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]
Category: Light reading (page 5)
“I’m a Petty Minded Creep” (Naneun Ggomsuda) comes to the UK
A very alternative Korean cultural event is coming up at the end of this month, probably not the sort of event that would be advertised on the KCC website. The subversive political talk-show, I’m a Petty-Minded Creep (Naneun Ggomsuda, 나는 꼼수다, or Na Ggom Su for short) is coming to the UK for a couple … [Read More]
Today is not a good day to be managing the Mangyongdae funfair in the DPRK
The management of the Mangyongdae funfair got a very public roasting from Kim Jong Un during an on-the-spot guidance visit. The Great Successor even did a spot of weeding to show them how bad things looked. Who would want to be in their shoes? Full story on the KCNA website. Natty hat, by the way. [Read More]
Wonder Girls rapper in top 25 beauty list
Nice to see the Wonder Girls in the news. I wonder how JYP managed to get Yu-bin onto the list of 25 Sexiest Musicians Under 25, compiled by US website Complex Music. Yu-bin, who replaced the band’s previous main rapper Hyuna, comes in at number 20. Judge for yourself, but I think she should be … [Read More]
Chinese upset in kimchi cabbage row
“The Koreans stole Dano from us, and now they’re stealing our cabbages,” say Chinese netizens, according to the Korea Times, following a report that the UN’s Codex Alimentarius Commission will decide to adopt the name “kimchi cabbage” as an international standard for the cabbage formerly known as “Chinese”. [Read More]
Jeon Ji-hyun finally comes clean on her upcoming marriage
Enewsworld explains why Jeon Ji-hyun denied wedding rumours for so long: she needed to get some modelling contracts signed first. The wedding is on 13 April, brought forward from 2 June, after which she starts shooting Ryu Seung-wan’s new film Berlin http://bit.ly/ygigUg. [Read More]
Kim Jong-il lives on as comedy prop
‘If somebody asks you what you’re wearing, you say Kim Jong-il.’ says British comedian Sasha Baron Cohen in Oscar publicity stunt, having tipped an urn of ashes over the presenter http://bit.ly/w2ctTz [Read More]
First birthday celebration for Lee Young-ae’s twins
Cute or what? Lee Young-ae holds low-key first birthday bash for her twins, 21 Feb 2012. Jeon Do-yeon was also there to celebrate. http://bit.ly/x7W0ec. Pic via Hancinema [Read More]
Igudesman and Joo in A Little Nightmare Music at the Cadogan Hall
Crazy musical comedy coming up at the Cadogan Hall in early March. It comes with great reviews. Check out Igudesman and Joo’s website for some videos of what they do. And then book your tickets. Igudesman and Joo A Little Nightmare Music Friday 9 March, 2012 7.30pm Programme: You have to see and hear them … [Read More]
Tabloid story of the week
Tabloid story of the week: eight South Koreans arrested over alleged scheme to smuggle gold to Japan in their rectums: http://t.co/OB5hfpQn (via the Marmot) [Read More]
The London Korean Links Awards 2011
The sixth of LKL’s annual unscientific and very personal recognition of the best things of last year. And in the field of film, books and CDs what is encouraging is that there is so much to choose from. There were also plenty of good Korean cultural events in London, Edinburgh and elsewhere, but there was … [Read More]
A look back at 2011 – part 3
In the final part of our look back at 2011, we summarise some of the news stories which caught our eye. China This year the region’s biggest economy continued flexing its muscles: it conducted the first test flight of its new stealth fighter, announced that it had deployed stealth missile speedboats in the East China … [Read More]
A look back at 2011 – part 2
In the second of our articles we look at stories relating to Sports, Tourism, and national branding and marketing. And K-pop and celebrities are never far away when talking of Brand Korea. Sports and Tourism Jeju was provisionally listed as one of the worlds New 7 Wonders, after a multi-month international marketing campaign. Celebrities ranging … [Read More]
“Thank you, Jeon Ji-hyun! And Sorry”
“Thank you, Jeon Ji-hyun! And sorry.” Interesting piece on the use of celebrity models in Korea’s cosmetics industry, as Kim Tae-hee replaces Jeon for the Elastine brand http://t.co/3xWVg32V [Read More]
The pizza ad that has got academics and bloggers talking
Do pizza boxes appear in ancient Korean buddhist statues? The Mr Pizza ad that has got academics and bloggers talking: http://t.co/mbaFqyXP Photo credit: Wake up and Laugh, where you can find the real meaning of the distinctive headwear. [Read More]
Big Bang reunited in Belfast
Big Bang put aside Daesung’s car accident and G-Dragon’s marijuana controversy, and unite to take on Britney Spears in Belfast at the MTV European Music Awards: http://t.co/3AFOyCDQ [Read More]