“Where did all the beautiful and hopeful young women go?” That was the thought that occurred to author Ji-Min Lee, looking back at the grim post-war years, and looking at a couple of photographs from the period: one of Marilyn Monroe performing for the US troops in Korea, and one of a female interpreter sandwiched … [Read More]
Year: 2020 (page 13)
Abandoned Heroes No 43 screens in Wimbledon CANCELLED
Another cancellation I’m afraid… A rare documentary – a UK premiere – on the fate of South Korean prisoners of war in North Korea. The documentary has English subtitles. Advance registration is required. Abandoned Heroes No 43 Wednesday 25 March 2020, 7pm Odeon Cinema | 39 The Broadway | The Crescent | Wimbledon | London … [Read More]
In pictures: 송 SONG’s exhibition at Whitehall Historic House
Courtesy of the artist, here are some installation shots of 송 SONG’s current exhibition at Whitehall Historic House in Cheam. Super cute evocations of Tudor style by the Korean artist. The exhibition lasts until 1 March. [Read More]
Swindler + Our Home screen at Crystal Palace Film Fest
Crystal Palace International Film Festival was founded in 2009, and presents a diverse programme of the very best Independent films from all over the world. And the cinema promises comfy sofas and lovely food brought to where you’re sitting. Sounds like a great way to spend an evening. Swindler Dir: Yi Dong-hwan (2018, 93 mins) … [Read More]
Bong Joon-ho’s BAFTA talk has now been uploaded
Bong Joon-ho’s BAFTA lecture at the Curzon Mayfair on 12 December 2019 has now been uploaded to the BAFTA Guru Youtube channel. The talk was part of a lecture series that “exists to celebrate screenwriters’ authorial contribution to film and gives esteemed writers a platform to share highlights and insights from their careers with an … [Read More]
Review: JM Lee – The Boy who Escaped Paradise
The Boy Who Escaped Paradise J.M. Lee, translated by Chi Young Kim Pegasus, 2016, 288pp Originally published as 천국의 소년, Seoul, 2013. A fifty-year-old North Korean is found shot to death in a flat in Queens, New York; beside him is a wounded man, the presumed killer. On the floor around the bodies are mysterious … [Read More]
Song Ginyoung exhibition at Whitehall Historic House
After her brief but joyful installation enhancing a bar under the arches in Bethnal Green, Song Ginyoung (송 SONG) will be transforming Whitehall Historic House in Cheam this month. SONG in Whitehall Linking Past and Present through the colourful art of Song Ginyoung Whitehall Historic House | Malden Road | Cheam SM3 8QD Thursday 13 … [Read More]
Bong Joon-ho makes Oscars history
We almost feared that he had jinxed himself with that comment about the Academy Awards being “very local”. The comment, made in an interview with Vulture in October 2019, was made in the context that it’s “not a big deal” that a Korean movie had yet to be nominated for an Oscar (the nominations for … [Read More]
Minjung Baek plays Rachmaninov: London recitals
Minjung Baek tours a Rachmaninov programme in London venues during February. The recitals celebrate her live recording from the finals of the Aevea Piano Prize in Verona in July 2019, which is available on iTunes and Spotify. Tuesday, February 11th, 2020, 1:00 PM St James’s Church | Sussex Gardens | Paddington | London W2 3UD … [Read More]
Grid Theatre presents Red Peter at the Vault Festival
Grid Theatre’s Korean stage director Chris Yun-Ward tackles a Kafka short story: Red Peter Friday 6 – Sunday 8 March 2020, 6pm – 7pm Additional matinee performance Sunday 8 March, 3pm – 4pm Vault Festival | Leake Street | Waterloo | London SE1 7NN Tickets from £11 | Buy Tickets A stage adaptation of the … [Read More]
Concert notes: Park Jiha at LSO St Lukes
What a difference a venue makes. Uncomfortable seats, noisy air conditioning and poor sight lines meant that Park Jiha’s gig at the Rich Mix in the 2019 K-music festival was less enjoyable than it could have been. At LSO St Luke’s at the end of January everything seemed right. Yes, there was the faint hiss … [Read More]
Brief book review: The Plotters
Kim Un-su: The Plotters Translated by Sora Kim-Russell Fourth Estate, 2019, 304 pp Originally published as 설계자들, Seoul 2010 I always find when embarking on a new book it pays to have neutral expectations. That way you won’t be disappointed. But sometimes it’s hard to filter out your own personal prejudices and the word of … [Read More]
Some non-fiction titles we can’t wait to read in 2020 [updated]
![Thumbnail for post: Some non-fiction titles we can’t wait to read in 2020 [updated]](https://londonkoreanlinks.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/non-fiction-120x120.jpg)
Outside of the wide range of upcoming literature and fiction titles, there’s plenty of non-fiction to look forward to as well. I’ve already highlighted three titles on Korean film which look worth exploring, and here’s the remainder of my 2020 reading longlist (which includes some titles from very late in 2019), split between (1) Books … [Read More]
2020 LSE SU Korea Future Forum: Korea’s Ascent to the Global Stage
News of this years Korea Future Forum at the LSE: LSESU Korea Future Forum 2020: Korea’s Ascent to the Global Stage LSE Old Theatre | Houghton St | London WC2A 2AE Saturday, 29 February 2020 from 10:00-17:30 £10.00 (Early Bird Student) | £30.00 (Early Bird Standard) | Buy tickets Official website: lsesukfa.com Panel 1. Fourth … [Read More]
February events 2020
We’re all keeping our fingers crossed for the two Korean movies with seven Oscar nominations between them. Be sure to buy your March copy of Sight & Sound (available from 3 Feb) guest-edited by man of the moment Bong Joon-ho. Music Unsuk Chin’s SPIRA – A Concerto for Orchestra – will be broadcast on Radio … [Read More]
Kim Ji-young: Born 1982 (82년생 김지영, 2019) review: Cho Nam-joo’s important novel brought to the big screen
This powerful drama examines the systemic gender inequality in Korean society through the psychological breakdown of a stay-at-home mother. Kim Ji-young: Born 1982 is a deftly realised, socially aware and societally critical directorial debut of real importance that shines a much needed light on women’s issues in Korea past and present from a female gaze. [Read More]