London Korean Links

Covering things Korean in London and beyond since 2006

LKFF 2019 Teaser Screening #2: Default

It’s hard to imagine a film about the IMF Crisis being compelling viewing, but this one has been getting some really enthusiastic reviews. I’ve booked my ticket already. Default (국가부도의 날) Director: Choi Kook-hee (2018, 114 mins) Cast: Kim Hye-soo, Yoo Ah-in, Huh Joon-ho, Jo Woo-jin, Vincent Cassel Monday 20 May 2019 7:00 pm @Regent … [Read More]

Home Truths season: An Affair

One of the first Korean movies I saw, and still in my top 10. An Affair (정사) Director: E J-Yong (1998, 108mins) Cast: Lee Mi-sook, Lee Jung-jae, Song Young-chang, Kim Min Thursday 9 May 2019, 7:00 pm @KCCUK | Reserve seat on Eventbrite Architect’s-wife Seo-hyun (Lee Mi-sook), is constrained and muted by domestic life, when … [Read More]

Korean bands at Liverpool Sound City

The Liverpool Sound City website is, less than two weeks before the event, a bit light on detail as to the Korean bands attending and exact timing of the gigs. However, based on hearsay, some Facebook posts, a tweet from a record label and creatively joining the dots, the following bands (at least) should be … [Read More]

Korean bands at The Great Escape 2019

Brighton’s The Great Escape has now announced the detailed schedule for the 2019 Festival, and if you want to catch four Korean bands at once your best bet is Patterns Upstairs during the day on Saturday 11 May. But there are other appearances too. Here are the details of the four Korean and one UK/ROK … [Read More]

Home Truths season: The World of Us

Yoon Ga-eun’s debut feature The World of Us, which was one of the quiet hits of LEAFF’s 2016 Stories of Women strand, opens the latest season of screenings at the KCC. Paul Quinn on Hangul Celluloid is a big fan of the movie: see his review here. The World of Us (우리들) Director: Yoon Ga-eun … [Read More]

DPRK Revolutionary Poster Art Exhibition

The UK Korean Friendship (part of the worldwide Korean Friendship Association with over 17,000 members around the world) is holding its second DPRK revolutionary poster exhibition on the 27th and 28th of April at the 5th Base Gallery in East London The exhibition is on a slightly larger scale than last year. There will be … [Read More]

BTS tops the UK album charts

BTS is the first Korean band to top the UK album charts, according to the Official Charts Company. Their new EP, Map of The Soul: Persona, released on 12 April, came straight in at number 1, while its lead single Boy With Luv (ft Halsey) narrowly missed a top 10 entry, coming in at number … [Read More]

Korean Arts Festival 2019 in Kingston Parish Church

Korean senior citizens display their talents, along with the Thames Philharmonia, on 4 May: Korean Arts Festival 2019 All Saints Church Kingston | 14-16 Market Place | Kingston upon Thames KT1 1JP Saturday 4 May 2019, 4pm Tickets: £12 (Performance+ Including 1 glass of wine) | Early Bird Ticket £10 | Under 13 & Over … [Read More]

2018 travel diary 3 – The Smile of Baekje

10 – 11 November 2018. My trips to Korea are usually preceded by a hurried piece of research on the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) website trying to find out what notable items of tangible or intangible heritage, or what other historic or scenic sites there might be, to attract an inquisitive traveller to the places … [Read More]

Take a Moment: A selection of Korean Crafts

Han Collection’s exhibition coinciding with London Craft Week: Take a Moment: A selection of Korean Crafts Han Collection | 33 Museum Street | Bloomsbury | London WC1A 1LH | www.hancollection.co.uk Wed 8 May – Sun 12 May 2019, 11:00 – 18:00. Extended to 31 May. Register via Eventbrite The Han Collection invites you to our … [Read More]

Why I’m beginning to warm to Netflix

After a rocky start with Netflix, I’m now coming round to it. I started subscribing to the online service in order to watch Okja, the Netflix-only feature film by director Bong Joon-ho. Although that particular experience was a big disappointment, I continued the subscription in case I was tempted by any of the other movies … [Read More]

A Festival of Korean Dance 2019

Here is the official press release for the 2019 Festival of Korean Dance, a collaboration between the Korea Arts Managements Service, the Korean Cultural Centre UK and The Place. Three performances: 31 May: Modern Table Dance Company – Sok-do (Velocity) 4 June: Double Bill – Art Project BORA 7 June: Triple Bill: Choi X Kang … [Read More]

Chihwaseon screens at the National Gallery

The second in the London East Asia Film Festival’s KCinema 100 series is Chihwaseon by the veteran director Im Kwon-taek, which tells the story of iconoclastic Joseon Dynasty artist Jang Seung-eop (pen name Owon). It will be screened at the National Gallery. Chihwaseon (취화선) Dir: Im Kwon-taek (2002, 116 mins) Cast: Choi Min-sik, Ahn Sung-ki … [Read More]