London Korean Links

Covering things Korean in London and beyond since 2006

Contributions sought for adoptee anthology

A message just received from Perlita Harris for the British Association of Adoption and Fostering. We are editing an anthology of writing and poetry by adopted adults who were adopted in England, Scotland, Wales or Ireland including adoptees born in another country (e.g. Korea) and raised by their adoptive family in the UK. This collection … [Read More]

Barbara Demick talks about her book Nothing to Envy: Real Lives in North Korea

In her new book Nothing to Envy – Real Lives in North Korea, Barbara Demick uncovers the secrets of the world’s most secretive country, through the stories of six North Koreans. Covering illicit love affairs, party loyalty and crippling poverty, the stories are the result of tenacious investigations and interviews in a country not connected … [Read More]

Korean Literature Workshop with Ch’oe Yun

Alas, it comes too late to give me any useful input into the Korean Literature Translation Institute’s essay competition, but this is a worthwhile initiative: The Korean Literature Workshop With Ch’oe Yun, the author of ‘There a Petal Silently Falls’ The Korean Cultural Centre Tuesday 27th October 2009: 18.30~21.00 Facilitator: Dr Jo Elfving-Hwang, the University … [Read More]

Yi T’ae-jun’s Eastern Sentiments published

A new translation of essays by colonial-period writer Yi T’ae-jun: “Eastern Sentiments”, translated by Janet Poole, Columbia UP: http://bit.ly/akMvg #; available at Amazon.co.uk. “Yi laments the passing of tradition with keen sensibility yet, at the same time, celebrates human perseverance in the face of loss and change.” [Read More]

Escaping North Korea book launch

At the book launch of Escaping North Korea last week, author Mike Kim explained that he wanted the book to be “inspirational”. Having seen the huge obstacles faced by North Korean escapees, he found hope in each of their stories: “If the North Koreans can overcome their mountains, I can overcome my hill”, is the … [Read More]

Meet Mr Kim (and LKL) on YTN

A group of LKL contributors had gathered at Myungga in Kingly Street to celebrate LKL’s third birthday (yes, LKL first appeared on the web using the londonkoreanlinks.net domain name on 2 March 2006). It was a merry crew – Blogmeister Philip was joined by author and roving reporter Jennifer Barclay; documenter of Korean national cultural … [Read More]

Sandglass the best TV drama ever?

It’s official: Sandglass (모래시계) is the best Korean Drama since 1980. And maybe that qualifies it as the best Korean TV drama ever, but I’m sure there are knowledgeable people out there who will cite a gem from the 70s. Not only was it voted best Drama by those in the know – “20 star … [Read More]

Books for your Christmas shopping list

For those pondering what to buy your loved ones for Christmas, here’s a few suggestions from the many books published this year: Meeting Mister Kim. If you haven’t already bought lots of copies of this entertaining book by Jennifer Barclay, shame on you. Awarded 5 stars by LKL, and, to show we’re not biased in … [Read More]

Korea Yearbook 2009 Call for Papers

The editors of the Korea Yearbook – Politics, Economy, Society, published since 2007 by Brill (Leiden and Boston), are now calling for papers for the 2009 edition of the yearbook. The Korea Yearbook consists, on the one hand, of four concise overviews of domestic and external affairs of the two Koreas and, on the other … [Read More]