For those who want to join in cheering for the Korean athletes, there’s a rehearsal down in Raynes Park this Saturday. You’ll be learning how to sing and dance to Psy’s official cheering song, imaginatively called “Korea”. It goes something like this: More details on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/MylsZn [Read More]
Category: Asides (page 38)
Japanese invaders colonise Dokdo
This month’s Korea.net magazine features Dokdo, but in cataloguing the island’s human and plant inhabitants, the magazine reveals five species with suspiciously Japanese-sounding names that have a firm foothold on the Korean islands. In the plant world, there’s Artemisia japonica var. macrocephala Pampan and Rumex japonicus Houttuyn (both ominously said to be “spreading quickly these … [Read More]
Park Chan-wook’s Night Fishing released on R3 DVD
One of the highlights of last year’s London Korean Film Fest last year, so I’m told, was Park Chan-wook’s iPhone-shot short movie Night Fishing. I just didn’t get a chance to see it. But thankfully it’s out on subtitled Region 3 DVD later this month at YesAsia. It’ll soon be in my shopping cart. (Update … [Read More]
John Everard launches “Only Beautiful Please”
Former UK ambassador to Pyongyang John Everard has just launched his book “Only Beautiful Please” at a talk to the Korea Society. He caused a stir by saying North Koreans don’t like the Chinese, which links in with something the defector Kim Joo-il said in a letter to the FT in September 2010: North Koreans … [Read More]
South Bank workshop disappoints
Not sure we’ll be getting a write-up of Haegue Yang’s day at the South Bank. I got this from someone who was going to write it up: “Haegue’s workshop yesterday was so disappointing… I made two simple origami figures and knitting without anything related to Haegue’s work really. I don’t have anything to write about … [Read More]
Dodgy savings bank loans provide unique buying opportunity
Fancy a Lamborghini? Contact the Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation, who are trying to offload assets from failed Korean savings banks. The cars were repossessed when their owners failed to pay up. Via Wall Street Journal http://on.wsj.com/L1CQiS [Read More]
New London Korean restaurant is recruiting
If you google “Bibigo London” you’ll find lots of job adverts for the new London branch of the international Bibigo restaurant chain run by CJ Foodville. It opens this summer in Great Marlborough Street with staff training planned for July. The top job is already taken: the London operation will be headed by Korean celebrity … [Read More]
Now on My Way to Meet you – the TV show that bridges North and South
Today’s Daily Mail features a Korean TV women’s talk / talent show featuring North Korean defectors: Now on My Way to Meet You. [Read More]
Korean Air needs a language consultant…
Unfortunate Korean Air commercial promoting flights to Nairobi, Kenya, and encouraging travels to enjoy the “indigenous people full of primitive energy”. Originally tweeted by journalist Wouter van Kleef, and expanded upon by Al Jazeera, with some of the Kenyan response including this image from C_mwangi. [Read More]
How not to make yourself popular with Korean smartphone users
According to the Marmot’s Hole, the map app of the recently revealed beta version IOS6 apparently has Dokdo registered as Takeshima. Oops! [Read More]
UK and South Korea link up as offshore renewables pioneers
UK and South Korea announce a new pact to promote collaboration between their emerging marine and offshore wind sectors. UK renewable energy consultancy IT Power and the Korea Maritime University have been awarded a contract from the British Embassy in Seoul to establish the new initiative. Full story at Business Green. [Read More]
Third Window Films ceases theatrical distribution
Sad news. Third Window Films, who among other things distributed the uncut version of Im Sang-soo’s President’s Last Bang in the UK, has ceased theatrical releases. Twitch has the full story, including the reasons why. [Read More]
Koreans help design the London Olympic podium
Two Koreans are in the 5-strong team who designed the London Olympics medal-winners’ podium: RCA students Hong-Yeul Eom and Heegun Koo http://bit.ly/K3ySVJ. Not sure about the official Olympic colour though [Read More]
A Kim Whanki beats its sale estimate
A rare Kim Whanki for sale at Christie’s Hong Kong: estimated to sell in the range of USD 71,000 to USD 97,000, actually sold for nearly 40% more – USD134,000 – at the 20th Century Asian Art sale on 26 May 2012. [Read More]
Korean authors by an English painter
British artist Billy Childish exhibits portraits of two celebrated Korean authors (Yi Kwang-su and Yi Sang) in his Seoul show entitled Strange Bravery at Gallery Hyundai in Jongno, Seoul, till 3 June. http://bit.ly/JdjPZR [Read More]
Some celebrity holiday companions for some lucky winners
Fancy going on holiday with Miss A or 2PM? You had a one in 310 chance courtesy of the KTO, if you’d managed to spot the opportunity in time. Not bad odds. Surely would have been worth a try? http://bit.ly/JUKKO3 [Read More]