London Korean Links

Covering things Korean in London and beyond since 2006

Korean Film Society launched

The twice-monthly film screenings at the KCC have got a strong body of supporters, and the films are very well attended. But, given the level of support, wouldn’t it be nice if we could build something around the screenings — a free and easy forum for enthusiasts and newcomers to talk about the varied world … [Read More]

Family Ties to screen at KCC

The next film to feature at the KCC is Family Ties, also known as Birth of a Family (가족의 탄생), starring one of my favourite actresses, the talented Moon So-ri (below right). Synopsis Mi-ra, who runs a small snack food restaurant, has a trouble-maker brother, Hyung-chul. After being discharged from the military, he goes missing. … [Read More]

The Way Home screens at the KCC

The KCC’s theme for its two film screenings in May is the family. The first of the films, The Way Home (집으로…) was the surprise low-budget hit of 2002. This is director Lee Jeong-hyang’s second film, her first being the gentle rom-com Art Museum by the Zoo, whose draw was the star actress Shim Eun-ha. … [Read More]

200 Pound Beauty screens at the KCC

The fourth film night at the Korean Cultural Centre on 24 April is the surprise hit of last year, 200 Pound Beauty. Synopsis Hanna is a lip sync vocalist for Ammy, the famous Korean pop singer. Even though she is always ignored because of her appearance, she has been a bright and lighthearted girl until … [Read More]

Spring, Summer at the KCC

The KCC’s third film screening, on Friday 11 April at 7pm, is Kim Ki-duk’s Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter … and Spring. From the KCC website: Synopsis Spring, a child monk audaciously stacks rocks on a frog’s back. Summer, a young boy falls in love with a girl who comes to the buddhist monastery to convalesce. … [Read More]

A feast of Park Chan-wook

I’m a Cyborg, but that’s OK finally gets a UK theatrical release, prior to its release on Tartan DVD at the end of May. The film, which stars hallyu superstar Rain (Jeong Ji-hoon, 정지훈) and Im Soo-jeong (임수정), received its belated London premiere last year at the Korean Film Festival at the Barbican, and returns … [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]

Beyond the Years at the KCC

The KCC’s second monthly film screening will be Im Kwon-taek’s Beyond the Years (천년학). Im’s 100th film, it’s a sequel to his breakthrough movie from the early 1990s, Sopyonje. Here’s the KCC’s press release: KOREAN CULTURAL CENTRE UK, TRAFALGAR SQUARE Thursday, March 27th 2008, 7:00 PM As part of the Korean Film Night programme, and … [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]

The KCC DVD library

I popped round to the Korean Cultural Centre a couple of weeks ago to check on how things were going. I went downstairs to register for the library, and was greeted by this encouraging sight: It’s some of the DVDs that are being catalogued and which will be available for viewing. That big box at … [Read More]

Virgin Snow screens at the KCC

News of what I believe is the first film screening at the new Korean Cultural Centre in London. In a joint venture with the Japan Society, Han Sang-hee’s Virgin Snow (Hatsuyuki no Koi) will be screened at the KCC on 26 February at 7pm. The director is in London at the time, so I assume he … [Read More]

Korean film – a review of 2007

Jason Bechervaise, founder of koreanfilm.org.uk, gives his perspective on the ups and downs of the Korean film industry in 2007 By all accounts 2007 was a year that has been difficult one for the Korean film industry where it seems that the golden years of the Korean film industry has passed. Rising costs have meant … [Read More]

The redemptive power of Lee Young-ae

As we all know, Jewel in the Palace is a hit in many countries. It’s watched all around the world. Including in Indian jails. A convict in India has sent a letter of gratitude to a top Korean network for airing the historical drama “Jewel in the Palace,” or “Daejanggeum” in Korean. Narendra Kumar Sharma, … [Read More]

LKL 2007 Quiz of the Year – the answers

Question 1: Corporate crooks and corruption Match the alleged quote with the appropriate chaebol The conglomorate had run a vast network that bribed government officials, prosecutors, tax collectors, journalists and scholars I don’t want to take a gamble on causing a crisis in the country’s economy The sentence of one year and six months is … [Read More]

Koreans and Handball

A message recently received from a visitor to this site. Do Koreans in London play Handball or want to play? Thames Handball in Kingston upon Thames need players of all standards- men and women or children. see website http://www.thameshandball.com Also NEW The South Korean movie, “The Best Moment of Our Lives,” will be released in … [Read More]

The documentary “Welcome to North Korea”

If you have an hour to spare, this documentary by Peter Tetteroo and Raymond Feddema is worth a look despite being a couple of years old. Thanks to Robert Koehler over at Seoul Magazine for the tip. The documentary can be seen at https://archive.org/details/WelcometoNorthKorea. Welcome to North Korea Rating: NR Running Time: 60 Minutes Directed … [Read More]