Buyeo-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, 16 May 2016, 4:45pm. The sun is still hot as we arrive at our destination. We walk slowly, as there is little shade, past the ticket office to where is a wide, flat open space in the middle of which is National Treasure #9: the five storey stone pagoda of Jeongnimsa Temple. Is one allowed … [Read More]
Place: South Korea (page 6)
2016 travel diary 7: Gongju’s fortress
Gongju, Chungcheongnam-do, 16 May 2016, 3pm. Not far away from Songsan-ri is the fortress of Gongsanseong. It clings to the banks of the Geumgang river (nothing to do with Mount Geumgang in north Gangwondo) and its walls scale the cliffs and meander along the contours of the hill, forming a 2.6km circuit which climbs to … [Read More]
2016 travel diary 6: Gongju’s royal tombs
Gongju, Chungcheongnam-do, 16 May 2016, 2:15pm. The Royal Tombs in Songsan-ri Our first stop in Gongju is the set of seven or more tombs in Songsan-ri. The experts think there may be as many as ten tombs in the area. It seems odd, in an age when so much in the way of sophisticated electronics … [Read More]
2016 travel diary 5: An introduction to the Baekje Historic Areas
Gongju, Chungcheongnam-do, 16 May 2016 The kingdom of Baekje had its beginnings as a small state founded on the south banks of the Han River in 18 BCE by King Onjo. The people were largely of Buyeo origins – an early kingdom absorbed into Goguryeo. The kingdom gradually grew, absorbing the small Mahan states to … [Read More]
2016 travel diary 4: National Folk Museum, Kim Soonam’s shaman portraits and the journey to Chungnam
Jongno, Seoul, Monday 16 May 2016, 9am A visit to the National Folk Museum The good thing about having a local companion sense-check your travel plans is that they can point out weaknesses that only a local is likely to know about. So when Chris saw that I was planning a day trip from Seoul … [Read More]
2016 travel diary 3: Seoul’s Fortress Walls, and genre painting at the DDP
Jongno, Seoul, Sunday 15 May 2016. The time lag has caught up with me. My intention this morning had been to go along to the Dongdaemun Design Plaza to visit the exhibition of Joseon dynasty genre paintings from the Kansong museum before joining the RASKB for a walk along the eastern sections of Seoul’s fortress … [Read More]
2016 travel diary 2: Buddha’s Birthday
Jongno, Seoul, 14 May 2016, 9am. Coffee with the Drawing Hand My first appointment of the day is at 9:30am with Kim Jieun, aka The Drawing Hand: I am due to pick up the original of her 2015 Christmas Card design for LKL – and also I am due to pay her the balance of … [Read More]
2016 travel diary 1: Arrival
Canary Wharf, London, 12 May 2016. In previous years I had always felt stressed in the run up to my departure for my annual Korea trip. Had I packed everything? Would I get everything done before I left? This time I was straining at the leash. I couldn’t wait. I had planned most of my trip … [Read More]
Event news: The Wind is Blowing + Jeju’s Aching Heart, at Deptford Cinema
Two Jeju-related films coming up at the Deptford Cinema: Gureombi: The Wind is Blowing + Jeju’s Aching Heart Deptford Cinema | 39 Deptford Broadway | London SE8 4PQ | deptfordcinema.org Sunday, April 30, 2016, 4:00pm Two documentary films covering the remarkable peace movement on Jeju Island, South Korea. Villagers and activists have fought daily for … [Read More]
Radio 3 features highlights from Great Mountains Music Festival
All this week BBC Radio 3 is playing highlights from last year’s Great Mountains Music Festival (대관령국제음악제) – held each summer in Pyeongchang. You can listen to it on iPlayer for the next 30 days. (Thanks to Aidan FC for spotting) Links: Great Mountains Music Festival website. Update: now rebranded Music in Pyeongchang website [Read More]
Seoul and London forge friendly-city ties
A press release just published by the Seoul Metropolitan Government: Seoul and London forge friendly-city ties SEOUL, 18 December 2015: Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) has recently forged closer inter-city ties with London, the city known as a global center of diverse sectors, including art, economy, finance, fashion, medical services, tourism, and transportation. Seoul Mayor Park … [Read More]
Festival Film Review: Kim Eungsu — The City in the Water
Write down on a piece of paper a list of techniques you expect to be used in a documentary about a controversial episode in recent history. Maybe it will include archive footage; expert talking heads giving their views of the historical problem; interviews with people who lived through it, witnessed it or even contributed to … [Read More]
Korea Joa Project – a visit to the Korean Film Archive
Hangul Celluloid’s Paul Quinn enjoys a visit to the Korean Film Archive (KOFA) in Seoul, exploring its museum, library, and film vault. Highlights include exhibits on Korean cinema history, women in film, restoration techniques, props, and interactive displays, emphasizing KOFA’s role in preserving, promoting, and sharing Korean films with global audiences. [Read More]
Korea Joa Project – Korean Folk Village and a visit to the Naver building
This Korea Joa diary entry recounts a visit to the immersive Korean Folk Village in Yongin, where iconic films and dramas were shot, and the state-of-the-art Naver building, showcasing innovative workspaces and the V APP for fan interaction, emphasizing how Korean cinema and technology intersect with broader cultural experiences. [Read More]
Korea Joa Project – Gyeongbokgung, Korean Food & Culture Academy and Namsan Tower
Back in Seoul, the Korea Joa Project team enjoys a day in Seoul, from exploring Gyeongbokgung Palace to a hands-on bulgogi and japchae cooking class at the Korean Food & Culture Academy, before ending with panoramic city views and dinner at Namsan (N Seoul) Tower. [Read More]
Korea Joa Project – Haedong Yonggungsa and Gwangalli Beach
This entry recounts a Korea Joa Project day in Busan, moving from post-BIFF reflections to a visit to the seaside Haedong Yonggung Buddhist temple and its unexpected sense of serenity, before concluding with a night ferry around Gwangalli Beach, taking in Busan’s illuminated skyline and coastal beauty. [Read More]