A physical altercation leaves Democratic Party National Assemblyman Jeong Gi-yeong needing hospital treatment. Rep. Jeong, who is visually impaired, apparently fell over and hit his head. Source: Korea Beat [Read More]
Category: Formats (page 79)
A Bollywood take on Oldboy
Park Chan-wook: one of the obscurest DVDs in his collection is Zinda, the Indian movie that appears to be based on Oldboy (source: interview in today’s Time Out magazine). # [Read More]
The Ministry of Love
South Korean Ministry of Health sends workers home to make babies: one way to increase the birth rate. From today’s Evening Standard http://bit.ly/5iFV1e. Also reported by John Sudworth on the BBC #. [Read More]
Another girl gugak band
Are there any male Gugak players? Sorea, Sookmyung Kayageum Orchestra, now Miji, the latest gugak girl band. The eight-member all-female ensemble hopes to become known as “the Girls’ Generation of traditional Korean music.” Their debut album, The Challenge, hits the stores this month. Source: JoongAng Daily. # [Read More]
The April 3rd Massacre Tree
An alternative, historical, tourist destination in Jeju – the April 3rd Massacre Tree. Great article in Jeju Weekly highlighting the incident whose wounds are still felt today. http://bit.ly/4Lwr07. # [Read More]
Bae Doo-na named Best Actress
Bae Doo-na has been named Best Actress twice over in Japan for her role in Air Doll, which showed at the London Film Festival last year. Bae will pick up her trophy at the 23rd Takasaki Film Festival on March 28, after claiming her honor at the 33rd Japan Academy Awards on March 5. Source: … [Read More]
On glamorous advertising
Could you imagine hot Hollywood stars modeling for an air conditioner? Han Ye-seul & Song Seung-heon earn their fees – from an article in the Korea JoongAng Daily (article no longer on their website). 11:35 PM Jan 9th from bit.ly JamesTurnbull: @lklinks See what Londoner Bruce Haines says to understand why (is head of Korea’s … [Read More]
Lampard lampooned in Kara video
Frank Lampard scores chart-topping single in South Korea, says the Daily Star http://bit.ly/6nmuPb. Can anyone find it? 12:03 AM Jan 9th from bit.ly JamesTurnbull: @lklinks Try here http://ow.ly/Updr 12:07 AM Jan 9th from HootSuite in reply to lklinks @JamesTurnbull Thanks for the link James – but they’ve already taken the video down 🙁 12:12 AM … [Read More]
Jeon Ji-hyun’s new film: Snow Flower
Can’t wait for Snow Flower and the Secret Fan http://bit.ly/5WGEjZ. Jeon Ji-hyun and Zhang Ziyi. What more could you ask for? 11:32 PM Jan 9th from bit.ly [Read More]
SNSD are National Assembly’s singers of the year
Korean National Assembly have refined tastes: Girl’s Generation named singers of the year by their popular culture and media study society. http://bit.ly/8EnyG7. [Read More]
Mark Russell’s top 10 Korean films of the Noughties
Mark Russell presents his top 10 films of the noughties http://bit.ly/8qSrnH. I think I agree with #1. How many do you agree with? Kay: I agree with number one but have only seen 2 others from the list so i can’t say >_< Aashish: Thank god Take Care Of My Cat got some well deserved ... [Read More]
Fake North Korean paintings in circulation
Sunny Lee has a good article in the Korea Times: Fake NK Paintings in Wide Circulation. 9:44 AM Jan 7th. Philip: Good article. Did you get to meet Sun Woo-young when writing it? He was in London a couple of years ago. I assume the paintings on show in London were authentic, as he was … [Read More]
Foreigners find iPhones hard to get
First it was credit cards, now it’s iPhones: Foreigners in Korea are denied those necessities in life (HT: Marmot) http://bit.ly/4CT9Gh. 10:40 PM Jan 4th from bit.ly [Read More]
Younee wins best songwriter at Musicaid awards
Congratulations to @youneelondon: Best Songwriter & nominated for best female solo artist in Musicaid 2009 Song Contest http://bit.ly/5azmbo. 9:14 PM Jan 4th from bit.ly [Read More]
Wonder Girls One to Watch
The Wonder Girls have been picked as ‘Ones to Watch’ for 2010, by advertising agency JWT. First Koreans to make it into US Billboard charts top 100. # The “girl group has conquered Asia and has its sights on the rest of the world,” JWT said. Source: Chosun Ilbo [Read More]
ROK Drop’s stories of 2009
Top 10 ROK Drop Stories of 2009 http://bit.ly/7KiEV6 and ROK Drop’s pick of the decade http://bit.ly/7aYjGm. Good memory refreshers both. | 10:28 AM Jan 3rd from bit.ly Update – both links are now dead. ROK Drop (now rokdrop.net rather than rokdrop.com) seems to have deleted archive stories other than those released directly to the US … [Read More]