London Korean Links

Covering things Korean in London and beyond since 2006

Unsuk Chin and Donghoon Shin Barbican performances

Unsuk Chin has music featured in two of the London Symphony Orchestra’s Spring season concerts; and in the second of those concerts we will be treated to a UK premiere of Donghoon Shin’s Cello Concerto: Thursday 14 March, 7pm: Beethoven and Unsuk Chin Prepare for the unexpected in Beethoven’s most surprising symphony, and Unsuk Chin’s … [Read More]

K-music 2023: Jung Jae-il + London Symphony Orchestra: Music from Parasite & Squid Game

Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the K-Music Festival, Jung Jae-il’s award-winning score will be presented live in concert at the Barbican Centre Hall on Sunday 1 October featuring the London Symphony Orchestra to open the festival. Renowned for his versatility, the award winning singer-songwriter, composer, producer and music director Jung Jae-il is responsible for some of … [Read More]

Eun-Me Ahn Company: Dragons, in London and Salford

Avantgarde South Korean choreographer Eun-Me Ahn’s joyful riot of dance, music and non-stop movement brings together modern and traditional dance styles from across Asia. Whilst dragons are feared in the West, in Asia, they represent lightness, joy and optimism. Pioneering choreographer Eun-Me Ahn’s latest extravagant production sees her extraordinary company of dancers interacting on stage … [Read More]

Sunwook Kim plays Brahms 1 at the Barbican

LSO Conductor Laureate Michael Tilson Thomas joins Korean piano superstar Sunwook Kim in Brahms’ explosive First Piano Concerto. Portrait of the artist as a young man: tormented by an impossible passion, Johannes Brahms poured all his emotions into a piano concerto of massive scale and volcanic power. It’s music that burns its way into your … [Read More]

Return to Seoul preview + director screentalk

In this emotionally charged and vibrant film from Davy Chou, a young French woman returns to Korea for the first time since her adoption. A surprising and deliciously sleek movie, Return To Seoul follows Freddie (Park Ji-min), who, on-a-whim, travels to Korea, where she’s persuaded into seeking out her biological family. This is only the … [Read More]

Seong-Jin Cho plays the Barbican

Piano sensation Seong-Jin Cho brings his musical refinement to a solo programme of Baroque dance music and the Romantic composers inspired by it. Baroque music is closely intertwined with dance and Seong-Jin brings together works inspired by its energy and rhythmic drive. Handel supposedly describes the beats of a foundry in his Suite; years later, … [Read More]

LKFF Teaser Screening: Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982

The first LKFF Teaser screening of the year: Kim Ji-young: Born 1982 (82년생 김지영) + Introduction by Sarah Shin Dir: Kim Do-young (2019, 118 mins) Cast: Jung Yu-mi, Gong Yoo Tuesday 12 May 2020, 18:15 Barbican Cinema 2 | Beech Street | London EC2Y 8DS Tickets £12 | Buy tickets Based on Cho Nam-joo’s landmark … [Read More]

The Hand of Fate screens at the Barbican

Can’t get enough classic Korean film now the festival has ended? Try this at the Barbican: The Hand of Fate + Introduction by Hyun Jin Cho Dir: Han Hyeong-mo (1954, 85 min) Tuesday 19 Nov 2019, 6:30pm Barbican Cinema 3 | Beech Street | London EC2Y 8DS | Book tickets Made one year after the … [Read More]

London Korean Film Festival 2019: the official press release

Here is today’s official press release that announces the line-up for the 2019 London Korean Film Festival: The London Korean Film Festival (LKFF) has launched its full programme of films and events for the upcoming 14th edition, taking place from 1st-14th November in London before embarking on the annual tour 18th-24th November. The Special Focus, … [Read More]

Brief review: Seong-jin Cho’s Rachmaninov at the Barbican

I can’t help feeling slightly disappointed at Seong-jin Cho’s performance of Rachmaninov’s Second Piano Concerto at the Barbican at the end of March. There was no shortage of virtuoso filligree fingerwork and moments of poetry, but somehow the performance as a whole lacked passion and fire. Perhaps part of the problem was rapport between orchestra … [Read More]

Seong-jin Cho plays Rachmaninov at the Barbican

Hear from the teenage Shostakovich in this all-Russian programme with conductor Gianandrea Noseda. Rachmaninov’s Third Piano Concerto opens quietly enough, but this simple and beguiling beginning quickly gives way what is in fact one of the most technically demanding concertos in the classical piano repertoire. Its lush and romantic elegance is followed by Balakirev’s Islamey, … [Read More]

World Premiere: Donghoon Shin’s Kafka’s Dream

The second Donghoon Shin world premiere this month is Kafka’s Dream, a commission for the London Symphony Orchestra via the Panufnik Composers Scheme, generously supported by Lady Hamlyn and The Helen Hamlyn Trust. LSO Futures Sunday 24 Mar 2019 6.00pm – 8.30pm Barbican Hall, London | Book tickets DAVID LANG the public domain * (UK premiere) … [Read More]