London Korean Links

Covering things Korean in London and beyond since 2006

Gallery visit: Jukhee Kwon in Expanding Horizons

October Gallery has represented Korean artist Jukhee Kwon for almost ten years now, and it was natural that when planning an exhibition in memory of their trustee Pamela Kember they should include work by the Korean artist as she exhibited in Asia House when Kember was director of Arts and Learning there. Somehow, during the … [Read More]

Soon Yul Kang’s recent and upcoming exhibitions

Congratulations to London-based artist Soon Yul Kang, who has had a nice write-up for her Washington duo show from the Washington Post: Striking a canny balance between the simple and the complex, Kang’s artworks can be grasped in a second yet reward minutes of close inspection. Kang’s exhibition at the Washington KCC closes on 23 … [Read More]

Book review: Kim Won-il – The Scorpion

Kim Won-il looks at 80 years of Korean modern history, presenting us with the less glamorous side of the story in a novel that spans three generations of a Milyang-based family who are swept along in the political and economic tides of the colonial period and Korea’s subsequent reconstruction. [Read More]

Seminar: Joseon Ryori versus Hansik

National food traditions are an important element of national identity and therefore they can be used as an effective instrument in a state’s cultural politics and the construction of its global image. Since the division of the Korean Peninsula into two independent states in 1948, Korean cuisine has developed in two separate directions. Today, two … [Read More]

Seminar: The Political and Social Role of Confucian Thoughts in Koryŏ Dynasty

How did bureaucrats as intellectuals ruling Koryŏ dynasty (918~1392 C.E.) shape their political thoughts to govern the country and what kinds of thoughts influenced them? This talk will try to find the answer. Koryŏ dynasty located on the Korean peninsula is generally regarded as a Buddhist society. Of course, people of Koryŏ dynasty lived their … [Read More]

Pure Emotions: an interview with Park Jiha

To coincide with the release of Park Jiha’s new album, The Gleam, which we reviewed yesterday, LKL managed to have a quick conversation with the artist to ask about how light and space influence her musical voice: London Korean Links: How did you get into music? How did this journey in the world of sound … [Read More]

Korean Art: Cultivating the Unexpected, at Opera Gallery

Opera Gallery London is delighted to present Korean Art – Cultivating the Unexpected, a group show that brings together five prominent Korean contemporary artists: Cho Sung-Hee, Chun Kwan-Young, Jae Ko, Yoo Bong Sang and Seo Young-Deok. Their artistic approaches to materials and forms speak to nature, culture, traditions and society in unusual ways. Dwelling on … [Read More]

Music, space and light: Park Jiha’s The Gleam

The concept behind Park Jiha’s new album ‘The Gleam’ is immediately compelling. The musician finds her inspiration in light and its interaction with the human form during the day. In part, the project was also conceived for a special performance in Tadao Ando’s Meditation Hall at San Museum in Wonju, Korea. Ando’s architecture features light … [Read More]

A Distant Place screens at BFI Flare

Jin-Woo lives a deliberately quiet life in rural Korea, working as a shepherd and looking after his young niece Seol. Though Seol is approaching school age, Jin-Woo keeps their contact with the outside world to a minimum, save for the family that employs him. But everything changes when his college boyfriend Hyeon-min and estranged sister … [Read More]

Screening: Lee Man-hee’s The Road to Sampo

Korean Film Nights presents director Lee Man-hee’s final film ‘The Road to Sampo’ (1975). This film was digitally restored in 4K in 2021. The original film used for the restoration was the 35mm original negative film and the 17.5mm sound negative film both of which were collected in 1982. This event will be moderated by … [Read More]

March Korean Literature Night: The Road to Sampo

This March we will read the novel ‘The Road to Sampo’ by Hwang Sok-yong. This month will also feature a special discussion Zoom event, with all participants able to turn on the camera, speak, and discuss the work during the talk. Prof. Jieun Kiaer (Associate Professor of Korean Language and Linguistics, University of Oxford) will … [Read More]

Exhibition news: Drifting Terrain, at the KCC

The Korean Cultural Centre UK (KCCUK) presents Drifting Terrain, an exhibition featuring recent and newly-commissioned works by UK-based artists, Euphrosyne Andrews, Nia Fekri and Seungwon Jung. Both aligning with the UK’s cultural initiatives and celebrating Lewisham’s designation as the 2022 London Borough of Culture, the KCCUK has developed this exhibition in collaboration with Lewisham Arthouse, … [Read More]

G.Soul comes to Manchester and London

Straight from Seoul to Highbury, join us for an unforgettable night of soulful R&B as G.Soul brings his silky vocals and emotive performances to The Garage, London. Expect a mix of hits and deep cuts along with intimate arrangements with a set that shows off his range — from mellow ballads to powerful grooves. Don’t … [Read More]

March events 2022

This month’s highlight in London is undoubtedly Park Jiha’s residency at Cafe OTO, timed to coincide with the release of her new album, The Gleam. Outside of the capital there’s a play at Bristol Old Vic focusing on Korean divided families; and in Sheffield look out for the return of the annual Korea Day. The … [Read More]

Park Jiha: Two-day residency at Cafe OTO

We’re really excited about Park Jiha’s upcoming visit to London, and looking forward to hearing some live performances from her new album – The Gleam – released on tak:til / Glitterbeat last Friday. We’ve got a review and exclusive mini-interview with the artist coming soon on LKL. In the meanwhile you can stream the album … [Read More]