Send us a text As the first season of our Walk Among the Graves tour closes, we explore a few more rites and rituals connected to funerals and the dead. 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 Bonomini Sha...
Jun 07, 2023•59 min•Ep. 168
Send us a text More strange stories of the creatures who approached Korea’s shores. Do you have a tale of an odd expat in Korea from the old days? We could include it in “ Expats of the Wild East .” 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...
May 31, 2023•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 167
Send us a text One of Korea’s most promoted destinations is--well, it was conceived as a tourist trap. We talk about the history of the island and other places to avoid down Korea’s Tourist Trap River. 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 Do you have a tale of an odd expat in Korea from the old days? We could include it in “ Expats of the Wild East .” Pitch your idea here. https://ww...
May 24, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 166
Send us a text The fourth lunar month is arguably the most important time of year for Buddhists. Various ceremonies linked to Buddha’s birthday, good fortune, and brightening the darkness permeate the lore and traditions of this time of year. 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 Do you have a tale of an odd expat in Korea from the old days? We could include it in “ Expats of the Wild...
May 17, 2023•47 min•Ep. 165
Send us a text Ghosts may be trapped in the past, but ghost hunters today bring modern methods to track them down and send them scurrying to the afterlife. Some Korean ghost hunters even use rap music! 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 Do you have a tale of an odd expat in Korea from the old days? We could include it in “ Expats of the Wild East .” Pitch your idea here. https://ww...
May 10, 2023•49 min•Ep. 164
Send us a text In 1980, Chun Doo-hwan created a re-education “university” for criminals and ne’er do wells. It really was a concentration camp for anyone who didn’t fit in. “SEOUL SAID TO HOLD 15,000 IN CAMPS WITHOUT TRIAL” - The New York Times (Sept 20, 1981) 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 Do you have a tale of an odd expat in Korea from the old days? We could include it in “ ...
May 03, 2023•55 min•Ep. 163
Send us a text Behind the corporate gloss of K-pop, Samsung, and the hallyu wave lurks a tragic reality: poverty. 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 Do you have a tale of an odd expat in Korea from the old days? We could include it in “ Expats of the Wild East .” Pitch your idea here. https://www.darksideofseoul.com/expats-of-the-wild-east/ Credits Produced by Joe McPherson and Sha...
Apr 26, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 162
Send us a text Korea’s gangsters went from the streets into the government. This is the second era of the history of Korean organized crime. 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 Do you have a tale of an odd expat in Korea from the old days? We could include it in “ Expats of the Wild East .” Pitch your idea here. https://www.darksideofseoul.com/expats-of-the-wild-east/ Credits Produc...
Apr 19, 2023•58 min•Ep. 161
Send us a text Colonial 1930s Korea was a time of independence activists, street gangs, and the Yakuza. This is the first of the four gangster periods of modern Korea. 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 Do you have a tale of an odd expat in Korea from the old days? We could include it in “ Expats of the Wild East .” Pitch your idea here. https://www.darksideofseoul.com/expats-of-th...
Apr 12, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 160
Send us a text Even the Korean lunar calendar has a leap year. Instead of an extra day, there's an extra month. Here's what to do. 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 Do you have a tale of an odd expat in Korea from the old days? We could include it in “ Expats of the Wild East .” Pitch your idea here. https://www.darksideofseoul.com/expats-of-the-wild-east/ Credits Produc...
Apr 05, 2023•32 min•Ep. 159
Send us a text The concept of an afterlife is consistent across cultures. How do old Korean traditions view the land of the dead? PLUS: a talk about our new cemetery tour and what we have coming up this year! Check out the Cemetery Tour here . 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 Do you have a tale of an odd expat in Korea from the old days? We could include it in “ Expats of the Wil...
Mar 29, 2023•53 min•Ep. 158
Send us a text Our series continues covering the folk traditions of each lunar month. This time it’s the third month - the onset of spring, farming, booze for powerful gods, and good days to visit the dead. 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 Do you have a tale of an odd expat in Korea from the old days? We could include it in “ Expats of the Wild East .” Pitch your idea here. https...
Mar 22, 2023•51 min•Ep. 157
Send us a text A young Korean man in Japan’s construction industry became the most powerful crime boss in 1930s Seoul. We talk about Korea’s early mob history and how Hayashi himself has left a big mark in daily Seoul life. 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 Do you have a tale of an odd expat in Korea from the old days? We could include it in “ Expats of the Wild East .” Pitch your...
Mar 15, 2023•51 min•Ep. 156
Send us a text “The scariest market in Korea.” Majang Meat Market is not only unique in Seoul, it’s unique to all of Korea! It’s the only market dedicated to turning freshly slaughtered livestock into meat. Our new Majang Meat Market Experience https://zenkimchi.com/zenkimchi-get-immersed-in-korea/zkx/meat-lovers-premium-market-bbq/ Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=NDEEI5n7Rb8&embeds_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fnamu.wiki%2F&feature=emb_logo Big Bang 에라 모르겠다 (the bicycle s...
Mar 08, 2023•39 min•Ep. 155
Send us a text Some topics are hard to discuss. And some we prefer to not cover more than once. But child abuse has become an epidemic in Korea and it needs to be constantly in the public eye until something is done to stop 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 Do you have a tale of an odd expat in Korea from the old days? We could include it in “Expats of the Wild East.” Pitch yo...
Mar 01, 2023•39 min•Ep. 154
Send us a text Ghosts and rites and folk, oh my! Our series on the monthly folk traditions on the Korean lunar calendar. It’s full of folklife customs, many of which are no longer widely practiced. In this episode, we explore the lore of the second 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 Do you have a tale of an odd expat in Korea from the old days? We could include it in “...
Feb 22, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 153
Send us a text Guest: Ji-yun Park The artist for the new volume of “Dark Side of Seoul: Weird Tales from Korean Lore” talks about her process in bringing Korean folk horror to life on the comic book page. 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 Do you have a tale of an odd expat in Korea from the old days? We could include it in “Expats of the Wild East.” Pitch your idea here. https://w...
Feb 15, 2023•54 min•Ep. 152
Send us a text Korea attracts some odd expats. Here is a collection of tales written by expats about expats. This is a sneak peek at a feature exclusive to our Patreon subscxribers. Join our Patreon to get this and more stuff https://patreon.com/darksideofseoul Book a tour of The Dark Side of Seoul Ghost Walk at https://darksideofseoul.com Do you have a tale of an odd expat in Korea from the old days? We could include it in “Expats of the Wild East.” Pitch your idea here. https://www.darksideofs...
Feb 08, 2023•59 min•Ep. 151
Send us a text Get a taste of "Weird Tales from Korean Lore," a regular segment exclusive to our Patreon subscribers (starting at just $5 a 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 Do you have a tale of an odd expat in Korea from the old days? Email us at [[email protected]] Credits Produced by Joe McPherson and Shawn Morrissey Music by Soraksan Top tier Patrons ...
Feb 01, 2023•20 min•Ep. 150
Send us a text Cabbage kimchi isn’t that old. Han-woo beef grades don’t indicate quality. Why do Koreans use metal chopsticks? Listen for more surprising finds about Korean food. 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 Listener Mail! Send us a message (Instagram, Facebook, email) and we might read it on air. Credits Produced by Joe McPherson and Shawn Morrissey Music by Soraksan Top tie...
Jan 25, 2023•2 hr 41 min•Ep. 149
Send us a text We have some history and trivia about Korea’s “other” New Year holiday. Listen now. 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 Listener Mail! Send us a message (Instagram, Facebook, email) and we might read it on air. Credits Produced by Joe McPherson and Shawn Morrissey Music by Soraksan Top tier Patrons Angel Earl Joel Bonomini Shaaron Cullen Devon Hiphner Minseok Lee Alix...
Jan 18, 2023•54 min•Ep. 148
Send us a text Korean winters are harsh! Take tips from folklore traditions on how to survive it, along with omens to watch out for. 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 Listener Mail! Send us a message (Instagram, Facebook, email) and we might read it on air. Credits Produced by Joe McPherson and Shawn Morrissey Music by Soraksan Top tier Patrons Angel Earl Joel Bonomini Shaaron Cul...
Jan 11, 2023•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 147
Send us a text It’s still unusual for theft to happen in Korean society. There is one item that Koreans steal without prejudice: bicycles. What’s up with that? 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 Listener Mail! Send us a message (Instagram, Facebook, email) and we might read it on air. Credits Produced by Joe McPherson, Shawn Morrissey, and Mia Roncati Music by Soraksan Top tier Pat...
Jan 04, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 146
Send us a text From creepy folklore to gory boat-rides, K-horror cinema had a few stellar highlights in 2022. But what lies ahead for Korean genre cinema and the Korean movie industry itself? We discuss all this with K-drama and film critic Pierce Conran. Guest: Pierce Conran, Drama Critic for South China Morning Post 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 Listener Mail! Send us a mess...
Dec 28, 2022•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 145
Send us a text Where was the first Christmas tree in Korea? Why were the doors busted down during an early Christmas play? We explore Korea’s history with Christmas, including a Christmas song so bad it was banned for being bad. 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 Listener Mail! Send us a message (Instagram, Facebook, email) and we might read it on air. Credits Produced by Joe McPhe...
Dec 21, 2022•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 144
Send us a text We look at Korean traditions that are on the verge of disappearing. These are ones easy to observe, so why are they fading? 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 Listener Mail! Send us a message (Instagram, Facebook, email) and we might read it on air. Credits Produced by Joe McPherson, Shawn Morrissey, and Mia Roncati Music by Soraksan Top tier Patrons Angel Earl Joel ...
Dec 14, 2022•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 143
Send us a text Korea excels at controlling what people can and cannot do, from censoring North Korean media to activist folk singers to journalists to fun. We discuss censorship, banning, prohibitions, and related issues. 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 Listener Mail! Send us a message (Instagram, Facebook, email) and we might read it on air. CREDITS Produced by Joe McPherson, S...
Dec 07, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 142
Send us a text Our most petty episode! We tell stories of the most problematic guests on our tours. PLUS--Why we no longer work as media fixers. 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 Listener Mail! Send us a message (Instagram, Facebook, email) and we might read it on air. CREDITS Produced by Joe McPherson, Shawn Morrissey, and Mia Roncati Music by Soraksan Top tier Patrons Angel Earl...
Nov 30, 2022•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 141
Send us a text Hypothesis: the roots of Korean politics’ extremism were sown with this event. Be warned there is a big rant about fundamentalism in world ideologies and religions near the end. 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 Listener Mail! Send us a message (Instagram, Facebook, email) and we might read it on air. CREDITS Music by Soraksan Top tier Patrons Angel Earl Joel Bonomi...
Nov 23, 2022•56 min•Ep. 140
Send us a text Twenty years ago, foreigners camped out on Dave’s ESL Cafe to complain about Korea. Looking back on those complaints, a lot has changed. Notes This is a good thread to start with http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=10518 Public brawls Not standing in line In before out Sealmen Disabled on subways Salespeople on subways Staring Strangers bothering foreigners Garbage Trees Smoking inside Spitting? Public urination Weird mercenary expats Less are here “just for the cash” ...
Nov 16, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 138
