London-based violinist Min-Jin Kym had her 300-year-old Stradivarius stolen as she had a sandwich at Pret-a-Manger, Euston Station. Detectives believe an opportunist gang grabbed the bag without having any idea of its value. Min-jin: I hope you get your Strad back very soon! http://bit.ly/gLG9cd # [Read More]
LKL articles by Philip Gowman (page 143)
Book review: Darcy Paquet — New Korean Cinema
Darcy Paquet: New Korean Cinema – Breaking the Waves Wallflower Press, 2009 This brief introduction to Korean film is packed with insight based on Darcy Paquet’s unique viewpoint on Korean film. (1) Do not expect to find lots of analysis of individual films, or discussion of cinematography, lighting or editing techniques. But what you have … [Read More]
Sarah Chang’s weekend in Philly
Violinist Sarah Chang tells us how to spend the perfect weekend in Philadelphia – via the Weekend FT’s How to Spend it mag. #. Brunch, shoe shopping, baseball, movies, the art museum, cocktails and high tea. [Read More]
Werner Bischof’s photos of the Korean War
Magnum photo essay on Korean War, focusing on the experience of civilians. Worth a look. A six-minute video showing the photographs of Werner Bischof with voiceover from people who experienced that time. http://bit.ly/dEz6Yw # [Read More]
A gift idea for Winter Sonata fans?
Bae Yong-joon’s book about Korea — A Journey in Search of Korea’s Beauty — has been translated into English: a Christmas gift idea? http://bit.ly/gobpWT #. The book sold well in its Japanese and Taiwanese versions, according to the Chosun Ilbo. [Read More]
Warrior’s Way tired and cliched
Via @bournecinema: Negative review of THE WARRIOR’S WAY (aka Laundry Warrior), starring Jang Dong-gun, in the Joongang Ilbo. Sat on the shelf 2yrs. Not a good sign. “It is a novel idea for an Asian swordsman to go to the West and become a hero there. But that plot twist is not strong enough to … [Read More]
Independent reviews The Tiger in Asian Art
Michael Glover in the Independent reviews the excellent Asia House exhibition: The Tiger in Asian Art, http://ind.pn/eKhWGK: What intrigues most about this wonderful exhibition – and how sad that it has no catalogue, because its story is so rich and so much worth the telling – is that the tiger seldom looks really fearsome, even … [Read More]
Free school meals debate causes fight in Parliament
A fight erupted in South Korean parliament over free school meals – via The Telegraph http://bit.ly/e6wOP2 #. “President Lee Myung-bak’s GNP party have objected to the bill, saying benefits should be limited to low-income families and expanded gradually.” [Read More]
December events 2010
Disappointingly, the biggest potential event of the month is so far only a rumour as far as I’m concerned. The organisers, the upmarket lifestyle magazine Monocle, haven’t yet responded to my request for further information, so at the moment I’m relying on unofficial sources and an article on the KOCCA site: Korean indie bands 3rd … [Read More]
Wikileaks on North Korea: hardly controversial
So the Dear Leader is a “Flabby Old Chap“? Who doesn’t put on a bit of weight when getting older, particularly if you don’t get much exercise? # Wikileaks cables reveal China ‘ready to abandon North Korea’. Former UK ambassador Chun Yung-woo quoted. Guardian. http://bit.ly/grAjhw # RT @fcaidan: China is NOT ‘abandoning N Korea.’ WikiLeaks … [Read More]
First Thoughts on the Last Godfather
From @ajosshi: An unmissable movie: http://bit.ly/ezQ7CQ A few thoughts on Shim Hyung-rae’s new film. # From the trailer it seems as if he’s trying to add a Charlie Chaplin feel to his creation, but if the slapstick is that old and the jokes that unfunny then I’m not sure if even the presence of Harvey … [Read More]
T-ARA boosts national defense
Never let it be said that K-pop girl groups are soft on national security. T-ara donates 20 million won to the cause: http://bit.ly/hs5OHu. Via @bournecinema [Read More]
North Korea’s silkworm technology
Bored with shelling South Korean islands, North Korea looks to invest in Vietnamese silk. FT blogs: http://bit.ly/dQwPzB # North Korea’s contribution to any silk venture will be its “silkworm expertise and technology”, Vietnam would, in exchange, provide labour and investment in production facilities. [Read More]
Liz Chae’s stories of the sea
Finding Iodo: The Sea Woman and the Man in Exile. Interesting project – a film featuring a poet and female diver. http://bit.ly/dQv9PS #. This follows on from Liz Chae’s previous film The Last Mermaids, about the diving women of Jeju-do. [Read More]
Korean Eye returns to Seoul
The Korean Eye: Fantastic Ordinary exhibition which started in London has now made its way to Seoul: a feature on Ji Yong-ho's tyre sculptures can be found in the Joongang Ilbo http://bit.ly/dOv5sN # [Read More]
Barbara Demick’s Nothing to Envy lives up to the hype
Barbara Demick: Nothing to Envy – Real Lives in North Korea Granta, 2010 Why, when Korean Studies bookshelves are dominated by volumes about the North, about which so much less is known than the South, do we need yet another volume? Why, when we have so many defector eye-witness accounts of starvation, torture and oppression, … [Read More]