In 1899, the visiting Prince Heinrich of Prussia expressed his astonishment to Emperor Gojong at a traditional archery demonstration. The Prince, hailing from a militarized Prussian culture, sought out demonstrations of Korean martial arts, and Archery was the most impressive among the arts demonstrated. He was familiar with Turkish and Hungarian Archery of Europe, which … [Read More]
Category: Pastimes
Celebrate the lunar new year at Whitehall Historic House
Are you looking forward to celebrating the start of the Year of the Rat? Try out some family-friendly traditional Korean New Year activities at Whitehall Historic House in Cheam, courtesy of Sutton Cultural Services. And when you get home from there, why not try cooking tteokguk? Maangchi’s recipe is dead easy and tastes great. I … [Read More]
An evening of baduk with the British Go Association and BKS
Enjoy a game of Baduk (Go) with the British Korean Society and the British Go Association. Go is one of the world’s great strategy board games and originated over 3,000 years ago in China. It is part of popular culture today in Japan, China and Korea, and known as Igo, Weiqi or Baduk respectively in … [Read More]
Event news: 43rd London Open Go Congress 2016
If you’re looking for something different between Christmas and the New Year and are in the Great Portland Street area, why not look in at the London Open Go (Baduk) Congress? This year it’s sponsored by DeepMind, the company whose AlphaGo computer beat 18-time world champion Lee Se-dol earlier this year. There’s a strong chance that the … [Read More]
Event news: BKS Go Evening to celebrate Lunar New Year
Can’t believe the Lunar New Year is sneaking up on us so quickly. This year the New Year holiday in Korea is Monday – Wednesday 8-10 February, coinciding nicely with the start of Lent. The British Korean Society will be celebrating New Year on 9 Feb with a Baduk evening: Celebrate the Korean Lunar New … [Read More]
Koo Jeong A designs UK’s first glow-in-the-dark skate park
The UK’s first glow in the dark skate park opened in Everton Park on 5 October. The park, designed by Korean artist Koo Jeong A, is part-painted with luminous paint. According to the Liverpool Echo: Artist Koo Jeong A worked with young people from North Liverpool and skaters to devise the new wheels park. The … [Read More]
The 41st London Open Baduk Congress
Ever been interested in finding out what Go / Baduk is all about? If you’re around in London later this month, that’s your chance. If you play, you can register to participate. Or you can just go along to watch. 41st London Open Go Congress 2014 28th – 31st December 2014, International Students House 229 … [Read More]
The Guardian hikes the Baekdu-daegan
There’s a nice piece in The Guardian this week about hiking the Baekdu-daegan. The author starts at Cheonwangbong peak, Jirisan, in Sancheong County (Gyeongsangnam-do) and walks north, ending his hike in the Deogyusan national park in Muju County, Jeollabuk-do. Koreans have long believed that a current of life-energy, or gi, runs between [Jirisan in the … [Read More]
2012 Travel Diary #17: On hiking in Korea
Sancheong, Gyeongsangnam-do, Thursday 29 March 2012. “Have you got proper hiking boots?” That’s the standard question from concerned Koreans when I told them I was going to walk up Jirisan. I was familiar with the Korean custom of dressing properly for hiking. You can’t miss the hikers on the subway, and indeed heading out to Gwacheon … [Read More]
The world’s tallest LEGO tower, at Jamsil Stadium
The state visit of the Danish Crown Prince Frederik produces constructive results: the world’s tallest LEGO tower, at 31.9 metres, celebrating LEGO’s 80th birthday. Full story and photos: A tower of fun: World’s tallest Lego structure unveiled in South Korea to mark toy’s 80th birthday, Daily Mail, 13 May 2012 [Read More]
Good luck to Oxford in the Varsity Baduk tournament
Good luck to underdogs Oxford in the Baduk tournament against Cambridge tomorrow. Time to start leveling the scores. http://t.co/LIUozlO0 [Read More]
Korean Fighting Kites – part 1
Dominick Jenkins explains his passion for Korean kites. Suddenly, he was there. Peter Nam. His icon, a Black, White, Panda. It dances, manically, on the screen. Thirty years earlier. Late 1970s England. The Cotswolds. A full gale. The wind bends great beech and oak trees. Rain imminent. I am alone in a car parking lot. … [Read More]
Your online resource for Korean kite-building
I never thought there would be an English language forum about making traditional Korean fighting kites, but here it is: Fighter Kite Central. http://bit.ly/crTvaZ # [Read More]
There’s such a thing as a world skipping championship?
Yes, and Loughborough is hosting it. So, welcome to the schoolchildren from Ulleungdo, who have come to the UK to compete in the world skipping championships 2010. http://bit.ly/96KgFT # [Read More]
The Korea Teddy Bear Association
Korea has a Teddy Bear Association? I thought it was only Brits who were so cranky. Do you think that group of bears is meant to be Super Junior T? http://bit.ly/cNoXQ6 # [Read More]
Korean philatelist wins London prize
The History of Taste: Korean philatelist wins London expo prize for stamp collection showing development of epicurism. http://bit.ly/bVlObu # [Read More]