Kim Jong-il’s Comedy Club is a Danish documentary which follows the two-week visit to North Korea by a Danish comedy double-act who had received permission to perform in Pyongyang’s National Theatre. The documentary is fascinating on many levels. First, the two comedians are ethnic Korean adoptees, born in South Korea but brought up in Denmark, … [Read More]
LKL articles by Philip Gowman (page 164)
Korea Attraction ap for iPhone
Free Korea Attraction Grid Puzzle for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad on the iTunes App Store http://bit.ly/c9ZsFN # [Read More]
A Hong Sang-soo film I liked first time
Just watched a Hong Sang-soo film (Like you know it all) and actually enjoyed it. Maybe I'm beginning to grow up. Now I must try rewatching the others. # [Read More]
Seoul is the place to go in 2010
According to the New York Times, Seoul is 3rd on the list of of 31 Places to Go in 2010. Design is the draw this year – World Design Capital 2010. http://nyti.ms/bR80vp # [Read More]
North Korean human rights and money laundering discussed in the Lords
A transcript of the discussion in the House of Lords earlier this week North Korea: Human Rights Question 2.57 pm Tuesday February 2nd 2010 Tabled by Lord Alton of Liverpool To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of alleged human rights violations in North Korea following the publication of the report by the … [Read More]
Farewell to Brian in Jeollanamdo
Farewell to Brian Deutsch, Korea’s angriest blogger (according to the Golden Klogs awards on the sadly defunct Korea Sparkle website) – and congratulations on the Korea Times coverage. http://bit.ly/9NQ1V7 # [Read More]
The Economist on the hallyu
“China is used to running a trade deficit with South Korea, but its deficit in the trade of cultural goods is ten times greater than in industrial goods.” The Economist has an interesting piece on the hallyu. http://bit.ly/dCQxvx # [Read More]
Korea Ranked 8th ‘Most Sinful Country’
"Korea spends more money on pornography than any other country" according to BBC Focus magazine, and is the world’s eighth most sinful country. http://bit.ly/aonQhv # [Read More]
Iran sends turtle into space
Iran sends a turtle into space, ten months after DPRK tries to send some patriotic songs up there. http://bit.ly/dbuoX3 # [Read More]
Kangta out of the military
Kangta, LKL’s favourite ex boy-band singer, is out of the military this month. Let’s have a new album soon, please. http://bit.ly/aqKot4 # [Read More]
Wonder Girls “Nobody”: video of the year
More Korean vote-stuffing (remember Rain v Colbert?), or is the US simply catching up with the rest of us? Wondergirls Nobody is video of the year http://bit.ly/bIMIoS # [Read More]
Koreans shine in London College of Fashion MA show
The stars of the fashion world were out in force at the V&A last Thursday to witness the catwalk show for the London College of Fashion MA candidates. A quick name-check of the fashion students taking the MA this year indicates a fair number of Koreans. Two of the highest profile students in the LCF … [Read More]
Free love, chastity and nationalism in Han Yongun’s novel “Death”
Brief notes from the recent talk at SOAS, which probably involve getting hold of the wrong end of several sticks… Han Yongun was the most renowned Buddhist nationalist poet of the colonial period. He was jailed for his involvement in the March 1st movement, and composed his famous poetry cycle “Silence of my love” while … [Read More]
Murakami dominates Korean bestsellers list
Another story demonstrating the popularity of Japanese fiction in Korea: Murakami’s 1Q84 occupies the number one slot in the Korean bestseller list for 19 weeks – finally dislodged by historical novel about Princess Deokhye, the last Princess of Korea. http://bit.ly/cqOrVm # [Read More]
How not to globalise Korean food
Bibimbap as funeral food: how not to globalize Korean cuisine (and how not to transliterate 막걸리). The Korea Herald has a rant about food promotion. http://bit.ly/98YQDe # [Read More]
February events 2010
Featured event It’s the biggest group show of the year: SASAPARI | 4482 makes another appearance at the Bargehouse, with more than 50 Korean artists, 25-27/8 February Other exhibitions Supervisions continues at the KCC until 6 February Ways of Seeing part 2 continues at I-MYU until 20 February, with a gallery talk on 4 February. … [Read More]