When the BBC reported the “deal” between Japan and South Korea on the Comfort Women issue last week, saying that ‘South Korea says it will consider the matter resolved “finally and irreversibly” if Japan fulfills its promises,’ LKL marvelled that no mention was made of what the victims themselves thought about the deal. They don’t … [Read More]
Category: Formats (page 11)
A surviving victim’s view on the Korea-Japan Comfort Women “deal”
In September this year 90 year old survivor of WW2 Japanese military sexual slavery Kim Bok-dong gave two public talks in London, at the Korean Cultural Centre and at Goldsmiths University. She said she had come, ‘not as a victim but as a human rights activist’, and explained that the surviving ladies were not just … [Read More]
Event news: Social Change in North Korea – Current Trends and Future Prospects
The Chatham House Asia programme seems to be beginning to turn its attention back to the Korean Peninsula after a gap of a couple of years: Social Change in North Korea: Current Trends and Future Prospects 8 Jan 2016 – 12:30 to 13:30 Registration required. Participants Sokeel Park, Director of Research & Strategy, Liberty in … [Read More]
The growing interest in Dansaekhwa
The Nation has an interesting piece by Barry Schwabsky on the recent growth in interest in Dansaekhwa in the States, pointing out that during November New York simultaneously hosted three solo shows by major artists: Chung Chang-sup at Gallerie Perrotin (3 Nov – 23 Dec) Yun Hyong-keun at Blum & Poe (30 Oct – 23 Dec) Ha Chong-hyun … [Read More]
Event news: APPG meeting and book introduction
Notice of an upcoming North Korea-related event: The All-Party Parliamentary Group will be hosting an open meeting on Monday 14th December. The event will serve two purposes. Firstly, to outline the Group’s recent business and its strategy for 2016. Secondly, to host Daniel Tudor (former Korea correspondent at the Economist) who will introduce his new … [Read More]
Brother Anthony awarded honorary MBE
Congratulations to Brother Anthony of Taizé for his honorary MBE, awarded by ambassador Charles Hay on 2 December at the ambassador’s residence in Seoul. The official citation reads as follows… Brother Seon Jae AN For services to the Royal Asiatic Society and to furthering the study of English Literature in Korea. …but equally we all … [Read More]
Another Korean Chopin expert…
All eyes are currently on Cho Seong-jin, winner of this year’s Chopin competition. But while we wait for the reviews of his debut Deutsche Grammophon release, let’s not forget other Korean pianists with an affinity for Chopin. In this months’s Grammophone one of the Editor’s Choices is a disk of Chopin preludes by Lim Dong-hyek: … [Read More]
Festival Film Review: The Classified File
As goodwill ambassador for Sancheong County, I was delighted when Sancheong’s most famous Buddhist monk, the late Seong Cheol sunim, got name checked in The Classified File as the Seon Master of the Buddhist-trained fortune teller who unofficially assisted the police in the real-life 1978 kidnap case that was the subject of the movie. One … [Read More]
CheeMc reviewed in The Observer
There’s an enthusiastic review of the fried chicken at CheeMc, 310 Walworth Road, London SE17 2TG (020 3645 0772) in this weekend’s Observer. “Without visiting Korea, it is impossible to tell how authentic CheeMc’s fried chicken is. No matter. It’s delicious…” HT to the Korean Class Massive [Read More]
Two masterclasses as part of LKFF 2015
Two late additions to the LKFF schedule, both on Saturday afternoon, 14 November. But you can’t do both. And you can’t do either if you want to watch the classic Chung Chang-wha screenings. Choices, choices … but I think I’ll choose a large dose of muhyeop and Q&A with Director Chung. Masterclass: In Conversation with … [Read More]
Event news: The art and sounds of Korea, at the British Museum
Coming up next Saturday at the British Museum, an event focusing on Joseon music and culture: The art and sounds of Korea Saturday 14 November 2015, 13.15–14.15 British Museum, Room 67 (The Korea Foundation Gallery) A special gallery talk by Eleanor S Hyun, British Museum, and Hyelim Kim, taegŭm performer. Gallery talks are suitable for … [Read More]
Book news: Han Kang’s Human Acts coming in January 2016
Han Kang is among the eight women writers whose books have been awarded an English PEN grant in the latest round. Han, acclaimed author of The Vegetarian, will publish her novel Human Acts in January 2016 with the backing of both a PEN Promotes and a PEN Translates grant. Deborah Smith once again translates, and … [Read More]
Sophie Bowman wins Korea Times translation award
Way back in the summer of 2008, when the KCCUK ran its first language class for beginners in Korean, one of the students on the inaugural course was Sophie Bowman. Unlike another student in the same class (me) Sophie has progressed somewhat since then. Many congratulations to her on winning the Korea Times Grand Prize … [Read More]
Joo Yeon Sir’s November concert diary
We hope some of you caught Joo Yeon Sir’s Albert Hall debut on Friday. Here are the dates from her November concert diary: Monday 2 November 1.10PM (St. James’s Piccadilly, London), Lunchtime Recital with Irina Andrievsky (piano) performing works by Poulenc, Sir Karl Jenkins and Grieg Friday 6 November 7.30PM (Derby University, Derbyshire), Evening Recital … [Read More]
A special exhibition of film posters as part of LKFF
To mark its 10th anniversary, the London Korean Film Festival presents a special exhibition of film posters from the Korean Film Archive (KOFA) at Picturehouse Central Gallery Space. Each poster was created as part of the KOFA’s programme of screenings and retrospectives showcasing its broad collection of Korean cinema. The exhibition is ongoing until 14th … [Read More]
Exhibition news: Lee Jeongwoong — Laputa, at Shine Artists
Shine Artists’ second exhibition of the Autumn season is by Lee Jeongwoong. His re-imaginings of the world of Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema with a Korean twist are always worth a look. Lee Jeongwoong | Laputa Shine Artists at Albemarle Gallery | 49 Albemarle Street | London W1S 4JR | www.shineartists.com 05 Nov – 28 Nov 2015 … [Read More]