Welcome back to Gwanghwamun: unveiled 15 August, liberation day http://bit.ly/9KoMjZ # also in JoongAng Daily [Read More]
Category: Asides (page 68)
Anna interviews Kinzli & the Kilowatts
Great interview with London-based Korean singer Kinzli & the Kilowatts by Anna over at Indieful ROK: http://bit.ly/cSLWUb She first started singing in the Korean orphanages. Below: Kinzli’s Safe Place for Us #. Links: Kinzli & the Kilowatts on MySpace [Read More]
RIP Andre Kim
RIP Fashion designer Andre Kim. Died on 12 August 2010, aged 75. Kim became the first Korean to show a collection in Paris, and later years saw him present his spectaculars at the pyramids in Egypt and at Angkor Wat in Cambodia. In 1992, the International Olympic Committee invited him to hold a fashion show … [Read More]
Road to the Racetrack gets there before Hong Sang-soo
Jang Sun-woo’s Road to the Racetrack: surprisingly entertaining for 140 minutes focusing on just two characters. Was their relationship just a fling, or is it for keeps? #. The film anticipates Hong Sang-soo’s output, and is more entertaining. [Read More]
BoA is back with Hurricane Venus
BoA is back with Hurricane Venus. My first commercial K-pop purchase of the year: http://tinyurl.com/32qqvx2. It’s even on UK iTunes already. #. An exciting sound, and some great moves. [Read More]
North Koreans shell innocent fish
North Koreans shell innocent fish in an artillery exercise near Yeonpyeong Island, 9 August. But that’s one hellishly low-flying satellite which photographed their gun emplacements. http://bit.ly/c5kOeV # [Read More]
Jang Dong-gun and Song Hye-kyo top plastic surgery templates
Times change. 6 years ago Hyolee & Jeon Ji-hyun were top of the list. Now Song Hye-kyo is top Plastic Surgery Template. And guys want to look like Jang Dong-gun http://bit.ly/adsPKV # [Read More]
Choi Eudon “One to Watch”
Korean-born fashion designer Eudon Choi, Royal College of Art graduate and "one to watch" – featured in Elle Magazine bit.ly/9fAddE # [Read More]
Popular Gusts on Yi Kwang-su
Yi Kwang-su's Japanese nationalism: another must-read article from Matt at Popular Gusts — on Yi’s change from Korean nationalist to servant of the Japanese. http://bit.ly/cjAv2m # [Read More]
Petal divides the audience
Mixed reactions to Jang Sun-woo's Petal at the KCC last night, as part of the Jang Sun-woo month. Two people walked out, but some of us were crying. # [Read More]
Hanoks can survive … when they are outside Seoul
Re Hahoe and Yangdong: David Kilburn reminds us that those two villages, recently listed at UNESCO, were lucky not to be inside the Seoul Metropolitan area. “Hanoks can survive … when they are outside Seoul.” The approach in Seoul is to knock hanoks down, even when they are in a conservation area. http://bit.ly/aC3flu # [Read More]
Hahoe and Yangdong listed at UNESCO
Congratulations to historic villages Hahoe and Yangdong, “two of the most representative historic clan villages in the Republic of Korea,” and Korea’s latest inclusion in the UNESCO world heritage list, on 31 July. http://bit.ly/cqjKEl # The BBC has some nice photos of both villages, plus other UNESCO sites listed along with them including Reunion Island … [Read More]
Kaya launch their website
Congratulations to KAYA, Ji Eun Jung (Kayagum) & Sung Min Jeon (Guitar), on the launch of their website and two albums: http://bit.ly/dwbkR8 #. And if you go to Kaya Restaurant in Albemarle Street you’ll likely hear some of their music being played. [Read More]
Evening at Incheon
Great photos of Incheon Bridge at Kodo’s Photolog. More photos can be viewed here: http://bit.ly/9MabHW # (via @rjkoehler) [Read More]
Yonsama “longs for” Kim Jong-il
Bae Yong-joon in funny photoshopped propaganda poster for DPRK. Doesn't look much like him though. “I want to live in the loving arms of gracious General Kim Jong-il” he’s saying. http://bit.ly/at7z0F #. The image is from the DMZ Museum in Goseong, Gangwon-do, which showw both sides using (South Korean) celebrity pictures to lure the other … [Read More]
Ginseng, zinc, anything but cash
North Korea offers to pay off Czech debts with ginseng. I suppose the hard cash is needed for nukes and Kim's posh brandy. The Czechs said they’d prefer zinc. http://bit.ly/9SK0dl # [Read More]