LKL is surprised four times in the space of a twenty minute interview with Korean pianist HJ Lim, and ends up an even bigger fan than before. Having enthusiastically listened to HJ Lim’s industry debut at Abbey Road Studios in May, and having purchased her boxed set of the complete Beethoven piano sonatas, we’re really … [Read More]
Category: Interviews and features (page 6)
A visit to Min Young-ki
When I visited Sancheong for the first time in 2010 one of the items on my agenda was a visit to Sancheong’s finest potter – and indeed one of Korea’s most renowned tea-bowl makers – Min Young-ki (민영기). Unfortunately owning to a diary mixup Min Senior was not there, and instead I had a very … [Read More]
Jeon Kye-soo group interview: from cult beginnings to box office success
In this wide-ranging interview, director Jeon Kye-soo reflects on his unconventional path from philosophy and theatre to cinema, his genre-blending debut Midnight Ballad for Ghost Theatre, mythological influences, musical inspiration, and the evolution of his work through Love Fiction and beyond. [Read More]
Lim Woo-seong interview: adapting Han Kang’s inner worlds for the screen
Director Lim Woo-seong discusses adapting Han Kang’s writing for Vegetarian and Scars, exploring trauma, patriarchal violence, desire, religion, and inner conflict. He explains visual strategies, working with actors, sexuality on screen, and portraying psychological wounds that shape identity and relationships. [Read More]
Song Il-gon – interview: from serious cinema to stories everyone can feel
Director Song Il-gon reflects on his journey from philosophical, existential cinema to more audience-focused storytelling. In this group interview, he discusses funding struggles, changing film philosophies, the balance between art and accessibility, and how music, travel, and emotion continue to shape his work. [Read More]
Yoon Jung Lee interview: making films outside the system
Director Yoon Jung Lee discusses Remember O Goddess (later completed as the feature-length Remember You), urban isolation, memory and connection, crowdfunding via Kickstarter, independent filmmaking in Korea, and the challenges facing female directors. A candid, conversation on the subjects of creativity, funding, and finding audiences beyond borders. [Read More]
Park Kwang-su group interview: “it would be impossible for me to make just light-hearted films”
In this extensive interview, Park Kwang-su discusses his shift from overtly political cinema to mainstream filmmaking, his latest movie Meet Mr. Daddy, censorship, activism, genre, industry change, and his evolving approach to addressing social issues in Korean film. [Read More]
E J-yong group interview: “driven by the desire to try something new”
Director E J-yong reflects on his eclectic career, from the minimalist sensuality of An Affair to the stylised provocation of Untold Scandal and Dasepo Naughty Girls. In this group interview, he discusses timeless storytelling, challenging genre conventions, shifting styles, and his enduring curiosity as a filmmaker. [Read More]
Lee Myung-se interview: “the next Jacques Tati”?
Director Lee Myung-se reflects on his career from Nowhere to Hide to Duelist and M, discussing cinematic rhythm, memory, fantasy, and balance. In this thoughtful interview, he explores how his style evolves while remaining uniquely his own, and why film should be experienced as pure cinema. [Read More]
Ryoo Seung-wan interview: action, justice and laughter
Director Ryoo Seung-wan discusses The Unjust, corruption and justice in Korean cinema, evolving directorial style, acting influences, working with family, and future projects including The Berlin File. An engaging interview blending insight, humour, and candid reflection. [Read More]
Oh In-chun interview: “truth is not always visible”
Director Oh In-chun discusses Metamorphoses as a hybrid of action, horror, and comedy, shaped by cinematic influences and limited resources. He explores themes of desire, hidden truth, and transformation, explains his visual and casting choices, reflects on Korean cinema’s global perception, and outlines ambitions for future genre-driven projects. [Read More]
Kim Han-min interview: history, resistance and the Korean spirit
Kim Han-min talks in depth about Arrow: The Ultimate Weapon, exploring Korean history, genre balance, sound design, and the recurring themes linking his work to Paradise Murdered and Handphone. [Read More]
Fasting for North Korea: Okhwan Yoon’s hunger strike in Parliament Square
As I crouched on the concrete slabs ringing Parliament Square outside the Mother of Parliaments, it was difficult to truly comprehend the scale of Okhwan Yoon’s journey, as the South Korean lay confined to his tent, motionless and gaunt. “I have cycled through 191 of the world’s nations since 2001 on my quest for peace. … [Read More]
Kim Kkobbi interview: Flowerain – finding the characters within herself
Kim Kkobbi talks candidly about Breathless, her approach to acting, violence in Korean cinema, working across film and theatre, and her creative life beyond acting in this wide-ranging interview. [Read More]
Saharial’s Guide to Kpop – part 1
Saharial commences a journey through the many attractions of Kpop, which will lead her wherever you want her to go Introduction I’ve been following the Korean music scene since late 2004, after a small detour from the Hong Kong and Taiwanese pop scene turned into one giant change of direction in my interests in Asian … [Read More]
It’s not all grim up North
Darren Southcott discovers that North Korean refugees in the UK find life tough, particularly with looming spending cuts Food shortages and societal collapse have brought record numbers of refugees fleeing the grip of the North Korean regime, yet for many the short crossing of the Tumen River into China brings more the life of the … [Read More]