The Dark Side of Seoul Podcast

Send us Fan Mail We dive into as many Korean cultural nuances we could find that may have had you scratching your head while watching Squid Game 2. Also, get out your maps because we track down almost every single filming location in Seoul. Join our Patreon to get more stuff https://patreon.com/darksideofseoul Book a tour of The Dark Side of Seoul Ghost Walk at https://darksideofseoul.com Credits...

Send us Fan Mail We dive into as many Korean cultural nuances we could find that may have had you scratching your head while watching Squid Game 2. Also, get out your maps because we track down almost every single filming location in Seoul. Guest: Ron Chang SPOILERS AHEAD Join our Patreon to get more stuff https://patreon.com/darksideofseoul Book a tour of The Dark Side of Seoul Ghost Walk at http...

Send us Fan Mail 🚨 Parricide Case Revisited 🚨 In this gripping episode, we cover the strange and convoluted case of Kim Shin-hye, a woman convicted of killing her father in 2000. What started as a confession of revenge for sexual abuse later spirals into claims of coercion and police misconduct. This chilling case has captivated headlines again with a retrial set for 2025. Tune in for an in-dept...

Send us Fan Mail In this special year-end episode, we answer your questions on hiking, Han Kang, living in Korea, and more! Tune in for fun insights and personal thoughts.  Do you think that hiking is getting more popular with tourists? Why don’t you create more content? You could have 10s of 1000s of followers! (I posted this) What’s something about living in Korea that travellers don’t know? Wha...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we dive into the rich symbolism of the rooster in Korean culture, or dak-ddi (닭띠). Known for their courage, honesty, and strong personality traits, roosters play a significant role in Korean mythology and folklore. From their association with the dawn and their role in warding off evil, to their connection with Dangun’s founding myth, roosters embody new beginni...

Send us Fan Mail Join The Seoul Hike to learn more about Korea's mountain myths and legends. Mountains have always played a significant role in Korea's culture, folklore, and religion. From providing the backdrop for Korea's founding myth to being central to shamanic practices, the mountains are more than just natural landmarks—they are spiritual hubs, filled with gods, ghosts, and tragic tales. I...

Send us Fan Mail We break down President Yoon Seok-yeol’s shocking 2024 martial law declaration, its ties to Korea's authoritarian past, and the political fallout. Don’t miss the McCarthy-style red-baiting and what it means for South Korea’s democracy! Korea's #1 ghost and dark history walking tour. Book at DarkSideOfSeoul.com Get your comic at DarkSideOfSeoul.com Support the show Join our Patreon...

Send us Fan Mail Discover the realities of Korea's healthcare system—great services, but bad treatment. We share personal experiences and discuss the challenges faced by patients. Korea's #1 ghost and dark history walking tour. Book at DarkSideOfSeoul.com Get your comic at DarkSideOfSeoul.com Support the show Join our Patreon to get more stuff https://patreon.com/darksideofseoul Book a tour of The...

Send us Fan Mail Korea's "Yongyeok Ggangpae" thugs play a violent role in forced evictions, redevelopment projects, and the broader impact on South Korea’s urban transformation. Join our Patreon to get more stuff https://patreon.com/darksideofseoul Book a tour of The Dark Side of Seoul Ghost Walk at https://darksideofseoul.com Credits Produced by Joe McPherson and Shawn Morrissey Music by Soraksan...

Send us Fan Mail We look at all the variety of Korean words that are related to each other through their Chinese and pure Korean roots. Great for beginners and even native speakers.  Handbook of Korean Vocabulary: A Resource for Word Recognition and Comprehension by Miho Choo & William O’Grady  We receive a commission on sales of this book if you click the link. Chinese 마 (horse)  계 (chicken) ...

Send us Fan Mail Watch your step! That sinkhole is a doozy. We explore the growing concerns of sinkholes in Korea, what causes them, and how to spot one before it collapses.  Korea's #1 ghost and dark history walking tour. Book at DarkSideOfSeoul.com Get your comic at DarkSideOfSeoul.com Support the show Join our Patreon to get more stuff https://patreon.com/darksideofseoul Book a tour of The Dark...

Send us Fan Mail Explore the role of monkeys in Korean folklore and culture in relation to the Chinese zodiac. Discover their symbolism, myths, and modern interpretations in this episode! Media recommendations Monkey Shines The Monkey’s Paw (WW Jacobs story; Alfred Hitchcock Hour episode) Tales from the Crypt, ‘Last Respects ’  Join our Patreon to get more stuff https://patreon.com/darksideofseoul...

Send us Fan Mail Shawn and Joe have more traditional Korean ghost stories and urban legends for this year. Join our Patreon to get more stuff https://patreon.com/darksideofseoul Book a tour of The Dark Side of Seoul Ghost Walk at https://darksideofseoul.com Credits Produced by Joe McPherson and Shawn Morrissey Music by Soraksan Top Tier Patrons Angel Earl Joel Bonomini Devon Hiphner Gabi Palomino...

Send us Fan Mail Guest: Bart van Genugten iGoBart (YouTube) Welcome to My Dong (YouTube) iGoBart (Instagram) Bart van Genugten of YouTube’s “Welcome to My Dong” discusses some of the darker experiences he’s had creating his praised series about exploring every neighborhood of Seoul. My Map of Seoul Was Vandalized: What Really Happened Videos with both Joe and Shawn Why Foreigners are Fascinated by...

Send us Fan Mail Guest: Bart van Genugten iGoBart (YouTube) Welcome to My Dong (YouTube) iGoBart (Instagram) Bart van Genugten of YouTube’s “Welcome to My Dong” discusses the genesis of his acclaimed series and how it’s become a valuable time capsule of the changing city. My Map of Seoul Was Vandalized: What Really Happened Videos with both Joe and Shawn Why Foreigners are Fascinated by Korea's Ab...

Send us Fan Mail What is the oldest mention of ghosts in Korea? Korean food without spicy peppers? And more. You sent us questions, we send you answers!  Join our Patreon to get more stuff https://patreon.com/darksideofseoul Book a tour of The Dark Side of Seoul Ghost Walk at https://darksideofseoul.com Credits Produced by Joe McPherson and Shawn Morrissey Music by Soraksan Top Tier Patrons Angel...

Send us Fan Mail The Emmy Award winning TV series and novel Shogun took place right after the Imjin Wars. What was happening in Korea and Japan during this period? Join our Patreon to get more stuff https://patreon.com/darksideofseoul Book a tour of The Dark Side of Seoul Ghost Walk at https://darksideofseoul.com Credits Produced by Joe McPherson and Shawn Morrissey Music by Soraksan Top Tier Patr...

Send us Fan Mail Build it and they will come. Until you build it again. We explore the Korean government’s sometimes harmful fascination with redevelopment, gentrification, and fake heritage.  Join our Patreon to get more stuff https://patreon.com/darksideofseoul Book a tour of The Dark Side of Seoul Ghost Walk at https://darksideofseoul.com Credits Produced by Joe McPherson and Shawn Morrissey Mu...

Send us Fan Mail The growth of AI has its advantages, but like all new technology, it isn’t always used in benevolent ways. From blackmail to porn, we explore growing issues of deepfakes and adversarial AI in Korea.   Join our Patreon to get more stuff https://patreon.com/darksideofseoul Book a tour of The Dark Side of Seoul Ghost Walk at https://darksideofseoul.com Credits Produced by Joe McPhers...

Send us Fan Mail Summer 2024 was one of the hottest on record in Korea. It wasn’t only the temperatures that were heating up, crime was sizzling, too.   Korea's #1 ghost and dark history walking tour. Book at DarkSideOfSeoul.com Get your comic at DarkSideOfSeoul.com Support the show Join our Patreon to get more stuff https://patreon.com/darksideofseoul Book a tour of The Dark Side of Seoul Ghost W...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to True Crime Summer, our best true crime episodes. Reuters dubbed Korea “The Global Epicentre of Spy Cams.” How bad is it? Why is it so bad? And what can you do to fight this? Korea's #1 ghost and dark history walking tour. Book at DarkSideOfSeoul.com Get your comic at DarkSideOfSeoul.com Support the show Join our Patreon to get more stuff https://patreon.com/darksideofse...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to True Crime Summer, our best true crime episodes. What was true about Yoo Young-Chul and what was urban myth? How badly did the authorities mess this up? Have things changed? We analyze what the psych and criminology experts have written about this case. Korea's #1 ghost and dark history walking tour. Book at DarkSideOfSeoul.com Get your comic at DarkSideOfSeoul.com Supp...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to True Crime Summer, our best true crime episodes. What do you do when you feel your child is being targeted by a sexual predator? We talk to a parent who relates his harrowing ordeal. Must listen! Korea's #1 ghost and dark history walking tour. Book at DarkSideOfSeoul.com Get your comic at DarkSideOfSeoul.com Support the show Join our Patreon to get more stuff https://pa...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to True Crime Summer, our best true crime episodes. In the mid-1980s, people were randomly collapsing and dying around Seoul. Or was it random?  Korea's #1 ghost and dark history walking tour. Book at DarkSideOfSeoul.com Get your comic at DarkSideOfSeoul.com Support the show Join our Patreon to get more stuff https://patreon.com/darksideofseoul Book a tour of The Dark Side...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to True Crime Summer, our best true crime episodes. In early 2008, an English teacher and his girlfriend were killed in an apartment fire. It was a turning point in the disparate expat community. Many of the charity and fundraising groups we see now started here. But is that the whole story? We talk about Bill Kapoun and more mysterious passings in this episode. Credits Pr...