Foreign hanok defenders battle obliteration of Seoul’s architectural heritage. Andrew Salmon writes for Yonhap on David Kilburn and Peter Bartholomew (above). http://bit.ly/97IhMI Also echoed in the Joongang Ilbo. #. I’ve been trying to arrange for David Kilburn to give a talk on preservation at the KCC in London, but I think the whole thing is … [Read More]
Category: Asides (page 67)
Korean gardens and other top travel ideas
Check out Korean Gardens on the KTO website – this is how I’m going to persuade my wife to come to Korea # And Nanoomi has a great feature on the top 10 vacation spots in Korea – some suggestions you might not have come across before (http://bit.ly/ciIKL9 #) including the Hwansun Caves in Samcheok, … [Read More]
Official story on the Cheonan fails to convince many
My London Korean friends are obviously not alone in doubting that the DPRK sunk the Cheonan: only 32.5% more or less trust the findings of the international enquiry http://bit.ly/cDdWhE # [Read More]
The Philharmonia Orchestra in Sorok-do
Video of London’s Philharmonia Orchestra in tour to Korea in May 2010, including concert in Sorok-do. Ashkenazy with Cho Yong-pil, sponsored by Lady Rothermere. http://bit.ly/d8LyYB. Also reported in the Korea Times. # [Read More]
Seal-maker deceived his Sancheong hosts
This makes me sad. Sancheong County was very proud of its association with the presidential seal. Now we discover that the seal-maker wasn’t all he promised to be. http://bit.ly/ayUI3W # [Read More]
KOFIC releases Lee Man-hee box set
Box set of classic Lee Man-hee films, including Marines who Never Returned. A must-buy. http://tinyurl.com/2u6vukv # [Read More]
Buddhist art collection for sale
The largest collection of Korean Buddhist paintings outside of Korea starts to come under the hammer at Christie's: The Jerry Lee Musslewhite Collection of Korean Art http://bit.ly/aCYEqu # [Read More]
Hanbok designs by Park Sul-nyeo in aquarium fashion shoot
The flowing lines of hanbok take on a new meaning in this underwater fashion show celebrating the opening of the Lotte Department Store at Cheongnyangni Station, Seoul. Beautiful. http://bit.ly/9Ec5JC # Hanbok designs by Park Sul-nyeo. All photos via Yonhap / Reuters [Read More]
Koreanfilm.org’s films of the decade and ROK Drop’s top Korean War films
Koreanfilm.org releases its top ten films of the decade, 2000-2009, six times over. Plenty of food for thought. http://bit.ly/8XL6jz #. And ROK Drop suggests the 10 Best All-Time Korean War Movies. Michael Caine's debut A Hill in Korea squeaks in at #10 http://bit.ly/byaTSF # [Read More]
The entertainment industry in the news
Some recent articles on the spread of K-pop in 2010, and on the darker side of the industry. K-Pop Online: Korean Stars Go Global with Social Media – TIME http://bit.ly/c5oA73 #. Underage celebs suffer mistreatment, says the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family (Korea Times, 27 Aug) Sexy moves provoke debate over teen idols, says … [Read More]
Your online resource for Korean kite-building
I never thought there would be an English language forum about making traditional Korean fighting kites, but here it is: Fighter Kite Central. http://bit.ly/crTvaZ # [Read More]
Wendy Ide on Mother
“It's overlong and the pacing suffers from the unwieldy run time”. Wendy Ide on Mother (Now screening at Picturehouse and ICA). I'm trying to think of a Korean film she actually likes # [Read More]
NYT reviews Vienna show of North Korean art
Some typically kitsch North Korean artwork at Vienna museum – coverage in the NY Times. The slideshow is worth a look. http://nyti.ms/bGdDbQ # [Read More]
Photos from the KAA calligraphy workshop
Great pics by Jeff Rollason of KAA’s Invisible bonds exhibition and calligraphy workshop. Here’s the slideshow on his Flickr account: http://bit.ly/c2hI0V # [Read More]
British-raised Korean in Miss Universe hopes
Korean beauty raised in England is in the running for Miss Universe 2010. http://bit.ly/bafwll # Miss Korea Kim Joori (22) is 172.5cm tall. She was born in Seoul, but raised in England studying ballet since she was five. Kim majored in ballet at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Russia, and hence is fluent in both … [Read More]
Strains in a mixed marriage
Did you know resting your chin in your hands is considered rude in Korea? But not quite grounds for divorce. http://bit.ly/d6qHuY. Korean man tries to divorce his Vietnamese wife who stared at him while he ate. # [Read More]