The Not So KOREAN Podcast

In this 'on the go', rambling but real episode (a 50th, milestone!), Jay speaks to you from the surroundings which are that big city known as DAEGU (대구) where he was invited to, by not one but two of his art-related friends... and much of this episode was recorded on the last full day in South Korea, 1st November 2025 (yes, the day before I would leave, that being 2nd November* and also the day...

In this rather rushed, rambling and unedited (& unprofessional?;) episode, Jay discusses his unexpected return to the UK, the upcoming UK Premierie of his feature documentary [ SEWOL:  Sealed Eternally With Our Love ] at Kingston Internation Film Festival, Korean music concerts caught in Bristol (artists seen include Say Sue Me and Park Jiha ), witnessing Bong Joon-ho 's latest film, meeting u...

In episode 48, Jay speaks with Joe McPherson, the person behind Zen Kimchi Experiences, a rapidly growing tour operator in South Korea and whom is known to be somewhat of a food expert, but also podcaster and generally a man of many talents.  In this hour-long chat with Joe McPherson we learn about food tours, 'dark tours', his time running restaurants, podcasting, time in televsion, encounters wi...

In this episode, Jay discusses his most recent trip to South Korea, upcoming guests on the 'NoSoKoPo', the experience of being a judge at the new Hongdae-based, "SWFF (Seoul Whistler Film Festival)" and more. Amongst other topics, this jam-packed show touches on Jay's experience staying long-term in a different part of Busan, attending the 29th edition of BIFF (Busan International Film Festival),...

"One Month KOREANs, THREE months,          One Call with TIM, TWO or THREE hours!                  One Evening with FRAN - FOUR hours...!                          One More Interview (JOE), after our TWO meetings                                 +  One More Trip to KOREA, so TWO so far this year...?!" In episode 46 of our  Not So Korean Podcast , Jay speaks about " 한달살기 " ('one-month living'), h...

In episode 45, Jay speaks with Anna Bondarenko, the owner of Naughty Muse Studios, a design studio and art café in Busan, South Korea.  In this hour-long chat with Anna Bondarenko, we find out not only what it’s like being an art space owner in Busan, and indeed about the artist community in that city, but also about Anna's life, her fondness for Korean culture, how she ended up in Busan and what...

In episode 44, which was recorded a few days ago and just before leaving for South Korea, Jay not only elaborates on his 'sudden Spring' over to South Korea and it being the 10th visit to Korea in 12 years, but also speaks about why he chose to do this. You'll hear how Jay, having only left Korea in Winter [2023] & now revisiting less than 4 months later in Spring [2024, intends to spend his n...

In this half-festive and Easter episode (and our 43rd one!), Jay announces an almost spontaneous trip to South Korea, which will be his 10th visit to Korea in 12 years! Yes... In this shorter episode, you'll hear from Jay about this upcoming journey - even though it was only in December when he last left Korea - and it touches on the kindness of others, the 10 year Sewol ferry anniversary, an fort...

In this episode [no. 42], we speak with musician, dog lover and activist Annie Ko about South Korea's recent announcement to ban dog meat consumption and the existence of dog meat farms - of which there have been apparently 10.000+ in South Korea - and her experience & involvement with the various organisations which have been doing their best to raise awareness and rescue dogs from such farms...

In this episode [no. 41], Jay announces the news about two interviews coming your way in February and March, and the which start next week, in episode 42. The first of these guests is Annie Ko, one part of the Seoul-based electric rock duo Love X Stereo and who speaks to us about the recent ban on breeding, slaughtering & ultimately the sale of dog-meat in South Korea, and and her involvement...

In this shorter episode, you'll hear from Jay and Tim, but also about Mark... that's Mark Kermode. You could even say that this episode [no. 40] features 3 film critics - Mark, Jay & Tim! Well, it's concerning Mark Kermode, the UK's most-loved film critic and about Korean film or Korean diaspora movies... but Jay also has a film review/interview website (MiniMiniMovie.com) AND Tim returns to o...

In episode 39 of the 'NoSoKoPo', Jay speaks from Jeju Island in South Korea about various topics and these include the 'cheating the start of Winter' (by heading further South!), a week-long temple stay, 'Korean snow', an almost all-encompassing Jeju Rainbow, plus a first time crossing to Jeju by ferry... and Jay touches on those inevitable thoughts of the Sewol ferry (세월호) incident evoked by t...

In this episode [38] of the 'NoSoKoPo', we bring you the long-awaited interview featuring Jay and James... That's 'the' James Turnbull and author/founder of The Grand Narrative ( https://thegrandnarrative.com ). In this interview - recorded in Busan, South Korea itself - we cover a lot of subjects and they include Korean feminism, sexuality, inequality, popular culture, translating, films, books &...

After about a Series and a half - and ahead of our long-awaited full interview with James Turnbull - we introduce a new angle or format that some of our episodes will take. As you'll hear from Jay, we will be inserting 'bite-sized' or 'subject specific' Korean related episodes into our Series (or Seasons;), which will both provide you with even more insight into Korea itself whilst ensuring that w...

In episode 36 of the 'NoSoKoPo', Jay introduces details of the shows's upcoming special guest, James Turnbull, author/founder of The Grand Narrative (https://thegrandnarrative.com) and does so by recording a 'live in Saigon' segment, just before his flight to South Korea, where he intends to spend a few months. You'll not only hear a tiny piece of this interview with James Turnbull at the start bu...

In episode 35 of the NoSoKoPo', Jay talks about popping back to 'Korea-town UK', an imminent revisit to South Korea and touches on the huge Korean influence in Vietnam. We also hear about Jay's reunion with a friend he first met in Korea 10 years ago [this time the meeting took place in Vietnam], a further reunion in the shape of TIM meeting JAY on more than one occasion recently, Jay's Sewol ferr...

In this latest episode [no. 34] of the 'NoSoKoPo', recorded in Seoul, Jay speaks to a man of many talents, An Sonjae (안선재) aka Brother Anthony / Brother Anthony of Taizé. An Sonjae is a writer, translator, scholar and naturalized Korean citizen but also quite an expert on various aspects of Korean culture. In what is a shorter interview that our recent ones, Jay and Brother Anthony manage to co...

In this episode [no. 33] of our NoSoKoPo', Jay talks about various meetings which took place: Firstly, a meeting (and 'NoSoKoPo' podcast reunion) with friend & co-host, Timothy Holm and a meeting with An Sonjae (안선재) a.k.a. Brother Anthony in SEOUL itself and from which an interview will follow in epsiode 34. Next, a get-togther with Jay's fellow Sewol ferry (세월호) friends / activists in...

In this 'on location' episode [no. 32] of our NoSoKoPo', Jay talks from two very different locations - An Airport in Asia & An Area of England - about all kinds of aspects of Korean culture. More specifically though, Jay discusses Korean related experiences during his long 10.5 month Asian journey, as well as Korean culture and its impact on certain areas of the UK and elsewhere. Jay tells us...

PART TWO ('Return Of Aline') - Following on from the first part of this interview [in Episode 30], Jay continues his discussion with Korean adoptee, Aline Giordano about the recently released - and much acclaimed - film by Davy Chou, “Return To Seoul”, a film revolving around a Korean adoptee from France but finding herself [perhaps in more ways than one] in South Korea. As before, Aline and Jay a...

PART ONE (Korean Adoptee ALINE: Adoption, Adapting & Abandonment)... In episode 30 of the 'NoSoKoPo', Jay speaks to Korean adoptee, Aline Giordano about the recently released - and much acclaimed - film by Davy Chou, “Return To Seoul”, a film revolving around a Korean adoptee from France but finding herself [perhaps in more ways than one] in South Korea. Aline and Jay also branch off onto othe...

Welcome to the 4th episode [no. 29] in Series 2 of the 'NoSoKoPo' and although it's a relatively short show, we do announce the big news of an upcoming guest, Aline Giordano who is a Korean born adoptee, raised in France and who has als oseen the film "Return To Seoul" by director Davy Chou and starring Jimin Park & others. The show starts with snippets from a conversation between Tim & Ja...

Welcome to the 3rd episode [no. 28] of Series 2 of the 'NoSoKoPo' and in this show we hear from Jay when he was in South Korea & in particular about his slightly restricted arrival in Incheon International Airport to his then arriving, a few hours later at his 'close to Ikseon-dong*' accomodation and therefore in the Jongno area of Seoul. Jay's somewhat "long, winding" journey - and 'long-wind...

Welcome to the second episode [no. 27] of Series 2 of the 'NoSoKoPo' and in this show, we let you hear Jay and Tim's 'farewell chat', recorded just before Jason/Jay left for his few months in South Korea. The chat consisted of discussion about what or where the previous 12 months (& more than 25 epsiodes) had taken Jay and Tim and their lives in New Malden (aka KoreaTown UK), as well as vague...

Welcome to Series 2 of the 'NoSoKoPo' and in episode 26, we bring you right up to date with what's been happening in Jay's life and in Tim's... ever since the end of Series 1 of the Not So Korean Podcast. Jay discusses briefly his 3 month visit to Korea, various film screenings witnessed there - including screenings of his OWN film, "Reparation" in South Korea - and much more. We hear a little abo...