At LKL, we loved Mark James Russell’s first book on the Korean entertainment industry, Pop Goes Korea. So we’re looking forward to his follow-up, focusing more narrowly on K-pop, which is due to be launched in April from Tuttle Publishing. It’s already available for preorder on Amazon.co.uk. Below is the official press release, or you … [Read More]
Music (page 64)
DJ Masa Live in London
There have been K-pop nights in London before, but not one that has created this amount of buzz… DJ Masa Live in London Get ready for the biggest K-pop club night London has seen yet – DJ Masa, the most famous international K-pop DJ is coming to perform LIVE in London for his last international … [Read More]
Looking back at 2013: Entertainment news
In the third of five retrospective articles, we recall some of the entertainment stories that caught our eye in 2013. Korean box office records were broken in 2013. Korean films accounted for 59.5 percent of box office takings, with the feel-good drama Miracle in Cell 7 gaining 12.8 million admissions. The big new band to … [Read More]
Miss Saigon to get Korean star
Hot on the heels of a Korean star appearing on the West End stage in Les Mis, Miss Saigon is to get a Korean lead in the shape of Hong Kwang-ho starring as Thuy. He appeared in the first Korean production of Miss Saigon a couple of years ago, according to producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh. … [Read More]
A review of the London Korean Year 2013
In this article, we look at some of the highlights of the Korean cultural year, with a primary focus on London. Celebrations It was the year of anniversaries. 130 years of formal relations between Britain and Korea, and the 60th anniversary of the Korean War ceasefire. The KCCUK celebrated its fifth birthday with a special … [Read More]
Hyelim Kim reviewed in Songlines magazine
Congratulations to Hyelim Kim for receiving a four-star review from Songlines magazine (Jan / Feb 2014 edition) for her debut CD, Nim: Taegum Collection. The disk, released in 2013 at a concert at the Royal Asiatic Society, contains many of the pieces she has been performing in London over the past year or two, from … [Read More]
Korean indie musician invited to Glastonbury
Is this a first for a Korean musician? Singer-songwriter Choi Go-eun (최고은, also known as Gonne Choi) will be performing at Glastonbury in 2014, according to the Chosun Ilbo. Here’s hoping she stops off in London on the way. Here she is singing Eric’s Song: You can find some of her tracks on iTunes under … [Read More]
All I want for Christmas …
This MBC video is at least two years old, but like a Richard Curtis film it bears watching again. [Edit: the original MBC video is no longer online, but the above more recently uploaded item seems to be the same thing] [Read More]
Grace Yeo at the Wigmore Hall
Grace Yeo will be providing relief from the post-Christmas sales with a piano recital at the Wigmore Hall on 27 December: Grace Yeo (piano) 27 December 2013, 7:30pm Wigmore Hall Ticket Prices £8 £9 £11 £13 Programme Haydn: Piano Sonata in Eb HXVI:52 Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor Op. 57 ‘Appassionata’ Bartók: … [Read More]
Jihoon Kim Lunchtime recital at the Royal Opera House
Coming up on Monday 9 December, a programme of classical Korean works selected by Korean Jette Parker Principal Jihoon Kim, to be performed with piano, traditional Korean instruments and a Samulnori percussion group. Check out the Classical Iconoclast for a detailed preview of what to expect. At the Paul Hamlyn Hall, Royal Opera House Covent … [Read More]
Gig review: Hyelim Kim, Byron Wallen + notes inégales
I’m sure most of you have been in the scenario of trying to get a drink in a busy bar, with an overstretched barman (or maid) not having a clue who’s next in the unspoken queue. He looks around, and whoever shouts loudest gets served. You wonder if you will ever get your thirst quenched. … [Read More]
Hyelim Kim with Byron Wallen at the London Jazz Festival
Hyelim Kim continues to push the boundaries of the daegeum, this time in a jazz direction: Byron Wallen & Hyelim Kim Thursday 21 November | 8:00PM LONDON Club Inégales | 180 North Gower Street | London | NW1 2NB We are proud to be part of this year’s EFG London Jazz Festival! We welcome back … [Read More]
Na-Young Jeon to feature in Les Mis in West End
Not sure if this has been flagged up before, but the current production of Les Misérables has a Korean lead in Na-Young Jeon as Fantine. The first Korean lead role in a West End musical? I went last night and she was fantastic, as were the rest of the cast. Na-Yeong Jeon is scheduled for … [Read More]
Mee Hyun Oh / Sooyin Kim lunchtime recital at St Sepulchre’s
Notice of a lunchtime recital on 20 November 2013: Mee Hyun Oh (violin) with Sooyin Kim (piano) Wed Nov 20th 2013, 1:10–2:00 pm St. Sepulchre, the Musicians Church, Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2DG Programme:- W.A. Mozart Sonata for Piano and Violin KV 304 -Allegro -Tempo di Menuetto F.Schubert Sonata for Piano and Violin D 574 … [Read More]
Expo visit: YG v CJ, and PSY everywhere, at Billingsate
Day 1 of the Korea Branding and Entertainment Expo, coinciding with President Park’s State Visit, was very much business-focused, with fashion and contents buyers browsing the many stalls. Day 2 was given over to the visual arts and musical entertainments. Downstairs, in the spectacular vaulted basement, was a huge exhibition of video art, celebrating the … [Read More]
Event news: Infinite to perform at Hammersmith Apollo
News of an upcoming K-pop concert: Infinite: One Great Step Eventim Apollo Hammersmith 27 November 2013, 7pm Tickets £79-£180 (Book here) K-pop sensations Infinite announced their first ever UK show as part of the European leg of their highly-anticipated ‘One Great Step World Tour’. Just three years after forming, Infinite’s infectious melodies, electric rhythms and … [Read More]