Director Kim Yang-hee and actor Yang Ik-june discuss The Poet and the Boy as a gentle portrayal of same-sex affection, shifting social attitudes toward homosexuality in Korea, and resisting fixed labels. They address casting risks, performance choices, poetry as emotional structure, and the role of film in reflecting gradual human-rights change. [Read More]
Year: 2018 (page 4)
Korean Peninsula Peace Forum
The situation in the Korean Peninsula has made many headlines in the last couple of years. With North Korea’s all out attempt to attain nuclear and ICBM capabilities in defiance of the international sanctions and pressure campaign led by President Donald Trump and US allies around the world, the situation looked precarious and dangerous. However, … [Read More]
Video: Urban Sound at K-Music 2018
As lazy post that gives me the opportunity to sample a bit of the Urban Sound gig at K-Music 2018 – a concert which I was unable to attend: [Read More]
Talking to North Korea: Ending the Nuclear Standoff
News of a book launch and talk at Bookmarks: Talking to North Korea: Ending the Nuclear Standoff Thursday 08 November 6.30 With Glyn Ford Bookmarks | 1 Bloomsbury Street | London WC1B 3QE | bookmarksbookshop.co.uk Admission £2.00 Payable on door Reserve your place here or call 020 7637 1848 North Korea’s regime is often called … [Read More]
Jeon Go-woon interview: fragility, freedom and refusing norms
Director Jeon Go-woon discusses Microhabitat as a story about choosing personal values over stability. She explains Miso’s refusal of conventional comfort, the symbolism of ex-musicians and youth, male vulnerability, collaborative character-building with actors, and the realities of making independent films within tight economic and emotional constraints. [Read More]
SOAS evening seminar: Youngmi Kim – Piketty in Hell Joseon
Piketty in Hell Joseon: Inequality, Polarization and Social Contention in a Neo-liberal Age Dr Youngmi Kim (University of Edinburgh) Friday 16 November 2018, 5:15 PM – 7:00 PM Venue: Brunei Gallery Room B211 Abstract Hell Joseon is a pejorative term commonly used to compare Korea’s unequal society, somewhat simplistically divided into Kap (甲) and Eul … [Read More]
B.A.P “Forever with BABYz” Tour in London
By my reckoning this will be B.A.P’s third live gig in London. Welcome back. B.A.P “Forever with BABYz” Tour Tuesday, 4 December 2018 from 18:00-22:00 | Buy tickets Troxy | 490 Commercial Road | London E1 0HX It’s time for B.A.P’s return to London and the UK with this special show at Troxy. Catch the … [Read More]
Asia Week at Design Centre Chelsea Harbour
A wide-ranging exhibition and events programme as part of Asian Art in London: Asia Week at Design Centre Chelsea Harbour Design Centre Chelsea Harbour | Lots Road | London SW10 0XE | www.dcch.co.uk 5 – 9 November, 9:30am to 5:30pm Full programme of events can be downloaded here A resurgence in the popularity of Asian … [Read More]
Radio Kimchi Kpop fair
Radio Kimchi UK hosts what is said to be the UK’S only K-Pop radio show from their base in Kingston / New Malden. This is their first major physical event. Stay up to date by checking out the event’s Facebook page K-POP Fair 2018 Sun 25th Nov at 2:00pm – 5:30pm O2 Academy | Islington … [Read More]
Recording: Screen talk with Lee Chang-dong at BFI London Film Festival 2018
In case like me you couldn’t get tickets to the Screen Talk with Lee Chang-dong as part of the BFI London Film Festival, here’s the recording on the BFI YouTube channel. The interview took place on 20 October 2018, the day of an anti-Brexit demonstration in London – which is mentioned more than once in … [Read More]
White and Wisdom: Korean Porcelain – at Han Collection
The Han collection invites you to observe the pure simplicity of the white porcelain of the Joseon Dynasty. Created to reflect a dedication Confucian ideals. The beauty of these pieces comes from their naturalness. Their minimalism conveying a sense of modest wisdom which was so highly respected by the literati of Joseon who used these … [Read More]
November events 2018
Probably the event of the year is the appearance of Ahn Sook-sun in London to perform Heungboga. Not to be missed. It’s also the busiest time of the year for Korean film, and if you haven’t seen enough of BTS yet you might be able to see them in a cinema near you. In fact … [Read More]
The Top 5 Gothic KPOP Music Videos
Dr Colette Balmain applies her specialism in Gothic Cinema to the world of KPOP – perfect for the Halloween season… ‘Gothic forces its readers, viewers, and listeners to identify the ghosts that haunt them…’ (Isabella van Elferan, 2012, Gothic Music, p. 15). 1. SHINee “Married to the Music” (2015) “Married to the Music” doesn’t sound … [Read More]
Kingdom of Pines: State Forestry and the Making of Korea, 1392-1910
Part of the Autumn 2018 season of seminars at SOAS: Kingdom of Pines: State Forestry and the Making of Korea, 1392-1910 John Lee (Manchester) Friday 23 November 2018, 5:15 – 7:00pm SOAS Brunei Gallery Room B211 Abstract For almost every society before the twentieth century, the forest ecosystem was the main source of fuel, construction … [Read More]
KCC November House Concert: Julia Hwang
November’s House Concert features Julia Hwang (violin) with Charles Matthews on piano. Julia Hwang & Charles Matthews Tuesday 27 November 2018, 7pm Korean Cultural Centre | Grand Buildings | 1-3 Strand | London WC2N 5BW (Entrance in Northumberland Avenue) Register via [email protected] Julia Hwang (Violin) Charles Matthews (Piano) Programme Beethoven Sonata for Violin and Piano … [Read More]
Ravi of VIXX plays Vauxhall
It’s turning out to be a great year for live music. Here’s the latest artist to include London in their international travels: Ravi of VIXX in London! + Young Bros Party Fire & Lightbox Complex | 6a South Lambeth Place | London SW8 1SP 9 November 2018 | Buy tickets 18:00 – 19:00 VVIP VIP … [Read More]