Our final look back at 2013, including a random collection of news stories, mainly domestic, that caught our attention. In the news Asiana Airlines flight 214 from Incheon crashed on landing at San Francisco airport on 6 July. The Boeing 777 had approached the runway too low and too slow. An American local TV station … [Read More]
Category: 2013 year-end posts
Looking back at 2013: DPRK and regional news
In our fourth review of 2013, we look at some of the North Korea related news, and stories which put the peninsula in a wider East Asian context. DPRK Google chairman Eric Schmidt, together with a former governer of New Mexico, had a four day trip to North Korea in January. “I’m still spinning my … [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]
Looking back at 2013: Culture, tourism and branding stories
In the second of five articles looking back over 2013, we recall some of the tourism and heritage stories that made the news. And we also take a look at some of the stories about Korean food, given the increasing popularity of Korean cuisine of Korea. Arts and Heritage Sungnyemun, the great Namdaemun gate, reopened … [Read More]
Looking back at 2013: the Register – anniversaries, marriages, deaths
In the first of five articles, we look back over some of the milestones of 2013. Here we list some of the significant anniversaries, marriages and deaths. The Donguibogam was published 400 years ago. The Korean War armistice was signed 60 years ago The Marmot’s Hole started 10 years ago Marriages Footballer Ki Sung-yueng, to … [Read More]
Things to look forward to in 2014
Here are some of the Korea-related events we can look forward to in London and elsewhere this year. The London Book Fair (8-10 April) has Korea as Focus Country. Expect a lot of K-lit events around that time, and plenty of authors will be in town. Also, expect a number of literature-related film screenings at … [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]
President Park’s 2014 New Year Message
I didn’t spot a Presidential address this time last year – maybe it was because of the interregnum. But here’s this year’s. 274 words, compared with Kim Jong-un’s 4,361. Fellow Koreans, New Year 2014, the Year of the Blue Horse, has begun. I wish you all a year full of hope and the energy of … [Read More]
Kim Jong Un’s 2014 New Year Address
The traditional new year address, which seems to have replaced the formerly traditional Joint New Year Editorial. I’m wondering what construction project resulted in the fatalities mentioned in the third main paragraph. Pyongyang, January 1 (KCNA) — Kim Jong Un, first secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, first chairman of the National Defence Commission … [Read More]
The London Korean Links Awards 2013
Now in its eighth year, here are the LKL Awards 2013. The year has been both good and bad from LKL’s perspective. Good because there seem to have been more events, more books, more films and more music than ever before as Korean culture gets more and more public attention. And bad because our day … [Read More]
Season’s greetings to all our readers
Seasonal best wishes to LKL followers and fellow bloggers. 2013 has been an action-packed year for Korean culture in London. Here’s to 2014. [Read More]