Kim Yideum: Blood Sisters Translated by Jiyoon Lee Deep Vellum, 2019, 202pp Originally published as 블러드 시스터즈 by Munhakdongne, 2011 I seem to be on a roll with translated fiction this year. Two disappointments (Marilyn and Me and Kim Jiyoung), but now seven that are highly recommendable. I picked this novel off the reading pile … [Read More]
Month: March 2020
The Korean Film Archive Youtube Channel
Continuing some suggestions of what to do when you’re stuck at home… Many of you will already be aware that the Korean Film Archive has a wonderful YouTube Channel with loads of classic Korean movies, with English subtitles, available for free. Thing is, I’ve never found an index of the channel. So, over the years … [Read More]
Some interesting home-bound online reading for you
Before I get into the article proper, can I ask of you who are reading this: are you a member of the Royal Asiatic Society, Korea Branch? If not, why not? If you read LKL, you should should definitely join the RASKB, whether you happen to live in Korea or not. Why? For starters, you’ll … [Read More]
Exhibition visit: Lee Young-hee’s Stuff of Dreams, at the Guimet
With more time being spent at home, LKL has a bit of time to catch up on the writing backlog. Here’s a visit we made to Paris at the beginning of March, a couple of days before the exhibition closed. In fact, looking back, it was the last Korean cultural event we enjoyed prior to … [Read More]
Where to start in Korean literature – the skinny version
My somewhat meaty post on Monday was prompted by a request for recommendations from a new acquaintance who knew of my Korean interests. He initially asked for three recommendations, which I found completely impossible – hence Monday’s list of ten authors, with a favoured title by each, plus ten additional titles. But now, having thought … [Read More]
Councillor Bora Kwon interviewed in the Guardian
Bora Kwon, Labour councillor for Hammersmith and Fulham, and one of only two councillors of Korean background in the UK, gets a nice interview in the Guardian this week. She talks about her life in the UK, politics and of course health. Read the interview in full here. You can follow Councillor Kwon on Twitter … [Read More]
KCCUK announces temporary closure to the public
Along with many other cultural venues, the KCCUK has announced its decision “to suspend or cancel our public programme, courses and events (music concerts, film screenings, literature and education programmes) effective immediately, until further notice”. They say that “[we] hope that we can resume our programme from Mid-April”. Let’s keep fingers crossed but I fear … [Read More]
LKFF Teaser Screening: Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982
The first LKFF Teaser screening of the year: Kim Ji-young: Born 1982 (82년생 김지영) + Introduction by Sarah Shin Dir: Kim Do-young (2019, 118 mins) Cast: Jung Yu-mi, Gong Yoo Tuesday 12 May 2020, 18:15 Barbican Cinema 2 | Beech Street | London EC2Y 8DS Tickets £12 | Buy tickets Based on Cho Nam-joo’s landmark … [Read More]
K-Dance 2020: Double Bill: Soo Hyun Hwang | Dance Project PPopKKi
The final performance in the 2020 Festival of Korean Dance: Double Bill: Soo Hyun Hwang | Dance Project PPopKKi Friday 5 June 2020, 7:30pm The Place | 17 Duke’s Road | Euston | London WC1H 9PY Early Bird Discount: All tickets £13 until 13 Apr (Standard price £17) | Buy tickets Soo Hyun Hwang – … [Read More]
K-Dance 2020: Art Project BORA: Muak
After their superb performance last year, Art Project BORA return to The Place as the second performance in the 2020 festival of Korean Dance. Art Project BORA: Muak Tuesday 2 June 2020, 7:30pm The Place | 17 Duke’s Road | Euston | London WC1H 9PY UK Early Bird Discount: All tickets £13 until 13 Apr … [Read More]
K-Dance 2020: pre-performance conversation
Don’t miss this talk before the second performance in the Korean Dance Festival. There’s also a Q+A after the performance. Pre-show Conversation Part of A Festival of Korean Dance 2020 Tuesday 2 June 2020, 6:00pm The Place | 17 Duke’s Road | Euston | London WC1H 9PY £5 or £2.50 if bought with a ticket … [Read More]
K-Dance 2020: Jin Yeob Cha — MIIN: Body to Body
The 2020 Festival of Korean Dance opens with Jin Yeob Cha’s group Collective A. It’ll be great to have Cha back in town after her stunning performance in the 2018 festival and her Dream Ritual performance last year Jin Yeob Cha / Collective A — MIIN: Body to Body Friday 29 May 2020, 7:30pm The … [Read More]
Where to start in Korean translated literature
Note: This article was written in early 2020 at the start of the pandemic. Since then, particularly in 2021, some fantastic translated fiction titles have appeared. We give a round-up of them here. Nevertheless, as of end December 2022 the top ten recommendations below still stand. I do, however, need to edit the choices for … [Read More]
A Festival of Korean Dance 2020
Here’s hoping that I’m not tempting fate by posting this press release. I really hope that the health emergency is over by the end of May. Keep your fingers crossed, because this festival gets better each year. As last year, there are three performances and one pre-performance discussion: Fri 29 May: Collective A | MIIN: … [Read More]
Book review: Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982
Cho Nam-joo: Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 Translated by Jamie Chang Scribner, 2020, 163pp Originally published as 82년생 김지영, Minumsa, 2016. Kim Jiyoung, as the blurb on the back cover of this translated novel tells us, is every woman. Her given name is unremarkable, familiar, and of course her family name is the most common in … [Read More]
Screening: Shin Sang-ok’s To The Last Day CANCELLED
This screening is now cancelled as the KCC has closed, in common with many cultural venues, as a result of the health situation. The second screening in the KCC’s On the Front Line season: To The Last Day (이 생명 다하도록) Dir Shing Sang-ok (1960, 109 mins) Cast: Choi Eun-hee, Kim Jin-kyu, Nam Koong Won, … [Read More]