The Chosun Ilbo has a nice collection of pics of Kim Yuna’s performance during her retirement ice show in Seoul on 4 May, 2014. I wonder what is next for the star. [Read More]
Category: Asides (page 21)
K-Lit Trivia question
Which Korean author is the only person in Korea to have a railway station named after him? A nice little article in the JoongAngDaily about the springtime delights of Chuncheon in Gangwon-do provides the answer. Chuncheon was the birthplace of Kim Yu-jeong (김유정), in January 1908. I can’t say I’m particularly taken with the two … [Read More]
A Poem I Didn’t Name: Ko Un on the Sewol tragedy
In this month’s edition of Words Without Borders, a translation by Brother Anthony of Taizé and Lee Sang-Wha of a new poem by Ko Un on the Korean ferry disaster. Here’s one stanza: A floodtide of sorrow has risen in every corner of this country, everyone feeling indignant, fists clenched. Not only anger, not only … [Read More]
RIP Sena Lee
Many LKL readers will remember Dr Sena Lee, the Traditional Korean Medicine doctor, and LKL’s medical correspondent. She was in London for three years taking a PhD in western medicine to add to her Korean qualifications. Her articles for LKL can be found here. During her time in London she was a great ambassador for … [Read More]
10th Gwangju Biennale to be introduced at the ICA
Coming up on 1 May 2014 at 6:30 at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, Jessica Morgan, Artistic Director of the 10th Gwangju Biennale, introduces the curatorial framework of the next edition, Burning Down the House, opening in September 2014. This will be followed by a conversation with Sally Tallant, Director of Liverpool Biennial – The … [Read More]
Ha-joon Chang on anchovies and economics
Cambridge economist Ha-joon Chang’s next book, Economics: The User’s Guide will be available on 1 May. It is the first of a batch of new publications in Penguin’s Pelican imprint, which has been dormant for thirty years. He talks about his book in a diary article in this weekend’s FT: In saying that there is … [Read More]
Has anyone spotted any Korean ingredients at Waitrose, ever?
I really don’t know where this story has come from, because among frequenters of LKL’s Facebook group no-one will admit to having seen any Korean food products in any branch of Waitrose. And personally, neither have I, in Canary Wharf, King’s Road Chelsea, East Sheen, Marylebone High Street, or any other Waitrose store I frequent. … [Read More]
Connie Talbot donates to Sewol disaster
Connie Talbot, the runner up in Britain’s Got Talent 2007 (she lost out to Jeju goodwill ambassador Paul Potts), is currently in Korea for some concerts – aged 13. The Chosun Ilbo reports that she will be donating the profits from this Sunday’s concert in Seoul to the ferry disaster. She thus joins the ranks … [Read More]
No-one’s in the mood for celebrating
In a brief article two days ago, Variety noted the impact of the Sewol ferry disaster on the Korean box office, on TV schedules, and on pop concerts. No one is in the mood for enjoying themselves right now. Not that such an injunction is needed, but I hear that government officials and diplomatic staff … [Read More]
Jong Song Thaek, blow by blow
A list of articles on the subject of the Jang Song Thaek purge: Kim Jong Un’s uncle ‘very likely’ removed from power – Washington Post, 3 December 2013 N. Korea announces purge of Jang Song Thaek for “anti-party, counter-revolutionary factional acts” – Free Korea, 8 December 2013 Report on Enlarged Meeting of Political Bureau of … [Read More]
LTI Korea video: Yi Mun-yol in conversation with Claire Armitstead
Here is LTI Korea’s video of Yi Mun-yol in conversation with The Guardian‘s Claire Armitstead at the English PEN Literary Salon, Earls Court on the last day of the London Book Fair 2014, 10 April 2014: Links: LTI Korea website | YouTube channel [Read More]
Write-ups of the London Book Fair
Here are some links to articles about the London Book Fair, to which I’ll add as I find more. Ten Korean writers on a country sawn in half, Claire Armitstead, Guardian, 7 April 2014 South Korean lit as proxy for every Korea, past, present, and future, kokkiri comments on the above Guardian article, Subject Object … [Read More]
LTI Korea video: Shin Kyung-sook in conversation with Arifa Akbar
Here is LTI Korea’s video of Shin Kyung-sook in conversation with The Independent‘s Arifa Akbar on the first day of the London Book Fair. The topic is mainly Please Look After Mother, but also we talk about I’ll be Right There, and we learn about what Shin is working on right now. LKL’s question comes … [Read More]
K-P.O.P – Contemporary Korean Art at MOCA Taipei
An interesting way of branding an exhibition, in one of the first countries to get enthusiastic about K-pop. If you’re in the area, it’s definitely worth a visit according to LKL’s former visual arts correspondent. On from 19 April to 15 June 2014. K-P.O.P: Contemporary Korean Art Process. Otherness. Play K-pop is commonly used today … [Read More]
Podcast: Kim Hyesoon reads at the Poetry Library
For those who decided to go to see Shin Kyung-sook and Krys Lee at Asia House rather than Kim Hyesoon at the Poetry Library, MPT Magazine has kindly recorded the latter event and put it on Soundcloud. “They’re poems that really change your life … completely visceral,” says the moderator, among other things. The event … [Read More]
Tesco in Korea: high returns despite opening restrictions
Tesco has just reported a 4.3% like for like sales decline in Korea for the 52 weeks to 22 February 2014. This follows a 5.3% decline last year. But nevertheless: Our business in Korea continues to generate high returns despite the impact on sales from the regulatory restrictions on opening hours. Whilst we annualised the … [Read More]