Korea Deconstructed
Exploring Korea through open conversations with historians, students, professors, pop stars, and everyone in between. Learn, reflect, and understand with Korea Deconstructed. The host, David Tizzard, has a Phd in Korean Studies and is a Professor at Seoul Women's University and Hanyang University. He also writes a weekly column in the Korea Times.
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Crash Landing on Meaning: Life, Class, and Rediscovery through Korea
06/29/2025
Crash Landing on Meaning: Life, Class, and Rediscovery through Korea
Lebanese scholar Rania Hafez joins Korea Deconstructed for a wide-ranging conversation on class, culture, and the search for meaning. Rania reflects on how media pushes culture wars over class solidarity, the importance of leadership in academia, and how she discovered Korean dramas during the Covid pandemic. Her love for Crash Landing on You and Hometown Cha Cha Cha helped her find beauty and purpose again, calling Korea her "Narnia." A deeply personal and philosophical episode about rediscovery, passion, and why Korea speaks to so many hearts around the world. She also reflects on her experiences as a Muslim in Korea and how she is able to navigate these spaces. Rania: David A. Tizzard has a PhD in Korean Studies and lectures at Seoul Women's University and Hanyang University. He writes a weekly column in the Korea Times, is a social-cultural commentator, and a musician who has lived in Korea for nearly two decades. He can be reached at . Watch this video next: Subscribe to the channel: @DavidTizzard/videos Thanks to Patreon members: Hee Ji Jacobs, Bhavya, Roxanne Murrell Join Patreon: Discussion Outline 0:00 Korea Deconstructed 2:45 Meaning in modern life 31:00 The importance of class 1:01:20 The struggles of capitalism 1:08:30 K-dramas and the love of the country 1:26:40 Being a Muslim in Korea 1:37:00 How to foster connection 1:46:45 Recommendations Music by Jocelyn Clark Connect with us: ▶ Get in touch: ▶ David's Insta: @datizzard ▶ KD Insta: @koreadeconstructed Listen to Korea Deconstructed ▶ Listen on iTunes: ▶Listen on Spotify: ▶ Listen on podcasts:
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Kim Il Sung: The Accidental Tyrant Who Changed Korea Forever
06/20/2025
Kim Il Sung: The Accidental Tyrant Who Changed Korea Forever
My guest is Fyodor Tertitskiy, a prolific scholar, polyglot, and one of the few who reads the footnotes of history in multiple languages. His new book, Accidental Tyrant, a biography of Kim Il Sung, challenges the official state mythology and unearths the improbable rise of a guerrilla fighter turned dynastic dictator. This is how Kim Il Sung outwitted imperialists, communists, comrades, and colonels alike, turning chance into legacy, failure into foundation. But the question remains: what does this all mean for those of us living in a world still shaped by the ghosts of his decisions? Buy Fyodor's latest book here: David A. Tizzard has a PhD in Korean Studies and lectures at Seoul Women's University and Hanyang University. He writes a weekly column in the Korea Times, is a social-cultural commentator, and a musician who has lived in Korea for nearly two decades. He can be reached at . Watch this video next: Subscribe to the channel: @DavidTizzard/videos Thanks to Patreon members: Hee Ji Jacobs, Bhavya, Roxanne Murrell Join Patreon: Discussion Outline 0:00 Who was Kim Il Sung? 9:00 Japanese colonization of Korea 13:40 Kim Il Sung's early life 22:30 What is communism? 27:30 Kim Il Sung the anti-Japanese guerrilla fighter 35:15 How the Soviet Union created North Korea 44:10 Why was Kim Il Sung chosen to lead? 52:40 Planning the Korean War 58:30 Who was Mun Il? 1:05:10 Chairman Mao 1:15:20 Kim Il Sung's economic policies 1:22:40 The succession policies of North Korea 1:41:50 How people misunderstand Juche 1:54:00 Recommendations Music by Jocelyn Clark Connect with us: ▶ Get in touch: ▶ David's Insta: @datizzard ▶ KD Insta: @koreadeconstructed Listen to Korea Deconstructed ▶ Listen on iTunes: ▶Listen on Spotify: ▶ Listen on podcasts:
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Koreans React to the 2025 Presidential Election: What Do Koreans Really Want?
06/08/2025
Koreans React to the 2025 Presidential Election: What Do Koreans Really Want?
In this episode of Korea Deconstructed, I’m joined by four university students: young people who voted, watched, and waited as South Korea held its most recent presidential election and elected Lee Jae-myung. We discuss what the election felt like to them. What it felt like to cast a vote. What they saw among their friends. And what was never said. We’ll explore the hopes and contradictions of a generation caught between economic uncertainty, cultural shifts, and a political system that doesn’t always seem built for them. Korea Deconstructed #105 Big thank you to these wonderful people: Yunseo ( Jennie ( Andrew ( Ray 한종철 ( David A. Tizzard has a PhD in Korean Studies and lectures at Seoul Women's University and Hanyang University. He writes a weekly column in the Korea Times, is a social-cultural commentator, and a musician who has lived in Korea for nearly two decades. He can be reached at . Watch this video next: Subscribe to the channel: @DavidTizzard/videos Thanks to Patreon members: Hee Ji Jacobs, Bhavya, Roxanne Murrell Join Patreon: Discussion Outline 0:00 What did election day feel like? 8:15 Analyzing the candidates 15:40 Can you talk about politics in Korea? 23:50 What matters to you in politics? 27:15 Gender and military service 32:00 Japan, America, China, and North Korea 43:35 Produce (Politics) 101 46:40 Young people's politics 57:35 Kwon Young-guk 1:05:40 The future of Korea 1:18:30 Message to the new president 1:21:55 Recommendations Music by Jocelyn Clark Connect with us: ▶ Get in touch: ▶ David's Insta: @datizzard ▶ KD Insta: @koreadeconstructed Questions or Topic Suggestions? Write in the Comments Below! #KoreaDeconstructed #korea #koreanculture #southkorea Listen to Korea Deconstructed ▶ Listen on iTunes: ▶Listen on Spotify: ▶ Listen on podcasts:
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Is Korea Falling Apart? 4 Young Koreans React to “Korea is Over”
05/18/2025
Is Korea Falling Apart? 4 Young Koreans React to “Korea is Over”
A recent viral YouTube video claimed that Korea would soon be extinct. The country transformed negatively by one of the world's lowest birthrates. Change, it suggested, was too late. Four young adults come together to discuss the future of Korea, assessing its birthrate issues, education, culture of perfection, and the deep spiritual crisis that seems to have gripped the nation. Is Korea really over? Not necessarily... We hear from 4 young people all living here: a young Korean man interested in Jungian psychology, a woman balancing study and modeling, an ethnic Korean from Uzbekistan (Koryosaram), and someone just embarking on their college life. Big thank you to these wonderful people: Celine (@celinesoyoon) Marina (@marina_tens) Susan Ray 한종철 Watch the original video from @Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell David A. Tizzard has a PhD in Korean Studies and lectures at Seoul Women's University and Hanyang University. He writes a weekly column in the Korea Times, is a social-cultural commentator, and a musician who has lived in Korea for nearly two decades. He can be reached at . Watch this video next: Subscribe to the channel: @DavidTizzard/videos Thanks to Patreon members: Hee Ji Jacobs, Bhavya, Roxanne Murrell Support Korea Deconstructed: Discussion Outline 0:00 Reactions to the video 9:43 A spiritual crisis 16:50 Gender conversations 23:40 The popularity of Korean grief 34:20 Generation gaps and the elderly 43:20 Korean education 51:55 Do young Korean people want children? 1:04:10 Is the future bright? 1:20:55 Recommendations Music by Jocelyn Clark and Radical Gary Connect with us: ▶ Get in touch: ▶ David's Insta: @datizzard ▶ KD Insta: @koreadeconstructed Questions or Topic Suggestions? Write in the Comments! #KoreaDeconstructed #korea #koreanculture #kurzgesagt #southkorea Listen to Korea Deconstructed ▶ Listen on iTunes: ▶Listen on Spotify: ▶ Listen on podcasts:
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Dividing Korea: Dr. Kornel Chang
05/10/2025
Dividing Korea: Dr. Kornel Chang
Kornel Chang on U.S. Power, Korean Resistance, and the Birth of Division What if Korea’s true revolution was never allowed to happen? In this episode, I talk with historian Kornel Chang, author of A Fractured Liberation, to explore a moment in Korean history that most people never learn about. A moment when ordinary Koreans believed they were on the brink of something new. In 1945 Japanese colonial rule had ended and, across the peninsula, people were filled with hope. Workers seized factories, farmers reclaimed land, and women demanded rights. It was Korea’s “Asian Spring”...an explosion of grassroots energy and possibility. But it didn’t last. Instead of freedom, Koreans faced a new occupying force: the U.S. military government in the South. Kornel walks us through how the American-led administration, fearful of leftist movements and obsessed with anti-communism, sidelined local efforts toward democracy, reinstalled collaborators from the colonial regime, and helped lay the groundwork for division, war, and decades of authoritarian rule. This is a story about who gets to decide the future when the dust of war settles. And it's more important than ever. Buy A Fractured Liberation: Kornel Chang is the author of Pacific Connections: The Making of the U.S.-Canadian Borderlands, winner of the Association for Asian American Studies Book Prize in History. He is Associate Professor of History and American Studies and Chair of the History Department at Rutgers University–Newark. About David A. Tizzard David A. Tizzard has a PhD in Korean Studies and lectures at Seoul Women's University and Hanyang University. He writes a weekly column in the Korea Times, is a social-cultural commentator, and a musician who has lived in Korea for nearly two decades. He can be reached at . Watch this video next: Subscribe to the channel: @DavidTizzard/videos Thanks to Patreon members: Hee Ji Jacobs, Bhavya, Roxanne Murrell Join Patreon: Support Korea Deconstructed: Discussion Outline 0:00 From Pyongyang to New York 9:49 The Paths Not Taken 27:48 Why Was Korea Divided? 41:36 Who Could Lead Korea? 52:42 Collaboration with the Japanese 1:04:35 The Lived Experiences of 1945-1948 1:17:14 Using Literature to Centre Ordinary Koreans 1:26:23 On Korean Studies and its Factions 1:37:00 Recommendations Music by Jocelyn Clark Connect with us: ▶ Get in touch: ▶ David's Insta: @datizzard ▶ KD Insta: @koreadeconstructed Questions or Topic Suggestions? Write in the Comments Below! #KoreaDeconstructed #korea #koreanhistory #koreanculture Listen to Korea Deconstructed ▶ Listen on iTunes: ▶Listen on Spotify: ▶ Listen on podcasts:
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Building a Life Abroad: Kim Ninja’s Guide to Korea
04/27/2025
Building a Life Abroad: Kim Ninja’s Guide to Korea
From visas to values: a positive, practical conversation about living in Korea Kim Ninja joins Korea Deconstructed to talk about building an authentic life in Korea. Born in Germany to Vietnamese parents, Kim made the jump to Korea and now helps thousands of expats and digital nomads adapt culturally, practically, and legally. Through cartoons, articles, and community building, he offers a refreshing, optimistic take on life abroad — steering away from sensationalism. In this conversation, Kim shares practical advice on visas, adapting to Korean norms, and how to find real beauty in your experiences. Follow Kim Ninja Instagram: @iamkimninja LinkedIn: Website: iamkimninja.com David A. Tizzard has a PhD in Korean Studies and lectures at Seoul Women's University and Hanyang University. He writes a weekly column in the Korea Times, is a social-cultural commentator, and a musician who has lived in Korea for nearly two decades. He can be reached at . Watch this video next: Subscribe to the channel: @DavidTizzard/videos Thanks to Patreon members: Hee Ji Jacobs, Bhavya, Roxanne Murrell Join Patreon: Support Korea Deconstructed: Discussion Outline 0:00 – Why Choose Korea? (Reasons to live in Korea) 2:45 – K-pop Matters for Asian People (Cultural significance of K-pop) 6:15 – Translating Eastern and Western Culture (Bridging cultural gaps) 10:40 – Living in Korea (Adapting to life in Korea) 25:00 – Avoiding The Negativity of Korea (Focus on positivity in expat life) 45:18 – Korea and Vietnamese Relations and Culture (Exploring the ties between Vietnam and Korea) 55:55 – The Visa Process in Korea (Step-by-step guide to expat visas) 1:04:50 – What Korea Can Improve for Digital Nomads (Suggestions for digital nomads in Korea) 1:10:00 – Final Thoughts (Kim Ninja’s advice for future expats) Music by Jocelyn Clark: Connect with us: ▶ Get in touch: ▶ David's Insta: @datizzard ▶ KD Insta: @koreadeconstructed Questions or Topic Suggestions? Write in the Comments Below! #KoreaDeconstructed #KimNinja #LifeInKorea #LivingAbroad #ExpatLife #KoreanVisa #DigitalNomads #KoreanCulture Listen to Korea Deconstructed ▶ Listen on iTunes: ▶Listen on Spotify: ▶ Listen on podcasts:
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Korean Cinema & The Bodies Within
04/24/2025
Korean Cinema & The Bodies Within
I sat down with scholar, Nilesh Kumar to explore how Korean cinema has reflected shifting notions of gender, identity, and social structure across decades. From the angry men of the Korean New Wave to the defiant heroines of modern streaming hits, this conversation examines how bodies on screen become battlegrounds for power, memory, and desire. We begin by talking about how technology defines Park Chan-wook’s groundbreaking movie Oldboy, as well as its absence of allegory, signaling the start of post-modern Korean cinema. Then, we explore three main themes in Korean cinema across time: Masculinity, femininity, and queer representation. The first section sees us discuss Chilsu and Mansu (1988), Peppermint Candy (1999), A Single Spark (1995), Whale Hunting (1984), Burning (2018), and Parasite (2019). We then turn our attention to Hostess Cinema (1974-1982), Yeong-ja’s Heydays (1975), Right Then, Wrong Now (2015), Ballerina (2023), Han Gong Ju (2013), and My Sassy Girl (2001). Finally, we look at King and the Clown (2005), Moonlit Winter (2019), Mine (2021), The Handmaiden (2016) as well as the importance of Seo Dong-jin and Paul B. Preciado. I was particularly impressed by how Nilesh put each section in context, describing the importance of the socio-economic and political conditions of the time. Nilesh Kumar is from England, of Gujarati-Indian background, and is based in South Korea. He is a Film Curator and co-founder of the Seoul-based underground-movable cinema, STEAK FILM and the sexuality themed, STEAK CINEMA. His topics of writing have included contemporary queer South Korean culture, South Korean ‘hostess’ cinema (1974-82), and 6th Generation Chinese Cinema. Selected work: Instagram: Facebook: David A. Tizzard has a PhD in Korean Studies and lectures at Seoul Women's University and Hanyang University. He writes a weekly column in the Korea Times, is a social-cultural commentator, and a musician who has lived in Korea for nearly two decades. He can be reached at . Watch this video next: Subscribe to the channel: @DavidTizzard/videos Thanks to Patreon members: Hee Ji Jacobs, Bhavya, Roxanne Murrell Join Patreon: Discussion Outline 0:00 Oldboy and Allegory 18:40 Angry Men in Korean New Wave Cinema 44:42 Hostess Cinema and Female Representation 1:12:25 My Sassy Girl (엽기적인 그녀) 1:37:30 The Queers are Here 2:33:46 Recommendations Music by Jocelyn Clark: Connect with us: ▶ Get in touch: ▶ David's Insta: ▶ KD Insta: Questions or Topic Suggestions: Write in the Comments Below #koreadeconstructed #davidtizzard Korea Deconstructed by David Tizzard ▶ Listen on iTunes: ▶Listen on Spotify: ▶ Listen on podcasts:
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Voices of Change: Korean Students, Art, and Democracy
03/22/2025
Voices of Change: Korean Students, Art, and Democracy
보도지침 (Media Guidelines) is a satirical work that critiques the media landscape and the influence of government or corporate power on Korean journalism in the 1980s. It explores themes such as censorship, the manipulation of public opinion, and the ethical dilemmas faced by journalists. The play is known for its sharp wit and critical perspective, often using humor and irony to highlight the challenges and compromises that media professionals may face. More and more young Koreans are bringing this play to the stage—not as a history lesson, but as a statement about their own reality. So, I spoke with four university students who recently performed 보도지침. They shared why this play matters, how it connects to the present, and why art remains a powerful tool for democracy and social change. If you care about free speech, activism, and the role of art in shaping society, this conversation is for you. Read more about it in Korean here: https://namu.wiki/w/보도지침(연극) Go Minjeong, Lee Seoyeon, Nam Sumin, and Park Hayeol are members of the Seoul Women's University theatre group. Their Insta page: David A. Tizzard has a PhD in Korean Studies and lectures at Seoul Women's University and Hanyang University. He writes a weekly column in the Korea Times, is a social-cultural commentator, and a musician who has lived in Korea for nearly two decades. He can be reached at . Watch this video next: Subscribe to the channel: @DavidTizzard/videos Thanks to Patreon members: Hee Ji Jacobs, Bhavya, Roxanne Murrell Join Patreon: Discussion Outline 0:00 Introduction 3:00 보도지침 (The Play) 9:30 The Parents' Generation 15:00 Reactions to the Play 26:30 Communism and North Korea 33:00 The Importance of Theatre 42:14 Reflections on Korean History 49:25 Recommendations Connect with us: ▶ Get in touch: ▶ David's Insta: ▶ KD Insta: ▶ Listen on iTunes: ▶Listen on Spotify: ▶ Listen on podcasts:
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The Korean Diaspora and Korean History Told Through Photos
03/08/2025
The Korean Diaspora and Korean History Told Through Photos
A few years ago, Blair's grandmother gave him a present. Approximately 300 photographs his grandfather had taken in Korea nearly 70 years ago. These beautifully preserved color photos not only revealed a country and its people emerging from war and beginning to rebuild, it also showed Blair members of his family. It showed him where he was from, and, therefore, where he was going. He has digitized these photos and made them into an archive. This has since grown to feature a wide range of photos and videos expertly organized to allow visitors to discover Korea as it once was and, perhaps, also help some people understand where they came from. Korean Image Archive: Instagram: Patreon: Discussion 0:00 My Grandparents in 1950s Korea 9:45 300 color photos of old Korea 27:40 Creating an archive 34:40 Mixed race families in Korean history 54:10 American soldiers and camptown Korean women 1:05:35 Recommendations David A. Tizzard has a PhD in Korean Studies and lectures at Seoul Women's University and Hanyang University. He writes a weekly column in the Korea Times, is a social-cultural commentator, and a musician who has lived in Korea for nearly two decades. He can be reached at . Watch this video next: Subscribe to the channel: @DavidTizzard/videos Thanks to Patreon members: Hee Ji Jacobs, Bhavya, Roxanne Murrell Join Patreon: Connect with us: ▶ Get in touch: ▶ David's Insta: ▶ KD Insta: ▶ Listen on iTunes: ▶Listen on Spotify: ▶ Listen on podcasts:
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Shamanism, Post-Colonialism, and the Korean Left
02/28/2025
Shamanism, Post-Colonialism, and the Korean Left
David A. Tizzard has a PhD in Korean Studies and lectures at Seoul Women's University and Hanyang University. He writes a weekly column in the Korea Times, is a social-cultural commentator, and a musician who has lived in Korea for nearly two decades. He can be reached at . Jack Greenberg works as an independent consultant, researcher, and freelance writer. His current focus is on heritage and conservation issues, historical memory debates, truth-seeking and reconciliation, and civilian massacres of the Korean War. Connect with Jack Substack: Twitter: BlueSky: Insta: Jack's Work False Squid Game Links: Brothers Home Adoption Scandal: Togani Review: Watch this video next: Subscribe to the channel: @DavidTizzard/videos Thanks to Patreon members: Hee Ji Jacobs, Bhavya, Roxanne Murrell Join Patreon: Discussion Outline 0:00 Shamanism 15:30 Shamanism and Politics 21:50 The Minjung Movement 36:15 North Korean Sympathy and the Korean Left 43:30 The Protests of 2025 53:20 Group Confinement Facilities: 형제복지원 1:01:25 The Truth and Reconciliation Commission 1:09:45 Japanese Collaboration (친일파) 1:20:25 Civilian Massacres in Korea 1:42:00 American Military Comfort Women 1:50:50 Finding Courage Connect with us: ▶ Get in touch: ▶ David's Insta: ▶ KD Insta: Korea Deconstructed by David Tizzard ▶ Listen on iTunes: ▶Listen on Spotify: ▶ Listen on podcasts:
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E-Sports Korea: Is There Life Beyond Faker?
01/12/2025
E-Sports Korea: Is There Life Beyond Faker?
Eunjae Cho is currently studying Chinese Language and Literature at Seoul Women’s University. She has a deep interest in languages and Asian culture, which led her to work as a journalist in the e-sports industry. She has primarily written articles about League of Legends and Japanese subculture. A distinctive feature of her articles is that they include voices and interviews from fans and professionals across various countries. Her recent work: Her social media: Thanks to Patreon members: Hee Ji Jacobs, Bhavya, Roxanne Murrell Join Patreon: Discussion Outline 0:00 Introduction 4:35 League of Legends 10:35 Who Plays E-Sports? 15:45 Why are Koreans so good at E-Sports? 18:55 National E-Sports Culture 21:50 PC Bang Culture 25:00 DDOS Attacks 28:15 E-Sports Online Communities: Inven and More 31:00 Zeus Leaving T1 for Hanwha 36:10 E-Sports in the Asian Games and Military Service 40:05 Can it become an Olympic Sport? 44:00 Being an E-Sports Journalist 48:20 E-Sports Fan Culture 1:01:10 Recommendations Connect with us: ▶ Get in touch: ▶ David's Insta: ▶ KD Insta: https://www.instagram.com/koreadeconstructed/ ▶ Listen on iTunes: ▶Listen on Spotify: ▶ Listen on podcasts: https://koreadeconstructed.libsyn.com
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Squid Game 2: Thanos, Tarantino, and Aliens
01/04/2025
Squid Game 2: Thanos, Tarantino, and Aliens
I watched Squid Game Season 2 over the holidays and decided to record some brief thoughts on it. You can find an abridged version in the newspaper here: I am back in the studio next week with a new guest and a new topic before flying to the UK to spend a month with my family. Happy 2025 everyone. David A. Tizzard has a PhD in Korean Studies and lectures at Seoul Women's University and Hanyang University. He writes a weekly column in the Korea Times, is a a social-cultural commentator, and musician who has lived in Korea for nearly two decades. He can be reached at . Subscribe to the channel: @DavidTizzard/videos Thanks to Patreon members: Hee Ji Jacobs, Bhavya, Roxanne Murrell Join Patreon: Connect with us: ▶ Get in touch: ▶ David's Insta: ▶ KD Insta: ▶ Listen on iTunes: ▶Listen on Spotify: ▶ Listen on podcasts: #koreadeconstructed #davidtizzard
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Korean Movement, Philosophy, Aesthetics, and Martial Arts
12/21/2024
Korean Movement, Philosophy, Aesthetics, and Martial Arts
David A. Tizzard has a PhD in Korean Studies and lectures at Seoul Women's University and Hanyang University. He writes a weekly column in the Korea Times, is a a social-cultural commentator, and musician who has lived in Korea for nearly two decades. He can be reached at . Sanko Lewis (PhD) is a professor, philosopher, martial arts researcher, and artist living in Seoul, South Korea. Find him and his work: Subscribe to the channel: @DavidTizzard/videos Thanks to Patreon members: Hee Ji Jacobs, Bhavya, Roxanne Murrell Join Patreon: Discussion Outline 0:00 Taekwondo as Korean Wave 4:03 Explaining 천지 (Heaven and Earth) 6:02 The Birth of Taekwondo 12:55 North Korea and Taekwondo 15:12 Olympics Taekwondo 20:00 Martial Arts Deconstructed 32:40 Early Western Interactions with Martial Arts 39:20 Taoism as Asian Philosophy 55:00 The Japanese Origins of Taekwondo 1:04:22 Choi Hong-hi 1:14:50 Taekwondo in Modern Korea 1:20:20 Ethnographic Research 1:26:00 Korean Body Culture 1:32:20 곡선미 (The Beauty of Curved Lines) 1:43:31 단전 호흡 (Korean Breathing) 1:47:48 Korean Aesthetics in Modern K-Pop 1:56:55 Recommendations Connect with us: ▶ Get in touch: ▶ David's Insta: ▶ KD Insta: #koreadeconstructed #davidtizzard Korea Deconstructed by David Tizzard ▶ Listen on iTunes: ▶Listen on Spotify: ▶ Listen on podcasts:
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What the Hell is Happening in South Korea?
12/06/2024
What the Hell is Happening in South Korea?
David A. Tizzard has a doctorate in Korean Studies and lectures at Seoul Women's University and Hanyang University. He is a social-cultural commentator and musician who has lived in Korea for nearly two decades. He can be reached at . Watch this video next: Subscribe to the channel: @DavidTizzard/videos Thanks to Patreon members: Hee Ji Jacobs, Bhavya Join Patreon: Connect with us: ▶ David's Insta: ▶ KD Insta: #koreadeconstructed #davidtizzard Korea Deconstructed by David Tizzard ▶ Listen on iTunes: ▶Listen on Spotify: ▶ Listen on podcasts:
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Korean Women, Men, Gender, and Equality | Ms. Samantha Afflick-Smith
11/17/2024
Korean Women, Men, Gender, and Equality | Ms. Samantha Afflick-Smith
Korean gender, feminism, fairness and equality are discussed here at length. We also cover transgender representation in media, male mandatory military service, magic days for women, and the world's lowest birthrate. Watch this video next: Subscribe to the channel: @DavidTizzard/videos Connect with us: ▶ Email: ▶ David's Insta: ▶ KD Insta: ▶ Jeon Yunseo: ▶ Jongmin: Guest Ms. Samantha Afflick-Smith is an associate professor at Hanyang University’s Seoul campus. She works for the Centre for Creative Convergence Education’s College of English Education Committee (CCCE:CEEC), where she teaches courses from conversation skills, critical analysis, academic writing to professional presentations. She also teaches a vibrant PBL discussion course on South Korean society and its evolving cultural diversity. Samantha is known as an educator, peer and mentor who regularly encourages people to be their best and persevere through challenges with her positive attitude and tireless energy. In her free time, Samantha enjoys reading, writing short stories for her blog – Cacophony of Cerebral Consciousness @c3griot.wordpress.com and learning new skills, such as drawing, and audio editing. Discussion Outline 0:00 What is (Korean) Feminism? 12:05 Radical Feminism and the Internet 17:25 The Silencing of Men 23:40 Are Women and Men the Same or Different? 33:00 Can Men and Women be Friends? 42:50 Monthly Menstrual Leave 55:20 Transgenderism and Poongja 58:15 Should Women do Mandatory Military Service? 1:17:10 The World's Lowest Birthrate 1:38:40 How to Make the World a Better Place? 1:47:50 Recommendations #koreadeconstructed #davidtizzard Korea Deconstructed by David Tizzard ▶ Listen on iTunes: ▶Listen on Spotify: ▶ Listen on podcasts: ▶ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/user?u=62047873
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BTS: Love, Life, and Mental Health
11/02/2024
BTS: Love, Life, and Mental Health
This week I sat down with a group of BTS fans from around the world and spent two hours listening to their stories. As a lot of the media hype and attention around them has either focused on their solo efforts or been replaced by the next generation of idols, I thought it would provide some nice distance from the unprecedented levels of success they were achieving as a group a few years back. And so we explored different things together: When did they first discover BTS? What was the performance or the album that made them fall in love? How has their fandom affected their lives? What’s their favorite song? How many of the dances can they do? Who’s their favorite member? What makes them stand out from other groups? Big thanks to the guests: Kit, Aishu, Celine, and Annis Member Thank you again to the paid Patreon member Bhavya. Discussion Outline 0:00 Introduction 1:00 Discovering BTS 5:35 The Evolution of BTS 10:48 What Makes BTS Great? 15:30 The Seven Members 36:35 BTS and Mental Health 43:05 ARMY 52:30 BTS and Politics 1:00:35 BTS and the K-Pop Industry 1:04:20 Recommendations Korea Deconstructed by David Tizzard ▶ Get in touch: ▶ David's Insta: ▶ KD Insta: ▶ Kim Soyoon: ▶ Support us on Patreon: ▶ Watch us on Youtube: ▶ Listen on iTunes: ▶Listen on Spotify: ▶ Listen on podcasts: ▶ Song by Radical Gary (David): Savage Penguin
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Multiculturalism and Racism in Korea | Dr. Zeljana Zmire
10/19/2024
Multiculturalism and Racism in Korea | Dr. Zeljana Zmire
Zeljana Zmire, Ph.D. in International Studies and Korean Studies, is a lecturer at Hanyang University in Seoul. Her research interests include multiculturalism, immigration policy, comparative politics, international politics and other. She can be reached via . You can also find her on Linkedin: Members Thank you again to the paid Patreon member Bhavya. Discussion Outline 0:00 Defining Multiculturalism 6:00 Korea's Homogeneity 15:35 The Effects of Media 23:11 International Marriages 31:30 Becoming Korean 39:15 Racism in Korea 48:00 Nouveau-Riche Nationalism 53:05 Stereotypes on White Women 56:05 How to Make the World Better Korea Deconstructed by David Tizzard ▶ Get in touch: ▶ David's Insta: ▶ KD Insta: ▶ Jeon Yunseo: ▶ Support us on Patreon: ▶ Watch us on Youtube: ▶ Listen on iTunes: ▶Listen on Spotify: ▶ Listen on podcasts: ▶ Song by Radical Gary (David):
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Korean Language, Culture, and Social Change with Carlos Gorito
09/28/2024
Korean Language, Culture, and Social Change with Carlos Gorito
Carlos Gorito is many things but most in Korea would have first come across him when he appeared on the hit television show 비정상회담 in 2015. Discussing a wide-range of topics in Korean, his personality and passion saw him gain many fans and win respect from the nation. He has worked with the Brazilian Embassy in South Korea and does a fabulous job of promoting relations between the two countries. When you listen to him speak, he says "us" and "we" when talking about Korea, and is now a public relations ambassador for Jeju Island. I first met him when we were both appointed by the Ministry of Justice to help people acclimatize to life here, a position he still proudly holds. Find him on Instagram: Thank you to Bhavya for joining the Patreon as a paid member. I try to put free stuff there for members so you can see things with or without money. Because the studio and everything else involved costs a fair bit, any contribution certainly helps, but is not required. Discussion Outline 0:00 비정상회담 10:44 The Korean Language 18:20 Korean Culture 25:10 Our 애국심 33:40 Korean History 36:50 North Korea 43:20 Multiculturalism in Korea 51:30 Beauty Standards in Korea 54:55 Misconceptions about Korea 1:05:20 Advice for Coming to Korea 1:11:00 Korean Korea Deconstructed (한국어로...) Korea Deconstructed by David Tizzard ▶ Get in touch: ▶ David's Insta: ▶ KD Insta: ▶ Kim Soyoon: ▶ Support us on Patreon: ▶ Watch us on Youtube: ▶ Listen on iTunes: ▶Listen on Spotify: ▶ Listen on podcasts: ▶ Song by Radical Gary (David): https://youtu.be/AAkVRbH8eyg?si=FYtMqj2YfmJcmPPI
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Aesthetics, Life, and Ethnomusicology | Dr. Jocelyn Clark and The Story of Korean Sori
09/21/2024
Aesthetics, Life, and Ethnomusicology | Dr. Jocelyn Clark and The Story of Korean Sori
Jocelyn Clark is a performer and scholar. Before becoming a professor at Pai Chai (培材) University in South Korea, she founded and directed the CrossSound new music festival in Alaska, and the new music touring ensemble IIIZ+ (guzheng, koto, gayageum, and percussion), organizations through which she commissioned and/or premiered over 30 new works for Korean gayageum. Next to her work in contemporary music she is the first foreigner without Korean heritage to become an official government disciple in the National Heritage system, in the genre gayageum sanjo and byeongchang [伽倻琴散調/竝唱]. As a scholar, Clark has spent over 25 years in Japan, China, and Korea studying traditional musics. She holds a Ph. D. from Harvard University in East Asian Languages and Civilizations where she wrote on the language of pansori, focusing on the tension between its oral transmission/low social standing and its tenuous relationship to Chinese classical poetic texts of the High Tang. Other research interests include music of place, aesthetics, and contemporary “national music” performance practices in Northeast Asia in the age of AI. She has published in academic journals such as The World of Music, Asian Musicology, and Perspectives on Korean Music. She writes an opinion column for the national newspaper the JoongAng Daily. The introduction music is taken from Jocelyn playing here: Discussion Outline 0:00 Starting a Korean Journey 14:05 Understanding Korean Music 22:00 Explaining Pansori 33:45 Pansori, Gender, and Change 38:36 Cultural Transmission and Education 45:15 Concepts and Social Recognition of Korean Culture 51:55 Seopyeonjae (서편제) and The Sound of a Flower (도리화가) 58:30 Korean Sounds 1:04:40 Aesthetics: More than Music 1:17:40 The Korean Language 1:22:30 3 Minutes Speaking Korean 1:25:45 Live Concerts 1:35:10 A Chinese Lesson Korea Deconstructed by David Tizzard ▶ Get in touch: ▶ David's Insta: ▶ KD Insta: ▶ Yunseo Jeon: ▶ Support us on Patreon: ▶ Watch us on Youtube: ▶ Listen on iTunes: ▶Listen on Spotify: ▶ Listen on podcasts:
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Korean History, Sexuality, Slavery, and Music
09/14/2024
Korean History, Sexuality, Slavery, and Music
Jihoon Suk received his BA and MA on Korean modern history from Yonsei University and studied Korean Studies briefly at the University of Michigan. Now, a Ph.D. candidate at Yonsei University, he is doing extensive research on the colonial-era cultural history of Korea, with a special focus on the presence and popularity of modern audiovisual media (sound recordings, films, radio) during that time. He had published a number of articles and research papers in collaboration with various institutions, including the National Contemporary History Museum of Korea, Seoul City History Museum, Korean Film Archive, and the National Gugak Center. He also recently published a book (in collaboration with Nate Kornegay) on the history of Scratch Tiles, a type of brick that was popular in the U.S. and East Asia during the first half of the 20th century. You can follow Jihoon online here: Discussion Outline 0:00 Korean Kisaeng (기생/妓生) 12:27 The Creation of Korean Culture and Music 23:35 Korean Male Prostitution during the Joseon Dynasty / 사당패 33:15 Outlawing Korean Buddhism during the Joseon Dynasty 40:00 Slavery during Traditional Korea 55:30 Korean Palaces and Modern Tourism 1:06:00 Anti-Communism and North Korea 1:17:35 Han, Heung, and Mut (한, 흥, 멋) 1:24:40 The Japanese Colonization of Korea 1:37:48 Listening to Early Records of Arirang 2:14:00 The Lessons of Korean History 2:17:30 Recommendations Korea Deconstructed by David Tizzard ▶ Get in touch: ▶ David's Insta: ▶ KD Insta: ▶ Yunseo Jeon: ▶ Support us on Patreon: ▶ Watch us on Youtube: ▶ Listen on iTunes: ▶Listen on Spotify: ▶ Listen on podcasts: https://koreadeconstructed.libsyn.com/
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Without Religion Do We Still Have Greatness?
08/31/2024
Without Religion Do We Still Have Greatness?
Peter Yoonsuk Paik is a Professor at Yonsei University in the Department of English Language and Literature. His academic writing on a variety of subjects can be found here: Discussion Outline 0:00 On Greatness 14:20 What Kind of World Do We Live In? 20:00 The Necessity of Spirituality 24:40 Equality and Liberty 30:00 The Modern University Classroom 40:10 On the East and West 50:00 On Korean Education 54:10 Burning (Korean Movie) 1:00:40 On Korean Society 1:09:00 The Future 1:16:45 Recommendations Korea Deconstructed by David Tizzard ▶ Get in touch: ▶ David's Insta: ▶ KD Insta: ▶ Yunseo Jeon: ▶ Support us on Patreon: ▶ Watch us on Youtube: ▶ Listen on iTunes: ▶Listen on Spotify: ▶ Listen on podcasts: ▶ Music: Couldn't Be Your Son - by David Tizzard
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Neoliberalization and Psychological Ruptures in South Korea
08/25/2024
Neoliberalization and Psychological Ruptures in South Korea
Professor Moon Seungsook is a political and cultural sociologist, scholar of gender studies, and East Asianist specializing in South Korea. She grew up in Seoul, Korea and lived and worked in Boston and Cambridge, MA before moving to Vassar College. Her research evolved from feminist critiques of nationalism, militarism, democratization, and citizenship to globalization and transnationalism shaping militarism and civic agency, production and consumption of food and masculinities. She is a recipient of notable awards, including a Fulbright Scholars Award (2004-05), an inaugural endowed-chair visiting professorship at Harvard University (2014-15), and the Laboratory Program for Korean Studies Research Grant from the Academy of Korean Studies (2018-23). Her latest book is Civic Activism in South Korea: The Intertwining of Democracy and Neoliberalism (2024). Civic Activism in South Korea: Discussion Outline 0:00 Introduction 7:00 The real life effects of neoliberalization 15:40 Life in pre-democratic South Korea 21:00 Neoliberalism and democracy in South Korea 32:53 Citizens' Organizations in South Korea 42:05 Neoliberalization and religion 51:35 The profound irony of individualism 55:05 Multiculturalism in South Korea 1:02:45 Recommendations Korea Deconstructed by David Tizzard ▶ Get in touch: ▶ Support us on Patreon: ▶ Watch us on Youtube: ▶ Find us on Insta: ▶ Listen on iTunes: ▶Listen on Spotify: ▶ Listen on podcasts: ▶ Music: Fighting by Disorientalz
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Space Out Korea
08/10/2024
Space Out Korea
The Space Out Competition in Seoul, South Korea, is a unique and quirky event that challenges participants to do... nothing. The goal of the competition is to simply sit still, remain calm, and "space out" for 90 minutes without any distractions. In a society like South Korea's, where work culture can be intense and people often feel pressured to be constantly productive, the Space Out Competition offers a refreshing contrast. It emphasizes the importance of mental health and the need to slow down, even if just for a little while. This year's winner was Soa Kwon, a television presenter, announcer, and celebrity in the English-speaking media world of South Korea. Her success brought her even more fame, appearing on television with Yoo Jae-suk and Jo Se-ho as well as CNN. Soa says she could somewhat foresee this success and puts a lot of it down to her habit of writing down her goals and then manifesting them. Find Soa online: Instagram: YouTube: In this episode, we are joined by regular co-host Yunseo Jeon and also Hyemin Kim Yunseo: Hyemin: Discussion Outline 0:00 The Queen of Spacing Out 10:25 Manifesting Your Future 20:25 Beauty and Gender in Media 29:35 Celebrity Tea 33:05 Weird Animal Noise Section (lmao) 43:50 German or Korean? 50:05 Evaluating Korean Society 1:04:20 Looking at Hallyu 1:12:55 Becoming a 'Dragon' 1:20:45 Recommendations Korea Deconstructed by David Tizzard ▶ Get in touch: ▶ Support us on Patreon: ▶ Watch us on Youtube: ▶ Find us on Insta: ▶ Listen on iTunes: ▶Listen on Spotify: ▶ Listen on podcasts: ▶ Music: Fighting X 3 by Disorientalz
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Diversity and Colour in Korea
07/28/2024
Diversity and Colour in Korea
Is Korea racist? Is Korea homophobic? How do media representations affect people's lives here? We brought two Korean people and two foreigners together to discuss life here in South Korea, exploring the topics of beauty, dating, race, sexuality, social media, and more. Aaliyah, Thomas and I had just spent 6 hours a day together for the last 4 weeks at the Hanyang University Summer program studying Korean culture. We’ve missed Yunseo for the last 6 episodes but she is back with us now. She’s also meeting Thomas and Aaliyah for the first time. Hongmin, relatively fresh from finishing his military service for the country, joined us to talk about his own experiences. Discussion Outline 0:00 Korea and TikTok 7:40 Beauty and Appearance 24:50 Gaydar in Korea 32:00 Dating Apps and Clubbing 45:55 PDA in Korea 53:00 Cultural Appropriation 1:03:47 Pronouns and Language 1:09:12 Being Gay in the Korean Military 1:13:20 Media Representation and a Better Society 1:27:40 Korea Before and After 1:31:10 BL Dramas Korea Deconstructed by David Tizzard ▶ Get in touch: ▶ Yunseo Jeon: ▶ Support us on Patreon: ▶ Watch us on Youtube: ▶ Find us on Insta: ▶ Listen on iTunes: ▶Listen on Spotify: ▶ Listen on podcasts: ▶ Music: Savage Penguin by David Tizzard (Radical Gary)
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The Korean War, Memory, and Human Nature
06/24/2024
The Korean War, Memory, and Human Nature
Andrew Salmon, MBE, is the Seoul-based Asia editor of Washington Times, where he specializes in regional security, geopolitics and macro. He is the author of five books, including the award-winning Korean War combat histories, "To the Last Round" and "Scorched Earth, Black Snow." Those works have won awards from the ROK and UK governments, and have been translated into both Korean and Chinese. Andrew's Books To The Last Round: Scorched Earth, Black Snow: The Washington Times: Discussion Outline 0:00 Introduction 2:25 The Psychological Effects of War on Individuals 15:00 The Forgotten War 19:30 Soldiers' First Impressions of Korea 26:40 Difficult Questions 30:45 The North Korean Offensive 38:10 General Douglas MacArthur 47:20 The Chinese Dragon Awakes 1:00:00 An Ideological War? 1:10:00 Prisoners of War 1:14:55 Derek Kinne: Churchill's Bulldog 1:20:50 The End of the War 1:28:00 Current Military Capabilities 1:36:25 China in the 21st Century 1:44:20 Vladimir Putin 1:49:35 Lessons on War and Human Nature 1:57:35 Recommendations Korea Deconstructed ▶ Get in touch: ▶ Support us on Patreon: ▶ Watch us on Youtube: ▶ Find us on Insta: ▶ Listen on iTunes: ▶Listen on Spotify: ▶ Listen on podcasts: Music: Stranger Danger - Francis Preve Pictures: A selection of photos and videos have been used in the YouTube version for educational purposes. If any of them are yours and you would like to be credited in the notes here, please let me know.
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Korean Dating, Culture, and Music with David Kim
06/16/2024
Korean Dating, Culture, and Music with David Kim
David Kim is many things but is perhaps best known for his Korean content on Youtube. He has been a huge part of three popular programs over the last seven years: DKDKTV, Ramyun and Chill, and, now, Korean Pizza Club. His content has reached millions and is driven by his positive and generous outlook on life, something even more evident when meeting him in person. We spoke about how hallyu has changed, whether K-pop is still cool, Korean dating culture, and life here in Seoul. We even got political at the end, exploring the challenges of democracy and communism and what hope young people have for the future. Check out David's work online Korean Pizza Club: DKDKTV: Biroso: We are also joined by Seoul Women's University student Soyoon Kim Insta: @celinesoyoon Discussion Outline 0:00 Introduction 10:24 Positivity in the Korean Space 15:42 Culture and Korea 27:47 Is Hallyu Still Popular? 37:20 Streaming Culture and Manipulation 46:48 Dating Culture 52:04 Being Cancelled 1:03:00 Misperceptions of Korea 1:14:20 Education and Competition in Korea 1:23:00 Korean democracy 1:35:20 Recommendations Korea Deconstructed by David Tizzard ▶ Get in touch: ▶ Support us on Patreon: ▶ Watch us on Youtube: ▶ Find us on Insta: ▶ Listen on iTunes: ▶Listen on Spotify: ▶ Listen on podcasts: ▶ Music: Still Something So Beautiful by David Tizzard (Radical Gary)
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Park Nohae: Revolutionary Politics and Poetry in South Korea
06/11/2024
Park Nohae: Revolutionary Politics and Poetry in South Korea
Park Nohae emerged as a powerful literary voice in South Korea during the tumultuous 1980s, though at the time few knew who he actually was. He was the faceless poet. The voice of the many. Working various manual labor jobs which exposed him to the harsh realities faced by the working class, he became a champion of labor rights and social justice. His collection of poems "노동의 새벽( Dawn of Labor)" published in 1984 sold over a million copies. However, his call for change and a new sky over the South Korean people brought him into conflict with the military dictatorship. He was arrested and sentenced to life in prison, though many called for the death penalty. Eventually, after seven long years, much of which was solitary confinement, he was released. Today he still writes poetry and takes photos, sharing his wisdom and insights with a new generation. You can also visit his photo exhibitions in Seoul, with images captured in Iraq and Palestine. However, Park shuns the limelight, rarely giving interviews and not wanting fame or publicity. This conversation with Cheehyung Harrison Kim celebrates the first English publication of Dawn of Labor, a book which he worked on with Brother Anthony (An Sonjae). Harrison is an associate professor of Korean history at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. We are also joined by Seoul Women's University student Kim Jiwon. Dawn of Labor: Park Nohae (twitter): Park Nohae (insta): Park's latest book (Korean): Nanum Munhwa: Discussion Outline 0:00 Introduction 7:30 The context: 1980s Korea 20:27 Politics and leftist ideas 28:15 Gender and feminism in Park's work 48:55 Dawn of Labor 53:40 Love by Park Nohae 58:55 How Much? by Park Nohae 1:07:50 Mother by Park Nohae 1:18:15 Arrest and imprisonment 1:24:10 The artwork of Oh Yoon 1:27:10 The color blue 1:31:25 Park Nohae and the world 1:37:50 Reading and translating Park Nohae 2:00:15 Recommendations Korea Deconstructed by David Tizzard ▶ Get in touch: ▶ Support us on Patreon: ▶ Watch us on Youtube: /davidtizzard ▶ Find us on Insta: ▶ Listen on iTunes: ▶Listen on Spotify: ▶ Listen on podcasts: ▶ Music: Still Something So Beautiful by David Tizzard (Radical Gary)
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BR Myers: Korea's Ethnonationalism and the Unloved Republic
05/31/2024
BR Myers: Korea's Ethnonationalism and the Unloved Republic
사랑받지 못하는 공화국 (2024) was written by Professor Bryan Myers, a professor of international studies at Dongseo University in Busan. Anyone familiar with North Korean studies will be keenly aware of Myers and his work as he has written some excellent books on that subject, including The Cleanest Race and North Korea's Juche Myth. His latest book reveals two firsts: It’s his first written in Korean and it's his first that deals with South Korean politics. Myers has said that "the book's original thrust is the argument that the right neglected / still neglects the work of state-building, but most young people, being centrist or progressive, are just not interested in that issue." We’ll try and see if he achieved that or not. The book: Myers' Blog: In this conversation we are joined by Jacco Zwetsloot, host of the NK News Podcast, Park Kyunghoon (Charlie) for the third time, and Ko Eunbi from Seoul Women's University. NK News podcast: Jacco's Twitter: Discussion Outline 0:00 Introductions 3:10 Do Koreans know when their republic began? 12:15 Is South Korea a republic or a nation? 29:30 The sinking of the ROKS Cheonan 35:15 Who are North Korea? 44:45 Korea as Anti-Japanese 1:05:35 Park Chung-hee as a benevolent dictator? 1:18:10 The American hegemony of Korean Studies 1:21:23 Reading Korean history written by a foreigner 1:30:05 Personal narratives 1:35:35 Does the SK left love North Korea? 1:43:05 Closing thoughts 1:57:15 Tattoos Korea Deconstructed by David Tizzard ▶ Get in touch: ▶ Support us on Patreon: ▶ Watch us on Youtube: /davidtizzard ▶ Find us on Insta: ▶ Listen on iTunes: ▶Listen on Spotify: ▶ Listen on podcasts:
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Park Chan Wook: Genius of Korean Cinema
05/14/2024
Park Chan Wook: Genius of Korean Cinema
Park Chan-wook is a master of movie making. And he's seemingly getting better with age. Leaving the sex and violence of previous hits such as Oldboy, JSA, and The Handmaiden behind him, Decision to Leave / 헤어질 결심 (2022) explores the relationship between a Korean man and a Chinese woman, completely incompatible, seemingly madly in love, and destined to destroy each other. These two roles are played expertly by Tang Wei and Park Hae-il. "The moment you said you loved me, your love ended. And the moment your love ended, my love began.” The movie is a piece of art: a poem. It encourages you to watch it multiple times, with each viewing providing greater insight into the layers constructed: through sound, language, visuals, and mis-en-scene. I sat down with two Korean women, Jimin and Yunsuh, and a Chinese woman, Jessie, to explore this movie from a variety of perspectives: art, beauty, gender, love, and morality. Each of them provided views and insights I would never have found myself. And yet, it still feels like there is so much that went unsaid. Discussion Outline 0:00 First Impressions 13:40 Park Chan-wook and Gender 18:46 Park Chan-wook’s Style 25:45 Is Decision to Leave Romantic? 34:58 Asian Vibes: The Mountains and the Sea 43:06 Tang Wei 1:08:25 Poetry, Yeokbek, and McGuffins 1:19:30 The Ending of the Movie 1:38:50 Haejoon: The Male Lead 1:59:52 Park Chan Wook and the Oscars 2:08:00 A movie, a Book, a Song Korea Deconstructed by David Tizzard ▶ Get in touch: ▶ Support us on Patreon: ▶ Watch us on Youtube: /davidtizzard ▶ Find us on Insta: ▶ Listen on iTunes: ▶Listen on Spotify: ▶ Listen on podcasts: ▶ Music: Rail Gun by Disorientalz
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Bernardo Kastrup and The Search for Meaning
04/27/2024
Bernardo Kastrup and The Search for Meaning
Bernardo Kastrup is the executive director of Essentia Foundation. His work has been leading the modern renaissance of metaphysical idealism, the notion that reality is essentially mental. He has a Ph.D. in philosophy and another Ph.D. in computer engineering. As a scientist, Bernardo has worked for CERN and Philips Research Laboratories. Bernardo's 11th book, coming in 2024, is 'Analytic Idealism in a Nutshell: A straightforward summary of the 21st-century's only plausible metaphysics.' This is me listening to Bernardo and asking him questions so as to better understand the world as mind. To do this, we explored what it means to be human. Bernardo explained the work of Nietzsche, Frankl, Schopenhauer, and Jung to me as well as how a bourgeoise has sought to wrest control of our culture away from the church and ultimately leave us stranded, meaningless, and seeking solutions elsewhere. Bernardo taught me that we should not seek answers or solutions. These will never appear to us and we simply don't have the capability to understand what is going on. Instead, like the apple blossom in his garden, we should just be. We should listen to the noumena, the will inside us. We can describe it as duty, as calling, as fate, or as many other things. But ultimately, we are a violin and we should allow ourselves to be played by nature rather than seeking to force ourselves on the world. We should seek service instead of personal happiness. These ideas will stay with me for a while. At the end, I asked him to recommend a movie, a book, and a song. The movie he suggested was The Double Life of Véronique (1991) by Polish director Krzysztof Kieślowski. The song was Song to the Siren by Cocteau Twins vocalist Elizabeth Fraser. The book was Schopenhauer's The World as Will and Representation. Bernardo's Website: The Essentia Foundation: Bernardo's upcoming book: Discussion Outline: 0:00 The importance of service 7:40 The bourgeoisie capture of culture 12:33 Immanent meaning 25:35 Spiritual but not religious 31:00 Carl Jung and our two stages of life 41:58 Introspection as the royal path to knowledge 48:15 Schopenhauer and the will inside us 54:52 Synchronicity 1:05:03 Religion and science 1:16:58 The world as mind 1:26:10 A book, a movie, and a song 1:31:10 The apple blossom Korea Deconstructed by David Tizzard ▶ Get in touch: ▶ Yunseo Jeon: ▶ Support us on Patreon: ▶ Watch us on Youtube: /davidtizzard ▶ Find us on Insta: ▶ Listen on iTunes: ▶Listen on Spotify: ▶ Listen on podcasts: ▶ Music: Rail Gun by Disorientalz
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