Tag Archives: Korea

Far East Film Festival 2013

Competition

CHINA (10)

An Inaccurate Memoir, YANG Shupeng, action-western, China 2012, Italian Premiere
Beijing Flickers, ZHANG Yuan, drama, China 2012, Italian Premiere
Design of Death, GUAN Hu, black-comedy, China 2012, European Premiere
Feng Shui, WANG Jing, drama, China 2012, European Premiere
Finding Mr. Right, XUE Xiaolu, romance, HK/China 2013, International Festival Premiere
The Last Supper, LU Chuan, historical drama, China 2012, Italian Premiere
Lethal Hostage, CHENG Er, noirish drama, China 2012, Italian Premiere (in collaboration with Asian Film Festival, Reggio Emilia)
Lost in Thailand, XU Zheng, comedy, China 2012, European Premiere (in collaboration with CinemAsia Film Festival, Amsterdam)
Million Dollar Crocodile, LIN Lisheng, creature movie, China 2012, European Premiere
Painted Skin: The Resurrection, Wuershan, fantasy, China 2012, Italian Premiere (in collaboration with Future Film Festival, Bologna).

HONG KONG (7)

The Bullet Vanishes, LO Chi-leung, detective thriller, HK 2012, European Premiere
Cold War, Longman LEUNG, Sunny LUK, police action, HK 2012, European Premiere
The Guillotines, Andrew LAU, period-action, HK 2012, European Premiere
Ip Man – The Final Fight, Herman YAU, kung fu biopic, HK 2013, European Premiere
My Sassy Hubby, James YUEN, comedy-romance, HK 2012, International Festival Premiere
Saving General Yang, Ronny YU, period-action-thriller, HK 2013, European Premiere
The Way We Dance, Adam Wong, hip-hop dance romance, HK 2013, International Festival Premiere

INDONESIA (1)

Shackled, Upi, psycho-horror, Indonesia 2012, Italian Premiere

JAPAN (12)

Angel Home, TSUTSUMI Yukihiko, drama, Japan 2013, World Premiere
The Complex, NAKATA Hideo, horror, Japan 2013, Italian Premiere
The Floating Castle, INUDO Isshin, HIGUCHI Shinji, epic-action, Japan 2013, European Premiere
G’mor Evian!, YAMAMOTO Toru, punk family drama, Japan 2012, European Premiere
Girls for Keeps, FUKAGAWA Yoshihiro, comedy-drama, Japan 2012, European Premiere
I Have to Buy New Shoes, KITAGAWA Eriko, romance, Japan 2012, European Premiere
It’s Me, It’s Me, MIKI Satoshi, surrealistic-comedy, Japan 2013, World Premiere
Key of Life, UCHIDA Kenji, black comedy, Japan 2012, Italian Premiere
Maruyama, The Middle Schooler, KUDO Kankuro, self fellatio-comedy, Japan 2013, World Premiere
Rurouni Kenshin, OTOMO Keishi, period action-fantasy, Japan 2012, Italian Premiere
See You Tomorrow, Everyone, NAKAMURA Yoshihiro, coming-of-age drama, Japan 2013, International Festival Premiere
A Story of Yonosuke, OKITA Shuichi, nostalgic-drama, Japan 2013, International Festival Premiere

MALAYSIA (1)

Istanbul Here I Come, Bernard CHAULY, romance, Malaysia 2012, European Premiere

NORTH KOREA (BELGIUM-UK-NORTH KOREA) (1)

Comrade Kim Goes Flying, KIM Gwang-hun, Nicholas BONNER, Anja DAELEMANS, comedy-drama, BELGIUM-UK-NORTH KOREA 2012, Italian Premiere

THE PHILIPPINES (4)

I Do Bidoo Bidoo, Chris MARTINEZ, musical, The Philippines 2012, European Premiere
Mariposa in the Cage of the Night, Richard V. SOMES, thriller, The Philippines 2012, International Festival Premiere
The Strangers, Lawrence A. FAJARDO, horror, The Philippines 2012, International Festival Premiere
Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles, Erik MATTI, action-horror, The Philippines 2012, International Festival Premiere

SOUTH KOREA (12)

All About My Wife, MIN Kyu-dong, comedy-romance, SK 2012, Italian Premiere
The Berlin File, RYOO Seung-wan, spy-action, SK 2013, European Premiere
EunGyo, JUNG Ji-woo, drama, SK 2012, European Premiere
Ghost Sweepers, SHIN Jung-won, ghost-comedy-horror, SK 2012, International Festival Premiere
How To Use Guys With Secret Tips, LEE Won-suk, gangnam style-comedy-romance, SK 2013, International Festival Premiere
Jury, KIM Dong-ho, funny apologue, SK 2013
Juvenile Offender, KANG Yi-kwan, youth-drama, SK 2012, Italian Premiere
National Security, CHUNG Ji-young, human rights drama, SK 2012, Italian Premiere
New World, PARK Hoon-jung, gangster epic, SK 2013, Italian Premiere
The Thieves, CHOI Dong-hoon, heist-action, SK 2012, Italian Premiere
A Werewolf Boy, JO Sung-hee, fantasy-romance, SK 2012, European Premiere
The Winter of the Year Was Warm, David CHO, drama, SK 2012, International Festival Premiere

TAIWAN (5)

Apolitical Romance, HSIEH Chun-yi, contemporary romantic comedy, Taiwan 2013, International Festival Premiere
GF*BF, YANG Ya-che, drama-romance, Taiwan 2012, Italian Premiere (in collaboration with Asian Film Festival, Reggio Emilia)
Forever Love, SHIAO Li-shiou, KITAMURA Toyoharu, comedy-romance, Taiwan 2013, European Premiere
Touch of the Light, CHANG Jung-chi, drama, Taiwan 2012, Italian Premiere
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?, Arvin CHEN, romance, Taiwan 2013, Italian Premiere (in collaboration with Torino GLBT Film Festival)

THAILAND (5)

9-9-81, AAVV, horror, Thailandia 2012, International Festival Premiere
Countdown, Nattawut “Baz” POONPIRIYA, psycho-horror-thriller, Thailandia 2012 International Festival Premiere
The Gangster, Kongkiat KHOMSIRI, action-drama, Thailandia 2012, European Premiere
Home, Chookiat “Matthew” SAKVEERAKUL, romance-drama, Thailandia 2012, European Premiere
Long Weekend, Taweewat WANTHA, horror, Thailandia 2013, 2012 International Festival Premiere

Special Sections

 

KING HU IN HIS OWN WORDS – SPECIAL SECTION

My Lucky Star, HO Meng-hua, comedy, HK 1963
Raining in the Mountain, King HU, period-action, Taiwan/HK 1979
A Touch Of Zen, King HU, period-action, Taiwan 1971

THE QUIET MAN PASSES – REMEMBERING MARIO O’HARA

Demons, Mario O’Hara, The Philippines 2000

FRESH WAVE SHORTS (HONG KONG)

Before Friday, Enoch CHENG
Dong, Li Yushan
Flowers With Aphasia, Happyheart LI
God Bless All Parents, LAU Wing-tai
Heartbeat 48, Leo LAM
Such A Girl Like Me, MAN Uen-ching

WORLD PREMIERE = First public screening in the world
INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL PREMIERE = First festival screening in the world
EUROPEAN PREMIERE = First public screening in Europe
ITALIAN PREMIERE = First public screening in Italy

The Korean Peninsula Tensions and the Role of Other Powers

26 February 2013

6:00 – 7:45pm, followed by a drinks reception to 8:45pm

13/14 Cornwall Terrace, London, NW1 4QP

 

After the “successful” launch on 12 December 2012 of yet another rocket in contravention of UN Security Council resolutions 1718 and 1874, the threat posed by North Korea appears ever more real. The stability of the Korean peninsula is not just a regional concern but also an issue for Europe, given the proliferation relationship between North Korea and Iran. How have political developments in the peninsula affected recent relations between the two Koreas? Can there be any easing of tensions between them under the new South Korean leader, Park Geun-hye? There are various reasons why multilateral engagement with, and coercion of, North Korea have failed to promote denuclearisation. Thomas Plant of ICSA, King’s College London, will consider if there is potential for progress, and look at Japan’s likely contribution under new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Noriyuki Shikata, Political Minister at the Japanese Embassy in London, will discuss Japan’s perspective on the recent situation in the Korean Peninsula and explore the collaboration among Japan, the US, the UK, South Korea and China aimed at tackling the issue. The seminar will be chaired by Mark Fitzpatrick, Director of the Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Programme at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Noriyuki Shikata

Noriyuki Shikata is Political Minister at the Embassy of Japan in UK.  He was Deputy Cabinet Secretary for Public Affairs, Director of Global Communications at Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) of Japan (2010-2012). He was international media spokesperson at PMO, always accompanying the Prime Ministers’ trips overseas. He was the recipient of 2011 Gold Standard Award for Political Communications, at awards hosted by Public Affairs Asia. He graduated from the Law Department of Kyoto University in 1986. After entering MOFA in 1986, he worked at the Korea desk, and graduated from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard, completing its Masters in Public Policy Program (International Affairs/Security) in 1989. His previous overseas postings include the Embassy in Washington, D.C.(1989 – 91), and the Delegation to the OECD in Paris(1999-2002). Between 2004 and 2010, he was Director of Status of U.S. Forces Agreement Division, Director of International Press Division, Director in Charge of Economic Relations with North America, and Director of Economic Treaties Division, International Legal Affairs, Bureau of Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). His publications includeEnergy Policy of the Republic of Korea (2002: IEA; contributor), amongst others.

Thomas Plant

Thomas Plant is Research Fellow at the International Centre for Security Analysis (ICSA), King’s College London.  His main research interest is in North Korean issues, though he also works on wider regional security in East Asia and, more broadly, on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament.  He joined ICSA on secondment from the Ministry of Defence; he has also spent time at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, where he worked on proliferation issues in the Middle East and East Asia.

Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick (Chair)  is Director of the Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Programme at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in London. His programme focuses on nuclear and missile challenges posed by Iran, North Korea and other outlier states, and on nuclear security and nuclear disarmament issues. He is the editor of North Korean Security Challenges (July 2011) and of five other IISS Strategic Dossiers on countries and regions of proliferation concern. He has lectured throughout the world and is a frequent media commentator on proliferation topics. He joined the IISS in October 2005 after a 26-year career in the US Department of State, including as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Non-Proliferation (acting). He earned a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and he attended a one-year post-graduate study programme (1990-1991) at the Japanese National Institute of Defence, where his dissertation on Korean unification was published in journals in Japan and South Korea.

 

Korean Culture Forum: A Bridge to the Future

Wednesday 30th Jan 2013, 5PM

Multi-purpose Hall, KCCUK

The Korean Cultural Centre UK is pleased to host a Forum on Korean Culturefeaturing four cultural experts. Each speaker will talk on their specialised cultural sector, the present and future of Korean culture’s presence in the UK and of course the possible future direction of the KCCUK itself.

 

*Guest Speakers and Abstract

The KCCUK – A look back at the first five years

Philip Gowman (Founder and Editor of London Korean Links)

Korean culture in London did not start with the opening of the Korean Cultural Centre (KCCUK) in 2008. But the establishment of a cultural venue at a high profile location with a regular government-funded budget has undoubtedly helped take the presentation of Korean culture in the UK to a new level. Full-time staff can obviously deliver projects that are beyond the reach of voluntary organisations. But going beyond the organisation of events – stressful enough in itself – the KCCUK has been able to build relationships with premier arts organisations in London such as the South Bank Centre and the Institute of Contemporary Arts which has enabled Korean cultural events to be presented at mainstream venues and thus reach a more generalist audience; and a flourishing relationship with London City Hall has enabled the Korean Village to become a central attraction of The Mayor’s Thames Festival. What is surprising though is that, contrary to some expectations, the entry of the Korean government into the promotion of Korean culture has not squeezed out private sector and individual initiatives. This talk will look back at the KCCUK’s achievements in its first five years and consider them alongside some of the complementary private sector projects during that period.

 

The Korean Wave in the British Context

Dr. Hyunsun Yoon (Ph.D. Cardiff University, Senior Lecturer in Advertising, School of Arts and Digital Industries, University of East London)

The flood of the Korean popular culture – films, pop music and especially TV dramas – into the rest of Asia around since the late 1990s became to be known as the Korean wave, and this has also been swiftly making its presence felt in other parts of the world such as Europe. This paper examines the ways in which the Korean wave has been, and is discussed in the mainstream media in the UK for the last decade. Considering the wide range of examples from Old Boy to Gangnam Style,this paper poses a question of whether or not the Korean wave found its way in seemingly impermeable British culture.

 

Korean Art:  A Self Portrait

Jeremy Akerman (Artist and Curator, Co-director of Akermandaly.com)

Adopting the position of an observer I’d like to talk about my experience of art school and how I see art school in the UK working for a Korean art student. I will refer to the visits I’ve made to Korea as a tourist, curator and artist and why I find Korean people’s attitudes to Korea paradoxical and stimulating. Especially here I’d like to mention some Korean artists and an art collection that changed my mind about how I understood the country. A further point is to express the metaphor of self-portraiture within young Korean art and to suggest ways in which KCC can support and engage this vital new work.

 

Connecting UK & Korean Performing Arts

Sioned Hughes (Director, SRH Arts Management, specialises in international professional development of people across the arts and creative industries). 

 I will share the experience of a 2-year research exchange programme for Korean and UK performing arts managers that promoted and supported collaborative exchange between Korean and UK arts producers; developed performing arts professional networks between Korea and the UK and encouraged the development of artistic collaboration.

 

North Korean Human Rights Film Festival ‘Kimjongilia’

Date: 27 April 2012, 6pm

Title: Kimjongilia (2009)

Director: N.C. Heikin

Running time: 76min (Eng subs)

Venue: Multi-purpose Hall, Korean Cultural Centre UK

          (No bookings required)

Organised by Christian Solidarity Worldwide

About the Film

North Korea is one of the world＇s most isolated nations. For sixty years, North Koreans have been governed by a totalitarian regime that controls all information entering and leaving the country. A cult of personality surrounds its two recent leaders: first, Kim Il Sung, and now his son, Kim Jong Il. For Kim Jong Il＇s 46th birthday, a hybrid red begonia named kimjongilia was created, symbolizing wisdom, love, justice, and peace. The film draws its name from the rarefied flower and reveals the extraordinary stories told by survivors of North Korea＇s vast prison camps, of devastating famine, and of every kind of repression. All of the interviews featured took place in South Korea, where the defectors now live. Their experiences are interspersed with archival footage of North Korean propaganda films and original scenes that illuminate the contours of daily life for a people whose every action is monitored and whose every thought could bring official retribution. Along with the survivors＇ stories, Kimjongilia examines the mass illusion possible under totalitarianism and the human rights abuses required to maintain that illusion. Ultimately, the defectors are inspiring, for despite the extremes they have suffered, they still hold out hope for a better future.

London Korean Film Festival 2011

4 November 2011 – 10 November 2011

The 6th London Korean Film Festival finally arrives this 4th November at the ICA. We will be showing a wide selection of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful films to come out this year in Korea.

This includes the Korean submission into the 84th Academy Awards; The Front Line, the award winning Journals of Musan and Dance Town, the biggest and most successful Korean animated film, Leafie A Hen Into The Wild as well as short films, comedies, dramas and European premieres. This year’s festival is an event not to be missed.

For further information click here

Chinese Hordes and Human Waves: A Personal Perspective of the Korean War 1950-1953

Global Korea Lecture Series

10/11/11

TALK & BOOK LAUNCH EVENT

Chinese Hordes and Human Waves:

A Personal Perspective of the Korean War 1950-1953

Speaker: Brigadier (Retd.) B.A.H. Parritt CBE

Thursday 10 November 2011 6.30pm – 9.30pm

(Drinks Reception starts at 6pm)

Venue: Korean Cultural Centre UK, 1-3 Strand, Grand Buildings, London WC2N 5BW

 

To mark the launch of Brigadier Brian Parritt’s new book, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea cordially invites you to a lecture on his personal perspective of the Korean War.

With his long career as an intelligence officer and a British Korean War veteran, he will share his unique insights on this unfinished but forgotten war with us.

 ※ Signed copies of his new book will be available to purchase from the publisher at the book signing after the talk.

 Brigadier Brian Parritt served as a Gunner Officer in Korea 1952-53. He took part in the Third Battle of The Hook and as the Forward Observation Officer in a company level night attack by the 1st Kings Regiment where he was wounded. He studied for three years at Hong Kong University and qualified as a First Class Interpreter in Chinese (Mandarin). He then transferred to the Intelligence Corps and held senior intelligence appointments in Libya, Cyprus, the Far East and Northern Ireland. His final tour to Northern Ireland was five years as the Director of the Intelligence Corps.

 He is the author of four books on Maritime Terrorism; a four-volume account of British Military History in the Far East in the 19th Century and a History of British Military Intelligence from the Middle Ages to 1929.

 For enquiries please contact the Press Office

T. +44 (0)207 227 5500

E. press@koreanembassy.org.uk

Creating Impressions of Colonial Korea: The Role Played by the Japan Society and its Membership, 1910-1939

Monday, 17th October 2011 6.45 pm

The Oriental Club
Stratford House
11 Stratford Place
London W1C 1ES

A pay bar is available before the lecture
(Please note that Oriental Club rules require gentlemen to wear a jacket and tie)

Dr Susan House Wade, Independent Author and Lecturer

Japanese perspectives were often either directly or indirectly responsible for images of colonial Korea which emerged in England between 1910 and 1939. The role played by English and Japanese enthusiasts, who were frequently members of the Japan Society, will be addressed in this talk. The position occupied by the Society allowed it to make a significant impact on the study and exchange of Japanese arts and culture, and it was to the Transactions and Proceedings that both scholars and other interested parties looked for the informed perspectives of the Society’s high profile membership. Activities of these members, including those who resided overseas, went well beyond the papers they presented, to inform and influence the writings of others.

Dr Susan House Wade is an independent author and lecturer, with an MA in Art and Archaeology from SOAS, University of London, and a PhD in Humanities from the University of Brighton. Alongside writing and lecturing, she is currently engaged in preparatory work for the publication of her PhD thesis entitled Representing Colonial Korea in Print and in Visual Imagery in England, 1910-1939. Before embarking on an academic career, Susan worked in media, including assignments as diverse as bureau chief of a US-based newswire, to the creation of large scale events for Spanish language broadcast. She has also played active roles in Japan 2001, and later as chairman of the Japan Society Art Circle.

Booking Information

Please contact the Japan Society office on tel: 020 7828 6330 or email:events@japansociety.org.uk to book a place for any of our events. When emailing, please include the event title in the subject line.

Learn more about upcoming events at www.japansociety.org.uk.

The Murmuring (1995)

Korean Film Night

August 25, 2011, 7pm (Korean Cultural Centre UK)

To celebrate Liberation Day in Korea the KCCUK will screen The Murmuring, a documentary about the surviving ‘Comfort Women’ of Korea. These were women that we forced into prostitution by the Japanese Army during the occupation. The film follows the women who are still very active, protesting the Japanese Government for an apology and compensation for their treatment.

This film is the first in a season of films looking at Women Directors which we will continue to look at for the next month.

Udine Far East Film Festival

Far East Film 13

L’edizione 2011 si aprirà venerdì 29 aprile presentando una sessantina di nuovissimi titoli dall’Estremo Oriente e due sezioni speciali: L’ASIA RIDE! (Asia Laughs!), una pioneristica retrospettiva sulla commedia pan-asiatica, e un piccante excursus nella storia del PINK EIGA dagli anni Sessanta ai giorni nostri.

Far East Film Festival, in 9 giornate di programmazione presenterà oltre 60 nuovissime pellicole in arrivo da Cina, Hong Kong, Corea del Sud, Giappone, Thailandia, Indonesia, Malesia, Filippine, Singapore, Vietnam, Taiwan e, new entry,Mongolia.

Una panoramica a 360 gradi, curata dal Centro Espressioni Cinematografiche, sulla produzione popolare e di genere che incontra i gusti del grande pubblico dell’altra parte del globo indagando, ancora una volta, un universo produttivo tra i più originali, artisticamente frizzanti e economicamente più esplosivi dell’intero pianeta.

For more information: http://www.fareastfilm.com

BBC World Service Poll

BBC World Service Poll per il 2011 prende in considerazione 4 paesi (Giappone, Corea del Sud, Regno Unito e Italia) di cui parlo su questo Blog su 5 (Thailandia unica non inclusa) e ne analizza l’influenza a livello mondiale sia positiva che negativa. Tutti e 4 i paesi risultano essere considerati in modo piuttosto positivo, Italia inclusa. Nonostante tutti i problemi causati da Berlusconi siamo ancora considerati a livello nazionale in modo piuttosto positivo. Pubblico parte del Poll ( in Inglese qui sotto).

The BBC World Service Country Rating Poll has been tracking opinions about country influence in the world since 2005. The latest results are based on 2 8,619 in-home or telephone interviews conducted across a total of 27 countries by the internatio nal polling firm GlobeScan, together with the Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) at the University of Maryland. GlobeScan coordinated fieldwork between December 2, 2010 and February 4, 2011.

Japan

Japan continues to have very favourable ratings globally in 2011, and those have improved since 2010. On average, among the 24 tracking countries surveyed in both 2010 and 2011, 57 per cent of people have a positive opinion of Japan’s influence in the world, which represents a four per cent increase over 2010. Only one in five holds a negative view (21% in 2010). Twenty-five countries lean positive, and two negative.

United Kingdom

Globally, views of the United Kingdom have improved markedly since 2010: 58 per cent say that British influence in the world is positive. This is notably more positive than in 2010 when 53 per cent held this opinion in the 24 tracking countries. Over the same period, negative views decreased by two per cent, down to 17 per cent. At a country level, views are positive in almost all countries. Of the 27 countries polled, 24 lean positive, two lean negative, and one is divided.

The European Union

The European Union’s global influence rating improved in 2011. On average, 57 per cent of people in the 25 tracking countries give positive views. This went up four points since 2010, while proportions of negative views continued to be low and stable at 18 per cent. Among the 27 countries surveyed in 2011, 26 lean positive and only one leans negative (Pakistan).

All EU members have majorities with positive views of the EU: Italy is the most favourable country within the Union (73%), closely followed by France and Germany (70% and 69%, respectively).

South Korea

In the second year it was measured, world opinion about South Korea improved a little. In the 24- country tracking average, the proportion of people having favourable views of South Korea’s influence went up four points to 36 per cent, while the proportion rating it negatively remained stable at 32 per cent. Twelve countries hold positive views, seven hold negative views, and eight are divided.

All information taken from BBC