London Korean Links

Covering things Korean in London and beyond since 2006

RIP Richard Rutt

RIP Richard Rutt (27 August 1925 – 27 July 2011), Roman Catholic priest, former Anglican bishop, sometime RASKB president, and pioneer in Korean studies. Tributes by Brother Anthony in the Korea Times and William Pore at H-net, with partial bibliography. [Read More]

The Nomad Artist in a Transnational Era: Korean Contemporary Art on British Soil

Looks like an interesting afternoon coming up at the KCC on Friday afternoon, 1 July. RSVP to [email protected] The Nomad Artist in a Transnational Era: Korean Contemporary Art on British Soil. Ever since the early 1960s when the term ‘globalization’ was coined there have been stormy discussions especially since the early 1990s. By now, the … [Read More]

Pororo and the Axis of Evil

Pororo and the Axis of Evil: the South Korean animation industry outsources work north of the border. And it might get Pororo banned in the US. WSJ and Chosun. #. The creators of Green Days told me no such outsourcing takes place now because of strained North-South relations. [Read More]

SHINee Happy People: fans turn out in force to greet their favourite K-pop band

Saharial joins the Shawols in Abbey Road and catches a glimpse of SMTown’s boy band. Abbey Road at 7.45am lies unsuspecting in the morning sunshine of the hundreds of kpop fans that will swarm the area in support of SHINee who are performing “Japan Debut Premium Reception in London“ (http://youtu.be/codeksErVqU) – a live streamed concert … [Read More]

Abstracts: Korean Buddhists Arts of the Koryŏ and Chosŏn Kingdoms

Here are the abstracts for the series of talks on Korean Buddhist arts at SOAS on 19 May 2011: Gyeongwon Choe (Kansas University) Marginalised yet Devoted: Buddhist Paintings Commissioned by Nuns of the Early Joseon Palace Cloisters This lecture examines the three extant Buddhist paintings commissioned by Buddhist nuns in the palace cloisters of the … [Read More]

2011 Travel Diary day 7: Baek Un-cheol and Seolmundae Halmang: a lifetime’s obsession with stones and their stories

Jeju Stone Park, Friday 6 May 2011. “I fell in love with Seolmundae Halmang, and now I can’t love any other woman” says Baek Un-cheol, honorary director of Jeju Stone Park. Maybe it explains why he is single. No earthly woman can compete in his affections with the legendary earth mother and creator of Jejudo. … [Read More]

Summer 2011 Korean studies seminars at SOAS

Two Friday evening seminars have been announced so far – see below. I’ve posted a brief review of Chris Springer’s book here. Date: Friday, 6 May 2011 Time: 17.00-19.00 Title: Representations of colonial Korea in print and in visual imagery Speaker: Dr Susan House Wade (University of Brighton) Venue: Room G50, Ground Floor, Main Building … [Read More]

Are the six party talks a waste of time? Pyongyang won’t give up its nukes, says Choe Tae Bok

We all have our private thoughts on that question. The Chatham House talk this week (29 March) by Choe Tae Bok, Speaker of the North Korean Supreme People’s Assembly, was off the record, so I have not reported anything specific from the event. But given the timing of the visit, coinciding with the implementation of … [Read More]

The BKVA Annual Report 2010-11

Here is the text of the BKVA’s annual report, presented to the Anglo-Korean Society’s AGM yesterday. CHAIRMANS REPORT TO THE AGM OF THE ANGLO-KOREAN SOCIETY HELD AT THE KOREAN CULTURAL CENTRE ON TUESDAY 29 MARCH 2011 INTRODUCTION 1. I am pleased that I am able to attend this AGM to present the BKVA report for … [Read More]

Choe Tae Bok in London

Choe Tae Bok, the Chairman of the DPRK Supreme People’s Assembly, is in town next week on a charm offensive. Tea with Lord Alton and members of the North Korea All-Party Parliamentary Group at the House of Lords (Anglo-Korean Society members were included in the invitation) on Wednesday (30 March), dinner with Asia House corporate … [Read More]

Millenarianism and the Pursuit of World Peace

Ever wanted to know more about the Moonies? This Friday is your chance: Friday, March 18th, 5pm, room G50 (main building) Dr. LUCAS POKORNY (Aberdeen University) “Millenarianism and the Pursuit of World Peace” Abstract: The lecture will focus on the millenarian dimension of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (aka Unification Church 統一敎). … [Read More]

Particles are Expressives: the case of Korean

This Friday’s seminar at SOAS is on the subject of linguistics: Friday, March 11th, 5pm, room G50 (main building) Dr. JIEUN KIAER, University of Oxford Particles are Expressives: the case of Korean Abstract: Often, the dimensions of meaning beyond propositional meaning have been understudied or put aside, as those meanings have been considered insignificant and … [Read More]