The French spend more time sleeping than anyone else in OECD countries. They also devote more time to eating than anyone else and nearly double that of Americans, Canadians or Mexicans. The Japanese sleep nearly an hour less every night than the French and also spend longer at work and commuting than they do indulging … [Read More]
LKL articles by Philip Gowman (page 179)
May events 2009
Here are the Korea-related events for May Featured events Nah Youn Sun plays the Vortex on 10 May as part of her world tour. Her London debut. Unmissable. B-boy crew Myosung perform at Breakin’ Convention 2009 on 3 May, followed by a UK tour. Visual Arts Kim Jin’s solo show continues at I-MYU until 16 … [Read More]
Uninvited and unwanted? Hollywood’s Two Sisters remake
The latest remake to come out of Hollywood, The Uninvited, opens in the UK this week. There’s a school of thought which says that once you’ve seen the original you won’t want to bother with the remake. There’s another which says any remake is good if it makes you want to watch the original. But … [Read More]
Book review: Michael Pettid – Korean Cuisine – an illustrated history
Michael Pettid: Korean Cuisine – an illustrated history Reaktion Books, 2008 Michael Pettid’s fascinating study is maybe not for a general reader. But for those who take more than a passing interest in Korean food and culture, this is an informative read. Importantly, the book’s title is Korean Cuisine, not Cookery. Pettid defines Cuisine as … [Read More]
Bichunmoo meets Buffy: Jeon Ji-hyun’s Hollywood debut
Those of you who are eagerly anticipating Jeon Ji-hyun’s next appearance on the big screen will know this already, but Blood: the Last Vampire opens in the UK on June 26. The official UK website is now up and running, and we saw a brief clip on Jonathan Ross’s show earlier this week. Judging by … [Read More]
UK Korean Festivals 2009
For those wanting to plan ahead, here is a list of all potential Korean events in the UK in 2009 which have “Festival” in their title. I’ll update this obviously work-in-progress post as I get more information. Clearly, everything’s provisional until the organisers send out their official press release or put details up on their … [Read More]
Recent music award winners
March was a month in which a couple of music awards were announced. The awards which appeared from nowhere were AVIMA, the Asian Voice Independent Music Awards. And recognising the impact of Indieful ROK, its mastermind Anna Lindgren was one of the international judges of the awards. Anna was nice enough to mention her LKL … [Read More]
A celebration of young Korean talent
A somewhat ponderous performance of Shostakovich’s Fifth by an international maestro marking a fifty-year association with one of London’s orchestras might seem to be an odd occasion to choose to celebrate young Korean talent. But when the companion piece is the same maestro’s Music for Cello and Orchestra played by the young star cellist Han-na … [Read More]
The divers of Jeju-do
LKL digests Barbara Hammer’s documentary “Diving Women of Jeju-do”, which screened in a recent film festival in London. Barbara Hammer’s brief documentary Diving Women of Jeju-do (2007) provides an intimate portrait of Cheju-do’s famous diving women, the haenyo. Barbara Hammer goes diving with the women, and took trouble to get to know their ways. She … [Read More]
Escaping North Korea – documentary on BBC
A 50-minute documentary currently available on BBC’s iPlayer service for the next few days. Details below, from the BBC website: This World: Escaping North Korea International investigative documentary series. The dramatic stories of North Koreans who are risking everything, including torture and execution, to escape the repression and hunger of their homeland and reach safety … [Read More]
Concert notes: Jasmine Choi’s Wigmore debut
In the first few moments of a concert you can often tell whether the next hour and a half is going to be enthralling or simply pleasant. With Jasmine Choi’s opening notes of Debussy’s Syrinx, you knew it was going to be the former. Being an item for solo flute, the lights could be dimmed … [Read More]
Four Ambassadors – the official photos
Thanks again to Sylvia Park for her efforts in organising the Four Ambassadors event at the Houses of Parliament last week, and to Frank Cook MP for hosting. Here are some photos by the official AKS photographer, reproduced here with permission. For a full write-up of the evening, click here. Committee Room 14: a panorama … [Read More]
Event report: Four Ambassadors, and not enough Space
Space was the issue at the historic Four Ambassadors event last week in the Houses of Parliament. There wasn’t enough of it. First, because of the popularity of the event, and the size of the available room, people at one point had to be turned away. Fortunately a larger room was made available at the … [Read More]
April events 2009
Here are the April events that I know of. The list will be updated as and when I hear of the KCC’s plans. Classical Music KoWoon Yang makes her Wigmore debut on 3 April Han-na Chang plays at the Festival Hall on 7 April The KNUA String Quartet compete in the London International String Quartet … [Read More]
The Gwanghwamun and its many rebirths
When General Yi Song-gye founded the Joseon dynasty and moved Korea’s capital to Seoul, he needed a palace of suitable magnificence. The Gyeongbokgung (경복궁) was carefully sited by the royal geomancers to benefit from the perfect Pung Su (풍수), and at its southernmost point, in direct alignment with the main throne room, the Gwanghwamun (광화문 … [Read More]
LKL meets Jasmine Choi
“I’m not used to having my photograph taken without my flute” laughs Jasmine Choi. She decides to fold her arms as I take her picture in the foyer of the Wigmore Hall. We have met to talk a little about her musical career. She is in London briefly for her Wigmore debut – a big … [Read More]