Podcasts about Korean

Fluent Fiction - Korean: Meeting Under the Autumn Sun: An Inspiring Journey Begins Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ko/episode/2025-11-22-08-38-20-ko Story Transcript:Ko: 국립중앙박물관은 가을 햇살을 받으며 빛나고 있었습니다.En: The Guknip Jungang Bangmulgwan (National Museum of Korea) was gleaming under the autumn sunlight.Ko: 해가 비추는 창가 옆으로 수많은 방문객들이 한국의 전통 예술 작품들을 감상하고 있었습니다.En: Numerous visitors were admiring the traditional Korean art pieces near the windows where the sun was shining.Ko: 바로 그날, 지호는 새로운 책을 위한 영감을 찾기 위해 조용히 걸음을 옮기고 있었습니다.En: On that very day, Jiho was quietly moving through the museum, seeking inspiration for a new book.Ko: 그는 조용하고 내성적인 성격이었지만, 문화유산에 대한 깊은 열정을 지닌 역사 애호가였습니다.En: Though he had a quiet and introverted nature, he was a history enthusiast with a deep passion for cultural heritage.Ko: 반대쪽에서는 환하게 웃고 있는 민서가 있었습니다.En: On the opposite side was Minseo, who was smiling brightly.Ko: 그녀는 박물관의 예술 큐레이터로, 방문객들에게 한국 예술과 문화를 소개하는 것을 가장 좋아했습니다.En: As an art curator at the museum, she especially enjoyed introducing visitors to Korean art and culture.Ko: 방문객들이 그녀의 설명을 듣고 감명을 받았으면 하는 바람이 가득했습니다.En: Her hope was for visitors to be impressed by her explanations.Ko: 지호는 조심스럽게 전시관을 둘러보다 눈길을 끄는 작품 앞에서 발걸음을 멈췄습니다.En: Jiho carefully looked around the exhibition hall and stopped in front of a captivating work of art.Ko: 이 작품에 대한 더 깊은 이해가 필요했습니다.En: He needed a deeper understanding of this piece.Ko: 그는 자신의 내성적인 성격을 극복하고 민서에게 다가가기로 결심했습니다.En: Overcoming his introverted nature, he decided to approach Minseo.Ko: "저기... 이 작품에 대해 조금 설명해 주실 수 있을까요?" 지호가 망설이며 물었습니다.En: "Excuse me... could you explain a bit about this piece?" Jiho asked hesitantly.Ko: 민서는 그의 눈에 비친 호기심을 알아차리고 기쁜 마음으로 설명을 시작했습니다.En: Noticing the curiosity in his eyes, Minseo began to explain with delight.Ko: "이 작품은 조선 시대의 유명한 화가가 그린 그림이에요.En: "This artwork was painted by a famous artist from the Joseon dynasty.Ko: 신화적인 이야기와 역사적인 사건들이 담겨져 있답니다." 민서는 열정적으로 설명했습니다.En: It contains mythical stories and historical events," Minseo explained passionately.Ko: 지호는 그녀의 이야기에 매료되었고, 두 사람은 점점 더 깊은 대화를 나누게 되었습니다.En: Jiho was fascinated by her story, and the two gradually engaged in a deeper conversation.Ko: 한참 뒤, 두 사람은 그 작품의 이야기뿐만 아니라 한국 예술과 문화 보존에 대한 공통된 관심사를 발견하게 되었습니다.En: After some time, they discovered a shared interest in the story of the artwork, as well as in the preservation of Korean art and culture.Ko: 서로의 생각과 감정을 나누며, 지호와 민서는 서로를 이해하고 연결되는 순간을 경험했습니다.En: As they shared their thoughts and feelings, Jiho and Minseo experienced a moment of understanding and connection.Ko: 박물관을 떠나기 전, 지호와 민서는 서로의 연락처를 교환했습니다.En: Before leaving the museum, Jiho and Minseo exchanged contact information.Ko: 앞으로 함께 문화적인 장소들을 탐방하며 새로운 프로젝트를 기획하기로 약속했습니다.En: They promised to explore cultural venues together and plan new projects.Ko: 이 만남은 지호에게 큰 변화를 가져왔습니다.En: This meeting brought significant change to Jiho.Ko: 그는 더 이상 혼자서만 생각하지 않았습니다.En: He no longer thought alone.Ko: 민서 또한, 방문객들과의 깊은 대화를 통해 자신감을 얻을 수 있었습니다.En: Minseo also gained confidence through deep conversations with visitors.Ko: 국립중앙박물관에 남아 있는 가을의 기운은 지호와 민서의 새로운 시작을 축복해 주었습니다.En: The lingering autumn spirit at the Guknip Jungang Bangmulgwan (National Museum of Korea) blessed the new beginning of Jiho and Minseo.Ko: 두 사람은 앞으로의 여정을 함께 걸어갈 준비가 되었습니다.En: They were ready to embark on their journey together. Vocabulary Words:gleaming: 빛나고numerous: 수많은admiring: 감상하고introverted: 내성적인enthusiast: 애호가curator: 큐레이터captivating: 눈길을 끄는hesitantly: 망설이며curiosity: 호기심mythical: 신화적인fascinated: 매료되었고preservation: 보존interested: 관심사conversations: 대화engagement: 교환했습니다explore: 탐방하며significant: 큰lingering: 남아 있는spirit: 기운blessed: 축복해embark: 준비journey: 여정cultural: 문화적인heritage: 문화유산delight: 기쁜 마음으로historical: 역사적인exhibition: 전시관understanding: 이해confidence: 자신감을introverted nature: 내성적인 성격

Fluent Fiction - Korean: Finding Direction: A Journey of Friendship and Discovery Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ko/episode/2025-11-22-23-34-02-ko Story Transcript:Ko: 가을이었다.En: It was autumn.Ko: 진우와 민지는 학교에서 가을 소풍으로 자연사 박물관을 방문했다.En: Jinwoo and Minji visited the natural history museum for a school autumn outing.Ko: 하늘은 청명하고, 노란 은행잎이 거리를 덮고 있었다.En: The sky was clear, and the yellow gingko leaves covered the streets.Ko: 박물관 안은 학생들과 관광객들로 붐볐다.En: Inside the museum, it was bustling with students and tourists.Ko: 높은 천장 아래 발걸음 소리가 울려 퍼졌고, 누렇게 물드는 가을빛이 창문을 통해 공룡 뼈대와 고대 유물을 비추며 따뜻한 빛을 뿌렸다.En: Footsteps echoed under the high ceiling, and the golden autumn light seeped through the windows, casting a warm glow on dinosaur skeletons and ancient artifacts.Ko: 진우는 공룡 전시관 앞에서 섰다.En: Jinwoo stood in front of the dinosaur exhibit.Ko: 그는 역사를 사랑하는 호기심 많은 고등학생이었다.En: He was a curious high school student who loved history.Ko: 그러나 그의 마음속에는 미래에 대한 불안과 방향 감각의 상실이 자리 잡고 있었다.En: However, a sense of anxiety about the future and a loss of direction occupied his mind.Ko: 그는 앞으로 무엇을 해야 할지 고민이 많았다.En: He was contemplating what he should do moving forward.Ko: 친구 민지는 곁에서 활기찬 모습으로 박물관을 둘러보았다.En: His friend, Minji, cheerfully explored the museum by his side.Ko: 하지만 민지도 가정의 기대와 학업 성적에 대한 압박을 느끼고 있었다.En: However, she also felt the pressure of her family's expectations and her academic performance.Ko: 진우는 한숨을 쉬며 말했다. "민지야, 나 요즘 많이 혼란스러워. 내 미래가 어떻게 될지 모르겠어."En: Jinwoo sighed and said, "Minji, I'm so confused these days. I don't know what my future holds."Ko: 민지는 잠시 생각하더니, 진우를 밝혔다. "나도 힘들어. 부모님 기대가 너무 커서 가끔은 숨이 막힐 것 같아. 겉으로는 자신감 넘쳐 보이지만, 속은 그렇지 않아."En: Minji thought for a moment and then confided in Jinwoo. "I'm struggling too. My parents' expectations are so high that sometimes I feel suffocated. I may look confident on the outside, but inside, it's not like that."Ko: 진우는 민지의 말을 듣고 놀랐다.En: Jinwoo was surprised to hear Minji's words.Ko: 그는 자신이 혼자가 아니었다는 사실에 안도감을 느꼈다.En: He felt relieved knowing that he wasn't alone.Ko: "그래도 우리 같은 고민을 함께 나눌 수 있어서 다행이야. 나의 고민도 조금씩 풀릴 것 같아."En: "I'm glad we can share these worries together. I feel like my troubles might start to unravel little by little."Ko: 공룡 전시관을 지나며 두 친구는 더 많은 이야기를 나누었다.En: As they passed the dinosaur exhibit, the two friends shared more stories.Ko: 진우는 자신이 하고 싶은 일들을 하나씩 생각해 보기로 결심했다.En: Jinwoo decided to think about the things he really wanted to do.Ko: 더 이상 다른 사람의 기대에 얽매이지 않기로 했다.En: He resolved not to be entangled in other people's expectations anymore.Ko: 민지도 진우와 이야기를 나누며 자신의 고민을 털어놓고 나니 마음이 한결 가벼워였다.En: Minji also felt much lighter after sharing her concerns with Jinwoo.Ko: 박물관을 나서며 진우는 미소를 지었다. 가을 햇살이 따뜻했다.En: As they left the museum, Jinwoo smiled. The autumn sunshine was warm.Ko: 진우는 마음속 여유를 찾고 있었다.En: Jinwoo found a sense of peace within himself.Ko: 그는 자신만의 길을 찾을 수 있다는 희망을 품고 있었다.En: He harbored hope that he could find his own path.Ko: 이제는 두려움 없이 친구들과 함께 이야기하며, 차근차근 자신의 미래를 그려 나갈 용기가 생겼다.En: Now, without fear, he had the courage to talk with friends and carefully map out his future.Ko: 진우는 민지를 바라보며 말했다. "고마워, 민지야. 네 덕분에 나 혼자가 아니라는 걸 알았어."En: Jinwoo looked at Minji and said, "Thank you, Minji. Thanks to you, I realized I'm not alone."Ko: 그날 이후로 진우는 더 이상 혼자가 아니었다.En: From that day on, Jinwoo was no longer alone.Ko: 친구와 함께라면, 무엇이든 할 수 있다는 자신감을 얻었다.En: With a friend by his side, he gained the confidence that he could do anything.Ko: 가을의 소중한 하루는 그렇게 따뜻한 우정 속에 저물어 갔다.En: The precious autumn day faded away in the warmth of friendship. Vocabulary Words:autumn: 가을outing: 소풍gingko: 은행잎bustling: 붐볐다artifacts: 유물curious: 호기심 많은anxiety: 불안contemplating: 고민cheerfully: 활기찬expectations: 기대suffocated: 숨이 막힐confident: 자신감unravel: 풀릴entangled: 얽매이다harbored: 품고courage: 용기map out: 그리다precious: 소중한faded: 저물어clear: 청명footsteps: 발걸음 소리echoed: 울려 퍼지다seeped: 물드는casting: 비추며glow: 빛exhibit: 전시관direction: 방향 감각relieved: 안도감resolving: 결심light: 한결 가벼워졌다

Are you waiting on an inheritance, a government program, or the bank to finally let you farm "for real"? In this episode, Mary Jo shows how that thinking is exactly what's holding you back, and how Nelson Nash warned us about it years ago.

Anna Ansari is a former New York international trade and customs attorney and now lives in East London. She's written a fascinating debut cookbook, Silk Roads: A Flavor Odyssey with Recipes from Baku to Beijing. It covers Anna's life growing up in an Iranian American family in Michigan and traveling throughout Asia from a young age on what she describes as the many silk roads. And, at the top of the show, it's the return of Three Things, where Aliza and Matt talk about what is exciting them in the world of restaurants, cookbooks, and the food world as a whole. On this episode: Matt visits the great Guamanian restaurant Family Friend in Seattle, and makes stops for Korean coffee at Park at Kims and there's a new pita shop in town at Shifka in New York. Aliza celebrates her birthday at World Spa, Si n'shpi, and dinner at Strange Delight. And we shout out Zola Gregory's latest column and a recipe for a Nutella pie worth celebrating. Subscribe to This Is TASTE: ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're back with another AFTN Soccer Show packed full of Vancouver Whitecaps and Major League Soccer chat and interviews and we're joined by special guest co-host Global TV and CKNW's Asa Rehman. The countdown to the big Whitecaps-LAFC MLS Western Conference semi-final continues. We look ahead to the match with Asa and hear the thoughts of LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo ahead of the game, and he's already trying to put pressure on the referee! We also chat with Whitecaps Sebastian Berhalter and Emmanuel Sabbi about the match, and former Whitecap and Korean national team legend Lee Young-Pyo drops by to talk about his time in Vancouver, the game with LAFC, the threat and impact of Son Heung-min in the league, and how MLS is seen in South Korea. We also talk some more on the big changes coming to the MLS schedule and we bring you the full press conference from MLS Commissioner Don Garber about the changes to the schedule and the Apple TV deal. Music-wise, Camper van Beethoven continue their residency as our Album of the Month, we've a Britpop songs from Autopop, and on a momentous week for the Scottish national team, a song to match it in Wavelength. Here's the rundown for the main segments from the episode: 01.17: Intro 05.33: Whitecaps vs LAFC preview with Asa Rehman 39.25: Sebastian Berhalter interview and discussion 45.22: Emmanuel Sabbi interview and discussion 49.57: LAFC's Steve Cherundolo talks Whitecaps vs LAFC 60.50: YP Lee talks Whitecaps, MLS, and the threat of Son 74.10: MLS schedule change chat with Asa Rehman 88.45: Don Garber's media call on MLS schedule change 114.55: Wavelength - Randolph's Leap - They Never Saw Us Coming

This episode kicks off with big news about the legendary Red Light Ramen, which returns for a special one-night-only pop-up on Nov. 28. Find out what's on the menu, including Tonkatsu ramen, Japanese curry and those famous boozy slushies.Next, we celebrate TrueMan McGee of Funky Fresh Spring Rolls! After pausing a national roll-out, McGee pivoted to the Funky Fresh Virtual Kitchen, now offering weekly online ordering for pickup, meal kits like Tuscan salmon, and exciting pizzas (hello, jalapeño elote!).We also cover the latest dining news, including the new Soban Korean Eatery, billed as Milwaukee's first fast-casual Korean restaurant, with plans for a downtown location. Plus, the Curry Cat MKE food truck is setting up a permanent spot outside Red Maple, serving Asian-inspired comfort food like golden curry and beef bogey walking tacos.Ann also shares her long-awaited review of 1033 Omakase, the intimate 10-seat spot with a Japanese prix fixe tasting menu. Without spoiling the whole thing, there were 14 courses and a heavy serving of '90s rap. Finally, we discuss the importance of "third spaces" such as Haven Cafe and Serenity Lounge that transition from coffee houses to late-night bars, helping the community connect.#####This Bites is sponsored by Whiskey Brown Whiskey-Spiked Cookies.

Fluent Fiction - Korean: Unveiling Secrets: The Hidden Treasure of Changdeokgung Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ko/episode/2025-11-21-08-38-20-ko Story Transcript:Ko: 노란 잎이 춤추듯 떨어지는 창덕궁 후원. 진우와 민지가 천천히 걸었다.En: The secret garden of Changdeokgung, where yellow leaves fell like dancing, was the setting as Jin-woo and Min-ji walked slowly.Ko: 가을의 정취가 가득한 비밀 정원에는 고요함과 신비로움이 감돌았다.En: The garden, filled with the atmosphere of autumn, was enveloped in tranquility and mystery.Ko: 진우는 헤어진 연인을 잊기 위해 이곳을 찾았다.En: Jin-woo visited the place to forget a past lover.Ko: 민지는 새로운 예술 프로젝트 주제를 찾고 있었다.En: Min-ji was searching for a new theme for her art project.Ko: 둘은 나란히 걷다 뜻밖의 발견을 했다.En: While walking side by side, they made an unexpected discovery.Ko: 낡은 벤치 아래에서 종이가 삐져나와 있었다.En: Under an old bench, a piece of paper was sticking out.Ko: 조심스럽게 살펴보니, 오래된 편지였다.En: On careful inspection, it was an old letter.Ko: 진우는 호기심에 두근거렸고, 민지는 주위의 모습을 스케치하기 시작했다.En: Jin-woo's heart pounded with curiosity, and Min-ji began to sketch the surrounding scenery.Ko: “이건 과거의 편지 같아,” 진우가 말했다.En: "This looks like a letter from the past," said Jin-woo.Ko: 하지만 글자가 낯설었다.En: However, the script was unfamiliar.Ko: 고어로 쓰여 있어 완전히 이해할 수 없었다.En: It was written in archaic language and they could not fully understand it.Ko: 진우의 마음이 두근거리기 시작했다.En: Jin-woo's heart began to race.Ko: “이걸 풀면 모험이 펼쳐질지도 몰라.”En: "Solving this could lead to an adventure."Ko: 민지는 그림의 세밀한 부분을 포착하고 있었다.En: Min-ji captured the fine details of her drawing.Ko: 그녀는 편지와 주변 풍경을 상세히 그렸다.En: She sketched the letter and the surrounding landscape in detail.Ko: 마침내 비가 내리기 시작했다.En: Finally, it began to rain.Ko: 비가 편지를 적셔 더 망가질까 걱정됐다.En: They were worried that the rain might further damage the letter.Ko: 진우는 급히 편지를 사진으로 찍었다.En: Jin-woo quickly took photos of the letter.Ko: 민지도 스케치를 서둘러 마무리했다.En: Min-ji hastily finished her sketch.Ko: “다시 와서 이 수수께끼를 풀어보자,” 진우가 말했다.En: "Let's come back and solve this mystery," said Jin-woo.Ko: 민지는 동의했다.En: Min-ji agreed.Ko: 그녀에게도 이번 경험은 깊은 영감을 주고 있었다.En: This experience was deeply inspiring for her as well.Ko: 해가 질 무렵, 정원의 폐장 시간 안내 방송이 들려왔다.En: As the sun set, they heard the announcement for the garden's closing time.Ko: 둘은 서둘러 출구로 향했다.En: They hurried to the exit.Ko: 정원을 떠나기 전, 마침내 편지의 일부 의미를 풀었다.En: Before leaving the garden, they finally deciphered part of the letter's meaning.Ko: 편지는 정원 어딘가에 숨겨진 역사적 보물을 암시하고 있었다.En: The letter hinted at a historical treasure hidden somewhere in the garden.Ko: “다음에는 준비를 더 철저히 하자,” 민지가 말했다.En: "Next time, let's prepare more thoroughly," Min-ji said.Ko: 진우는 미소 지었다.En: Jin-woo smiled.Ko: 그는 새로운 목적을 찾았다.En: He found a new purpose.Ko: 새로운 추억이 과거에서 벗어나는 방법임을 깨달았다.En: He realized that new memories were a way to break away from the past.Ko: 민지도 이 신비로운 경험을 통해 예술 프로젝트 주제를 찾았다.En: Min-ji also found a theme for her art project through this mysterious experience.Ko: 정문을 나서며 둘은 돌아올 날을 기약했다.En: As they left through the main gate, they promised to return.Ko: 마음 한편이 더욱 풍성해졌다.En: Their hearts felt more enriched.Ko: 민지는 캔버스에 이 순간을 담을 생각에 들떠 있었고, 진우는 새로운 시작에 용기를 얻었다.En: Min-ji was excited at the thought of capturing this moment on canvas, and Jin-woo gained courage for a new beginning.Ko: 창덕궁의 신비는 아직 끝나지 않았다.En: The mystery of Changdeokgung was not yet over.Ko: 그들의 이야기가 다시 시작될 것이었다.En: Their story would start again. Vocabulary Words:tranquility: 고요함mystery: 신비로움discovery: 발견inspection: 조사curiosity: 호기심script: 글자unfamiliar: 낯설다archaic: 고어solving: 풀다adventure: 모험sketch: 스케치landscape: 풍경decipher: 해독하다historical: 역사적treasure: 보물thoroughly: 철저히purpose: 목적memories: 추억enriched: 풍성해진canvas: 캔버스courage: 용기beginning: 시작experience: 경험envelope: 감돌다announced: 안내 방송unexpected: 뜻밖의bench: 벤치damage: 망가지다capture: 포착하다theme: 주제

Fluent Fiction - Korean: Love Lights Up the Lanterns: A Night at Namsan Seoul Tower Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ko/episode/2025-11-21-23-34-02-ko Story Transcript:Ko: 서울의 가을은 아름답습니다.En: Autumn in Seoul is beautiful.Ko: 낙엽이 길 위에 쌓이고, 하늘은 깨끗한 파란색입니다.En: The fallen leaves pile up on the road, and the sky is a clear blue.Ko: 어느 가을 날, 지수와 민준은 남산서울타워에서 만났습니다.En: On a certain autumn day, Jisoo and Minjun met at Namsan Seoul Tower.Ko: 오늘은 특별한 날입니다.En: Today is a special day.Ko: 서울 등불 축제가 열리는 날입니다.En: It's the day of the Seoul Lantern Festival.Ko: 민준은 지수와 어린 시절부터 친한 친구입니다.En: Minjun has been a close friend to Jisoo since childhood.Ko: 그들은 항상 함께 놀고 이야기했습니다.En: They always played and talked together.Ko: 그러나 민준은 오래전부터 지수를 사랑하게 되었습니다.En: However, Minjun has loved Jisoo for a long time.Ko: 오늘 그는 용기를 내어 그녀에게 고백하려고 합니다.En: Today, he is summoning the courage to confess to her.Ko: 남산서울타워는 사람들로 붐볐습니다.En: The Namsan Seoul Tower was crowded with people.Ko: 등불이 하나씩 켜지기 시작했습니다.En: One by one, the lanterns began to light up.Ko: 다양한 모양과 색깔의 등불은 모두를 매료시켰습니다.En: Lanterns of various shapes and colors fascinated everyone.Ko: 지수는 “와, 정말 아름다워!”라며 감탄했습니다.En: Jisoo admired them, saying, "Wow, it's really beautiful!"Ko: 민준은 그녀의 옆에서 조용히 미소 지었습니다.En: Minjun stood next to her, quietly smiling.Ko: 그는 마음속에 여러 고민이 있었습니다.En: He had many concerns in his heart.Ko: “이렇게 말하면, 우린 친구로 남을 수 없을까?”En: "If I say this, won't we just remain friends?"Ko: 그런 두려움은 그의 마음을 무겁게 했습니다.En: Such fears weighed heavily on his mind.Ko: 그러나 오늘 밤, 그는 결심했습니다.En: But tonight, he made up his mind.Ko: 등불이 하늘을 밝히는 순간, 민준은 지수의 손을 잡았습니다.En: At the moment when the lanterns lit up the sky, Minjun took Jisoo's hand.Ko: “지수야, 사실 나 너 많이 좋아해. 오랫동안 그래왔어.”En: "Jisoo, the truth is, I like you a lot. I have for a long time."Ko: 그의 목소리는 떨렸지만, 눈은 진지했습니다.En: His voice trembled, but his eyes were sincere.Ko: 지수는 놀랐습니다.En: Jisoo was surprised.Ko: 하지만 그녀도 마음이 따뜻해지는 것을 느꼈습니다.En: But she also felt her heart warm.Ko: “민준아, 나... 그런 생각은 해 본 적 없었어.En: "Minjun, I've never really thought about it like that.Ko: 하지만 네가 소중한 건 알아.En: But I know you're important to me.Ko: 이제 우리가 앞으로 어떻게 될지 알아가고 싶어.”En: I want to see how we can move forward."Ko: 그들의 마음은 등불 아래에서 더욱 가깝게 이어졌습니다.En: Under the lanterns, their hearts grew closer.Ko: 지수는 자신의 마음을 다시 바라보게 되었고, 민준은 자신의 진심을 말할 용기를 얻었습니다.En: Jisoo began to look into her own heart again, and Minjun gained the courage to speak his true feelings.Ko: 두 사람은 함께 걷기 시작했습니다.En: The two of them began to walk together.Ko: 낙엽 위를 걸으며, 그들의 새로운 관계를 탐험하기로 했습니다.En: Walking over the fallen leaves, they decided to explore their new relationship.Ko: 서울의 밤은 아직 젊었고, 그들의 이야기도 이제 막 시작되었습니다.En: The night in Seoul was still young, and their story had just begun. Vocabulary Words:autumn: 가을fallen leaves: 낙엽pile up: 쌓이다courage: 용기confess: 고백하다crowded: 붐비다fascinated: 매료되다admired: 감탄하다concerns: 고민weighed: 무겁게 하다trembled: 떨리다sincere: 진지하다surprised: 놀라다warm: 따뜻하다important: 소중하다explore: 탐험하다relationship: 관계young: 젊다summoning: 내다lantern: 등불moment: 순간speak: 말하다forward: 앞으로mind: 마음relay: 이어지다walk: 걷다decide: 결심하다certain: 어느admired: 감탄하다story: 이야기

GDP Script/ Top Stories for November 20th Publish Date: November 20th PRE-ROLL: SUGAR HILL ICE SKATING From the BG AD Group Studio Welcome to the Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. Today is Thursday, November 20th and Happy birthday to Bobby Kennedy I’m Peyton Spurlock and here are your top stories presented by KIA Mall of Georgia. Lawmakers consider paring tax credits and exemptions to offset income tax cuts Piedmont Eastside and Piedmont Oncology welcome medical oncologist Sami Ali Gwinnett commissioners to issue bonds for Gas South Arena renovations Plus, Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on rice All of this and more is coming up on the Gwinnett Daily Post podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen daily and subscribe! Break 1: STRAND THEATRE STORY 1: Lawmakers consider paring tax credits and exemptions to offset income tax cuts  Georgia lawmakers are seriously considering wiping out the state income tax—$16 billion in revenue—and replacing it by slashing $30 billion in tax credits and exemptions. “It’s not if, it’s when,” said Sen. Blake Tillery, who’s leading the charge. He called it a move for “competitiveness.” Supporters like economist Arthur Laffer praised states like Tennessee for thriving without income taxes, calling it “really cool” not to file returns. But critics, like Sen. Nan Orrock, warned it could hit low-income families and retirees hardest, especially if sales taxes rise. The debate? Far from settled. STORY 2: Piedmont Eastside and Piedmont Oncology welcome medical oncologist Sami Ali  Piedmont Eastside Medical Center and Piedmont Oncology are thrilled to welcome Dr. Sami Ali to their team. Dr. Ali, a board-certified hematologist and oncologist, brings years of experience treating patients with lung cancer, colorectal cancer, blood disorders, and more. Before joining Piedmont, Dr. Ali spent eight years at The Oncology Institute in Los Angeles, where he provided personalized care, led treatment plans, and contributed to clinical research. “We’re excited to have him,” said Larry Ebert, Piedmont Eastside’s CEO. “His expertise will help us expand cancer care in Gwinnett County.” Dr. Ali is now accepting new patients. For appointments, visit Piedmont.org or call 678-639-3950. STORY 3: Gwinnett commissioners to issue bonds for Gas South Arena renovations   Gwinnett County commissioners took a big step Tuesday toward funding a major facelift for the 23-year-old Gas South Arena. The plan? Revenue bonds—up to $172 million worth—to cover renovations like new seating, upgraded security, better concessions, and even a shiny new parking deck. The total cost? Somewhere between $170 and $176 million. The county might chip in $40 million to ease the debt load, according to Financial Services Director Russell Royal. What’s changing? Think premium seating, revamped suites, modernized restrooms, grab-and-go food, and a high-tech security plaza. Oh, and the roof, HVAC, and electrical systems? All getting replaced. We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.874.3200 for more info. We’ll be right back Break 2: 07.14.22 KIA MOG STORY 4: Georgia Gwinnett College celebrates International Education Week   Georgia Gwinnett College turned International Education Week into a colorful, culture-packed celebration that brought the world to campus. From Nov. 10, students and staff dove into 14 events—everything from global traditions to study-abroad opportunities. The highlight? A visit from Lithuania’s Consul General, DOH-vee-dahs Dovydas shpo-KOW-skas Špokauskas, who spoke on diplomacy and security, thanks to professor DOH-vee-leh Dovilė boo-DREE-teh Budryte. Korean culture stole the show at Seoul Connections, with K-Pop, snacks, and games filling the room. And the International Thanksgiving? A feast of global flavors, live music, and a cultural fashion show. The week wrapped with poetry, music, and a reminder: the world’s waiting—go explore it. STORY 5: Gwinnett waiving tax penalties for residents impacted by government shutdown Gwinnett County is throwing a lifeline to residents hit hard by the recent federal shutdown. On Tuesday, commissioners gave Tax Commissioner Denise Mitchell the green light to waive penalties and interest on late ad valorem taxes for those furloughed or who lost SNAP benefits during the chaos. “Georgia law lets me waive penalties for reasonable cause,” Mitchell explained. “And over the past few weeks, I’ve heard from residents struggling to pay their bills because of the shutdown.” This doesn’t erase the taxes—just the late fees. To qualify, folks need proof of furlough or lost benefits, and the waiver only covers bills due during or shortly after the shutdown. We’ll be right back. Break 3: THE SUGAR HILL HOLIDAY And now here is Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on rice Break 4: BUFORD HOLIDAY FESTIVAL We’ll have closing comments after this Break 5: Ingles Markets 8 Signoff – Thanks again for hanging out with us on today’s Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at www.gwinnettdailypost.com Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Produced by the BG Podcast Network Show Sponsors: www.ingles-markets.com www.kiamallofga.com Strand Marietta – Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre Ice Rink – Downtown Sugar Hill Holiday Celebration 2025 – City of Sugar Hill 2025 Buford Holiday Festival & Parade All-In-One Flyer News Podcast, Current Events, Top Headlines, Breaking News, Podcast News, Trending, Local News, Daily, News, Podcast, Interviews See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Baseball United: A New Frontier from the United Arab EmiratesGames played in 1 convertible stadium in Dubai to seat 6,500–37,0004 Teams: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Mumbai, KarachiSeason: Just 9 games per team iOwnership: Major MLB names—Barry Larkin, Adrian Beltre, Robinson Cano, Robinson Chirinos, Elvis AndrusSavannah Bananas–style rules:Inning-Ending Fireball: Designated Runner: 3x per game.No Extra Innings: Ties are resolved via Home Run Derby.Moneyball At-Bats: Up to 3 per game, doubling all runs scoredCricket dominates Gulf regionDubai's population is 90% expatriates, could help broaden interest.Future presence in the World Baseball Classic?Reflections of LIV for Baseball United PathImpact on LIV with PGA as a rivalControversy on poaching players Jack Nicklaus wins $50 million defamation judgment after company falsely tied him to LIV support.

In this episode of The Positive Pause, host Claire Gill sits down with EJ Kim and Marina Pen, co-founders of NNABI, the first company built specifically to support women in perimenopause, for a discussion around the massive awareness gap surrounding this life stage, their groundbreaking “Peri Power Report 2025”, and why women deserve better education, community, and tools as they navigate perimenopause.EJ Kim's personal struggles with PCOS and later perimenopause led her to seek natural, evidence-based solutions. When Marina began experiencing anxiety, sleepless nights, and mood swings, she discovered it wasn't stress; it was perimenopause. Surprised by how little conversation and guidance existed, she turned frustration into purpose. Together they created NNABI, which means butterfly in Korean and represents love, hope, beauty and transformation, a brand created to educate and empower women through one of the most transformative stages of their lives through credible information, supportive community and doctor-formulated solutions designed specifically for Perimenopause. EJ is passionate about redefining the conversation around perimenopause as a power era, and ensuring that women are understood, seen, and recognized for the power they hold and reflected accurately in media and narratives.This episode sheds light on a stage of life that affects millions of women yet remains widely misunderstood -- many women begin experiencing perimenopause years before they expect to, often in their 30s or early 40s, without recognizing the signs.Key Points CoveredThere is a significant awareness gap - women often experience multiple symptoms (fatigue, anxiety, sleep disruption, joint pain, irritability, brain fog, and weight changes) yet do not associate them with perimenopause and are frequently misattributed to stress or aging instead of hormonal shifts. Education is critical - Understanding the term “perimenopause” and being able to name what's happening helps counter feelings of confusion or self-blame. Community support—at home, in the workplace, and among peers—plays a major role in helping women navigate this stage. We all need to learn and talk about how to share the loads! Perimenopause is not strictly a negative phase - Many women experience newfound clarity, confidence, boundary-setting, and personal power during this time, which becomes sources of their power. There is no single solution or a quick fix - Instead, women benefit from a toolkit approach that may include medical guidance, lifestyle changes, sleep support, movement, supplements, and stress management.This episode sheds light on a stage of life that affects millions of women yet remains widely misunderstood. Claire, EJ, and Marina explore the symptoms most women overlook, the emotional impact of not knowing what's happening, and the importance of education, community, and supportive tools. Through NNABI's “Peri Power Report” and their mission, they highlight both the challenges and the strengths that define this transitional chapter and underscore why women deserve clarity, compassion, and resources that truly reflect their experience.Connect with EJ & MarinaNNABI website: https://nnabilife.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nnabi.life LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nnabi/NNABI's “The Peri Power Report 2025”: https://nnabilife.com/pages/get-the-peri-power-report 

Fluent Fiction - Korean: Rekindling Bonds at Seoul's Autumn Festival Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ko/episode/2025-11-20-23-34-02-ko Story Transcript:Ko: 서울숲의 가을은 참 아름다웠습니다.En: Autumn in Seoul Forest was truly beautiful.Ko: 온통 주황빛 낙엽이 바람에 흩날리고 공원 곳곳에서 축제의 소리가 들려왔습니다.En: Orange leaves fluttered in the wind, and the sounds of festivals could be heard throughout the park.Ko: 진수는 축제에 오기로 한 자신을 의아해했습니다.En: Jinsu wondered why he had decided to come to the festival.Ko: 그는 친구들과의 관계가 예전 같지 않았지만, 다시 이어질 수 있다는 희망을 품고 있었습니다.En: His relationships with friends weren't as they used to be, but he held hope that they could rekindle.Ko: 진수는 사무실에서 열심히 일하는 사람이었습니다.En: Jinsu was someone who worked hard in the office.Ko: 그는 하루가 끝나면 피곤함에 집으로 곧장 향하는 경우가 많았습니다.En: Often, he would head straight home from work, exhausted.Ko: 때문에 친구들과의 만남이 점점 줄어들었습니다.En: As a result, his meetings with friends became less frequent.Ko: 그리고 오늘, 그는 그 감정의 거리감을 좁히고 싶어 서울숲의 가을 축제를 찾아왔습니다.En: Today, he wanted to close the emotional distance and came to the autumn festival at Seoul Forest.Ko: 처음에는 혼자 걷기만 했습니다.En: At first, he just walked alone.Ko: 사람들은 커다란 호박을 나르거나, 향긋한 군밤을 먹으며 즐거워했습니다.En: People were happily carrying large pumpkins and eating fragrant roasted chestnuts.Ko: 진수는 이런 분위기가 어색했습니다.En: Jinsu felt awkward in this atmosphere.Ko: 하지만 그는 그곳에 오는 사람들을 바라보며 친구들이 올 수 있길 희망했습니다.En: But as he watched the people coming to the festival, he hoped his friends would show up.Ko: 갑자기 무리 사이에서 낯익은 얼굴들이 보였습니다.En: Suddenly, he saw familiar faces in the crowd.Ko: 민지와 태연이었습니다.En: It was Minji and Taeyeon.Ko: 진수는 멀리서 그들을 보며 망설였습니다.En: Jinsu hesitated as he watched them from a distance.Ko: ‘혹시 나를 반가워하지 않으면 어쩌지?'En: 'What if they're not happy to see me?'Ko: 그의 마음은 가능성과 두려움 사이에서 갈팡질팡했습니다.En: His mind wavered between possibilities and fear.Ko: 그러나 곧 그는 스스로에게 용기를 냈습니다.En: However, he soon gathered courage.Ko: 오랜만에 만나는 친구들에게 다가가 보자고 마음먹었습니다.En: He decided to approach his long-time friends.Ko: 진수는 천천히 그들 쪽으로 걸어갔습니다.En: Jinsu walked slowly towards them.Ko: 그때, 민지가 먼저 그를 발견하고 환하게 웃으며 손을 흔들었습니다.En: At that moment, Minji spotted him first, smiling brightly and waving.Ko: "진수야, 여기야!"En: "Hey, Jinsu! Over here!"Ko: 친구들과의 다정한 인사는 마치 시간이 흐르지 않았던 것처럼 자연스러웠습니다.En: The warm greeting with friends felt as natural as if no time had passed.Ko: 그들은 함께 공원의 여러 활동을 즐겼고, 낙엽을 밟으며 옛 추억을 이야기했습니다.En: They enjoyed various activities in the park together, and as they walked over the fallen leaves, they reminisced about old memories.Ko: 진수는 이러한 따뜻함이 오랫동안 그리웠음을 느꼈습니다.En: Jinsu realized how much he had missed this warmth.Ko: 그날 밤, 진수는 미소를 띠며 집으로 돌아갔습니다.En: That night, Jinsu returned home with a smile.Ko: 그는 친구들과의 관계를 다시 이어갈 수 있다는 확신을 얻었습니다.En: He felt assured that he could reconnect with his friends.Ko: 그리고 그 순간, 그는 관계의 소중함과 이니셔티브의 힘을 알게 되었습니다.En: In that moment, he understood the value of relationships and the power of initiative.Ko: 혼자서 공원에 올 결정을 했던 자신이 자랑스러웠습니다.En: He was proud of himself for deciding to come to the park alone.Ko: 서울숲의 가을은 끝나가고 있었지만, 진수의 마음엔 새롭게 시작된 따뜻한 우정의 계절이 찾아왔습니다.En: Though autumn was ending in Seoul Forest, Jinsu's heart welcomed a new season of warm friendship. Vocabulary Words:fluttered: 흩날리고rekindle: 다시 이어질exhausted: 피곤함frequency: 빈도emotional distance: 감정의 거리감fragrant: 향긋한awkward: 어색hesitated: 망설였습니다wavered: 갈팡질팡했습니다initiative: 이니셔티브value: 소중함approach: 다가가familiar: 낯익은gathered courage: 스스로에게 용기를 냈습니다crowd: 무리reminisce: 추억을 이야기했습니다assured: 확신을 얻었습니다welcomed: 찾아왔습니다greeting: 인사relationships: 관계spotted: 발견하고wavering: 갈팡질팡carrying: 나르거나realized: 느꼈습니다reconnect: 다시 이어갈hesitate: 망설였습니다profound: 깊은ensued: 이어졌다emphasize: 강조하다approached: 다가갔습니다

Fluent Fiction - Korean: Finding Joy Beyond Chuseok's Autumn Colors: A Heartfelt Quest Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ko/episode/2025-11-20-08-38-20-ko Story Transcript:Ko: 경복궁의 정원은 가을빛으로 가득 찼습니다.En: The gardens of Gyeongbokgung were filled with the colors of autumn.Ko: 붉고 금빛으로 물든 나무들 아래, 추석을 맞이한 사람들로 북적였습니다.En: Under the trees dyed in red and gold, there was a crowd of people celebrating Chuseok.Ko: 서진은 하루 종일 일한 후, 체력도 마음도 피곤했습니다.En: Seojin was exhausted both physically and mentally after working all day.Ko: 그러나 그녀에게는 목적이 있었습니다. 할머니에게 줄 완벽한 선물을 찾는 것이었죠.En: However, she had a purpose: to find the perfect gift for her grandmother.Ko: 서진의 곁에는 천진난만한 미소를 띤 친한 친구 민재와, 에너지가 넘치는 사촌 은서가 있었습니다.En: Next to Seojin were her close friend Minjae, who wore an innocent smile, and her energetic cousin Eunseo.Ko: 은서는 한국의 전통에 굉장히 호기심이 많아 보였습니다.En: Eunseo seemed very curious about Korean traditions.Ko: 세 사람은 하나같이 수려한 경복궁의 정원을 거닐며, 전통 음식을 즐기고, 다양한 물건들을 구경했습니다.En: The three of them strolled through the beautiful Gyeongbokgung gardens, enjoying traditional food and browsing various items.Ko: 하지만 서진의 마음은 무겁기만 했습니다.En: But Seojin's heart felt heavy.Ko: 그녀의 머릿속은 해야 할 일들로 가득 찼습니다.En: Her mind was filled with tasks she needed to complete.Ko: 그녀는 마음속으로 조용히 전쟁 중이었습니다.En: Quietly, she was waging a war within herself.Ko: "시간이 없는데, 해야 할 일도 많아..." 서진은 마음을 가라앉히고자 했으나 쉽지 않았습니다.En: "There's not enough time, and so much to do..." Seojin tried to calm her mind, but it wasn't easy.Ko: 그때 민재가 다가와 말했습니다. "서진, 좀 쉬어 가는 게 어때? 지금 이 순간을 즐겨봐."En: That's when Minjae approached her and said, "Hey, Seojin, how about taking a break? Enjoy this moment."Ko: 민재의 제안에 서진은 잠시 멈춰 섰습니다.En: At Minjae's suggestion, Seojin paused.Ko: 그녀는 마음을 돌리고, 친구들과 함께 축제를 즐기기로 결심했습니다.En: She decided to shift her mindset and enjoy the festival with her friends.Ko: 그러다 우연히 하나의 부스에 다다랐습니다.En: Then, they stumbled upon a booth by chance.Ko: 그곳에는 수공예로 만들어진 아름다운 장식품들이 전시되어 있었습니다.En: It displayed beautiful handcrafted ornaments.Ko: 그중 하나는 할머니와 함께하던 소중했던 어린 시절의 추억을 떠올리게 했습니다.En: One of them reminded her of cherished childhood memories with her grandmother.Ko: 작은 나전칠기 상자는 할머니의 방 한구석을 항상 따스하게 채워주었습니다.En: A small najeon chilgi box always warmly lit up a corner of her grandmother's room.Ko: 서진은 그 장식품을 집어 들고 미소를 지었습니다. 따스한 감정이 그녀를 감싸고 있었습니다.En: Seojin picked up the ornament and smiled, enveloped in a warm feeling.Ko: "이거야. 이게 할머니께 드릴 선물이야." 서진은 마음의 평화를 찾으며 장식품을 구매했습니다.En: "This is it. This is the gift for grandmother." With newfound peace of mind, Seojin purchased the ornament.Ko: 서진은 그날, 가족과 함께하는 순간의 소중함을 다시금 느꼈습니다.En: That day, Seojin rediscovered the importance of moments spent with family.Ko: 일에 쫓겨 달리는 것보다, 사랑하는 사람들과 시간을 보내는 것이 얼마나 중요한지 깨달았습니다.En: She realized that spending time with loved ones is more important than being driven by work.Ko: 경복궁의 정원은 여전히 활기차고 아름다웠습니다.En: The gardens of Gyeongbokgung were still lively and beautiful.Ko: 서진, 민재, 은서는 그렇게 한 걸음 한 걸음 가벼운 발걸음으로, 사랑스러운 추억을 품고 집으로 향했습니다.En: Seojin, Minjae, and Eunseo walked home with light steps, carrying lovely memories.Ko: 그날의 경험은 서진에게 힘든 일상 속 작은 기쁨을 찾는 법을 알려주었습니다.En: The experience taught Seojin how to find small joys in a challenging daily life.Ko: 그리고 그 작은 기쁨이 얼마나 큰 행복을 가져다주는지를 말입니다.En: And how those small joys could bring about great happiness. Vocabulary Words:autumn: 가을exhausted: 피곤한purpose: 목적innocent: 천진난만한energetic: 에너지가 넘치는curious: 호기심이 많은strolled: 거닐다traditional: 전통적인browsing: 구경cherished: 소중한childhood: 어린 시절memories: 추억enveloped: 감싸인peace: 평화lively: 활기찬challenging: 힘든handcrafted: 수공예ornaments: 장식품innocent: 천진난만함shift: 돌리다mindset: 마음가짐booth: 부스displayed: 전시된rediscovered: 다시 느끼다driven: 쫓긴vivid: 선명한subtle: 미묘한importance: 중요성gifts: 선물들gratitude: 감사

In this 'on the go', rambling but real episode (a 50th, milestone!), Jay speaks to you from the surroundings which are that big city known as DAEGU (대구) where he was invited to, by not one but two of his art-related friends... and much of this episode was recorded on the last full day in South Korea, 1st November 2025 (yes, the day before I would leave, that being 2nd November* and also the day Jay was in 3 Asian cities in 1 Day:  Daegu, Seoul and Chiang Mai...!) *That date of 2nd November was ALSO the exact same date I would leave Korea a year before [2024]. This visit to Daegu marked Jay's second visit - his first being about 12 years ago [2013...?] - and just like the last one it's a rather short visit, albeit managing to do quite a lot over 3 days / nights... and these things include: - Visiting the Daegu metro memorial - Visiting the Daegu Arts Centre - Meals with friends / artists - A little sight-seeing - The KTX train there, and back (always a great experience in Korea) Things NOT touched on but will touch on in the future: - 'Daefrica' - Spotting an actual rollercoaster... soon after using the phrase, "rollercoaster"  - Safety park elsewhere in Daegu, related to or started due to the Metro Disaster in 2003.  - My hotel - will cover later on - Being approached by a well-known church group Jay also touches on the reasons for being in Korea on this particular trip, and indeed it being his 12th time in South Korea!  Yes, this includes mention of his feature documentary [SEWOL:  Sealed Eternally With Our Love] having its Korean Premiere in Seoul, at the lovely "Seoul Whistler Film Festival". [NOTE: As always, a version of this episode will also be available over on our fairly recently created @notsokoreanpodcast YouTube channel - please feel free to subscribe to that!] FURTHER INFO Details about subjects covered or touched on in this episode and recent ones can be found below. Photo Bienale / Daegu arts centre :https://daeguartscenter.or.krhttps://2025.daeguphoto.com/en... 10AAAhttps://www.facebook.com/10AAA...http://www.10aaa.co.uk/?fbclid... METRO (safety park):https://www.daegu.go.kr/safe11... Sewol:https://rememberingsewoluk.wor...https://www.facebook.com/Remem...https://www.instagram.com/sewo... Jason Verney's "Reparation":http://www.Instagram.com/Repar... (@Reparation_Film)https://www.imdb.com/name/nm67...https://youtu.be/UHr9fpvr7M4 (TRAILER)https://youtu.be/QOEy-VMs7ns MBF Podcast:https://linktr.ee/microbudgetf... + FLICKS: As well as these other podcast series, Jason Verney's  "F. L. I. C. K. S.  (Film, Life, Interview, Camera, Korea & Sounds)" podcast SERIES is a podcast by filmmaker and journalist Jason Verney, in collaboration with his production company, NativeNomadPictures.com (NNP) and his movies & music website, MiniMiniMovie.com (MMM), and stands for: Films Life Interviews Camera Korea Sounds. You can find it ' everywhere '...  #SewolFerry #KoreanMusic #Podcasts The bulk of this episode was recorded on 1st November 2025 (in Phuketi, Thailand). The music featured in this show is by the wonderful Kaya:http://www.kaya-music.co.uk SHOW INFO The Not So Korean Podcast is recorded - or started - 'live' from New Malden, the UK and Europe's largest Koreatown. We bring you news, topics of conversation, and interviews related to the Korean community and K-Culture.  These days, episodes are also recorded in South Korea itself, other parts of Asia or other areas of the UK. LINKShttp://www.Instagram.com/NotSo...http://www.Facebook.com/NotSoK... https://www.Facebook.com/groups/394611638703383 (Community / Discussion) https://Twitter.com/NoSoKoPo PODCAST ALL NoSoKoPO LINKShttps://linktr.ee/NotSoKoreanP... Website: https://NotSoKoreanPodcast.com YouTube: https://YouTube.com/JasonVerne... (@JasonVerney / "Jason K-Town Veney) Alt. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@notsokoreanpodcast2788 (@notsokoreanpodcast) Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/... iTunes / Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/... Amazon Music/Podcasts Audible YouTube Spreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/show/... [and all good Podcast platforms] VIDEO / SOUND: Edited & Engineered by Jason Verney ARTWORK: Designed [but not Drawn] by Jason VerneyBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-not-so-korean-podcast--4992153/support.

In the final installment of our series on Korean cults, we expose the mind control tactics woven through groups like Shincheonji, the Olive Tree Movement, and the Unification Church. Building on the theological patterns we uncovered in episodes 1 and 2, we break down how these movements use reinterpreted Scripture, deceptive “Bible studies,” and authoritarian teaching structures designed to make you question the Bible—and trust their leaders as the only true source of revelation.We talk with our returning guests to uncover how these groups systematically dismantle a person's confidence in God's Word, isolate them from outside voices, and replace biblical authority with hidden doctrines, secret meanings, and messianic claims.This episode exposes how Korean messianic movements manipulate Scripture, control information, and infiltrate churches—and how Christians can recognize, resist, and refute their strategies with sound theology and the true Gospel.We're joined by Pastor Yang, Adjunct Professor of New Testament at the Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary in Seoul, who holds a Doctor of Theology in New Testament and served as a Visiting Scholar at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (2023–2024). Also joining us is Chris, a former member of Shincheonji and returning Cultish guest, who shares his firsthand experience and ongoing efforts to raise awareness about the growing global influence of Korean cults. Partner With Us & Be Part of the Mission to Change Lives: HERESHOP OUR MERCH: HEREPlease consider subscribing to our YouTube Channel: CultishTV.comCultish is a 100% crowdfunded ministry. -- Email Chris & Pastor Yang: biblev@daum.net Chris@examiningthecults.org Chris's Website: HEREChris's YouTube: HEREPastor Yang's YouTube: HERE

W. David Marx is a writer and cultural historian based in Tokyo, Japan, known for his book Status and Culture, among others. His newest book, Blank Space, is out today. We chat with him from New York City about barbecued monkfish, the San Vicente Bungalows ice cream sundae, alterna-pop music, how he dressed at nineteen, selvedge denim, the evolving Olivia Nuzzi scandal and orchestrated writer drama, Hawk Tuah, if Japan is still enamoured by Western American culture, American fast food flavor, Korean musician Psy, whats next after video takes over media, unstucking culture, recession pop part deux, and the Vice magazine "22 rule." instagram.com/wdavidmarx twitter.com/donetodeath twitter.com/themjeans howlonggone.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week Lia, Megan and Amy get into The Bechdel Test in Korean dramas. How does a piece of media pass The Bechdel Test? It has to meet three criteria: it must feature at least two women, the two women must have a conversation with each other, and the conversation must not be about a man. This should not be a high bar...and yet? And...yet.K-Pop Rec of the Week: Spaghetti by La Sserafim (featuring J-Hope of BTS)Ready to download your first audiobook? Don't forget to click HERE for your free Audible trial.*Audible is a sponsor of Afternoona Delight Podcast*Are your family and friends sick of you talking about K-drama? We get it...and have an answer. Join our AfterNoona Delight Patreon and find community among folks who get your obsession. And check out www.afternoonadelight.com for more episodes, book recs and social media goodness. And don't forget about the newest member of our network: Afternoona Asks where diaspora Asians living in the West find ways to reconnect to Asian culture via Asian/KDramas.Last but CERTAINLY not least....love BTS? Or curious what all the fuss is about? Check out our sister pod Afternoona Army for "thinky, thirsty and over thirty" takes on Bangtan life. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Today we talk about things we do at work outside of our typical job scope - including attending happy hours, helping to plan events or socials, and taking classes or optional programs to expand our expertise! We chat about ways to make work life feel more dynamic and catered to our personal interests and goals.Support the showFollow us on social media @eatyourcrustpod

learn how to say 'job' in Korean

Kate and Molly speak with chef, food writer, recipe developer and bar owner Irene Yoo about her debut cookbook Soju Party. Irene talks about her varied media career, the bar pop-ups that led to her opening a bar and writing this book. She's explains why she never thought she'd write this type of book, how her photo directing experience helped with the shoot and design and the thinking behind the book's unique organization, recipe curation and voice. She shares how it evolved from proposal to finished project, where she spent time researching and what was the hardest part of working on it. Finally she tells us why it was personally so important to share Korean food and drink culture and what she hopes this book brings to the conversation.Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea NguyenEditor: Abby Cerquitella MentionsJoin The Local Palate Cookbook Club Irene YooWebsiteOrion BarIG: @yooeatingTikTok: @yooeating YouTube: @ka.ka.studioIrene Yoo's Guide to Korean Drinking on Food 52 Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the showSoju Party: How to Drink (and Eat) Like a Korean, by Irene YouNitethawk Cinema Presents CookbookAnything's Pastable, by Dan PashmanKoji AlchemyFirst Generation, by Frankie GawChili Crisp, by James Park

Send us a textKorea's modern history has plenty of villains, but Hanahoe might be the most quietly terrifying. This was the private club of military officers that spent decades pulling strings behind the scenes and building the foundation for South Korea's authoritarian era. Chun Doo hwan and Roh Tae woo did not just show up and grab power. They were groomed for it inside this secret alumni club of Air Force cadets who treated the nation like their future inheritance.We get into the shadow world of coups, purges, favoritism, region based politics and the strange afterlife of Hanahoe's legacy in Korean society. If you want to understand why Korean democracy took so long to take root, this is the rot at the center. Korea's #1 ghost and dark history walking tour. Book at DarkSideOfSeoul.com Get your comic at DarkSideOfSeoul.comSupport the showJoin our Patreon to get more stuff https://patreon.com/darksideofseoul Book a tour of The Dark Side of Seoul Ghost Walk at https://darksideofseoul.com Pitch your idea here. https://www.darksideofseoul.com/expats-of-the-wild-east/ Credits Produced by Joe McPherson and Shawn Morrissey Music by Soraksan Top tier Patrons Angel EarlJoel BonominiDevon HiphnerGabi PalominoSteve MarshEva SikoraRon ChangMackenzie MooreHunter WinterCecilia Löfgren DumasJosephine RydbergDevin BuchananAshley WrightGeorge Irion Facebook Page | Instagram

Send us a textBall Watching hosts, Jake Koenig and Justin Graham, recap SLU Men's A-10 Tournament Title, weigh in on Josh Yaro's new contract, break down the MLS schedule/table format changes for 2027, and bring on data analyst, Mike Sinnott (@ChatCityTactics), to audit St. Louis CITY SC's 2026 roster!Follow the show on X and/or Instagram (@BallWatchingSTL)! Find our guest interviews and all episodes in video form on YouTube by searching https://www.youtube.com/@ballwatchingSTL. Be sure to hit subscribe and turn notifications on!Hoffmann Brothers is the 2025 presenting sponsor of Ball Watching! Headquartered right here in St. Louis for over 40 years, Hoffmann Brothers is a full-service residential & commercial provider, providing Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing, Drains, Sewer, Water Heaters, Duct Cleaning, Electrical and Appliance Repair services. Visit them online at hoffmannbros.com!Make The Pitch Athletic Club & Tavern (thepitch-stl.com) your St. Louis CITY SC pregame and postgame destination for all your food and drink needs! Tell them your friends at Ball Watching sent you... Seoul Juice is the official drink of Ball Watching and made with three clean simple ingredients: water, organic lemon juice, and Korean pear juice. Get yours at Dierbergs, Sams Club, or online at seouljuice.com. Use code "BALLWATCHING" at checkout for 20% off all online orders!Shop in-store or online at Series Six (seriessixcompany.com) and receive a 15% discount on all orders storewide using code "BALLWATCHING" at checkout!

안녕하세요~ 제 서른세 번째 중급 팟캐스트를 들으러 오신 걸 환영합니다

Five songs. Five distinct moods. One immersive listen that moves from hazy warmth to triumphant return to a heart-tugging plea that won't leave you alone. We spin through new and notable band singles from the Philippines, South Korea, and Japan, comparing notes on production, emotional arcs, and those tiny moments—drops, claps, whispers—that flip a good track into a great one.We start with Over October's 'Dahan', where soft rock and a psychedelic sheen create a slow-burn glow. The vocal sits rich and husky while the guitar shimmers, and a late-song drop brings a goosebump whisper that seals the mood. From there, macico's 'puppet' layers lounge, J-pop, and R&B, all breathy and conspiratorial, hinting at power, distance, and the loneliness between the lines. CNBLUE's 'Curtain call' turns the energy up without losing finesse: bright piano, brass accents, and a propulsive groove that feels like walking back onstage to cheers—grateful, charged, alive. Sakurashimeji's 'who!' brings youthful drive with a smart stereo intro, handclap lift, and a mid-song funk wink that keeps the ride playful and tight. We close on SURL's 'Please stay', where the guitar weeps and the vocal folds into the arrangement like another instrument. It's melancholic, intoxicating, and beautifully produced, the kind of track that asks for one more midnight replay.Throughout, we talk arrangement choices, vocal textures, sonic influences—psychedelic touches, jazz inflections, R&B undercurrents—and how personal context shapes what we hear. If you love discovering Asian indie, pop rock, and cross-genre band sounds, this one's packed with gems and ear-candy details worth your time.Your notes help others find the music, and your favorites might make our next playlist—what track hit you hardest?Over October: Instagram X YouTube Dahanmacico: Instagram X YouTube puppetCNBLUE: Instagram X YouTube Curtain callSakura Shimeji: Instagram X YouTube who!SURL: Instagram YouTube Please staySupport the showPlease help Music Elixir by rating, reviewing, and sharing the episode. We appreciate your support!Follow us on:TwitterInstagram BlueskyIf have questions, comments, or requests click on our form:Music Elixir FormDJ Panic Blog:OK ASIA

Kim Kardashian's recent Seoul beauty trip sparked global interest in Korean stem cell therapy. We explore how these cutting-edge treatments work, why Korea dominates regenerative aesthetics, and how everyday people can access celebrity-level skincare at surprisingly affordable prices. Learn more at https://www.lydianclinic.com/blog/kim-kardashian-stem-cell-treatment-korea/ Lydian Cosmetic Surgery Clinic City: Seoul Address: 836 Nonhyeon-ro, Sinsa-dong, Gangnam Website: https://www.lydianclinic.com/

Fluent Fiction - Korean: Finding Peace: Jiwoo's Autumn Journey to Tradition Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ko/episode/2025-11-19-08-38-20-ko Story Transcript:Ko: 지연한 바람이 제주도의 시골 마을을 감쌌다.En: A belated breeze enveloped the rural village of Jeju Island.Ko: 지우는 지루한 사무실 풍경에서 잠시 벗어나고 싶었다.En: Jiwoo wanted to escape the monotonous office scenery for a while.Ko: 그래서 친구 수진, 사촌 민호와 함께 제주도로 내려오기로 결심했다.En: So, she decided to head to Jeju with her friend Sujin and cousin Minho.Ko: 가을의 제주도는 여느 때보다 아름다웠다.En: Autumn in Jeju was more beautiful than ever.Ko: 노랗고 붉은 단풍이 나뭇가지를 물들이고, 바람이 살랑살랑 불어 푸른 하늘과 잘 어우러졌다.En: Yellow and red leaves colored the branches, and the gently blowing breeze harmonized well with the blue sky.Ko: 지우는 서울에서 거의 시간을 내지 못했다.En: Jiwoo almost never found time in Seoul.Ko: 항상 열심히 일하느라 바쁜 그녀에게 이번 주말 여행은 소중했다.En: This weekend trip was precious for her, as she was always busy working hard.Ko: 제주도로 내려온 이유는 가을 풍경을 바라보며 힐링하고 추석을 맞아 가족의 전통을 느끼고 싶었기 때문이었다.En: She went down to Jeju to heal while gazing at the autumn scenery and to feel the family traditions in celebration of Chuseok.Ko: 수진은 모험가 같았다.En: Sujin was like an adventurer.Ko: 그녀는 새로움을 발견하고 싶어 했다.En: She was eager to discover new things.Ko: 민호는 제주에서 자라 제주의 역사와 전통을 잘 알고 있었다.En: Minho grew up in Jeju and was well-versed in its history and traditions.Ko: 이번 추석, 민호는 가족과 함께 전통적인 제사를 준비하고 있었다.En: This Chuseok, Minho was preparing a traditional ancestral rite with his family.Ko: 지우는 그런 전통을 잘 알지 못했지만, 민호의 도움으로 참여하기로 했다.En: Although Jiwoo wasn't familiar with such traditions, she decided to participate with Minho's help.Ko: "지우야, 이번에 우리 가족과 함께 제사 지내지 않을래?" 민호가 물었다.En: "Jiwoo, why don't you join us for the ancestral rite this time?" Minho asked.Ko: 지우는 잠시 망설였다.En: Jiwoo hesitated for a moment.Ko: 생소하고, 시간도 걸릴 것 같았다.En: It seemed unfamiliar and time-consuming.Ko: 하지만 민호의 진심 어린 제안을 거절할 수 없었다.En: However, she couldn't refuse Minho's sincere invitation.Ko: 제주는 바람과 나무의 노래로 가득 찼다.En: Jeju was filled with the songs of the wind and trees.Ko: 마을 뒤편의 작은 밭에는 갓 수확한 감귤과 곡식 냄새가 가득했다.En: Behind the village, the small fields were full of the scents of freshly harvested tangerines and grains.Ko: 민호의 가족은 정성스럽게 전을 부치고, 떡을 만들고 있었다.En: Minho's family was diligently making pan-fried dishes and rice cakes.Ko: 지우는 가족의 따뜻함 속에서 마음이 조금씩 풀려갔다.En: Amidst the family's warmth, Jiwoo slowly began to relax.Ko: 제사가 시작되었다.En: The ancestral rite began.Ko: 민호는 제사의 순서를 설명했다.En: Minho explained the order of the ceremony.Ko: 지우는 처음엔 불편했지만, 점차 가족의 전통 속에서 마음의 평화를 찾았다.En: Initially uncomfortable, Jiwoo gradually found peace within the family tradition.Ko: 촛불의 은은한 빛 아래, 지우는 자신이 잊고 지낸 것들을 깨달았다. 가족, 전통, 그리고 자신이다.En: Under the soft light of the candles, Jiwoo realized what she had been neglecting: family, tradition, and herself.Ko: 제사가 끝난 후, 지우는 민호와 수진에게 고마움을 전했다.En: After the rite was over, Jiwoo expressed her gratitude to Minho and Sujin.Ko: "덕분에 소중한 시간을 가졌어.En: "Thanks to you, I had a precious time.Ko: 가족과의 추억을 만들어줘서 고마워."En: Thank you for creating memories with your family."Ko: 서울로 돌아가는 길에 지우는 마음속에 따뜻함이 가득했다.En: On her way back to Seoul, Jiwoo felt warmth fill her heart.Ko: 그녀는 이제 더 이상 전통을 낯설게 느끼지 않았다.En: She no longer felt unfamiliar with tradition.Ko: 매 순간을 소중히 여기고, 사랑하는 사람들과 함께하는 시간을 더 귀하게 여길 것이다.En: She decided to cherish every moment and treasure the time spent with loved ones more.Ko: 그렇게 지우는 변화된 마음으로 서울 생활을 다시 시작했다.En: Thus, with a changed heart, Jiwoo resumed her life in Seoul. Vocabulary Words:belated: 지연한enveloped: 감쌌다monotonous: 지루한scenery: 풍경harmonized: 어우러졌다traditions: 전통celebration: 맞아adventurer: 모험가well-versed: 잘 알고 있었다ancestral rite: 제사sincere: 진심 어린diligently: 정성스럽게pan-fried: 부치고amidst: 속에서gradually: 점차neglecting: 잊고 지낸gratitude: 고마움을memories: 추억unfamiliar: 낯설게treasure: 귀하게resumed: 다시 시작했다breeze: 바람rural: 시골precious: 소중했다heal: 힐링participate: 참여하기로hesitated: 망설였다sincerity: 진심scents: 냄새harvested: 수확한

What are the main tenets of the sexual revolution and who are some of the main victims? How do the debates over gender connect to the overall sexual revolution? Who are some of the main victims of the sexual revolution? What is the view of the body in gender ideology and how is that different from a Christian view of the body? We'll answer these questions and more with our guest, Dr. Jennifer Morse, founder and president of the Ruth Institute. Dr. Morse is the President and founder of The Ruth Institute, an interfaith international coalition to defend the family and build a Civilization of Love. Dr. Morse was a campaign spokeswoman for California's winning Proposition 8 campaign, defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman. She has authored or co-authored six books and spoken around the globe. Her work has been translated into Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Polish and Chuukese, the native language of the Micronesian Islands. ==========Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, which offers degrees both online and on campus in Southern California. Find all episodes of Think Biblically at: https://www.biola.edu/think-biblically. Watch video episodes at: https://bit.ly/think-biblically-video. To submit comments, ask questions, or make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.

It's getting hot in the COP.Executive Secretary Simon Stiell turned up the pressure in Belém on Monday, sharpening his message as ministers arrived for what is often the most charged phase of the summit. He called for no more tactical delays, and no more dancing around the hardest issues. And Pope Francis weighed in with an appeal to moral responsibility and global solidarity.Fiona McRaith and Paul Dickenson break down what these dual interventions signal for the state of play at COP30, as key sticking points emerge for negotiators.And: a major milestone in the global energy transition. South Korea has joined the Powering Past Coal Alliance and committed to phasing out coal by 2040. Paul speaks with Joojin Kim of Solutions for Our Climate to unpack what pushed a G20 economy to move and why Korean industry now sees clean power as its competitive future.Finally, Christiana sits down with Minister Sonia Guajajara, Brazil's Minister for Indigenous Peoples, for a powerful conversation about Indigenous diplomacy, forest protection, and why this COP marks a historic shift in global recognition of Indigenous leadership.Learn more:⛏ Mine more information about the Powering Past Coal Alliance

learn how to post comments about getting married with this video conversation

practice casually describing events

practice casually describing events

This week on Militantly Mixed, I am joined by Traci Hobson, a biracial Black and Korean transracial adoptee whom I had the pleasure of meeting at Mixed Asian Day earlier this year. Traci was adopted from Korea and raised in the United States by American parents, navigating not just what it means to be Mixed, but also what it means to be disconnected from her birthplace, language, and culture, in this episode. We talk about identity, belonging, and survival, and how being both Mixed and a transracial adoptee shaped her sense of self, and how motherhood influenced the ways she approaches combating generational trauma. One of the most powerful aspects of our conversation is her recent return to Korea, where she began reclaiming pieces of her life and identity that were lost at the time of her adoption. Traci is such a lovely person and an incredibly thoughtful guest; I am so happy to share her story with you all.A quick programming note: Militantly Mixed is currently on an every-other-week schedule, but I may not be back until December 9th. The week before is both finals and the anniversary of Tristan's death, and I don't expect to be in the best headspace. I appreciate your patience and care while I take the time I need. Thank you for sticking with me, and I'll do my best to return on December 9th.Support My Knit November ChallengeThis month, I'm participating in Knit November to support the American Cancer Society. I'm knitting every day, making chemo caps for people experiencing hair loss during cancer treatment, and raising funds in honor of our community folk we've lost to cancer and the loved ones still fighting.If you're able, please consider donating or sharing the fundraiser link:https://www.facebook.com/donate/1485480965898623/Every stitch, every share, every dollar counts. Thank you for supporting this meaningful work.Support Militantly Mixed: - Visit the Website - https://militantlymixed.com- Listen to episodes, leave a review, or record a voicemail for the show. - Support on Patreon - https://patreon.com/sharmanefury– Shop Militantly Mixed Merch – Logo T-shirts, “Mixed & Hella Queer” tees, and more. Instagram: @militantlymixed Bluesky: @militantlymixed Facebook: Militantly Mixed Podcast

Hello again Pacific War Week by Week listeners, it is I your dutiful host Craig Watson with more goodies from my exclusive patreon podcast series. This is actually going to be a two parter specifically looking at the failure and responsibility of Emperor Hirohito during the 15 year war Japan unleashed in 1931. Again a big thanks to all of you for listening all these years, you are all awesome.   Hello everyone, a big thanks to all of you who joined the patreon and voted for this to be the next episode, you all are awesome.    Now I realize very well when I jumped into my former patreon episode on Ishiwara Kanji, I fell into a rabbit hole and it became a rather long series. I wanted to get this one done in a single episode but its also kind of a behemoth subject, so I will do this in two parts: this episode will be on Hirohito's failure and responsibility in regards to the China War from 1931-1941. The next one will cover Hirohito's failure and responsibility in the world war from 1941-1945.   I am not going to cover the entire life of Hirohito, no what I want is to specifically cover his actions from 1931-1945. Nw I want you to understand the purpose of this episode is to destroy a narrative, a narrative that carried on from 1945-1989. That narrative has always been that Emperor Hirohito was nothing more than a hostage during the war years of 1931-1945. This narrative was largely built by himself and the United States as a means of keeping the peace after 1945. However upon his death in 1989 many meeting notes and diaries from those who worked close to him began emerging and much work was done by historians like Herbert P Bix and Francis Pike. The narrative had it that Hirohito was powerless to stop things, did not know or was being misled by those around him, but this is far from the truth. Hirohito was very active in matters that led to the horrors of the 15 year war and he had his own reasons for why or when he acted and when he did not.   For this episode to be able to contain it into a single one, I am going to focus on Hirohito's involvement in the undeclared war with China, that's 1931-1941. For those of you who don't know, China and Japan were very much at war in 1931-1937 and certainly 1937 onwards, but it was undeclared for various reasons. If you guys really like this one, let me know and I can hit Hirohito 1941-1945 which is honestly a different beast of its own.   For those of you who don't know, Hirohito was born on April 29th of 1901, the grandson of Emperor Meiji. Hirohito entered the world right at the dawn of a new era of imperial rivalry in Asia and the Pacific. According to custom, Japanese royals were raised apart from their parents, at the age of 3 he was placed in the care of the Kwamura family who vowed to raise him to be unselfish, persevering in the face of difficulties, respectful of the views of others and immune to fear. In 1908 he entered elementary education at the age of 7 and would be taught first be General Nogi Maresuke who notoriously did not pamper the prince. Nogi rigorously had Hirohito train in physical education and specifically implanted virtues and traits he thought appropriate for the future sovereign: frugality, diligence, patience, manliness, and the ability to exercise self-control under difficult conditions. Hirohito learnt what hard work was from Nogi and that education could overcome all shortcomings. Emperor Meiji made sure his grandson received military training.   When Emperor Meiji died in 1912, Hirohito's father, Yoshihito took the throne as emperor Taisho. Taisho for a lack of better words, suffered from cerebral meningitis at an early age and this led to cognitive deficiency's and in reality the Genro would really be running the show so to say. When Taisho took the throne it was understood immediately, Hirohito needed to be prepared quickly to take the throne. After Meiji's funeral General Nogi politely told the family he could no longer be a teacher and committed seppuku with his wife. He wrote a suicide letter explained he wanted to expiate his disgrace during the russo japanese war for all the casualties that occurred at Port Arthur, hardcore as fuck. Hirohito would view Nogi nearly as much of an iconic hero as his grandfather Meiji, the most important figure in his life.   Hirohito's next teacher was the absolute legendary Fleet Admiral Togo Heihachiro who would instill national defense policy into him. Hirohito would be taught Admiral Alfred Thayer Mahans theories as all the great minds were taught at the time. Now I know it sucks but I cant delve deep into all this. What I want you to envision is a growing Man, instilled with the belief above all else, the Kokutai was most important. The Kokutai was the national essence of Japan. It was all aspects of Japanese polity, derived from history, tradition and customs all focused around the cult of the Emperor. The government run by politicians was secondary, at any given time the kokutai was the belief the Emperor could come in and directly rule.   If you are confused, dont worry, I am too haha. Its confusing. The Meiji constitution was extremely ambiguous. It dictated a form of constitutional monarchy with the kokutai sovereign emperor and the “seitai” that being the actual government. Basically on paper the government runs things, but the feeling of the Japanese people was that the wishes of the emperor should be followed. Thus the kokutai was like an extra-judicial structure built into the constitution without real legal framework, its a nightmare I know.    Let me make an example, most of you are American I imagine. Your congress and senate actually run the country, wink wink lets forget about lobbyists from raytheon. The president does not have actual executive powers to override any and all things, but what if all Americans simply felt he did. Thus everyone acted in accordance to his wishes as they assumed them to be, thats my best way of explaining Japan under Hirohito.    Emperor Taisho dies in 1926, and Hirohito takes the throne ushering in the Showa Era. He inherited a financial crisis and a military that was increasingly seizing control of governmental policies. Hirohito sought to restore the image of a strong charismatic leader on par with his grandfather Meiji, which was sorely lacking in his father Taishos reign. He was pressured immediately by the Navy that the national sphere of defense needed to be expanded upon, they felt threatened by the west, specifically by the US and Britain who had enacted the Washington Naval Treaty. Hirohito agreed a large navy was necessary for Japan's future, he was a proponent of the decisive naval battle doctrine, remember his teacher was Togo.    From the very beginning Hirohito intensely followed all military decisions. In 1928 the Japanese covertly assassinated the warlord of Manchuria, Zhang Zuolin. The current prime minister Tanaka Giichi had performed a thorough investigation of the incident and presented his report to Hirohito on December 24th of 1928. He told Hirohito he intended to court martial the criminals, purge the army and re-establish discipline. However the rest of Tanaka's cabinet wished to allow the army to deal with the matter and quiet the entire thing down. Hirohito responded by stating he had lost confidence in Tanaka and admonished his report. Hirohito allowed the army to cover up the incident, he sought to have it hushed up as well. Thus Hirohito had indulged the army in its insubordination and the kwantung army officers now felt they could take matters into their own hands.   Also in 1928 the Tanaka cabinet failed to endorse the international protocol banning chemical and biological warfare. The next year the privy council, pressured by the military, failed to ratify the full geneva convention of prisoners of war. Hirohito in response began doing something Emperor Meiji never had done, he began to scold officials to force them to retire from positions. Tanaka Giichi was bullied out. Hirohito then stated his endorsement of Hamaguchi Osachi as Tanaka's successors.   Just a few months after Hamaguchi cabinet formed, Hirohito overrode the advice of his naval chief of staff and vice chief of staff, Admiral Kato and Vice Admiral Suetsugu. The Americans and British were hinting they might form a naval alliance against Japan if she did not abide by the Washington Conference mandates on naval tonnage. Kato and Suetsugu refused to accept the terms, but prime minister Hamaguchi stood firm against them. The navy leaders were outraged and accused Hamaguchi of signing the treaty without the support of the Navy General Staff thereby infringing upon the “emperor's right of supreme command”. Two months after signing the treaty, Hamaguchi was assassinated and upon learning of this Hirohito's first concern apparently was “that constitutional politics not be interrupted”. The military felt greatly emboldened, and thus began the age of the military feeling “its right of supreme command”. Generals and Admirals fought back against arms reduction talks, discipline within the officer corps loosened, things spiraled out of control. Alongside this came the increasing cult of the emperor, that they were all doing this in his name.   When rumors emerged of the emerging Mukden Incident in 1931, Hirohito  demanded the army be reigned in. Attempts were made, but on September 18th of 1931, Kwantung army officer detonated an explosion at Liut'iaokou north of Mukden as a false flag operation. The next day the imperial palace were given a report and Hirohito was advised by chief aide de camp Nara Takeji “this incident would not spread and if the Emperor was to convene an imperial conference to take control of the situation, the virtue of his majesty might be soiled if the decisions of such a conference should prove impossible to implement”. This will be a key theme in Hirohito's decision making, protect the kokutai from any threats.   As the Mukden incident was getting worse, the Kwantung officers began to demand reinforcement be sent from the Korea army. The current Wakatsuki cabinet met on the issue and decided the Mukden incident had to remain an incident, they needed to avoid a declaration of war. The official orders were for no reinforcements of the Korea army to mobilize, however the field commander took it upon his own authority and mobilized them. The army chief of staff Kanaya reported to Hirohito the Korea army was marching into Manchuria against orders. At 31 years of age Hirohito now had an excellent opportunity to back the current cabinet, to control the military and stop the incident from getting worse. At this time the military was greatly divided on the issue, politically still weak compared to what they would become in a few years, if Hirohito wanted to rule as a constitutional monarch instead of an autocratic monarch, well this was his chance. Hirohito said to Kanaya at 4:20pm on September 22nd “although this time it couldn't be helped, [the army] had to be more careful in the future”. Thus Hirohito accepted the situation as fait accompli, he was not seriously opposed to seeing his army expand his empire. If it involved a brief usurpation of his authority so bit, as long as the operation was successful. Within two weeks of the incident, most of Japan had rallied being the kwantung army's cause. Hirohito knew it was a false flag, all of what they had done. Hirohito planned the lightests punishments for those responsible. Hirohito then officially sanctioned the aerial strike against Chinchou, the first air attack since ww1.   A message had gone out to the young officers in the Japanese military that the emperors main concern was success; obedience to central command was secondary. After the Mukden incident Prime Minister Wakatsuki resigned in december after failing to control the army and failing to contain the financial depression. The new Priminister Inukai took to action requesting permission from Hirohito to dispatch battalions to Tientsin and a brigade to Manchuria to help the Kwantung army take Chinchou. Hirohito responded by advising caution when attacking Chinchou and to keep a close eye on international public perception. Nevertheless Chinchou was taken and Hirohito issued an imperial rescript praising the insubordinate Kwantung army for fighting a courageous self defense against Chinese bandits. In a few more years Hirohito would grant awards and promotions to 3000 military and civil officials involved in the Manchurian war. When incidents broke out in Shanghai in 1932 involved the IJN, Tokyo high command organized a full fledged Shanghai expeditionary force under General Shirakawa with 2 full divisions. But within Shanghai were western powers, like Britain and America, whom Hirohito knew full well could place economic sanctions upon Japan if things got out of hand. Hirohito went out of his way to demand Shirakawa settle the Shanghai matter quickly and return to Japan.   And thus here is a major problem with Hirohito during the war years. On one end with Manchuria he let pretty much everything slide, but with Shanghai he suddenly cracks the whip. Hirohito had a real tendency of choosing when he wanted to act and this influenced the military heavily. On May 15th of 1932, young naval officers assassinated prime minister Inukai at his office. In the political chaos, Hirohito and his advisors agreed to abandon the experiment in party cabinets that had been the custom since the Taisho era. Now Hirohito endorsed a fully bureaucratic system of policy making, cabinet parties would no longer depend on the two main conservative parties existing in the diet. When the diet looked to the genro as to who should be the next prime minister, Hirohito wrote up “his wishes regarding the choice of the next prime minister”. Loyal officials backed Hirohito's wishes, the cult of the emperor grew in power. To the military it looked like Hirohito was blaming the party based cabinets rather than insubordinate officers for the erosion of his own authority as commander in chief. The young military officers who already were distrustful of the politicians were now being emboldened further.    After Manchuria was seized and Manchukuo was ushered in many in the Japanese military saw a crisis emerge, that required a “showa restoration' to solve. There were two emerging political factions within the military, the Kodoha and Toseiha factions. Both aimed to create military dictatorships under the emperor. The Kodoha saw the USSR as the number one threat to Japan and advocated an invasion of them, aka the Hokushin-ron doctrine, but the Toseiha faction prioritized a national defense state built on the idea they must build Japans industrial capabilities to face multiple enemies in the future. What separated the two, was the Kodoha sought to use a violent coup d'etat to do so, the Toseiha were unwilling to go so far. The Kodoha faction was made up of junior and youthful officers who greatly distrusted the capitalists and industrialists of Japan, like the Zaibatsu and believed they were undermining the Emperor. The Toseiha faction were willing to work with the Zaibatsu to make Japan stronger. Hirohito's brother Prince Chichibu sympathized with the Kodoha faction and repeatedly counseled his brother that he should implement direct imperial rule even if it meant suspending the constitution, aka a show restoration. Hirohito believed his brother who was active in the IJA at the time was being radicalized. Chichibu might I add was in the 3rd infantry regiment under the leadership of Colonel Tomoyuki Yamashita.   This time period has been deemed the government by assassination period. Military leaders in both the IJA and IJN and from both the Kodoha and Toseiha began performing violence against politicians and senior officers to get things done.    A enormous event took place in 1936 known as the february 26 incident. Kodoha faction officers of the IJA attempted a coup d'etat to usher in a showa restoration. They assassinated several leading officials, such as two former prime ministers and occupied the government center of Tokyo. They failed to assassinate the current prime minister Keisuke Okada or take control over the Imperial palace. These men believed Japan was straying from the Kokutai and that the capitalist/industrialists were exploiting the people of the nation by deceiving the emperor and usurping his power. The only solution to them was to purge such people and place Hirohito as an absolute leader over a military dictatorship.    Now the insurrectionists failed horribly, within just a few hours they failed to kill the current prime minister, and failed to seize the Sakashita Gate to the imperial palace, thus allowing the palace to continue communicating with the outside, and they never thought about what the IJN might do about all of this. The IJN sent marines immediately to suppress them. The insurrectionists had planned to have the army minister General Kwashima who was a Kodoha backer, report their intentions to Hirohito who they presumed would declare a showa restoration. They falsely assumed the emperor was a puppet being taken hostage by his advisers and devoid of his own will.   At 5:40am on February the 26th Hirohito was awakened and informed of the assassinations and coup attempt. From the moment he learnt of this, he was outraged and demanded the coup be suppressed and something I would love to highlight is he also immediately demanded his brother Prince Chichibu be brought over to him. Why would this be important? Hirohito believed the insurrectionists might enlist his brother to force him to abdicate. Hirohito put on his army uniform and ordered the military to “end it immediately and turn this misfortune into a blessing”. Hirohito then met with Kwashima who presented him with the insurrectionists demands to “clarify the kokutai, stabilize national life and fulfill national defense, aka showa restoration”. Hirohito scolded Kwashima and ordered him to suppress the mutiny. On the morning of the 27th Hirohito declared administrative martial law on the basis of Article 8 of the Imperial Constitution, pertaining to emergency imperial ordinances. Formally he was invoking his sovereign power to handle a crisis. Hirohito displayed an incredible amount of energy to crush the mutiny as noted by those around him at the time. Every few hours he demanded reports to be given to him by top officials and at one point he was so angry he threatened to lead the Imperial Guard division himself to go out and quell it. Hirohito met with Chichibu and its alleged he told his brother to end any relationships he had with the Kodoha members. By february 29th, Hirohito had firmly crushed the mutiny, most of the ringleaders were arrested. In april they were court martialed secretly without even given a chance to defend themselves in court and 17 were executed by firing squad in July. As a result of it all, the Kodoha faction dissolved and the Toseiha faction reigned supreme.    On the morning of July 8th of 1937 came the Marco Polo Bridge incident, a nearly identical false flag operation to what occurred at Mukden in 1931. Hirohito's reaction was first to consider the possible threat of the USSR. He wondered if the communists would seize the opportunity to attack Manchukuo. This is what he said to Prime Minister Konoe and army minister Sugiyama “What will you do if the Soviets attack us from the rear?” he asked the prince. Kan'in answered, “I believe the army will rise to the occasion.” The emperor repeated his question: “That's no more than army dogma. What will you actually do in the unlikely event that Soviet [forces] attack?” The prince said only, “We will have no choice.” His Majesty seemed very dissatisfied.    Hirohito demanded to know what contingency plans existed. After this he approved the decision of the Konoe cabinet to move troops into Northern China and fixed his seal to the orders of dispatch. The emperor had tacitly agreed to it all from the start. With each action taken for the following months, Hirohito would explicitly sanction them after the fact. In his mind he kept thinking about a fight with the USSR, he believed he had no choice in the China matter. All of his top ranking officials like Sugiyama would tell him “even if war with China came… it could be finished up within two or three months”. Hirohito was not convinced, he went to Konoe, to imperial conferences, to other military officials to get their views. None convinced him but as Hirohito put it  “they agreed with each other on the time factor, and that made a big difference; so all right, we'll go ahead.”     Two weeks into the conflict, the kwangtung army and Korean army were reinforced by 3 divisions from Japan and on July 25th were reaching Beijing. What did the man who was not responsible in such decision making say? On July 27 Hirohito sanctioned an imperial order directing the commander of the China Garrison Force to “chastise the Chinese army in the Peking-Tientsin area and bring stability to the main strategic places in that region.” Hirohito wanted a killing blow to end the war, and thus he escalated the incident. Historian Fujiwara Akira noted “it was the [Konoe] government itself that had resolved on war, dispatched an army, and expanded the conflict,” and Hirohito had fully supported it”   Chiang Kai-shek abandoned northern China pulling into the Interior and unleashed a campaign in Shanghai to draw the Japanese into a battle showcased in front of western audiences. Chiang Kai-shek tossed the creme of his military all into Shanghai to make it as long and explosive as possible to try and win support from other great powers. On August 18 Hirohito summoned his army and navy chiefs for a pointed recommendation. The war, he told them, “is gradually spreading; our situation in Shanghai is critical; Tsingtao is also at risk. If under these circumstances we try to deploy troops everywhere, the war will merely drag on and on. Wouldn't it be better to concentrate a large force at the most critical point and deliver one overwhelming blow? Based on our attitude of fairness, Do you, have in hand plans for such action? In other words, do we have any way worked out to force the Chinese to reflect on their actions?”   The chiefs of staff returned 3 days later with an aerial campaign to break China's will to fight and strategic cities needed to be seized. Hirohito gave his sanction and on August 31st gave the order “for the Dispatch of the North China Area Army. [D]estroy the enemy's will to fight and wipe out resistance in the central part of Hepei Province,” Over the course of weeks Hirohito sanctioned 6 troop mobilizations to the Shanghai area where the fighting had bogged down. Then he sanctioned 3 divisions from Taiwan to Shanghai, but for units in northern Manchuria to stand guard firmly in case the USSR attacked. The entire time this was happening both China and Japan referred to it as an incident and not a real war lest either of them lose the backing of their great power allies. Japan needed oil, iron and rubber from America, China was likewise received materials from the USSR/America/Britain and even Germany.    By november the war was not going well and Hirohito had the Imperial Headquarters established within his palace as a means to exercise his constitutional role as supreme commander, the army and navy would act in concert. For a few hours in the morning a few days every week, the chiefs of staff, army and navy ministers and chiefs of operations would meet with Hirohito. At these imperial conferences Hirohito presided over and approved decisions impacting the war. This was Hirohito's device for legally transforming the will of the emperor into the will of the state. Hirohito not only involved himself, sometimes on a daily basis he would shape strategy and decide the planning, timing and so on of military campaigns. He even intervened in ongoing field operations. He monitored and occasionally issued orders through commanders to subordinate units. Now I can't go through the entire 1937-1945 war and showcase all the things he did but I will highlight things I think we're important.    On November 9th, the Shanghai battle was finally falling apart for the Chinese as they began a withdrawal to the Nanking area some 180 miles away. The Japanese forces chased them and for the first time were really coming into direct contact with Chinese civilians, when it came to Shanghai most had evacuated the areas. The Japanese burned, plundered and raped villages and towns as they marched towards Nanking. On december 1st, Hirohito's imperial HQ ordered the 10th army and Shanghai expeditionary force to close in on Nanking from different directions, a pincer maneuver. Prince Asaka took command of the Shanghai expeditionary force and General Matsui commanded the Central China Area Army consisted of the Shanghai force and 10th army. Asaka led the forces to assault the walled city of Nanking with a population estimated to be 4-5 hundred thousand and it would fall on December 13th. Was there an order to “rape Nanking”, no. The Imperial HQ did not order the total extermination of the Chinese in Nanking, they had ordered an encirclement campaign. However, the standing orders at this time were to take no prisoners. Once Nanking fell, the Japanese began to execute en massage military prisoners and unarmed troops who surrendered willingly. There was a orgy of rape, arson, pillage and murder. The horror was seen in Nanking and the 6 adjacent villages over the course of 3 months far exceeding any atrocities seen during the battle for Shanghai or even the march to Nanking. General Nakajima's 16th division on its first day in Nanking was estimated to have murdered 30,000 POWs. Estimate range insanely, but perhaps 200,000 POW's and civilians were butchered over the course of 6 weeks.   Prince Asaka the 54 year old grand uncle to Hirohito and other members of the Imperial Family commanded the attack on Nanking and supervised the horrors. 49 year old General Prince Higashikuni chief of the army air force alongside Prince Kan'in knew of the atrocities occurring. Army minister Sugiyama knew, many middle echelon officers of the Imperial HQ knew. Hirohito was at the top of the chain of command, there is no way he was not informed. Hirohito followed the war extensively, reading daily reports, questioned his aides. It was under his orders that his army “chastise China”, but did he show any concern for the breakdown of his army's discipline? There is no documented evidence he ordered an investigation, all we are met with as historians is a bizarre period of silence. Hirohito goes from supervising the war with OCD precision, to silence, then back to normal precision. Did Hirohito show anything publicly to show angry, displeasure or remorse, at the time he energetically began spurring his generals and admirals on their great victories and the national project to induce “Chinese self-reflection”.    On November 24th Hirohito gave an after the fact sanction to the decision of General Matsui to attack and occupy Nanking. Hirohito was informed the city was going to be bombarded by aircraft and artillery and he sanctioned that as well. That was basically him removing any restrictions on the army's conduct. On December 14th the day after Nankings fall, he made an imperial message to his chiefs of staff expressing his pleasure at the news of the city's capture and occupation. Hirohito granted General Matsui an imperial rescript for his great military accomplishments in 1938 and gave the order of the golden early to Prince Asaka in 1940. Perhaps Hirohito privately agonized over what happened, but publicly did nothing about the conduct of his armed forces, especially in regards to the treatment of POW's.   Emperor Hirohito was presented with several opportunities to cause cease-fires or peace settlements during the war years. One of the best possible moments to end it all came during the attack on Naking when Chiang Kai-sheks military were in disarray. Chiang Kai-shek had hoped to end the fighting by enticing the other great powers to intervene. At the 9 power treaty conference in Brussel in november of 1937, Britain and the US proposed boycotting Japan. However the conference ended without any sanctions being enacted upon Japan. The Konoe government and Imperial HQ immediately expanded the combat zone. Chiang Kai-shek in desperation accepted a previous offer by Germany to mediate. Oscar Trautmann, the German ambassador to China attempted to negotiate with Japan, but it failed. China was offered harsh terms; to formally recognize Manchukuo, cooperate with it and Japan to fight communism, permit the indefinite stationg of Japanese forces and pay war reparations.    On January 9th of 1938, Imperial HQ formed a policy for handling the China incident which was reported to Hirohito. Konoe asked Hirohito to convene an imperial conference for it, but not to speak out at it  “For we just want to formally decide the matter in your majesty's presence.” Konoe and Hirohito were concerned with anti expansionists within the army general staff and wanted to prevent German interference in Japanese affairs. On January 11th, the policy was showcased and adopted, there would be no peace until Chiang kai-shek's regime was dissolved and a more compliant regime followed. Hirohito presided over the conference in full army dress uniform and gave his approval. He sat there for 27 minutes without uttering a word, appearing to be neutral in the matter, though in fact he was firmly backing a stronger military policy towards China.    The Konoe cabinet inaugurated a second phase to the China incident, greatly escalating the war. By this point in time Japanese had seen combat casualties at 62,007 killed, 160,000 wounded. In 1939 it would be 30,081 killed, 55,970 wounded, then 15,827 killed and 72,653 wounded in 1940. Major cities were under Japanese control ranging from the north east and south. Chiang Kai-shek fled to Chongqing, the war was deadlocked without any prospect of victory in sight.    On July 11 of 1938, the commander of the 19th division fought a border clash with the USSR known to us in the west as the battle of Lake Khasan. It was a costly defeat for Japan and in the diary of Harada Kumao he noted Hirohito scolded Army minister Itagaki “Hereafter not a single soldier is to be moved without my permission.” When it looked like the USSR would not press for a counter attack across the border, Hirohito gave the order for offensives in China to recommence, again an example of him deciding when to lay down the hammer. Konoe resigned in disgrace in 1939 having failed to bring the China war to an end and being outed by his colleagues who sought an alliance with Germany, which he did not agree with. His successor was Hiranuma a man Hirohito considered a outright fascist. Hiranuma only received the job because he promised Hirohito he would not make enemies of Britain or the US by entering in a hasty alliance with Nazi Germany. However his enter prime ministership would be engulfed by the alliance question.   In May of 1939 there was another border clash with the USSR, the battle of Khalkhin Gol. This one was much larger in scale, involving armored warfare, aircraft and though it seems it was not used, the Japanese brought biological warfare weapons as well. The Japanese had nearly 20,000 casualties, it was an unbelievable defeat that shocked everyone. Hirohito refrained from punishing anyone because they technically followed orders based on a document “outline for dealing with disputes along the manchurian soviet border” that Hirohito had sanctioned shortly before the conflict arose.   In July of 1939, the US told Hiranuma's government they intended not to renew the US-Japan treaty of commerce and navigation. Until this point Roosevelt had been very lenient towards Japan, but now it looked to him war would break out in europe and he wanted Japan to know they could expect serious economic sanctions if they escalated things. Hirohito complained to his chief aide de camp Hata Shunroku on August 5th “It could be a great blow to scrap metal and oil”. Then suddenly as Japan was engaging in a truce with the USSR to stop the border conflict, Germany shocked the world and signed a nonaggression pact with them. This completely contravened the 1936 Japan-German anti-comintern pact. Hiranuma resigned in disgrace on august 28th.    Hirohito was livid and scolded many of his top officials and forced the appointment of General Abe to prime minister and demanded of him “to cooperate with the US and Britain and preserve internal order”. Then Germany invaded Poland and began a new European War. Abe's cabinet collapsed from the unbelievable amount of international actions by January 14th 1940. Hirohito appointed Admiral Yonai as prime minister  and General Tojo to vice army minister. As we have seen Hirohito played a active role appointing high level personnel and imposed conditions upon their appointments.    Hirohito dictated what Yonai was to do, who he was to appoint to certain positions so on and so forth. When a large part of the military were calling for an alliance with Germany, Hirohito resisted, arguing Japan should focus on the China war and not ally itself to Germany unless it was to counter the USSR. Three months passed by and Germany began invading western europe. Norway fell, Denmark fell, Luxembourg, Belgium, the netherlands and then France, it was simply stunning. While Japan had been locked in a deadlock against China, Germany was crushing multiple nations with ease, and this had a large effect on asia. Britain, France and the Netherlands could not hope to protect their holdings in asia. But Hirohito kept pressuring Yonai not to begin any talks of an alliance, and the military leaders forced Yonai's cabinet to collapse.    So Hirohito stood by while Hiranuma, Abe and Yonai met each crisis and collapses. He watched as the China war went nowhere and the military was gradually pushing for the Nanshin-ron doctrine to open a southern war up with the west. Not once did he make a public effort on his lonesome to end the war in China. Japan's demands of China were unchanged, relations with the west were getting worse each day. The China war was undeclared, hell it was from the Japanese viewpoint “chastising China”. Japan was no respecting any rules of war in China, atrocities were performed regularly and for that Hirohito shared responsibility. For he alone was free to act in this area, he needed to act, but he did not. He could have intervened and insisted on respecting the rules of war, especially in regards to POW's and the results could have been dramatically different. Hirohito bore direct responsibility for the use of poison gas upon Chinese and Mongolian combatants and non combatants even before the undeclared war of 1937.    Then on July 28th of 1937 Hirohito made his first directive authorizing the use of chemical weapons which was transmitted by the chief of the army general staff prince Kan'in. It stated that in mopping up the Beijing-Tientsin area, “[Y]ou may use tear gas at suitable times.” Then on September 11th of 1937 he transmitted again through Kan'in the authorization to deploy special chemical warfare units in Shanghai. Gas weapons were one weapon the imperial HQ, aka Hirohito held effective control over throughout the China war. Front line units were never free to employ it at their own discretion, it required explicit authorization from the imperial HQ. During the Wuhan offensive of August to October 1938, imperial HQ authorized the use of poison gas 375 separate times. Hirohito authorized on May 15th of 1939 the carrying out of field studies of chemical warfare along the Manchukuo-soviet border.  In 1940 Hirohito sanctioned the first experimental use of bacteriological weapons in China, though there is no documented evidence of this, given the nature of how he micro managed everything it goes without saying he would have treated it the same as the poison gas. He was a man of science, a person who questioned everything and refused to put his seal on orders without first examining them. Imperial HQ directives went to unit 731 and as a rule Hirohito overlooked them. There again is no documents directly linking him to it, but Hirohito should be held responsibility for strategic bombing campaigns performing on cities like Chongqing. Alongside such horror Hirohito sanctioned annihilation campaigns in China. Such military campaigns were on the scale of what occurred at Nanking. Take for example the Hebei offensive which saw the infamous “three alls policy, burn all, kill all, steal all”.    Before Pearl Harbor and the ushering in of the war against the west, look at the scene that had unfolded. China and Japan were not officially at war until December of 1941. Not to say it would have been easy by any means, but look at the countless opportunities the man, emperor, so called god if you will, held in his hands to stop it all or at the very least stop escalating it. Why did he not do so? To protect the Kokutai. Above all else, the role and survival of the emperor's divinity over the people of Japan was always at the forefront of his mind. He did what he thought was always necessary to thwart threats internal and external. He allowed his military to do horrible things, because they did so in his name, and likewise they were a threat to him. I know its abrupt to end it like this, but for those of you who perhaps say to yourself “well he really was powerless to stop it, they would have killed him or something”, who chose suddenly to intervene in 1945 and made the decision to surrender?

November 17, 2025 - Modern architecture in Korea is characterized by open and dynamic attitudes formed through a unique set of historical circumstances. Through colonial rule, war, and poverty, it was cut off from its older building traditions, emerging only in the latter half of the twentieth century as part of a condensed process of modernization. It is enigmatic in that its build first, think later (if at all) condition has rebuffed holistic narratives of its disjunctive evolution. Long dominated by the construction sector and state bureaucracies, it is now an amalgam of large corporate firms, creative studios, and diverse communities in the culture industry. It is now in crisis for its uncertain response to the challenges of climate change and Korea's turn to structural low-growth. Neither affirming nor negating traditions and theories, Korean architecture is most interesting when it raises questions and belies unfulfilled ambitions. This lecture, presented by 2025 Korea Foundation LAB Series, features Pai Hyungmin, a distinguished architect and scholar. Video version of this program can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlz7cw7mVis For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/gallery-talks/2062-modern-architecture-in-korea-travels-through-terra-incognita

Surprise! Christina & Elle watched the first two episodes of Dynamite Kiss and HAD to do an impromptu Through Two because this drama has to be talked about!Dynamite Kiss is giving a classic romantic-comedy feel, and the Pod Sisters couldn't be more excited.Dynamite Kiss stars the lovely Ahn Eun-jin (My Dearest, The Good Bad Mother, Hospital Playlist) and the dashing Jang Ki-yong (The Atypical Family, My Roommate Is a Gumiho). Eun-jin plays Da-rim, a woman who is struggling to find a job after countless years of interviewing, and Ki-yong plays Ji-hyeok, the leader of a baby products company.The chemistry is CHEMISTRY-ING. The sparks are flying. Da-rim is so sweet and kind, and Ji-hyeok is determined and super swoony. What more could you want?!Dynamite Kiss is a Netflix drama, and new episodes come out every Wednesday and Thursday.Tell the ladies what you think!….If you're new to YA GIRL, we're so glad you're here!! I truly hope you enjoy listening to this podcast! Also check out THE K.DROP [A KPop Podcast] if that's your thing. ….. Before you do anything else, FOLLOW YA GIRL ON INSTAGRAM! For real, please come and say hey to us over the socials! @yagirl_kdrama pod (⁠https://www.instagram.com/yagirl_kdramapod?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr⁠) ..... Wanna support YA GIRL? Go and become a Patron! ⁠www.patreon.com/yagirlmaddiepod?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator⁠ …..Finally, jump on  YA GIRL's Discord!! It's where all the friends of YA GIRL gather and talk about hot Korean men. You really don't wanna miss it. ⁠ ⁠https://discord.gg/UeZuyftp⁠

Last time we spoke about the Soviet-Japanese Border Conflict. The border between Soviet Manchuria and Japanese-occupied territories emerges not as a single line but as a mosaic of contested spaces, marks, and memories. A sequence of incidents, skirmishes along the Chaun and Tumen rivers, reconnaissance sorties, and the complex diplomacy of Moscow, Tokyo, and peripheral actors to trace how risk escalated from routine patrols to calibrated leverage. On the ground, terrain functioned as both obstacle and argument: ridges like Changkufeng Hill shaping sightlines, river valleys shaping decisions, and markers weathered by snow, wind, and drift. In command tents, officers translated terrain into doctrine: contingency plans, supply routes, and the precarious calculus of restraint versus escalation. Both nations sought to establish firmer defensive barriers against the other. Inevitably they were destined to clash, but how large that clash would become, nobody knew.   #176 The Changkufeng Incident 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. In the last episode we broke down a general history of the Soviet-Japanese Border Conflict and how it escalated significantly by 1938. Colonel Inada Masazum serving as chief of the 2nd Operations Section within the Operations Bureau in March of 1938 would play a significant role in this story. When the Japanese command's attention was drawn to the area of Changkufeng, consideration was given to the ownership and importance of the disputed high ground. Inada and his operations section turned to an appraisal of the geography. The officers had been impressed by the strategic importance of the Tumen, which served to cut off the hill country from North Korea. In the Changkufeng area, the river was a muddy 600 to 800 meters wide and three to five meters deep. Japanese engineers had described rowing across the stream as "rather difficult."  Russian roads on the left bank were very good, according to Japanese intelligence. Heavy vehicles moved easily; the Maanshan section comprised the Russians' main line of communications in the rear. To haul up troops and materiel, the Russians were obliged to use trucks and ships, for there were no railways apart from a four-kilometer line between the harbor and town of Novokievsk. Near Changkufeng, hardly any roadways were suitable for vehicular traffic. On the right, or Korean, bank of the Tumen, there were only three roads suitable for vehicular traffic, but even these routes became impassable after a day or two of rain. In the sector between Hill 52 to the south and Shachaofeng to the north, the most pronounced eminences were Chiangchunfeng and the humps of Changkufeng. Rocky peaks were characteristically shaped like inverted T's, which meant many dead angles against the crests. The gentle slopes would allow tanks to move but would restrict their speed, as would the ponds and marshes. In general, the terrain was treeless and afforded little cover against aircraft. Against ground observation or fire, corn fields and tall miscanthus grass could provide some shielding. Between Chiangchunfeng and the Tumen, which would have to serve as the main route of Japanese supply, the terrain was particularly sandy and hilly. This rendered foot movement difficult but would reduce the effectiveness of enemy bombs and shells. The high ground east of Khasan afforded bases for fire support directed against the Changkufeng region. Plains characterized the rest of the area on the Soviet side, but occasional streams and swamps could interfere with movement of tanks and trucks. The only towns or villages were Novokievsk, Posyet, Yangomudy, and Khansi. At Kozando there were a dozen houses; at Paksikori, a few. The right bank was farmed mainly by Koreans, whose scattered cottages might have some value for billeting but offered none for cover. On the left bank, the largest hamlets were Fangchuanting, with a population of 480 dwelling in 73 huts, and Yangkuanping, where there were 39 cottages. Shachaofeng was uninhabited. Japanese occupation of Changkufeng would enable observation of the plain stretching east from Posyet Bay, although intelligence made no mention of Soviet naval bases, submarine pens, or airstrips in the immediate area of Posyet, either in existence or being built in 1938. As Inada knew, the Japanese Navy judged that Posyet Bay might have another use, as a site for Japanese landing operations in the event of war. In Russian hands, the high ground would endanger the Korean railway. This line, which started from Najin in northeastern Korea, linked up with the vital system in Manchuria at the town of Tumen and provided a short cut, if not a lifeline, between Japan and the Kwantung Army and Manchuria from across the Sea of Japan. Even from relatively low Changkufeng, six or seven miles of track were exposed to Soviet observation between Hongui and Shikai stations. The port of Najin, with its fortress zone, lay 11 miles southwest; Unggi lay even nearer. It was not the danger of Japanese shelling of Vladivostok, at an incredible range of 80 miles that was at stake but the more realistic hypothesis of Russian shelling of the rail line, and Russian screening of the Soviet side of the border. Hills and questions were thought to have two sides. It was the consensus of Japanese that Changkufeng Hill's potential value to the Russians far outweighed its possible benefits to them, or at least that the Japanese had more to lose if the Russians took the high ground by the Tumen. Inada nurtured few illusions concerning the intrinsic value of the heights. Despite the fact that the high command always had good reasons for quiescence in the north, Inada believed that the latest border difficulty could not be overlooked. By mid-July 1938 Inada's thoughts crystallized. The Japanese would conduct a limited reconnaissance in force known as iryoku teisatsu in the strategic sense. Whereas, at the tactical schoolbook level, this might mean the dispatch of small forces into enemy territory to seek local combat intelligence, at the Imperial General Headquarters level the concept was far more sweeping. There would also be useful evidence of mobilization and other buildup procedures. The affair at Changkufeng was merely a welcome coincidence, something started by the Russians but liable to Japanese exploration. Inada had no intention of seizing territory, of becoming involved in a war of attrition at a remote and minor spot, or of provoking hostilities against the USSR. The Russians would comprehend the nature of the problem, too. If they were interested in interfering seriously with the Japanese, there were numberless better locations to cause trouble along the Manchurian front; those were the places to watch. The cramped Changkufeng sector, described as "narrow like a cat's brow," could too readily be pinched off from Hunchun to render it of strategic value to either side. The bog land to the north interfered with the use of armored forces, while artillery sited on the heights along the Tumen in Korea could as easily control the area as batteries emplaced east of the lake. It was Inada's professional opinion that the Russians could commit three or four infantry divisions there at most, with no mechanized corps—no heavy tanks, in particular. No decisive battle could be waged, although, once the Russians became involved, they might have to cling to the hill out of a sense of honor. The military action would be meaningless even if the Japanese let the Russians have the heights. For their part, the Japanese would ostensibly be fighting to secure the boundary and to hold Changkufeng peak, beyond which they would not move a step onto Soviet soil. There would be no pursuit operations. Troop commitment would be limited to about one division without tank support. Japanese Air Force intervention would be forbidden. Matters would be directed entirely by Imperial General Headquarters working through the Korea Army chain of command and carried out by the local forces. Calm, clear, and dispassionate overall estimates and instructions would be based on materials available only in Tokyo. The command would not allow the Kwantung Army to touch the affair. Inada foresaw that the Japanese government might also seek a settlement through diplomacy. Although border demarcation was desirable and should be sought, the command would not insist on it, nor would it demand permanent occupation of Changkufeng summit. As soon as reconnaissance objectives had been achieved, the local forces would be withdrawn. As Inada described it "In the process, we would have taught the Russians some respect and given them a lesson concerning their repeated, high-handed provocations and intrusions. If a show of force sufficed to facilitate the negotiations and cause the Russians to back down, so much the better; the affair would be over and my point proved." The instrument for carrying out Inada's strategic design appeared to be ideal, the 19th Division, strenuously trained and high-spirited. It could be expected to perform very well if unleashed within defined limits. Colonel Suetaka was just the commander to direct local operations. Since he had been pleading to fight in China, an operation at Changkufeng might prove to be an excellent "safety valve." His staff was full of experienced, fierce warriors eager for battle. Until recently, the Korea Army commanding general had wisely kept the aggressive division away from Changkufeng Hill, but now Imperial general headquarters had its own overriding ideas and needs. How could the Japanese ensure that any military action would remain limited if the Russians chose to respond with vigor? Naturally, one infantry division, without armor or air support, could not withstand all of the Soviet forces in the maritime province. Inada answered that the mission to be assigned the 19th Division was merely the recapture of Changkufeng crest. If the Japanese side had to break off the operation, evacuation would be effected voluntarily and resolutely on Imperial general headquarters responsibility, without considerations of "face." At worst, the Japanese might lose one division, but the affair would be terminated at the Tumen River without fail. "Even so, we ought to be able to prove our theory as well as demonstrate our true strength to the Russians." In case the Soviets opted for more than limited war, the Japanese were still not so overextended in China that they could not alter their strategic disposition of troops. Although the Kwantung Army's six divisions were outnumbered four to one and the Japanese were not desirous of a war at that moment, the first-class forces in Manchuria could make an excellent showing. In addition, the high command possessed armor, heavy artillery, fighters, and bombers, held in check in Manchuria and Korea, as well as reserves in the homeland. There was also the 104th Division, under tight Imperial general headquarters control, in strategic reserve in southern Manchuria. Inada recalled "How would the Russians react? That was the answer I sought. Victory in China depended on it." By mid-July, the high command, at Inada's urging, had worked out a plan titled, "Imperial General headqaurters Essentials for Dealing with the Changkufeng Incident." Tada's telegram of 14 July to Koiso described succinctly the just-decided policy: the central authorities concurred with the Korea Army's opinion regarding the Changkufeng affair, then in embryo. Considering that Changkufeng Hill posed a direct threat to the frontier of Korea, Imperial General headqaurters would immediately urge the foreign ministry to lodge a stern protest. Next day, Tojo sent a telegram stating the Japanese policy of employing diplomacy; whether the Russians should be evicted by force required cautious deliberation in case the USSR did not withdraw voluntarily. On the basis of the guidance received from Imperial General headqaurters, the Korea Army drew up its own plan, "Essentials for Local Direction of the Changkufeng Incident," on 15 July. Intelligence officer Tsuchiya Sakae was sent promptly to the front from Seoul. At the same time, military authorities allowed the press to release news that Soviet troops were constructing positions inside Manchurian territory in an "obvious provocation." The government of Manchukuo was demanding an immediate withdrawal. Even then, those Japanese most closely connected with the handling of the Changkufeng Incident were not in agreement that everybody at command level was as ardent a proponent of reconnaissance in force as Inada claimed to be. Some thought that most, if not all, of his subordinates, youthful and vigorous, were in favor of the notion; others denied the existence of such an idea. Inada remained clear-cut in his own assertions. Everything done by the local Soviet forces, he insisted, must have been effected with the permission of Moscow; it was customary for the USSR not to abandon what it had once started. The Japanese Army never really thought that the Soviet Union would withdraw just as the result of diplomatic approaches. Therefore, from the outset, preparations were made to deal the Russians one decisive blow. Inada had recommended his plan, with its clear restrictions, to his colleagues and superiors; the scheme, he says, was approved 14 July "all the way up the chain of command, through the Army general staff and the ministry of war, with unexpected ease." The only real opposition, Inada recalled, came from the navy, whose staff advised the army operations staff, in all sincerity, to give up the idea of strategic reconnaissance. Inada adhered to his opinion stubbornly. He never forgot the grave look on the face of Captain Kusaka, the UN operations section chief, as the latter gave in reluctantly. The navy view was that the Changkufeng affair typified the army's aggressive policies as opposed to relative passivity on the part of the navy. Like Kusaka, Japanese Navy interviewees shared the fear that Changkufeng might prove to be the most dangerous military confrontation ever to occur between the USSR and Japan. In view of navy objections, one wonders where Inada could have drawn support for his concept of reconnaissance in force. If one accepts the comments contained in a letter from a navy ministry captain, Takagi Sokichi, to Baron Harada Kumao at the beginning of August, in the army and in a portion of the navy there existed "shallow-minded fellows who are apt to take a firm stand in the blind belief that the USSR would not really rise against us, neglecting the fact that the Russians had foreseen our weak points." Takagi also had violent things to say about "white-livered" Gaimusho elements that were playing up to the army. Although Takagi's remarks, expressed in confidence, were sharp, cautious injunctions were being delivered by the high command to the new Korea Army commander, General Nakamura Kotaro, who was about to leave for Seoul to replace Koiso. Nakamura's attitude was crucial for the course and outcome of the Changkufeng Incident. More of a desk soldier than a warrior, he characteristic ally displayed a wariness that was reinforced by the guidance provided him. This personal quality assumes even greater significance if one believes that the Russians may have initiated the Changkufeng Incident by exploiting the special opportunities afforded them by the routine replacement of the Korea Army commander, the temporary absence from Moscow of Ambassador Shigemitsu Mamoru, and the geographical as well as subjective gap between the Kwantung and Korea armies that was exposed during the Lyushkov affair. At 10:00 on 15 July Nakamura was designated army commander by the Emperor at the palace. Soon afterward, he was briefed by Imperial General headquarters officers. Hashimoto, the operations bureau chief, recalled that when he saw Nakamura off on 17 July, Hashimoto stressed prudence, limitation of any military action, and diplomatic solution of the problem. The new commanding general, Inada asserted, promised full cooperation. There was no mention, at this level, of Inada's concept of reconnaissance in force. When Nakamura reached Seoul, he found an Imperial order from Tokyo dated 16 July awaiting him. This important document stipulated that he could concentrate units under his command in Korea near the border against the trespassing Soviet forces in the Changkufeng area. Resort to force, however, was dependent upon further orders. This message was followed by a wire from Kan'in, the Army general staff chief. The Imperial order, it was explained, had been designed to support diplomatic negotiations. Simultaneous approval was granted for concentrating forces to respond swiftly in case the situation deteriorated. As for implementation of the Imperial order, discretion should be exercised in line with the opinion expressed earlier by Korea Army Headquarters. Negotiations were to be conducted in Moscow and Harbin, the location of a Soviet consulate in Manchukuo. Meanwhile, the command was dispatching two officers for purposes of liaison: Lt. Colonel Arisue Yadoru in Operations and Major Kotani Etsuo a specialist in Soviet intelligence. Inada advised Arisue that, apart from liaison flights inside the frontiers, particular care should be exercised with regard to actions that might lead to air combat. Nevertheless, although Inada stated that the Imperial order called for "a sort of military demonstration," he admitted that it meant preparatory action for an attack. The Korea Army senior staff officer, Iwasaki, recalled hearing nothing about secret intentions. Nakamura briefed his staff about the need for restraint, especially during this key period of the Wuhan operation. Koiso had disposed of speculation that he had issued an order to concentrate the 19th Division before Nakamura arrived, although he and Nakamura did have the opportunity to confer in Seoul before he departed for Japan. The Imperial order of 16 July, in response to Koiso's inquiry received in Tokyo on 14 July, had arrived in Seoul addressed to Nakamura; thereupon, the Korea Army chief of staff, Kitano, had the message conveyed to the division. By 21 July Koiso was back in Tokyo where, the day afterward, he advised the war minister, Itagaki, "to act prudently with respect to the Changkufeng problem." Why did the high command dispatch two field-grade liaison officers to Korea from the outset of the Changkufeng Incident? The Korea Army lacked operations staff. Its commander had been allotted prime responsibility, within the chain of command, for defense of northeastern Korea. At the beginning, the highest-ranking staff officer at the front was a major. Since there were no fundamental differences of opinion between the command and the forces in Korea, it was proper to send experts from Tokyo to assist. Imperial General headqaurters would observe the situation carefully, devise measures on the basis of the overall view, and issue orders which the Korea Army would implement through ordinary channels. It had not been the type of incident which required the army commander to go to the front to direct. This was the Korea Army's first test, and political as well as diplomatic problems were involved that the army in the field should not or could not handle. If Tokyo had left decisions to the division and its regiments, the latter would have been held to account, which was not proper. Imperial General headquarters had to assume responsibility and reassure local commanders of its full support. Imaoka Yutaka explained that operational guidance by Imperial General headquarters and line operations conducted by the 19th Division formed the core of the affair; the Korea Army, placed between, was "shadowy." Koiso had not been enthusiastic; this set the mood among the staff. Nakamura, who arrived with a thorough comprehension of AGS thinking, was basically passive. The Korea Army staff, in general, included no "wild boars."    There was an urgent need to monitor developments. Not only was the Korea Army unfamiliar with handling this type of incident, but many hitches occurred. There had been no practice in emergency transmission of coded wires between the Korea Army and Tokyo. Now telegram after telegram had to be sent; most were deciphered incorrectly and many were not decoded at all. Another problem centered on the lack of knowledge in Tokyo about the situation on the spot, which only visual observation could rectify. As a result, the two Army general staff experts, Arisue and Kotani, arrived in Korea on 16 July. Kotani recalled that he was to collect intelligence and assist the local authorities. One of the first duties that he and Arisue performed was to disseminate the principle that use of force required a prior Imperial order. Also on 16 July, Japanese newspapers reported that the USSR was still concentrating troops, that the Manchukuoan government was watching intently, "decisive punitive measures" were being contemplated by the Japanese-Manchukuoan authorities, and there were signs of a worsening of the crisis. Despite good reasons for this gloomy appraisal, the Japanese press had not yet given the incident page-one treatment. More alarming news was being disseminated abroad. Domei, the official Japanese news agency, reported that the situation would probably become worse unless Soviet troops were withdrawn. The position of the Japanese government impressed foreign correspondents as unusually firm. Informants characterized the Changkufeng Incident as the most serious affair since the clash on the Amur River in 1937. Irked by the Korea Army's timidity and eager for first-hand information, the Kwantung Army dispatched two observers to the front: from Intelligence, Ogoshi Kenji, and from Operations, Tsuji Masanobu. If you listen to my pacific war week by week podcast or echoes of war, you know I highlight Tsuji Masanobu as one of the most evil Japanese officers of WW2. No other way to describe this guy, he was a shithead. In his memoirs, Tsuji asserted that he and Ogoshi climbed Changkufeng Hill, discerned Soviet soldiers digging across the peak in Manchurian territory, and concluded that "probably even Tokyo could not overlook such a clear-cut case of invasion." Although his account aligned with the general thrust, Ogoshi contended that Tsuji could not have accompanied him. According to sources with the 19th Division, when Koiso learned that Tsuji and Ogoshi were disparaging the Korea Army's ability to defend Changkufeng, he ordered "those spies" ousted. Ogoshi replied that the army staff was not angry, but Koiso did become furious and ordered Ogoshi "arrested for trespassing." Ogoshi surmised that Koiso's concern was that emotional outsiders such as Tsuji could provoke trouble, perhaps even war, if they visited Changkufeng. This view was widely shared. Inada stated that he made a practice of keeping away to maintain the degree of detachment and impartiality required of high command authorities. One sidelight to the "fraternal" visit to the Changkufeng area by observers from Hsinking was provided by Lt. Colonel Katakura Tadashi, chief of the Kwantung Army's 4th Section, which handled Manchukuo affairs, primarily political direction. When Katakura visited the Operations Section, Tsuji and Ogoshi told him that an intrusion had been confirmed and that the Kwantung Army staff was studying ways to evict the Soviets. Katakura consulted Maj. General Ishiwara Kanji, acting chief of staff, who was already in possession of the draft of an operations order calling for offensive preparations by the Kwantung Army against the Russians at Changkufeng. Katakura asked for reconsideration of the order. This was not a matter to be handled solely by the operations staff. Borders and international affairs were involved; hence the 4th Section, along with the Manchukuoan government, the Gaimusho, and other agencies, were concerned. Field observers were expressing exaggerated personal opinions based on having seen Soviet sentries on a hilltop. If the matter fell within the Korea Army's defensive prerogative, that army ought to handle it. Apparently the Kwantung Army commander and Ishiwara agreed with Katakura, for the draft order was not approved. The so-called private message dispatched by a Kwantung Army staff officer just before Koiso's departure may have been provoked by this rejection of direct participation by forces under Kwantung Army command. Staff officers in Tokyo believed that Hsinking could not see the forest for the trees. In the high command's view, the Kwantung Army's deliberate escalation of a negligible frontier incident undoubtedly stemmed from a failure to grasp the strategic requirements of national defense—pursuit of the campaign in China, the nurturance of Manchukuo, and the buildup of operational readiness for the ultimate solution of the Soviet problem. The high command felt obliged to remind the Kwantung Army that, in dealing with the Changkufeng Incident, the central authorities pressed for a Russian pullback through diplomacy. Consequently, the Korea Army had been instructed to be ready to concentrate troops near Changkufeng as a "background." Meanwhile, it remained the Imperial will that utmost prudence be exercised. The Kwantung Army commander accordingly issued cautious instructions to subordinate units, especially those on the eastern border. The high command's injunctions did not end the discontent and recrimination at the lower levels of Kwantung Army Headquarters, nor did they quiet the concern felt in Tokyo. A former war minister told Baron Harada repeatedly in late July that the Kwantung Army was "no good," while the superintendent of police added that the Kwantung Army was embarrassing Foreign Minister Ugaki. Nevertheless, the Kwantung Army did exert self-restraint. For its part, the Korea Army naïvely sought to achieve entente with an antagonist who considered the case nonnegotiable. First, the government of Manchukuo was asked to lodge a formal protest with the USSR. The commissioner for foreign affairs at Harbin phoned V. V. Kuznetzov, the acting consul, on the night of 14 July and saw him on the 18th. Basing its contentions on maps, the Haensing regime demanded Soviet withdrawal from Changkufeng. The Japanese government was lodging similar protests within the framework of Japanese-Manchukuoan joint defense agreements. On the spot, the situation inflamed. During the afternoon of 15 July, a Japanese military police patrol from Korea reconnoitered at the foot of Hill 52, southeast of Changkufeng. The party came under Soviet gunfire and was driven back, abandoning the body of Corp. Matsushima Shakuni. Japanese sources claimed that a Russian ambush had been set inside Manchuria. The Russian side insisted that it was the Soviet frontier that had been violated by thirty meters. Kuzma Grebennik, the colonel commanding the 59th BGU, which covered the Posyet sector, asserted that Matsushima's effects included a notebook containing reconnaissance results and a camera with film of Soviet-claimed terrain, particularly Changkufeng Hill. According to Maj. Gilfan Batarshin, a subordinate of Grebennik, two Russian border guards from Podgornaya opened fire when the Japanese fled after being challenged. Japanese protests to the USSR about the death of Matsushima and the taking of his body were added to the negotiations concerning the disputed border and the alleged trespassing. Charge Nishi Haruhiko lodged a vigorous complaint in Moscow on 15 July but was answered by a counterprotest. Ambassador Shigemitsu underwent an identical experience during a conversation with Foreign Commissar Maxim Litvinov on 20 July. Shigemitsu retorted that the murder tended to exacerbate the negotiations. In his memoirs, he stated that the killing of Matsushima provoked the local Japanese border garrison unit. The shooting occurred as the Soviet military buildup continued, according to Japanese sources. Mechanized units were reported moving in the direction of Kyonghun from Barabash and Posyet Bay. Biplanes were reconnoitering the Hunchun Valley, within Manchurian territory, from the afternoon of 16 July. To the local Japanese authorities, it seemed that the Russians were adopting a challenging attitude. Although the Japanese-Manchukuoan side remained willing to negotiate—that is, to take no forceful actions if the Russians would withdraw, the latter appeared not to share such an intention. The Soviets were not only misinterpreting the Hunchun treaty to their advantage but were encroaching beyond what they claimed to be the line; they "lacked sincerity." Decisive use of force might have been imperative to secure the Manchurian border, which was Japan's legal responsibility. As far north as Tungning on the eastern Manchurian frontier, two Soviet ground divisions and considerable numbers of tanks and aircraft were reported massed in full view. At Changkufeng, Russian soldiers fortified the crest. Mountain guns were now seen with muzzles pointed toward Manchuria, and Japanese intelligence estimated that Soviet troop strength near Changkufeng had grown to 120 or 130 by the evening of 18 July. As Sawamoto Rikichiro, an Imperial aide, noted in his diary, "It would seem that settlement of the affair had become increasingly difficult." Korea Army staff officer Tsuchiya sent two emissaries bearing the notice to the Soviet border. The pair, "blazing with patriotic ardor,"set out on 18 July, carrying a message in one hand and a white flag in the other. From Kyonghun came the report the next day that there had been an urgent, well-attended Soviet staff meeting at BGU Headquarters in Novokievsk all night, and that the Russian side had been discomfited by the Japanese request, which had been transmitted to higher authorities. Still, the emissaries did not return, while a stream of reports indicated a Soviet buildup along a dozen frontier sectors. Russian authorities had reportedly forced the natives to evacuate an area twenty miles behind their borders. From Japanese observation posts, Soviet convoys of men, guns, and horses could be sighted moving toward Novokievsk after being unloaded from transports originating at Vladivostok. Japanese Army Intelligence reported that on 18 July a regimental-size force had arrived at Novokievsk; artillery displacements forward were particularly visible by night east of Khasan. A confidential Gaimusho message indicated that Soviet truck movements between Posyet, Novokievsk, and the front had increased since the 20th. Russian intrusions, kidnappings, and sniping incidents were reported along the Manchurian borders, from Manchouli on the west to Suifenho on the east, between 18 and 25 July. Aircraft on daytime reconnaissance were detected as far as three miles inside Manchurian territory in the Hunchun area. Although the Japanese asserted that their forbearance was being tested, Izvestiya charged "Japanese militarists" with manufacturing an affair at Ussuri as well as at Changkufeng. The Japanese themselves received reports from the Changkufeng front that by 20 July the Soviets had 250 soldiers, armed with field pieces, trench mortars, howitzers, and light and heavy machine guns, on the southern slopes. The Russians were putting up tents capable of holding 40 men each; officers could be observed for the first time. On the evening of the 20th, the Soviets lobbed illuminating shells toward Manchurian territory. 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. Inada Masazum, studying maps and mud, saw Changkufeng Hill as a prize with peril, a test of nerve rather than a conquest. Tokyo's orders pulsed through Seoul and Harbin: guard, probe, and deter, but avoid full-scale war. Across the border, Soviet units pressed closer, lights and tents flickering on the hillside. The sea within sight whispered of strategy, diplomacy, and a warning: a single misstep could redraw Asia. And so the standoff waited, patient as winter.

learn how to say 'pass' in Korean

Actor and improviser David Danipour is here to love K-PAX -- not a Korean ab workout, but a 2001 film that lulls him to sleep within ten minutes, no matter the scene. In a good, soothing kind of way. Episode Links: David's Website David's IG David's YouTube Channel David's X Joe's Patreon Mr. Owl's Website

Recorded November 10, 2025 - The Korea Society is pleased to announce that the ninth annual Sherman Family Korea Emerging Scholar Lecture Awardee is Dr. Peter Jongho Na, assistant professor of psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine.  In his lecture, Reframing Suicide as a Shared Social Responsibility in Korea, he casts suicide not as an individual failure or "extreme choice (극단적 선택)," but as a systemic and cultural crisis requiring a coordinated national response. Drawing on his experience as a psychiatrist, public health researcher, and mental health advocate, he examines the scale and societal costs of suicide in Korea and analyzes key structural drivers such as academic and workplace pressures, poverty and isolation among older adults, and the pervasive stigma surrounding mental illness and treatment.  A central theme is how stigma has sustained silence, denial, and policy inertia. Dr. Peter Jongho Na shares his efforts to challenge euphemistic language and foster open public dialogue, while proposing an interdisciplinary roadmap inspired by global models that integrate public health, education, and social welfare reforms. Further, he highlights the Korean diaspora's potential role in breaking taboos and advancing cultural and policy change, underscoring that suicide prevention must be embraced as a collective, societal responsibility. Note: This presentation includes discussion of suicide and mental health topics that may be distressing to some individuals. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/korean-studies/2069-sherman-family-korea-emerging-scholar-lecture-2025

The final review of The Tale of Lady Ok is officially here! Is this Maddie's drama of the YEAR?!Wow, this show. The ladies can't stop thinking about this drama and how it gripped them for all sixteen episodes.In this final review, Maddie and Christina debrief episodes nine through sixteen. They gush about the characters and thought Lim Ji-yeon and Choo Young-woo were phenomenal. Why wasn't this show talked about more?! This Joseon K-drama deserves all the recognition because it was everything and more.

In this episode, Jane is joined by Daniel Hakim, founder and CEO of the Club of United Business (CUB). Daniel launched CUB at just 23 years old and has since built it into one of Australia’s most vibrant communities for business owners who want to grow, connect, and genuinely enjoy networking.This week’s business review focuses on Muun Skincare, a Korean skincare brand founded by Cindy, who left her full-time job to launch and scale the company. The episode takes a deep dive into Muun’s social media, website, and content strategy, offering honest, actionable insights to help strengthen the brand.By the end of this episode, you'll learn: How to fix website and messaging issues that may be blocking customer conversions. How to use social media and UGC to build trust, validation, and stronger sales. Where to focus marketing spend, including whether expanding into Meta ads, email marketing, or other channels is worthwhile. Want your business featured on the pod? Send us a 30 to 90 second video telling us about your brand and how we can help. Email your video to hello@thelazyceo.com.Connect with us:Follow The Lazy CEO podcast: @thelazyceo_podcast @thelazyceopodStay updated with Jane Lu: @thelazyceoConnect with Daniel Hakim: @the.danielhakimSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

learn how to write ㅙ (wae)

On this Episode we read some comments on theories about the Stray Kids Do It Trailer, Answer some questions from the comments and in our discord chat, and talk about what our kpop group would be like if we were to form one.What do you want to hear us talk about?Follow us! WadeTwitch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WadeMFMorgan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SlyInstagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SillySly07⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SillySly07⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LimitlessDaze⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube and like our videos!Follow us for more content!ShinoBrozInstagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ShinoBroz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ShinoBroz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ShinoBroz⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord: ⁠⁠⁠ShinoBroz

In this episode of Korea Deconstructed, David Tizzard speaks with Dr. Roald Maliangkay about the forces that shaped modern Korea, its culture, speed, identity, and contradictions. We explore Korea in the 1980s; North Korean pro wrestling; the rise of gossip magazines; the banning of Chinese characters; the manufacturing of Korean heritage; and the origins of Korea's bballi-bballi (빨리빨리) culture. We also dive into folk music, Sino-Korean relations, Korea's global image, and the evolving future of Korean Studies. Roald's work uncovers how cultural narratives are made, forgotten, and reinvented. This is a conversation for anyone interested in Korean history, identity formation, and the cultural mechanics behind modern Korea. Roald's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Broken-Voices-Postcolonial-Entanglements-Preservation/dp/0824866657   Discussion Outline 0:00 Korea in the 1980s 10:30 North Korean Pro Wrestling 17:18 South Korean Gossip Magazines 24:00 Banning the Chinese Script 26:26 Manucfacturing Korean Heritage 35:30 The emergence of Bballi Bballi 49:20 Exploring Folk Music 1:02:15 Korea and China 1:14:25 Korea's Image Abroad 1:29:10 The Future of Korean Studies 1:36:20 Closing Idea   Thanks to Patreon members: Bhavya, Roxanne Murrell, Sara B Cooper, Anne Brennels Join Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/user?u=62047873 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?si=srRVQ1vRkLvCV076 Subscribe to the channel: @DavidTizzard/videos Music by Jocelyn Clark Thank you to 한종철 for helping me record this.   Connect with us:  ▶ Get in touch: datizzard@swu.ac.kr ▶ David's Insta: @datizzard ▶ KD Insta: @koreadeconstructed ▶ 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

Jeff and Phil welcome Francesca Hong -- chef, community organizer, state assemblymember, and candidate for governor of Wisconsin. She talks about her working class roots and political ascent from the food service industry to being elected the first Asian American member of the Wisconsin Legislature, and now running for governor as a Democratic Socialist to build a Wisconsin in which everyone has a seat at the table. She also talks about rocking the "Stay Angry" shirt, why Wisconsin is more than just beer and cheese, and how it's cool as hell to Korean right now (and feeling some kind of way about it). And of course, The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of running for governor of Wisconsin.

In Part 2 of Episode 265 of the Mike Drop Podcast, host Mike Ritland continues his in-depth conversation with Ken Rhee — a Korean-American UDT/SEAL (ROK SEAL) who grew up in the U.S., served in South Korea's elite naval special warfare unit, trained at American BUD/S, fought pirates off Somalia, volunteered in Ukraine, and now runs a private military consulting firm while navigating strict Korean gun laws and a suspended prison sentence. Expect raw insights into cross-national SEAL training, hostage-rescue ops, post-military contracting, the realities of foreign volunteer combat, and a unique cultural take on firearms, self-defense, and crime from someone who's lived in both American and Korean worlds. Audio is Zoom-based but packed with unfiltered stories you won't hear anywhere else. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this second episode of our series on Korean Cults, we trace the tangled roots of Korea's modern messianic movements—shaped by Jeong Deuk-eun (“The Great Holy Mother”) and Kim Baek-moon—gave birth to a new religion that blended Confucianism, Taoism, and Christian language into a syncretic gospel of bloodline purification and “True Bloodline Lineage. We then follow how this ideology influenced later leaders like Jung Myung-seok (JMS) and Park Tae-seon of the Olive Tree Movement, revealing the disturbing legacy of Korean messiahship and political infiltration that continues today through groups like the Moonies, Shincheonji, and WMSCOG. We're joined by Pastor Yang, Adjunct Professor of New Testament at the Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary in Seoul, who holds a Doctor of Theology in New Testament and served as a Visiting Scholar at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (2023–2024). Also joining us is Chris, a former member of Shincheonji and returning Cultish guest, who shares his firsthand experience and ongoing efforts to raise awareness about the growing global influence of Korean cults. Together, we expose how the False Christs of Korea: The Unification Church and the Olive Tree Legacy which redefined the Gospel, replaced biblical revelation with self-proclaimed messiahs, and continue to shape Korea's—and the world's—spiritual landscape today.Partner With Us & Be Part of the Mission to Change Lives: HERESHOP OUR MERCH: HEREPlease consider subscribing to our YouTube Channel: CultishTV.comCultish is a 100% crowdfunded ministry. -- Email Chris & Pastor Yang: biblev@daum.net Chris@examiningthecults.org Chris's Website: HEREChris's YouTube: HEREPastor Yang's YouTube: HERE