“Mugabe managed to win … because he had the Fifth North Korean Brigade working for him” Sir Jim Spicer on today’s Saturday Live, 18:02 in http://bit.ly/MAPrC #. And the full quote: “Mugabe managed to win not because of Mugabe but because he had the Fifth North Korean Brigade working for him, who then went on … [Read More]
Category: Asides (page 82)
Paju Book City in the FT
A city dedicated to books and print – Paju Book City is featured in the FT today. What other paper provides such coverage? http://bit.ly/10cwDH #: [Read More]
The rebirth of the sijo?
Sijo poetry form captures Harvard professor’s imagination: The Boston Globe has a feature on David McCann; and a few readers tried their hands at composing: http://bit.ly/ujtqy # With its three lines, sijo resembles haiku, but the sijo poet has more room to develop a theme, narrative, or image before twisting and resolving it in the … [Read More]
Storm Shadow v Saya: Who wins?
Just seen GI Joe; and saw Last Vampire last month. Who wins in the battle of Storm Shadow v Saya? I think Lee Byung-hun wins hands down over Jeon Ji-hyun, despite having less to do. # [Read More]
The growth of Makgeolli coverage
Makgeolli, Rediscovered in the Korea Times. But why are there so many articles about makgeolli at the moment? Did anyone ever stop drinking it? http://bit.ly/pBOwB #. Plus “Makgeolli exports surge in first half” – JoongAng Daily – and “Makgeolli vs. Matkoli” at The Marmot’s Hole [Read More]
Quentin Tarantino’s K-film watchlist
Three Korean films are among Quentin Tarantino’s top 20. Two by Bong Joon-ho, and not the Park Chan-wook you might expect: #. The full list: Battle Royale | Anything Else | Audition | Tsui Hark’s The Blade | Boogie Nights | Dazed & Confused | Dogville | Fight Club | Fridays | The Host | … [Read More]
RIP Kim Dae-jung
RIP Kim Dae-jung, 3 December 1925 – 18 August 2009, who pioneered his country’s “Sunshine Policy” of engagement with North Korea. Kim, known as DJ, who was being treated for pneumonia, was reported to have died after suffering heart failure. The former leader had spent his life pursuing democracy and reunification with the North. The … [Read More]
The Western Korean War PoWs who chose to stay in China
A fascinating documentary about twenty-four American and one British Korean War prisoners of war who chose to remain in China after the war: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 #. Part 1 is below [Read More]
BoA’s US album disappoints
Oh dear. I thought BoA’s US album was going to be a bit better than that. If you have to use a vocoder to make it in America, stay in Asia. #. I suppose the sound production is geared towards a US market. Shame. [Read More]
The British fighter pilot buried near Pyongyang
Michael Rank in the Asia Times on the British fighter pilot buried near Pyongyang. Well worth a read. http://bit.ly/1Os32 # There can be no lonelier grave anywhere on Earth. Amid fields close to the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, lie the remains of Flight Lieutenant Desmond Hinton, a British fighter pilot who flew for the United … [Read More]
Beethoven in a bin bag
Tonight’s Storm and Stress evening at Goldsmiths: if I’d been playing Beethoven in a bin bag on such a hot and sweaty evening, I’d have been a bit stressed too http://bit.ly/jyQ9i #. But it was different, and unexpected. [Read More]
In Peril in Pyongyang?
Great Daily Mail piece on the two Korean American journalists recently released by North Korea: http://bit.ly/13N7xN # Indeed, from the whole tawdry affair only one clear winner has emerged – an exuberant Bill Clinton – even if, according to an insider, ‘the joke in the White House was that the girls were safer in North … [Read More]
What’s the official story on the Clinton visit?
Still no tweet from kcna_dprk about the release of the US journalists. Was the whole thing a big surprise to the official news agency? #. Or haven’t they figured out what the spin should be? The @kcna_dprk coverage of the Clinton visit is still remarkably factual. When do we get the REAL version? # [Read More]
Man with three coffins – needs more than one viewing
Just watched “Man with Three Coffins” (Lee Jang-ho, 1987) and am mightily puzzled. #. It’s one of those classic films that people rave about, but it’s going to take me more than one viewing to get to grips with it. [Read More]
Jean Chung’s Seoul photos for Time magazine
Good Seoul photos, plus 10 things to do in 24 hours in Seoul, some recommendations for side trips, and more, on the TIME magazine website: http://bit.ly/Time-photos #. Photographer Jean Chung comes across the practice of couples fastening metal locks to a fence on Namsan Tower (above) as a symbol of their eternal love for each … [Read More]
GI Joe – “utterly relentless”
“Big, dumb, loud and utterly relentless. Everything you could want from a summer blockbuster,” says Time Out on GI Joe (Lee Byung Hun) out now #. Actually, it’s rather good. [Read More]