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
281 episodes
11 Haunted Haunts of Seoul | Spooky Chills Summer
Shawn and Joe guide you through 11 of Seoul’s eeriest locations—from the pressure-draining crossroads at Sejong Intersection to the ginkgo-guarded spirits of Marronnier Park. Along the way you’ll encounter singing servants of a Japanese collabo...
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Episode 280
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46:39
Unsettling Urban Legends | Spooky Chills Summer
Turn off the lights. Slip on your headphones. Tonight’s Spooky Summer episode takes you to the edge of your seat with five skin-crawling tales of the unexplained:A lone soldier buried a war widow’s baby by moonlight—then dared to st...
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1:19:54
Echoes in the Dark: Our Creepiest Stories | Spooky Chills Summer
Ready to pucker up from sheer creepiness? Ditch the cheery summer playlists and crank your earbuds—these tales will haunt your dreams. From phantom hands blocking elevator doors to severed pianist fingers humping keys in a jar, we’ve rounded up...
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1:23:00
Ghost Stories on Jayuro Highway | Spooky Chills Summer
Shawn and Joe take you on a fog-shrouded drive down Paju’s Jayuro Highway to hunt the road’s most bone-chilling legends: the Woman in Sunglasses, blood-oozing meat packages, and the cursed box no driver wants to touch. They sift witness account...
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Episode 277
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1:00:53
Spooky Summer Ghost Stories 2025
We kick of Spooky Chills Summer 2025 with three fresh stories and more.Brace yourselves for three spine-tinglers in Spooky Chilly Summer Part 7: • The Hong Kong Grandma’s deadly Q&A—answer wrong, and you’re never seen again<...
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51:37
Prince Sado’s Madness and Murder | The Fall of Joseon, part 16 (1735-1762)
Prince Sado’s life reads like a gothic horror: crowned heir, but driven mad by his father’s cold perfectionism, he slew palace servants and terrorized court ladies—then was locked in a rice chest by King Yeongjo, left to die over eight harrowin...
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Episode 275
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55:52
POSCO Unforged: Corruption, Accidents, & Cover-Ups
POSCO helped forge modern South Korea, but at what cost? We trace the company’s origins under Park Chung-hee’s grand steel plan, its “Right-Turn Spirit” cult of willpower, and its risky “backward” build strategy. Then we peel back the polish to...
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Episode 274
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1:01:06
North Korea 75 Years Later with Jacco Zwetsloot (NK News Podcast)
Seventy-five years after the Korean War began, North Korea still defines its identity by the conflict. NK News Podcast host Jacco Zwetsloot explains how Pyongyang mar...
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Episode 273
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45:48
Unwelcome Guests: The 1871 US Incident in Korea
Featuring Thomas Duvernay, PhD | Sinmiyangyo: The 1871 Conflict Between the United States and KoreaWhen American warships steamed into Korean waters in 1871, they ignited more than just cannon...
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1:37:24
Yeongjo’s Quest for Balance: Ending Factional Fury | Fall of Joseon 15
After the Noron and Soron slaughter of 1721–22, Joseon lay fractured. When Prince Yeoning ascended as King Yeongjo, he resolved to break the cycle. Through calculated pardons, strategic reshuffles, Confucian exhortations against in-group politi...
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Episode 271
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47:29
Korea and Canada Share Folklore?
You may find it hard to believe that two countries as different as Korea and Canada have shared folklore. Why is that? And just what do they share? In this episode, we have a listen to a presentation on the topic made at the invitation of Seoul...
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Episode 270
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55:08
Unexplained Deaths of Expats in Korea
Death is inevitable, but for many expats in Korea, the cause of death remains a mystery. In this episode, we delve into the unsettling number of unexplained deaths among foreign nationals living in Korea. From recent tragedies like the ca...
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Episode 269
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51:59
When Love Meets Politics | Fall of Joseon, part 14
King Sukjong's reign, beginning at just 13 years old, was a turbulent time for Joseon, marked by power struggles, love affairs, and the downfall of factions. His relationship with concubine Lady Jang became the focal point of one of the most dr...
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Episode 268
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28:12
Tragic Ghosts
What makes a ghost so moody, and why are some spirits bound to haunt the living with vengeance and sorrow? We explore the most tragic and unfulfilled spirits in Korean tradition, from wonhon—the ghosts of the forsaken, to yeommae
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Episode 267
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54:00
Ask Us. We Dare You!
What is something about Korea that’s overrated? Why is shamanism viewed so negatively? How has Korean changed since COVID? We took your questions and we answer them!
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Episode 266
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1:13:38
Ghost Book Sneak Peek
Shawn gives us a preview of his upcoming book about Korean ghost stories, encounters, and folklore.
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Episode 265
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1:00:46
Gwangjang Market: Secrets, Snacks, and the Shady Side of Seoul’s Most Famous Market
Gwangjang Market is a street food paradise… but what’s lurking behind the bindaetteok stalls and mayak gimbap counters? In this episode, we dig into the tangled history of Korea’s oldest covered market—from its rebellious beginnings and refugee...
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Episode 264
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1:02:32
Boondoggles: Korean Grand Prix
South Korea's hosting of the Formula One Grand Prix in Yeongam (2010-2013) was supposed to bring global prestige, but instead became one of motorsport’s biggest flops. We dive deep into how mismanagement, cultural misunderstanding, construction...
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Episode 263
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1:06:48
Strange Things Found on Naver Maps
In this episode of The Dark Side of Seoul Podcast, we take a deep dive into the strange, unusual, and downright bizarre things we’ve found on Naver Maps. From mysterious statues and remote tombs to quirky landmarks like the Dokdo emoji...
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Episode 262
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1:07:19
Joseon Korea vs. Qing China: A Kingdom Caught Between Loyalty and Survival | Fall of Joseon, part 13
In this episode of The Fall of Joseon, we dive into the political turmoil and military invasions that rocked Joseon Korea in the 17th century. Join us as we explore the first Qing invasion of 1627, the devastating effects of political ...
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Episode 261
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41:35
Korean Tourism 50 Years Ago
What was Korea like for tourists in 1975? In this episode, we explore the unique travel experience of that time, based on a fascinating book from the era. From the government’s tourism promotions to the must-see sites of the day, discover...
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Episode 260
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1:49:00
Tapgol Park
Join us as we explore the history of Tapgol Park, a significant landmark in Seoul. From its origins as a temple site to its role in pivotal events like the March 1st Movement, Tapgol Park is woven into the fabric of Korea's modern history. Lear...
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Episode 259
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1:08:30
Friendly Fire
In The Dark Side of Seoul Podcast episode "Friendly Fire," we investigate a tragic mistake during a live-fire drill in Pocheon, South Korea. Joint ROK-USA military exercises led to accidental shelling of a civilian area, injuring over ...
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Episode 258
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51:11
