I can’t remember seeing any positive coverage of the two journalists (Laura Ling and Euna Lee) who managed to get themselves captured by the North Koreans on March 17, before getting released following a special visit by Bill Clinton. Here’s a random selection of some of the articles. Bradley K Martin (Global Post, 18 June … [Read More]
Category: Formats (page 83)
LKL annoys the Seoul Podcast
Seems I upset someone on the Seoul podcast for not plugging their Twitter account in my post on the use of Twitter in the K-blogosphere. 90:40 in. http://bit.ly/Evrru. # Nice to be noticed, even though they don’t seem to understand what LKL, or the post, is about. [Read More]
The traditional medicine Constitution Type test
Did anyone do the “Constitutional Type” test in the Korean Village at the Thames Festival? It seems that if you don’t have a disease, you’ve got to keep trying till you get one: # [Read More]
Korean singer-songwriter explores London pub
Fun evening with Younee at the Golden Eagle yesterday #. She entertained the regulars with an impromptu rock ‘n’ roll version of Summertime on the piano. [Read More]
Why on earth would UNESCO honour Seoul’s hanok regeneration programme?
Seoul City planners have been honoured by UNESCO for their Bukchon hanok “regeneration” programme. How on earth did that happen, given their not very stellar record? (See kahoidong.com) # [Read More]
Jongmyo skyscraper may irk UNESCO
Seoul’s skyscraper may irk UNESCO, according to the Korea Times. A new 36-storey building could mean Jongmyo Shrine loses world heritage status: http://bit.ly/oiEuJ # [Read More]
Unsuk Chin Cello Concerto on Maestrocam
Unsuk Chin’s cello concerto at the Proms: still available on BBC MaestroCam http://bit.ly/4TKdk #. Well worth your time. [Read More]
Yi T’ae-jun’s Eastern Sentiments published
A new translation of essays by colonial-period writer Yi T’ae-jun: “Eastern Sentiments”, translated by Janet Poole, Columbia UP: http://bit.ly/akMvg #; available at Amazon.co.uk. “Yi laments the passing of tradition with keen sensibility yet, at the same time, celebrates human perseverance in the face of loss and change.” [Read More]
The Host prequel – a preview
A first look at the monster from The Host 2 (prequel): looks like a comedy. Fortunately, nothing to do with Bong Joon-ho http://bit.ly/pnNAf # Image via DAUM. [Read More]
The Folding Plug
Korean designer Choi Min-kyu fixes clunky UK 3-pin plugs. Ingenious. “I was on my way to college once and put my laptop in my bag, but when I took it out again there was a huge scratch across the surface which had been made by my plug,” said Mr Choi, who moved to the UK … [Read More]
Ha Ji-won speaks Busan dialect like a native
Ha Ji-won’s Busan accent takes Haeundae over the 10 million mark. # So convincing is Ha’s Busan accent that even locals believe she is one of their own, but in fact she mastered the accent with the help of a dialect coach. Nice that she’s drinking the local soju brand, too. Source: Chosun Ilbo [Read More]
Surprise sushi restaurant in New Malden mini-market
There’s a good sushi restaurant at the back of the Seoul Plaza shop very near the Fountain Pub in New Malden. Turbot Set with maeuntang especially recommended! # [Read More]
Many hearts broken: Lee Young-ae married
Lee Young-ae secretly tied the knot with a Korean-American businessman in the U.S. on 24 August. The wedding was attended only by family and close friends, and was held in the U.S. because the bridegroom’s family lives there. Source: Chosun Ilbo # [Read More]
North Korean labourers in Russia
North Koreans labouring in Russia's timber camps: the UK connection, on Newsnight tonight: http://bit.ly/3wAaFJ # The full video can now be viewed here http://bit.ly/s6YvM # Note the Hwang Byung-ki soundtrack. And another BBC report from Vladivostok, ten years later [Read More]
Yang Yong-eun’s competition philosophy
Congratulations to Yang Yong-eun on winning the US PGA golf championship http://bit.ly/2Jw6M #. “It’s not like you’re in an octagon where you’re fighting against Tiger and he’s going to bite you, or swing at you with his 9-iron,” Yang said through an interpreter. “The worst that I could do was just lose to Tiger. So … [Read More]
Why North Korea is unlikely ever to produce a Solzhenitsyn
Christian Oliver reviews “Long Road Home: Testimony of a North Korean Camp Survivor” in the weekend FT #. He observes: It is not uncommon for South Korean missionaries to meet defectors as soon as they flee into China, and for memoirs by penal camp survivors to end with the authors turning to Christianity. But Kim’s … [Read More]