A pretty tune by Korean crossover composer Yiruma (이루마), arranged for flute and piano by Hugh Sung. It comes from Jasmine Choi’s album of Claude Bolling’s Suite for Flute and Jazz Trio: The whole CD is available on iTunes | Amazon.com [Read More]
Category: VoDs (page 7)
DJ Joonki’s K-pop mash-up
For those of you who couldn’t make it to the opening event of the Korean Artists Association residency on 12 August, here’s the DJ set from Joonki, via his YouTube channel. He was only alotted 5 minutes, but did pretty well to cover 30 years of K-pop. I’d like to hear something a bit longer … [Read More]
A video of Korean ceramic decorative techniques
I just tripped over this lovely video on Facebook. It would be nice to have something a bit longer, showing a comprehensive range of all the various decorative techniques used in Korean ceramics. But this is a great sampler, from Icheon Ceramics: Published on Oct 23, 2013 The exhibit “Icheon: Reviving the Korean Ceramic Tradition” … [Read More]
A trio of Pyongyang time lapse videos
A video sponsored by Koryo Tours has had the Guardian descending to the level of Buzzfeed with the following clickbait headline: Timelapse video offers unique insight into North Korea’s capital city. Needless to say, Buzzfeed calls it “mind-blowing”. As you can see from the above, it’s a very slick production, from “city-branding pioneer JT Singh … [Read More]
The Kimchi Slap (in case you haven’t seen it elsewhere)
Here’s the full clip from the MBC TV Drama Everybody, Kimchi. The incident in question is at 1’30”: If you’re happy with .gifs, here’s the cut-down version. I wonder how many shirts were ruined rehearsing this scene… [Read More]
Dance videos, tasteless films and hair promotions – different ways to annoy the DPRK authorities
It’s not just the Americans and the Brits who annoy the North Korean establishment with their irreverant lèse-majesté. Now the Chinese are doing it too. So far the video has been left online: And a reminder of the two other things that recently got the DPRK establishment annoyed: an upcoming American comedy film, and a … [Read More]
“Jazz” in the DPRK: Autumn Whispers and the forbidden fruit of Richard Clayderman
I’ve just finished reading Jang Jin-sung’s memoir, Dear Leader. It’s a real page-turner that will appeal to many types of readers, including people who like a good adventure story (the passages describing Jang’s evasion of Chinese and North Korean security forces once he has fled from the North Korean capital are genuinely exciting) and of … [Read More]
A special offer on Ensemble Sinawi for LKL readers
Enjoying Seoul in the City so far? Me too. I’m not sure we’ll get around to reviewing everything on LKL, but Matthew’s account of Sir Robert Harris’s talk on UK-Korea relations, and Colette’s review of Andersen’s Gazes, will both be posted soon. There’s plenty more to come, but I wanted to share with you a … [Read More]
Korea wins Golden Lion in Venice architecture biennale
There have been a lot of Korean Ministry of Culture bigwigs in town this week for the opening of the City of London Festival, in which Korean performers are playing a major part. And many of the officials are going home to Seoul via Venice. Why? Because the Korean Pavilion has been awarded the Golden … [Read More]
Ensemble Sinawi at LSO St Luke’s – don’t miss one of the highlights of COLF
For many LKL followers, the highlight of the City of London Festival this year will be the performance by Ensemble Sinawi at LSO St Luke’s on 8 July. If you liked Geomungo Factory at the K-Music festival last year, or have caught Baramgot on one of their London performances, this evening’s performance will be a … [Read More]
English PEN video: Hwang Sunmi in conversation with Maya Jaggi
Here is English PEN’s video of Hwang Sun-mi in conversation with Maya Jaggi on the second day of the London Book Fair. The Hen who Dreamed she could Fly is obviously one of the things discussed. Links: English PEN YouTube channel [Read More]
English PEN video: Kim Young-ha in conversation with Krys Lee
Here is English PEN’s video of Kim Young-ha in conversation with Krys Lee on the first day of the London Book Fair: Links: English PEN YouTube channel [Read More]
Three Korean underground bands come to Kensington
After last year’s Hyundai Card tour by four Korean rock bands, this year we have several more coming to England. In London we have Dead Buttons, asian chairshot and Patients performing at AAA on Friday 9 May; on Saturday 10 May Dead Buttons and Patients return to perform at the Astbury Castle in Peckham; while … [Read More]
LTI Korea video: Yi Mun-yol in conversation with Claire Armitstead
Here is LTI Korea’s video of Yi Mun-yol in conversation with The Guardian‘s Claire Armitstead at the English PEN Literary Salon, Earls Court on the last day of the London Book Fair 2014, 10 April 2014: Links: LTI Korea website | YouTube channel [Read More]
LTI Korea video: Shin Kyung-sook in conversation with Arifa Akbar
Here is LTI Korea’s video of Shin Kyung-sook in conversation with The Independent‘s Arifa Akbar on the first day of the London Book Fair. The topic is mainly Please Look After Mother, but also we talk about I’ll be Right There, and we learn about what Shin is working on right now. LKL’s question comes … [Read More]
Exhibition visit: Ha Young Kim’s Modern Soup at 43 Inverness Street
The first exhibition of 2014 at 43 Inverness Street drew to a close last weekend: their second solo show by Ha Young Kim. Gallery director Suzie Lee talks about the work and its reception in the below video: The opening of the exhibition was a festive affair, with daegeum player Hyelim Kim performing behind Ha … [Read More]















