A much underestimated peninsula is Korea, sandwiched between its two more powerful neighbours – China and Japan. I have long admired the tenacity and audacity of the plucky Koreans. Where else, for example, can one find a head of state who has written an opera? Not one opera, not two operas, but SIX operas. Sure, Barack Obama may have written a couple of lively autobiographies, and Brian Cowen has done his bit for the arts by posing nude for young, ambitious painters. But what world leader has even come close to matching the cultural achievements of Kim Jong-Il (pictured above)? His latest opera was met with standing ovations in North Korea and received unanimous critical acclaim in the press there, where it was declared to be “a triumph”. “Our Deal Leader’s arias kick the ass off Verdi, and leave Wagner in the dust” cooed the opera correspondent in the state run newspaper. Or something like that.
My latest brush with Korea is “Buya’s Diary” by graphic artist Seyeong O - a rather splendid novel, which I would recommend.
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