BKS members are invited to this talk and drinks reception. Doors open 18.15, Talk and discussion: 18.30, Drinks reception: 19.30 Opening and closing remarks Professor Sir Martyn Poliako FRS, University of Nottingham Martin Uden, Chair, British Korean Society The Mount Paektu Research Centre Professor James Hammond, Birkbeck, University of London Dr Amy Donovan, University of Cambridge … [Read More]
Category: Conservation and Environment
South Korea: Earth’s Hidden Wilderness – BBC2 documentary
To complement their coverage of the winter Olympics, the BBC is screening what looks like an interesting documentary covering things you might not often see in coverage of the peninsula. With plenty of Korean experts advising and behind the camera, this should be well worth a watch. South Korea – Earth’s Hidden Wilderness BBC2, 8:00pm … [Read More]
Hwang Jihae’s Shoes Tree project at Seoul Station
This year’s Chelsea Flower Show has just come to an end. No Korean participation this year, as far as I am aware. Last year Hwang Hay-joung won silver gilt for her Smart Garden sponsored by LG. But loyal readers will remember back to 2011 and 2012, when Hwang Jihae, without a big name corporate sponsor, … [Read More]
Latest UNESCO listings break the stereotypes
A famine-ridden state that spends all its money on its army and its nukes; and a country that builds a green city and restores its rivers… Those are the stereotypes. Yet it’s the North that has just had a biosphere reserve registered at UNESCO, while the South’s latest registration is an impressive piece of military … [Read More]
Mt Chilbo is the fourth DPRK biosphere reserve
At the 26th meeting of the UNESCO International Coordinating Council of the Man and Biosphere Program on 10-13 June, thirteen new sites were added to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves. Among them was Mt Chilbo (칠보산), in Myongchon County, North Hamgyong Province. This 340 hectare site in the north-east of the country is a … [Read More]
The Gangjeong campaign continues: the mayor speaks at SOAS
Following on from the informative documentary screening and thoughtful discussion at SOAS last Friday, the campaign against the Jeju naval base is lucky to secure a visit from the mayor of Gangjeong, to talk about the struggle. If the event has nearly as much impact as last Friday, this will be well worth going to. … [Read More]
Kahoidong gets a Royal Visitor
HRH the Duke of Gloucester has been in Seoul representing the Queen for the formalities which mark the 60th Anniversary of the Korean War ceasefire on 27 July. With Ambassador Wightman and the veterans minister Mark Francois he met with President Park Geun-hye, who said she was looking forward to her state visit to the … [Read More]
Futurology in Korean Studies: hell in a handcart or hallyu heaven? LKL reports from the 2012 BAKS conference
The annual BAKS Conference on 17 November ambitiously attempted to look into the crystal ball to see what the Korean peninsula might look like in 20 years time. To help in that crystal ball gazing, the list of speakers included some non-Koreanists in a valuable initiative to introduce specialists to provide a different perspective. The … [Read More]
2012 Travel Diary 4: Walking the palace trail with the RASKB
Seoul, Sunday 25 March 2012. It’s a cold, sunny morning, like the day before. I’ve booked myself on a walking trip of Seoul’s palace area, courtesy of the Royal Asiatic Society, Korea branch. We’re due to meet outside the Deoksu Palace at 9am, hence in part my reluctance to over-indulge the previous evening. It’s a … [Read More]
David Kilburn’s hanok featured in Korea.net magazine
Congratulations to David Kilburn of kahoidong.com for his hanok feature article in November’s Korea magazine (5Mb pdf download: http://t.co/9PANXC3f) Next, a talk at the KCCUK? And the Korea.net illustrators did a good likeness of you too! And from earlier this year: The fading remnants of South Korea's traditional buildings – CSMonitor.com http://bit.ly/hbBb9N More press coverage … [Read More]
Jeju is provisionally a New 7 Wonder of Nature
Jeju’s New7Wonders of Nature status is still provisional, but well done to the campaign team. An amazing effort. http://t.co/rHh2gIBo [Read More]
Bridge of National Defense collapses into Nakdong River
‘Bridge of National Defense’ Collapses into Nakdong River – reportedly due the Four Rivers project. The Marmot has a timely feature on some of these historic bridges: http://bit.ly/kHg19s. Photo above from Joongang Ilbo # [Read More]
Nial Moores talks about nature in the DMZ
Interesting podcast by British conservationist Nial Moores, director of Birds Korea, about conservation in and around the DMZ (HT Michael Rank). On Talking Naturally. http://bit.ly/dKRHix #. Nial goes birding on the islands near the Northern Limit Line and near the DMZ. [Read More]
Kahoidong campaign in the NYT
David Kilburn's Kahoidong hanok campaign makes it to the New York Times. Saving a Korean Courtyard House District: http://nyti.ms/hUITBL # [Read More]
Kahoidong makes it into the LA Times
A foreigner's battle to preserve South Korea's hanoks – LA Times. More coverage for David Kilburn's Kahoidong campaign http://lat.ms/br7d1t # [Read More]
Kahoidong.com on KBS
David Kilburn talks about hanok preservation in an interview with KBS World: http://bit.ly/9seisq #. I do hope the KCC get around to inviting him to give a talk. This is an important subject. [Read More]