Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year to all of LKL’s readers, friends and contributors. At a time when nowhere in the world seems immune from division, disruption or worse, we remember that it is our personal connections and friendships that bring healing and sustenance. Have a restful holiday season with your loved ones, … [Read More]
LKL articles by Philip Gowman (page 3)
December events
After the hectic activity of the last two months, be grateful for a slightly quieter December, enabling you to get some Christmas shopping done. The highlight of the month is the continuation of the BFI’s Echoes in Time season, with some cracking films from the turn of the millennium, as well as some restored classics. … [Read More]
November events
The need for difficult decisions continues into November, with music, film, literature and artistic events simultaneously calling for our attention. LKL’s pick of the upcoming month has to be Lee Heemoon at the Purcell Room, closing this year’s K-music Festival. Regretfully, we’re going to have to pass on Geumhyung Jeong’s performance at the ICA (we … [Read More]
London Korean Film Festival Announces 2024 Programme
Here’s the official press release for this year’s London Korean Film Festival, released today. Some good things here! Korean Cultural Centre UK announces London Korean Film Festival 2024 Programme Opening Gala Film: Park Beom-su’s VICTORY Closing Gala Film: E.oni’s LOVE IN THE BIG CITY Special Screening: Choi Dong-hoon’s ALIENOID: RETURN TO THE FUTURE London, 1 … [Read More]
October events 2024
We’re now getting in to peak event season – and in fact this is the longest monthly list I can remember. Frieze is at the beginning of the month, Asian Art in London at the end; and there’s plenty of exhibitions outside of those two art fairs in between to launch the autumn season. Meanwhile, … [Read More]
Theatre round-up: four recent Korean stage productions
This year in London we have been fortunate so far to have enjoyed four Korean stage productions: two imports with a run of several weeks each, and two shoestring-budget local productions with a handful of performances. Which would we go to see again? Do the plucky locals win out over the imports? [Read More]
September events 2024
As Chuseok approaches, the cultural calendar starts to get busy again after the summer lull. Highlights this month are the return of the Ambiguous Dance Company to perform a site-specific piece at the Coronet Theatre, and the Dynamic Duo who celebrate 20 years in the business by making their first London appearance. Plus, if you … [Read More]
K-Music Festival 2024: an introduction
The programme for the 2024 K-Music Festival is quite possibly the best yet. For LKL, the real gems are the opening and closing events. We hear that the National Changgeuk Company‘s Lear, which opens the festival, is every bit as good as their Trojan Women, which we raved about; and for the closing event pretty … [Read More]
August events 2024
Normally at this time of year Korean events in London take a bit of a break and the focus switches to Edinburgh for the Fringe. And yes, there’s plenty to justify a trip to Edinburgh if you can find affordable accommodation, not least the retrospective of Do Ho Suh’s work at NGS Modern One, which … [Read More]
July events 2024
July is another relatively busy month with plenty to satisfy most tastes. So far, my personal priorities are the KCC’s exhibition featuring works by members of the Korean National Academy of Arts, the discussion-concert by the “Godfather of K-pop” in Oxford, and I might be tempted to re-watch the psychological thriller Sleep when it comes … [Read More]
June events 2024
A busy month, the highlight probably being IU’s performance at Wembley Arena. Glastonbury ticketholders will also be able to see Seventeen on the main Pyramid stage. For those who follow hallyu stars from an earlier generation, you can meet former FinKL member Ok Joo-hyun who is in town to mark the London production of the … [Read More]
I.M. (Monsta X) Off The Beat World Tour in London
I.M Changkyun (아이엠) of K-pop music group Monsta X recently released ‘Off the Beat’ with Sony Music Korea, an upbeat six-track extended play album. He will be touring this new EP in Europe this summer. The charismatic rapper will be performing in London, Paris, Cologne and Berlin. Tickets for his London appearance, at the Shepherds … [Read More]
May events 2024
May is getting very busy, making up for the slow three months we’ve had since the end of January. Highlights include the Festival of Korean Dance, Min Jin Lee in Cambridge, a return visit by Jaha Koo with his historically-aware talking rice cookers, and London Craft Week. Live performance Jambinai play Dingwalls, Camden, on 15 … [Read More]
Book talk: The Penguin Book of Korean Short Stories
The KCCUK is pleased to announce a talk about the Penguin Book of Korean Short Stories with the editor Bruce Fulton, moderated by Grace Koh. This eclectic, moving and enjoyable collection is the essential introduction to Korean literature. Journeying through Korea’s dramatic twentieth century, from the Japanese occupation and colonial era to the devastating Korean … [Read More]
Balming Tiger play Heaven
A diverse music collective taking their name from the famous Asian ointment “Tiger Balm”. Balming Tiger describes themselves as a “multinational alternative K-pop band” with a desire to create an impact globally. The main creative vision of Balming Tiger is to reflect and represent the younger generation of today’s society. Aiming to further popularise Asian … [Read More]
April events 2024
Here’s the list for April. Plenty on offer for music fans; for others the main interest is outside of London, and in the new books coming out this month. Exhibitions In Manchester, Jane Jin Kaisen’s Halmang is at esea contemporary until 21 April. In Bristol, Young In Hong’s Five Acts is at Spike Island all … [Read More]