Sounds like Paul McCartney’s gig in Seoul went down well: “Fantastic climax to the Asian leg. Korean fans gave us the best welcome ever. We love them!” he posted on his Facebook page along with this picture: “Paul has so much aegyo and said things in Korean as much as he could” commented one Korean … [Read More]
Category: Formats (page 15)
Donguibogam to be upgraded to National Treasure status
To be honest, I’ve always wondered why an item listed in UNESCO’s Memory of the World register was only rated a “Treasure” (no 1085) rather than a “National Treasure”. The three sets of the encyclopaedia’s first edition are currently held by the National Library of Korea, the Kyujanggak Institute For Korean Studies and the Academy … [Read More]
Beer-bottle VC donates medal to Korea
Two articles this week report how Bill Speakman VC, who was on a veterans’ trip to Korea, has decided to donate his Victoria Cross to South Korea. He also wants his ashes to be scattered in the DMZ when he dies. Sadly, the medal being donated is a replica: “he sold the original to a … [Read More]
Royal Ballet dancer featured in Chosun Ilbo
There’s a nice feature on Choe Yu-hui, a soloist with the Royal Ballet, in the Chosun Ilbo. Born in Fukuoka, Japan, to a Korean family, Choe grew up in a pro-North Korean environment. Only 12 years ago did she change her nationality from North to South Korea. (Via Adam Cathcart) Links: From Korean Outsider in … [Read More]
I rather think I agree
Have a read of Charles Montgomery’s post What a Terrible Idea! ㅡ Merging the Publication Industry Promotion Agency of Korea and the Literature Translation Institute of Korea, and a similar article by Korea Herald editorial writer Kim Hooran Market principle, culture don’t mix. Links: LTI Korea | KPIPA [Read More]
Alcohol advert ban for young celebrities?
The BBC picked up on a story in the Chosun Ilbo that celebs under 25 could be banned from leading teenagers astray by advertising booze. A bill proposing the clamp-down was passed by the National Assembly’s committee on health and welfare on 23 April. Reportedly prompted by Kim Yu-na’s Hite advertisements in 2012 (when she … [Read More]
I think I just don’t get Park Kyung-ni
Having failed to make much headway with Park Kyung-ni’s T’oji / Land, I thought I might give her Curse of Kim’s Daughters a try, in preparation for a re-watch of Yu Hyun-mok’s film adaptation of the novel. I didn’t particularly enjoy the movie the first time I saw it. But then, so far I haven’t … [Read More]
Bedrooms of the Remembered
Photographer Kim Hong-Ji has put together a moving portfolio of pictures in memory of the Sewol victims. He has been in touch with relatives of some of the students, visiting their homes and taking pictures of the bedrooms of those who died in the disaster. Available on the BBC and Reuters websites. [Read More]
A timely arrival for the 2015 London Book Fair
Last year there were a couple of translations of Korean novels whose publication was timed to coincide with the London Book Fair. This year, despite Korea no longer being the focus country, the habit seems to be continuing. Bae Suah’s Nowhere to be Found, translated by Sora Kim-Russell, arrived on my doormat today, day 2 … [Read More]
Shin Yoon-seok lunchtime recital at St George-the-Martyr
An upcoming piano recital in Southwark: Free lunchtime recital with Yoon-Seok Shin (piano) Church of St George the Martyr | Borough High Street | London SE1 1JA [Map] Thursday 16th April, 1pm Sonata for Keyboard No 38 in F Hob XVI/23 – (Franz) Joseph Haydn Nocturne No 9 in B Op 32 No 1 – … [Read More]
Hanmi Gallery to exhibit Leonard Johannson in Seoul
Hanmi Gallery’s Sinsadong space opened last year, with the objective of bringing western artists to Seoul. The next exhibition should be an interesting one, with Swedish/Korean artist Leonard Johannson, whose London exhibition a year ago we rather liked. Leonard Johansson: ‘Under the influence’ Hanmi Gallery | Seoul 한미갤러리 | 서울시 강남구 신사동 608-12 | +82 … [Read More]
Great news: 94 “lost” films rediscovered
I’m prepared to trust Im Kwon-taek’s judgement about the quality of his 14th film that is in the batch of lost films just donated to the Korean Film Archive – Battlefield and Mistress as a title doesn’t sound promising. He made similar comments about his early output when he spoke during his London retrospective back … [Read More]
Ghosts of Jeju to get another London screening
Eighteen months ago there was a screening of this documentary about the 4:3 incident also known as the Jeju Massacre. There’s now an opportunity to see it again at a deli in Deptford on 27 April as part of the Free Film Festival. Free event. No ticket required, but capacity is only 40 so get … [Read More]
National Youth Orchestra premieres new Unsuk Chin commission
The National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain has commissioned a new work by Unsuk Chin which will be premiered at a concert at Sage Gateshead on 9 April. The programme, which also includes Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra and Percy Grainger’s eccentric and elaborately-scored The Warriors, will be broadcast live on Radio 3 at 7:30pm, and … [Read More]
Google Korea remembers Hwang Sun-won
Yesterday was the 100th anniversary of Hwang Sun-won’s birth on 26 March, 1915. Google Korea celebrated with one of their doodles, illustrating Hwang’s most well-known story, The Shower (소나기, 1959). The story was adapted as a movie by Lee Jin-mo in 1978; and Studio Meditation with Pencil is currently working on an animated version, which … [Read More]
Why Jeju Islanders don’t want Chinese to be allowed to drive?
A while ago we noticed an article in the Korean press which suggested people in Jeju-do were unhappy about Chinese being allowed to drive rental cars on the island when on vacation. I wondered what it was that concerned them. Then, the other day, I came across this article in H’s Week in China publication, … [Read More]