I don’t usually spend much time reading the Weekend FT’s How to Spend it magazine – most of the things in the magazine being out of my financial reach. But this weekend, in their ongoing series of “Smooth Guides” to a long luxurious weekend they finally featured Seoul. So here’s the FT’s tips for how … [Read More]
Place: South Korea (page 27)
Millennium Dream – ceramic and textile artists from Gyeongsangbuk-do
It’s taken a while, but here is some more information on the artists and artisans from Gyeongsangbuk-do who were exhibiting in Mayfair earlier this year. It’s a shame that their sojourn was so brief. The quality and interest of their work was equal to that displayed in the Traditional Yet Contemporary exhibition last year, and … [Read More]
Sorok Island joined to the mainland
Yi Chong-jun’s (이청준) novel on the subject is called Your Paradise. Looking at the beach above you see maybe one reason. But Sorok Island (소록도) is Korea’s best known leper colony. As Brother Anthony explains, in Yi’s book, the subject is the relation between the individual and the collective. The setting is the remote leper … [Read More]
PyeongChang beaten fair and square?
So Korea is not to host the 2014 winter games. Beaten by Sochi in Russia. Cynics will say that the real winners from PyeongChang’s energetic campaign were CNN, who gave PyeongChang’s campaign global reach by screening the commercials (HT to Tom Coyner). Despite the optimism (above), did Korea ever have a hope? A cutting article … [Read More]
UK-trained beauty expert opens Busan Academy
My dear friend Nam-hee Kim (김남희) has just taken the bold step of opening her own Beauty Academy in Busan: the Michae Beauty Academy (미채 뷰티 아카데미): www.mcbeauty.co.kr. Nam-hee studied at the London College of Fashion, part of University of the Arts, London — and part of her course was theatrical make-up and design. I … [Read More]
The Boryeong Mud Festival: is this your idea of a good time?
It’s getting to be that time of year again. The adverts are in Seoul magazine; Robert Koehler’s even written an article on it in June’s issue (I wonder if he actually experienced it first hand?). And it’s one of the more popular search terms which land people at this site. But before you book your … [Read More]
Artisans of Gyeongsangbuk-do exhibit in Mayfair
I apologise to the ceramists and textiles artists of North Gyeongsang Province for going to their exhibition armed only with my mobile phone. And unfortunately there aren’t any press materials with images of the high quality work on show. From the above photo you can just about tell that the vase in the front has … [Read More]
Defensive Walking on the streets of Seoul
One day I’ll work out, from the ethical and technological perspectives, how to go about embedding other people’s videos into this blog. Until that day, I’ll just have to link to the sites where the videos are displayed. So here’s a fine video containing instructions for a foreigner on how to walk “defensively” down the … [Read More]
British-owned culture cafe opens in Bucheon
Thanks to Peter Orange for letting me know about an interesting new venture in Bucheon (부천): Cafe Nicolia, run by British / Korean couple Nicholas and Lia Young. From their website, it looks like a version of Seoul Selection, but obviously with more food and, I’m guessing, fewer books. On my rare visits to Seoul … [Read More]
Seoul lags as an international financial hub
The Corporation of London has just launched a new index: the Global Financial Centres Index. It’s a way of ranking various cities that aspire to being recognised as international financial services centres. It was launched in Cannes last week at MIPIM, the international property industry boondoggle. The occasion provided the opportunity to update the City’s … [Read More]
Restoring Seoul’s faded past
Visit OhMyNews for an interesting article from Robert Neff. Great pictures too. Here’s a list of all of Neff’s articles. Well worth a browse for those interested in Korea’s early modern history. [Read More]
The Leeum Art Gallery, Seoul
A brief walk from Hangangjin subway stop (line 6) near Itaewon is the Leeum Gallery, set up by Samsung. No expense has been spared on the building itself, with prestigious foreign architects engaged to build it, and an impressive collection of artworks. The building itself is very spacious, and has three main sections. Older artworks … [Read More]
The Spirit of Kahoidong
Bukchon (북촌), a genuine old part of Seoul, a haven of peace preserved between the two major palaces. A little bit of old Seoul carefully preserved and nurtured, saved from the twenty-first century metropolis below. Stroll around the quaint streets of Kahoidong, one of the most protected parts of Bukchon, and if you’re not looking … [Read More]
Farewell to Seoul
Some of the highlights and not-so-highlights of my visit to Seoul. First the good. Soundday in Hongdae Gwacheon’s National Museum of Contemporary Arts The Leeum Gallery (post to come soon once I’ve done a bit of research. Now done. Post is here) Insadong. Yes, there’s some touristy tat for sale, but there’s also some really … [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]
Gwacheon’s National Museum of Contemporary Art
45 minutes from the downtown area of Seoul is a rather special place. Take line 4 to Seoul Grand Park (Gwacheon, 과천), and board the free shuttle bus which runs from near the exit. The Lonely Planet says it would take 20 minutes to walk to the gallery, but it seemed to take the bus … [Read More]