RIP Fashion designer Andre Kim. Died on 12 August 2010, aged 75. Kim became the first Korean to show a collection in Paris, and later years saw him present his spectaculars at the pyramids in Egypt and at Angkor Wat in Cambodia. In 1992, the International Olympic Committee invited him to hold a fashion show … [Read More]
LKL articles by Philip Gowman (page 151)
Road to the Racetrack gets there before Hong Sang-soo
Jang Sun-woo’s Road to the Racetrack: surprisingly entertaining for 140 minutes focusing on just two characters. Was their relationship just a fling, or is it for keeps? #. The film anticipates Hong Sang-soo’s output, and is more entertaining. [Read More]
BoA is back with Hurricane Venus
BoA is back with Hurricane Venus. My first commercial K-pop purchase of the year: http://tinyurl.com/32qqvx2. It’s even on UK iTunes already. #. An exciting sound, and some great moves. [Read More]
North Koreans shell innocent fish
North Koreans shell innocent fish in an artillery exercise near Yeonpyeong Island, 9 August. But that’s one hellishly low-flying satellite which photographed their gun emplacements. http://bit.ly/c5kOeV # [Read More]
Jang Dong-gun and Song Hye-kyo top plastic surgery templates
Times change. 6 years ago Hyolee & Jeon Ji-hyun were top of the list. Now Song Hye-kyo is top Plastic Surgery Template. And guys want to look like Jang Dong-gun http://bit.ly/adsPKV # [Read More]
2010 Travel Diary #33: Remembering Seong Cheol Sunim
What is Buddhism all about? I confess to knowing very little. One night of temple stay, and browsing round a few exhibitions of Buddhist art, does not qualify as a proper introduction. In Daewonsa, Neunghae Sunim took a pleasingly laid back approach to the Buddhist life. “Don’t rush things” and “Enjoy yourself” seemed to be … [Read More]
Choi Eudon “One to Watch”
Korean-born fashion designer Eudon Choi, Royal College of Art graduate and "one to watch" – featured in Elle Magazine bit.ly/9fAddE # [Read More]
2010 Travel Diary #32: The Beautiful Walls of Namsa-ri
In the week that Hahoe folk village near Andong was admitted to the UNESCO heritage list, LKL recalls a visit to Namsa-ri, a less-visited but equally impressive hanok village. Friday 7 May 2010. After our visit to the Nambugun memorial museum we were feeling in sombre mood. But fortunately, lunch comes to the rescue. Sancheong … [Read More]
Popular Gusts on Yi Kwang-su
Yi Kwang-su's Japanese nationalism: another must-read article from Matt at Popular Gusts — on Yi’s change from Korean nationalist to servant of the Japanese. http://bit.ly/cjAv2m # [Read More]
2010 Travel Diary #31: Remembering the struggle against the partisans
Sancheong County, nestling at the feet of Jirisan in Gyeongsangnam-do, has two memorial museums to the struggle between the leftist partisans and the Southern military and civilian authorities at the time of the Korean War. The key headlines of the conduct of the Korean War itself are well known: the Northern sweep southwards, the UN … [Read More]
Petal divides the audience
Mixed reactions to Jang Sun-woo's Petal at the KCC last night, as part of the Jang Sun-woo month. Two people walked out, but some of us were crying. # [Read More]
Hanna Bites the Dust
This is not new news to many of you, but I only found out about it a week or so ago. My favourite Korean food store in the centre of town, Hanna Supermarket in Store Street, is closed down. And by the looks of things, pretty permanently: There are other Korean food stores in town, … [Read More]
Hanoks can survive … when they are outside Seoul
Re Hahoe and Yangdong: David Kilburn reminds us that those two villages, recently listed at UNESCO, were lucky not to be inside the Seoul Metropolitan area. “Hanoks can survive … when they are outside Seoul.” The approach in Seoul is to knock hanoks down, even when they are in a conservation area. http://bit.ly/aC3flu # [Read More]
Hahoe and Yangdong listed at UNESCO
Congratulations to historic villages Hahoe and Yangdong, “two of the most representative historic clan villages in the Republic of Korea,” and Korea’s latest inclusion in the UNESCO world heritage list, on 31 July. http://bit.ly/cqjKEl # The BBC has some nice photos of both villages, plus other UNESCO sites listed along with them including Reunion Island … [Read More]
Kaya launch their website
Congratulations to KAYA, Ji Eun Jung (Kayagum) & Sung Min Jeon (Guitar), on the launch of their website and two albums: http://bit.ly/dwbkR8 #. And if you go to Kaya Restaurant in Albemarle Street you’ll likely hear some of their music being played. [Read More]
Evening at Incheon
Great photos of Incheon Bridge at Kodo’s Photolog. More photos can be viewed here: http://bit.ly/9MabHW # (via @rjkoehler) [Read More]