Congratulations to Gavin Mackay, a British sausage manufacturer in Seoul, who has won the best ‘small and medium-sized business prize’ at the ‘5th KOR-EU Industry Cooperation Day’ event. http://bit.ly/UnVA0Z. Via @UKinKorea [Read More]
Category: Asides (page 63)
Strad stolen from Korean violinist in Euston sandwich shop
London-based violinist Min-Jin Kym had her 300-year-old Stradivarius stolen as she had a sandwich at Pret-a-Manger, Euston Station. Detectives believe an opportunist gang grabbed the bag without having any idea of its value. Min-jin: I hope you get your Strad back very soon! http://bit.ly/gLG9cd # [Read More]
Sarah Chang’s weekend in Philly
Violinist Sarah Chang tells us how to spend the perfect weekend in Philadelphia – via the Weekend FT’s How to Spend it mag. #. Brunch, shoe shopping, baseball, movies, the art museum, cocktails and high tea. [Read More]
Werner Bischof’s photos of the Korean War
Magnum photo essay on Korean War, focusing on the experience of civilians. Worth a look. A six-minute video showing the photographs of Werner Bischof with voiceover from people who experienced that time. http://bit.ly/dEz6Yw # [Read More]
A gift idea for Winter Sonata fans?
Bae Yong-joon’s book about Korea — A Journey in Search of Korea’s Beauty — has been translated into English: a Christmas gift idea? http://bit.ly/gobpWT #. The book sold well in its Japanese and Taiwanese versions, according to the Chosun Ilbo. [Read More]
Warrior’s Way tired and cliched
Via @bournecinema: Negative review of THE WARRIOR’S WAY (aka Laundry Warrior), starring Jang Dong-gun, in the Joongang Ilbo. Sat on the shelf 2yrs. Not a good sign. “It is a novel idea for an Asian swordsman to go to the West and become a hero there. But that plot twist is not strong enough to … [Read More]
Independent reviews The Tiger in Asian Art
Michael Glover in the Independent reviews the excellent Asia House exhibition: The Tiger in Asian Art, http://ind.pn/eKhWGK: What intrigues most about this wonderful exhibition – and how sad that it has no catalogue, because its story is so rich and so much worth the telling – is that the tiger seldom looks really fearsome, even … [Read More]
Free school meals debate causes fight in Parliament
A fight erupted in South Korean parliament over free school meals – via The Telegraph http://bit.ly/e6wOP2 #. “President Lee Myung-bak’s GNP party have objected to the bill, saying benefits should be limited to low-income families and expanded gradually.” [Read More]
Wikileaks on North Korea: hardly controversial
So the Dear Leader is a “Flabby Old Chap“? Who doesn’t put on a bit of weight when getting older, particularly if you don’t get much exercise? # Wikileaks cables reveal China ‘ready to abandon North Korea’. Former UK ambassador Chun Yung-woo quoted. Guardian. http://bit.ly/grAjhw # RT @fcaidan: China is NOT ‘abandoning N Korea.’ WikiLeaks … [Read More]
First Thoughts on the Last Godfather
From @ajosshi: An unmissable movie: http://bit.ly/ezQ7CQ A few thoughts on Shim Hyung-rae’s new film. # From the trailer it seems as if he’s trying to add a Charlie Chaplin feel to his creation, but if the slapstick is that old and the jokes that unfunny then I’m not sure if even the presence of Harvey … [Read More]
Where to start in Korean literature, and five “Classics” to avoid
Charles Montgomery has a great post on where to start in translated Korean literature, and in another article shares Five Korean “Classics” To Avoid: Heartless (Yi Kwang-su, 1917) Aunt Suni (Hyeon Ki-young, 1978) Between Heaven and Earth (Yun Dae-nyong, 1996) A Man (Hwang Sun-won) and Buckwheat Season (Yi Hyo-sok, 1936). One day, I’m going to … [Read More]
T-ARA boosts national defense
Never let it be said that K-pop girl groups are soft on national security. T-ara donates 20 million won to the cause: http://bit.ly/hs5OHu. Via @bournecinema [Read More]
North Korea’s silkworm technology
Bored with shelling South Korean islands, North Korea looks to invest in Vietnamese silk. FT blogs: http://bit.ly/dQwPzB # North Korea’s contribution to any silk venture will be its “silkworm expertise and technology”, Vietnam would, in exchange, provide labour and investment in production facilities. [Read More]
Liz Chae’s stories of the sea
Finding Iodo: The Sea Woman and the Man in Exile. Interesting project – a film featuring a poet and female diver. http://bit.ly/dQv9PS #. This follows on from Liz Chae’s previous film The Last Mermaids, about the diving women of Jeju-do. [Read More]
Korean Eye returns to Seoul
The Korean Eye: Fantastic Ordinary exhibition which started in London has now made its way to Seoul: a feature on Ji Yong-ho's tyre sculptures can be found in the Joongang Ilbo http://bit.ly/dOv5sN # [Read More]
Jang Dong-gun in Warrior’s Way
This still from Jang Dong-gun’s Hollywood debut (The Warrior’s Way, aka Laundry Warrior, with Kate Bosworth) has about as much sexual chemistry as a Hong Sang-soo film: none. http://bit.ly/ikokw2 # [Read More]