Yi Mun-yol spoke at three London Book Fair events: on Korean Literature Past and Present at the British Library on 8 April; on Allegory and the Literary Imagination on 9 April; and in conversation with Claire Armitstead on 10 April. The below is a digest of those appearances. Grace Koh: Yi Mun-yol’s debut was Son … [Read More]
LKL articles by Philip Gowman (page 76)
Asia House celebrates Lit Fest with Jukhee Kwon
The Asia House Bagri Foundation Literature Festival officially opens today, though there was a prequel last month when when Shin Kyung-sook and Krys Lee were in town for the London Book Fair. To mark the occasion, Asia House has commissioned an installation from Korean artist Jukhee Kwon. The installation will be in place for the … [Read More]
LBF sketch: Hwang Sok-yong and the burden of history
Like many of his fellow authors at the London Book Fair, Hwang Sok-yong was put to work in at least three events: first at the Free Word Centre on 7 April with author Adam Foulds; then on the first day of the Fair itself he appeared with Pakistani author Kamila Shamsie in a panel session … [Read More]
Farewell, Queen Yuna
The Chosun Ilbo has a nice collection of pics of Kim Yuna’s performance during her retirement ice show in Seoul on 4 May, 2014. I wonder what is next for the star. [Read More]
K-Lit Trivia question
Which Korean author is the only person in Korea to have a railway station named after him? A nice little article in the JoongAngDaily about the springtime delights of Chuncheon in Gangwon-do provides the answer. Chuncheon was the birthplace of Kim Yu-jeong (김유정), in January 1908. I can’t say I’m particularly taken with the two … [Read More]
A Poem I Didn’t Name: Ko Un on the Sewol tragedy
In this month’s edition of Words Without Borders, a translation by Brother Anthony of Taizé and Lee Sang-Wha of a new poem by Ko Un on the Korean ferry disaster. Here’s one stanza: A floodtide of sorrow has risen in every corner of this country, everyone feeling indignant, fists clenched. Not only anger, not only … [Read More]
May events 2014
Plenty for everyone this month: Music Five indie / rock bands are visiting the UK from Korea, and are joined by a London-based Korean singer-songwriter, in a series of gigs around the country, especially Liverpool. The wonderful Indieful ROK has the full schedule (nice to have you back, Anna). The London dates are 6 May … [Read More]
RIP Sena Lee
Many LKL readers will remember Dr Sena Lee, the Traditional Korean Medicine doctor, and LKL’s medical correspondent. She was in London for three years taking a PhD in western medicine to add to her Korean qualifications. Her articles for LKL can be found here. During her time in London she was a great ambassador for … [Read More]
Book review: Kim In-suk — The Long Road
Kim In-suk: The Long Road Translated by Stephen J Epstein MerwinAsia, 2010, 113pp First published as 먼 길, 1995 When you hear a Korean abroad refer to the locals as “stupid whiteys”, and soon afterwards refer to his fellow countrymen as “mannerless gooks” you know you are dealing with someone who doesn’t feel at ease … [Read More]
Antarctic Journal: a promising start, a confusing end, and a film to be avoided
Antarctic Journal (Im Pil-seong, 2004) screened at the KCC on 24 April as part of the Year of the Film Professionals. The second professional to be so featured was cinematographer Chung Chung-hoon, who gives Park Chan-wook movies their distinctive look. Antarctic Journal is one of Chung’s rare films with another director. Given the poor reviews … [Read More]
Ha-joon Chang on anchovies and economics
Cambridge economist Ha-joon Chang’s next book, Economics: The User’s Guide will be available on 1 May. It is the first of a batch of new publications in Penguin’s Pelican imprint, which has been dormant for thirty years. He talks about his book in a diary article in this weekend’s FT: In saying that there is … [Read More]
Has anyone spotted any Korean ingredients at Waitrose, ever?
I really don’t know where this story has come from, because among frequenters of LKL’s Facebook group no-one will admit to having seen any Korean food products in any branch of Waitrose. And personally, neither have I, in Canary Wharf, King’s Road Chelsea, East Sheen, Marylebone High Street, or any other Waitrose store I frequent. … [Read More]
Connie Talbot donates to Sewol disaster
Connie Talbot, the runner up in Britain’s Got Talent 2007 (she lost out to Jeju goodwill ambassador Paul Potts), is currently in Korea for some concerts – aged 13. The Chosun Ilbo reports that she will be donating the profits from this Sunday’s concert in Seoul to the ferry disaster. She thus joins the ranks … [Read More]
No-one’s in the mood for celebrating
In a brief article two days ago, Variety noted the impact of the Sewol ferry disaster on the Korean box office, on TV schedules, and on pop concerts. No one is in the mood for enjoying themselves right now. Not that such an injunction is needed, but I hear that government officials and diplomatic staff … [Read More]
Jong Song Thaek, blow by blow
A list of articles on the subject of the Jang Song Thaek purge: Kim Jong Un’s uncle ‘very likely’ removed from power – Washington Post, 3 December 2013 N. Korea announces purge of Jang Song Thaek for “anti-party, counter-revolutionary factional acts” – Free Korea, 8 December 2013 Report on Enlarged Meeting of Political Bureau of … [Read More]
LBF sketch: Hwang Sun-mi on following your dreams
LKL reports from two events involving Hwang Sun-mi at the London Book Fair in Earls Court. So you think Hwang Sun-mi’s bestselling book The hen who dreamed she could fly is all about maternal sacrifice? Think again. It could be that you’ve been influenced by the film adaptation Leafie, a hen into the wild. During … [Read More]