In the first of three articles – which have taken far longer than they should have done to write – we look back over the past year of Korean events in London and elsewhere. At this point in the year we always ask ourselves the question as to whether there is any sign of the Korean … [Read More]
Category: Seasonal posts
Round-ups of the year’s events, and looking forward to the year ahead.
2024 in review part 2 – the books that caught our eye
2024 was a busy year for Korea-related books in English. Over one hundred books from the year made their way into the LKL Korea Book DataBase, and there were many more that didn’t make the cut. As translated Korean literature becomes ever more prominent in our bookstores, 2024 was, of course, the year in which … [Read More]
2024 in review part 3 – the film festivals and other screenings
In a somewhat disappointing filmic year in Korea, in London we could nevertheless celebrate the fact that a handful of the latest big-budget Korean movies continue to have limited-scope theatrical releases. In 2024 we got director Heo Myung-haeng’s contribution to the Roundup franchise, and the final instalment of Kim Han-min’s Yi Sun-shin trilogy, plus Jang … [Read More]
Season’s Greetings to all our readers
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]
A review of the Korean cultural year 2023
2023: a year when an environmental artist from Gwangju shared a hug with the King; four K-pop princesses went to Buckingham Palace and received honorary MBEs; and the tolling bell of Jirisan’s Daewonsa temple was broadcast on BBC Radio 4. The year marked the 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the UK … [Read More]
2024 New Year Address to the Nation by President Yoon Suk Yeol
Sourced from the presidential website: My fellow citizens, and 7 million overseas Koreans, The year of the blue dragon has dawned. I wish everyone a Happy New Year. What wish did you make in the first morning of the New Year? While everyone’s wish may differ, I believe we all share the same hope – … [Read More]
Report on 9th Enlarged Plenum of 8th WPK Central Committee
Sourced from KCNA.KP. The overseas North Koreans provided additional analysis on Twitter. Pyongyang, December 31 (KCNA): The Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK), the great guide of our country and people, has defended the eternal vitality of socialism, the ideal and future of mankind, and vigorously led its steady development, while confirming the validity of the … [Read More]
A look back at the books we encountered in 2023
When it comes to fiction, 2023 was a year that defied my expectations. Those novels that I hoped or expected to enjoy turned out to be disappointments; those that I thought might be heavy going turned out to be enjoyable. It was a reminder to try better to abide by the maxim of approaching a … [Read More]
Season’s Greetings to all our readers
Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year to all of LKL’s readers, friends and contributors. Have a peaceful break. Thanks as usual are due to Jieun Kim aka The Drawing Hand for the festive design for the LKL Christmas Card. She and I are delighted at how many of you seem to be collecting … [Read More]
2023 New Year Address to Nation by President Yoon Suk Yeol
From the presidential website: My beloved fellow Koreans, overseas compatriots, The hope-filled New Year 2023 has dawned. I wish everyone a Happy New Year. Last year, we faced difficulties at home and abroad amid uncertainty in a complex global economic crisis, but we were able to overcome those challenges thanks to our people’s hard work … [Read More]
Report on 6th Enlarged Plenary Meeting of 8th WPK Central Committee
Sourced from Rodong Sinmun: Jan. 1, Juche 112 (2023): The vigorous development of the sacred Korean revolution pioneered and advancing with the most just mission and far-reaching ideal is firmly guaranteed by the wise guidance of the Workers’ Party of Korea which sets forth scientific path and clear practical strategy at each period and at … [Read More]
A look back at our 2022 reading diary
It was a busy year outside of my Korean interests, with the result that I didn’t read as much as I would like. And of the titles that I did read, I haven’t had a chance yet formally to write up my thoughts – though there are several half-written reviews which may eventually see the … [Read More]
Season’s Greetings to all our readers
A new President, a new King, three Prime Ministers, war in Europe, the cost of necessities going through the roof… yet somehow this year has felt like a return to more normal times as Covid becomes just another sickness that we can encounter in our daily lives rather than something to be feared. This year … [Read More]
A Hallyu Christmas Tree at the V+A
If you’re in town over the Christmas period, be sure to visit the V&A. For a number of years they’ve had the tradition of commissioning a designer to create a new work inspired by a traditional Christmas tree. The work is then installed in their impressive front entrance hall on Cromwell Road during the period … [Read More]
Non-fiction titles expected in 2022: LKL’s picks
In previous years this post has been, to a greater or lesser extent, a list of every non-fiction title I could find that was going to be hitting the bookshops in the coming year. As the LKL Korea Book Database has grown in size, including its stock of future publications, there are now far too … [Read More]
Upcoming literature and fiction titles for 2022
Last year was an amazing one for Korean literature in translation, with plenty of lively titles published. 2022 looks for the moment like it’s going to be a little quieter, but new publications sometimes pop out of nowhere, so this list of anticipated books for this year is almost bound to be proved incomplete. There … [Read More]