A London-based Korean artist – a 2012 Slade MA graduate – has won a prize sponsored by insurance group Catlin: Artist Terry Ryu Kim named winner of the Catlin Art Prize 2013 The winner of the Catlin Art Prize 2013 has been announced as Terry Ryu Kim. Terry was awarded the £5,000 prize for her … [Read More]
LKL articles by Philip Gowman (page 92)
Engage Korea conference – a welcome perspective on North Korea
When is a good time to hold a conference on engaging with North Korea? When the organisers set the date for the 4 May conference they couldn’t possibly have known the heightened level of tension that the peninsula was going to go through in the early months of 2013. Mainstream press coverage has veered from … [Read More]
March For The Beloved – in memory of Gwangju
On the anniversary of the 18 May 1980 uprising in Gwangju, here is song which became its unofficial anthem. It was written in 1982 by Kim Jong-ryul for his friends, a couple who were murdered in the uprising. The title is 임을 위한 행진곡 or “March for the beloved”, sometimes translated as “March for the … [Read More]
The Duke of Cumberland is legless
OK, that’s a bit of an exaggeration. He is now missing one foot, exposing the metal armature which has been keeping the soapy statue in one piece. And the left foreleg of his horse looks like it is not long for this world. On the way to see Krys Lee in the global literary salon … [Read More]
Lee Hyori is a retro Miss Korea
I just can’t resist this new release from Lee Hyori, Miss Korea – a very different, retro, style from her previous outings. Lyrics and music are by Ms Lee herself – perhaps sensible after the trouble she’s had with her songwriters in previous albums. The single is from her upcoming album, Monochrome. According to her … [Read More]
Yoonsuk Choi: The Chronicle of Mr. Kim
A video of Yoonsuk Choi’s live performance on 10 May 2013 (16’54”) at the opening event of The Hidden Cost of Prosperity – a group exhibitino curated by Anna Art Project (annaartproject.co.uk) at the Korean Cultural Centre UK, 10 May – 6 June 2013 [Read More]
London Book Fair 2013 – an overview of the Korean publishing market and a brief meeting with Choe Yun and Jung Young-moon
London Book Fair 2014 will see Korea as the Market Focus Country. And in 2013 Korea was there to prepare the way. The Korea Publishers Association and the Literature Translation Institute of Korea jointly occupied a stall at the Earl’s Court exhibition, displaying among other things a wide range of translated Korean literature, including a … [Read More]
Save a poster, win a flat – Pyongyang traffic cop gets rewarded
Why did traffic controller Ri Kyong Sim get rewarded with the title of Hero of the Republic, together with a new flat for herself and her family? Recently she safeguarded the headquarters of the revolution in an unexpected situation by displaying her heroic self-sacrificing spirit of defending the leader resolutely, says the Rodong Sinmun on … [Read More]
Eerie Tales from Old Korea – republished 100 years on
100 years ago, Homer B Hulbert and James Scarth Gale translated and published “Eerie Tales from Old Korea”, a collection of Korean ghost stories. Now Brother Anthony of Taize has handpicked some of those tales, and Seoul Selection has republished them to celebrate the 150th birthdays of Gale and Hulbert. It’s definitely going on to … [Read More]
David Guttenfelder’s award-winning photos from North Korea
David Guttenfelder is the Associated Press Chief Photographer for Asia. Although he’s now based in Tokyo, last year he spent around 100 days in Pyongyang for AP. His first time on the Korean peninsula was to witness the first of the family reunions between North and South, and his first time in Pyongyang was when … [Read More]
Traditional medicine is thriving in North Korea
An interesting Associated Press article on the prevalence of Traditional Korean Medicine (called Koryo Medicine) in North Korea: “Doctors are more interested in Koryo medicine rather than Western medicine because they can get it more easily,” said Ri Hye Yong, who manages [Pyongyang’s Man Nyon Pharmacy], opened by the government nearly three decades ago. “It’s … [Read More]
Shin Kwang-ho is “one to watch”
Each week, Saatchi Online showcases an emerging artist from around the world who is already garnering attention for their work. Taking inspiration from the Saatchi Gallery’s 25-year history of discovering new talent, ‘One To Watch’ presents some of the most exciting artists on Saatchi Online helping collectors to identify strong emerging talent. This week’s ‘One … [Read More]
Korea regulatory challenges cost Tesco 175 billion Won
Tesco has just published its 2012/13 results covering the 52 weeks to 23 February 2013 (pdf download). In the UK, the mainstream media focused on a tiny drop in like-for-like sales in the UK and the threat from low-cost competitors. Naturally, at LKL we were also interested in results in Korea, which is Tesco’s biggest … [Read More]
Tour review: Korea Rocks UK Tour
With explosive noise and thudding bass line, Apollo 18 launched the headline Korea Rocks gig in the South East. The whole room shook, and you wondered whether the beams supporting the floor were able to take the vibration. As energy levels increased further the long hair of the lead guitarist flew back and forth – … [Read More]
The Moranbong Band on May Day
Via James Pearson of NKNews.org and koreabang.com: North Korean TV is currently broadcasting a concert of Moranbang Band in army uniforms fiddling by a tank. Happy Labour Day! Too fun not to share. [Read More]
May events 2013
Plenty on offer this month, particularly in respect of talks and seminars. Do let me know what I’ve missed. Talks, seminars, classes The Engage Korea conference is at Merton College Oxford on 4 May SOAS seminars this month are a screening of The Korean War in Colour, on 10 May, a look at Kim Sung … [Read More]