Autumn Exhibition Date: 5th September – 31st October 2012 Venue: Portland The Gallery 80 Hill Rise, Richmond, Surrey, TW 10 6UB Gallery opening hours: Tuesday – Friday 9am – 3pm. Three artists are invited for Autumn Exhibition at Portland The Gallery in Richmond from the 5th September until the 31st October. Works on Exhibition include … [Read More]
Category: Asides (page 36)
French cultural adviser to Korean presidents slams Paris KCC
Guy Sorman, French economist and philosopher, has advised President Lee Myung-bak on cultural promotion, and has met with two previous Korean presidents. In a recent press conference reported by the Korea Times he expresses some interesting thoughts on the success of K-pop abroad: “It’s thanks to the work of artists, not the government”. And he … [Read More]
When I give birth to the child in me, who should it call father?
This rather beautiful letter, from a pregnant widow to her dead husband in 16th century Andong, has be out there for a while, but has just resurfaced in the blogopshere courtesy of Letters of Note. Do give it a read there, or in the earlier article in archaeology.org. The letter was found on her husband’s … [Read More]
Three Korean victories in Venice
Official Awards: GOLDEN LION for Best Film to PIETA by Kim Ki-duk; ORIZZONTI YOUTUBE AWARD FOR BEST SHORT FILM to CHO-DE (초대) by Yoo Min-young; Collateral Awards: QUEER LION for the “best film with a homosexual and queer culture theme” to WEIGHT (무게) by Jeon Kyu-hwan. [Read More]
How to get a Korean boyfriend
Many of you will have seen this already, but I only just came across it via Stephen Epstein’s and Rachel Joo’s fun article on Japanfocus.org on legs, abs, and the surprising de-emphasis of boobs in Korean pop culture. The entertaining video, from My Korean Boyfriend, is particularly fine in respect of its observation of “aegyo” … [Read More]
Japanese app offers fluffy solution to Dokdo issue
You can claim Dokdo for Korea in a free mobile phone app, in which 독도 토끼 swims across the East Sea to get there before his Japanese equivalent. You can play Takeshima Struggle (yes, it’s a Japanese app) on a Samsung Galaxy S, but not on an iPhone: it’s Android only. Source / further info: … [Read More]
Kim Jeong-hoon’s A Petty Romance: a pleasant way to spend two hours
A Petty Romance (쩨쩨한 로맨스, 2010) is one of those gentle romantic comedies which Korea seems to do so well. Charming, easy-going, and despite the story line – the composition of an adult manga – not particularly risqué. Written and directed by first-timer Kim Jeong-hoon it’s nothing to rave about but it’s a very pleasant … [Read More]
Korea develops taste for British mummy porn
EL James’s Fifty Shades trilogy is being translated into Korean, and Volume 1 immediately became the country’s bestselling novel and e-book, according to the Korea Times, who in common with most others is pretty sniffy about the novels’ quality. How the translator managed to turn a 528 page English book into 780 pages of Korean … [Read More]
Damn! I’ve run out of shelf space
I’ve run out of shelf space, so I have no room for the recently issued Volume 17 (enlarged edition) of Kim Jong-il’s selected works. Now I’ll never get the full set, or find out how to “More Firmly Strengthen Socialist Revolutionary Position by Doing Party Work Well”. [Read More]
Kim Jong-un buys British
The new North Korean leader is said to be negotiating to buy two British-made luxury yachts. Of course, he’s asking for a discount. Make sure you get payment up-front, chaps, and don’t take any banknotes. (source: Chosun Ilbo) [Read More]
Korea’s latest theme park celebrates the toilet
Suwon is home to Korea’s latest theme park: the “Restroom Cultural Park” (수원 화장실 문화공원), which opened on 4 July 2012. Suwon is the city that launched the “Making Beautiful Public Restrooms” project in 1997, and lists its top conveniences on the city website. (via Rocket News; photo: KBS) [Read More]
Seoul’s host bars
Lucy Williamson on an interesting emerging phenomenon in Seoul: host bars, where women pay for men’s company. First on the Today Programme (15 August), then on Crossing Continents (16 August), now in the Magazine (18 September) [Read More]
The second KCC-sponsored K-pop contest
Now you’ve had the training at the KTO-sponsored K-pop workshop, it’s time to enter the KCC’s K-pop contest, in conjunction with YG Entertainment. Details of how to enter are on the KCC website here. Apply by 24 August. [Read More]
An interview to forget
LKL has been interviewed three times in the past three weeks. Easiest was Yonhap, an unrecorded newspaper interview where it was easy to chat at the same time as being interviewed, and where you could clarify and explain to ensure that you were understood properly. No time restriction. I don’t know what the write-up was … [Read More]
100th anniversary of Lee In-sung’s birth commemorated at Deoksu Palace
The Deoksu Palace branch of the National Museum of Contemporary Art is hosting a retrospective to commemorate the 100th anniversary of “local colour” artist Lee In-sung’s birth, 26 May – 26 August 2012. Well worth a visit. Links: Exhibition details on the NMCA website. Coverage in Joongang Ilbo | Korea Times [Read More]
This year’s Kingston Korean Festival is on 11 August 2012
The annual Independence Day Kingston Korean Festival organised by the Korean Residents Society is on 11 August, 10am-7pm, on the Fairfield Recreation Ground near the centre of Kingston [Map], celebrating Korean culture with traditional food, music, dance and costumes. And the popular K-pop contest returns for its second year. The war veterans’ march-past normally begins … [Read More]