The power of the 15th century singijeon rocket was taken to a new level by the Hwacha launcher, a radical device which could fire 100 singijeon rockets in a single volley. Here is a reconstructed version. In 1492, it played an integral role in repelling an invasion from the North. Its full potential was demonstrated … [Read More]
Category: History (page 17)
Korean Rockets Part 1 – the Singijeon
As stated previously (in Korean Naval Firepower Part 1), there is evidence to suggest that gunpowder was in use in Korea during the Three Kingdoms period (57~668 AD). If, as some scholars believe, saltpeter firearms were invented in Korea in the 7th century, this would place the invention 100 years before it is believed to … [Read More]
Colour photos of Korea in the 1950s
So unusual to see colour photos of Korea in the 1950s. Sorry I missed this talk by Dr John Cornes – last week’s Global Korea Lecture at the KCC. http://bit.ly/fuZjvR # [Read More]
Book review: Kim Sok-pom — The Curious Tale of Mandogi’s Ghost
Kim Sok-pom: The Curious Tale of Mandogi’s Ghost Translated by Cindi Textor Columbia University Press, 2010 (114pp) Originally published in Japanese, 1970. What seems to be new entrant in the Korean literature in translation market is more complicated than it first seems. The author, Kim Sok-pom, is actually a second-generation zainichi Korean resident in Japan, … [Read More]
The return of the Uigwe
Ancient texts looted by France are home at last – the Uigwe once stored in the Oegyujanggak library on Ganghwa-do return to the National Museum of Korea on semi-permanent lease. http://bit.ly/fIFpeJ # [Read More]
Book Review: Hwang Sok-yong – The Old Garden
Hwang Sok-yong: The Old Garden / The Ancient Garden Originally published in 2000 English translation by Jay Oh, Seven Stories Press 2009 / Picador 2010. “More has been expected of Hwang Sok-yong than almost any other Korean writer of the past quarter century,” says Bruce Fulton1. Having read The Guest (2002), and having watched and … [Read More]
Imjin remembered in Ale
What a great way to commemorate a landmark battle: Glorious Gloster Ale brewed to mark the 60th anniversary of the Imjin battle, says This Is Gloucestershire. Must get myself a pint or three. http://bit.ly/hmbDNw # [Read More]
1970s: the missing decade in Korean film?
Newcomers to Korean film can sometimes get the impression that Korean cinema started with Shiri. Indeed, one contributor to the recent Korean Film Blogathon claimed “Korea’s cinema was virtually non-existing until the new millennium”. Not a sentiment with which I strongly agree. While the last decade has certainly seen more than its fair share of … [Read More]
Korea in the mid-fifties – historic slides
Two upcoming opportunities to see historic photographs of the Korean peninsula in the 1950s. First, courtesy of the Anglo Korean Society, photos of South Korea at the KCC. Details below. Watch this space for photos of North Korea at SOAS in May. KOREA IN THE MID-FIFTIES – HISTORIC SLIDES A talk and slide show by … [Read More]
Book Review: Lark and Termite. (Densely poetic and powerful, apparently)
Jayne Anne Phillips: Lark and Termite Vintage Books, 2009 Surely the most carefully crafted sentence in a novel is the opening one. So when a reader is faced with an opening sentence that would not only have the Microsoft grammar checker going crazy with those irritating green wiggly lines but which would fox a literate … [Read More]
Film review: 71 Into the Fire
71 Into the Fire, by director John H Lee (이재한), is a film based on a true story which occurred in the early months of the Korean War, when the northern armies swept all before them until they reached the Busan perimeter. A group of 71 student soldiers are given the job of defending a … [Read More]
Koryo and Liao Relations in the 10th-11th century
SOAS has a series of East Asian Art and Archaeology Research Seminars. The next one is of relevance to Koreanists, and will be held in the Brunei Gallery, room B111 on Friday, 4 March, at 3 pm. All are welcome. Koryo and Liao Relations in the 10th-11th century – Impact on Buddhist Culture – Youngsook … [Read More]
Book review: Pearl Buck’s Living Reed
Pearl S Buck: Living Reed – A Novel of Korea Moyer Bell, 1990 Originally published by Methuen, 1963 Pearl Buck spent most of her childhood and early adulthood in China in an American missionary family and, mixing with local children, grew up with an unrivaled understanding of the country. Her experiences were distilled into an … [Read More]
Tripitaka Koreana is a copy, but an improvement on the original
Interesting article on the Tripitaka Koreana – an early example of Korean improvement on foreign intellectual property. http://bit.ly/fjShBC # [Read More]
The Arch of Enlightenment launched
Good to see that Prince Charles turned out so support the premiere of the new documentary on the Gwanghwamun: http://bit.ly/fq8fI1 #. The DVD gets a release in March. [Read More]
A last look back at 2010
We’ve digested the albums, films, sporting events and books of the year, and reviewed some of the memorable stories of 2010 in our Quiz of the Year. Here are some of the other things we noted in 2010 which didn’t quite make it into any of those articles. 2010: a year of anniversaries It was … [Read More]