(Cuteness supplied by The Teddy Bear  Museum on Jeju-Do!)

Speciality

It could be argued that most London K-restaurants are jacks-of-all-trades and masters of none. To please everyone, they usually cover all bases and offer an extensive menu spanning all areas of Korean cuisine. Bi Bim Bap has the guts to disregard this tried-and-tested method and confidently champion the mixed rice dish that so often represents Korea.

Modern Decor

Normally, there would either be minimal (as opposed to minimalist!) or traditional decor, but Bi Bim Bap has opted for a bright, white, funky and squeaky-clean look-and-feel, reminiscent of nearby Snog or Bubbleology. To keep it personal, the walls are decorated with Polaroid photographs of customers, many self-decorated with messages and captions.

Website

When researching which K-restaurant to visit next, I generally rely on online reviews and blog posts. Most Korean restaurants in London don’t have their own website, and that doesn’t seem to effect their success. Bi Bim Bap, however, not only has an informative, colourful website complete with menu and photos, but also an active facebook page, with an option to ‘recommend’ any dishes you have tried. It even has a bright and memorable ‘bibimbap’ logo. Techie-licious!

Innovative menu

Have you ever seen a bibimbap salad on a Korean menu? How about prawn katsu? Well, you have now! Bi Bim Bap dares to amend ingredients and alter menu wording to increase accessibility, convenience, communication and understanding for customers who may not have encountered Korean food before.

Soho-style bibimbap!

I went with some good friends of mine, and we had an awesome time. We found there to be a variety of foods to satisfy very diverse tastes. I went for my usual choice dolsot bibimbap, which was done very well (I am compelled to come back and try tofu bibimbap, as I have never seen this offered as a dish before). The others opted for beef bool-go-gi rice and chilli chicken rice, and all plates were completely cleared. We agreed that there was definitely no compromise on taste- Bi Bim Bap has substance as well as style!

Despite it being a week night, the restaurant was pretty full, and our meals took a long time to arrive. As our drinks had already been brought to us, this didn’t bother us at all- it could have been annoying if we were much hungrier, though. Service came with a smile, and the waitress was keen to assist with choices, and make recommendations.

Good food, good atmos and good company at Bi Bim Bap!

Something tells me that Bi Bim Bap wants to break the mould. Located in the heart of bustling Soho, it positions itself as a fun, novelty establishment and aims at a young, trendy crowd.

Okay, so it’s not the most authentically Korean place to eat in London. You are unlikely to see an ajumma sitting and dining alone here. And it may not have the romance of Seoul Bakery or the charm of Jee’s Korean Restaurant, but it has something new and different instead.

Bi Bim Bap presents Korean food to a new audience in a fun, engaging and completely un-intimidating way, and I see it as a welcome addition and development to London K-food. Bring your friends here, and enjoy!

Personal touch: Adding our Polaroid to the photo wall.

• Bi Bim Bap is @ 11 Greek Street, London, W1D 4DJ.
• The closest Tube is Tottenham Court Road.
• Note that it is CLOSED ON SUNDAYS!
• All details can be found on the website: http://bibimbapuk.com/index.php.
• A huge thank you to Suki for the ace photos!

The Pub: a symbol of England. But what are those blue and red flags doing there?

A truly unique concept, I know, but there is no other way to describe it. It’s still a pub, complete with pub sign, lager on tap and full bar. Yet it is also a fully functioning restaurant with an extensive menu, talented kitchen staff and great foodie reviews. Old Justice has a dual personality, and allows a little bit of Korea into London pub culture.

More than just a pub: an interesting Korean menu.

I didn’t dine myself (will definitely return and do so in the future), but noticed that almost everyone else inside had ordered a meal, as well as drinks. Korean barbecue is Old Justice’s speciality, and it seemed to be going down very well- shared by groups of friends just as it would be in a restaurant in Korea. Of course, like most London K-restaurants, there is a lot more to the menu than just BBQ, and a veggie like me would be adequately catered for.

Forget boring crisps, get some cute Korean snacks at Old Justice!

Although you would be equally welcome and correct to visit Old Justice for either drinkies or a whole meal, it did feel more like a restaurant than a pub. But this emphasis on food falls in line with its ‘Koreanness’. In Korea, it is normal to eat, snack, and continue munching while you drink alcohol- so as to keep the act of drinking as healthy as possible. Why should the two be mutually exclusive? And why should pub grub be limited to pies, sausages and mash?

Old Justice's decor continues the Korean theme.

Despite this, Old Justice manages to retain a very pubby feel. The place is buzzing with conversation, rendez-vous and natter. With a relaxed and laid back ambiance, this would be the perfect place to come for a wind-down after a hard day or week.

I haven't seen soju sold in measures like this anywhere else!

I don’t know much about beer, but some quick research tells me that there are no ales, and no speciality beers here- so seasoned pubbers may be disappointed if expecting anything more. But that’s not what Old Justice is about. For a chilled out drink near the Thames, some yummy food, and something very, very different, I would highly recommend Old Justice.

Priceless little touches, such as 'assistance' buttons on the bar and tables are missing from many other Korean-run establishments in London.

• Old Justice is situated @ Bermondsey Wall East, London, SE16 4TY.
• The nearest tube is Bermondsey (Jubilee Line).
• There has been an ‘Old Justice’ pub in the same location since the 1850s.
• Random fact: the original video for Paul McCartney’s No More Lonely Nights was shot at Old Justice in 1984!

So much has happened since I last blogged, and it was a hectic transition from 2011 to 2012,  with the festivities of the London Korean Film Festival, Christmas, and New Year. But Seollal (Lunar New Year) ended with a certain calm, allowing a time for reflection and moving forward.

Dragons celebrating Lunar New Year in London's Chinatown!

2012 already has a fresh, unique and lucky (fingers crossed!) feel to it. On a personal level, it started with a bang, when my article on Veggie Korea was published in the JoongAng Ilbo daily newspaper. This resulted in loads of interesting and lovely replies and comments from readers. I promise to reply to them all as soon as I can!

I was honoured to have my article published

My birthday followed soon after, with an amazing night at Woo Jung Korean restaurant in Tottenham Court Road. Although Assa is a firm favourite, it can only host a maximum of 15 people at a time, and we had a party of 25. Nearby Po Cha was another option, but as the atmosphere there was less relaxed, Woo Jung  was the perfect choice. Many friends enjoyed Korean food (including raw beef, BBQ lamb, ox tongue and bibimbap) for the very first time. Of course, an obligatory trip to Assa‘s norebang followed…

Enjoying Woo Jung Restaurant

This year has also brought with it the announcement of the 2nd batch of The Korea Blog‘s WKBs (Worldwide Korean Bloggers), with my favourite new-kids-on-the-blog, the London-based Korean Class Massive, among those selected. So there is even more great stuff to read, tonnes more information and perspective, and an ever-warming feeling of a growing global WKB community!

And there are exciting times ahead in 2012 for the London Korean Cultural Centre. The Sejong Institute’s new term is well under way. My class (intermediate 2) has a new teacher, and for the 1st time, a Korean national. Hopefully, our language skills will really improve this year. There are awesome developments to the institute as well, in the form of the new Kpop Academy! Not only is this damned cool, it also opens up the opportunity to become part of the KCC, and a Sejong Institute student, to a wider audience.

The Year of the G-Dragon!

The new exhibition A New Space Around the Body: Emerging Korean Fashion Designers opened last night, and the centre was absolutely buzzing. It seems that the hype surrounding K-pop events and trendy new Korean eateries are doing well to spread the popularity of K-culture in the Big Smoke.

More generally, here in the UK this year’s focus is on the London Olympic Games this summer. I look forward to seeing how the KCC, and other aspects of Korean culture, get involved!

No matter what we predict for 2012, there is only one way to find out what it holds for us! So Happy New Year and good luck to us all!

My new year’s resolutions:

1) Continue blogging

2) Buy a new camera and take loads of pictures (I broke yet another one!)

3) Work hard in my new job

4) Do something active (I am torn between getting back into Taekwondo, and attempting to become the next Fancy Chance)

5) Be a very good Korean language student (of course)  ;)

(Don’t worry if you made some resolutions on January 1st and broke them on January 2nd- the dragon has granted us another chance!)

Dragon Fact-file:

• This year is especially lucky, as 2012 is a Year of the Black Dragon, something that only occurs once every 60 years!
• Dragon years are said to be unpredictable and exciting.
• The year of the dragon has the highest birth-rate due to its associations with luck and prosperity.
• Those born in the year of the dragon are energetic, humorous, capable, and idealistic.
•  Seoul should have an exceptionally lucky year as its mascot Haechi is, in fact, a dragon!

Me with Haechi!

11.11 (and this year 11.11.11) looks like a big yummy row of Pepero sticks, and it’s no coincidence that Pepero Day falls on this date! The clever peeps at Lotte created this day as a commercial haven to maximise sales of their yummy and cute snack. In particular, couples are the target market, with heart-covered Pepero boxes on sale weeks before the day in question. But unlike Valentine’s Day and White Day, everyone can join in! This is a great day if you are a teacher, for example, as your students will no doubt shower you with the 1-shaped treats!

Pepero is definitely one of my favourite snacks. Its Japanese cousin Pocky is better-known over here in the UK, and a suspiciously similar line (no pun intended) has taken off in the form of the Mikado brand. You can’t beat the Korean Lotte version though (true PEPERO!) It comes in many varieties, and I personally can’t get enough of the chocco-filled (rather than chocco-dipped) variety.

Er, hang on a second. What am I doing analysing variations of chocolate sticks on a post about 11.11? You see, in the UK, this date has a far deeper meaning.

To us, it is Remembrance Day, a precious day of great pride and importance for British people, where we take time to remember the end of World War 1 and honour our armed forces and ex-service people. These days, it is more commonly known as Poppy Day. The red poppy flower has become our symbol of remembrance, and is donned by TV celebrities, sports personalities and pop stars, as well as people from all walks of life.

Every year, poppies and wreaths are laid at war memorials across the UK, after the Queen has rested the first wreath at a national ceremony at the Cenotaph in London. Numerous memorial services are also held in churches across the land. As a mark of respect, at 11am on 11.11, a two-minute silence is observed by the entire nation. This year, the special significance of 11.11.11.11 will be represented with a huge cardboard poppy formation of the numerical time and date.

If you feel a bit awkward reading about the fun and consumerism of Pepero Day contrasted with the seriousness and poignancy of Remembrance Day, then rest assured that you are not alone. This is the exact feeling that hit me when I lived in Korea, and first encountered Pepero Day. I wondered how I was to observe the marks of respect that Remembrance Day deserves.

Firstly, it’s important to realise that there is nothing disrespectful going on here, just a coincidence of 2 very different ‘days’ occurring simultaneously. Most Koreans aren’t aware that November 11th has any other special meaning, and one of the reasons I am writing this post is to spread awareness of what it means to British people.

As well as this, there is nothing wrong with having fun on Remembrance Day, and no-one suggests otherwise. As long as respect, honour and remembrance are retained, there is no reason to feel guilty for buying a box of Pepero for someone you love, or for eating your favourite snack- especially if Korea is close to your heart, and you have cherished memories of nervous students sweetly presenting you with your special Pepero gift.

Finally, and returning to the theme of ‘the shape of numbers in a date’, it has come to my attention that The Guardian newspaper have jumped on the bandwagon! A new campaign claims that 11.11.11 will be Corduroy Day! Yes, you’ve guessed it, because 11.11.11 looks like a big row of corduroy. A bit slow off the mark guys, but yeh, we see it!

• The Poppy Appeal is a charity that supports the British service and ex-service communities. Here’s the link if you want to make a donation.

Hallabong and Haenyo: Jeju Symbols

Like (probably) every other Korean destination, Jeju has its cute mascots. Let’s look at the meaning behind them.

Hallabong

This is a deliciously succulent orange / grapefruit type fruit that grows on the fresh soil of Jeju. Its ‘lump’ gives it a unique shape, and is said to resemble Hallasan mountain, the quintessential Jeju symbol.

The hallabong has been personified as the grandfather / protector character Dolhareuban, usually in the form of a stone statue (made from the famous volcanic Jeju rock).

Its phallic appearance holds the key to a myth: if you touch the nose of the Dolhareuban, you will be granted with a son.

Haenyo

Haenyo (“sea women”) are the real life mermaids of Jeju. These women dive up to 20 metres underwater, and fetch fruits from the sea including abalone, shellfish, seaweed and even octopi. Most are of grandmother age, as younger generations of Jeju women have since sought business or professional careers. Haenyo work hard and are modest and elusive, so it was incredible to catch a glimpse of them:

Again, they have been immortalised as Jeju basalt statues, dottted about the island. I really hope that the trade doesn’t die out, as it is such a unique and magical aspect of Jeju culture, and to me, represents true “girl power!”

So it is Grandfather and Grandmother who guard and represent Jeju, and I can’t think of two better people for the job!

• Here is a great post on Haenyo divers from Alex on the Loose
• Only 2 days left to vote! Vote for Jeju as a New 7 Wonder of Nature

Worldwide Korea Bloggers say "Choose Jeju!"

The Day He Arrives absorbs the audience in a black and white Seoul Groundhog Day.  Protagonist Yoo Joon-Sang has returned to the city for a short visit, and his past (in the form of friends, love, experiences, life…) starts to repeat itself, despite his meeting new people and going to a never-before-visited bar. What follows is a huge web of repetitions, photocopies and coincidences, some more subtle than others, with witty in-jokes intertwined (yes, the film is repeating itself, and yes, it is making reference to the fact that it is repeating itself!)

Unlike this rather cool trailer, The Day He Arrives has no gimmick:

The trailer shows visually what the film itself does thematically. Without the use of special effects, CGI, quirks, narrative twists or even colour, The Day He Arrives creates an intoxicating, dark and strange world from the mundane and familiar. Somehow, its monotony is surreal but not unusual. The more the characters think they are going forwards, the more they are actually moving backwards.

Speaking of characters, these really drive the film. We get to know and easily relate to each of the clearly defined and deeply examined personas that appear. Yet are any of them particularly likeable? If they are, it is the main character who is the least so, which is another genius aspect of the film, as it causes us to question our own personalities.

The movie does have a narrative, which is more akin to a never-ending journey than a story per se. Yet to me, the themes that it evoked, explored and questioned were more interesting and important.

If this premise does not sound particularly attention-grabbing, then it is a testament to Hong that I was completely engaged and entertained the whole way through. The thoroughly enjoyable dialogue, acting, direction and mise-en-scene enabled this grey, monotonous world to come alive and kicking!

I walked away from the film feeling equally confused and satisfied. I was left puzzled about what was going on, just like I often am with real life! And aren’t all of our everyday lives equally as repetitive, bizarre and baffling as Yoo Joon-Sang’s?

So… I don’t claim to have fully understood The Day He Arrives, but I definitely got it!

• The ICA has been hosting Korean films throughout this year’s LKFF, with tickets for Suicide Forest and Late Autumn still available. For more information, visit the website

This is one of the least-publicised, least-touristy and best-hidden of Jeju’s museums. In fact I had never heard about it before my WKB tour, and to be honest, although interested, wasn’t 100% convinced of the appeal. Could 200,000 photos of Jeju landscapes really be that enthralling? On visiting the gallery, I became a true convert.

The photographs on display perfectly captured Jeju’s beauty, and each told a story (or poem) with a mesmeric quality, and without the need for any words. Kim’s talent and eye for beauty was immediately obvious.

And what was equally as fascinating was the story behind the artist himself. Kim was an eccentric, hippy character from mainland Korea. Like so many others, on visiting Jeju, he fell instantly fell in love with it, and spent the remainder of his life there.

Photographer and artist Kim Young Gap (1957-2005)

From 1981, he dedicated himself to capturing the essence of Jeju’s nature in his artwork, and would camp in orum (hills / mountains) for days waiting for the perfect scene for a photograph. To feel completely at one with nature, Kim would also be naked while he worked. His ideology was to “take photos of the wind”, looking to catch a moment of movement forever, in the form of a still image. In this sense, his photographic artwork is the complete opposite of a “movie”. In keeping with the natural theme, he also included Jeju’s natural rocks and minerals in other aspects of his art such as sculptures and totems (on display in the gallery’s gardens).

Unfortunately, Kim was diagnosed with MS in 2001 and passed away in 2005. His memory strongly lives on through his artwork and the space devoted to it, and to this day, he has a dedicated movement of fans. The gallery itself is run by volunteers who admire the artist, and you can feel the essence of his style and philosophy in the arrangement and decor of the gallery building and grounds.

Inside the Kim Young Gap Gallery

Kim Young Gap Sculpture Art

As I was so impressed by Kim’s photographs, I tried to take photos of them myself, but simply couldn’t replicate the characterful work that was before my eyes. I couldn’t help but be inspired and influenced by what I saw and heard, though.

I tried to be at one with the fruits and nature of Jeju (without nudity!):

And then, for the remainder of my time on the island, I sought to catch the wind in my photos. Can you see the flamegrass swaying, the waves crashing and the wind blowing?

• Full gallery details can be found here.
• There is still time left to vote for Jeju as a New 7 Wonder of Nature. Voting ends 11th November so place your vote at www.new7wonders.com now!

The Korean Cultural Centre has been revamped in preparation for the filmic festivities. Its Seung Wan Ryoo mural is now complete (in anticipation of the retrospective focus of the fest), and groovy artwork adorns all nooks and crannies of the centre:

Mass postcards decorate the KCC entrance

Even the KCC toilets bear cool art in anticipation of LKFF

The full festival schedule can be found here. It’s worth pointing out that a number of events are to be held at the KCC itself, and these are free of charge (though subject to pre-booking on a first-come-first-served basis, so make sure you do this via phone or e-mail well in advance). See the flyer below for specific details:

Which movies or events have caught your eye? The hotly awaited hit movie Sunny? Action flick War of the Arrow? Classic spy film Assassins? A masterclass with Seung Wan Ryoo? Or heartthrobs Shinee themselves? I’ll look forward to seeing you there, and to hearing London’s reactions to these filmic Korean adventures!

• The main website @ http://www.koreanfilm.co.uk will have all the extra details you need