The Dark Side of Seoul Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Where was the first Christmas tree in Korea? Why were the doors busted down during an early Christmas play? We explore Korea’s history with Christmas, including a Christmas song so bad it was banned for being bad. 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 Listener Mail! Sen...

Send us Fan Mail We look at Korean traditions that are on the verge of disappearing. These are ones easy to observe, so why are they fading?  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 Listener Mail! Send us a message (Instagram, Facebook, email) and we might read it on air. Credits Produced...

Send us Fan Mail  Korea excels at controlling what people can and cannot do, from censoring North Korean media to activist folk singers to journalists to fun. We discuss censorship, banning, prohibitions, and related issues.  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 Listener Mail! Send us...

Send us Fan Mail Our most petty episode! We tell stories of the most problematic guests on our tours. PLUS--Why we no longer work as media fixers. 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 Listener Mail! Send us a message (Instagram, Facebook, email) and we might read it on air. CREDITS Pro...

Send us Fan Mail Hypothesis: the roots of Korean politics’ extremism were sown with this event. Be warned there is a big rant about fundamentalism in world ideologies and religions near the end. 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 Listener Mail! Send us a message (Instagram, Facebook,...

Send us Fan Mail Twenty years ago, foreigners camped out on Dave’s ESL Cafe to complain about Korea. Looking back on those complaints, a lot has changed. Notes This is a good thread to start with http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=10518 Public brawls Not standing in line In before out Sealmen Disabled on subways Salespeople on subways Staring Strangers bothering foreigners Garbage Tre...

Send us Fan Mail Guest: Sharon Kong-Perring PhD candidate in cultural media studies Does K-Pop fandom exhibit signs of psychopathy? What makes fans defend idols accused of heinous acts? When does fandom go from adoration to creepy? 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 Listener Mail! Se...

Send us Fan Mail This is a short talk about the recent tragedy in Itaewon, including the following: The latest that we know and eyewitness stories that you're not hearing in the news Halloween's growth in Itaewon Some observations that contradict authorities' statements Simple inexpensive ways to improve safety What to do if you find yourself in a similar situation Support the show Join our Patreo...

Send us Fan Mail This ancient Irish holiday has grown quickly in Korea. But has its essence been lost? (aka “Shawn Sh*ts on Korean Halloween”) 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 Listener Mail! Send us a message (Instagram, Facebook, email) and we might read it on air. Credits Produc...

Send us Fan Mail We collect our favorite stories and some Patreon-only segments of “Weird Tales from Korean Lore” to chill your spooky. The Booze Ghost Jayuro Highway Trucker (told on the very same highway) High School Diary The Travelers (Weird Tales from Korean Lore) The Roommate Deal with the Demon Is Heaven in the Well? The Soldier and the Young Mother The Trial The Three Time Widower Rain Bub...

Send us Fan Mail Olga Kim is a Koryo-Saram artist from Rome. Olga is joining us to discuss Koryo-saram, a unique group of Korean diaspora who migrated to Uzbekistan in the late 19th century. Olga's Instagram 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 Listener Mail! Send us a message (Instag...

Send us Fan Mail Seoul’s popular tourist district hides dark stories of colonialism and commercial mischief. Myeongdong Cathedral, the Chinese Embassy, department stores, makeup shops, and even It’s Skin! Listen for some surprises. 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 Listener Mail! S...

Send us Fan Mail 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! 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 Listener Mail! Send us a message (Instagram, Facebook, email) and we might read it o...

Send us Fan Mail Video episode! We research a gorgeous new tour in Paju and then talk about the problems with Korea’s tourism industry. If you’re visiting Korea, you should watch this. Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjXPDkNFfi0 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.c...

Send us Fan Mail The heavy rains this past summer lifted from the soil old remnants of the Korean War: landmines. And this wasn’t the first time. 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 Listener Mail! Send us a message (Instagram, Facebook, email) and we might read it on air. Credits Pro...

Send us Fan Mail A retirement home for comfort women has become the crux of scandals that ooze cancerous tumors of Korean culture that have diseased it for history. 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 Listener Mail! Send us a message (Instagram, Facebook, email) and we might read it...

Send us Fan Mail There still aren’t as many books about Korean culture, lore, and history as other countries, but there are great ones available. Here are some recommendations. Shawn’s Horror Film Suggestions horror movies about books Evil Dead series The Beyond Tenebre Misery In the Mouth of Madness Join our Patreon to get more stuff! https://patreon.com/darksideofseoul Book a tour of The Dark Si...

Send us Fan Mail It’s said that visiting places of death, tragedy, or hauntings is a fast-growing modern tourism phenomenon. But is it? Shawn’s Horror Movie Recommendations Plenty of classic ‘lost/stranded traveller’ tales The Old Dark House (original)  Lisa and the Devil And Soon the Darkness A Candle for the Devil (aka It Happened at Nightmare Inn) Dark Tourist (Netflix)  Join our Patreon to get...

Send us Fan Mail What types of nightclubs are in Seoul? What’s in a “Business Club?” We give a rundown of Korea’s club types and why their reputation has been plummeting. Shawn’s Horror Movie Recommendations Beyond the Rave Vamp Succubus (aka Necronomicon; 1968) Join our Patreon to get more stuff! https://patreon.com/darksideofseoul Book a tour of The Dark Side of Seoul Ghost Walk at https://darks...

Send us Fan Mail Korea has been growing in popularity in the past couple of years, mostly through the entertainment industry. Unfortunately, this seems to have created a plethora of half- and untruths believed and perpetuated by those who don’t live in Korea. Lesson to all: don’t use television or K-pop to inform yourself on anything Korean. The goal isn’t to speak badly about Korea, but to highli...

Send us Fan Mail Korea is well-known for low gun crime, but it isn’t completely absent. In the wake of recent events elsewhere in the world, we decided to dive into Korea’s own experiences with guns.  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 Listener Mail! Send us a message (Instagram, Fa...

Send us Fan Mail How do Koreans interpret dreams? Do they even think they mean anything? Shawn has done some research and has the answers here. Shawn’s Movie Suggestions Of course Nightmare on Elm Street (only 1 and New Nightmare are worth a damn) Altered States (1980) Jacob’s Ladder The Company of Wolves Join our Patreon to get more stuff! https://patreon.com/darksideofseoul Book a tour of The Da...

Send us Fan Mail The oft overlooked spark that tumbled the Joseon Dynasty’s rotting Jenga tower. You’ll notice striking parallels with some aspects of today’s society. 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 Listener Mail! Send us a message (Instagram, Facebook, email) and we might read...

Send us Fan Mail 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.darksideofseoul.com/expats-of-the-wild-east/ Credits Produced by Joe McPherson and Shawn Morrissey Music by Soraksan Top tier Patrons Angel Earl Joel Bonomini Devon Hiphner Gabi Pal...

Send us Fan Mail Called bujeok, Korean talismans are similar in purpose to charms in other cultures’ folk traditions, religions, and beliefs.  Media Amulet (2020) Talisman (short film) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-_gwgyF3c8 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 Listener Mail! Send...