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
234 episodes since 2020
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 ...
September 13, 2024
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Episode 233
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50:51
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.
September 04, 2024
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Episode 232
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55:00
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?
August 28, 2024
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Episode 231
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1:32:55
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...
August 27, 2024
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Episode 230
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1:12:05
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!
August 24, 2024
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Episode 229
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47:04
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?
August 22, 2024
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Episode 228
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1:02:07
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...
July 31, 2024
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Episode 227
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1:03:37
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...
July 24, 2024
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Episode 226
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1:10:12
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...
July 17, 2024
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Episode 225
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1:01:36
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
July 10, 2024
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32:57
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 ...
July 04, 2024
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Episode 223
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1:10:34
Women Ghosts of Jeju Island
Ghosts are everywhere, so they say. But perhaps no place in Korea is more haunted than Jeju Island. But these aren’t just ghosts. They’re goddesses. Join our Patreon to get more stuff
June 26, 2024
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Episode 222
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52:53
A Flock of Sheep
Our Zodiac series continues! The timid sheep may be easily led but that doesn’t mean it’s unimportant. Just ask evil spirits.Join our Patreon to get more stuffhttps://patreon.co...
June 19, 2024
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Episode 221
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55:48
Stabbings
We’re halfway through 2024 and stabbings have made the news far too many times. We’ll look at some of those stories from the past couple of years. Join our Patreon to get more stuff
June 12, 2024
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55:57
The Lost Urban Exploration Video
Last year, we made a video exploring a neighborhood slated for demolition. We held off on releasing it until now. Here’s the audio version. Videohttps://www.youtube.com/wa...
June 05, 2024
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Episode 219
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38:21
None Shall Pass! Segregation in South Korea
Korea can be a ton of fun, with its thousands of parks, facilities, restaurants, and pubs. But is it fun for everyone? Maybe not for those banned from entering these places. We explore segregation in Korea. Join our Patreon to ge...
May 29, 2024
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Episode 218
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52:09
Haunted Tourist Sites in Korea
We explore a few of the lesser known haunted claims from some of Korea’s most popular tourist sites.Join our Patreon to get more stuffhttps://patreon.com/darksideofseoul...
May 22, 2024
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Episode 217
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53:14
Imjin War, part 3 | Fall of Joseon, part 9
Japan mounts its second invasion of Joseon Korea. Will the king again abandon his people? I think we already know the answer.Media recommendationSamuel Hawley’s Youtube series on the Imjin War (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
May 15, 2024
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Episode 216
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35:41
Fugly Koreans, Fugly Americans
Part five of our series based on the book “Ugly Koreans, Ugly Americans,” where we explore more cultural differences and discuss them.Ugly Koreans, Ugly Americans: Cultural and behavioral differences between Koreans and Americans
May 08, 2024
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Episode 215
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51:07
Horses
Our Zodiac series continues! The majestic horse plays a role in Korean folklore, from gods, ghosts, rituals, and even food! Join our Patreon to get more stuffhttps://patreo...
May 01, 2024
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Episode 214
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52:55
Korean Ghosts Love Pizza: Modernizing Rites for the Dead
Rites, charms, and ceremonies for ghosts and spirits have long been part of Korean folk traditions. But the times they are a-changin’. How are these old traditions done in the 21st century? Join our Patreon to get more stuff<...
April 24, 2024
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Episode 213
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57:34
The Sewol: 10 Years Later
Ten years after the Sewol ferry disaster, how has South Korea changed? What surprising consequences sprouted from this tragedy?Danwon High School Memorial Classrooms WebsiteJ...
April 15, 2024
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Episode 212
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1:02:11
When K-Animals Attack! (And Escape)
We explore some cases of animals escaping, disrupting traffic, pooping on city streets, or worse - hurting people who got in their way.Join our Patreon to get more stuffhttps://...
April 10, 2024
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Episode 211
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58:55
Imjin War, part 2 | Fall of Joseon, part 8
Admiral Yi Sun Shin enters the stage with his rival Admiral Gwon Yul. Can Joseon officials suspend their factionalism to defend their kingdom? Well…Media recommendationSamuel Hawley’s Youtube series on the Imjin War (https://...
April 03, 2024
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Episode 210
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53:20