The Dark Side of Seoul Podcast

Send us Fan Mail That ugly building that goes over the road next to Insa-dong and Tapgol Park is a musician’s paradise. It was also the seed for Seoul’s gay culture.  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 P...

Send us Fan Mail Is dying with dignity a human right? Should we be allowed to choose death over suffering? In Korea, these are tough questions asked by the government, lawyers, doctors, and, more importantly, society. We explore the euthanasia issue 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://darksideo...

Send us Fan Mail Continuing our exploration of the roots of Korean words. Learn about uses of fire, energy, and how to say, “This is the way,” in Korean. 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 *NEW* Gift Cards https://zenkimchi.com/give-the-gift-of-experience/ Credits Produced by Joe McP...

Send us Fan Mail Temperatures drop below freezing, snow appears on mountains, and drunk fishermen pee in the ocean. Bundle up, we’re about to share folk traditions of the tenth lunar month.  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 Musi...

Send us Fan Mail Desecrating a grave in Korea releases Manggwi, particularly nasty ghosts. Find out more in this episode.  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 Shaaron Cull...

Send us Fan Mail We cover more rules of etiquette from this classic 1990s tome. Writing names in red, cutting in line, and more.  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 Shaar...

Send us Fan Mail We exhume and share Korean stories, urban legends, and real mysterious encounters to make your skin tingle with dalksal ! Stories include the following… The Virgin Girl’s Grave A young woman, trapped in a flat grave, finds release when a passing man unknowingly lets her witness a simple act of nature, leading to her liberation and blessings bestowed on the unwitting man in 1931 Je...

Send us Fan Mail Summer’s muggy grip has let go. Frost sneaks onto early morning window panes. And ghosts need directions home. We explore the folklore of the ninth lunar month. Join our Patreon to get more stuf f 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 Soraksa...

Send us Fan Mail We cover more rules of etiquette from this classic 1990s tome. Limp handshakes, staring at foreigners, last minute invitations, and more.  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 Ange...

Send us Fan Mail Family infighting, betrayals, executions, dismemberments, more executions, and fratricide. Just a couple of decades in the Joseon court. 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 Death is a transition but not one the dead do alone. At least not in Korean tradition. The dead need our help to pass on to whatever awaits them on the other side. This episode is dedicated to the memory of Kim Tae-young.    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 Korea prepares for its grandest traditional holiday while evil ghosts try to knock jugs of water off your head… We explore the folk traditions of the eighth lunar month!   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...

Send us Fan Mail Every now and again the headlines buzz: North Korean defects to South! Less often is that the other way ‘round. Is that because it happens less or because they don’t want us to know about such cases? We explore a few stories of those who defected into North Korea.  Media recommendations Nameless Heroes (Unsung Heroes) - miniseries co-starring Abshier et al; part of Kim Jong-il’s f...

Send us Fan Mail Fall of Joseon, part 4 Kim Anro would have out-machiavellied Machiavelli. He deftly found power, lost it, and committed to a long-chilled dish of revenge to regain it. 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 Pitch your idea here. https://www.darksideofseoul.com/expats-of-...

Send us Fan Mail Autumn slowly presents itself, but not without a few more bursts of heat and a couple rites for moaning spirits. We explore the folk traditions of the seventh lunar month!   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 Pitch your idea here. https://www.darksideofseoul.com/expa...

Send us Fan Mail Korea recently hosted the World Scout Jamboree at Saemangeum. It was a disaster. But what are the environmental roots of this? Just how important was Saemangeum before it was turned into reclaimed land? Hint: one of Asia’s most important ecological sites. We’re joined by Dr. Moores, one of the foremost authorities of Saemangeum to discuss how the site’s destruction impacted Korea....

Send us Fan Mail We have 22 more social differences from the book Ugly Koreans, Ugly Americans . Which ones are still relevant? Which ones should you be aware of? 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 Pitch your idea here. https://www.darksideofseoul.com/expats-of-the-wild-east/ Credits...

Send us Fan Mail Cho Yang-eun challenged the formidable Myeongdong Shin Sang-sa gang. Fists turned to knives, and Cho led a clownishly criminal life inside and outside of prison. 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 Pitch your idea here. https://www.darksideofseoul.com/expats-of-the-wi...

Send us Fan Mail The Korean language is fun to study, especially when you break down words to their roots. Learn words like “booze whale” (Sulgorae) in this lighthearted episode. NOTE: Starting from about the 12:20 timestamp, Shawn misspoke! ‘Heup’ is not the word associated with 'blood'; 'hyeol' is the word. Join our Patreon to get more stuff https://patreon.com/darksideofseoul Book a tour of The...

Send us Fan Mail The hottest month of the year carries some Korean folk traditions. Some were pretty dark. 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 Pitch your idea here. https://www.darksideofseoul.com/expats-of-the-wild-east/ Credits Produced by Joe McPherson and Shawn Morrissey Music by...

Send us Fan Mail Shin Sang-hyun and his “New Sergeant Family” took over Myeongdong in the 1950s and later the Seoul criminal underground. But not without some serious battles on Seoul’s streets. 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 Pitch your idea here. https://www.darksideofseoul.com/...

Send us Fan Mail Sex education is an important addition to our school systems. Learning about dangers is especially crucial. Despite Korea’s reputation for being an education haven, sex ed remains a mostly avoided subject.   Support the show 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 Pitch y...

Send us Fan Mail The fifth lunar month is one of the busiest for folklore, traditionally chock full of festivals, hair washing, and rainfall. And, of course, a few ways to ward off ghosts.    Support the show 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 Pitch your idea here. https://www.darksi...

Send us Fan Mail Seoul is a wonderful city to explore, with its historic sites, quaint cafes, and reliable public transportation. Wonderful, that is, if you don’t require ramps, elevators, or smooth walkways. In this episode, we’re joined by Crystal Jo to explore Korea’s lacklustre track record in aiding the differently-abled. Support the show Join our Patreon to get more stuff https://patreon.com...

Send us Fan Mail In 1993, a little cultural guide was published to bridge the gap of cultural differences between Koreans and Americans. We’ll check in on this guide and see if it still holds up.  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 Pitch your idea here. https://www.darksideofseoul.co...