London Korean Links

Covering things Korean in London and beyond since 2006

The Korean breakdancing scene

The talent on display at the Peacock at the moment is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the Korean B-boy scene. Korean breakdancing is getting almost to be mainstream – to the extent that corporate suits hire B-boys to provide some glitz and glamour to a new product launch; and they … [Read More]

Yegam Inc: BreakOut

Those who have been to see Jump will be familiar with the formula. Some very clever slapstick, a small amount of enforced audience participation, and some excellent acrobatics. Whereas in Jump the acrobatics involved martial arts, in Break Out it involved some pretty impressive breakdancing. With the Taekwondo in Jump, the amazing displays flowed naturally … [Read More]

Some pictures of Insadong

As I’ve been on a plane for what feels like the last 24 hours, a lazy post today. Insadong on a Sunday morning, before it gets busy: One of the products for sale: Question: If the diary is designed for the Japanese market, why is the writing in English? And a British style icon somehow … [Read More]

Jump returns to the Peacock

Ye-gam Inc’s hit martial arts slapstick show returns to the Peacock Theatre in London for a 10-week run in February. Do go along and take your friends. You don’t have to be a Korean culture buff to enjoy it. In fact, it probably helps if you’re not. Even if you aren’t a fan of Jackie … [Read More]

The London Korean Links Awards 2006

In the year-end spirit of reviewing the highlights and lowlights of 2006, here are the winners of the first LKL Awards – a personal and unscientific selection. The awards are in the following categories: Man of the Year Woman of the Year Best cultural promotion: Briton in Korea Best cultural promotion: Korean in Britain Best … [Read More]

Jump receives royal approval

At the Royal Variety Performance at the Colisseum on Monday Night there was an unusual item. The show, fronted by K-film fan Jonathan Ross, is held every year in aid of the Entertainment Artistes Benevolent Fund, and this year was attended by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall (usually, for non-Brits among our readers, … [Read More]

Theatre news: Private Jokes, Public Places – a new play following a Korean-American architecture student

Thanks to Colin Bartlett for letting me know of play now on at the New End Theatre, with a Korean-American connection. Till 10 December. Snug Harbor Productions, Ergo Entertainment & Maximum Entertainment Productions in association with New End Theatre present the European premiere of PRIVATE JOKES, PUBLIC PLACES By Oren Safdie Directed by Leon Rubin … [Read More]

Master Oh’s apology to Korean youth

Romeo & Juliet – adapted by Oh Tae-seok (Oh T’ae-sŏk, 오태석) Mokhwa Repertory Company 23 November 2006 – 9 December 2006 / 19:00, 19:45 The Pit, Barbican, Part of bite06 Oh Tae-suk, born in 1940, had a traumatic start to his life. When I was 11, the Korean War broke out. One day a car … [Read More]

Think Korea: the Finale

Details of the closing events of Think Korea 2006 Korean Traditional Performance 11 December 2006 7:30pm Manchester, Bruntwood Theatre, Royal Northern College of Music 13 December 20067:30pm Croydon, The Fairfield Hall Introduction The National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts is an organization which began more than 1400 years ago. Its forerunners can be traced … [Read More]

Think Korea: Romeo and Juliet

As part of Think Korea, a big Shakespeare adaptation at the Barbican by one of Korea’s leading playwrights. Coinciding with this production are several talks / educational events: 15 November: a lecture presented by John Russell Brown, on Oh Tae-seok, Shakespeare and popular theatre, at Asia House 30 November: a talk by Oh Tae-seok after … [Read More]