Kim Young-ha’s Your Republic is Calling You made it to #38 in Amazon’s bestseller list – the first Korean novel in the top 100. http://bit.ly/eLFkhL #. Joongang Ilbo article on Korean authors getting foreign recognition also mentions Shin Kyung-sook, Jo Kyung-ran and Hwang Sok-yong. [Read More]
Category: Formats (page 64)
Sarah Chang’s Lloyd Webber collaboration
Is this one crossover too far? Actually Sarah Chang playing Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera concerto sounds good. http://amzn.to/gUcPmv. EMI has also just re-released her recording of Shostakovich and Prokofiev concertos with Simon Rattle: # [Read More]
Kim Hye-ja voted Best Actress
The Los Angeles Film Critics Association votes Kim Hye-ja Best Actress 2010 – in a poll which includes Hollywood and English language films. Mother is voted the #2 foreign film http://bit.ly/ewCEQx # [Read More]
KoME interviews Nah Youn Sun
KoME had a chance to interview Nah Youn Sun after a performance at the Ramada Hotel in Aalen, Germany, on 6 November. http://is.gd/iRwV1 “I hope that the Metallica fans won’t kill me!” she says, of her Enter Sandman cover. It’s a nice write-up. [Read More]
The genealogy of gayageum sanjo
Interesting article on the genealogy of kayageum sanjo in an interview with Yang Seung-hee, holder of Korea’s intangible cultural property #23. Yang is striving to pass down the legacy of Kim Chang-jo, who is considered the father of modern sanjo. http://bit.ly/gqrO5k # [Read More]
3rd Line Butterfly and W&Whale in private London gigs
They came, played a private gig, and went away again. There will be a podcast coming out of it, but otherwise 3rd Line Butterfly might as well not have been here. Same with W & Whale. Monocle completely blocked access. # [Read More]
British sausage success in Seoul
Congratulations to Gavin Mackay, a British sausage manufacturer in Seoul, who has won the best ‘small and medium-sized business prize’ at the ‘5th KOR-EU Industry Cooperation Day’ event. http://bit.ly/UnVA0Z. Via @UKinKorea [Read More]
Strad stolen from Korean violinist in Euston sandwich shop
London-based violinist Min-Jin Kym had her 300-year-old Stradivarius stolen as she had a sandwich at Pret-a-Manger, Euston Station. Detectives believe an opportunist gang grabbed the bag without having any idea of its value. Min-jin: I hope you get your Strad back very soon! http://bit.ly/gLG9cd # [Read More]
Sarah Chang’s weekend in Philly
Violinist Sarah Chang tells us how to spend the perfect weekend in Philadelphia – via the Weekend FT’s How to Spend it mag. #. Brunch, shoe shopping, baseball, movies, the art museum, cocktails and high tea. [Read More]
Werner Bischof’s photos of the Korean War
Magnum photo essay on Korean War, focusing on the experience of civilians. Worth a look. A six-minute video showing the photographs of Werner Bischof with voiceover from people who experienced that time. http://bit.ly/dEz6Yw # [Read More]
A gift idea for Winter Sonata fans?
Bae Yong-joon’s book about Korea — A Journey in Search of Korea’s Beauty — has been translated into English: a Christmas gift idea? http://bit.ly/gobpWT #. The book sold well in its Japanese and Taiwanese versions, according to the Chosun Ilbo. [Read More]
Warrior’s Way tired and cliched
Via @bournecinema: Negative review of THE WARRIOR’S WAY (aka Laundry Warrior), starring Jang Dong-gun, in the Joongang Ilbo. Sat on the shelf 2yrs. Not a good sign. “It is a novel idea for an Asian swordsman to go to the West and become a hero there. But that plot twist is not strong enough to … [Read More]
Independent reviews The Tiger in Asian Art
Michael Glover in the Independent reviews the excellent Asia House exhibition: The Tiger in Asian Art, http://ind.pn/eKhWGK: What intrigues most about this wonderful exhibition – and how sad that it has no catalogue, because its story is so rich and so much worth the telling – is that the tiger seldom looks really fearsome, even … [Read More]
Free school meals debate causes fight in Parliament
A fight erupted in South Korean parliament over free school meals – via The Telegraph http://bit.ly/e6wOP2 #. “President Lee Myung-bak’s GNP party have objected to the bill, saying benefits should be limited to low-income families and expanded gradually.” [Read More]
Wikileaks on North Korea: hardly controversial
So the Dear Leader is a “Flabby Old Chap“? Who doesn’t put on a bit of weight when getting older, particularly if you don’t get much exercise? # Wikileaks cables reveal China ‘ready to abandon North Korea’. Former UK ambassador Chun Yung-woo quoted. Guardian. http://bit.ly/grAjhw # RT @fcaidan: China is NOT ‘abandoning N Korea.’ WikiLeaks … [Read More]
First Thoughts on the Last Godfather
From @ajosshi: An unmissable movie: http://bit.ly/ezQ7CQ A few thoughts on Shim Hyung-rae’s new film. # From the trailer it seems as if he’s trying to add a Charlie Chaplin feel to his creation, but if the slapstick is that old and the jokes that unfunny then I’m not sure if even the presence of Harvey … [Read More]