Those of you attending one of the DPRK Youth Para-Ensemble performances, or planning to go to the seminar at SOAS tomorrow, may want to read Lord Alton’s hard-hitting op ed in the Korea JoongAng Daily from two weeks ago (18 May). Much as we would be heartened to see genuine progress in the treatment of … [Read More]
Category: Asides (page 5)
Event news: panel talk on poetry translation
In conjunction with the collaborative event between South Korean and British poets on 3 June, the KCCUK is hosting a discussion on the topic of literary translation. Panel Talk: A talk on literary translation and poetry in particular Date/Time: Friday 2nd June 2017 6:30pm Venue: Korean Cultural Centre UK Free Admission. RSVP required to KCCUK … [Read More]
A Korea focus in this week’s TLS
This week’s Times Literary Supplement (26 May 2017) contains no fewer than four Korea-related article-reviews: Min Jin Lee on Bandi’s The Accusation (Serpent’s Tail) (LKL review here), JM Lee’s The Boy who Escaped Paradise (Norton), Yi Mun-yol’s Meeting with my Brother (Columbia) and Jieun Baek’s North Korea’s Hidden Revolution (Yale) Houman Barekat on Han Yujoo’s … [Read More]
Kimchee opens new St Pancras restaurant
When Kimchee Restaurant opened up in Holborn in 2011 it was one of the few Korean establishments in London to invest really heavily in the decor and fittings. Their second restaurant, recently opened behind St Pancras station, continues the trend. It also has table-top BBQs, and I hear they had some half-price deals to celebrate … [Read More]
The world’s first newspaper?
“Why did no one inform me that this was being made?” said King Seonjo (r. 1567–1608) on 28 November 1577. Concerned “that information about the court could potentially be circulated to wider circles in the elite” the king exiled the people responsible for the news-sheet. Jieun Choi of Korea Exposé has the fascinating story. Kim … [Read More]
Event news: Concert for Alex – Yoon Chung (piano)
Riverhouse Barn | Manor Road | Walton-on-Thames | Surrey KT12 2PF | riverhousebarn.co.uk Saturday 22 April 2017, 8pm Tickets £20 (£5 students) | Book here A concert in memory of Alex Matusiczky, given by the young South Korean pianist Yoon Chung. Yoon has performed throughout the UK, Japan, Korea and the USA. In 2016 he undertook … [Read More]
Free screening: SEWOL documentary
Three years ago on 16 April, the Sewol ferry sank and 304 passengers died. As one of the events to mark this sad anniversary, there’s another chance to watch the documentary by Ok-Hee Jeong, which was screened at Birkbeck in January. Details: 8 April 2017 at 14:00–16:00 Venue: Room B20, Birkbeck University of London main … [Read More]
Event news: Escapee Kim Young-il talks at King’s London
News of an upcoming talk by North Korean escapee Kim Young-il: My Escape from North Korea Hosted by King’s College Londond Amnesty International Society 24 March at 18:00–20:00 K2.31 Nash Lecture Theatre, Strand campus, King’s College London Register via Eventbrite KCL Amnesty International will be hosting a panel discussion with Young-II Kim, a North Korean … [Read More]
The advance of Korea’s longevity
According to a study by Imperial College London and the World Health Organisation, “average life expectancy is set to increase in many countries by 2030 – and will exceed 90 years in South Korea.” The press release accompanying the report revealed: The five countries with the highest life expectancy at birth for men in 2030 were: … [Read More]
The mystery of Kim Jong Nam’s assassination solved
You couldn’t make this up. Or maybe you could. Even though I suspect it’s a fake cover posted online to make people go out and buy the paper itself (which I would do if it weren’t cold outside), it’s still too good not to share. Thanks to Paul Matthews for spotting this gem (also to … [Read More]
Suh Do-ho: a popular local attraction
It was good to see people queuing to get into Suh Do-ho’s solo show at Victoria Miro yesterday, a pleasant stroll along the Grand Union Canal from the Angel. I was going to go to the exhibition myself, but it’s the sort of work where you’re better off with only one or two people in … [Read More]
Choe Il presents his credentials as DPRK ambassador
Embed from Getty Images From the Court Circular page of the Buckingham Palace website: 9 February 2017: His Excellency Mr. Choe Il was received in audience by The Queen today and presented the Letters of Recall of his predecessor and his own Letters of Credence as Ambassador from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to … [Read More]
Exhibition news: Korean show at Albemarle Gallery
Albemarle Gallery is hosting a group show of some of their regular Korean artists (and those of their sister gallery, Pontone) from 2 February – 4 March Albemarle Gallery | 49 Albemarle Street | London W1S 4JR T: +44 (0)20 7499 1616 | E: [email protected] | www.albemarlegallery.com Monday to Friday: 10am – 6pm | Saturday: … [Read More]
Korean language classes in Raynes Park
If you were unsuccessful in your application for the language classes at the KCC this year, don’t despair: there’s a similar set of classes down in Raynes Park, organised by another branch of the Korean embassy, the Korean Education Centre. More details here: lkl.ink/2kCa5CV Apply by 3 February for this term’s classes. [Read More]
Event news: Jogakpo workshops at the Sunbury Embroidery Gallery
Supplementing the workshops hosted by Kingston Adult Education is a four-week Korean patchwork project at the Sunbury Embroidery Gallery commencing 1 February. Korean patchwork ‘Jogakbo’ Workshop The Sunbury Embroidery Gallery The Walled Garden | Thames Street | Sunbury-on-Thames TW16 6AB We welcome The Korean Cultural Centre to the gallery with a unique opportunity to learn … [Read More]
Event news: a Sungji Hong flute premiere, at the RCM
Coming up tomorrow, a premiere performance of new flute work by Korean composer Sungji Hong. The Royal College of Music website bills it as Concerto for alto flute and chamber ensemble; the composer’s website calls it Transfiguration for alto flute and chamber ensemble with electronics. Carla Rees plays alto flute with the Manon Quartet and … [Read More]