In this week’s episode, we begin with news of a bit of recognition from none other than broadcasting royalty, the BBC (courtesy of Josh). We then discuss things like tattooing finally being legal now in Korea, and a shout out to an old friend, marriage expectations, and men claiming money from famous wives when they get divorced.
We also discuss the backlash you receive if you ever say anything about K-pop fellas that could be perceived as negative, the recent suicide of a Korean author, and loads of ket washing up on a Korean beach.
Loads more too this week, as we get into Trump and Korea, comfort women, anti-China sentiment in Korea, shirtless running in Seoul and a rant (again) about Spotify playlists.
In this week’s episode (recorded a couple of weeks ago), we discuss Josh’s reverse culture shock as he re-adapts to life in England, dealing with differentiation in class, the lack of a need for discussion about objective issues in class and the results of our white supremacy/parasol poll.
We also discuss the recent issue of Koreans being arrested by ICE, people overstaying visas in various places, the contrast between Koreans driving and Koreans face-to-face, and the historic abductions of Korean children being sent to America for adoption.
Loads more this week, too, as we get into current parallels to 1984, PE teachers not being real teachers, winter World Cups, obesity in Korea and a rant about cultural appropriation, too.
Something for everyone, as per.
Get on it.
In this week’s episode, we discuss the idea that Koreans using a parasol is (somehow) linked to white supremacy, Korea’s greatest ever footballer, Son Heung-Min, calling it a day on his Spurs career and whether or not he makes it into the top-25 Premier League attackers of all time.
We also talk about a recent Han River monster sighting, Korea’s ageing population increasingly turning to suicide and the conclusion of a decades-long case of a woman biting the tongue off her attacker.
Loads more too, this week, including cutting willies off for cheating, a K-pop singer going down for rape and driving/parking etiquette.
Something for everyone, as per.
Get on it.
#seoul #korea #expatskorea #britsinkorea #parasol #racism #racisiminkorea #sonheungmin #spurs #premierleague #hanriver #seamonster #ageingkorea #suicide #suicidekorea #selfdefence #kpop #kpoprapist #drivinginkorea #bts #koreanculture #korea4expats #itaewon #hongdae #koreanstyle #koreanpolitics #koreanfood #hallyu #southkorea
In this episode, we dig into gig culture in the UK (v Korea) after Josh's trip home to see Oasis, defend British food and a warning from Josh's Grandad re: trans women.
We also discuss overzealous parents stealing the Suneung test, Korea's rainy season and the country's strong anti-immigration stance.
There's also bits and pieces about Government stipends, Koreans in the Asian hierarchy, Park Chung-Hee's assassination (spoiler alert: it was his best mate) and a touch of probability for the maths fans out there.
Something for everyone, as usual.
Get on it.
After a considerable amount of time off, we're back with an all-new format for season 3!
Heading off in a new direction, we will be reviewing the weekly (or bi-weekly) news happenings in Korea. Think of it like a tasteless Korean dispatches or gonzo "journalism" at its finest.
This week, we report back on what the listeners would put in their Korean Room 101 before discussing the fabled Korean norae bus, setting a subway car on fire and some good news for K-League Football Manager players.
We also talk Squid Game 3, propaganda speakers and shit balloons, and an absolutely mental story about American Jesus enthusiasts trying to send rice and dollar bills to North Korea via the sea.
Loads more too, including a shout out for The North Sentinelese, Korea's stand-up scene and the best way to kill half a million of any species.
Something for everyone, as usual.
Get on it.
In this week's milestone instalment, we salute our soju family - anyone who's listened to even one episode so far. We also discuss the (often lengthy) editing process (thanks to the mental tangents we've been known to go off on, that should never see the light of day), plus the vastly eclectic mix of guests we've had on so far.
We also discuss the lessons we've learned, the difficulties of starting a (niche) podcast, as well as the things we've learned along the way.
There's plenty more on offer too this week, as we bring back a much-loved segment - the absolute drivel we've searched on Chat GPT the past few weeks, as well as Josh's showering procedure and the different perspectives we might now have on Korea because of doing this podcast.
Something for everyone, as usual.
Get on it.
In this week’s (delayed) episode, we speak to music writer (and fellow Scouser) Jamie Finn about northerners in Korea tending to gravitate towards each other, heading to the peninsula for an adventure, basically not knowing anything about it and writing about the local Korean music scene through multiple outlets.
We also discuss the evolution of music and events in Korea (and the beginnings of nonconformity), starting his own magazines, gentrification and its effects on the local culture (mainly in HBC), and the Busan music scene compared to Seoul
There’s plenty more this week, including (but not limited to) iconic Liverpool institution, The Krazyhouse, Robbie and Barry from Eastenders (we never quite know where these conversations will turn), Korean societal problems and the differences in gig culture between Korea and the West.
As always, something for everyone.
Get on it.
In this week’s episode we get into the weeds and discuss how NOT to run an English academy in Korea, following a very bad recent experience.
We chat about closing the door on Korea for good, Korea losing its appeal due to inflation and saving potential, and the idea that everyday things like fruit are now a bit of a luxury.
We also get into signing a contract before seeing the apartment (don’t EVER do that), hagwon bosses expecting you to live in an unfurnished shoebox and calling out greed/penny-pinching within the teaching industry.
Something for everyone, as per.
Get on it (link in stories)
#korea #korealife #korea4expats #expatsinkorea #expatlife #expatkorea #seoullife #seoul4expats #koreanculture #koreansociety #hagwon #koreanhagwon #seoulhagwon #inflation #expensivefruit #hagwonhorror #greed #pennypinching #wonjangnim #oneroom #koreanapartment #prison #shoebox #gettofuck #koreaneducation #instagood #f4f #cheongju4life #suwon #seoul
WE BACK!
First and foremost, apologies for the delay in episodes; it wasn’t planned. Been a pretty turbulent past month or so with moving back to Korea only to find out the job/apartment wasn’t quite what was expected, but more on that in our special next weekend.
In THIS WEEK’s episode, we speak to the founder of Korean Image (Instagram), Blair Naujok. But before we proceed any further, we should first apologise to Blair for sitting on this episode for so long (this was recorded over a month ago), whilst simultaneously thanking him for the postcards with Korean images on which he sent to both me and Josh - a lovely touch.
This episode touches on how the archive first came about, Blair’s family history and viewing 50s and 60s Korea in colour for the first time.
We also discuss a positive aspect of COVID (the birth of the archive), expanding and categorising the archive and contributing to various exhibitions.
Of course, there’s loads more in this one, including (but not limited to) understanding heritage through photos, immigration and acceptance, and future plans for the archive.
Something for everyone.
Get on it.
#seoul #korea #sojusessions #korea4expats #kwave #koreansociety #korealife #koreanculture #koreamilitary #koreanwar #koreanimmigrant #expatsinkorea #expatkorea #expatlife #koreanpolitics #hallyu #koreanimage #photography #traditionalkorea #usmilitary #colourphotography #historicalphotography #imagearchive #koreaincolor #50skorea #60skorea #koreaexhibition #koreanheritage
In the second part of Joon-Young’s #sojusessions we discuss alternate things for expats to do (not just go drinking in Itaewon or Hongdae), the differences between the mentality of Koreans in small-town Korea (Cheongju) and Seoul, Koreans persistently comparing themselves to one another, and Koreaboos searching for oppa.
We also get into Korea’s collective society system, Asian fear of the dreaded Westerner, the future of Joon-Young’s Mad Korean Class, as well as some solid advice for learning Korean.
In the second part of Matt's #sojusessions, we discuss what Trump's policies towards the Korean peninsula might be, Obama being misportrayed as a saint and Westerners finding a purpose in Korea (and becoming better).
We also talk about Korea being a second home to many ex-pats, homelessness in Korea (versus the West), young Koreans missing out on life experiences by living at home until they get married and the military toughening up young Korean men.
This week, we speak to one of the Cheongju old guard, Matt Phillips, about ex-pats possibly thinking a little too highly of Busan, small-town vs. big-city Korea, and Cheongju being the Wild West back in the mid-2000s.
We also discuss the difference between Korea now and two decades ago, Yoon’s failed war plans, the K-wave boom, and the rise of democracy in Korea.
Something for everyone, as per.
Get on it.
In this week's episode, we mix it up a touch and look at the differences between Dubai and Seoul for expats.
As you might imagine, there's a lot to get through, including (but not limited to) officials stopping workers from going to the beach (in Dubai), the eclectic mix of people who live in Dubai and expat kids who've grown up there.
There's also bits and pieces about the cost of living (mental), having to download an app for everything and everyone trying to rip you off.
Loads more too this week, including wearing £500 sunglasses indoors, the never-ending stream of traffic fines and some of the grotesque things Westerners with too much money get up to.
There truly is something for everyone this week.
Get on it.
In this week’s episode, we speak to Cheongju’s finest, Camila Ugarte, about first impressions of Korea, the legendary Cheongju social scene and shitting yourself in public (you heard).
We also discuss injuring yourself trying to impress Korean men, the communal culture of Korea and strangers touching you in a jimjilbang (Korean sauna).
Loads more, too, including (but not limited to) misunderstanding doctors, Korean efficiency, how (some) Koreans treat people who look differently and the juxtaposition of old and new in Korea.
Something for everyone, as usual.
Get on it.
In this week’s episode, we speak to native Korean Lee Da-Eun (이다은) about racism in Korea, the attitudes of older Koreans towards foreigners and the perception of foreigners only coming to Korea to party.
We also discuss Koreans as introverts, fashion and identity in Korea, the challenges of integrating as an expat and superficial compliments from Koreans (think being called handsome by middle-aged taxi drivers, lads).
Loads more too this week, including legally-covered discrimination, the biggest problems when learning Korean and/or English and what Korean society could take from Western society.
As always, something for everyone.
Get on it.
In the second part of Danielle's soju sessions, we discuss the stoicism of Russians, the difference between 'traditional' expat bars in China and Korea and those in UAE and the fabled Dubai Brunch.
We also talk about hiking in Korea, the difference between Seoul and Dubai in a community sense and being followed around Tesco by Chinese people.
There's also chat about the 'higher-status' person choosing and paying in restaurants, going to the toilet in the street in China and the cleanliness in UAE and Korea compared to the UK and China.
In this episode we are joined by Tony’s sister, Danielle, to discuss comparisons between Korea, China & UAE.
We get into teaching in China and how it compares to the other 2 countries, “Little Emperor Syndrome” and the saving face culture of East Asia.
We also talk about a terrifying incident with a samurai sword-wielding neighbour, living abroad as a female v male and the tribal focus in some rural schools in the Middle East.
There’s also some talk about safety compared to the UK, Korea’s 4b movement/angry incels and differing attitudes to the English language around the world.
As usual, something for everyone.
Get on it.
In this week’s episode, we step way, way out of our comfort zone (and knowledge sphere) and discuss what a Trump Presidency might look like for Korea.
We get into Trump’s ‘America First’ policy, Korean government spending on US military personnel and the possibility of re-opening dialogue with North Korea.
We also talk about South Korean propaganda leaflets, effects on the Korean economy, Korea’s dominance of the semiconductor industry and Japan’s attitude towards Korea.
Loads more too this week, including the Democrats woeful showing in the American election, people not looking at issues for their own individual merits and Korean immigration into the US.
Something for everyone, as usual.
Get on it.
In this week’s episode, we speak with expat entrepreneur/influencer Tanaya Clark about initially heading to Korea as an exchange student, starting a business in Korea and the benefits of controlling your own visa.
We also discuss dating differences in Korea (compared to The West), being a black woman in Korea (and how Koreans view black people in general) and competition within the expat community.
We also get into “Tall Poppy Syndrome”, the great things about living in Korea, the Korean population possibly getting a bit bigger around the waistline and the oft-derided Korean beauty standards.
Plenty of bases covered this week; as usual, something for everyone.
Get on it.
