Martin Limón: The Wandering Ghost Soho Press, 2007 While North of the DMZ we have the ongoing series of the enigmatic Inspector O to keep us entertained with mystery, suspense and action, south of the border we have the maverick military police sergeants George Sueño and Ernie Bascom. Where Inspector O inhabits a contemporary world, … [Read More]
Front Page
Five from the archive
Exhibition visit: Out of the Ordinary — Award-winning works by Young Korean Architects
LKL reports from the exhibition of young Korean architects at The CASS, which runs until 28 February. In an informative essay in the Out of the Ordinary catalogue, associate curator Junghyun Park gives us a fascinating snippet of information. When Neo meets the Architect of The Matrix in the final scene of The Matrix Reloaded, … [Read More]
Gig review: Youn Sun Nah + Ulf Wakenius @ Union Chapel
It’s been too long since Youn Sun Nah performed in London: five long years. Last time was a small, intimate venue – Pizza Express in Soho – and the time before was the Queen Elizabeth Hall – more generous in terms of space but one that made the performers work hard to create the atmosphere. … [Read More]
The end of the line — a review of Y Euny Hong: Kept
Y Euny Hong: Kept – a comedy of sex and manners Simon & Schuster, 2006 The author of this entertaining comedy, Y Euny Hong, claims to speak from experience as a surviving descendent of a declining Korean aristocratic family. Making a living now as a journalist, she was given the generous opportunity of 3 pages … [Read More]
Congratulations to the KCCUK: 10 years old today
The Korean Cultural Centre opened the doors for its launch party ten years ago today, on 30 January 2008. Jennifer Barclay, author of Meeting Mister Kim, was there to cover the event for LKL. It’s been a hectic 10 years since then: 10 film festivals 245 film screenings (not counting collateral screenings in places like … [Read More]
Recent Posts
E J-yong group interview: “driven by the desire to try something new”
The following interview took place at the Korean Cultural Centre UK on February 23rd 2012, prior to a KCCUK screening of ‘Actresses’ and Q&A. Eastern Kicks: ‘An Affair’ was your debut film; can you tell us how you got into filmmaking and how you got to make that film? E J-yong: It’s quite a long … [Read More]
Veterans honoured on Kingston’s Fairfield Recreation Ground.
Veterans of the Korean War were honoured yesterday in an event marking the 75th anniversary of the start of the War on 25 June 1950. The event was divided into two: the formal ceremony in the morning, and the afternoon entertainments, in between which was a generous Korean lunch provided by the organisers. The dignitaries … [Read More]
1884 letter rediscovered in Cambridge giving insight into Kapsin coup
Earlier this month the Cambridge University Library blog uploaded an article telling the story of a letter recently rediscovered among the papers of Sir Harry Parkes by Jiyeon Wood, who is in charge of the Korean and Japanese collection at the library. According to Professor Kim Jong-Hak from Seoul National University: “[Prominent politician and leader … [Read More]
K-music – the archive
Here are all the concerts that have been part of the K-Music story over the years, together with links to reviews where we have been able to cover the events, or where we have identified reviews on third party websites. Although not branded under the K-music moniker, the series of five Korean concerts presented on … [Read More]
In introduction to the KCCUK’s 여운 | Lingering Fragments summer screening season
As in other recent summers, the KCC is collaborating with Birkbeck in curating a season of experimental and documentary films. The press release introducing the season is reproduced below. The season comprises the following programmes: 18 June: Han Okhi and Kaidu Club: A Cinema of Outsiders 25 June: Korean War Commemorative Screening: Forbidden Fatherland 2 … [Read More]
2025 travel diary 1: arrival and the foodie alleyways of Ikseondong
Gwanghwamun, Seoul, Wednesday 28 May. Following the trend of more recent Korea trips, there is no particular theme this year. I simply want to meet up with old friends, make new ones, and experience a few new destinations. Plus, I had to deliver the first of my waistcoat commissions to the friends who had requested … [Read More]
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Recent Event updates
The Last Princess (덕혜옹주) screens at the KCC
The Last Princess is based on the true life story of Yi Deok-hye (Son Ye-jin), the last princess of Korea’s Joseon Dynasty and daughter of Emperor Gojong (Baek Yoon-sik). At 13 years of age, Deok-hye is sent to Japan to study but soon finds herself being used as a political pawn, her pleas to be … [Read More]
EVNNE “Set N Go” tour in London
EVNNE (이븐), short for Evening’s Newest Étoiles, is a rising 7-member K-pop boy group under Jellyfish Entertainment. Formed in 2023, the group consists of Keita, Park Han-bin, Lee Jeong-hyeon, Yoo Seung-eon, Ji Yun-seo, Mun Jung-hyun, and Park Ji-hoo—talented performers who first gained attention as contestants on the hit survival show Boys Planet. Since their debut … [Read More]
BLOO “Out of the Bloo” tour at the Clapham Grand
Get ready for a dynamic performance as BLOO brings his Out of the Bloo Tour to London! BLOO is set to bring his unique blend of music and visuals to Europe after a break of over two years for the ‘Out of the BLOO Europe Tour 2025’, so get your tickets ready to see BLOO … [Read More]
Hong Sangsoo’s What Does That Nature Say to You screens at ICA
Donghwa, a poet in his thirties, drops off Junhee, his girlfriend of three years, at her house and marvels at how large it is. He intends to look around the front yard and then leave, but by chance he runs into Junhee’s father, and ends up spending the entire day with Junhee’s family. From this … [Read More]
Cotoba European tour at The Lexington
Portals Presents: Cotoba, Korea’s rising stars in the math/post-rock scene. Inspired by Japanese math-rock bands Toe, Mouse on the Keys, Tricot etc. Cotoba is the biggest South Korean band in the alternative/math-rock movement. The 4-piece band made their debut in 2019 with their EP Form Of Tongue. Consisting of bassist Hyerim, guitarist Dafne, drummer Minsuh … [Read More]
ONEW THE LIVE : PERCENT (%) tour in London
ONEW, leader of the K-pop group SHINee, is celebrated for his warm, emotive vocals that have shaped the group’s sound in hits like “Replay,” “View,” and “Sherlock.” He contributed to acclaimed works such as The Story of Light: Epilogue, featured in Billboard’s “25 Greatest K-Pop Albums of the 2010s.” As a solo artist, ONEW has built a unique … [Read More]
The above events list includes recent updates to events which might have been uploaded some time ago (eg an update confirming venue or ticket link). A chronological listing of all event notices published, most recent first, can be found here. A list of all upcoming events can be found here.
Recent Book updates
Korean Workers: The Culture and Politics of Class Formation
From the publisher’s website: Forty years of rapid industrialization have transformed millions of South Korean peasants and their sons and daughters into urban factory workers. Hagen Koo explores the experiences of this first generation of industrial workers and describes its struggles to improve working conditions in the factory and to search for justice in society. … [Read More]
The Capitalist Unconscious: From Korean Unification to Transnational Korea
The unification of North and South Korea is widely considered an unresolved and volatile matter for the global order, but this book argues capital has already unified Korea in a transnational form. As Hyun Ok Park demonstrates, rather than territorial integration and family union, the capitalist unconscious drives the current unification, imagining the capitalist integration … [Read More]
Newcomers and Global Migration in Contemporary South Korea: Across National Boundaries
From the publisher’s website: Newcomers and Global Migration in Contemporary South Korea: Across National Boundaries examines the intersections of race, class, gender and inequalities in global migration in contemporary South Korea. The contributors explore South Korean migration policies and study diverse migrants living and working in South Korea as low-wage undocumented workers, refugees, Korean returnees, migrant … [Read More]
Decoding the Sino-North Korean Borderlands
From the publisher’s website: Since the 1990s, the Chinese-North Korean border region has undergone a gradual transformation into a site of intensified cooperation, competition, and intrigue. These changes have prompted a significant volume of critical scholarship and media commentary across multiple languages and disciplines. Drawing on existing studies and new data, Decoding the Sino-North Korean Borderlands brings … [Read More]
Ginseng and Borderland: Territorial Boundaries and Political Relations Between Qing China and Choson Korea, 1636-1912
From the publisher’s website: Ginseng and Borderland explores the territorial boundaries and political relations between Qing China and Choson Korea during the period from the early seventeenth to the late nineteenth centuries. By examining a unique body of materials written in Chinese, Manchu, and Korean, and building on recent studies in New Qing History, Seonmin Kim … [Read More]
Epistolary Korea: Letters in the Communicative Space of the Choson, 1392-1910
From the publisher’s website: By expanding the definition of “epistle” to include any writing that addresses the intended receiver directly, JaHyun Kim Haboush introduces readers to the rich epistolary practice of Chosŏn Korea. The Chosŏn dynasty (1392-1910) produced an abundance of epistles, writings that mirror the genres of neighboring countries (especially China) while retaining their … [Read More]
The above booklist includes recent updates to books which might have been uploaded some time ago (eg an update to reflect a release of cover art, or a new review). A chronological listing of all books uploaded, most recent first, can be found here.