Podcasts about Korean Peninsula

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The Korean Peninsula was divided after the second world war as the Soviet Union occupied the north and the US occupying the south. Though this division was initially meant to be temporary, the subsequent Korean War and its aftermath cemented the divisions for both North and South as the Cold War brought troops from both the United States and the People's Republic of China into direct conflict.Support the show My latest novel, "Califia's Crusade," is now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books, Bookshop.org, and many other online platforms! 

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

Head to superpower.com and use code WARTIMESTORIES at checkout for $20 off your membership. Unlock your new health intelligence. 100+ biomarkers. Every year. Detect early signs of 1,000+ conditions. #superpowerpod Sign up for your $1-per-month trial today at shopify.com/wartimestories #sponsored More than seventy years after the fighting stopped, the Korean Peninsula remains divided and technically at war. For the American servicemembers stationed there, the mission means long nights in remote training areas, isolated outposts, and along one of the most heavily militarized borders in the world. Drawn from firsthand accounts shared by Marines, soldiers, and airmen, these stories describe strange encounters across South Korea — from shadowy figures and unexplained voices to terrifying experiences along the Demilitarized Zone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

Dark Side of Seoul Podcast Episode 316 The Weird Science Behind Korean Food Nationalism   Episode Description A 2023 paper published in the Journal of Ethnic Foods argues that Korean cuisine developed in isolation, authentic Korean food isn't spicy, and even that royal court cuisine isn't truly Korean. In this episode, we examine the paper's historical, linguistic, archaeological, and scientific claims to see where the evidence supports the authors and where nationalism appears to outweigh scholarship. Topics Discussed Why Korean food doesn't need exaggerated origin stories The concept of food nationalism The "Hermit Kingdom" myth Did Korean cuisine really develop in isolation? Is banchan unique to Korea? Claims that Korean food has no sugar or oil Korean language and the outdated Ural-Altaic theory Ancient DNA and whether genetics can explain cuisine The debate over chili peppers and Korean food history Why the paper argues royal court cuisine isn't Korean How academic papers should distinguish evidence from advocacy Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 03:12 Why this paper caught our attention 08:45 "Correcting" Korean food history 15:20 Korea as an isolated civilization 22:08 Is banchan unique? 28:41 The claims about sugar, oil, and Korean cooking 35:15 Pottery, archaeology, and food history 42:10 Genetics, language, and extraordinary conclusions 49:55 The chili pepper controversy 56:30 Royal court cuisine and cultural identity 1:02:45 Final thoughts Mentioned During the Episode Science and Philosophy of Korea Traditional Foods (K-food) (Journal of Ethnic Foods, 2023) Traditional Korean cuisine Kimchi Banchan Joseon royal cuisine Korean food history The Columbian Exchange Ural-Altaic language theory Listen & Follow Website: https://darksideofseoul.com Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dark-side-of-seoul-podcast/id1504623984 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1lZBXNX79kwH2NXcJWNcb8 Patreon: https://patreon.com/darksideofseoul YouTube: https://youtube.com/@darksideofseoul Instagram: https://instagram.com/darksideofseoul Facebook: https://facebook.com/darksideofseoul Contact: info@darksideofseoul.com About The Dark Side of Seoul The Dark Side of Seoul explores Korea's darker history, folklore, true crime, urban legends, supernatural traditions, forgotten places, and the cultural stories that don't usually appear in guidebooks. New episodes include deep historical dives alongside our "Fun Sized" discussions of current events, controversies, and unusual aspects of life in Korea.   Notes Science and philosophy of Korea traditional foods (K-food) Dae Young Kwon,  Kim Soon-Hee,  Kyung Rhan Chung,  James W. Daily &  Sunmin Park    https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42779-023-00194-3 Introduction Why This Paper Matters On the surface, this looks like an ordinary academic paper. It was published in 2023 in the Journal of Ethnic Foods, an open-access journal published by BioMed Central. It has multiple authors, references dozens of sources, and presents itself as a scientific examination of Korean food history and philosophy. But once you start reading it closely, something becomes obvious. The paper repeatedly makes sweeping historical, linguistic, archaeological, genetic, and anthropological claims that either go well beyond the available evidence or directly contradict mainstream scholarship. Rather than weighing competing explanations, it almost always arrives at the same conclusion: Korean food is uniquely independent, uniquely original, and fundamentally separate from neighboring cultures. That is what makes this paper interesting. Not because it's simply "wrong." Plenty of academic papers contain mistakes. It's interesting because it reflects a broader pattern that occasionally appears in Korean public discourse, media, and even academia: the desire to demonstrate Korean exceptionalism through scientific language. The Bigger Pattern Much of the paper revolves around proving things don't merely exist in Korea. They must be: older than everyone else's more original than everyone else's scientifically superior impossible to have borrowed from neighboring cultures It's the same pattern behind claims that: Korean is uniquely logical. Korean relationships are deeper because of speech levels. Metal chopsticks create better surgeons. Koreans excel at archery because of chopsticks. Kimchi predates chili peppers. Everything distinctive must have originated in Korea. Some of these are harmless internet folklore. Others find their way into books, museums, newspapers, documentaries, and occasionally academic publications. Why This Happens None of this appeared in a vacuum. Modern Korea emerged from colonization, war, dictatorship, and decades of being culturally overshadowed by larger neighbors. Building a strong national identity was an understandable project. The problem comes when pride begins driving the research instead of the research informing the pride. Good scholarship starts with evidence and follows wherever it leads. Nationalistic scholarship often starts with the conclusion and works backwards. That doesn't make every conclusion false. It does make readers ask a very different question: "Is this trying to discover the truth?" Or "Is this trying to prove something?" This paper often feels like the latter. 1. The Authors Set Themselves Up as the Correctors of History Page 1 "Nevertheless, until now, the history of food on the Korean Peninsula has been mainly studied by history scholars who can read Chinese characters rather than by natural scientists, resulting in errors and distortions in our understanding of the identity, history, and originality of Korean food. In this paper, we aim to correct these errors and distortions and to present scientifically validated research... Furthermore, we also aim to provide scientific truths..." Problems The paper begins by declaring that historians have distorted Korean food history while positioning the authors as the ones who possess the "scientific truths." Throughout the paper they continue using historical texts whenever those texts support their conclusions while dismissing them when they do not. It's an unusual way to frame an academic paper. Most research begins with questions, not with a declaration that previous scholarship is fundamentally wrong. 2. Korea Developed in Isolation Page 2 "The early Korean population developed their characteristic foods in relative isolation from other regions of Asia due to the oceans and rugged mountains surrounding the country. Therefore, we must be very careful when discussing the culture and history of Korean food through Chinese books... Korea has historically been geographically isolated... it was also so historically resistant to outside influences and interactions that it was commonly called the 'Hermit Kingdom.'" Problems This compresses thousands of years of Korean history into an isolation narrative. Korea maintained continuous contact with China, Japan, Jurchens, Mongols, and others through diplomacy, trade, religion, migration, and warfare. "Hermit Kingdom" describes a particular period of late Joseon diplomacy, not Korea's entire historical development. 3. Banchan Exists Nowhere Else Page 2 "Another distinctive feature of Korean cuisine is the unique presentation of bap and banchan... We call this banchan culture, and it is a food culture that does not exist in any other country in the world." Problems Korea's version is distinctive. The concept of eating a staple grain with multiple shared side dishes exists throughout East and Southeast Asia. The paper turns a distinctive tradition into an absolute claim. 4. Korea Had No Sugar or Oil Pages 2-3 "Not only do we have a different ethnic root than China, but we also do not have oil or sugar as elements to make food delicious agriculturally." ... "In an environment where livestock and dairy products did not exist, where sugar to provide a sweet taste was unavailable, and where there was no oil to enhance the flavor..." Problems Traditional Korean cooking uses sesame oil, perilla oil, honey, rice syrup (조청), and malt syrup. Traditional desserts like yakgwa depend on both oil and sweeteners. The paper repeatedly describes Korea as lacking ingredients that are well documented in Korean culinary history. 5. Tasteless Vegetables Are the Soul of Korean Food Page 3 "As with all vegetables and herbs, they have less flavor when they do not contain salt, fat, or protein. The essence of Korean cuisine lies in the spirit and wisdom of Korean ancestors on how to eat these tasteless vegetables deliciously, which can be said to be the soul of Korean food." Problems This is philosophy rather than food science. It's a perfectly reasonable cultural reflection. It should not be presented as scientific evidence. 6. Pottery Alone Proves Independent Food Culture Page 4 "The earthenware vessels found in Korea during the ancient times were... mostly different from that of China. From this alone, we can tell that the food culture of ancient times in Korea was independently formed from that of China." Problems "From this alone" is an enormous leap. Archaeologists do not infer entire culinary traditions from pottery styles alone. Different pottery demonstrates different pottery. 7. Korean and Chinese Are Completely Different Peoples Pages 4-5 "The Korean and Chinese peoples are ethnologically different nations." ... "Korea has continued to develop independently thereby developing and preserving its own culture and history without being culturally absorbed by the country of China." Problems Korean civilization certainly developed its own identity. But history also documents centuries of exchange in religion, administration, philosophy, literature, technology and cuisine. The paper repeatedly frames influence as something that either happened completely or not at all. 8. Korean Is Related to Hungarian and Finnish Page 5 "Korean is classified as Ural-Altaic (Trans-Eurasian), which is completely different from the Chinese language system (India-Europe). Korean belongs to the same linguistic family as Manchurian, Mongolian, Japanese, Hungarian, and Finnish." Problems Chinese is not Indo-European. The Ural-Altaic hypothesis has largely been abandoned by historical linguists. This entire linguistic discussion has little bearing on culinary history. 9. Ancient DNA Proves Korean Food Didn't Come from China Pages 5-6 "The rapid decline in male genetic diversity... suggests that during the war, the invaders slaughtered men and humiliated women." ... "Therefore, it is a false claim that Korean food came from either China or Japan through men's communication. Wars have not advanced the development of food. Had mothers' languages not changed after the war, their food would not have changed either." Problems This is probably the biggest logical leap in the paper. Population genetics cannot determine where recipes originated. The authors move directly from Bronze Age Y-chromosome bottlenecks to twentieth-century arguments about Korean cuisine. 10. Korea Had No Livestock, Dairy, Sugar or Oil Page 6 "In an environment where livestock and dairy products did not exist... where sugar... was unavailable... and where there was no oil to enhance the flavor..." Problems This repeats and expands an earlier claim. Historically Korea had livestock. It had oils. It had traditional sweeteners. The statement is presented far more absolutely than the historical record supports. 11. Korean Food Is Never Spicy Page 16 "Foreigners who do not understand this come to believe that Korean food is very spicy. In reality, authentic Korean food is never hot because chili pepper varieties cultivated in Korea are not hot." Problems Korean peppers are generally milder than many Southeast Asian varieties. That does not make Korean food "never hot." This swings from one extreme myth to the opposite extreme. 12. Royal Court Cuisine Isn't Korean Page 16 "Royal court cuisine and jongka cuisine are not Korean food; they are based on Chinese food." Problems One of the paper's most extraordinary conclusions. Royal cuisine developed inside Korean courts, by Korean cooks, over centuries. Cultural influence does not erase cultural identity. 13. The Paper Contradicts Itself About Foreign Influence Pages 16-17 The paper argues wars and foreign influence did not shape Korean food. Then later it writes: "Inexpensive wheat flour from the USA replaced the more expensive rice with flour, which has greatly contributed to the development of pajeon, tteokbokki, and kuksu." Problems This is exactly the kind of foreign influence the paper spends earlier chapters minimizing. It acknowledges that American food aid transformed important Korean dishes after the Korean War. Structural Problems Heavy self-citation Many of the paper's key citations are previous publications by the lead author. The article often cites earlier books and papers by Kwon to support Kwon's current arguments. Personal communications as evidence One of the key claims about ancient Korean chili peppers relies on an unpublished personal communication rather than peer-reviewed evidence. Conclusions precede the evidence Throughout the paper, the conclusion remains remarkably consistent: Korean food is uniquely independent. Korean food is uniquely original. Korean food is uniquely healthy. Korean food is fundamentally separate from neighboring cuisines. The evidence is then selected and interpreted to support those conclusions. Closing Korean cuisine is extraordinary. It doesn't need exaggerated origin stories. It doesn't become less Korean because chili peppers came from the Americas. It doesn't become less Korean because Buddhism came through China. It doesn't become less Korean because dumplings arrived with the Mongols. Every great cuisine is built through centuries of borrowing, adapting, refining, and making ideas its own. Ironically, that's exactly what makes Korean food so interesting. The strongest case for Korean cuisine isn't that it developed in complete isolation. It's that Korea took influences from around the world and transformed them into something unmistakably Korean. That story is both more believable and far more impressive.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

Dan Chung is the Executive Director of Crossing Borders, an organization that brings the gospel to North Korean refugees. Dan is one of the foremost experts on the North Korean refugee crisis, with relationships with both organizations and scholars researching the ongoing developments of the Korean Peninsula. Dan's book, A Hard Freedom: The Dreams and Trauma of North Korean Refugees, chronicles his insights and observations in his work with Crossing Borders.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's Monday, June 15th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus “Peace Korea” is praying for Korean church to reunify North & South From June 5-25, 48 churches and Christian groups across South Korea are joining together to pray for the Gospel of Jesus Christ to reunify North Korea and South Korea, and for imprisoned missionaries in North Korea to be released, reports International Christian Concern. Peace Korea has held 21-day prayer meetings since 2007, following Daniel's example in Daniel 10 when he dedicated three weeks to pray for his people. The organizer told Christian Daily Korea, “I hope … that the Korean Peninsula will become one in the Gospel.” The theme of the 20th Peace Prayer Assembly is drawn from Isaiah 43:19. In that prophetic book, God declared, “Behold, I am doing a new thing.” Peace Korea published the “Peace Prayer Book” which includes messages from pastors, stories about Christian martyrs, and prayers that meditate on the new works God is doing. Tulsi Gabbard: “There are 120 US -funded bio labs in 30 countries” Outgoing Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released declassified information on Friday revealing that U.S. taxpayers have funded 120  biological labs in 30 foreign countries, reports The New York Post. Listen. GABBARD: “After months of searching through intelligence community holdings and files, today I'm releasing new evidence of longstanding U.S. government funding of more than 120 bio labs in over 30 countries. “Now, these bio labs include labs in places like Ukraine, which could be at risk of compromise due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine War. In fact, the intelligence community had previously warned that a US-funded bio lab in Ukraine likely housed dangerous pathogens and remained vulnerable to longstanding threats of Russian attack, seizure, or damage. “Now, until now, evidence regarding the full existence and funding of these laboratories had been knowingly withheld from you, the American people. Many of these U.S. government-funded bio labs are currently or have previously engaged in research using hazardous and highly contagious pathogens, and, in some cases, included dangerous gain-of-function research with very little visibility or oversight.” The Director of National Intelligence also explained what President Trump has done to mitigate the danger and how Biden administration officials, like Dr. Anthony Fauci, “lied” about their existence. GABBARD: “Now, President Trump clearly understands the serious threat dangerous gain-of-function research poses to the American people. And this is why he took decisive action over a year ago. On May 25. 2025, he signed an executive order to end federal funding of gain-of-function research around the world. “Now, despite the obvious potential for catastrophic global impact that research on dangerous pathogens and bio labs can have, politicians and so-called health professionals, like Dr. [Anthony] Fauci, as well as entities within the Biden administration's national security team, lied repeatedly to the American people about the existence of US-funded and supported bio labs. Very powerful people falsely claimed that these bio labs didn't exist.” Gabbard has sought transparency as part of an effort to eliminate possibly dangerous experiments with pathogens that have the potential to explode into pandemics. Tulsi Gabbard's last day is June 30th as she will be caring for her sick husband of 11 years, Abraham Williams, who has been stricken with a rare bone cancer affecting the base of his spine. United States now world's largest oil exporter The United States has officially become the world's largest oil exporter, an historic milestone that underscores America's growing energy dominance, reports Big League Politics. The U.S. exported 10.5 million barrels of crude oil and refined petroleum products per day in May, surpassing both Russia and Saudi Arabia for the third consecutive month. By contrast, Russia exported roughly 7 million barrels per day, while Saudi Arabia shipped about 6 million barrels daily. Spencer Pratt ready to drop bombshell in L.A. Mayoral race Former Republican Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt posted a video last Friday acknowledging his campaign is now over, but promised to release compromising recordings or perhaps video footage that will cause Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and/or Councilwoman Nithya Raman to “resign in shame,” reports The Western Journal. Bass, a Democrat, and Raman, a Democratic socialist, were the top two finishers in the Los Angeles mayoral primary. So, those two will advance to November's general election. Raman mysteriously overcame nearly a double-digit election night deficit to Pratt to be declared the second place winner earlier last week after mail-in ballots broke strongly in her favor, over both Bass and Pratt. As The Worldview previously reported last Friday, U.S. General Bill Essayli is looking into possible voter fraud, related to the disproportionate registrations of the homeless that far exceeds the actual homeless population. On June 12th, Pratt posted a fiery video on social media teasing his plans for "Phase III" of his effort to clean up the city, reports Fox News. PRATT: “I didn't get in this for political power. I got in this to expose this corrupt machine. And nothing has changed. Angelinos are now stuck with two morons responsible for all their problems. And they have to choose between dumb and dumber.” Pratt laid out the problems of Los Angeles. PRATT: “Now, every problem that plagues Los Angeles, because of these two corrupt communists, is going to accelerate, and the city will tumble headlong into the abyss. “You have no idea how many major developers, hoteliers, business owners, entrepreneurs have been texting me, saying they're packing up and leaving town. More of your favorite restaurants will be shuttering. That means less tax revenue. “That means the city has to cut services: more potholes, less firefighters, less police patrols, more criminals, more drug addicts terrorizing your communities. You have no idea how bad things are about to get for this city. “Look at this place already: weeds growing from every crack and crevice, graffiti over every square inch of public space, garbage, drugs, feces, burned-up dogs, burned-out towns, abandoned storefronts. This city is a mess, and you're about to reward the arsonist who torched the place with four more years of destruction.” And Spencer Pratt teased information he has that could force one or both  candidates to resign. PRATT: “We have some recordings of one of your exalted candidates doing and saying something that would make her resign in shame. I was saving it for the general election. Go ahead and pick your demon. Certify your choice, and then you get to see it. So, Karen, Nithya, ask yourself, ‘Is it possible that one of your employees may have a recording of you doing or saying something that would force you to resign in disgrace?'” King John of England signed Magna Carta in 1215 And finally, 811 years ago, on June 15, 1215, King John of England signed the Magna Carta, which began, “The Church of England shall be free.” It was first drafted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Stephen Langton, to make peace between the unpopular king and a group of rebel barons who demanded that the King confirm the Charter of Liberties. The Magna Carta promised the protection of church rights, protection for the barons from illegal imprisonment, access to swift and impartial justice, and limitations on feudal payments to the Crown. Proverbs 17:26 says, “To punish the just is not good.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Monday, June 15th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) Seize the day for Jesus Christ.