Substack: K-Culture with Jae-Ha Kim
SUBSTACK is the space where I curate my reviews and views about Korean-centric things happening in the pop culture realm (and beyond) that pique my interest…and I hope yours, too.
American melancholy: The real loss in “Past Lives” isn’t love
In the Academy Award-nominated film “Past Lives,” the Korean concept of inyeon is used to lead viewers into believing that Nora (Greta Lee) and Hae-sung (Teo Yoo) are destined to be together – if not in this lifetime, then in the future. Or perhaps they were together in a distant past that neither can recall. The introduction of the word leaves moviegoers hoping that these two can have a happily-ever-after ending, despite his living in Seoul, 7,000 miles from her apartment in New York City.
Epik High’s Tablo on Trauma, Triumph, and the Truth
A year ago, Tablo wasn’t sure there would be another Epik High album. Now the Korean hip-hop star is ready to talk about it all — from their new EP, ‘Strawberry,’ to the trauma he faced from an online troll campaign, to his next collaboration with BTS’ RM. My exclusive interview for Rolling Stone.
“Minari”: Deconstructing the American Dream
Lee Isaac Chung is an astute filmmaker, who pays close attention to the smallest details. With “Minari,” he has created a universally relatable film, while inserting elements that are specifically Korean.
Go Away With … Sung J. Woo
For Sung J. Woo (“Everything Asian,” “Love Love,” “Skin Deep”), favorite locations often make appearances in his books. His upcoming novel “Lines” – which deftly weaves a story of love, loss and forgotten possibilities – is set in suburban New Jersey, downtown Manhattan, Waimea (Hawaii), Portland and Breitenbush (Oregon).
Go Away With … Chiara Aurelia
“I’m lucky enough to say that my job doesn’t really feel like work,” said “Hysteria!” star Chiara Aurelia. “Filming in a new city is such an interesting experience, because you get the opportunity to see a city as not just a tourist, but also as a local. I’m originally from Los Angeles and most of my best childhood friends and family still live there. I’m lucky to have such a great excuse to visit and catch up with everyone.”
Go Away With … Iain Matthews
With a career spanning some 60 years and more than 50 albums, Iain Matthews is a veteran of touring and recording. Now based out of Horst aan de Maas in the Netherlands, the former frontman for the folk rock band, Fairport Convention, said he is looking forward to hitting the road to promote his Oct. 25 solo album, “How Much is Enough?”
Behind the Scenes of K-pop
I’ll be one of the speakers at the University of Southern California’s “Behind the Scenes of K-pop” — an all-day symposium featuring insiders and experts who will foster conversations about the art, culture, business, and future of the international music sensation.
Go Away With … Radhika Vekaria
“I’ve traveled to East Africa since I was young,” said “Warriors of Light” musician Radhika Vekaria. “And my grandparents are from India and I’ve traveled through Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Bangalore, Hampi and Goa.”
Music, music, music
I’ll be updating this page periodically to include music that’s piquing my interest at the moment. Song of the day: “Pretty Baby” by Blondie.
Go Away With … Kellie Gerardi
Becoming an astronaut was a no-brainer for Kellie Gerardi, who was born in Jupiter … Florida, that is. “I’ve always been fascinated with space, but I definitely think growing up in Jupiter with a view of the Space Coast gave me invaluable exposure to human spaceflight,” said Gerardi. “I quite literally had front-row seats to the final frontier, so it didn’t seem quite so far out of reach.”
Hotels (Index)
Traveling soon? These are some of the places my family and I have stayed. Some were amazing, while others were just meh. If you’ve got a recommendation for me, be sure to leave a comment and let me know.
Go Away With … Guided By Voices
Growing up, Bobby Bare Jr. was accustomed to hitting the road with his musician parents – country artist Bobby Bare Sr. and singer Jeannie Bare. “Me and my family had a family show for a while,” said the 58-year-old singer-songwriter-guitarist for Guided by Voices. “[When] we went to Miami, we had a police escort to our show. It was spectacular.”
Tzuyu Is Ready for Her Solo Moment
Tzuyu — the youngest member of the successful K-pop group TWICE — talks about her first mini-album, “abouTZU.” My exclusive interview for Rolling Stone magazine.