and Dynamism Korean Cultural Centre UK, 1-3 Strand, London, WC2N 5BW Dates: 3 May – 3 June 2017 The Korean Craft and Design Foundation (KCDF) presents ‘Between Serenity and Dynamism; Korean Ceramics’, an exhibition that explores the beauty … [Read More]
Event news: the UK ambassadors to the two Koreas talk at SOAS
The British Korean Society is hosting a talk by our ambassadors to the two Koreas in collaboration with SOAS: An update on the UK-Korea relationship H.E Mr Charles Hay MVO (British Ambassador to the Republic of Korea) HE Mr Alastair Morgan (British Ambassador to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) 11 May 2017, 6:45 – … [Read More]
Event news: Short films by UK based Korean directors
All sorts of good things seem to happen at the Deptford Cinema. Don’t forget the screening of the Sewol documentary on Tuesday and The Journals of Musan on Wednesday, but tomorrow night, there’s this: Short films by UK based Korean directors Deptford Cinema | 39 Deptford Broadway | London SE8 4PQ | deptfordcinema.org Monday, April 24, 2017, … [Read More]
Kimchee opens new St Pancras restaurant
When Kimchee Restaurant opened up in Holborn in 2011 it was one of the few Korean establishments in London to invest really heavily in the decor and fittings. Their second restaurant, recently opened behind St Pancras station, continues the trend. It also has table-top BBQs, and I hear they had some half-price deals to celebrate … [Read More]
Exhibition news: Puncheong — Crossing the timelines, at Han Collection
May is shaping up to be a good month for ceramics this year. There’s this, there’s Made in Korea, there’s the Arumjigi exhibition, and a special exhibition at the V+A soon to be announced. Puncheong: Crossing the timelines Han Collection | 33 Museum Street | Bloomsbury | London WC1A 1LH | www.hancollection.co.uk 5 May – … [Read More]