Monday 3 May 2010. In an unprepossessing building in a small backstreet in trendy Gangnam is a compact office which manages a gugak fusion band which briefly caught the spirit of a nation. At the height of the Korea, Sparkling promotional campaign, when the Korean Tourism Organisation was promoting Korea as a place with ancient … [Read More]
LKL articles by Philip Gowman (page 156)
Presenting intangible cultural heritage in Bucheon
Monday 3 May 2010. Bucheon, a city of around 850,000 people in Gyeonggi-do just 40 minutes’ drive West from Seoul, is home of the Bucheon World Intangible Cultural Heritage Expo (BICHE), an annual event which showcases some of Korea’s finest performance arts and crafts alongside those of a dozen or so invited countries. The first … [Read More]
2010 Travel Diary #10: an evening with Yi Chuljin
Sunday 2 May 2010. I had secretly been hoping, before my schedule was finalised, that after the Jongmyo rituals I would be able to go to an authentic Buddhist dance performance by my friend Yi Chuljin. In a marathon exercise supported by the Jogye temple, he is in the middle of a 100-day run of … [Read More]
2010 Travel Diary #9: MISO at the Chongdong Theatre
Sunday 2 May 2010. Korea is known for its high-energy stage shows. They have a huge international appeal. Shows like Nanta and Jump perform to enthusiastic audiences everywhere, combining acrobatics, humour, music and maybe some traditional culture – though dressed-up in an accessible way. A feature of the shows is that they are largely non-verbal … [Read More]
2010 Travel Diary #8: The Jongmyo Rituals Part 2
Sunday 2 May 2010. As we file out from the shrine after the first ceremony of the day, we mingle with the butlers who are off to have a quick breather and cigarette before the next ceremony. Already the queues are forming to get into the main shrine for the headline event at 1pm. No … [Read More]
The Wire features 10 and other Korean experimental bands
UK's intelligent music mag The Wire features the experimental / improv scene in Seoul, including 10 / itta / maqido http://bit.ly/bgjQ5l # [Read More]
2010 Travel Diary #7: The Jongmyo Rituals, part 1
Sunday 2 May 2010. I found it really quite hard to find accessible information online in respect of the Jongmyo rituals. Often, on the UNESCO site, there is documentation which sets out why the submitting country thinks that this particular intangible cultural property is worthy of inscription on the international list. But no such information … [Read More]
LKL welcomes new contributors
At LKL, we’re not a closed shop. We’re always looking for new people with different angles on things Korean who might want to join the merry band of contributors. You don’t have to contribute regularly or frequently. You don’t have to be based in London. What’s most important is that you have a passion about … [Read More]
Korea’s gardening pedigree
For those, such as me, who have hitherto doubted Korea's gardening pedigree, this article in the Korea JoongAng Daily is well worth a read. Nice pics too. http://bit.ly/9jFO2f # The article covers: Seoul Iris Garden Chollipo Arboretum in Taean, South Chungcheong Hantaek Botanical Garden in Yongin, Gyeonggi-do Yoo Botanic Garden in Pocheon, Gyeonggi-do Korea Botanic … [Read More]
Korean philatelist wins London prize
The History of Taste: Korean philatelist wins London expo prize for stamp collection showing development of epicurism. http://bit.ly/bVlObu # [Read More]
June Events 2010
Here are the events in June that I know about. Please let me know what I’ve missed. Featured event This month marks the 60th anniversary of North Korea’s invasion of the South in 1950, and the theme at the Cultural Centre this month is the Korean War. Forty Korean artists have been commissioned to provide … [Read More]
2010 Travel Diary #6: the Secret Garden remains a secret, and Gwanghwamun is hidden
Saturday 1 May 2010. I am fated never to see the Secret Garden. On the previous two occasions when I have tried, it has been closed. Until recently, I think it has only been possible to visit the Changdeokgung as part of a guided tour, but it is now possible to go in unguided and … [Read More]
Lee Chang-dong and Poetry at Cannes
“Poetry” misses out on Cannes top award, but wins Lee Chang-dong Best Screenplay award. http://bit.ly/cfcKR2 # The Joongang Ilbo tells us that the Korean Film Council rejected Lee’s request for funding: the screenplay was too much like a novel ‘”Poetry” is a dazzling piece of screen portraiture. Yun Jung-hee surely a front runner for Best … [Read More]
Top nosh for less dosh: is Korean food going mainstream?
This week’s Time Out has a brief feature on tasty meals for tight times. In central London they highlight ten restaurants, of which three are Korean. Here they are: Bi Bim Bap. In Soho, try big, filling stone bowls of Korea’s national dish of rice mixed with variations of meat and vegetables, stirred together and … [Read More]
Soprano Kim Tae-yeon performs in Hampstead CANCELLED
News of a song recital this coming Friday organised by the Rotary Club of Hampstead. Date : Friday 4th June 2010 Time : 19:30 PM Venue : Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel, Pilgrim’s Place, London, NW3 1NG Ticket Prices : £10 (concession £8) Ticket Info : http://www.rotaryinlondon.org/clubs/hampsted/ Ticket Office : 020 7433 3267 About the Concert … [Read More]
The service of free kimchi
In restaurants, when a waiter brings you a free dish, why do Koreans say "That's service" when they mean "That's on the house"? # [Read More]