LKL’s fourth annual, unscientific and personal list of highlights from the London Korean Year, 2009. Film of the Year There were two hotly anticipated high-profile films this year: Bong Joon-ho’s Mother and Park Chan-wook’s Thirst. Both are obvious candidates for film of the year and delivered everything that one has come to expect from these … [Read More]
LKL articles by Philip Gowman (page 167)
How Chaebol bosses get out of jail
How Chaebol bosses get out of jail: the Marmot on Lee Kun-hee’s release to spearhead the Pyeongchang 2018 campaign. http://bit.ly/6GlQ9l. | 3:56 PM Dec 30th, 2009 from bit.ly. Some extracts from the comment section: Jaekoo: Indeed it was an interesting news to me as well. Don’t know why business professors and some media use jargons … [Read More]
Michael Breen: The Koreans
With a commendable dose of filial piety appropriate to the subject of his book, Michael Breen dedicates his work to “Mum and Dad”. Having lived in Korea on and off since 1982, maybe some of the national characteristics are rubbing off on him. As one of the well-established “Korea hands”, who has covered events on … [Read More]
Some thank-yous
Another fun year of blogging, and so it’s time to thank all those who have made things possible. In no particular order, thanks to: The regular and one-off contributors who provide coverage, insight and expertise that are beyond me, and make LKL much more than what it would otherwise be. We’ve had several new contributors … [Read More]
Quiz of the Year 2009 cancelled
There won’t be an LKL quiz of the year this year – too depressing. Most of the questions would have been about suicide. I agree with the Korea Times: good riddance to 2009. [Read More]
Brief review: A Ricepaper Airplane
Gary Pak: A Ricepaper Airplane University of Hawai’i Press, 1998 Synospis (from the back of the book) From a hospital bed a dying man unfolds the tale of an arduous life on the fringes of a Hawai’i sugar plantation in the 1920s. There Kim Sung-wha – labourer, patriot, revolutionary, aviator – envisioned building an airplane … [Read More]
Festive illuminations in Boseong
Today’s Photo: December 11, 2009 – Christmas lights illuminate the Boseong tea slopes, South Jeolla province. Beautiful. Source: Chosun Ilbo. # [Read More]
Merry Christmas to all
A gratuitous seasonal picture for Christmas Day. I can’t remember now where I found the picture – probably the English language website of the Chosun Ilbo. I hope the young models got paid well for their performance. Have a restful holiday season. [Read More]
Korean restaurant in Time Out pick of the Year
It’s not often you see a Korean restaurant featured in Time Out, still less one that’s not in Central London. But in the Christmas double-issue a New Malden eatery gets singled out: Jee Cee Neh (지씨네), 74 Burlington Road, New Malden, Surrey, New Malden, KT3 4NU, 020 8942 0682. Our bowl of yukkaejang (a rich, … [Read More]
Good Riddance to 2009, says Korea Times
Top 10 Reasons We Can’t Wait to Close 2009: A gloomy look at the past 12 months in the Korea Times http://bit.ly/7kctSh. 6:44 PM Dec 22nd from bit.ly. The reasons include Poor industrial relations at Ssangyong Motor Disgraceful behaviour in the National Assembly Too many suicides Threats to Jongmyo’s UNESCO status [Read More]
LKL Critics’ Choice 2009: Philip
The editor provides an eclectic choice of albums from this year. 2009 has been a bumper year for new, innovative music and some welcome re-releases of the back catalogue. And anyone interested in the Korean contemporary music scene needs to be very grateful to Anna over at Indieful ROK for the work she does in … [Read More]
Haeundae – a rather disappointing disaster movie
Just watched Haeundae on Region 2 DVD. What was the fuss about? Dull, dull, dull. Maybe the domestic cut was better (17 mins longer). Maybe the international cut just focused on the things which might appeal to an international audience, and so they edited out anything that might be remotely interesting. I was wondering how … [Read More]
Kang Sok-kyong: The Valley Nearby
Kang Sok-kyong: The Valley Nearby Tr Choi Kyong-do Heinemann Asian Writers Series, 1997. Originally published as 가까운 골짜기, 1989 Living in the country, Yun-hee is engaged in a solitary struggle. Her two worlds, that of a rural housewife and that of an advocate for equality, are at odds with each other. As her artistic, alcoholic … [Read More]
Song Il-gon, Los Coreanos and the Dance of Time
Song Il-gon, always poetic, documents Los Coreanos – the Korean diaspora in Cuba – in his first feature documentary, Dance of Time. Let’s hope it makes it to subtitled DVD soon. http://bit.ly/85zV2A. 10:08 PM Dec 16th from bit.ly [Read More]
Sardine Santa at the COEX Aquarium
Joongang Ilbo picture of the day — Sardine Santa at the COEX Aquarium: a diver in a Santa Claus costume plays with a swarm of sardines during an underwater feeding show at the aquarium in southern Seoul. The show is held four times a day until just after Christmas. Source: JoongAng Daily. # [Read More]
Piles of Piles in Pusan
Piles of Piles in Pusan: Korea’s most common operation (more common than plastic surgery?). The southern city is the haemorrhoid capital of Korea according to the National Health Insurance Corporation of Korea, as reported in the Chosun Daily http://bit.ly/7x1zc7. 11:12 PM Dec 15th from bit.ly [Read More]