London Korean Links

Covering things Korean in London and beyond since 2006

Looking back at 2012: Domestic news

In our final round-up of Korea-related stories which caught our eye in 2012, we look at domestic and business news. Modern Life and how to escape it. Korea came 24th out of 34 leading countries in an OECD quality of life index, coming bottom of the class in job security and gender income inequality and … [Read More]

Some well-decorated North Korean generals

Too good not to share. From Alexander Choi’s Facebook page, North Korean generals in full regalia. Quips left below the photo include “and you haven’t seen what’s on their backs…” “a testament to North Korean medicine that they are able to bear all that weight” There are of course questions as to whether the image … [Read More]

Korean navy buys British helicopters

The Korean navy is to buy KRW 589 billion worth of anti-submarine helicopters from AugustaWestland of the UK in preference to a US machine. The contract size is about the same as the Royal Navy’s order of Korean fuel tankers from Daewoo, announced last year. Links: Press release from AugustaWestland [Read More]

Black Eagles showcase the T-50 for Korea Aerospace Industries at the Savoy

Eleven handsome pilots in aviator sunglasses swagger down the runway in slow-motion choreographed formation. Behind them is parked a sleek black and gold aircraft pointing menacingly towards you. A booming Hollywood soundtrack could be announcing the start of a Top Gun sequel. But it’s the start of the promotional video for Korea’s Black Eagles aerobatic … [Read More]

Korea’s Black Eagles steal the shows

Amy Lloyd, a regular spectator on the air show circuit, catches the Black Eagles in Gloucester. The Black Eagles Display team are The Republic of Korea’s Air Force Aerobatic Team, and run eight supersonic T-50 Golden Eagle jets. This season was their first in the UK and so far they have attended three major air … [Read More]

The Seoul Nuclear Security Summit

Trying to stay in Seoul at the time of such a big event as the Nuclear Security Summit meant that some of my preferred hotels were booked solid or had revoked any discounts which might otherwise have been available. But it was interesting seeing the preparations that Seoul had been making, from the security arrangements … [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]

Korean Rockets Part 1 – the Singijeon

As stated previously (in Korean Naval Firepower Part 1), there is evidence to suggest that gunpowder was in use in Korea during the Three Kingdoms period (57~668 AD). If, as some scholars believe, saltpeter firearms were invented in Korea in the 7th century, this would place the invention 100 years before it is believed to … [Read More]