Something to get animated about – Pucca, the funky Korean cartoon character, continues to bring in the cash: JoongAng Daily http://bit.ly/dtvYHr #. Products bearing her likeness racked up more than 500 billion won ($441 million) in retail sales from 120 countries worldwide and 15 billion won in royalty fees in 2009 alone. The products range … [Read More]
Category: Asides (page 74)
British celeb hosts Mr World finals in Korea
Strictly Come Dancing star Alesha Dixon is to present the Mr World finals in Korea. "I think it is important that whoever wins the show can show that they are a caring person and are willing to use their success to help others less fortunate than themselves." http://bit.ly/9my5uj # [Read More]
Thomas the Tank Engine musical tours Korea
Thomas the Tank Engine returns to Korea for a stage musical. Thomas & Friends Live! On Stage: A Circus Comes to Town debuted in Korea in 2007, and this year will tour seven Korean cities: Seoul, Suwon, Gwangju, Jeonju, Seongnam, Daegu and Goyang. Source: Korea Times # [Read More]
Jang Sa-ik profiled in Korea Times
Great profile of folk singer Jang Sa-ik in the Korea Times. A world tour is planned for 2011. Hope it includes the UK. “He began his singing career at the age of 46 after jumping from one job to the next, working as an electronics salesman, car shop manager, insurance clerk and furniture store manager.” … [Read More]
S.E.S reunites for wedding photos
S.E.S Reunites For Shoo’s Wedding Photoshoot. Shoo will be marrying a basketball player next month. http://bit.ly/8XvZUV #. Via @soompi [Read More]
Korean fashion students get recognition in London
Korean fashion students at London colleges have been getting recognition: Jackie Lee of Central St Martins was one of the winners of the Harrods Design Award, while Rok Hwang won the L’Oréal Professional award for his “literally star-studded collection of maxi tube dresses in brown and blue.” At London College of Fashion, Lee Young-li’s MA … [Read More]
DPRK Finance chief executed
Who’d want to be a top official in the DPRK? Finance chief gets executed following the botched currency reforms. Sources: New York Times | JoongAng Daily #. Pak Nam-gi “was executed at a firing range in Pyongyang on the trumped-up charges of being an antirevolutionary element as public sentiments worsened over the failure of the … [Read More]
Korean marries his pillow
From the Metro: Lee Jin-gyu fell for his ‘dakimakura’ – a kind of large, huggable pillow from Japan, which has a picture of his favourite anime character, Fate Testarossa, on it. And married it. http://bit.ly/98lDK6 # “He is completely obsessed with this pillow and takes it everywhere,” said one friend. “They go out to the … [Read More]
HSBC boss cooks doenjang jjigae
HSBC Korea boss Matthew Deakin makes a mean doenjang jjigae, says the JoongAng Daily http://bit.ly/boNfCn # “I play golf most weekends, and before tee off, I usually prefer having a Korean breakfast – rice with soup. It is very filling,” he said. “And among the various types of soup here, doenjang jjigae is my favorite. … [Read More]
Nah Youn Sun wins new supporters in London
Nah Youn Sun was such a pleasure to interview – and the gig was rather good as well #. Deservedly, she gets rave review in the Financial Times http://bit.ly/aJYQoD #. LKL’s first review for LondonJazz is now posted. We’re now branching out into Swedish jazz (Dan Berglund’s Tonbruket), thanks to Nah Youn Sun, who opened … [Read More]
On-the-spot guidance in Boston Globe’s big picture
Ample fodder for caption competitions as Kim Jong-il gives On the Spot Guidance in The Big Picture, the Boston Globe (Boston.com) – with a collection of 31 photos culled from the KCNA http://bit.ly/bPXyrd # [Read More]
The Korean War in colour at the Smithsonian
Colour photos of the Korean War: John Rich, a US journalist took some personal photos: Smithsonian.com. Well worth a look. Sample below. http://bit.ly/b5tDMS # [Read More]
Can South Koreans survive without the latest technology?
Can South Koreans survive without the web? The BBC’s John Sudworth deprives families of their internet access for a week, in a fascinating experiment. http://bit.ly/9yZiBa #. And on a related note, in my unscientific sample (of 5 Korean musicians visiting the UK), 60% of Koreans have iPhones. Fast adopters. # [Read More]
Pojagi wrapping cloths take off in America
Pojagi wrapping cloths get a new lease of life in America with the Bobo Wrapping Scarf, created by Korean-American Patricia Lee. # Described as “eco-luxe reusable wraps,” the bobos are now available in luxurious Asian-inspired brocades, trendy animal prints, quirky stripes and floral patterns. Source: Korea Times [Read More]
Dulwich College to open an outpost in Seoul
Dulwich College is opening an outpost in Seoul, and is already accepting applications. # The opening of the college is a significant milestone for expatriates in the city as it represents the first kindergarten to 12th grade school offering a British education. The existing British School has no high school facility. Source: Korea Times [Read More]
British cigarettes generate cash for DPRK
North Korea resells British cigarettes – BAT State Express 555s – to generate hard cash: BAT sold the so-called “NK555s”, made and packaged in Singapore for the US market, to a Singaporean distributor for shipment to Nampo … However at least 15,000 cases worth $6.3m rebounded out of Nampo to ports in Vietnam and the … [Read More]