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There's so much more to Korean drinking culture than just soju and Haera Shin wants to tell everyone all about it. From the distinctive (and uniform!) green bottles, to the culture of “first place,” “second place” and “third place” to a fermented rice beverage that's way older than sake, Haera's enthusiasm is boundless and contagious. She sits down with the band to talk about her upcoming book on Korean drinks and cocktails, going from the bar to a marketing degree and back to the bar again, and a new concept in New Orleans she's keeping relatively mysterious… for now.Plus, are zoomers really drinking less than everyone else? Greg unpacks a new study which shows the kids may finally be catching up and catching on.Follow Haera at @hairyshinsLINKSBran Hill's episode on Tokki SojuVinepair's article on zoomer drinking habitsListener SurveyFor resources on dealing with ICE agents in your community visit nouswithoutyou.la/ and @thenycallianceThe Speakeasy is now on YouTube! Tune in to “see” what we're talking about at youtube.com/@Speakeasy.PodcastLove The Speakeasy but wish there was more? Check out Bottled in Bond, our new Patreon podcast exclusively for you, our best regulars! Join now for sponsor-free listening, drink recipes from all our guests, and free kits every month from our friends at Shaker & Spoon. Higher proof and aged to perfection, check it out now at patreon.com/BottledinBondCheck out Quiote Imports at quioteimports.com and use promo code “Speakeasy” to get free shipping at checkout.Get your hands on some Buddha's Hand Bitters at kingfloyds.comDon't forget to click SUBSCRIBE and RATE the show if you can.
Pullups a Seat, This is a Problem.Previous Interview with Sarah: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Zs0Jf5CoC4Shop EveryLife: https://everylife.com/Enjoy :)Enjoy :)====================================Matt's Town Square Application: https://soj.ooo/Join this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4rC0QxBD1eRPKMHIIpL0vA/joinhttps://merchlabs.com/collections/matt-kimGet Your Free Thinker Apparel Today!Donate!https://www.mattkimpodcast.com/support/FREE THINKER ARMY DISCORD:https://discord.gg/2juHnR6DPzTELEGRAM EDIT ZONE:https://t.me/+IV-skn-OXyw1MTcxFollow Matt!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattattack009/Twitter: https://twitter.com/FreeMattKimRumble: https://rumble.com/c/FreeMattKimTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@freemattkimBusiness Inquiries Please Email mattkimpodcast@protonmail.com====================================Time Stamps:0:00 Make More Babies5:39 The Process of Growing A Business (Lessons)7:27 Going International (EveryLife Korea)13:25 Becoming Pro-Family (Anti-Selfish)17:51 Korea is a Warning!22:12 Work/Mom Balance (Advice)26:28 Family Mission (Decision Making)
Korea 24 is a daily current affairs show that covers all the biggest stories coming out of South Korea. Every weekday, Korea 24 brings you the latest news updates, as well as in-depth analysis on the most important issues with experts and special guests, providing comprehensive insight into the events on the peninsula.
Intent on addressing his midlife crisis, Toyotomi Hideyoshi invades Korea. Date Masamune puts on a show in Kyoto so flashy that it reshapes the Japanese language. And we learn how then as now, logistics and sanitation in an army is a thankless and necessary task.Script and sources available at http://riverside-wings.comSubscribe to Riversidewings on Patreon, or buy some merch at Fourthwall. (Music is "Shinshun Ryoutei," "Kyoto no Ohayashi," "Hokora Uta," and "Yamagami no Yashiro," from 「MOMIZizm MUSiC(もみじば)|フリーBGM 」)
Squid Game 3 tayang di Netflix dan bisa ditonton sekali duduk. Terakhir update-nya sih, tayangannya tembus 60 juta jam dalam 2 hari pertama perilisan. Kamu udah nonton? Atau gak mau nonton? Kok gak mau? Kenapa? Alasannya apa? Coba jelaskan!---Podcast ngedrakor! dipersembahkan Dalam Ruang Produksi Studios, diproduseri bersama oleh Ron & Mal. Episode baru tayang mingguan!Baca berita drama Korea favoritmu di detikpop.comFollow Instagram kami di @podcastngedrakor#PodcastNgedrakor #ngedrakordidetikcom #ngedrakordispotify
#482 Think AI has killed SEO? Think again! In this episode hosted by Kirsten Tyrrel, we sit down with Kyle Roof — SEO expert, entrepreneur, and founder of PageOptimizer Pro — to uncover the science behind ranking in Google. Kyle shares his unconventional journey from trial attorney to teaching in Korea to launching an SEO SaaS company that grew out of real-life problems and smart testing. We explore why SEO is still alive and well despite the AI buzz, the importance of market fit, how to build a strong personal brand, and the power of planting a clear flag in your messaging. Whether you're launching a product, growing an agency, or trying to stand out online, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom and hard-won entrepreneurial insights! What we discuss with Kyle: + From attorney to SEO expert + Launched PageOptimizer Pro + Why SEO is just math + AI's real impact on SEO + The myth of everything “changing” + Finding true product-market fit + Building brand ambassadors organically + The power of having a clear POV + Personal branding vs. pitching + Micro-influencers for marketing growth Thank you, Kyle! Check out PageOptimizer Pro at PageOptimizer.pro. To get access to our FREE Business Training course go to MillionaireUniversity.com/training. And follow us on: Instagram Facebook Tik Tok Youtube Twitter To get exclusive offers mentioned in this episode and to support the show, visit millionaireuniversity.com/sponsors. Want to hear from more incredible entrepreneurs? Check out all of our interviews here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Korea 24 is a daily current affairs show that covers all the biggest stories coming out of South Korea. Every weekday, Korea 24 brings you the latest news updates, as well as in-depth analysis on the most important issues with experts and special guests, providing comprehensive insight into the events on the peninsula.
Dear Article Clubbers,Thank you for the kind birthday wishes last week. It's true that our reading community is 10 years old. And we're just getting started!Just like that, we're in July, which means this week's issue is dedicated to featuring the article of the month and encouraging you to join our discussion.I'm happy to announce that this month, we're going to be diving into “The End of Children,” by Gideon Lewis-Kraus. Published in February in The New Yorker, the article explores the imminent stark drop in population around the world, most notably in South Korea.Don't worry: Even though the declining human fertility rate has become a political topic in the United States, this piece is nuanced and deeply reported. I'm certain you'll appreciate it, even if you end up disagreeing with the writer's stance.Inside today's issue, you'll find:* Melinda and my first impressions of the article (on the podcast)* My blurb about the article* A short bio of the author* A warm invite to join our discussion on July 27If you can't be bothered by all of that, and just want to sign up for the discussion right here and now, by all means, please do!The End of ChildrenGrowing up, I worried about many things. One source of worry was my family's evacuation plan in case of fire; it wasn't robust enough. Another source was the world's exponential population increase, which would inevitably doom us.Turns out, at the time, my concern was not unfounded. In 1968, Paul Ehrlich wrote in The Population Bomb that millions of people would die of starvation unless governments aggressively curtailed the fertility rate. But instead of population rising without bound, the opposite has happened. In 2023, for the first time ever, because on average each woman had fewer than 2.1 children (the “replacement rate”), the world's population shrank. All projections say this trend will continue, until one day, there won't be enough people for us to sustain as a species.In Seoul, where writer Gideon Lewis-Kraus focuses this article, “children are largely phantom presences.” There are more dogs than children. Ask anyone on the street, a Korean demographer said, and they'll know the country's fertility rate. (It is 0.7, the lowest in the world.) Kids bring ick. Many businesses are “no-kids zones.”The United States (fertility rate: 1.6) is headed in a similar direction, Mr. Lewis-Kraus argues. The truth is, for whatever reason (and there are many), younger Americans no longer think having children is an inevitability. As immigration declines, and climate concerns rise, and structural inequities worsen, our country may face the same problem as Korea. And that could lead to catastrophe.Should we care about the declining fertility rate? Or is it just a misogynistic conservative ruse to distract our attention from the deleterious effects of climate change? In my opinion, this is the first article written by a progressive that has looked seriously at the issue and presented it to a mainstream audience.By Gideon Lewis-Kraus • The New Yorker • 42 min • Gift Link➕ Bonus: Here's the article with my handwritten highlights and annotations.About the authorA staff writer at The New Yorker, Mr. Lewis-Kraus grew up in New Jersey and graduated from Stanford. He writes reportage and criticism and is the author of the digressive travel memoir A Sense of Direction as well as the Kindle Single No Exit. Previously, he was a writer-at-large at The New York Times Magazine, a contributing editor at Harper's magazine, and a contributing writer at WIRED magazine. He has lived in San Francisco, Berlin, and Shanghai, and now lives in Brooklyn with his wife and two small children. Mr. Lewis-Kraus generously recorded an interview with Article Club, which will be published in two weeks.About the discussionMy hope is that you'll read “The End of Children” and want to talk about it! (Even though we don't “debate” at Article Club discussions, I predict this topic will lead to a spicier-than-usual conversation.)We'll be meeting up on Zoom on Sunday, July 27, 2:00 - 3:30 pm PT. We'll spend the first few minutes saying hi and doing short introductions. Then after I frame the piece and share our community agreements, we'll break out into small, facilitated discussion groups. The small groups usually include 5-8 people, so there's plenty of time to share your perspectives and listen to others. That's where we'll spend the bulk of our time. Toward the end, we'll return to the full group, sharing our reflections and appreciations of fellow participants.If this sounds interesting to you, sign up by clicking on the button below.If you're unsure, I get it. If you don't know me, it might feel strange to sign up for an online discussion with total strangers. But I am confident that you'll find yourself at home with other kind people who like to read deeply and explore ideas in community. We've done this 58 times, and by now, it's not a surprise that we're able to create an intimate space, almost like we're in the same physical room together.I hope that you read the piece. If it resonates with you, I encourage you to take the plunge and join us on July 27!Thank you for reading and listening to this week's issue. Hope you liked it.
Today Razib talks to Manvir Singh about shamanism, religion and anthropology. Singh is an assistant professor of anthropology at the University of California, Davis. An artist and essayist, he is also now a regular contributor to The New Yorker. His academic interests lie in explaining why most human societies, from preliterate foragers to urbanites, develop cultural phenomena like “witchcraft, origin myths, property rights, sharing norms, lullabies, dance music, and gods.” He just came out with his first book, Shamanism: The Timeless Religion. First Razib asks what Singh exactly means by shamanism, and whether it is a religion or not. Singh argues that shamanism is religion, that in some ways it is the primal religion. While many would contrast institutional religions like Christianity with shamanism, Singh points out that even Christianity includes shamanic practices, as in the Acts of the Apostles, or in some of the Pentecostal sects of Protestantism. He also discusses how his theoretical understanding of religion was complemented by field-work among the Mentawai tribe of Indonesia, who have a rich shamanic tradition. Razib then foregrounds the question of whether shamanism was invented in a particular place and time, like Siberia as argued by some 20th-century scholars, or whether it is universal in our psychology. Singh argues for the latter position, illustrating the fact that many cultures seem to lose shamanism when the number of adherents falls low enough, but that they seem to regain it once their popularity bounces back. Humanity's shamanic impulse is always there, at the ready. Razib and Singh also discuss the ubiquity of shamanic practices across East Asia, especially in Korea and Japan. In the latter society, shamanism forms the foundation of one of the people's two major religions, Shinto. Finally, they address the role of psychedelic drugs in the emergence of shamanism cross-culturally.
Fried chicken ranks among the top five most popular foods in the U.S., beating out apple pie and even outranking hot dogs. This coming Sunday is National Fried Chicken Day, dedicated to all things chicken, crispy and crunchy. Adrian Miller, aka the Soul Food Scholar and author of the James Beard Award-winning book “Soul Food: The Surprising Story of an American Cuisine, One Plate at a Time,” shares his insights into the history of fried chicken, where it got its start, the stigma associated with it and the ways the dish is celebrated today.
A világot manapság egymással párhuzamosan zajló és egyre súlyosbodó konfliktusok árnyékolják be, amelyek közös jellemzője, hogy élükön hataloméhes, önérdektől vezérelt vérmes férfiak állnak. Putyin, Trump, Hszi, Netanjáhú, Kim Dzsongun, Erdogan, Orbán és a többiek szinte ugyanarra a képletre működnek: a nemzeti érdekekre hivatkozva területeket, korlátlan hatalmat, befolyást és persze pénzt, hatalmas vagyonokat akarnak, miközben semmibe veszik a világ és népeik biztonságát. Az emberek egy darabig önként és szinte tudatlanul támogatják őket, bedőlve jól hangzó, de hamis ígéreteiknek. A júniusi izraeli–iráni eszkaláció, a több mint három éve tartó orosz-ukrán háború, Kína agresszív követelései Tajvannal szemben, Trump folyamatos zsarolásai és kiszámíthatatlan döntései, Észak-Korea rendszeres fenyegetései mind azt jelzik, hogy a világ egyre több pontján gyülekeznek a viharfelhők. A globális feszültséghez Európa is közelebb került a Balkán fokozódó destabilizálódásával, amelynek - mint látjuk - a magyar kormány egyre aktívabb szereplője. Ebben a kiszámíthatatlan és nagyon veszélyes helyzetben egyre nehezebb hinni abban, hogy lesz még békés és élhető jövő. Alapvetően az iráni-izraeli-amerikai konfliktusról hívtuk meg beszélgetni Buda Péter biztonságpolitikai és nemzetbiztonsági szakértőnket, de természetesen áttekintettük vele a világot fenyegető egyéb gócpontokat is.Hogyan támogathatja a munkánkat? - Legújabban már a Donably felületen is támogathat bennünket, itt ÁFA-mentesen segítheti munkavégzésünket: https://www.donably.com/friderikusz-podcast - De lehet a patronálónk a Patreon-on keresztül is, mert a támogatása mértékétől függően egyre több előnyhöz juthat: https://www.patreon.com/FriderikuszPodcast - Egyszerű banki átutalással is elismerheti munkavégzésünk minőségét. Ehhez a legfontosabb adatok az alábbiak: Név: TV Pictures Számlaszám: OTP Bank 11707062-21446081 Közlemény: Podcast-támogatás Ha külföldről utalna, nemzetközi számlaszámunk (IBAN - International Bank Account Number): HU68 1170 7062 2144 6081 0000 0000 BIC/SWIFT-kód: OTPVHUHB Akármilyen formában támogatja munkánkat, nagyon köszönjük!Kövessenek, kövessetek itt is:youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/FriderikuszPodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/FriderikuszPodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/friderikuszpodcastAmazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a159b938-d63e-4927-9e9b-bea37bc378d3/friderikusz-podcastSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3blRo2gYoutube Music: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLu6L9HlV4-KuNOYy_rS97rP_Q-ncvF14rApple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3hm2vfiDeezer: https://www.deezer.com/hu/show/1000256535
Korea 24 is a daily current affairs show that covers all the biggest stories coming out of South Korea. Every weekday, Korea 24 brings you the latest news updates, as well as in-depth analysis on the most important issues with experts and special guests, providing comprehensive insight into the events on the peninsula.
The lads hop on their choppers and make for the 4077th as they return to Korea for another installment in their ongoing coverage of the most critically acclaimed sitcoms of all time: MASH. Topics include the evolution of Margaret O'Houlihan, the zaniness of Frank Burns, and how losing some of your best cast members can transform your show into the best version of itself. GOATMAN: Tickets // Gofundme 2002: Tickets Media Referenced in this Episode: MASH Season Four, Episode One: “Welcome to Korea” Season Four, Episode Two: “Change in Command” Season Five, Episode Two: “Margaret's Engagement” Season Five, Episode Seven: “Dear Sigmund” Season Five, Episode Twenty-Four: “Margaret's Marriage” Have You Seen This? Episode 135 “It!” feat. Josh Boerman and Brian Alford TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com Interstitial: “Another Brief Message from Alan Alda” // Written by A.J. Ditty // Feat. Eleanor Philips as “Ellie Philips” and A.J. Ditty as “Alan Alda”
RFA Korean daily show, 자유아시아방송 한국어
From the NBA Draft's celebration of young potential… to the crushing reality of a combat-wounded American veteran deported to Korea… to U.S. airstrikes in Iran… to the devastating impact of Trump's so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” — Bobby and Dan pull no punches. We connect the dots between war abroad, betrayal at home, and a government more interested in tax breaks than taking care of those who serve.
Welcome back to Around the World with Busy Kids Love Music! In today's episode, we journey to the eastern side of Asia to explore the rich folk music traditions of South Korea. From heartfelt folk songs to energetic drumming ensembles, Korean traditional music—known as gugak—is a vibrant part of the country's culture and history. Join me as we explore:
Korea 24 is a daily current affairs show that covers all the biggest stories coming out of South Korea. Every weekday, Korea 24 brings you the latest news updates, as well as in-depth analysis on the most important issues with experts and special guests, providing comprehensive insight into the events on the peninsula.
RFA Korean daily show, 자유아시아방송 한국어
RFA Korean daily show, 자유아시아방송 한국어
Nine victims in ten months. Jeong Doo-young's only motivation? Greed. He hunted the wealthy on quiet rainy Thursdays, leaving blood-soaked homes across Korea's southern coast.Find our merch here: https://koreantruecrime-shop.fourthwall.comJoin our discord today! If you enjoy Korean True Crime, please rate, follow, and send feedback! It helps me continue to improve the show. If you'd like to support the show or find show sources for free, join Korean True Crime on Patreon.
Korea 24 is a daily current affairs show that covers all the biggest stories coming out of South Korea. Every weekday, Korea 24 brings you the latest news updates, as well as in-depth analysis on the most important issues with experts and special guests, providing comprehensive insight into the events on the peninsula.
RFA Korean daily show, 자유아시아방송 한국어
RFA Korean daily show, 자유아시아방송 한국어
Fluent Fiction - Korean: Rekindling Bonds: A Journey Through Time at Danojeol Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ko/episode/2025-06-30-22-34-02-ko Story Transcript:Ko: 경복궁은 활기로 가득했다.En: Gyeongbokgung was filled with vitality.Ko: 따뜻한 여름 바람에 전통 음악이 실려오고, 주변에는 댕기머리를 한 사람들이 많이 보였다.En: Traditional music flowed with the warm summer breeze, and many people wearing daenggi meori could be seen around.Ko: 단오절은 한국의 전통 명절 중 하나로, 사람들이 창포물로 머리를 감고 그네를 타며 즐기는 날이었다.En: Danojeol is one of Korea's traditional festivals, a day when people wash their hair in changpomul and enjoy swinging.Ko: 사람들 사이에서 진우는 조용히 걸으며 주변을 둘러봤다.En: Amidst the people, Jinwoo quietly walked while observing his surroundings.Ko: 그는 언제나 한국의 전통 건축에 열정이 넘쳤다.En: He always had a passion for Korean traditional architecture.Ko: 그러나 오늘 그의 시선은 과거로 돌아갔다.En: However, today his gaze traveled back in time.Ko: 그 옛 친구, 민지가 아른거렸다.En: He was reminded of his old friend, Minji, who was currently organizing this festival.Ko: 진우는 그녀를 보려고 마음을 먹었다.En: Jinwoo decided he would meet her.Ko: 민지는 밝은 미소로 손님들을 맞이하고 있었다.En: Minji was greeting guests with a bright smile.Ko: 이제는 성숙한 모습이었다.En: She now appeared more mature.Ko: 진우는 용기를 내어 다가가 그녀에게 인사를 건넸다.En: Jinwoo mustered the courage to approach her and greeted her.Ko: "안녕, 민지야. 오랜만이야."En: "Hi, Minji. It's been a long time."Ko: 민지는 놀란 듯 했지만 이내 웃으며 대답했다. "진우야, 정말 오랜만이야. 잘 지냈니?"En: Although Minji seemed surprised, she soon responded with a smile, "Hey, Jinwoo, it's really been a while. How have you been?"Ko: 진우는 머뭇거리며 그의 계획을 말하기 시작했다.En: Jinwoo hesitated as he began to talk about his plan.Ko: 그는 민지와 함께 한국의 전통을 지키는 프로젝트를 하고 싶었다.En: He wanted to work on a project with Minji to preserve Korean traditions.Ko: 하지만 과거의 관계가 마음에 걸렸다.En: However, memories of their past relationship lingered in his mind.Ko: "민지야, 우리 같이 문화 보호 프로젝트를 하지 않을래?" 그의 눈은 진지했다.En: "Hey, Minji, how about we do a cultural preservation project together?" His eyes were earnest.Ko: 민지는 잠시 고민했다.En: Minji hesitated for a moment.Ko: 과거의 상처가 떠올랐지만, 진우의 진심이 느껴졌다.En: Past wounds resurfaced, but she could feel Jinwoo's sincerity.Ko: "진우, 우리 서로 많이 변한 것 같아.En: "Jinwoo, I think we've both changed a lot.Ko: 나도 전통을 지키고 싶어.En: I also want to preserve our traditions.Ko: 같이 해보자." 그녀의 말은 그들의 과거를 녹이며 새로운 미래를 만들어 갔다.En: Let's do it together." Her words melted away their past and paved the way for a new future.Ko: 이제 진우와 민지는 다시금 친구가 되었고, 더불어 지역의 전통 문화를 지키기 위한 파트너가 되었다.En: Now, Jinwoo and Minji had become friends once again and had also become partners in protecting the local traditional culture.Ko: 진우는 감정 표현에 더 개방적이 되었고, 민지는 용서를 통해 새로운 시작을 맞이했다.En: Jinwoo became more open in expressing his emotions, and Minji embraced a new beginning through forgiveness.Ko: 경복궁의 성벽 너머로 해가 저물고, 두 사람의 새로운 여정이 시작되었다.En: Beyond the walls of Gyeongbokgung, the sun set, marking the beginning of a new journey for the two. Vocabulary Words:vitality: 활기breeze: 바람festival: 명절swinging: 그네를 타다observing: 둘러보다architecture: 건축organizing: 주관하다greeted: 맞이하다mature: 성숙한mustered: 용기를 내다preserve: 지키다memories: 기억linger: 걸리다earnest: 진지한wounds: 상처sincerity: 진심forgiveness: 용서partners: 파트너embraced: 맞이하다journey: 여정filled: 가득하다passion: 열정quietly: 조용히appearance: 모습hesitated: 머뭇거리다courage: 용기resurfaced: 떠오르다expressing: 표현하다beyond: 너머로began: 시작하다
RFA Korean daily show, 자유아시아방송 한국어
RFA Korean daily show, 자유아시아방송 한국어
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: https://www.instagram.com/the_lebanese_londoner/ 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 datizzard@swu.ac.kr. Watch this video next: https://youtu.be/vIbpLfWJoZM Subscribe to the channel: @DavidTizzard/videos Thanks to Patreon members: Hee Ji Jacobs, Bhavya, Roxanne Murrell Join Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/user?u=62047873 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: datizzard@swu.ac.kr ▶ David's Insta: @datizzard ▶ KD Insta: @koreadeconstructed Listen to Korea Deconstructed ▶ Listen on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/kr/podcast/korea-deconstructed/id1587269128 ▶Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5zdXkG0aAAHnDwOvd0jXEE ▶ Listen on podcasts: https://koreadeconstructed.libsyn.com
Ohio soybeans are a significant export to South Korea, particularly for food-grade and non-GMO varieties used in products like tofu, soy milk, and soy sauce. Ohio farmers and the Ohio Soybean Council actively engage with Korean buyers to promote and strengthen trade relationships. Hear about the highlights of a recent trade mission on this Ohio Farm Bureau Podcast. Plus, with skyrocketing cattle prices, many producers are taking a closer look at risk management. Get tips to protect your risk in a volatile market.
호주의 대표적 배우이자 방송인 미셸 림 데이비슨이 한국 입양인의 시선으로 쓴 신작 연극 Korea Boo를 통해 가족, 정체성, 재회의 복잡한 감정을 무대 위에 풀어냅니다.
RFA Korean daily show, 자유아시아방송 한국어
RFA Korean daily show, 자유아시아방송 한국어
Send us a textThe Pentagon dropped a $962B budget bomb, and Razin Caine dropped an actual bomb—well, more like 125 aircraft dropping GBU-57 bunker busters on Iranian nuclear sites. In this no-fluff Daily Drop, Jared unpacks the FY26 defense budget, the rise of the F-47, the death of the A-10, and why space is the new high ground (sorry, Wedgetail). He also calls out bureaucratic nonsense, praises enlisted studs like Tech Sgt. Montoya, and side-eyes yet another “brilliant” plan to split the Air Force into four separate services. Meanwhile, Hoist is still the drink of choice, even if Congress can't get theirs together.
Susan Choi joins Kate Wolf and Medaya Ocher to speak about her new novel, Flashlight. An epic story that spans multiple generations of a single family, the book is an astute exploration of identity, migration, memory, kinship and the irrepressibility of the past. It begins in the wake of the mysterious disappearance of a young academic named Serk. An ethnic Korean, who was raised in Japan and decided to continue his studies there when his family returned to Korea after WWII, Serk later moves to the US and marries Anne, who is also estranged from her family and has her own secrets. Their daughter, Louisa, is with her father on the night of his disappearance, from a beach back in Japan, where the family has come for Serk's year-long academic appointment. Washing up on the shore in the morning, Louisa has little memory of what has taken place, and it will take her many decades, and the course of the novel, to discover the truth.
Comment on this episode by going to KDramaChat.comToday, we'll be discussing Episode 16 of When Life Gives You Tangerines, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring IU as Oh Ae-sun, Park Bo-gum as Yang Gwan-sik, Moon So-ri as older Oh Ae-sun, and Park Hae-joon as older Yang Gwan-sik. We'll also announce the show that we will recap and analyze in Season 12 of K Drama Chat. We discuss:The songs featured during the recap: Theme of Gwan-sik, Looking Back, It Was a Paradise, and It Was Just Sometimes Winter, Sometimes Spring, all by the incredible Park Seong Il.The devastating yet beautiful farewell between Ae-sun and Gwan-sik, as they reflect on their extraordinary life together.How Ae-sun's poem, To the Heart That Leaves Me Behind, encapsulates her enduring love and strength, and how poetry weaves through the show as a symbol of love, regret, and hope.The emotional family moments, including Geum-myeong and Eun-myeong's tearful goodbyes to their father, filled with regret, gratitude, and newfound understanding.How Ae-sun and Gwan-sik finally share their grief over their son Dong-myeong's death, a sorrow that divided them for decades.The heartbreaking yet realistic depiction of aging, illness, and how families rally around each other during difficult times.The surprising reveal that Gwan-sik saved all of Geum-myeong's money, telling us that he cherished the gift of the money, more than the money itself.Geum-myeong's business venture, Ever Study, inspired by her mother's unrealized dreams, and how it speaks to Korea's competitive education system and rural limitations.The beautiful connections that suggest Gwang-rye was reincarnated as Chloe Lee, the editor who publishes Ae-sun's book of poetry, tying together fate and family legacy.How Ae-sun, even after losing Gwan-sik, finds new meaning in life as a teacher at the senior center and as a published poet.Reflections on aging, with Ae-sun's profound observation that you feel the same inside but see an older person in the mirror.Bu Sang-gil's late-in-life flirtations with Yeong-ran and the notion that it's never too late for first love.Our announcement of the show that we will recap and analyze in Season 12 of K Drama Chat.ReferencesMultiple myeloma - Symptoms and causes - Mayo ClinicRheumatoid arthritis - Symptoms and causes - Mayo ClinicSocial Support and the Perception of Geographical SlantTtukbaegi - WikipediaKim Kwang Seok on Wikipedia
In this episode, hosts Ray Powell and Jim Carouso interview Professor Gordon Flake, CEO of the Perth USAsia Centre, about South Korea's political transformation following six months of unprecedented turmoil.The discussion centers on South Korea's remarkable democratic resilience after former President Yoon Suk-yeol's shocking martial law declaration in December 2024, which triggered his impeachment and removal from office, and Lee Jae-myeong's subsequent election victory. Flake emphasizes that despite the chaos—including four different acting presidents—South Korea's institutions held firm, demonstrating the strength of its democracy.The new president faces immediate pressure from Trump administration tariffs affecting Korean exports, with the economy shrinking in the first quarter and auto sales to the US down significantly. Flake warns against conflating trade negotiations with alliance burden-sharing discussions.Lee Jae-myeong has already engaged with President Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba, signaling continuity in South Korea's internationalist approach despite his progressive background. The episode explores Korea's potential participation in regional frameworks like Quad-Plus and the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership.Tensions are escalating in the Yellow Sea's Provisional Measures Zone, where China has installed aquaculture facilities without coordination with Seoul. This represents a new kinetic challenge similar to South China Sea disputes.Flake highlights opportunities for US-Korea naval cooperation, noting Korean shipbuilders like Hanwha Ocean's acquisition of Philadelphia shipyard and increased stakes in Australian defense contractor Austal.Flake predicts Lee's first 100 days will prioritize economic growth over progressive social policies due to external pressures. His attendance at the G7 meeting represents crucial engagement with like-minded democracies amid regional uncertainty (this episode was recorded before President Lee elected not to attend the G7).The episode provides essential insights into how South Korea's democratic institutions weathered the crisis, while positioning the country as a consequential middle power navigating complex US-China competition and regional security challenges.Follow the podcast on X, @IndoPacPodcast, LinkedIn, or BlueSkyFollow Ray Powell on X, @GordianKnotRay, or LinkedInFollow Jim Carouso on LinkedInProduced by Ian Ellis-Jones and IEJ Media, on X, @ianellisjonesSponsored by BowerGroupAsia, a strategic advisory firm that specializes in the Indo-Pacific
Susan Choi joins Kate Wolf and Medaya Ocher to speak about her new novel, "Flashlight." An epic story that spans multiple generations of a single family, the book is an astute exploration of identity, migration, memory, kinship and the irrepressibility of the past. It begins in the wake of the mysterious disappearance of a young academic named Serk. An ethnic Korean, who was raised in Japan and decided to continue his studies there when his family returned to Korea after WWII, Serk later moves to the US and marries Anne, who is also estranged from her family and has her own secrets. Their daughter, Louisa, is with her father on the night of his disappearance, from a beach back in Japan, where the family has come for Serk's year-long academic appointment. Washing up on the shore in the morning, Louisa has little memory of what has taken place, and it will take her many decades, and the course of the novel, to discover the truth.
RFA Korean daily show, 자유아시아방송 한국어
RFA Korean daily show, 자유아시아방송 한국어
Korea 24 is a daily current affairs show that covers all the biggest stories coming out of South Korea. Every weekday, Korea 24 brings you the latest news updates, as well as in-depth analysis on the most important issues with experts and special guests, providing comprehensive insight into the events on the peninsula.
In this week's episode, we're going over to ancient East Asia for a majestic monster, the Qilin or the Kirin - depending on where you're from! How does this monster relate to one of the greatest sages of our times? How can you get one to respect you? Find out this week!Send us a textSupport the showYou can find us on: Myth Monsters Website Spotify Apple Podcasts GoodPods Amazon Music Social media: Twitter BlueSky Instagram Facebook TikTok
RFA Korean daily show, 자유아시아방송 한국어
RFA Korean daily show, 자유아시아방송 한국어
Historically Thinking: Conversations about historical knowledge and how we achieve it
In 1945, Kim Il-Sung was a minor figure with no political power in Korea. Within months, he was elevated by Soviet authorities to lead North Korea. Historian Fyodor Tertitskiy joins us to discuss The Accidental Tyrant, his new biography of Kim, and explains how this obscure guerrilla commander became one of the most durable dictators of the 20th century—and the founder of a regime that still rules today long after the Cold War ended.
Korea 24 is a daily current affairs show that covers all the biggest stories coming out of South Korea. Every weekday, Korea 24 brings you the latest news updates, as well as in-depth analysis on the most important issues with experts and special guests, providing comprehensive insight into the events on the peninsula.
Auch 75 Jahre nach Kriegsbeginn gibt es in Korea keinen Friedensvertrag zwischen Nord und Süd. Der Beginn des tödlichen Konflikts am 25.6.1950 hatte auch Auswirkungen auf Deutschland. Von Andrea Kath.
안녕하세요~ 제 서른 번째 중급 팟캐스트를 들으러 오신 걸 환영합니다
In celebration of reaching 10 years of K League coverage, K League United's Ryan Walters, Paul Neat, and Matthew Binns sit down to discuss their highlights and stories of their time following Korean football. From groundhopping to player interviews, and from beyond the running tracks to global international coverage, K League United has had quite the decade since its humble beginnings in Gwangyang back in 2015. Ryan, Paul and Matt recall some of their sliding doors moments and behind-the-scenes stories from ten years of keeping tabs on K League. Which players have we saved a penalty against? Which player did we give a Subway sandwich card to? What does a K League stag do look like? Also a huge THANKS to everyone who has supported us, from writers to readers, players to clubs, for making the last ten years truly memorable! Here's to many more! All this and more, on this 10-Year anniversary edition of The K League United Podcast!
It's the 75th anniversary of the Korean War. Looking at the politics and history of the "Forgotten War," we talk with journalist Tim Shorrock. We disucss the Open Door in Asia, the Japanese occupation of Korea, communist resistance to it, the rise of right wing South Korean forces, North Korea crossing the 38th parallel, the Cold War and more. Bio//Tim Shorrock is an American writer and commentator on US foreign policy, US national security and intelligence, and East Asian politics. He is author of "The Political Economy of the Pacific Rim: An Analysis of the Relationship Between the Pacific Northwest and East Asia," and "Spies for Hire: The Secret World of Intelligence Outsourcing."----------------------------------------------Outro- "Green and Red Blues" by MoodyLinks//+ Tim's Substack: https://substack.com/@timshorrock + Tim's Website: https://timshorrock.com/Follow Green and Red// +G&R Linktree: https://linktr.ee/greenandredpodcast +Our rad website: https://greenandredpodcast.org/ + Join our Discord community (https://discord.gg/3a6AX7Qy)+Follow us on Substack (https://greenandredpodcast.substack.com)+Follow us on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/podcastgreenred.bsky.social)Support the Green and Red Podcast// +Become a Patron at https://www.patreon.com/greenredpodcast +Or make a one time donation here: https://bit.ly/DonateGandR Our Networks// +We're part of the Labor Podcast Network: https://www.laborradionetwork.org/ +We're part of the Anti-Capitalist Podcast Network: linktr.ee/anticapitalistpodcastnetwork +Listen to us on WAMF (90.3 FM) in New Orleans (https://wamf.org/) + Check us out! We made it into the top 100 Progressive Podcasts lists (#68) (https://bit.ly/432XNJT) This is a Green and Red Podcast (@PodcastGreenRed) production. Produced by Bob (@bobbuzzanco) and Scott (@sparki1969). Edited by Scott
Last time we spoke about Operation Chahar. In July 1937, the tensions between Japan and China erupted into a full-scale conflict, ignited by the Marco Polo Bridge Incident. Following a series of aggressive Japanese military maneuvers, Chiang Kai-shek, then enjoying a brief respite at Kuling, learned of the escalating clashes and prepared for battle. Confident that China was primed for resistance, he rallied his nation, demanding that Japan accept responsibility and respect China's sovereignty. The Japanese launched their offensive, rapidly capturing key positions in Northern China. Notably, fierce battle ensued in Jinghai, where Chinese soldiers, led by Brigade Commander Li Zhiyuan, valiantly defended against overwhelming forces using guerrilla tactics and direct assaults. Their spirit was symbolized by a courageous “death squad” that charged the enemy, inflicting serious casualties despite facing dire odds. As weeks passed, the conflict intensified with brutal assaults on Nankou. Chinese defenses, though valiant, were ultimately overwhelmed, leading to heavy casualties on both sides. Despite losing Nankou, the indomitable Chinese spirit inspired continued resistance against the Japanese invaders, foreshadowing a long, brutal war that would reshape East Asia. #156 The Battle of Shanghai Part 1: The Beginning of the Battle of Shanghai Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. On August 9, a bullet riddled sedan screeched to an abrupt halt at the entrance to the Hongqiao airport along Monument Road. The gruesome scene on the dashboard revealed that one of the victims had died in the car. He had been dragged out and subjected to brutal slashing, kicking, and beating until his body was a mangled mess. Half of his face was missing, and his stomach had been cut open, exposing the sickly pallor of his intestines, faintly glimmering in the night. The other man had managed to escape the vehicle but only got a few paces away before he was gunned down. A short distance away lay a third body, dressed in a Chinese uniform. Investigators swiftly identified the badly mangled body as belonging to 27-year-old Sub-Lieutenant Oyama Isao, while the other deceased Japanese man was his driver, First Class Seaman Saito Yozo. The identity of the Chinese victim remained a mystery. At first glance, the scene appeared to be the aftermath of a straightforward shootout. However, numerous questions lingered: What were the Japanese doing at a military airfield miles from their barracks? Who had fired the first shot, and what had prompted that decision? The Chinese investigators and their Japanese counterparts were at odds over the answers to these questions. As they walked the crime scene, searching for evidence, loud arguments erupted repeatedly. By the time the sun began to rise, they concluded their investigation without reaching any consensus on what had transpired. They climbed into their cars and made their way back to the city. The investigators were acutely aware of the repercussions if they failed to handle their delicate task with the necessary finesse. Despite their hopes for peace, it was evident that Shanghai was a city bracing for war. As they drove through the dimly lit suburbs on their way from Hongqiao back to their downtown offices, their headlights illuminated whitewashed trees, interspersed with sandbag defenses and the silhouettes of solitary Chinese sentries. Officially, these sentries were part of the Peace Preservation Corps, a paramilitary unit that, due to an international agreement reached a few years earlier, was the only Chinese force allowed to remain in the Shanghai area. In the hours that followed, both sides presented their versions of the incident. According to the Chinese account, the Japanese vehicle attempted to force its way through the airport gate. When members of the Peace Preservation Corps stationed at the entrance signaled for Saito, the driver, to stop, he abruptly turned the car around. Sub-Lieutenant Oyama then fired at the Chinese guards with an automatic pistol. Only then did the Chinese return fire, killing Oyama in a hail of bullets. Saito managed to jump out before he, too, was gunned down. The commander of the Chinese guards told a Western reporter that this wasn't the first time someone Japanese had attempted to enter the airport. Such incidents had occurred repeatedly in the past two months, leading them to believe that the Japanese were “obviously undertaking espionage.” The Japanese account, predictably, placed the blame for the entire incident squarely on China. It asserted that Oyama had been driving along a road bordering the airfield with no intention of entering. Suddenly, the vehicle was stopped and surrounded by Peace Preservation Corps troops, who opened fire with rifles and machine guns without warning. Oyama had no opportunity to return fire. The Japanese statement argued that the two men had every right to use the road, which was part of the International Settlement, and labeled the incident a clear violation of the 1932 peace agreement. “We demand that the Chinese bear responsibility for this illegal act,”. Regardless of either side, it seemed likely to everyone in the region, war would soon engulf Shanghai. Meanwhile, as the Marco Polo Bridge Incident escalated into a full blown in the far north, General Zhang Fakui was attending a routine training mission at Mount Lu in southeastern Jiangxi. A short and small man, not considered too handsome either, Zhang had earned his place in China's leadership through physical courage, once taking a stand on a bridge and single handedly facing down an enemy army. He was 41 years old in 1937, having spent half his life fighting Warlords, Communists and sometimes even Nationalists. In the recent years he had tossed his lot in with a rebel campaign against Chiang Kai-Shek, who surprisingly went on the forgive him and placed him in charge of anti communist operations in the area due south of Shanghai. However now the enemy seemed to have changed. As the war spread to Beijing, on July 16th, Zhang was sent to Chiang Kai-Shek's summer residence at Mount Lu alongside 150 members of China's political and military elites. They were all there to brainstorm how to fight the Japanese. Years prior the Generalissimo had made it doctrine to appease the Japanese but now he made grandiose statements such as “this time we must fight to the end”. Afterwards Chiang dealt missions to all his commanders and Zhang Fakui was told to prepare for operations in the Shanghai area. It had been apparent for weeks that both China and Japan were preparing for war in central China. The Japanese had been diverting naval troops from the north to strengthen their forces in Shanghai, and by early August, they had assembled over 8,000 troops. A few days later, approximately thirty-two naval vessels arrived. On July 31, Chiang declared that “all hope for peace has been lost.” Chiang had been reluctant to commit his best forces to defend northern China, an area he had never truly controlled. In contrast, Shanghai was central to his strategy for the war against Japan. Chiang decided to deploy his finest troops, the 87th and 88th Divisions, which were trained by generals under the guidance of the German advisor von Falkenhausen, who had high hopes for their performance against the Japanese. In doing so, Chiang aimed to demonstrate to both his own people and the wider world that the Chinese could and would resist the invader. Meanwhile, Chiang's spy chief, Dai Li, was busy gathering intelligence on Japanese intentions regarding Shanghai, a challenging task given his focus in recent years. Dai, one of the most sinister figures in modern Chinese history, had devoted far more energy and resources to suppressing the Communists than to countering the Japanese. As a result, by the critical summer of 1937, he had built only a sparse network of agents in “Little Tokyo,” the Hongkou area of Shanghai dominated by Japanese businesses. One agent was a pawnshop owner, while the rest were double agents employed as local staff within the Japanese security apparatus. Unfortunately, they could provide little more than snippets, rumors, and hearsay. While some of this information sounded alarmingly dire, there was almost no actionable intelligence. Chiang did not take the decision to open a new front in Shanghai lightly. Built on both banks of the Huangpu River, the city served as the junction between the Pacific Ocean to the east and the great Yangtze River, which wound thousands of kilometers inland to the west. Shanghai embodied everything that represented modern China, from its industry and labor relations to its connections with the outside world. While foreign diplomatic presence was concentrated in nearby Nanjing, the capital, it was in Shanghai that the foreign community gauged the country's mood. Foreigners in the city's two “concession” areas nthe French Concession and the British-affiliated International Settlement often dismissed towns beyond Shanghai as mere “outstations.” Chiang Kai-shek would throw 650,000 troops into the battle for the city and its environs as well as his modest air force of 200 aircraft. Chiang, whose forces were being advised by German officers led by General Alexander von Falkenhausen, was finally confident that his forces could take on the Japanese. A German officer told a British diplomat, “If the Chinese Army follows the advice of the German advisers, it is capable of driving the Japanese over the Great Wall.” While Chiang was groping in the dark, deprived of the eyes and ears of an efficient intelligence service, he did have at his disposal an army that was better prepared for battle than it had been in 1932. Stung by the experience of previous conflicts with the Japanese, Chiang had initiated a modernization program aimed at equipping the armed forces not only to suppress Communist rebels but also to confront a modern fighting force equipped with tanks, artillery, and aircraft. He had made progress, but it was insufficient. Serious weaknesses persisted, and now there was no time for any remedial action. While China appeared to be a formidable power in sheer numbers, the figures were misleading. On the eve of war, the Chinese military was comprised of a total of 176 divisions, which were theoretically organized into two brigades of two regiments each. However, only about 20 divisions maintained full peacetime strength of 10,000 soldiers and officers; the rest typically held around 5,000 men. Moreover, Chiang controlled only 31 divisions personally, and he could not count on the loyalty of the others. To successfully resist Japan, Chiang would need to rely not only on his military command skills but also on his ability to forge fragile coalitions among Warlord generals with strong local loyalties. Equipment posed another significant challenge. The modernization drive was not set to complete until late 1938, and the impact of this delay was evident. In every category of weaponry, from rifles to field artillery, the Chinese were outmatched by their Japanese adversaries, both quantitatively and qualitatively. Domestically manufactured artillery pieces had shorter ranges, and substandard steel-making technology caused gun barrels to overheat, increasing the risk of explosions. Some arms even dated back to imperial times. A large proportion of the Chinese infantry had received no proper training in basic tactics, let alone in coordinated operations involving armor and artillery. The chief of the German advisory corps was General Alexander von Falkenhausen, a figure hard to rival in terms of qualifications for the role. Although the 58-year-old's narrow shoulders, curved back, and bald, vulture-like head gave him an unmilitary, almost avian appearance, his exterior belied a tough character. In 1918, he had earned his nation's highest military honor, the Pour le Mérite, while assisting Germany's Ottoman allies against the British in Palestine. Few, if any, German officers knew Asia as well as he did. His experience in the region dated back to the turn of the century. As a young lieutenant in the Third East Asian Infantry Regiment, he participated in the international coalition of colonial powers that quelled the Boxer Rebellion in 1900. A decade later, he traveled through Korea, Manchuria, and northern China with his wife, keenly observing and learning as a curious tourist. From 1912 to 1914, he served as the German Kaiser's military attaché in Tokyo. He was poised to put his extensive knowledge to good use in the months ahead. Chiang believed that Shanghai should be the location of the first battle. This decision was heavily influenced by Falkenhausen and was strategically sound. Chiang Kai-shek could not hope to win a war against Japan unless he could unify the nation behind him, particularly the many fractious warlords who had battled his forces repeatedly over the past decade. Everyone understood that the territory Japan was demanding in the far north did not need to be held for any genuine military necessity; it was land that could be negotiated. The warlords occupying that territory were unpredictable and all too willing to engage in bargaining. In contrast, China's economic heartland held different significance. By choosing to fight for the center of the country and deploying his strongest military units, Chiang Kai-shek signaled to both China's warlords and potential foreign allies that he had a vested interest in the outcome. There were also several operational reasons for preferring a conflict in the Yangtze River basin over a campaign in northern China. The rivers, lakes, and rice paddies of the Yangtze delta were much better suited for defensive warfare against Japan's mechanized forces than the flat plains of North China. By forcing the Japanese to commit troops to central China, the Nationalists bought themselves the time needed to rally and reinforce their faltering defenses in the north. By initiating hostilities in the Shanghai area, Japan would be forced to divert its attention from the northern front, thereby stalling a potential Japanese advance toward the crucial city of Wuhan. It would also help safeguard potential supply routes from the Soviet Union, the most likely source of material assistance due to Moscow's own animosity toward Japan. It was a clever plan, and surprisingly, the Japanese did not anticipate it. Intelligence officers in Tokyo were convinced that Chiang would send his troops northward instead. Again in late July, Chiang convened his commanders, and here he gave Zhang Fukai more detailed instructions for his operation. Fukai was placed in charge of the right wing of the army which was currently preparing for action in the metropolitan area. Fukai would oversee the forces east of the Huangpu River in the area known as Pudong. Pudong was full of warehouses, factories and rice fields, quite precarious to fight in. Meanwhile General Zhang Zhizhong, a quiet and sickly looking man who had previously led the Central Military Academy was to command the left wing of the Huangpu. All of the officers agreed the plan to force the battle to the Shanghai area was logical as the northern region near Beijing was far too open, giving the advantage to tank warfare, which they could not hope to contest Japan upon. The Shanghai area, full of rivers, creaks and urban environments favored them much more. Zhang Zhizhong seemed an ideal pick to lead troops in downtown Shanghai where most of the fighting would take place. His position of commandant of the military academy allowed him to establish connections with junior officers earmarked for rapid promotion. This meant that he personally knew the generals of both the 87th and 88th Divisions, which were to form the core of Zhang Zhizhong's newly established 9th Army Group and become his primary assets in the early phases of the Shanghai campaign. Moreover, Zhang Zhizhong had the right aggressive instincts. He believed that China's confrontation with Japan had evolved through three stages: in the first stage, the Japanese invaded the northeast in 1931, and China remained passive; in the second stage, during the first battle of Shanghai in 1932, Japan struck, but China fought back. Zhang argued that this would be the third stage, where Japan was preparing to attack, but China would strike first. It seems that Zhang Zhizhong did not expect to survive this final showdown with his Japanese adversary. He took the fight very personally, even ordering his daughter to interrupt her education in England and return home to serve her country in the war. However, he was not the strong commander he appeared to be, as he was seriously ill. Although he never disclosed the true extent of his condition, it seemed he was on the verge of a physical and mental breakdown after years in high-stress positions. In fact, he had recently taken a leave of absence from his role at the military academy in the spring of 1937. When the war broke out, he was at a hospital in the northern port city of Qingdao, preparing to go abroad for convalescence. He canceled those plans to contribute to the struggle against Japan. When his daughter returned from England and saw him on the eve of battle, she was alarmed by how emaciated he had become. From the outset, doubts about his physical fitness to command loomed large. At 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 10, a group of officers emerged from the Japanese Consulate along the banks of the Huangpu River. This team was a hastily assembled Sino-Japanese joint investigation unit tasked with quickly resolving the shooting incident at the Hongqiao Aerodrome of the previous night. They understood the urgency of reaching an agreement swiftly to prevent any escalation. As they drove to the airport, they passed armed guards of the Chinese Peace Preservation Corps stationed behind sandbag barricades that had been erected only hours earlier. Upon arriving at Hongqiao, the officers walked up and down the scene of the incident under the scorching sun, attempting to piece together a shared understanding of what had transpired. However, this proved to be nearly impossible, as the evidence failed to align into a coherent account acceptable to both parties. The Japanese were unconvinced that any shootout had occurred at all. Oyama, the officer who had been in the car, had left his pistol at the marine headquarters in Hongkou and had been unarmed the night before. They insisted that whoever shot and killed the man in the Chinese uniform could not have been him. By 6:00 pm the investigators returned to the city. Foreign correspondents, eager for information, knew exactly whom to approach. The newly appointed Shanghai Mayor, Yu Hongjun, with a quick wit and proficiency in English, Yu represented the city's cosmopolitan image. However, that evening, he had little to offer the reporters, except for a plea directed at both the Japanese and Chinese factions “Both sides should maintain a calm demeanor to prevent the situation from escalating.” Mayor Yu however was, in fact, at the center of a complex act of deception that nearly succeeded. Nearly eight decades later, Zhang Fakui attributed the incident to members of the 88th Division, led by General Sun Yuanliang. “A small group of Sun Yuanliang's men disguised themselves as members of the Peace Preservation Corps,” Zhang Fakui recounted years later in his old age. “On August 9, 1937, they encountered two Japanese servicemen on the road near the Hongqiao military aerodrome and accused them of forcing their way into the area. A clash ensued, resulting in the deaths of the Japanese soldiers.” This created a delicate dilemma for their superiors. The two dead Japanese soldiers were difficult to explain away. Mayor Yu, likely informed of the predicament by military officials, conferred with Tong Yuanliang, chief of staff of the Songhu Garrison Command, a unit established after the fighting in 1932. Together, they devised a quick and cynical plan to portray the situation as one of self-defense by the Chinese guards. Under their orders, soldiers marched a Chinese death row inmate to the airport gate, dressed him in a paramilitary guard's uniform, and executed him. While this desperate ruse might have worked initially, it quickly unraveled due to the discrepancies raised by the condition of the Chinese body. The Japanese did not believe the story, and the entire plan began to fall apart. Any remaining mutual trust swiftly evaporated. Instead of preventing a confrontation, the cover-up was accelerating the slide into war. Late on August 10, Mayor Yu sent a secret cable to Nanjing, warning that the Japanese had ominously declared they would not allow the two deaths at the airport to go unpunished. The following day, the Japanese Consul General Okamoto Suemasa paid a visit to the mayor, demanding the complete withdrawal of the Peace Preservation Corps from the Shanghai area and the dismantling of all fortifications established by the corps. For the Chinese, acquiescing to these demands was nearly impossible. From their perspective, it appeared that the Japanese aimed to leave Shanghai defenseless while simultaneously bolstering their own military presence in the city. Twenty vessels, including cruisers and destroyers, sailed up the Huangpu River and docked at wharves near "Little Tokyo." Japanese marines in olive-green uniforms marched ashore down the gangplanks, while women from the local Japanese community, dressed in kimonos, greeted the troops with delighted smiles and bows to the flags of the Rising Sun that proudly adorned the sterns of the battleships. In fact, Japan had planned to deploy additional troops to Shanghai even before the shooting at Hongqiao Aerodrome. This decision was deemed necessary to reinforce the small contingent of 2,500 marines permanently stationed in the city. More troops were required to assist in protecting Japanese nationals who were being hastily evacuated from the larger cities along the Yangtze River. These actions were primarily defensive maneuvers, as the Japanese military seemed hesitant to open a second front in Shanghai, for the same reasons that the Chinese preferred an extension of hostilities to that area. Diverting Japanese troops from the strategically critical north and the Soviet threat across China's border would weaken their position, especially given that urban warfare would diminish the advantages of their technological superiority in tanks and aircraft. While officers in the Japanese Navy believed it was becoming increasingly difficult to prevent the war from spreading to Shanghai, they were willing to give diplomacy one last chance. Conversely, the Japanese Army was eager to wage war in northern China but displayed little inclination to engage in hostilities in Shanghai. Should the situation worsen, the Army preferred to withdraw all Japanese nationals from the city. Ultimately, when it agreed to formulate plans for dispatching an expeditionary force to Shanghai, it did so reluctantly, primarily to avoid accusations of neglecting its responsibilities. Amongst many commanders longing for a swift confrontation with Japan was Zhang Zhizhong. By the end of July, he was growing increasingly impatient, waiting with his troops in the Suzhou area west of Shanghai and questioning whether a unique opportunity was being squandered. On July 30, he sent a telegram to Nanjing requesting permission to strike first. He argued that if Japan were allowed to launch an attack on Shanghai, he would waste valuable time moving his troops from their position more than 50 miles away. Nanjing responded with a promise that his wishes would be fulfilled but urged him to exercise patience: “We should indeed seize the initiative over the enemy, but we must wait until the right opportunity arises. Await further orders.” That opportunity arose on August 11, with the Japanese display of force on the Huangpu River and their public demand for the withdrawal of China's paramilitary police. Japan had sufficiently revealed itself as the aggressor in the eyes of both domestic and international audiences, making it safe for China to take action. At 9:00 p.m. that evening, Zhang Zhizhong received orders from Nanjing to move his troops toward Shanghai. He acted with remarkable speed, capitalizing on the extensive transportation network in the region. The soldiers of the 87th Division quickly boarded 300 trucks that had been prepared in advance. Meanwhile, civilian passengers on trains were unceremoniously ordered off to make room for the 88th Division, which boarded the carriages heading for Shanghai. In total, over 20,000 motivated and well-equipped troops were on their way to battle. On August 12, representatives from the United Kingdom, France, the United States, Italy, Japan, and China gathered for a joint conference in Shanghai to discuss ceasefire terms. Japan demanded the withdrawal of Chinese troops from Shanghai, while the Chinese representative, Yu Hung-chun, dismissed the Japanese demand, stating that the terms of the ceasefire had already been violated by Japan. The major powers were keen to avoid a repeat of the January 28 Incident, which had significantly disrupted foreign economic activities in Shanghai. Meanwhile, Chinese citizens fervently welcomed the presence of Chinese troops in the city. In Nanjing, Chinese and Japanese representatives convened for the last time in a final effort to negotiate. The Japanese insisted that all Peace Preservation Corps and regular troops be withdrawn from the vicinity of Shanghai. The Chinese, however, deemed the demand for a unilateral withdrawal unacceptable, given that the two nations were already engaged in conflict in North China. Ultimately, Mayor Yu made it clear that the most the Chinese government would concede was that Chinese troops would not fire unless fired upon. Conversely, Japan placed all responsibility on China, citing the deployment of Chinese troops around Shanghai as the cause of the escalating tensions. Negotiations proved impossible, leaving no alternative but for the war to spread into Central China. On that same morning of Thursday, August 12, residents near Shanghai's North Train Station, also known as Zhabei Station, just a few blocks from "Little Tokyo," awoke to an unusual sight: thousands of soldiers dressed in the khaki uniforms of the Chinese Nationalists, wearing German-style helmets and carrying stick grenades slung across their chests. “Where do you come from?” the Shanghai citizens asked. “How did you get here so fast?” Zhang Zhizhong issued detailed orders to each unit under his command, instructing the 88th Division specifically to travel by train and deploy in a line from the town of Zhenru to Dachang village, both located a few miles west of Shanghai. Only later was the division supposed to advance toward a position stretching from the Zhabei district to the town of Jiangwan, placing it closer to the city boundaries. Zhang Zhizhong was the embodiment of belligerence, but he faced even more aggressive officers among his ranks. On the morning of August 12, he was approached by Liu Jingchi, the chief of operations at the Songhu Garrison Command. Liu argued that the battle of 1932 had gone poorly for the Chinese because they had hesitated and failed to strike first. This time, he insisted, should be different, and Zhang should order an all-out assault on the Japanese positions that very evening. Zhang countered that he had clear and unmistakable orders from Chiang Kai-shek to let the Japanese fire first, emphasizing the importance of maintaining China's image on the world stage. “That's easy,” Liu retorted. “Once all the units are deployed and ready to attack, we can just change some people into mufti and send them in to fire a few shots. We attack, and simultaneously, we report that the enemy's offensive has begun.” Zhang Zhizhong did not like this idea. “We can't go behind our leader's back like that,” he replied. Zhang Zhizhong's position was far from enviable. Forced to rein in eager and capable officers, he found himself acting against his own personal desires. Ultimately, he decided to seek the freedom to act as he saw fit. In a secret cable to Nanjing, he requested permission to launch an all-out attack on the Japanese positions in Shanghai the following day, Friday, August 13. He argued that this was a unique opportunity to capitalize on the momentum created by the movement of troops; any further delay would only lead to stagnation. He proposed a coordinated assault that would also involve the Chinese Air Force. However, the reply from Chiang Kai-shek was brief and unwavering: “Await further orders.” Even as Chiang's troops poured into Shanghai, Chinese and Japanese officials continued their discussions. Ostensibly, this was in hopes of reaching a last-minute solution, but in reality, it was a performance. Both sides wanted to claim the moral high ground in a battle that now seemed inevitable. They understood that whoever openly declared an end to negotiations would automatically be perceived as the aggressor. During talks at the Shanghai Municipal Council, Japanese Consul General Okamoto argued that if China truly wanted peace, it would have withdrawn its troops to a position that would prevent clashes. Mayor Yu responded by highlighting the increasing presence of Japanese forces in the city. “Under such circumstances, China must adopt such measures as necessary for self-defense,” he stated. Late on August 13, 1937, Chiang Kai-shek instructed his forces to defend Shanghai, commanding them to "divert the enemy at sea, secure the coast, and resist landings." I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. In July 1937, tensions between Japan and China escalated into war following the Marco Polo Bridge Incident. Confident in his country's resolve, Chiang Kai-shek rallied the Chinese against Japanese aggression. On August 9, a deadly confrontation at Hongqiao Airport resulted in the deaths of Japanese soldiers, igniting further hostilities. As both sides blamed each other, the atmosphere became tense. Ultimately, negotiations failed, and the stage was set for a brutal conflict in Shanghai, marking the beginning of a long and devastating war.