For the past 3 years LKL has concocted a quiz of the year as a way of gathering together some of the news stories which have most caught our eye. This year, as I came to draw up the list in mid December I found it hard to think of anything amusing or diverting: most … [Read More]
Category: Language & Learning (page 65)
Wonder Girls One to Watch
The Wonder Girls have been picked as ‘Ones to Watch’ for 2010, by advertising agency JWT. First Koreans to make it into US Billboard charts top 100. # The “girl group has conquered Asia and has its sights on the rest of the world,” JWT said. Source: Chosun Ilbo [Read More]
The Chaebolization of the Korean music industry
The Sincerest Form of Flattery: Mark Russell on how Vietnam is following Korea’s example in how to produce pop stars http://bit.ly/68KLpD #, while in a related series of articles Richard Stansfield talks about The Chaebolization of the Korean Music Industry http://bit.ly/8W37mD #. [Read More]
Transeurasian languages: are Japanese and Korean related?
Darren Southcott reports from the SOAS seminar given by Dr Martine Robbeets on 20 November: “Korean and the Transeurasian languages: similarities that make a difference”. With additional material from Peter Corbishley Korean and the Transeurasian languages was not the title of a talk designed to bring in the crowds. But slowly SOAS room G50 filled … [Read More]
January-March Korean class season at the KCC
Next term’s Korean language courses at the KCC are open for subscription: APPLICATION DEADLINE: by Wednesday 9th December 2009, 10am. via Email only 1. NEW STUDENTS FOR BEGINNERS 1: Wednesday 9th December 2009, 10am This is for new absolute beginner students who have not studied at KCC before. 2. CONTINUING STUDENTS: Wednesday 25th November ~ … [Read More]
Melodrama of the Modern Girl: Jaesaeng by Yi Kwang-su
Further details of this Friday’s talk at SOAS: Friday, December 4th, 5pm, room G50 (main building) Dr. Michael Shin, University of Cambridge Melodrama of the Modern Girl: The Novel Jaesaeng by Yi Kwang-su (1924-25) Abstract: Yi Kwang-su’s Jaesaeng (Rebirth) was one of the most popular novels in colonial Korea during the 1920s. One reason for … [Read More]
Human Rights and Military-First Politics in the DPRK. Song Jiyoung at Chatham House
Notice of an upcoming lunchtime round-table at Chatham House: Human Rights and Military-First Politics in the DPRK Tuesday 1 December 2009 13.15-14.30 Speaker: Dr Jiyoung Song, Politics and International Studies (POLIS), University of Cambridge Chair: DR JOHN SWENSON-WRIGHT, Associate Fellow, Asia Programme, Chatham House The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) has produced a large … [Read More]
US-North Korean Relations and the Peace System in the Korean Peninsula: A Historical Inquiry
Please find below the abstract and bio for the talk at SOAS on Friday. Friday, November 27th, 5pm, room G50 (main building) Prof. Wookhee Shin, Seoul National University / SOAS US-North Korean Relations and the Peace System in the Korean Peninsula: A Historical Inquiry Abstract This seminar will deal with six cases of US-North Korean … [Read More]
Mother reveals Bong’s perversity
This report captures director Bong Joon-ho’s insights on his subversive thriller, detailing his “perverse” casting of icons Kim Hye-ja and Won Bin against their established types. Bong discusses his meticulous control over “feminine” landscapes and storyboards, ultimately emphasizing how the primal maternal instinct can transform a mother into a monster in her desperate quest to protect. [Read More]
Predicting Change in North Korea: the Post Kim Jong-il Era
The University of Cambridge Department of East Asian Studies is pleased to announce the following lecture in its series of East Asian seminars. This seminar will take place on Wednesday, November 25th in Room 7 of the Faculty of Asian & Middle Eastern Studies (formerly Oriental Studies), Sidgwick Avenue, Cambridge from 12.30-14.00 Please note: this … [Read More]
Korean and the Transeurasian languages: similarities that make a difference
More info about this Friday’s talk at SOAS: Friday, November 20th, 5pm, room G50 (main building) Dr. Martine Robbeets, University of Mainz Korean and the Transeurasian languages: similarities that make a difference Abstract: The term “Transeurasian” refers a group of geographically adjacent languages, stretching from Japan in the East to Lithuania in the West, that … [Read More]
“Asia! Asia!” – Stephen Epstein at SOAS
Stephen Epstein had a busy week last week giving lectures in Cambridge, Oxford and London. He is on a lecture tour of Europe, using the trip as an opportunity to test various chapters from his forthcoming book with a critical audience. Friday’s lecture at SOAS focused on the portrayal of some of Korea’s Asian neighbours … [Read More]
November Cooking with Kiejo
Details of Kiejo Sarsfield’s classes for November: 14th November. Menu : 1. Haemul pajeon (seafood pancake) 2. Bibimbab (Mixed vegetables, beef, rice with spicy sauce) 3. Korean Miso Soup with tofu Time : 11 AM —2 PM Cost : £30 This menu seem most popular, I have done it many times. 28th November. Cancelled This … [Read More]
The Axis of Vaudeville: Images of North Korea in South Korean Pop Culture
Elizabeth Grace reports on Dr Stephen Epstein’s talk at Cambridge earlier this week We are all too familiar with the Western media’s portrayal of North Korea as a rogue communist state, complete with an evil dictator whose regime is seen as an unrepentant member of the “axis of evil.” Although these one-sided portrayals are increasingly … [Read More]
From Gulag to Getaway: North Korean refugees tell their story in Parliament
“In South Korea, we are taught English, Maths, things like that. We are taught nothing about North Korea.” I was talking to a young South Korean after a meeting of the North Korean All-Party Parliamentary Group. She was visibly shocked at what she had just heard. Two North Korean refugees – Jung Guang-il and Lee … [Read More]
Margaret Drabble’s search for the Crown Princess
Jennifer Barclay, author of MEETING MR KIM: OR HOW I WENT TO KOREA AND LEARNED TO LOVE KIMCHI, reports from the Korean Cultural Centre on Dame Margaret Drabble’s lecture based on her novel The Red Queen Dame Margaret Drabble, CBE DBE, looks elegant with her hair in a natural bob and a touch of red … [Read More]