Seoul City planners have been honoured by UNESCO for their Bukchon hanok “regeneration” programme. How on earth did that happen, given their not very stellar record? (See kahoidong.com) # [Read More]
Place: South Korea (page 24)
Jongmyo skyscraper may irk UNESCO
Seoul’s skyscraper may irk UNESCO, according to the Korea Times. A new 36-storey building could mean Jongmyo Shrine loses world heritage status: http://bit.ly/oiEuJ # [Read More]
Visit Korea, experience the Cold War
Coming to the Travel Channel this autumn is a new travel documentary on Korea. At the Korea Tourism evening at the KCC last week we were given a preview. It was refreshing: a Korean tourism documentary, but from a Westerner’s perspective. Yes, we were told that the KTO assisted in the film’s production, but the … [Read More]
Ha Ji-won speaks Busan dialect like a native
Ha Ji-won’s Busan accent takes Haeundae over the 10 million mark. # So convincing is Ha’s Busan accent that even locals believe she is one of their own, but in fact she mastered the accent with the help of a dialect coach. Nice that she’s drinking the local soju brand, too. Source: Chosun Ilbo [Read More]
Paju Book City in the FT
A city dedicated to books and print – Paju Book City is featured in the FT today. What other paper provides such coverage? http://bit.ly/10cwDH #: [Read More]
The LKL Korea Trip 2009 pt 9: Hails and farewells
Thursday 23 / Friday 24 July I’ve left it rather too late to do my LKL-related networking, and I’ve been up too late most nights trying to do on my netbook what I could do in a quarter of the time at home, so I have little energy today – despite all the Korean food … [Read More]
Jean Chung’s Seoul photos for Time magazine
Good Seoul photos, plus 10 things to do in 24 hours in Seoul, some recommendations for side trips, and more, on the TIME magazine website: http://bit.ly/Time-photos #. Photographer Jean Chung comes across the practice of couples fastening metal locks to a fence on Namsan Tower (above) as a symbol of their eternal love for each … [Read More]
The Shining Fortress part 2: its remarkable story.
by Matthew Jackson The story which surrounds the building of the Hwaseong fortress is an extraordinary one. The fortress was originally built as part of the new Suwon city, a project initiated by King Chongjo. King Chongjo (or King Jeongjo, depending on your preferred romanization) had been greatly devoted to his father, Sado Seja, who … [Read More]
The LKL Korea Trip 2009 pt 8: Galleries old and new
Wednesday 22 July 2009 A pleasant late start to the morning. Im Jeongae from London’s I-MYU gallery happens to be in town, looking after the show of British artists at the Total Museum. We cruise the Samcheong-dong galleries together as the heat of the day becomes slightly cooler, and the daylight light becomes milkier. People … [Read More]
Gwanghwamun unveiled
I’m amazed that the Gwanghwamun plaza was ready on time. It was a building site when I passed by only two weeks ago. http://bit.ly/RPuac # Read an in-depth article over on Popular Gusts. [Read More]
The LKL Korea Trip 2009 pt 7: Korea House
Tuesday 21 July 2009 A slowish start to the day. Too much alcohol and food (and salt?) the previous evening, plus the heat and humidity of the Busan weather, meant that sleep did not come easily. A brief tube ride to Busan Station to the KTX for Seoul. On the Busan subway, a whim makes … [Read More]
The LKL Korea Trip 2009 pt 6: Haeinsa
Monday 20 July 2009 The trip to Haeinsa is via Daegu. A quick tube journey to the inappropriately named Busan Central Bus Terminal – at the northernmost extremity of the Busan public transport system (Nopodong), and then the express bus to East Daegu station takes nearly two hours. Another tube to the Seobu bus terminal … [Read More]
The Shining Fortress part 1: its construction
by Matthew Jackson The official report by the advisors to UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee concluded that the Suwon Hwaseong Fortress “represents the pinnacle of 18th century military architecture, incorporating the best of that from Europe and from the Far East. As such it has a unique historical importance”. What makes Hwaseong special? Following the editor’s … [Read More]
The LKL Korea Trip 2009 pt 5: Bulguksa and Seokkuram
Sunday 19 July 2009 More World Heritage points today. The Samgyeopsal from last night is still sitting heavily on my stomach and I don’t feel like breakfast. The 9 am KTX from Seoul Station, and the connecting train from East Daegu, went without a hitch, and bang on time. Just before I arrive in Gyeongju … [Read More]
The LKL Korea Trip 2009 pt 4: Recuperation and the Kilburn Art Space
Saturday 18 July. I think the activity of the previous two days, combined with the time difference, has finally caught up with me. After a slow start to the day I consult the helpful tourist information people in Insadong how best to get to Gyeongju from Seoul. It’s the KTX to East Daegu station, with … [Read More]
The LKL Korea Trip 2009 pt 3: 20th century art and history
Friday 17 July Today I elect to revisit the National Museum of Contemporary Art in Gwacheon (국립 현대 미술관). Very easy to get to: Seoul Grand Park subway stop on Line 4. Get out at exit 4 and get the free shuttle bus which leaves every 20 minutes. There’s a great Manhwa exhibition on at … [Read More]