London Korean Links

Covering things Korean in London and beyond since 2006

Some New Year drumming

First, a video posted to YouTube on New Year’s Eve: a Korea-Japan collaboration in Los Angeles, from Doppo Nagata. “New year celebration of dance and music 2008” from Los Angeles, California. “Japan-Korea cross-cultural future traditional music and dance”. Music composed and produced by Doppo Nagata (Soul of Japan and beyond). Choreography by Soo Hyang Lee … [Read More]

LKL 2007 Quiz of the Year – the answers

Question 1: Corporate crooks and corruption Match the alleged quote with the appropriate chaebol The conglomorate had run a vast network that bribed government officials, prosecutors, tax collectors, journalists and scholars I don’t want to take a gamble on causing a crisis in the country’s economy The sentence of one year and six months is … [Read More]

Album review: Bada #3 — Made in Sea

(CJ Music, January 2006) After her lively second album, Bada’s third is a big let-down. Gone are the catchy pop tunes which show off her vocal range and bring a smile to the face. Instead we are faced with a run-of-the-mill R&B and dance collection, which could have been put together by anyone. The voice … [Read More]

Two more 2007 album choices

As an appendix to the recommendations by the three critics who know Korean pop, rock and indie music much better than me, here are two further choices. I can’t help but sympathise with Jenny when she comments that 2007 was not an outstanding year. My own purchases of Korean music are somewhat random. When I’m … [Read More]

A nomination for artiste of the year

In more than a footnote to her Critic’s Choice article, Saharial reviews the achievements of Lee Minwoo this year My personal nomination for artiste of the year goes to Lee Minwoo a.k.a. ‘M’. In the last 12 months he has not only released a live album and a third solo effort, and held successful tours … [Read More]

Evan #1: Hard to Breath

Jenny Wu reviews her album of the year T-Entertainment, March 2007 It seems as though the recent kpop scene has been increasingly riddled with generic and bland tunes. However, once in a while, I’ll come across something that’s worthy of my time. For every cloud, there’s a silver lining. This is where Evan (Yoo Ho … [Read More]

LKL Critics’ Choice 2007: Saharial

Saharial, a moderator in the soompi forums and a self-confessed pop junkie, presents her selection of 2007 releases – and has some words of comfort for a disappointing release which didn’t make her list First up is the King of Ballads — Sung Si Kyung. This sixteen track 5th Album called The Ballads opens with … [Read More]

That Wonder Girls song – and an antidote

This one will be quick. Once again, Matt over at Popular Gusts has written the post that everyone wishes they’d written themselves. So, here’s Tell Me, the song and dance that everyone’s talking about, performed by the teenage girl band Wonder Girls – the creation of Park Jin-young (JYP), the man who invented Rain: Traffic … [Read More]

LKL Critics’ Choice 2007: Anna Lindgren

To me, 2006 was a pretty weak year, music-wise, and it wasn’t really till the very end of November that it began to shape up. That’s when – after a two month delay – adultchild finally released their debut album, B TL B TL. Filled with soft slow paced mellow music, cosy guitar play and … [Read More]

Weekend events update

Since I did my 1 December events post, I’ve received a couple of updates which are now reflected in that post. First, I’ve received confirmation of the exhibition / puppet show on Saturday by Magenta Tan (née 진경신) at the Korean Register Office in New Malden this Saturday and Sunday (8/9 Dec). The show is … [Read More]

LKL Critics’ Choice 2007: Jenny Wu

2007 was not an outstanding year for Korean music to be brutally honest. I found myself liking this song here and that song there, but only a few albums as a whole have commanded my attention this past year. The following are my top 5 picks for best Korean albums of 2007. My criteria for … [Read More]

Concert notes: Choi Jin at SOAS

Concerts at SOAS always seem to have a good turn-out. Monday (19 November) was no exception when Choi Jin and colleagues presented a programme of modern compositions and arrangements of music for traditional Korean instruments. Keith Howard provided some informative introductions to the music to be performed, which provided useful context as well as some … [Read More]

Yi Sung-yol #2: In exchange

Fluxus Records, May 2007. This was one of my gullible speculative purchases foisted on me by Mr Jay Kim at AM Records in Manhattan’s Koreatown. Bless him — he’s getting to know me too well. This one’s a cracker. Yi (이승열) has a gorgeous mellow voice — but with the occasional rough edge to make … [Read More]

Album review: Ji-Eun vol 1 – Rain

Review by Jenny Wu (Yedang Entertainment, May 2007) YG Entertainment’s Kim Ji Eun has finally debuted. Her debut has been pushed forward for quite some time now, making this album all the more anticipated. As most die-hard YG fans already know, she gained fame through appearances on other artist’s albums (Jinusean, Taebin, Wheesung, and Lexy … [Read More]

Jang Yoon Jung – first album

(Sony Music, October 2004) Jang Yoon Jung was the first of the younger generation stars to experiment with Trot. Brought out in late 2004, her first album was a hit with older and younger buyers alike, and encouraged other Trot revivalists to have a go. Those who came after were somehow less successful, let down … [Read More]

Event news: Kayagum and dance at SOAS

As part of the SOAS autumn concert series there’s a kayagum recital, with traditional and contemporary dance, on 19 November at 7pm. Choi Jin (최진) : Evocative Korean Kayagum and Dance Choi Jin is one of the most brilliant kayagum players in the Korean music world. As a well-known performer, she has given many concerts … [Read More]