Here’s the official press release for this year’s London Korean Film Festival, released today. This year’s festival is the 20th organised by the KCCUK. You can find the detailed schedule here. London Korean Film Festival announces programme for special 20th anniversary edition Opening Gala (World Premiere) – Frosted Window by acclaimed director Kim Jong-kwan, followed … [Read More]
LKL articles by Philip Gowman (page 3)
October events 2025
It’s a big month for events, and a big month for new books. The K-music festival opens on 1 October, the major film festivals start up, and generally there’s not enough time to fit everything in. In a crowded month, I’ll be making sure I go to see Yun Ko-Eun at Waterstones Covent Garden, Bora … [Read More]
Review: Swag Age in Concert — A Fusion of Tradition, Rebellion, and Rhythm
Regular followers of my reviews will know that I’m not, in general, a big fan of musicals, Korean or otherwise, having too often experienced and evening of prosaic lyrics shoehorned between the barlines of unmemorable melodies. In addition, I often find with Korean musicals that there is too much plot to fit into the allotted … [Read More]
K-Music Festival 2025: an introduction
As October approaches, it’s time to start looking forward to what has become one of the mainstays of the Autumn cultural calendar: the K-Music Festival. LKL take a look at the acts that we’ll be seeing this October and November. [Read More]
September events 2025
A lean month for film screenings, but we’re about to enter into the film festival season, with the London Film Fest programme announced on 3 Sept: we already know of one Korean film in the festival schedule for October. Also, remember that the K-music festival opens on 1 Oct: time to get your tickets. Exhibitions … [Read More]
Yoon Ga-eun’s “The World of Love” in BFI London Film Festival official competition
The full programme of the 2025 London Film Festival will be unveiled on 3 September, but today the ten films selected to screen in the festival’s Official Competition were announced. Included in the list is Yoon Ga-eun’s The World of Love. Yoon has charmed us with her previous movies, which focus on the lives and … [Read More]
August events 2025
During August, London is normally quiet from the perspective of Korean events, though nowadays you can usually count on a couple of big K-pop concerts filling the gap in the calendar – such as BlackPink at Wembley. The 80th anniversary of Liberation Day is marked in New Malden with two events that we know of. … [Read More]
July events 2025
June turned out to be extremely busy, but in July we seem to be winding down for the summer. Undoubtedly the highlight for LKL is Leenalchi’s UK tour, coming to the Coronet at the beginning of the month and moving on to Manchester and Glasgow. K-pop fans can look forward to Stray Kids performing at … [Read More]
Veterans honoured on Kingston’s Fairfield Recreation Ground.
Veterans of the Korean War were honoured yesterday in an event marking the 75th anniversary of the start of the War on 25 June 1950. The event was divided into two: the formal ceremony in the morning, and the afternoon entertainments, in between which was a generous Korean lunch provided by the organisers. The dignitaries … [Read More]
1884 letter rediscovered in Cambridge giving insight into Kapsin coup
Earlier this month the Cambridge University Library blog uploaded an article telling the story of a letter recently rediscovered among the papers of Sir Harry Parkes by Jiyeon Wood, who is in charge of the Korean and Japanese collection at the library. According to Professor Kim Jong-Hak from Seoul National University: “[Prominent politician and leader … [Read More]
K-music – the archive
Here are all the concerts that have been part of the K-Music story over the years, together with links to reviews where we have been able to cover the events, or where we have identified reviews on third party websites. Although not branded under the K-music moniker, the series of five Korean concerts presented on … [Read More]
K-music Festival 2025: the official press release
Here’s the official press release for the 2025 K-music Festival — with the listings at the end of the release edited to include the late addition of Park Jiha to the programme. K-Music Festival 2025: a bold celebration of Korean sound Now in its twelfth year, the K-Music Festival returns in autumn 2025 with an … [Read More]
In introduction to the KCCUK’s 여운 | Lingering Fragments summer screening season
As in other recent summers, the KCC is collaborating with Birkbeck in curating a season of experimental and documentary films. The press release introducing the season is reproduced below. The season comprises the following programmes: 18 June: Han Okhi and Kaidu Club: A Cinema of Outsiders 25 June: Korean War Commemorative Screening: Forbidden Fatherland 2 … [Read More]
June events 2025
There’s something for everyone this month, from intimate responses to Yun Dong-ju’s poetry to the barnstorming K-pop roadshow that is SM Town; the KCCUK is particularly busy with talks and workshops (including talks by Charlotte Horlyck and Jieun Kiaer linked to their recent book publications); plus there look to be some good movie screenings at … [Read More]
2025 travel diary 1: arrival and the foodie alleyways of Ikseondong
Gwanghwamun, Seoul, Wednesday 28 May. Following the trend of more recent Korea trips, there is no particular theme this year. I simply want to meet up with old friends, make new ones, and experience a few new destinations. Plus, I had to deliver the first of my waistcoat commissions to the friends who had requested … [Read More]
May events 2025
Highlights of this month are Jaha Koo with his talking rice cookers, Seongjin Cho’s Ravelathon, and the annual Festival of Korean Dance – in London and on tour. It’s also London Craft Week, so expect some top-quality Korean crafts to be on show. Finally, Suh Do-ho’s solo show at Tate Modern opens this month. Exhibitions … [Read More]