Looks like an interesting show at Plateau in Seoul – a collaboration of top artists and fashion designers Korea Times and JoongAng Ilbo. # [Read More]
LKL articles by Philip Gowman (page 128)
Jeju-do’s youngest Haenyeo
Jeju-do’s youngest Haenyo is poised to continue family tradition – nice to know there is at least one diver under 50 http://bit.ly/ocg3F2 #. Kim Yeon-ji (24) was born on Marado, south of Jeju-do, where there is little apart from a lighthouse and a few houses. (Image of Kim Yeon-ji sourced from Yonhap) Marado (마라도). (Source: … [Read More]
SC First Bank workers demonstrate in London
Someone just told me the Korea Standard Chartered Unions were protesting outside FSA. Popped out to talk to them, but within only five minutes they had already dispersed. Apparently there were only four of them – easy for the Canary Wharf security staff to deal with. #. Last month, when they started their strike, the … [Read More]
Where does “Poetry” rank among Lee Chang-dong’s films?
With Lee Chang-dong’s Poetry getting its UK theatrical release on Friday (1), it’s worth taking a moment to think about where it ranks among his filmography. His first film, Green Fish (1997), is also probably his least-known, and tackles Korea’s urbanisation. By contrast, Peppermint Candy (2000), which addresses Korea’s troubled modern history, ranks highly among … [Read More]
2011: the year K-pop goes global?
I’m now losing track of the number of flashmobs, talent contests and auditions organised by fans, the Ministry of Culture or Korean TV stations, all with the aim of getting K-pop out of Korea and into … well just about anywhere overseas. K-pop has of course been big in Asia for a while, has tried … [Read More]
Na Hong-jin’s Yellow Sea a worthy follow-up to the Chaser
Mind-numbing action. A compelling plot. What sets Na Hong-jin’s Yellow Sea (2010) apart from its peers: http://t.co/cQhdsY5. Inspired by the true story of a Joseonjok hired to murder another man in South Korea for $5,000. One of the highlights of July’s NYAFF 2011. [Read More]
Rigged K-pop charts shock the industry
Why does this not surprise me one iota? Via allkpop: Rigged music charts shock the industry, as an administrator for a broadcasting station is charged with manipulating their music chart. http://bit.ly/ru7zlC # [Read More]
Hyori’s former composer pays up for plagiarism
Lee Hyori’s former composer Bahnus ordered to pay Mnet $255,000 for H.Logic plagiarized material – 10 times what he got paid for the songs (via @AllKpop) [Read More]
Not drugs, but musk deer medicine, say North Koreans
Five North Korean players have now tested positive for a banned anabolic steroid at the Women’s World Cup in Germany. The excuse: they were treated with traditional medicine from musk deer glands to treat injuries from a lightning strike. You couldn’t make it up. The last doping case at a World Cup was when Diego … [Read More]
Debut novel from Samuel Park
Korean American author Samuel Park debuts with This Burns My Heart – a love story set in post-war Korea. Out now. #. There’s a nice interview feature with him in Good Reads. [Read More]
North Korean Defectors Flock to U.K.
James Bond 007 lures DPRK defectors to UK – that and the favourable regime for asylum seekers http://bit.ly/oob3f6 #. 581 North Korean defectors have been given asylum in the United Kingdom, says the Chosun Ilbo. [Read More]
International Crisis Group report on North Korean refugees in South Korea
Strangers at Home: North Koreans in the South is the latest report from the International Crisis Group, draws attention to the difficulties South Korea is facing in absorbing North Korean defectors. The full report is available here: http://bit.ly/pNZeR7. [Read More]
Match-fixing in Korean football league endemic
“Match-fixing in Korean football league endemic” – the other sports story from South Korea last week (Choe Sang-hun) (apart from Pyeongchang winning the 2018 Winter Olympics). http://nyti.ms/mUgcac #. At least 10 players have been banned for life. [Read More]
Schwarzenegger to appear in Kim Ji-woon’s Hollywood debut
Arnold Schwarzenegger confirmed for Kim Ji-woon’s Hollywood film The Last Stand. Here’s hoping Kim does a better job for Arnie than he did for Choi Min-sik in I Saw the Devil. [Read More]
Isabelle Huppert cast in next Hong Sang-soo film
Isabelle Huppert now shooting new Hong Sang-soo film. Moon So-ri and Hong Sang-soo regular Yu Jun-sang will also be appearing. Via Screen Daily bit.ly/nK9T4O [Read More]
Spike Lee to direct Oldboy remake
Spike Lee confirmed as director of Oldboy remake — a “shocking but intriguing prospect” (Twitch). But do we really need it? http://bit.ly/qzR94v #. John Brolin to take Choi Min-sik’s role. Christian Bale suggested for Yu Ji-tae’s. [Read More]