Happy New Year. And it’s a busier start to the year than usual with no fewer than six live K-pop / hip-hop events. But before I get to the list, here’s a rehearsal for the New Year’s Eve drone show at Gwangalli Beach, Busan. Pretty impressive, though apparently there was a glitch that postponed the … [Read More]
LKL articles by Philip Gowman (page 6)
Report on 9th Enlarged Plenum of 8th WPK Central Committee
Sourced from KCNA.KP. The overseas North Koreans provided additional analysis on Twitter. Pyongyang, December 31 (KCNA): The Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK), the great guide of our country and people, has defended the eternal vitality of socialism, the ideal and future of mankind, and vigorously led its steady development, while confirming the validity of the … [Read More]
A look back at the books we encountered in 2023
When it comes to fiction, 2023 was a year that defied my expectations. Those novels that I hoped or expected to enjoy turned out to be disappointments; those that I thought might be heavy going turned out to be enjoyable. It was a reminder to try better to abide by the maxim of approaching a … [Read More]
Season’s Greetings to all our readers
Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year to all of LKL’s readers, friends and contributors. Have a peaceful break. Thanks as usual are due to Jieun Kim aka The Drawing Hand for the festive design for the LKL Christmas Card. She and I are delighted at how many of you seem to be collecting … [Read More]
The Sight and Sound top 100: what’s buried in the detail?
Back in December 2022, Sight and Sound released its updated list of The Greatest Films of All Time. This list, which was first presented in 1952, is prepared every ten years. For the first time, in this most recent iteration a Korean film made it into the top 100. There are no prizes for guessing … [Read More]
12.12 The Day gets a well-deserved third week in London cinemas
In the past few years the UK has benefited from a number of theatrical releases of recent Korean box office movies. Sometimes, the UK release has occurred while the movie is still showing in cinemas back in Korea, indicating a certain amount of confidence on the part of the distributors to invest in a title … [Read More]
December events 2023
The film and music festivals are ended, the State Visit over, and commiserations are due to Busan for missing out on the 2030 World Expo. December, thankfully, is less hectic than the last couple of months, with not much happening (as far as we know) apart from the following: Exhibitions Han Collection has a lovely … [Read More]
King Charles visits Koreatown to prepare for State Visit
King Charles paid a visit to New Malden Koreatown yesterday, as part of his preparation for the State Visit of South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol later this month. It wasn’t the pleasantest of days for it, but despite the grim weather enthusiastic crowds lined the High Street to welcome him. Centre of the action was … [Read More]
Site of first Korean legation in London unveiled
At a brief ceremony on 30 October, Ambassador Yoon Yeocheol unveiled a plaque marking the location of the first Korean legation to London, together with Mr Ian McDermott, representing the owners of the building. The building is at 4 Trebovir Road [map], a side street by Earls Court Station in West London, and is now … [Read More]
November events 2023
The customary autumnal calendar carnage continues, with the overpacked screening schedules of the film festivals clashing with music and food events, the challenges exacerbated this year by events marking 140 years of diplomatic relations bunching together in the run-up to the State Visit. I wonder if kimchi will feature on the menu of any of … [Read More]
Experience the latest in Korean VR and media at The Oulim
I never thought I would find myself saying that the best thing at an event was the K-pop videos, but there’s a first time for everything. Let’s rephrase that. The K-pop videos were the most understandable items in the event, and they were also enjoyable: what’s not to like about good-looking performers showing off their … [Read More]
A visit to Delight: the Seoul-inspired video projection show in Borough Yards
I thought, for once, I’d try to get to an exhibition in the first few days of its existence instead of at the last possible minute. So I dutifully forked out £22 plus booking fee to see what the Delight media art show was all about. First, be prepared to spend a while wandering around … [Read More]
Ghibliotheque’s Film Korea: a highly enjoyable introduction to the world of Korean cinema
Do you remember what it was like when you first discovered Korean film in all its diversity? For me, it was in about 2000. Christmas in August, Why Has Bodhi-Dharma Left for the East?, Shiri and Lies were among my first DVD orders: a bewildering array of stuff was available, and I wanted to know … [Read More]
Cairo Declaration and Korean service in British army commemorated in SOAS conference
Hands up, anyone who had actually heard of the Cairo Declaration before this SOAS conference designed to mark its 80th anniversary? I certainly hadn’t. Winston Churchill was in Cairo with a contingent of over 100 diplomatic and administrative staff, in late November 1943, where along with Chang Kai-shek and President Roosevelt they were starting to … [Read More]
Focus Art Fair at Saatchi Gallery: well worth a second look
This month the Saatchi gallery is playing host to several showcases of Korean art and technology. From 29 October, KOCCA is organising Oulim, a digital media art showcase that celebrates 140 years of UK Korea diplomatic relations; next week sees StART art fair which always has a strong Korean representation as its origins can be … [Read More]
London Korean Film Festival Announces 2023 Programme
Yesterday the KCC released the final programme for the 2023 London Korean Film Festival. While in general 2023 has not so far been a stand-out year for Korean film, there’s plenty to enjoy here. I’m looking forward to seeing Hur Jin-ho’s latest, as his Christmas in August was one of the first Korean movies I … [Read More]