Well, you can’t have a Choi Min-sik season without a screening of possibly the best-known film to have come out of Korea this century. Oldboy Director: Park Chan-wook Running Time: 120min Screening Date: 7pm, 25 July 2013 Synopsis: Oh Dae-su is an average businessman, but after celebrating his daughter’s birthday he finds himself kidnapped and … [Read More]
Category: Asides (page 28)
Photos of King Taejo’s tomb in Kaesong
The Rodong Sinmun has some nice pictures and a brief article on the tomb of Wang Kon, founder of the Koryo dynasty as King Taejo. The tomb is one of the Historic Monuments and Sites of Kaesong recently entered into the UNESCO list of world heritage. Update: links to the full set of Rodong Sinmun’s … [Read More]
Exhibition visit: Only One – another pleasing show from Mokspace
Once again Mokspace’s most recent exhibition, a group show by Korean and UK-based jewellers, presented a range of desirable and reasonably affordable work. From the playful birds of Yu Jin Lee and rabbit-heads of Yeseul Seo to the work of Hyeju Nam which looks like eccentric Gerard Hoffnung-style musical instruments; from the colourful, rustic tubes … [Read More]
Stoker fails to impress FT
Oh dear. The FT really doesn’t like Park Chan-wook’s Stoker. “Stoker aims for enigmatic but bulleyes incoherent instead,” says Raphael Abraham, reviewing the DVD release in the Weekend edition on 6 July 2013. “Park Chan-wook constructs every shot with maximum flourish while plotlines appear fitfully and then die from neglect,” he adds, concluding that “after … [Read More]
Tireni to represent UK in “Quiz on Korea” final
It was a high-pressure day, with more than a dozen competitors hoping for the chance to travel to Seoul to take on winners from around the world on KBS TV. A taxing multiple choice test, supplemented by a brief interview, whittled the contestants down to a final five, for a quick-fire live quiz of 25 … [Read More]
Suddenly in the Dark of Night – the latest in the Women on Screen series
Continuing the Women on Screen series at the KCC, a psychological thriller from 1981: Suddenly in the Dark of Night 깊은밤 갑자기 (1981) Dir: Go Yeong-nam Cast: Kim Young-ae, Yoon Il-bong, Lee Gi-seon Running Time: 99 min (ENG Subs) 7pm, 18 July 2013 Venue: The Korean Cultural Centre UK, Grand Buildings 1-3 Strand, London WC2N … [Read More]
How can they be so dumb?
I’m just wondering how a TV station can broadcast anything that is so obviously a wind-up. Needless to say, the YouTube videos of the stupid newscast have been removed, with the TV station claiming breach of copyright. The KTVU announcer was careful to pronounce Mr Fuk so that his name rhymed with “Luke”, rather than … [Read More]
Lecture: Treasures of Korean Ceramics from the National Museum of Korea
Another interesting lecture to accompany the KCC’s current Moon Jar exhibition: Treasures of Korean Ceramics from the National Museum of Korea A lecture by Heena Youn Monday 15 July 6:30pm – 8:00pm KCCUK multi-purpose hall This lecture explores the history of Korean ceramics through selected masterpieces from the National Museum of Korea, Seoul. The National … [Read More]
Children’s Clay Workshop: ‘The Jar of Stories’ at the KCC
The third in a series of weekly classes and lectures related to the current Moon Jar exhibition at the KCC: Children’s Clay Workshop: ‘The Jar of Stories’ Saturday 13 July 11.30, 13:15, 15:00 KCCUK multi-purpose hall A Drop-in Workshop for children aged 7 – 10 years: Explore a world in clay to create a lunar … [Read More]
Failan opens the Choi Min-sik season at the KCC
It’s quite a popular weepie, but I’ve never really “got” it. I guess I’ve got a gene missing when it comes to some melodramas. Anyway, it’s the opening film of the Choi Min-sik season: Failan Dir: SONG Hae-seong, 2001 Running Time: 116mins Screening Date: 7pm, 11 July 2013 Synopsis Kang-Jae is a low level gangster … [Read More]
Ahn Sook-sun’s Pansori Night on Radio 3
If you missed the Pansori night at the K-music festival recently, that’s a shame. But at least the BBC was there to record it, and the evening will be broadcast on Radio 3, 14 July, 10pm. It may well be available on their website too. Fabio Pezzanini took some nice photos of the occasion, which … [Read More]
Korea Startup Showcase at the Bakery
An investment event in the City coming up this week: Korean Startup Showcase The Bakery | 25 City Rd | London EC1Y 1AA [Map] Thursday, July 11, 2013 from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM (BST) 3beards bring you the Korean Startup Showcase! Come along to The Bakery on the 11th July, grab a drink and … [Read More]
The first Korea-UK Dream Film Festival
I wish I’d heard about this earlier. We’ve already missed the first evening of the festival, and unfortunately for the second evening on 1 July you’re going to have to choose between this, an interesting talk at the KCC, and an introduction to the Kimchi Project. ‘Korea – UK Student Dream film festival 2013’ (KUDFF) … [Read More]
The Kimchi Project at The Greenwich Series
Many of you will have come across Antonia Mochan’s Kimchi Project – her one-woman campaign to visit all the Korean restaurants within Zone 1 and to review the quality of their kimchi, while raising money for charity. She’s giving a little talk about her project at The Greenwich Tavern on 1 July at 8pm as … [Read More]
Crossing – the defector documentary by Kim Tae-gyun – screens at Amnesty International
A quick note of an upcoming film screening at Amnesty International: Crossing (크로싱, dir Kim Tae-gyun, South Korea, 2008) Cast: Cha In-pyo, Seo Young-hwa, Shin Myeong-cheol Venue: Amnesty International UK, The Human Rights Action Centre, 17-25 New Inn Yard, London EC2A 3EA Date: Mon 24 Jun 2013, 7.00 pm The film details the tragic plight … [Read More]
1956 – The birth of the hallyu?
Not really. But there’s a nice story in the Korea Herald about what is believed to be the first ever single released by a Korean artist in the U S of A: Ok Doo-ok’s East of Make Believe – a 1956 English-language remake of Korean singer Hyeon In’s Gohyangmanri, which roughly translates as “Miles Away … [Read More]