Seven years ago, thanks to the London Korean Links events listings, I went to see a young Korean violinist play a lunchtime recital at St Martin in The Fields. The violinist, Joo Yeon Sir, played a beautiful set of classical music accompanied by her pianist Irina Andrievsky. All perfectly lovely. Then came the fireworks – the … [Read More]
Tag: LKL Meets…
Interviews and meetings with musicians, artists, academics, personalities, anyone we find interesting, Korea-wise
Pure Emotions: an interview with Park Jiha
To coincide with the release of Park Jiha’s new album, The Gleam, which we reviewed yesterday, LKL managed to have a quick conversation with the artist to ask about how light and space influence her musical voice: London Korean Links: How did you get into music? How did this journey in the world of sound … [Read More]
The Sound of Nature: Dal:um live at Southbank Centre
“Korean traditional instruments contain the sound of nature.” This is the opening line of Ha Suyean’s answer to my question regarding what Dal:um would like their international audience to know about ancient Korean instruments gayageum and geomungo. “For someone coming to these two ancient instruments for the first time, what will they discover?”, I had … [Read More]
Interview: Cho Jungrae (The Singer, 2020)
Director Cho Jungrae discusses his deep personal connection to Pansori, his hands-on role shaping the music “The Singer”, and the film’s dialogue between tradition and modernity. In this wide-ranging interview with Hangul Celluloid and LKL, he reflects on legacy, influence, and how traditional sound can still resonate with audiences today. [Read More]
Sharing Dreams: Bongsu Park talks about her upcoming DREAM RITUAL performance
Dreams. Freud made a whole career out of them. We are supposed to have them every night, but most of the time we can’t remember them. Cultures around the world have myths and legends in which dreams are laden with symbolic and predictive power. And in Korea, in a quaint folk custom, dreams are bought … [Read More]
The Timbre of Moonlight: Won Il on bringing traditional instruments to a modern audience
In this wide-ranging interview, composer and performer Won Il reflects on his musical journey, Korean traditional sound, percussion and piri, experimental projects like Puri and Uhuhboo, and his vision for the National Orchestra of Korea ahead of its London debut. [Read More]
Rachmaninov, Flamenco and Han: LKL meets pianist HJ Lim
LKL is surprised four times in the space of a twenty minute interview with Korean pianist HJ Lim, and ends up an even bigger fan than before. Having enthusiastically listened to HJ Lim’s industry debut at Abbey Road Studios in May, and having purchased her boxed set of the complete Beethoven piano sonatas, we’re really … [Read More]
A visit to Min Young-ki
When I visited Sancheong for the first time in 2010 one of the items on my agenda was a visit to Sancheong’s finest potter – and indeed one of Korea’s most renowned tea-bowl makers – Min Young-ki (민영기). Unfortunately owning to a diary mixup Min Senior was not there, and instead I had a very … [Read More]
Korean Homesick Blues: the finest indie sounds from Korea
Bored with K-pop? Want to find something a bit more adventurous? Of course, you’ll already be an avid reader of Anna Lindgren’s excellent Indieful RoK. And now, if you want to listen to some of the most interesting alternative, indie and underground music around, you’ll be tuning in to Korean Homesick Blues, a regular podcast … [Read More]
2010 Travel Diary #16: A meeting with Hwang Byungki
Tuesday 4 May 2010. Hwang Byungki is probably Korea’s best known performer and composer for the kayageum. When I submitted my proposal to the Korean Culture and Information Service for the stories I wanted to investigate during my visit – of which the main one was the preservation and reinvention of Korean traditional culture – … [Read More]
2010 Travel Diary #12: A Meeting with Sorea
Monday 3 May 2010. In an unprepossessing building in a small backstreet in trendy Gangnam is a compact office which manages a gugak fusion band which briefly caught the spirit of a nation. At the height of the Korea, Sparkling promotional campaign, when the Korean Tourism Organisation was promoting Korea as a place with ancient … [Read More]
LKL meets Iron Chef, Judy Joo
As you might expect from an Iron Chef, Judy Joo’s handshake is firm. Not bone-crushing; just confident and strong. We are meeting in one of my favourite pubs, in Marylebone Lane, just around the corner from Joo’s London home. I’m always impressed when someone who isn’t an Englishman goes for traditional bitter, and Joo duly … [Read More]
The many sides of Younee
Younee is back in the UK for a punishing schedule of live gigs, radio interviews and broadcasts. LKL is her first interview, two days after landing at Heathrow. We meet, together with her manager, Anthony Steinberg, at the now familiar rooftop bar at the St George’s Hotel, next to All Soul’s Langham Place. Last time … [Read More]
A meeting with Nah Youn Sun
It’s always nice when a singer you’ve been following for ages gets some well-deserved recognition. It’s even better, if you get the chance to interview her, when you find out that as well has having oodles of talent she’s a really nice person as well. Nah Youn Sun comes across as self-effacing on stage – … [Read More]
A meeting with Biuret
Biuret discuss their first UK performances, roots in Hongdae’s indie rock scene, and plans for an internationally focused third album. The band reflect on influences from Korean rock and 90s Western grunge, their Sutasi win, collaboration with overseas songwriters, and ambitions to expand beyond Korea while retaining their core sound. [Read More]
S Korea v Serbia: interviews with Kim Nam Il and Lee Chung Yong
Aashish Gadhvi gets up close and personal with Kim Nam Il and Lee Chung Yong South Korea were recently in London to play Serbia, and thanks to the help of many people who I am very grateful to, I was able to interview two members of the team. Firstly I just want to say a … [Read More]