The North Koreans have a European Union Residents Society?? Based in New Malden of course, headed by defector Kim Ju-il (right). Read their letter in the FT http://bit.ly/90ayMs #, also reported by the Front Line Club: Ordinary North Koreans and the ruling class are deeply humiliated by Kim Jong-il’s begging to China. (Image: BBC) [Read More]
LKL articles by Philip Gowman (page 147)
The Brilliant Comrade: reading the tea leaves
The DPRK has such a cloud of mystery around it that it spawns an industry of authors and journalists who pick through the available scraps of information to try to construct a narrative of what might possibly be going on – some of which might be true but much of which is pure speculation. It … [Read More]
Formula 1 comes to Gwanghwamun
Great pic: Admiral Yi Sun-shin and King Sejong, two of Korea's greatest ancient heroes, look down on a Formula 1 car: http://bit.ly/aqkYKL # [Read More]
Little Angels pay tribute to war veterans
It’s a mammoth and very expensive exercise. The Little Angels, the cute young troupe of dancing girls sponsored by the Unification Church, are touring all 16 of the UN countries who supplied combat troops to defend the Republic of Korea against the invading DPRK forces 60 years ago, displaying once again Korea’s gratitude to the … [Read More]
Feetmanseoul at All University Fashion Week
All University Fashion Week pictures now online at Feetmanseoul. Great pics, great designs. http://bit.ly/chyJUm #. via @metropolitician [Read More]
Korea’s kimchi cabbage crisis
Robert Neff reports on Korea’s kimchi crisis at the Marmot’s Hole. More than $10 for a kimchi cabbage! http://bit.ly/aljg2B # [Read More]
Seoul fortune-tellers analyse Kim Jong-un
Kim Jong-un "a violent character prone to display double standards": http://bit.ly/9IOf1Z # That’s the analysis on the junior Kim by fortune-tellers in South Korea who have studied his face, including the size of his forehead, the arrangement of his eyes, his cheekbone contour, and the thickness of his lips. But what if all the above … [Read More]
Kahoidong.com on KBS
David Kilburn talks about hanok preservation in an interview with KBS World: http://bit.ly/9seisq #. I do hope the KCC get around to inviting him to give a talk. This is an important subject. [Read More]
Little Angels and big frustrations
26 Sept 2010: Updated information about how to book for Saturday’s Little Angels performance: http://bit.ly/cc6n4w # 29 Sept 2010: Still waiting for my Little Angels tickets. I wonder if they will arrive? Has anyone got theirs? Mysterious impersonal booking system grrrr # 30 Sept 2010: The most annoying thing about the Little Angels ticketing system … [Read More]
October events 2010
Here’s what’s coming up this month as far as I know: Film The BFI London Film Festival has three Korean films inconveniently clashing on 21 and 22 October: Lee Chang-dong’s Poetry, Hong Sang-soo’s Oki’s Film and Jo Sung-hee’s End of Animal KCC screenings this month are Handphone (14 Oct) and Rough Cut (28 Oct) Music … [Read More]
Chris Backe’s top 3 travel tips
Check out @chrisinseoulsk‘s top 3 Travel Secrets: Travel light Try staying in love motels The 1330 hotline I know a retired SOAS lecturer who also stayed in a love motel while researching Buddhist temples. I don’t think he used that particular travel agent again. http://bit.ly/aB0cXF # [Read More]
Nah Youn Sun – an album and restaurant recommendation
Mike Hobart of the FT liked Nah Youn Sun‘s performance earlier this year, and gives her new album 4 stars out of 5 http://bit.ly/bFtTn9 #. And her English PR swears by Finsbury Park Korean restaurant Dotori. Anyone been there? http://bit.ly/94S1Y7 # [Read More]
1948 Jeju uprising remembered in newly-translated novel
Looks like an interesting new book about to hit UK bookshops on 29 September, from Columbia University Press: The Curious Tale of Mandogi’s Ghost by Kim Sok-pom The Curious Tale of Mandogi’s Ghost incorporates Korean folk tales, ghost stories, and myth into a phenomenal depiction of epic tragedy. Written by a zainichi, a permanent resident … [Read More]
KNOC completes Dana purchase
Game over for Dana, but KNOC is still aiming to up its stake from 64.2% to 90%. FT. http://bit.ly/c7GKHq #. Another piece in Korea’s energy security jigsaw. [Read More]
Will the Formula 1 circuit be ready in time?
Bernie Ecclestone sticks the boot in: will the Korean Grand Prix circuit be ready in time? http://bbc.in/b6Trph # “We will rush to complete work and FIA officials will see a complete circuit when they conduct a final inspection in two weeks,” said Kim Jae-ho, for the organisers. [Read More]
Time and Light: Korean designers at 100% Design London
Time seemed to be one of the themes of the various Korean designers on show at the 100% Design London exhibition at Earl’s Court. Cha Il-gu graduated from London’s Royal College of Art and at last year’s show was selected as a “Next Generation Design Leader” and a “Most Promising Talent” at 100% Future. He … [Read More]