London Korean Links

Covering things Korean in London and beyond since 2006

Month: August 2018

National Pension Service buys Goldman European head office

posted updated 18 Feb 2022 by Philip Gowman < 1 minute read

Korea’s National Pension Service is buying the Goldman Sachs European head office building for £1.165 billion (around $1.5bn), four years after it sold its investment in HSBC’s headquarters building in Canary Wharf. That sale netted them around $0.5bn in gains. “We are excited to re-enter into the London market with this high quality asset which … [Read More]

Korean designers at London Design Festival

event date 19 Sep - 23 Sep 2018 posted

The London Design Festival is coming up in the middle of September, with 100% Design at Olympia in West London and Tent London in the East End. I’ve only managed to identify one Korean designer at Olympia (and I hope someone in the UK decides to stock their brassware). But there are plenty at Tent … [Read More]

Kingston’s Korean Harvest Festival

event date Sat 22 Sep 2018 venue Kingston Market Square posted

Now in its third year, the early Autumn Korean harvest festival organised by Korean British Cultural Exchange comes to Kingston’s marketplace this September: Kingston Celebrates Chuseok Saturday 22 September 2018, 12 noon – 4pm Ancient Market Place | Kingston-upon-Thames KT1 1JS www.kbce.org.uk/harvest Detailed schedule at the bottom of this page. Fun, family-friendly and free for … [Read More]

Lady from 406 screens at Frightfest

event date Mon 27 Aug 2018 posted

Blink and you’ll miss it, but there’s some Korean interest at Frightfest this weekend. Included in a showcase of short films is The Lady from 406 by director Lee Kyoung-mi (The Truth Beneath) starring Lee Young-ae. The Lady from 406 (아랫집 – UK Premiere) Part of Short Film Showcase 3 Prince Charles Discovery 1 Monday … [Read More]

Yunchul Kim: Dawns, Mine, Crystal – KCC’s 2018 Artist of the Year exhibition

event date 18 Sep - 03 Nov 2018 venue KCCUK posted

The KCC has announced its artist of the year exhibition for 2018: Yunchul Kim: Dawns, Mine, Crystal 18 September – 3 November 2018 Korean Cultural Centre UK The Korean Cultural Centre, London (KCCUK) is pleased to announce Dawns, Mine, Crystal, the first UK solo exhibition from South Korean artist Yunchul Kim. The exhibition marks Kim’s nomination as … [Read More]

BKS Chuseok celebration

event date Mon 09 Sep 2019 posted

British Korean Society members are cordially invited to a Chuseok reception at the Ambassador’s Residence, 4 Palace Gate, Kensington, London W8 5NF on Monday 9th September 2019, 6.30pm to 8.30pm. Members only; numbers limited. Apply via the BKS website. [Read More]

September literature night: Pyun Hye-young’s The Hole

event date Wed 26 Sep 2018 venue KCCUK posted

The KCC’s Korean Literature Night is a monthly discussion group that explores various themes and topics relating to that month’s chosen book. September brings the opportunity to explore another work by Pyun Hye-young: Pyun Hye-young: The Hole Wednesday 26 September, 19.00-21.00 Venue: Korean Cultural Centre UK Entrance Free – Booking Essential. Apply to [email protected] or … [Read More]

K-Pop UK National Competition 2018

event date Sat 27 Oct 2018 venue All Saints Church posted

This looks fun: separate from the UK round of the K-pop World Festival that was held earlier this summer, the Kingston-based organisation Korea British Cultural Exchange (KBCE) is organising a UK-specific national competition for K-pop dance and vocal covers. The finals will be held in Kingston at the end of October. K-Pop UK National Competition … [Read More]

The Garden of the Forking Paths: Difference and Repetition in BTS “Epiphany”

posted updated 2 Mar 2019 by Colette Balmain 15 minute read

Dr Colette Balmain examines the BTS comeback trailer for Love Yourself 結 Answer: “Epiphany” is the comeback trailer for BTS’ last entry in the LOVE YOURSELF Series: Love Yourself 結 Answer. LOVE YOURSELF is a transmedia and multimedia project involving the expansion of the BTS Universe through the construction of a metafictional storyworld established by Music … [Read More]

The 73rd Independence Day celebrations in New Malden

posted by Philip Gowman 3 minute read

Kingston’s Koreans today celebrated the 73rd anniversary of Independence Day. It was the first public engagement of the new ambassador, HE Park Eun-ha, who is to be thanked for making the time: she only arrived in London to take up her post two days ago. In attendance were Kingston’s Mayor, Thay Thayalan, and the leader … [Read More]

Psychokinesis (염력, 2018) review: superpowers, family and the shadow of Yongsan

posted updated 23 Feb 2026 by Hangul Celluloid 7 minute read

While Psychokinesis initially appears to be a whimsical entry into the superhero genre, director Yeon Sang-ho is equally interested in telling a dramatic tale about family and the struggle of powerless individuals against corporate Korea. However, the film being inspired by the real-life Yongsan tragedy raises the question of where the balance between humour and drama should really lie [Read More]

8 more reasons to visit Lee Bul: Crashing

posted by Philip Gowman 5 minute read

Lee Bul’s fabulous show at the Hayward Gallery closes this weekend. If you haven’t seen it yet, here are eight more reasons why you should. 1. Park Chung-hee naked OK, a rather sensationalist opener, and not something I ever expected to find myself writing, but yes: suspended from the ceiling are two naked effigies of … [Read More]