The Dark Side of Seoul Podcast

ZenKimchi
  • 4.5 (44)
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  • Updated Weekly

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.

  1. 1d ago

    The History of Korean Horror

    Joe and Shawn are joined by Justin Kyle, co-host of the weekly horror film podcast Straight Chilling, for a decade-by-decade guide to Korean horror cinema. Starting from a lost 1924 silent film made under Japanese occupation and running through Na Hong-jin's divisive 2024 creature feature, Justin leads a structured tour of the films, directors, themes, and historical forces that shaped one of world cinema's most distinctive horror traditions. Guest Justin Kyle, Straight Chilling Podcast straightchilling.com Also writes for koreanfilm.org and Korea Times Topics discussed The 1924 silent horror film adaptation of the Tale of Two Sisters, made during Japanese occupation around the same time as Nosferatu and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, now a lost film The Korean Film Archive's YouTube channel and Blu-ray releases for older films, and the ongoing problem of lost or damaged Korean films even from relatively recent decades Why Korean horror rarely produces slashers, monster films, or vampire stories, and what it produces instead The femme fatale and the vengeful female ghost as recurring figures in Korean horror, and the argument that these women have genuine narrative agency rather than existing simply as threats to be defeated The 1960s as the first golden age of Korean horror, and the unusually high cinematographic quality of films from that era How Park Chung-hee's nationalist cultural policies in the 70s inadvertently created a boom in shaman-themed cinema The censorship era of the 70s and 80s, what it did to Korean filmmaking, and why the 80s produced so few horror films The shamanism film tradition in Korean cinema and why claims that it is a new trend are wrong Whispering Corridors (1998) as the beginning of the second golden age of Korean horror Why the end of censorship in the mid-to-late 90s unlocked a new era of ambitious Korean filmmaking The Quiet Family, A Tale of Two Sisters, The Host, and Thirst as the peak of 2000s Korean horror The debate over whether Park Chan-wook or Bong Joon-ho is the better filmmaker Train to Busan and the argument about whether it is a great zombie film, a mediocre horror film, or an accessible action film that Koreans don't even classify as horror The Wailing as the conclusion of the second golden age Seire (2021) as the best Korean horror film of the current decade, and the Korean folk traditions around birth and death it draws on Exhuma and what happens when horror films prioritize accessibility over atmosphere Na Hong-jin's Hope and why it's deeply divisive The Netflix and K-pop effect on Korean cinema and the argument that chasing international accessibility has drained the daring out of mainstream Korean horror A Halloween party on October 24, 2026 at Dyson Comics Cafe in Seoul with horror board games, movie trivia, and a Halloween magic show Korean horror film timeline by decade Korean Horror Film Timeline by Decade Silent Era 1924 — Untitled Tale of Two Sisters adaptation — director unknown — lost film 1960s 1960 — The Housemaid (하녀) — Kim Ki-young 1960 — Madam White Snake (백사부인) — Shin Sang-ok 1964 — The Evil Stairs / The Devil's Stairway (마의 계단) — Lee Man-hee 1965 — A Bloodthirsty Killer / Devilish Homicide (살인마) — Yi Yong-min 1967 — Public Cemetery Under the Moon (월하의 공동묘지) — Kwon Cheol-hwi 1967 — Yongary, Monster from the Deep (대괴수 용가리) — Kim Kee-duk 1969 — The Devil and the Beauty (악마와 미녀) — Yi Yong-min 1970s 1970 — Ghosts of Joseon (이조괴담) — Shin Sang-ok 1975 — The Man with Two Faces (공포의 이중인간) — Yi Yong-min 1977 — Io Island / Ieodo (이어도) — Kim Ki-young 1978 — A Woman Chasing a Killer Butterfly (살인나비를 쫓는 여자) — Kim Ki-young 1979 — The Divine Bough (신궁) — Im Kwon-taek 1980s 1981 — Suddenly in the Dark / Suddenly at Midnight (깊은 밤 갑자기) — Go Yeong-nam 1981 — The Hut (피막) — Lee Doo-yong 1981 — A Monstrous Corpse (괴시) — Kang Beom-gu 1982 — Dracula in a Coffin — director unconfirmed 1990s 1995 — 301, 302 (삼공일 삼공이) — Park Chul-su 1997 — The Hole — director unconfirmed 1998 — Whispering Corridors (여고괴담) — Park Ki-hyung 1998 — The Quiet Family (조용한 가족) — Kim Jee-woon 1999 — Memento Mori (여고괴담 두번째 이야기) — Kim Tae-yong and Min Kyu-dong 1999 — The Ring Virus (링) — Kim Dong-bin 1999 — Tell Me Something (텔 미 썸딩) — Chang Yoon-hyun 1990s — Deep Scratch — director unconfirmed 2000s 2001 — Sorum (소름) — Yoon Jong-chan 2003 — A Tale of Two Sisters (장화, 홍련) — Kim Jee-woon 2004 — R-Point (알 포인트) — Kong Su-chang 2006 — The Host (괴물) — Bong Joon-ho 2009 — Thirst (박쥐) — Park Chan-wook 2010s 2010 — I Saw the Devil (악마를 보았다) — Kim Jee-woon 2010 — Bedevilled (김복남 살인사건의 전말) — Jang Cheol-su 2012 — Horror Stories (무서운 이야기) — Min Kyu-dong, Jung Bum-shik, Hong Ji-young, Kim Gok and Kim Sun, Lim Dae-woong 2015 — The Silenced (경성학교: 사라진 소녀들) — Lee Hae-young 2016 — Train to Busan (부산행) — Yeon Sang-ho 2016 — The Wailing (곡성) — Na Hong-jin 2020s 2021 — Seire (세이레) — Park Kang 2022 — The Fifth Thoracic Vertebra — Park Se-young 2024 — Exhuma / Pamyo (파묘) — Jang Jae-hyun 2024 — Hopeu (호프) — Na Hong-jin Resources mentioned Straight Chilling Podcast: straightchilling.com Korean film database: koreanfilm.org Korean Film Archive YouTube: Korean Classic Film Korea Times film coverage: search Justin Kyle Timestamps not available for this episode. About the podcast The Dark Side of Seoul explores Korea's hidden history, true crime, folklore, ghost stories, urban legends, disasters, political scandals, and the strange corners of Korean culture that rarely make it into guidebooks. Hosted by long-time Korea residents Joe McPherson and Shawn Morrissey, the show blends historical research, cultural analysis, and firsthand experience to examine the people, events, beliefs, and mysteries that have shaped the Korean peninsula. Some episodes take deep dives into forgotten historical events, serial killers, political intrigue, and supernatural traditions. Others tackle current events and unusual news stories through our shorter "Fun Sized" episodes, connecting today's headlines to larger patterns in Korean society. Whether we're discussing Joseon-era conspiracies, haunted mountains, cults, disasters, ghost encounters, or modern social issues, our goal is always the same: to explore the darker side of Korea with curiosity, skepticism, and historical context. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    The History of Korean Horror

  2. Sep 13

    The Problem with Korean Ghosts

    Why do ghosts conveniently conform to the culture of the people seeing them? Korean folklore gives us the cheonyeo gwishin, Western traditions have their own recognizable specters, and decades of movies have taught us that ghosts should be translucent, vaporous, and obviously dead. Joe and Shawn question whether any of those images are useful when examining claims of actual ghost encounters. If ghosts represent a genuine phenomenon, Shawn argues, their basic characteristics should remain consistent across cultures. The conversation moves from Korean folklore and Shakespeare to filmmaking, Newfoundland ghost traditions, the concept of han, trauma as an explanation for hauntings, and the surprisingly mundane descriptions that appear in some of the more convincing alleged encounters. More in Shawn’s newsletter article The Most Haunted Place on Earth! Topics Discussed The problem with culturally specific ghosts Folklore versus alleged paranormal phenomena Korea's cheonyeo gwishin Women in white and long-haired ghosts Similar ghost imagery outside Asia Why folklore shouldn't be treated as scientific explanation Shakespeare and ghosts on stage How theater and cinema shaped the translucent ghost Alleged ghosts that look completely human The possibility of encountering a ghost without realizing it Newfoundland ghost traditions The Irish and Newfoundland "fetch" What makes somewhere "the most haunted place on Earth" Trauma as an explanation for hauntings Han and Korean ghost folklore Why claims that han is uniquely Korean create a logical problem Skepticism and paranormal research Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 06:00 Defining the problem with ghosts 10:00 Folklore as explanation 11:36 What if ghosts are real? 13:00 Korean ghost imagery 15:00 Fictional ghosts versus alleged encounters 17:30 Ghost imagery across cultures 20:00 The mundane ghost 22:00 Theater, film, and translucent spirits 25:00 Ghosts we may not recognize 27:00 Newfoundland's "fetch" tradition 29:00 The most haunted place on Earth 31:00 Trauma and restless spirits 33:00 Han and Korean ghosts 34:50 Final discussion 36:30 Listener shout-out Mentioned During the Episode Cheonyeo gwishin Hamlet Watership Down Newfoundland ghost folklore St. John's Haunted Hike The Irish/Newfoundland "fetch" Han (한) The Korean Ghost and Mr. Skeptic Shawn Morrissey's newsletter, Welcome to Savage Haller The Most Haunted Place on Earth (Depending on Who You Ask) About The Dark Side of Seoul The Dark Side of Seoul explores Korea's hidden history, true crime, folklore, ghost stories, urban legends, disasters, political scandals, and the strange corners of Korean culture that rarely make it into guidebooks. Hosted by long-time Korea residents Joe McPherson and Shawn Morrissey, the show blends historical research, cultural analysis, and firsthand experience to examine the people, events, beliefs, and mysteries that have shaped the Korean peninsula. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    The Problem with Korean Ghosts

  3. Sep 3

    The Museum That Won't Tell You Its Own Story

    Joe visited a brand-new free museum in Seoul's Insadong neighborhood built on a six-year archaeological excavation. The dig exposed a layer of the city from the late 1590s, right before the Japanese invasions reduced large parts of Seoul to rubble. The artifacts are fascinating. The signage is a list of measurements. The actual story, that this neighborhood was frozen in the moment before catastrophe, is buried in a set of video interviews near the back that most visitors probably walk past. Topics discussed: Shawn's Substack newsletter Welcome to Savage Hollar, a follow-up Korean urban legends book in progress, and a new book about hauntings in Newfoundland A new Korea concierge service helping travelers book KTX tickets, baseball tickets, and navigate Korean websites built exclusively for Korean IDs and Korean phone numbers A live music venue in Nagwon called EDLS with a brew pub, live jazz, rock, and experimental music Thursday through Saturday, 10,000 to 15,000 won cover The Insadong Urban Heritage Exhibition Hall: what it is, what it contains, and why it fails to explain itself The history of pimgol, Seoul's network of back alleys designed so commoners could work and move around the city without bowing to aristocrats on horseback The Gongpyeong regulation requiring archaeological digs before any construction in the Insadong-Jongno area, and the cluster of small underground museums it has produced A clay jar full of metal movable type, some cast in Hangeul, deliberately buried underground, not lost in a fire but hidden intentionally Bronze hand cannons stockpiled nearby, and what that stockpile suggests about the circumstances Why the dig focused on the late 1590s layer specifically: almost nothing from that era survives elsewhere in the city The Japanese invasions of 1592 as the explanation for everything buried, abandoned, or burned in that layer Joseon-era astronomical instruments and a water clock of significant mechanical complexity found at the site Why Korean heritage interpretation consistently describes physical dimensions instead of telling the story, and why a brand-new museum opened in 2026 still has this problem Practical information: Insadong Urban Heritage Exhibition Hall (인사동 도시유적전시관) GI Tower basement, Insadong, Jongno-gu, Seoul Tuesday to Sunday, 9am to 6pm, last admission 5:30pm Free admission Resources mentioned: Shawn's Substack: Welcome to Savage Hall Korea Concierge: concierge.zenkimchi.com Dark Side of Seoul tours: darksideofseoul.com Timestamps not available for this episode. About the podcast The Dark Side of Seoul explores Korea's hidden history, true crime, folklore, ghost stories, urban legends, disasters, political scandals, and the strange corners of Korean culture that rarely make it into guidebooks. Hosted by long-time Korea residents Joe McPherson and Shawn Morrissey, the show blends historical research, cultural analysis, and firsthand experience to examine the people, events, beliefs, and mysteries that have shaped the Korean peninsula. Some episodes take deep dives into forgotten historical events, serial killers, political intrigue, and supernatural traditions. Others tackle current events and unusual news stories through our shorter "Fun Sized" episodes, connecting today's headlines to larger patterns in Korean society. Whether we're discussing Joseon-era conspiracies, haunted mountains, cults, disasters, ghost encounters, or modern social issues, our goal is always the same: to explore the darker side of Korea with curiosity, skepticism, and historical context. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    The Museum That Won't Tell You Its Own Story

  4. Aug 17

    Tourist Season: How is Insa-dong?

    Topics Discussed Insa-dong as one of Joe and Shawn’s first experiences of Seoul How the neighborhood has changed since the early 2000s Traditional Korean incense and surviving specialty shops The hidden waterways that shaped Insa-dong’s streets Insa-dong during the late Joseon period and Korean Empire How Japanese colonial rule helped create the antiques district Looted temple and palace artifacts entering the antique trade The rise of artists, galleries, tea houses, and literary culture Crime and kidnapping in old Insa-dong Poet Chun Sang-byeong and his abduction by the Korean intelligence services Torture, political repression, and Chun’s disappearance Insa-dong’s designation as Korea’s first cultural district Starbucks, Hangul signage, and the commercialization of “traditional” Seoul Ssamziegil and the transformation of Insa-dong into a shopping destination Dragon’s Beard candy and Insa-dong’s changing street-food culture The 2013 Insa-dong fire Museums, galleries, traditional crafts, and what remains worth visiting How nostalgia shapes the way longtime residents remember Insa-dong Timestamps 00:00 Tourist Season introduction 02:10 Introducing Insa-dong and memories of old Seoul 05:00 How Insa-dong has changed 08:00 Traditional Korean incense and surviving old shops 25:10 The geography of Insa-dong and its buried waterways 30:00 Insa-dong during the Korean Empire 35:00 How Insa-dong became Seoul’s antiques district 39:00 Japanese colonial dealers and looted cultural artifacts 42:00 Crime and kidnapping in old Insa-dong 47:05 Poet Chun Sang-byeong and Seoul’s literary culture 48:55 Chun Sang-byeong’s abduction and torture 55:00 The legacy of Chun Sang-byeong 1:00:25 Insa-dong becomes Korea’s first cultural district 1:00:55 Starbucks and the famous Hangul sign 1:04:55 Ssamziegil and the commercialization of Insa-dong 1:09:00 Insa-dong street food 1:10:45 Dragon’s Beard candy 1:36:05 The 2013 Insa-dong fire 1:48:30 What remains worth seeing in Insa-dong 2:00:00 Museums, crafts, tea, and surviving cultural attractions Mentioned During the Episode Insa-dong Cheonggyecheon Jongno Joseon Dynasty Korean Empire Japanese colonial period Chun Sang-byeong Ssamziegil Starbucks Insa-dong Dragon’s Beard candy Korean traditional incense Insa-dong antique dealers Insa-dong art galleries Traditional Korean tea houses The 2013 Insa-dong fire Follow The Dark Side of Seoul Website https://darksideofseoul.com Patreon https://patreon.com/darksideofseoul Instagram https://instagram.com/darksideofseoul Facebook https://facebook.com/darksideofseoul YouTube https://youtube.com/@darksideofseoul About The Dark Side of Seoul The Dark Side of Seoul explores Korea's hidden history, true crime, folklore, ghost stories, urban legends, disasters, political scandals, and the strange corners of Korean culture that rarely make it into guidebooks. Hosted by long-time Korea residents Joe McPherson and Shawn Morrissey, the show blends historical research, cultural analysis, and firsthand experience to examine the people, events, beliefs, and mysteries that have shaped the Korean peninsula. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  5. Aug 10

    Tourist Season: Nami Island & Tourist Trap River

    Topics Discussed Nami Island’s origins, General Nami and the false tomb, Korea’s domestic tourism boom, Winter Sonata and the early Korean Wave, K-drama tourism, artist Kang Woo-hyon’s transformation of the island, the Republic of Naminara, tourism marketing, Gapyeong attractions, Instagram tourism, overtourism, and whether Nami Island is actually worth visiting. Useful Timestamps 00:00 Tourist Season summer replay introduction 00:31 Why are we talking about Nami Island? 02:01 Nami Island wasn’t originally an island 03:07 General Nami and the false tomb 04:22 The Bukhangang “land of tourist traps” 05:28 Winter Sonata changes everything 06:43 How Winter Sonata helped launch the Korean Wave 07:12 K-dramas as tourism marketing 08:17 The artist who reinvented Nami Island ~12:00 The Republic of Naminara and its tourism gimmicks ~18:00 What Nami Island is actually like to visit ~21:00 Other Gapyeong tourist attractions 25:40 Who should actually visit Nami Island? 26:37 The contradiction of “eco-tourism” and mass tourism 27:10 Instagram, influencers, and manufactured destinations 28:01 Closing and Dark Side of Seoul tours 29:34 Final travel advice Mentioned During the Episode Nami Island / Republic of Naminara, Winter Sonata, Bae Yong-joon, Choi Ji-woo, Korean Tourism Organization, Bukhangang, Cheongpyeong Dam, General Nami, Gapyeong, Petite France, K-drama filming locations, the Korean Wave, Korean domestic tourism, Instagram tourism, Dark Side of Seoul tours, and ZenKimchi Experiences. Links Dark Side of Seoul: darksideofseoul.com ZenKimchi Experiences: zenkimchi.com YouTube: Dark Side of Seoul on YouTube Patreon: Dark Side of Seoul Patreon About The Dark Side of Seoul The Dark Side of Seoul explores the strange, hidden, and occasionally disturbing sides of Korean history, folklore, culture, crime, and travel. Hosted by Joe McPherson and Shawn Morrissey, the show draws on decades of experience living, researching, writing, and guiding in Korea. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  6. Aug 2

    Tourist Season: The Dark Side of Korean Tourist Sites

    Tourist brochures rarely tell the whole story. In this Tourist Season replay, Joe and Shawn revisit one of the podcast's most popular travel episodes, uncovering the wars, massacres, murders, ghost stories, and redevelopment controversies hidden behind some of Korea's best-known tourist destinations. Topics Discussed Tourist Season summer replay series Why famous destinations deserve deeper historical context Incheon and the Battle of Incheon during the Korean War The 2017 Incheon child murder case Jeju Island and the Bukchon Massacre The Jeju Uprising Bukchon Hanok Village and developer Jeong Se-gwon Ghost legends surrounding Bukchon Ikseon-dong before it became Seoul's trendiest neighborhood Operation Butterfly and Seoul's former red-light district Gentrification and commercialization of Ikseon-dong The anonymous donor of Jeonju's Tree of Hope The restoration of Cheonggyecheon and its impact on merchants Listener mail: Why do Korean hikers wear bells? Timestamps 00:00 Tourist Season introduction 02:30 Horror movie watch parties and summer updates 10:15 Why every tourist site has a darker history 13:30 Incheon and the Korean War 24:00 The 2017 Incheon child murder 37:45 Jeju's Bukchon Massacre 50:00 Bukchon Hanok Village beyond the postcards 1:02:00 Ikseon-dong before the cafés 1:22:00 Jeonju's anonymous Christmas donor 1:33:30 Cheonggyecheon before restoration 1:50:00 Listener mail: Korean hiking bells Mentioned During the Episode Incheon Wolmido Jeju Island Bukchon Bukchon Hanok Village Ikseon-dong Cheonggyecheon Jeonju Jeong Se-gwon Lee Myung-bak Operation Butterfly The Dark Side of Seoul Ghost Walk Follow The Dark Side of Seoul Website https://darksideofseoul.com Patreon https://patreon.com/darksideofseoul Instagram https://instagram.com/darksideofseoul Facebook https://facebook.com/darksideofseoul YouTube https://youtube.com/@darksideofseoul About The Dark Side of Seoul The Dark Side of Seoul explores Korea's hidden history, true crime, folklore, ghost stories, urban legends, disasters, political scandals, and the strange corners of Korean culture that rarely make it into guidebooks. Hosted by long-time Korea residents Joe McPherson and Shawn Morrissey, the show blends historical research, cultural analysis, and firsthand experience to examine the people, events, beliefs, and mysteries that have shaped the Korean peninsula. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  7. Jul 21

    Tourist Season: Tourists from Hell

    This week kicks off our summer rerun series, digging up the best tourism episodes from the archive while we take a break from new true crime deep dives. First up: 141, Tourists from Hell. Years of running walking tours and food tours in Seoul means years of collecting the worst behavior tourism has to offer. Hand holders who never read their confirmation emails. Tour-splainers who think they know the history better than the guide telling it. The no-show who ghosted, left a one-star review, then demanded a refund anyway. A hotel concierge (the irony) who wanted a private tour at group rates, only ate at Michelin-level places, and ended the day eating bread from a bakery because nothing else met his standards. Plus, why Joe stopped taking media fixer gigs after some genuinely great experiences with names like Bourdain and Zimmern, and a stack of tourist horror movie recommendations to close things out. If you've ever worked in hospitality, this one's for you. If you've ever been that guest, you might recognize yourself. Topics Discussed Introducing the "Tourist Season" summer replay series The most memorable difficult guests from years of leading tours "Hand holders" who never read booking information Tourists who showed up at the wrong location and demanded refunds Guests who tried to explain Korean history to the guides No-shows and last-minute cancellations Refund requests after missed tours Hecklers and guests with personal agendas The infamous "Touché!" guest Drunk guests and disruptive tour behavior Guests distracted by phones and Pokémon Go Problems unique to hiking tours Food tour horror stories Vegetarians booking Korean BBQ tours The worst guest ever: a hotel concierge with impossible expectations Working as media fixers for international television productions Positive experiences with Anthony Bourdain, Andrew Zimmern, National Geographic, and Milk Street Horror film recommendations for travelers Mentioned During the Episode ZenKimchi Experiences The Dark Side of Seoul Tour Korean BBQ Experience Anthony Bourdain Andrew Zimmern National Geographic Milk Street Listen & Follow Website: https://darksideofseoul.com Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dark-side-of-seoul-podcast/id1504623984 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1lZBXNX79kwH2NXcJWNcb8 Patreon: https://patreon.com/darksideofseoul YouTube: https://youtube.com/@darksideofseoul Instagram: https://instagram.com/darksideofseoul Facebook: https://facebook.com/darksideofseoul Contact: info@darksideofseoul.com About The Dark Side of Seoul The Dark Side of Seoul explores Korea's hidden history, folklore, true crime, urban legends, supernatural traditions, and the overlooked stories that shaped the peninsula. Alongside deep dives into Korea's darker past, the podcast also explores life in modern Korea through travel, culture, and the often hilarious realities of working as professional tour guides. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  8. Jul 10

    The Ulsan Family Tragedy

    Episode Summary A father and his four children were found dead in their home in Ulsan after months of severe financial hardship. While the case was ruled a murder-suicide, the discussion quickly expands beyond the crime itself into the failures of Korea's welfare system, the stigma surrounding mental health, and the bureaucratic obstacles that can leave vulnerable families without meaningful support. Joe and Shawn examine how the family had already been identified as a high-risk household and had been visited by schools, welfare officials, police, and child protection workers. Despite multiple warning signs, no agency ever developed a complete picture of the family's crisis. The episode explores whether this tragedy represents an isolated incident or a broader failure of institutions designed to protect children and families. Topics Discussed The Ulsan family murder-suicide Carbon monoxide deaths using charcoal briquettes Poverty and financial collapse Single fathers in Korea Mental health stigma Child welfare investigations Bureaucratic barriers to assistance In-kind support versus direct cash assistance Coordination failures between government agencies Korea's suicide rate Proposed welfare reforms Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 02:00 The Ulsan case 06:00 Financial hardship and the family's circumstances 12:00 Welfare assistance and why it wasn't enough 19:00 Single fathers and asking for help 24:00 Child protection and looking for the wrong warning signs 31:00 Mental health, stigma, and caregiver burnout 37:00 Bureaucracy and agency coordination failures 43:00 Possible reforms and remaining concerns Mentioned During the Episode Korea's Basic Livelihood Security Program Korea's child protection system Previous Dark Side of Seoul episodes on K-Poverty, child abuse, Yoo Young-chul, and the WaWo Apartment collapse Shawn's book on ghost encounters in Korea Dark Side of Seoul Ghost Walk Listen & Follow Website: https://darksideofseoul.com Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dark-side-of-seoul-podcast/id1504623984 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1lZBXNX79kwH2NXcJWNcb8 Patreon: https://patreon.com/darksideofseoul YouTube: https://youtube.com/@darksideofseoul Instagram: https://instagram.com/darksideofseoul Facebook: https://facebook.com/darksideofseoul Contact: info@darksideofseoul.com About The Dark Side of Seoul The Dark Side of Seoul explores Korea's darker history, folklore, true crime, urban legends, supernatural traditions, forgotten places, and the cultural stories that don't usually appear in guidebooks. New episodes include deep historical dives alongside our "Fun Sized" discussions of current events, controversies, and unusual aspects of life in Korea. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    The Ulsan Family Tragedy
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4.5
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About

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.

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