We’d just seen Jang Jin’s contribution to the Human Rights Watch short film collection If You Were Me 2: Someone Grateful (고마운 사람). In it, a student demonstrator is befriended by his police interrogator in the KCIA’s underground torture chambers in the 1980s. It’s a provocative short, because instead of railing against police brutality and … [Read More]
LKL articles by Philip Gowman (page 144)
Calling all book hoarders: the National Library wants your old books
An announcement received via EJ Shin, the librarian at the KCC in London: The National Library of Korea (NLK) has announced that they would very much like to purchase any antiquarian books on the subject of Korea (published outside of Korea prior to 1950). Any publications on the subject of Korea, regardless of the languages … [Read More]
Jang Dong-gun in Warrior’s Way
This still from Jang Dong-gun’s Hollywood debut (The Warrior’s Way, aka Laundry Warrior, with Kate Bosworth) has about as much sexual chemistry as a Hong Sang-soo film: none. http://bit.ly/ikokw2 # [Read More]
Deleuze, Cinema and National Identity
Deleuze, Cinema and National Identity: Narrative Time in National Contexts. http://amzn.to/azAXRL Looks like one film book I’d really hate, even though it discusses Lee Chang-dong’s Peppermint Candy. # [Read More]
David Cameron’s G20 sightseeing
Ambassador Uden chronicles David Cameron's sightseeing outside of the G20 summit. http://bit.ly/dBNnxv #: a visit to Gloster Valley, jogging with the Spanish Prime Minister, shopping in Insadong and tea at Bongeunsa. [Read More]
Three Korean traditions named world treasures
Three Korean traditions named world treasures: gagok (lyrical songs), daemokjang (wooden architectural craftsmanship) and maesanyang (falcon hunting). That UNESCO list keeps getting longer! http://bit.ly/9Ia99y # Daemokjang is Important Intangible Cultural Heritage No.74; Gagok is Important Intangible Cultural Heritage No.30 [Read More]
Discovering Korean Cinema book launch at the KCC
For those keen to find out more about Korean film there’s an interesting talk, together with a book launch, at the KCC on Tuesday 23 November. Three distinguished speakers: Daniel Martin will be chairing the panel and giving a brief talk on the history of the LKFF, Mark Morris will be talking about War films, … [Read More]
Waujeongsa, Gyeonggi-do: home of record-breaking statues
Where is the biggest Buddha head in the world? Waujeongsa, Gyeonggi-do (above. Photo credit: Wake up and Laugh!). It also contains the world’s largest wooden statue of a Buddha in a lying down position. Via @CoolstuffKorea. [Read More]
Korean art – two millennia of globalisation
“Why did it have to end so early?” asked a member of the audience at the conclusion of the British Museum’s study morning “Korea at the Crossroads” last weekend, 13 November. Strictly, the event had overrun by about five minutes, but you knew what she meant. More to the point would have been the question … [Read More]
Inaugural Military History Award Goes to Book on ‘Forgotten War’
I’m a few days late on passing this on, but congratulations to Andrew Salmon for the success of his “To the Last Round”: Aldershot Military Museum, 10th November. On the eve of Remembrance Day 2010, a book on Britain’s bloodiest – but almost completely unknown – post-1945 battle won the inaugural Hampshire Libraries (Special Collections) … [Read More]
Irrational exhuberance or sober restraint? The contrasting tastes of 18th century neighbours
Leaving aside the question of whether you would fork out £43 million (including taxes and buyer’s premium) for an object that a careless cat could smash to smithereens in an instant, which vase would you rather have on your mantelpiece? On the left, the exhuberant, flamboyant, labour-intensive masterpiece produced by Qing dynasty ceramic artisans (and … [Read More]
Green Days: a charming look at the dreams and uncertainties of youth
In the London Korean Film Festival there is always a selection of long and short animations to showcase that part of the Korea motion picture industry which otherwise does not get much screen time. This year, the organisers made a controversial decision: to promote the main animation feature as “a Korean cousin to Studio Ghibli … [Read More]
Ideas for a brief stopover in Seoul
The New York Times: http://is.gd/h2dlH has a list of things to do in 36 hours in Seoul. The Leeum, Gangnam, Samcheong-dong and a jjimjilbang (above: Dragon Hill Spa & Resort. Credit: NY Times). A good list, but Chris Backe suspects he could do better. # [Read More]
The Gyeongbokgung at night
More nice photos from @rjkoehler. This time, Gyeongbokgung Palace at Night – the palaces were kept open for the G20 summit. There’s a sample above. Visit his site for the rest: http://bit.ly/bpH9vZ # [Read More]
The G20 Summit at the Seoul Lantern Festival
It was a nice idea to create a special lantern in honour of the G20 leaders as part of the Seoul Lantern Festival. The bit in the red circle contains their likenesses. But unfortunately there was a misunderstanding about the country represented by one leader: Korea welcomes 'Julia von Trapp'. As the Marmot says: Australia, … [Read More]
Korean Art featured in Orientations
The November / December 2010 issue of Orientations Magazine features Korean art, celebrating 10 years of the British Museum's Korean gallery http://bit.ly/cWD1jn #. Back orders are avaialable from the website. [Read More]