The Dark Side of Seoul Podcast
Korean dark history, ghost tales, folklore, serial killers, true crime, and more. You are about to discover why Korea has the spookiest stories and darkest history.Folklorist Shawn and history buff Joe delve into Korea's gruesome stories of massacres, betrayals, and blood. It's like "Game of Thrones" in Asia. We share our passion for Korea and its struggles throughout time. If you enjoy shows like "Kingdom," this is the podcast for you. Even if you know nothing about Korea, its history will become your new addiction.Subscribe, sit back, and enjoy.
Episodes
248 episodes
The Courageous Rooster: Lessons from Korean Folklore and Culture
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 a...
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Episode 247
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1:00:01
Mountains: Gods, Ghosts, & Killers (Re-release)
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 backdro...
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Episode 246
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1:16:22
Yoon's Martial Law: History Repeats Itself in South Korea?
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!
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Episode 245
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1:11:12
Korean Hospitals: Tales of Good Healthcare, Bad Treatment
Discover the realities of Korea's healthcare system—great services, but bad treatment. We share personal experiences and discuss the challenges faced by patients.
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Episode 244
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1:39:53
Korea's Forced Eviction Industry
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
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Episode 243
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43:02
K-Wordiness
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...
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Episode 242
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51:37
Sinkholes!
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.
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Episode 241
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50:21
Monkey Business
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
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Episode 240
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50:10
Korean Ghost Tales
Shawn and Joe have more traditional Korean ghost stories and urban legends for this year.Join our Patreon to get more stuffhttps://patreon.com/darksideofseoulBook a t...
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Episode 239
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1:08:48
The Dark Side of iGoBart
Guest: Bart van GenugteniGoBart (YouTube)Welcome to My Dong (YouTube)
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Episode 238
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47:57
Welcome to Bart’s Dong
Guest: Bart van GenugteniGoBart (YouTube)Welcome to My Dong (YouTube)
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Episode 237
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53:12
Ask Us Anything... Again
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 stuffht...
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Episode 236
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1:04:01
What Happened in Korea During Shogun | Fall of Joseon, part 10
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
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Episode 235
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1:05:17
Arrested Redevelopment
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
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Episode 234
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1:15:30
Deepfake Porn: Korea’s New Crisis
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 ...
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Episode 233
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52:17
True Crime Summer 2024
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.
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Episode 232
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56:26
True Crime Summer: Hidden Sex Cams
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?
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Episode 231
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1:34:15
True Crime Summer: Serial Killer Yoo Young-Chul - Aftermath
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 ha...
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Episode 230
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1:13:25
True Crime Summer: Caught a Predator
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!
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Episode 229
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48:24
True Crime Summer: The Cyanide Killer
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?
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Episode 228
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1:03:27
True Crime Summer: The Death That Changed Seoul’s Foreign Community
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 g...
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Episode 227
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1:04:56
True Crime Summer: Cho Doo-soon & Sex Crime Law Failures
Welcome to True Crime Summer, our best true crime episodes.Korea’s most notorious criminal is set to be released in late 2020. Only recently has the “I was drunk” defense been scrapped as an accepted excuse for sex crimes. We explore the pr...
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Episode 226
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1:11:31
True Crime Summer: Prison Break 1988
Welcome to True Crime Summer, our best true crime episodes.Prisoners escape and end up becoming folk heroes. How did this happen? This is a story that many have forgotten until now. CreditsProduced by Joe McPhe...
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Episode 225
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1:02:55
True Crime Summer: The Jijon Crime Family
Welcome to True Crime Summer, our best true crime episodes.They were a gang of ex-convicts who went on a serial murder rampage in the mid-1990s and showed no remorse. Some even practiced cannibalism on their victims.Credits
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33:25
True Crime Summer: Prince Sado, The Royal Serial Killer
Prince Sado’s tale has been told through TV and film. Living in the 1700s, he got away with many killings and cruel acts. Yet there are others who say he himself was a victim. Listen as we delve into the life and legends of one of Korea’s most ...
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Episode 223
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1:11:53
