In this wide-ranging Q&A, director Im Sang-soo discusses censorship, politics, Korean cinema’s future, international filmmaking and his own uneasy relationship with power, money and history. Frank, provocative and often humorous, the conversation offers rare insight into one of Korea’s most uncompromising filmmakers. [Read More]
Category: Event reports and reviews (page 47)
The financial sector as engine for growth
There was no hope of applying the Chatham House rule at yesterday’s talk by HE Dr Jun Kwang-woo, chairman of Korea’s Financial Services Commission. With two TV cameras and numerous digital recorders on show, this meeting was firmly on the record. Reflecting the more formal nature of this meeting, Dr Jun spoke from a prepared … [Read More]
Ten contemporary Korean artists you should know
Contemporary Korean Art from the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Korea Korean Cultural Centre, 1 Northumberland Avenue, through 16 May 2008. Free Admission Review by Grace Kim Korean Contemporary Art has become something of a recent phenomenon in the western art world, despite developing in Korea with influences from abroad for over 40-50 years. The … [Read More]
Anglo-Korean Society Korean night – she said
One of two accounts of the recent Anglo-Korean Society evening at the KCC – this one by new contributor Béatrice Colbrant What a cheerful and pleasant evening at the Korean Cultural Centre, organised on 10 April 2008 by indefatigable and always enthusiastic Sylvia Park, social events secretary of the Anglo Korean Society! The new Korean … [Read More]
Anglo-Korean Society Korean night – he said
One of two accounts of the recent Anglo-Korean Society evening at the KCC – this one by Matthew Jackson The forces of the AKS, KTO and KCC were combined to good effect at the Cultural Evening on Thursday, 10 April. Walking around the packed Cultural Centre, it felt as though things have changed a lot … [Read More]
These people make me angry
Today we have two accounts of the AKS evening of Korean culture on 10 April (one of them unsolicited by me). Both of them are favourable and rightly appreciative of the efforts of Sylvia Park of the AKS in organising the event. So I feel justified in presenting another angle. The evening was scheduled to … [Read More]
We are not Chinese! But do not miss JUMP!
JUMP! Yegam Theatre at Sadler’s Wells Peacock Theatre, till 10 May 2008 Winner ‘Comedy Award’ at Edinburgh Festival Fringe, 2006 Korean National Assembly ‘Grand Prize for Drama & Musical,’ 2006 BBC TV ‘The Royal Variety Performance,’ December 2006 Review by Grace Kim To start with what everyone already knows, it’s pretty much impossible not to … [Read More]
Im Kwon-taek shines at KCC
Matthew Jackson’s impressions from last Thursday’s screening of “Beyond the Years” at the Korean Cultural Centre There is definitely something extra that you get out of going to see a film in the company of people that you do not necessarily know, in surroundings that are not quite the same as any other you are … [Read More]
Full House at the KC’s late March events
Two nights running last week, the Korean Cultural Centre hosted events which were triumphant successes. Wednesday night, eight week’s after the KCC’s official opening, saw the launch of their second major art show (a selection of work from the National Museum of Contemporary Art in Korea – a report will be forthcoming once I or, … [Read More]
Good Evening, Ms. Jiyoon Lee!
Matthew Jackson reports from last Thursday’s gallery talk at the KCC I had assumed that the Nam June Paik talk by Jiyoon Lee would take the form of a tour around the gallery itself. The schedule of the evening was fuller than I had expected, and required the setting of the ‘Sejong Room’ on the … [Read More]
Art for the People, Art by the People
Beccy Kennedy muses on an unnoticed exhibition at the Korean Cultural Centre: Korean Folk Painting on White Porcelain : Kim So Sun (30 January – 28 March 2008) There is another exhibition on at the new Korean Cultural Centre at the moment and it doesn’t involve vociferous video installations by trans-cultural 20th century big wigs. … [Read More]
Ambassador Ja in the House of Lords
In the very same room where, nine months ago, two DPRK defectors told their stories, last night the DPRK ambassador addressed members of both Houses of Parliament and answered questions. It was disappointing that so few MPs were there (1), but their absence made sure there was plenty of room for members of the public … [Read More]
Han Sang-hee and the Art of Happiness
Matthew Jackson reviews “Virgin Snow” – the first film to be screened at the KCC, Tuesday 26 February The screening of Virgin Snow at the new Korean Cultural Centre was the inaugural session in its programme of monthly film nights, and I felt it would be well worth attending for that reason alone. From the … [Read More]
Two flower painters at I-MYU
FORGET ME NOT: Works by Yeon Soo Ha and Bon-A Koo 1 February — 2 March 2008, I-MYU Gallery, 23 Charlotte Road EC2A 3PB Tuesday-Saturday 12-6pm or by appointment The work of Ha Yeonsoo and Koo Bona currently on show at I-MYU both have nature as their subject, but almost could not be further apart … [Read More]
We look forward to lunchtime
An assessment of “Good Morning, Mr Paik Nam June” Korean Cultural Centre, UK, 1 Feb – 2 Mar, Mon-Fri 9:30 – 5:30 It must be a very attractive prospect to be offered the job of curating a prestigious exhibition at the high-profile launch of a cultural centre. Having a blank canvas to work on certainly … [Read More]
Toy Stories at the Korea Society
Having looked in on the New York Korean Cultural Center last time I paid a visit to visit my co-workers at Head Office, I though that this time I’d use my lunch break to visit the competition: the Korea Society. I’ve always been a little bit puzzled as to why there should be two competing … [Read More]