What would we do without the Chosun Ilbo? In preparation for the journey into space of the first Korean astronaut in 2008, scientists are working on a way to make kimchi without having the little friendly bacteria turn into space aliens. The solution is gamma radiation, plus special packaging to ensure the red juice doesn’t … [Read More]
LKL articles by Philip Gowman (page 228)
Capital markets consolidation
The Asia Times has a good article on the Capital Markets Consolidation Act. Thanks to the Flying Yangban for spotting it. [Read More]
Chae Man-sik: Peace Under Heaven
English Translation by Chun Kyung-ja: ME Sharpe, 1993. Originally published as 태평천하 in 1938 An entertaining comedy chronicling a day or so in the life of a lecherous, foul-mouthed nouveau riche landlord. It captures a snapshot of Seoul under Japanese colonial occupation, but the Japanese impinge very little on the narrative. The book has larger … [Read More]
A day in the life of a Kim Jong-il impersonator
This article on the Yonhap website is worth a look describing the professional rivalry between two Kim Jong-il lookalikes Kim Young-sik and Bae Eun-sik. Of the two, Kim Young-sik appears to be the better known, at least outside of Korea. He has been featured in an Australian TV news item and also in an article … [Read More]
Andrew Holloway: A Year in Pyongyang
(Aidan FC’s website, 1988) Amid the pile of available reading material on the DPRK, is there room for an unpublished memoir, getting on for 20 years old, recording the experiences of a lowly “raiser” — someone who converts Konglish into English — in late 1980s Pyongyang? Definitely yes. Though obviously not state of the art, … [Read More]
BAKS Spring Newsletter published
Here’s a link. Lots of interesting stuff, including news of a new blog on Korean history, www.froginawell.net/korea, which I’ll add to the static pages on my main site. They are also good enough to plug my site, which is very good of them, seeing as the plug was unsolicited. To return the favour, please join … [Read More]
Admiral Yi enters cyberspace in history book fightback
The Admiral who gave the Japanese a bloody nose in the Imjin War has no fewer than three websites to his name: www.koreanischerheld.com exclusively for German readership, www.koreanpatriot.net for a multilingual audience (including English), and www.koreanhero.net which is an html version of a glossy book on his achievements. He himself can be contacted, through some timewarp … [Read More]
Review: RPO Korea Fantasy, 1 May 2006
This year we celebrate the 250th birthday of Mozart, the 100th of Shostakovich, and less known, the 100th of Ahn Eak-tae (right, picture from the Chosun Ilbo), Korea’s best-known 20th century composer in the Western classical tradition. Probably his most famous work is the Korea Fantasy, a 25-30 minute work for chorus and orchestra, from … [Read More]
Fill in the gaps. But first find them
I’ve just come across an interesting and well-written article on the KOFIC website which gives a very good review of the state of the Korean film industry in 2005. Here’s a link. The challenge with the article is that, at least on my browser, all the names of the films have been omitted. Sometimes, unless … [Read More]
Banning the Da Vinci Code
The Christian Council of Korean has been trying to prevent the screening of the Da Vinci Code. I suppose that films which touch on religion are always likely to spark controversy in certain circles. But does noisy protest do more harm than good? There’s a thoughtful article in the Winter 2004 edition of the Korea … [Read More]
Vibe 3rd album: Re-feel
(Doremi media, March 2006) I think I’ve been overdosing on Korean R&B and ballads recently. Included in my recent YesAsia delivery was Vibe’s third album – another speculative purchase because I was under the mistaken impression that they were going to be playing in London so I thought I would see what I would be … [Read More]
Coming Soon
It’s going to take me a while to digest yesterday’s concert in the Fairfield Hall, but it’s going to get a thumbs up. In the meanwhile, I share with you a snapshot (apologies for the poor quality – it was taken, Korean-style, with a mobile phone) of Lee Soo-young, Kim Young-im and Joo Hyung-ki leading … [Read More]
Deja vu
Where do the Korean tax authorities get all their investigators from? They’ve just been throwing resources at trying to get money out of Lone Star, and now they’ve descended en masse on Carrefour. Is this a bit of anti-foreign politicking? Or are there genuine concerns that Carrefour have been trying to avoid tax? Heavy-handed investigations … [Read More]
Buying Vietnamese brides
The Chosun Ilbo article I spotted a week ago in this blog entry has created waves in diplomatic circles. As ever, the Marmot has his finger on the pulse. He has some great posts here and here. Follow his links at your leisure. [Read More]
May events 2006
We’re just about to get into May, and there’s lots going on in London. Keep an eye on my What’s On page. There’s something to suit all tastes. Probably the most unusual thing to be happening is the Contemporary Korean Ceramics exhibition as part of the Korean festival. Do please support that event. Wherever possible … [Read More]
Conspiracy theories
Tom Coyner has a mischievous speculation in one of his recent email news updates. I sometimes wonder if Pres Roh and PM Koizumi have these gentleman agreements, off the record of course, that allow each of them to act ridiculous so as to pander to local politics while knowing that the other politician is giving … [Read More]