London Korean Links

Covering things Korean in London and beyond since 2006

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Selected publications

  • Booklist: Dance (16 titles)
    • Fringe Review: After 4 – Over the Moon

      Sometimes, no matter how much I might be bowled over by a performance, I cannot put into words what I found so stunning about it. So it is with Yoo Sun-hoo’s work After 4: Over the Moon. Part of the magic of the piece is the peaceful, poignant music that provides the accompaniment, performed live … [Read More]

      Brief Fringe review: Mind Goblin

      Mind Goblin is a mysterious half-hour solo accompanied by a quiet, watery soundtrack. Sometimes serene, sometimes descending into madness, the solitary dancer / choreographer Lee Kyung-eun manages to retain our attention throughout the piece despite the lack of obvious rhythm to the music. The most striking moment comes when the soloist coughs up black liquid … [Read More]

      Think Korea 2006 – an introduction

      Think Korea 2006 was an ambitious programme of cultural and other events organised by the Korean Embassy as part of the “Korea-UK Mutual Visit Year”. There was, I believe, a reciprocal series of UK-related events organised in Korea, but I never saw any publicity about it. One event I do know of: the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra … [Read More]

      Fringe 2017: two early recommendations

      To help give a taste of the range of Korean talent at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, the KCC hosted a showcase of four of the acts, at the Lilian Baylis Studio. Of these, the stand-out performances were Behind the Mirror and Black and White Tea Room — Counsellor. LKL went along to the event hoping … [Read More]

      Korea focus in Greenwich & Docklands International Festival

      One of the first performance arts projects of Korea/UK 2017-2018 is a focus on Korean performers at this month’s Greenwich + Docklands International Festival – “London’s leading festival of free outdoor performing arts (theatre, dance, and street arts), an annual 9/10-day celebration of extraordinary outdoor events that transform people’s lives.” Three acts perform in the Greenwich … [Read More]

      Gangnam Style remembered on Strictly

      Thanks to would-be Labour finance minister Ed Balls for brightening up our dull Autumn on the BBC’s celebrity talent show Strictly Come Dancing. Consistently at the bottom of the scoreboard, he is saved by the popular vote. In the most recent episode he had the guts to do a Gangnam Style inspired Salsa, choreographed (with … [Read More]

      Review: Bongsu Park’s Crossing Over – Ritual of Grief

      Bongsu Park’s two-part work, Crossing Over – Ritual of Grief, is an ambitious piece lasting for almost two hours which saw its first performance spread over two weekends in two different locations during August. It blends contemporary electronic music with traditional Korean music, and contemporary dance with traditional Korean dance such as Salpuri. Appropriately enough … [Read More]

      Event news: DGC K-pop dance show #10

      DGC Dance run weekly K-pop dance classes at Fitness First venues in the City and put on a big show every 6 months or so. Coming up this Sunday, their 10th such show. Looks fun. DATE: Sunday 9th October 2016, 2pm – 5.30pm Doors open 2pm. Show starts 2.30pm VENUE: Stratford Circus Arts Centre (C1 … [Read More]