London Korean Links

Covering things Korean in London and beyond since 2006

Director: Jang Jun-hwan

A look back at some of the films of 2018

posted updated 11 Apr 2019 by Philip Gowman 6 minute read

A wide variety of genres was presented to the London audience this year, from the return of the romantic melodrama (Be With You) to big budget fantasy (Along with the Gods). We also saw #MeToo beginning to have an impact, not just in the themes of movies such as Land of Seonghye and Testimony but … [Read More]

Review: 1987 – When the Day Comes

posted updated 23 Sep 2018 by Philip Gowman 6 minute read

1987: When the Day Comes is one of those movies which could not have been made a couple of years ago. It would have got the director and its all-star cast included on the infamous blacklist of suspected lefties who would not get government support in future. And to have the director of this film … [Read More]

UK Premiere screening: 1987: When the Day Comes

event date Mon 18 Jun 2018 posted

After Save the Green Planet (2003), one of my own favourites from that decade, director Jang Joon-hwan took a long break. I’m afraid I missed his second feature, Hwayi: A Monster Boy (2013), something that I’m going to have to rectify, because his third film, coming to the Picturehouse Central this month, has been getting … [Read More]

A look back at some of the films of 2017

posted updated 27 Jul 2022 by Philip Gowman 5 minute read

A review of some of the films that screened in London during the 2017 – another busy year. For me the undoubted highlight of the London film year was the Bae Chang-ho retrospective at the London Korean Film Festival: a chance to see a couple of his movies – including the classic Whale Hunting (1984) – … [Read More]

LKL’s top 10 K-films of the noughties

posted updated 4 Mar 2019 by Philip Gowman 6 minute read

Mark Russell led the way with his fascinating list of films of the decade – in which the biggest shock was that there was no Park Chan-wook. GI Korea also has a list, which redresses the balance somewhat. So here is mine. Over the years I’ve been reasonably diligent in giving marks out of 10 … [Read More]

Wedding wishes

posted updated 17 Feb 2022 by Philip Gowman < 1 minute read

Firstly we wish every happiness to Moon So-ri and Jang Jun-Hwan, who are getting married today. Closer to home, Jason Bechervaise and Ahn Meeyeon of koreanfilm.org.uk are preparing for their own future together. They will be getting married in Seoul in a quiet ceremony in January. And to all you singles out there, I hope … [Read More]