London Korean Links

Covering things Korean in London and beyond since 2006

Concert notes: Uangel at the KCC

When I heard that Uangel (http://uangelvoice.com), a Korean popera group, was going to be performing at the Korean Cultural Centre I jumped at the chance to go. Recently performing at the Edinburgh Fringe and on a humanitarian tour of hospitals, this last minute addition to their tour was a real treat. The hall at the … [Read More]

Tablo interviewed by CNN

by Saharial The dark jumper and checked shirt might not be the average wear by hip hop artistes, but then Tablo of the group Epik High is not your average hip hop star. Well spoken, Stanford educated, he was interviewed on a number of topics by CNN earlier this week including the censorship of his … [Read More]

Where the Truth Lies: the Case of Itaewon Homicide

Saharial reviews one of 2009’s murder-mysteries: The Case of Itaewon Homicide Director: Hong Ki-seon Writer: Lee Maeng-yu Release Date: September 10, 2009 Cast: Jang Geun-suk, Jeong  Jin-yeong, Shin Seung-hwan, Oh Kwang-rok, Ko Chang-Seok Synopsis Based on real events that have been ‘dramatised and changed for dramatic purposes’ the story tells of an incident in 1997 … [Read More]

Saharial reviews Stranger than Paradise

Story: No Yoon Jae (Lee Sung-Jae) was adopted as a child and taken to Canada and now, at age 33 has been looking for his parents for some time. A successful lawyer with a love for coffee and his girlfriend he travels to Korea to meet once more with disappointment. Kang Son Ho (Uhm Tae … [Read More]

Saharial reviews Beethoven Virus

Story: Ru Mi, a violinist for 17 years has had little or no luck playing in orchestras, they all seem to disband or fall apart. Now working as a copywriter, she comes up with an idea to make Sukwon, where she lives, a capital for classical music. Her luck has not changed though and the … [Read More]

Antique: A delicious slice of feel-good cinema

Saharial samples the delights of Antique, described as “entertaining and fabulously fruity” by one reviewer Story Based closely on the 2002 Yaoi manga Antique Bakery (西洋 骨董 洋菓子店, Seiyō Kottō Yōgashiten, “Western Antique Cake-Shop”) by Fumi Yoshinaga, the Korean adaptation broke through the million mark of legitimate viewers three weeks after opening. It was invited … [Read More]

LKL Critics’ Choice 2009: Saharial

This year can definitely be marked down as one for the less inspiring years for discovering new musical talent. Korea is packed full of vocally gifted teens all eager to make the break into stardom and this year saw various girl and boy bands pop up from nowhere as companies vied for more of the … [Read More]

Saharial reviews Thirst

Being a big fan of Park Chan-wook’s Vengeance Trilogy, I was definitely excited and keen to see Thirst (박쥐; Bakjwi) his newest release that won the Jury prize at Cannes this year. The story is of Sang-hyun (Song Kang-ho), a priest who willingly undergoes a medical experiment to help find a cure for a virus. … [Read More]

Park Chan-wook: uncut (almost)

Saharial provides a warts and all direct transcript of the Park Chan-wook Q&A at the Curzon Soho preview of Thirst. At least, up until the point when an officious usherette told her to switch her recorder off… The Q&A was only a half hour long, a real shame, and the staff at the Curzon were … [Read More]

Stairway to Heaven: over-rated?

Saharial‘s first Korea TV drama review – and she has her doubts about one of the most popular ones. I am a busy gal and simply do NOT have time to waste on a drama that doesn’t push all the right buttons for me. I have been lucky though, that in all this time there … [Read More]

5 tips for choosing which Korean TV Drama to watch

There are currently 20 dramas airing on Korean TV, all vying for recognition, ratings and cult status. Some are filmed in advance, some are still being filmed even as they are starting to be aired, all having press conferences, on-set interviews, and mass produced replicas of special items from the story, not to mention the … [Read More]

Natural City: are stunning visuals enough?

Saharial reviews Natural City, a film which has had a mixed reaction from critics. Set in the distant future after a great war has ravaged the city, R (Yu Ji-Tae) attempts to find a cure for his dying lover, Ria (Seo Rin), a dancer cyborg who is close to expiration. R however is also a … [Read More]