There is no secret that the K-pop industry is highly competitive. With the 5th generation of idols on the horizon, it’s the rookie groups that often have to work extremely hard to secure a long-term position in the market. 82MAJOR is one of those rookie groups. Debuting in October of this year, they already showed…
Category: General
18th London Korean Film Festival: “Hail to Hell” Review
In recent years, South Korean independent cinema has been taking the world by storm. Just look at Past Lives – a hidden gem of the country’s cinema. Another interesting film that is worth one’s attention is Lim Oh-jeong‘s Hail to Hell. Screened at this year’s London Korean Film Festival, the compelling film takes us on…
18th London Korean Film Festival: In Conversation with Lim Oh-jeong, Director of “Hail to Hell”
In modern cinema, where certain themes are revisited time and again, director Lim Oh-jeong manages to breathe new life into the well-worn subject of bullying with her debut feature film, Hail to Hell. In our exclusive interview with View of the Arts, Lim shares insights into the film’s narrative choices, character development, and cinematographic approach. …
Korea On Stage In London – Show Review
In its fourth year, Korea On Stage aimed to present a spectacular night to celebrate 140 years of diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and Korea. Hosted by the Cultural Heritage Administration, the Korea Culture Heritage Foundation, the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS), and My Music Taste, the event was held at London’s OVO Wembley Arena…
Bang Yedam’s Emotional Prelude: “Miss You” Pre-Release Single Review
Prior to his solo beginnings, singer-songwriter Bang Yedam saw his rise to fame in 2012 by competing in season two of the reality TV show SBS’ K-Pop Star. His talent landed him second place, leading him to sign with agency YG Entertainment. It was this that led him to triumph in the survival show YG…
A Palette of Dreams: Kang Hye-jeong on Her Art, Inspiration, and StArt – Exclusive Interview
Kang Hye-jeong, a prolific South Korean painter known for her fascinating, vibrant abstract art, has created a harmony of colours that takes any art lover into a universe of untamed imagination. Her approach to the Impasto technique, combined with her creativity, paints a very lively picture of mythical horses, flourishing landscapes, and humans. Kang’s artwork…
JUSTB Reflect on Their Fourth Mini-album, “[÷(NANUGI)]” – Exclusive Interview
It’s been a few months since my last encounter with JUSTB in February, and now, the group is back with their fourth mini-album, [÷(NANUGI)]. Beyond the foot-tapping beats and soul-stirring tunes, the group’s new release is quite exciting. Our latest conversation with JUSTB was very interesting, as they gave us an intimate look at the…
8th London East Asia Film Festival: “The Boys” Review (Opening Night Film)
The Boys is the final film in Chung Ji-young’s “true story trilogy” which began in 2012 with Broken Arrow (also known as Unbowed) later followed by Black Money in 2019. The three films deal with social issues and in particular focus on prosecutorial and police misconduct within the South Korean justice system and the ordinary…
SE SO NEON Takes Over the Electric Brixton
Sitting in a cafe while pondering what I could write about SE SO NEON’s London show, one thing came to mind: there are not enough adjectives out there to describe how incredible the group was. Consisting of Hwang So-yoon and Park Hyun-jin, the duo bravely breaks the mould, presenting their unique approach to Rock on…
Korea on STAGE in LONDON
Mark your calendars for Korea on STAGE in LONDON, an event commemorating the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and the UK. The event is set to take place at the OVO Arena Wembley in London on November 8th at 7 pm local time. The lineup that was revealed last month is beyond stunning….
“Cobweb” Review
The 1970s were a particularly dark period for the Korean film industry. Shortly after South Korean filmmakers began to gain international recognition in the decade prior, a period of intense censorship followed, which hit an authoritarian peak in the seventies – at the time, many speculated there was no country in the world whose government…
OFTB: Creating a Beautiful Sound in the World of Korean R&B – Exclusive Interview
If you’ve been paying attention to the music scene lately, chances are that you’ve come across K-R&B. The genre itself has been growing in popularity over the years, and while K-pop is still one of the most dominant music genres on the Korean market, K-R&B offers a new listening experience. Kang Juwon, a.k.a. Oceanfromtheblue, is…
K-Music Festival: Jung Jae-il and London Symphony Orchestra, An Exquisite Night of Music at Barbican Centre
When it comes to creating the perfect mood and atmosphere for award-winning films and television series, South Korean music composer Jung Jae-il stands as a true maestro. Jung Jaeil’s adventure with music began at a young age. He sat at a piano for the first time when he was just three years old, and by…
Dasom Baek: Uniting Tradition and Innovation in Korean Music – Exclusive Interview
Dasom Baek is well-known for playing traditional Korean instruments such as daegeum, sogeum, danso, and saenghwang. She is also a composer and improviser who sculpted her path in contemporary music. Although Baek plays traditional instruments, she beautifully combines new sounds with traditional music. Ahead of the Korean Music Festival, where she will perform alongside Cellogayagum…
