Three years ago SOAS held a conference entitled Historians, clerks and accountants: Methodological issues in the use of sources on Chosŏn History. One of the more interesting elements of that day was a consideration of court records of criminal trials and a discussion of Joseon dynasty autopsy techniques. The speaker, Kim Ho, returns this Friday … [Read More]
Category: Language & Learning (page 51)
Dalkey Archive launches the Library of Korean Literature
A bit of exciting news for those interested in getting your hands on more Korean contemporary literature in English translation: Dalkey Archive Press have been working with the Literature Translation Institute of Korea to bring out a series of 25 titles over the next two years. The first ten will hit the shops and your … [Read More]
2013 Travel Diary #27: Last day at the Expo
Donguibogam Village, Sancheong-gun, Friday 13 September, 7am. There’s still a long list of things I have to do before leaving. We have to pay a courtesy call on the mayor to say farewell, plus I want to pay a last visit to the Festival. And of course I need to gather everything together, trying to … [Read More]
2013 Travel Diary #25: The Hallyu 4.0 Experience
Donguibogam Village, Sancheong-gun, Thursday 12 September, 9am. At the main entrance to the Expo there is a long parade of information booths and gift stalls. One of the booths was there to promote Hallyu 4.0. Hallyu 1.0 and Hallyu 2.0 are the first and second waves of Korean pop culture spreading through Asia. First came … [Read More]
2013 Travel Diary #23: The pillow of eternal youth
Donguibogam Village, Sancheong-gun, Wednesday 11 September, 5pm. At Korean expos, the emphasis is not on the looking. It is on the experiencing. You have to immerse yourself, to touch, to feel, to try something out. At the Sancheong International Traditional Medicine Fair and Festival, then, it was no surprise when the organisers, who had come … [Read More]
2013 Travel Diary #22: Tiger, Bear and herb: the traditional Korean medicine experience
Donguibogam Village, Sancheong-gun, Wednesday 11 September, 4pm. In Korean mythology, it seems that it’s not the bear that has the sore head. It’s the tiger. In the Korean Medicine Theme Park, which forms part of the Donguibogam Village, the exhibits focus on the different parts of the human body, but throughout there is the recurring … [Read More]
2013 Travel Diary #11: Mother Mago, the Goddess of Jirisan
Jungsan-ri, Sancheong-gun, Sunday 8 September, 10:30am. It is pleasant to sit down in a comfortable seat in the cool environment of an air-conditioned car. After the hot, humid exertions on the mountain I am happy just to sit in the passenger seat not wanting any particular destination. But just outside Jungsan-ri we turn into a narrow … [Read More]
K-pop as peace-builder?
Two recent stories from Israel and Palestine: Middle East: Korean pop ‘brings hope for peace’, BBC, 7 August 2013. “It’s something that gives you hope, and in Jerusalem it is sometimes hard to find hope,” an Arab student is quoted as saying. Israeli troops caught doing Gangnam style with Palestinians on the West Bank, Evening … [Read More]
East Asian Societies in Transition: Challenges and Connections — Joint East Asian Studies Conference at Nottingham
I always try to get to the BAKS and Joint East Asian Studies conferences – a great way to learn, meet like-minded people, broaden your horizons and enjoy yourself. This one looks particularly interesting. There will be six panels on Korea: two on North Korea, two on popular culture in South Korea, one on historiography, … [Read More]
Human Rights forum: rethinking our approach to North Korea
Notice of a conference organised by the European Alliance for Human Rights in North Korea – their first Forum and Policy Paper Release Event – on 3 September. Registration will commence from 1.00pm, with the first session beginning at 1.30pm. The event will be held in Room 104 in Senate House. There is limited seating. … [Read More]
A Creative Writing Workshop taking the Moon Jar as inspiration
A reminder of the final event associated with the Moon Jar exhibition at the KCC: A Creative Writing Workshop Monday 12 August 14:00-16:00 KCCUK multi-purpose hall Taking the Moon Jar as a starting point, this workshop explores creative approaches to writing about objects. A writer and craft historian, Dr Eleanor Flegg will help to tease … [Read More]
KAA’s 합, 合, Collaboration programme: the Conference and Workshop
Accompanying the KAA’s summer programme this year is a conference on Korean popular culture and performance with some well-known speakers, and a session on some of Korea’s historical books in UK collections given by KAA member Young-shin Kim. Pre-registration is required. Further details below: The Korean Artists Association Conference & Workshop The Korean Artist Association … [Read More]
Daytime Sleepwalking: an artist talk at the KCC
Accompanying the current exhibition in the Crypt Gallery, St Pancras Church, is an interesting-looking talk at the KCC tomorrow afternoon. The Bluest Eyes: Thinking of You, Beautiful Talk event associated with Daytime Sleepwalking Friday 2 August, 4-5pm Venue: Korean Cultural Centre Artist Jihee Kim in conversation with Sylvia Lahav (an Associate Lecturer at ICCE in … [Read More]
Ancient and modern ceramics at the KCC
Shouvik Datta reports from the talk on Korean ceramics at the KCC on 15 July, which was part of a series of events accompanying the current Moon Vase exhibition. It was a warm July day, and Ms Heena Youn, who is currently completing her PhD at SOAS (on a specialist area of ancient Chinese ceramics), … [Read More]
Symposium: Joining Hemispheres, at the KCC
The title of this Monday’s seminar plays on the construction method of the Moon Jar. I wish I could make it. It looks like an interesting afternoon. As usual, pre-booking via [email protected] is required. Symposium: Joining Hemispheres 2pm Monday 22nd July KCCUK Multi-purpose Hall This will be a day of exchange, interaction, new perspectives and … [Read More]
Lecture: Treasures of Korean Ceramics from the National Museum of Korea
Another interesting lecture to accompany the KCC’s current Moon Jar exhibition: Treasures of Korean Ceramics from the National Museum of Korea A lecture by Heena Youn Monday 15 July 6:30pm – 8:00pm KCCUK multi-purpose hall This lecture explores the history of Korean ceramics through selected masterpieces from the National Museum of Korea, Seoul. The National … [Read More]