In this month’s edition of World Literature Today, Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp draws attention to a number of recent publications of translated children’s books coming from Korea. She speculates: The interest in the Korean children’s market may have been spurred by innovative illustrator, animator, and artist Baek Heena being named the 2020 laureate of the Astrid … [Read More]
Month: January 2022
What Remains of Us, at Bristol Old Vic
This interesting collaboration between Bristol Old Vic, Bath Spa University and K-Arts University should be worth a trip down to Bristol in early March. The production explores the theme of Korean family reunions. What Remains of Us Judy Owen Ltd in association with Bristol Old Vic, Bath Spa Productions and Korea National University of Arts … [Read More]
Exhibition visit: Anicka Yi — In love with the world
I’m wondering how many visitors to Anicka Yi’s scene-stealing installation In Love with the World managed to engage with what was apparently one of the key elements in the work. According to the information provided in the Tate Modern Turbine Hall (quoted in the shaded box below), depending on what time of day you visited … [Read More]
The Cabinet: Un-Su Kim in conversation with Phillip Kim
The KCC’s monthly literature discussions restart in February with Un-su Kim’s debut novel The Cabinet. It has quite a different flavour from his Plotters, which was the first to make it into English, but shares its inventiveness and pace. The Cabinet Discussion: Wednesday 23 February 2022, 12 noon Apply by 4 February Full details – … [Read More]
KCCUK 2022 Call For Artists
The KCCUK has announced its 2022 call for artists for an exhibition later this year. As in 2021, the KCCUK is partnering with their colleagues in Germany. 2022 Call for Artists 17 January 2022 – 11 February 2022 The Korean Cultural Centers in the UK and Germany are offering artists an opportunity to exhibit in … [Read More]
Call for Papers: The 1st Oxford CKS Graduate Students’ Forum
While there have been Korean Studies conferences at Oxford before – for example BAKS held its 2018 workshop at Wolfson – this is the first Graduate Students’ forum. Here is the call for papers. The 1st Oxford CKS Graduate Students’ Forum 18 March 2022 Call for Papers – deadline 4 February 2022 It is a … [Read More]
Jukhee Kwon in Expanding Horizons, at October Gallery
October Gallery opens the year with a group show held in honour of the late art historian, critic, and curator Pamela Kember (1955–2021), who championed Asian art across the world. Pamela Kember was Head of Arts and Learning at Asia House and a trustee at October Gallery. Expanding Horizons In Honour of Pamela Kember 3rd … [Read More]
Anna Jung Seo and Jaeyeon Yoo in Still Standing, at Union Gallery
As lockdowns have been imposed and then lifted we confess to have completely lost track of the regular calendar events that mark the rhythm of the cultural year. So we had forgotten that the London Art Fair normally happens round about now. Just as well it’s been postponed then, but Union are hosting a show … [Read More]
Online Workshop and Book Launch: Invented Traditions in North and South Korea
One of the more interesting-looking academic titles published last year (in November) was this one. You’ll have to wait until August this year for the more affordable paperback version, but to whet your appetite in the meanwhile there’s a useful session later this month to introduce the global audience to the book’s individual chapters. Each … [Read More]
Scottish CKS Spring Distinguished Lecture Series
The Scottish Centre for Korean Studies has announced the programme for its Spring Term Distinguished Lecture Series. Publicity still seems to be Facebook only, and you need to visit their Facebook page periodically to get zoom registration links and lecture abstracts. Here’s what we know so far: 11:00 am – 12:30 pm Wednesday 26 Jan … [Read More]
Seminar: Cultural Industries and Cultural Policy in Asia
We’re looking forward to what I think is the first London-based seminar of the year, for what I hope will be a counterblast to some of the lazy coverage in the mainstream media seeking to explain the success of Squid Game and other icons of Korean popular culture. Cultural Industries and Cultural Policy in Asia … [Read More]
Unsuk Chin’s second violin concerto gets its broadcast premiere
Thanks to Colin Bartlett for alerting me to the fact that the premiere of Unsuk Chin’s second violin concerto will be broadcast in a performance by its dedicatee Leonidas Kavakos on 18 January. LKL had eagerly bought tickets for its scheduled live premiere, which was going to be 7 January last year at the Barbican. … [Read More]
Moon Jae-in’s 2022 New Year speech
Here is the unofficial translation of President Moon’s 2021 New Year’s Address, sourced from the Cheongwadae website: 2022 New Year’s Address by President Moon Jae-in 3 January 2022 Fellow Koreans, We stand again on the starting line of a New Year. At the center of a tumultuous period in world history, we ring in the … [Read More]
January events 2022
As far as I can see, it’s going to be a pretty dry January. Maybe some events will pop up and surprise us: perhaps, for example, SOAS or Edinburgh will come up with some seminars that haven’t been announced yet. Other than that, it looks like there’s going to be plenty of time to catch … [Read More]
A review of the Korean cultural year 2021
Each year when I come to write this review, I wonder whether Korean culture in the West has reached its high water mark. And every year so far I’ve come to the same conclusion. Korean music and film, TV and food continue to win admirers, and we can expect to see it continue to thrive … [Read More]
Report on 4th Plenary Meeting of 8th Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea
The end-of-year report from the Party plenary meeting, sourced from Rodong Sinmun and knca.kp. NKNews has alternative takes on the report: “North Korea vows military buildup due to ‘destabilizing’ situation on peninsula” and also “Plenum’s agriculture focus suggests dire food shortages in North Korea” Let Us Strive for Our Great State’s Prosperity and Development and … [Read More]