The Dark Side of Seoul Podcast

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

November 30, 2023 51 mins

Is dying with dignity a human right? Should we be allowed to choose death over suffering? In Korea, these are tough questions asked by the government, lawyers, doctors, and, more importantly, society. We explore the euthanasia issue in Korea.

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https://patreon.com/darksideofseoul

Book a tour of The Dark Side of Seoul Ghost Walk at https://darksideofseoul.com


Credits
Produced by Joe Mc...

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Continuing our exploration of the roots of Korean words. Learn about uses of fire, energy, and how to say, “This is the way,” in Korean.

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https://patreon.com/darksideofseoul

Book a tour of The Dark Side of Seoul Ghost Walk at https://darksideofseoul.com
*NEW* Gift Cards https://zenkimchi.com/give-the-gift-of-experience/

Credits

Produced by Joe McPherson and Shawn Morrissey

Music by Soraksan

Top Tier P...

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Temperatures drop below freezing, snow appears on mountains, and drunk fishermen pee in the ocean. Bundle up, we’re about to share folk traditions of the tenth lunar month. 

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

Credits

Produced by Joe McPherson and Shawn Morrissey

Music by Soraksan

Top Tier Patrons
Angel Earl
Joel Bono...

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November 9, 2023 50 mins

Desecrating a grave in Korea releases Manggwi, particularly nasty ghosts. Find out more in this episode. 

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

Credits

Produced by Joe McPherson and Shawn Morrissey

Music by Soraksan

Top Tier Patrons

Angel Earl
Joel Bonomini
Shaaron Cullen
Devon Hiphner
Minseok Lee
Gabi Palomi...

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We cover more rules of etiquette from this classic 1990s tome. Writing names in red, cutting in line, and more. 

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

Credits

Produced by Joe McPherson and Shawn Morrissey

Music by Soraksan

Top Tier Patrons

Angel Earl
Joel Bonomini
Shaaron Cullen
Devon Hiphner
Minseok Lee
Gabi...

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October 26, 2023 60 mins

We exhume and share Korean stories, urban legends, and real mysterious encounters to make your skin tingle with dalksal!

Stories include the following…

The Virgin Girl’s Grave

A young woman, trapped in a flat grave, finds release when a passing man unknowingly lets her witness a simple act of nature, leading to her liberation and blessings bestowed on the unwitting man in 1931 Jeonju.

The Red Room

In the digital age, an eerie ...

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Summer’s muggy grip has let go. Frost sneaks onto early morning window panes. And ghosts need directions home. We explore the folklore of the ninth lunar month.

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

Credits

Produced by Joe McPherson and Shawn Morrissey

Music by Soraksan

Top Tier Patrons

Angel Earl
Joel Bonomini
Shaaron C...

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We cover more rules of etiquette from this classic 1990s tome. Limp handshakes, staring at foreigners, last minute invitations, and more. 

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

Credits

Produced by Joe McPherson and Shawn Morrissey

Music by Soraksan

Top Tier Patrons

Angel Earl
Joel Bonomini
Shaaron Cullen
Devon Hiphne...

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Family infighting, betrayals, executions, dismemberments, more executions, and fratricide. Just a couple of decades in the Joseon court.

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

Credits

Produced by Joe McPherson and Shawn Morrissey

Music by Soraksan

Top Tier Patrons

Angel Earl
Joel Bonomini
Shaaron Cullen
Devon Hiphner<...

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September 28, 2023 55 mins

Death is a transition but not one the dead do alone. At least not in Korean tradition. The dead need our help to pass on to whatever awaits them on the other side. This episode is dedicated to the memory of Kim Tae-young.   

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

Credits

Produced by Joe McPherson and Shawn Morrissey

Music by So...

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Korea prepares for its grandest traditional holiday while evil ghosts try to knock jugs of water off your head… We explore the folk traditions of the eighth lunar month!  

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

Credits
Produced by Joe McPherson and Shawn Morrissey

Music by Soraksan

Top Tier Patrons
Angel Earl
Joel B...

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September 14, 2023 51 mins

Every now and again the headlines buzz: North Korean defects to South! Less often is that the other way ‘round. Is that because it happens less or because they don’t want us to know about such cases? We explore a few stories of those who defected into North Korea. 

Media recommendations

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Fall of Joseon, part 4
Kim Anro would have out-machiavellied Machiavelli. He deftly found power, lost it, and committed to a long-chilled dish of revenge to regain it.

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/

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Produced by Joe McPherson ...

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Autumn slowly presents itself, but not without a few more bursts of heat and a couple rites for moaning spirits. We explore the folk traditions of the seventh lunar month!  

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...

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Korea recently hosted the World Scout Jamboree at Saemangeum. It was a disaster. But what are the environmental roots of this? Just how important was Saemangeum before it was turned into reclaimed land? Hint: one of Asia’s most important ecological sites. We’re joined by Dr. Moores, one of the foremost authorities of Saemangeum to discuss how the site’s destruction impacted Korea. 

GUEST: Dr. Nial Moores, Birds Korea Blog

Join our Pa...

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August 17, 2023 78 mins

We have 22 more social differences from the book Ugly Koreans, Ugly Americans. Which ones are still relevant? Which ones should you be aware of?


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 McP...

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Cho Yang-eun challenged the formidable Myeongdong Shin Sang-sa gang. Fists turned to knives, and Cho led a clownishly criminal life inside and outside of prison.

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 Morri...

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August 3, 2023 58 mins

The Korean language is fun to study, especially when you break down words to their roots. Learn words like “booze whale” (Sulgorae) in this lighthearted episode.

NOTE: Starting from about the 12:20 timestamp, Shawn misspoke! ‘Heup’ is not the word associated with 'blood'; 'hyeol' is the word.

Join our Patreon to get more stuff

https://patreon.com/darksideofseoul

Book a tour of The Dark Side of Seoul Ghost ...

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The hottest month of the year carries some Korean folk traditions. Some were pretty dark.

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 Bonom...

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Shin Sang-hyun and his “New Sergeant Family” took over Myeongdong in the 1950s and later the Seoul criminal underground. But not without some serious battles on Seoul’s streets.

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...

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