Podcasts about Seoul

Taylor Swift's Eras Tour shattered records, becoming the highest-grossing concert tour of all time, redefining what's possible and confirming a new era in the business of touring. As streaming transformed how we listen to music, selling records is no longer the financial centrepiece it once was for artists. Instead, exclusivity has been transferred to the live experience. But staging shows on this scale requires enormous investment and complex production. At the same time, ticket scarcity fuels extraordinary demand and rising prices, which mean big ticket prices.Tanya Beckett explores how technology, fandom and economics turn modern concert tours into multi-billion-dollar ventures.This week on The Inquiry, we're asking: How did music megatours become such a money spinner?Contributors Kevin Kim, Head of Asia at music distribution company Route Note, Seoul, South KoreaSerona Elton, professor at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, United StatesAdam Behr, Reader and Head of Music at Newcastle University, United KingdomPoppy Reid, music journalist and founder of Curious Media, Sydney, AustraliaPresenter: Tanya Beckett Producers: Maeve Schaffer and Matt Toulson Researcher: Evie Yabsley Production Management Assistant: Liam Morrey Technical Producer: Craig Boardman Editor: Tom Bigwood(Photo: Taylor Swift during The Eras Tour. Credit: Erika Goldring/TAS24/Getty Images)

#199 - What if the most important part of travel is the part you can't see? I sat down with cultural intelligence educator Renae Ninneman to unpack the “iceberg” of culture—how the visible stuff like food, transit, and phrases sits on top of deeper values about identity, respect, and communication that truly shape connection. Renee takes us from a formative year teaching in South Korea to years of refugee advocacy, sharing how naming culture shock and learning CQ transformed exhaustion into empathy.Together we break down cultural intelligence as a practical skill you can build: understand your own defaults, recognize different norms without judging, create a plan before you enter a new space, and adapt your behavior so others feel at ease. Renae offers vivid examples—from ordering pizza in Seoul to navigating indirect communication in Japan—showing how small shifts in greeting, tone, and timing open doors. We also talk about heavy but vital travel: visiting Hiroshima's Peace Memorial and the power of paper cranes as a living wish for peace.You'll come away with simple, actionable ways to grow your CQ without leaving home: volunteer with local ESL programs, shop at international markets, watch K‑dramas or Bollywood films, and explore global music that connects American blues back to Mali. If you're planning a trip or leading teams across borders, Renae's Beyond Tourism training and assessment can help you prepare thoughtfully so every interaction builds trust rather than friction. Subscribe, share this conversation with a curious friend, and tell us: what's one habit you'll adapt to connect better on your next adventure?To learn more about Renae and to receive $80 off her Individual Intercultural Training ceck out www.goingbeyondtouris.com and mention you heard her on the show. You can also follow her on Instagram @goingbeyondtourism. Want to be a guest on the show? Send me a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/journeywithjake  Visit geneticinsights.co and use the code "DISCOVER25" to enjoy a sweet 25% off your first purchase.

Fluent Fiction - Korean: A Seoul Christmas: When Meme Stardom Gets You Free Treats Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ko/episode/2025-12-29-08-38-20-ko Story Transcript:Ko: 서울의 크리스마스 시장은 반짝이는 조명과 향긋한 군밤 냄새로 가득했다.En: The Seoul Christmas market was filled with twinkling lights and the fragrant smell of roasted chestnuts.Ko: 하얀 눈이 소복이 쌓여, 모든 것이 마법처럼 보였다.En: White snow was piled up, making everything look magical.Ko: 민서는 크리스마스 분위기를 즐기고 있었다.En: Minseo was enjoying the Christmas atmosphere.Ko: 그런데 어느새, 장난기 가득한 그의 눈이 반짝였다.En: Then suddenly, a mischievous sparkle appeared in her eyes.Ko: 친구 지수에게 살짝 고개를 돌려 말했다.En: She turned slightly to her friend, Jisoo, and said,Ko: "내가 오늘 유명한 연예인처럼 행동할 거야. 우리 먹을 거 많이 받을 수 있을지도 몰라."En: "I'm going to act like a famous celebrity today. Maybe we can get a lot of free food."Ko: 지수는 웃으며 말했다. "너 또 시작이구나. 하지만 너한테 어떤 재밌는 일이 생길지 기대돼."En: Jisoo laughed and said, "There you go again. But I'm curious to see what fun will come your way."Ko: 민서와 지수는 시장의 한 구석으로 걸어갔고, 그곳에는 도현이라는 상인이 있었다.En: Minseo and Jisoo walked to a corner of the market where there was a vendor named Dohyun.Ko: 도현은 호떡을 굽고 있었다.En: Dohyun was making hotteok.Ko: 민서는 자신감을 가득 담고 말했다.En: Minseo spoke with full confidence.Ko: "안녕하세요. 혹시 저를 아세요? 제가 요즘 인기 있는 드라마에 나오는 그 사람입니다."En: "Hello. Do you perhaps recognize me? I'm the person in the popular drama these days."Ko: 도현은 고개를 갸웃하며 말했다. "그래요? 그럼 제가 모를 리가 없는데..."En: Dohyun tilted his head and said, "Really? Then there's no way I wouldn't know..."Ko: 도현은 의심의 눈초리를 거두지 않고 민서를 바라봤다.En: Dohyun continued to look at Minseo with a doubtful gaze.Ko: 민서는 조금 긴장했지만 강하게 나가기로 했다.En: Minseo felt a bit nervous but decided to push on.Ko: 그녀는 지수에게 신호를 보냈다.En: She sent a signal to Jisoo.Ko: 지수는 씩 웃으며 크게 외쳤다. "와, 너 정말 그 사람이 맞구나! 여기서 너를 만날 줄 몰랐어!"En: Jisoo smiled broadly and shouted loudly, "Wow, you really are that person! I didn't expect to see you here!"Ko: 주변에 있던 사람들은 지수의 목소리에 시선을 돌렸고, 갑자기 군중 속에서 몇몇 사람들이 민서를 알아보는 것 같았다.En: People nearby turned their attention to Jisoo's voice, and suddenly it seemed like a few people in the crowd recognized Minseo.Ko: 알고 보니, 그들은 민서를 얼마 전 인터넷에서 유행했던 재미있는 밈에서 보고 알아본 것이다.En: As it turned out, they had seen her in a funny meme that had recently gone viral on the internet.Ko: "진짜네! 와, 사인 좀 해주세요!" 누군가 외치며 민서에게 다가왔다.En: "It's true! Wow, can I get an autograph?" someone shouted as they approached Minseo.Ko: 이때 도현은 미소를 지으며 말했다. "내 알던 연예인은 아니지만, 너의 운이 좋았던 것 같네. 이만큼 가져가도 될 것 같군."En: At this point, Dohyun smiled and said, "Even though you're not the celebrity I knew, it seems you're lucky. You might as well take this much."Ko: 민서는 웃음을 참을 수 없어 고개를 숙였다. "사실, 그냥 장난이었어요. 고맙습니다."En: Minseo couldn't help but bow her head in laughter. "Actually, it was just a joke. Thank you."Ko: 도현은 빙그레 웃으며 민서에게 호떡을 더 주었다. "괜찮아, 크리스마스잖아. 즐기세요."En: Dohyun chuckled as he gave Minseo more hotteok. "It's alright, it's Christmas. Enjoy yourselves."Ko: 집으로 돌아가는 길에 민서는 지수에게 말했다. "진짜 유명해지는 것보다 솔직한 내가 더 좋을 것 같아."En: On the way home, Minseo said to Jisoo, "I think I prefer being honest rather than being famously known."Ko: 지수는 고개를 끄덕이며 미소를 지었다. "맞아, 너 자신이 최고야."En: Jisoo nodded with a smile. "You're the best as you are."Ko: 그날 밤, 서울의 하늘에는 별들이 반짝였고, 민서의 마음에도 진실된 기쁨이 가득했다.En: That night, the stars twinkled in the Seoul sky, and Minseo's heart was full of genuine joy.Ko: 크리스마스는 진정한 나를 찾아가는 여정임을 깨달았던 하루였다.En: It was a day she realized that Christmas is a journey to find her true self. Vocabulary Words:twinkling: 반짝이는fragrant: 향긋한piled up: 소복이 쌓여mischievous: 장난기 가득한sparkle: 반짝였다celebrity: 연예인curious: 궁금한vendor: 상인confidence: 자신감recognize: 알아보다tilted: 갸웃하며doubtful: 의심의nervous: 긴장한broadly: 씩shouted: 외쳤다autograph: 사인approached: 다가왔다joke: 장난chuckled: 빙그레 웃으며genuine: 진실된realized: 깨달았던journey: 여정true self: 진정한 나atmosphere: 분위기magic: 마법처럼signal: 신호crowd: 군중viral: 유행했던gather: 모리를suddenly: 갑자기

Morgonens nyheter, 29 december, med Pontus Herin.

KickFlip's First Fan Concert in Seoul Sells Out

Fluent Fiction - Korean: Healing Old Wounds Under Seoul's Winter Sky Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ko/episode/2025-12-28-23-34-02-ko Story Transcript:Ko: 눈이 부슬부슬 내리는 겨울, 남산 서울 타워는 하얀 옷을 입고 있었다.En: On a winter day with gently falling snow, Namsan Seoul Tower was dressed in white.Ko: 하늘은 검고, 타워의 불빛이 겨울밤을 달래고 있었다.En: The sky was dark, and the tower's lights were soothing the winter night.Ko: 커플과 가족들은 타워 주변에 모여 새해 전야제를 즐기고 있었다.En: Couples and families gathered around the tower to enjoy New Year's Eve.Ko: 지수와 민지는 오랜 친구였다.En: Jisoo and Minji were long-time friends.Ko: 하지만 최근 둘 사이에 작은 오해가 생겼다.En: However, recently a small misunderstanding arose between them.Ko: 지수는 마음 깊이 고민이 많았다.En: Jisoo had many worries deep in her heart.Ko: 그녀는 수줍음이 많아 친구와의 갈등을 쉽게 풀지 못했다.En: She was very shy and couldn't easily resolve conflicts with friends.Ko: 반면 민지는 활발하고 긍정적인 성격이었지만, 이번에는 어떻게 해결해야 할지 막막했다.En: On the other hand, Minji was lively and had a positive personality, but this time she was at a loss on how to resolve things.Ko: 둘은 약속대로 타워 밑에서 만났다.En: They met as promised beneath the tower.Ko: "안녕, 민지야." 지수가 쑥스럽게 말했다.En: "Hi, Minji," Jisoo said shyly.Ko: "안녕, 지수야!" 민지는 활기차게 답했다.En: "Hi, Jisoo!" Minji responded energetically.Ko: 그러나 둘 다 어색함을 느꼈다.En: However, both felt the awkwardness.Ko: 타워를 올라가며, 입에서 말이 잘 나오지 않았다.En: As they ascended the tower, words did not come easily.Ko: 지수는 민지에게 먼저 말을 꺼내고 싶었지만, 어떻게 시작해야 할지 몰랐다.En: Jisoo wanted to speak to Minji first, but didn't know how to begin.Ko: 민지 역시 분위기를 풀어보려 농담을 던졌으나, 긴장감은 쉽게 사라지지 않았다.En: Minji, too, tried to break the tension with a joke, but the tension didn't easily dissipate.Ko: 그러던 중 타워 꼭대기에서 소망 나무를 보게 되었다.En: Then they saw the wishing tree at the top of the tower.Ko: 많은 사람들이 작은 메모지에 새해 소망을 적어 나무에 걸고 있었다.En: Many people were writing their New Year wishes on small pieces of paper and hanging them on the tree.Ko: "우리도 소망 적어볼래?" 민지가 제안했다.En: "Do you want to write a wish too?" Minji suggested.Ko: 지수는 고개를 끄덕였다.En: Jisoo nodded.Ko: 지수는 메모지에 조심스럽게 마음속 이야기를 적었다.En: Carefully, Jisoo wrote her heartfelt story on a piece of paper.Ko: "민지와 오해를 풀고 싶어." 작은 종이에 담아 나무에 걸었다.En: "I want to resolve the misunderstanding with Minji." She placed the small paper on the tree.Ko: 민지도 자신의 소망을 적고 나무에 걸었다.En: Minji also wrote her wish and hung it on the tree.Ko: 둘은 나무를 돌며 서로의 소망을 읽게 되었다.En: As they walked around the tree, they read each other's wishes.Ko: 민지의 메모에는 이렇게 적혀 있었다. "지수와 다시 웃으며 친구가 되고 싶어."En: Minji's note said, "I want to be friends with Jisoo and laugh together again."Ko: 지수와 민지는 서로를 바라보며 미소를 지었다.En: Jisoo and Minji looked at each other and smiled.Ko: “미안해, 서툴렀어.” 지수가 먼저 말했다.En: “I'm sorry, I was awkward,” Jisoo said first.Ko: “괜찮아, 나도 그렇게 느꼈어.” 민지가 답했다.En: “It's okay, I felt the same,” Minji replied.Ko: 그 순간 눈이 더욱 쏟아졌다.En: At that moment, the snow fell even harder.Ko: 둘은 타워 밑에서 손을 잡고 눈을 맞으며 웃었다.En: They held hands and laughed as they stood in the snow beneath the tower.Ko: 지수와 민지는 새해의 시작과 함께 더욱 단단해진 우정을 느꼈다.En: With the beginning of the new year, Jisoo and Minji felt their friendship strengthen.Ko: 지수는 그날 이후 더 솔직해졌다.En: After that day, Jisoo became more open and candid.Ko: 감정에 솔직해진 지수는 친구와의 관계도 더욱 깊어졌다.En: Being honest with her feelings deepened her relationships with her friends.Ko: 눈 내리는 남산은 두 사람의 웃음소리로 가득했다.En: The snow-covered Namsan was filled with their laughter.Ko: 그리고 그녀들은 서로의 존재를 더 소중히 여기게 되었다.En: And they came to cherish each other's presence even more. Vocabulary Words:gently: 부슬부슬falling: 내리는dressed: 입고soothing: 달래고gathered: 모여misunderstanding: 오해worried: 심려shy: 수줍음resolve: 풀다awkwardness: 어색함ascended: 올라감tension: 긴장감dissipate: 사라지다wishing tree: 소망 나무carefully: 조심스럽게heartfelt: 마음속laughed: 웃다beneath: 밑에서strengthen: 단단해지다open: 솔직해지다candid: 솔직한cherish: 소중히 여기다presence: 존재energetically: 활기차게suggested: 제안했다nodded: 끄덕였다stood: 서다conflict: 갈등personality: 성격moment: 순간

Send us your feedback — we're listeningPsalm 4:8 — Peace for Troubled Sleep and Restless Minds in the Early HoursFrom London to Seoul, from Johannesburg to Vancouver, from Rome to Sydney — a global 3 A.M. prayer within the DailyPrayer.uk 24-Hour Cycle. Psalm 4:8 — “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.” John 14:27 — “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you… Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Night-time searches rise sharply for “can't sleep,” “racing thoughts,” “why am I anxious at night,” and “peace to rest.” The early hours amplify everything the heart carries — yet God speaks peace into this quiet darkness. PRAYER Father, in Jesus' name, we pray over every restless heart awake at this hour. Still the racing thoughts, soften the anxiety, and break the cycle of fear. Lord, calm the mind that replays worries, soothe the body that cannot settle, and silence every internal storm. Cover those scrolling through the night seeking comfort, those battling nightmares, and those overwhelmed by loneliness. Let your peace fill bedrooms, hospital wards, workplaces, and night-shift stations. Draw listeners into a deep, secure rest. Guard them from fear, reset their breathing, quieten their spirit, and bring supernatural calm to mind and body. Lord, we receive the peace that only you can give. Amen. PRAYER POINTS prayer for restful sleep, prayer for calm thoughts, prayer for night peace, prayer for anxiety relief, prayer for slowed breathing, prayer for stillness, prayer for deep rest LIFE APPLICATION Before sleep, place your hand over your heart and speak John 14:27 aloud, letting God's peace settle your breathing and thoughts. DECLARATION I declare that the peace of Christ governs my night and quietens my mind. CALL TO ACTION Share this prayer and visit DailyPrayer.uk for global devotional resources.psalm 4:8 prayer, prayer for sleep, christian night prayer, anxiety at night prayer, peaceful rest prayer, reverend ben cooper, dailyprayer.uk, global prayer podcast, daily prayer podcast, prayer for calm24-HOUR ARC CONNECTORPrevious: 12 A.M. — Midnight Strength for Tired MindsThis Episode: 3 A.M. — Peace for Troubled SleepNext: 5 A.M. — Stability and Focus for the New MorningThank you for praying with us today. For more daily devotion, follow us on all social platforms at DailyPrayer.uk.Support this listener-funded ministry for £3 a month:Support the showFor more inspiring content, visit RBChristianRadio.net — your home for daily devotionals, global prayer, and biblical encouragement for every season of life. We invite you to connect with our dedicated prayer hub at DailyPrayer.uk — a place where believers from every nation unite in prayer around the clock. If you need prayer, or would like to leave a request, this is the place to come. Our mission is simple: to pray with you, to stand with you, and to keep the power of prayer at the centre of everyday life. Your support through DailyPrayer.uk helps us continue sharing the gospel and covering the nations in prayer. You can also discover our ministry services and life celebrations at LifeCelebrant.net — serving families with faith, dignity, and hope. If this devotional blesses you, please consider supporting our listener-funded mission by buying us a coffee through RBChristianRadio.net. Every prayer, every gift, and every share helps us keep broadcasting God's Word to the world.

Send us your feedback — we're listeningHebrews 13:3 — Faith Under Fire: Strength for the Persecuted, Courage for the Secret Church From London to Lagos, from Cairo to Seoul, from Caracas to Jakarta — a global 9 A.M. prayer within the DailyPrayer.uk 24-Hour Cycle. Hebrews 13:3 — “Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them…” 2 Thessalonians 3:3 — “But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.” Across the world, believers face surveillance, imprisonment, fear, and daily danger. Global searches rise for “persecuted Christians,” “secret worship,” and “underground church survival.” Today, we stand with them. PRAYER Lord Jesus, we lift the Persecuted Church with deep reverence and urgency. Strengthen the Underground Church, the Whispering Church, the Secret Church wherever your people are hunted for their faith. We pray for believers in North Korea, Somalia, Eritrea, and Afghanistan — shield them from torture, arrest, betrayal, and despair. Father, fill hidden rooms with supernatural courage; soften the hearts of captors; blind the eyes of informants; and surround pastors, mothers, and young disciples with impossible protection. Let the gospel advance in the darkest places with unstoppable fire. Sustain families torn apart, restore those traumatised, and embolden those preparing to stand firm today. Let your presence be their fortress and your word their breath. Amen. PRAYER POINTS prayer for protection, prayer for secret worship, prayer for hidden believers, prayer for imprisoned Christians, prayer for persecuted families, prayer for gospel courage, prayer for supernatural endurance LIFE APPLICATION Pray today for one persecuted nation by name, asking God to strengthen believers who cannot worship openly. DECLARATION I declare that Christ strengthens His persecuted people and His Church cannot be silenced. CALL TO ACTION Share this prayer and visit DailyPrayer.uk for global devotional resources.hebrews 13:3 prayer, faith under fire, persecuted church prayer, underground church courage, prayer for hidden believers, reverend ben cooper, dailyprayer.uk, global prayer podcast, daily prayer podcast, prayer for persecuted Christians24-HOUR ARC CONNECTORPrevious: 5 A.M. — Stability for the New MorningThis Episode: 9 A.M. — Faith Under Fire: Strength for the PersecutedNext: 12 P.M. — Healing and Strength for the Body and MindThank you for prayingSupport the showFor more inspiring content, visit RBChristianRadio.net — your home for daily devotionals, global prayer, and biblical encouragement for every season of life. We invite you to connect with our dedicated prayer hub at DailyPrayer.uk — a place where believers from every nation unite in prayer around the clock. If you need prayer, or would like to leave a request, this is the place to come. Our mission is simple: to pray with you, to stand with you, and to keep the power of prayer at the centre of everyday life. Your support through DailyPrayer.uk helps us continue sharing the gospel and covering the nations in prayer. You can also discover our ministry services and life celebrations at LifeCelebrant.net — serving families with faith, dignity, and hope. If this devotional blesses you, please consider supporting our listener-funded mission by buying us a coffee through RBChristianRadio.net. Every prayer, every gift, and every share helps us keep broadcasting God's Word to the world.

Fluent Fiction - Korean: Finding Inspiration: A Winter Escape to Santorini's Serenity Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ko/episode/2025-12-27-08-38-20-ko Story Transcript:Ko: 산토리니의 겨울.En: Winter in Santorini.Ko: 하얀 건물과 파란 돔, 푸른 에게해가 펼쳐진 곳.En: A place where white buildings, blue domes, and the azure Aegean Sea stretch out before you.Ko: 성진은 따뜻한 햇살을 받으며 해변을 걷고 있었다.En: Seongjin was walking along the beach, basking in the warm sunshine.Ko: 몇 달간의 바쁜 일상, 겨울의 추위에서 벗어나 새해를 맞이하려고 이곳에 왔다.En: After months of a busy routine and wanting to escape the cold of winter to welcome the New Year, he came here.Ko: "성진 오빠, 여기 정말 예쁘죠?" 지우가 말했다. 그녀는 스케치북을 들고 있었다.En: "Seongjin oppa, isn't this place really beautiful?" Jiwoo said, holding a sketchbook.Ko: 성진은 웃으면서 대답했다. "정말 그렇네. 이런 곳에서 다시 시작할 수 있다니 좋다."En: Seongjin replied with a smile, "It really is. It's nice to be able to start over in a place like this."Ko: 지우는 자유로운 영혼의 화가다.En: Jiwoo is a free-spirited artist.Ko: 그녀는 산토리니의 풍경을 담으려고 왔지만, 마음에 드는 장면을 찾지 못하고 있었다.En: She came to capture the scenery of Santorini, but she hadn't found a scene she liked yet.Ko: 성진은 그런 지우를 보며 자기 고민도 생각했다.En: Watching Jiwoo, Seongjin contemplated his own worries.Ko: 쉬러 왔지만, 여전히 마음 속 어딘가에 일에 대한 걱정이 남아 있었다.En: He came to rest, but somewhere inside, concerns about work lingered.Ko: 어느 날, 성진은 지우에게 말했다. "지우야, 좀 더 새로운 곳을 찾아볼까?En: One day, Seongjin said to Jiwoo, "Hey Jiwoo, should we look for somewhere new?Ko: 익숙한 관광지만 도는 건 별로 도움이 안 될 것 같아."En: Just going around the usual tourist spots doesn't seem to be of much help."Ko: 지우는 기쁘게 고개를 끄덕였다. "그래요! 모험을 해보아요.En: Jiwoo nodded happily. "Yes! Let's have an adventure.Ko: 새로운 길에서 영감을 찾을 수 있을지도 몰라요."En: We might find inspiration on a new path."Ko: 둘은 사람들이 잘 찾지 않는 숨겨진 장소들을 탐험하기로 했다. 좁은 골목길, 작은 카페, 그리고 조용한 해변.En: The two decided to explore hidden places not frequented by many people: narrow alleys, small cafes, and quiet beaches.Ko: 성진은 처음에는 이런 계획에 약간 불안했지만, 지우의 밝은 모습에 점점 마음이 편해졌다.En: Initially, Seongjin felt a bit uneasy about such a plan, but Jiwoo's bright demeanor gradually put him at ease.Ko: 그리고 그렇게 걷다 보니, 마음의 무거운 짐은 점점 가벼워졌다.En: As they walked, the heavy burdens of his heart started to lighten.Ko: 새해 전날 밤, 그들은 칼데라가 내려다보이는 언덕에 올랐다.En: On the night before the New Year, they climbed a hill overlooking the caldera.Ko: 밤하늘에는 불꽃놀이가 시작되었다.En: Fireworks began lighting up the night sky.Ko: 성진은 눈앞의 광경에 넋을 잃었다.En: Seongjin was awestruck by the spectacle before his eyes.Ko: 그 순간 그는 모든 걱정을 내려놓고, 기쁨과 평화를 느꼈다.En: In that moment, he let go of all his worries, feeling joy and peace.Ko: 그리고 그 모습은 지우의 마음을 울렸다.En: This touched Jiwoo's heart.Ko: 그녀는 스케치북을 펴고, 손이 움직였다.En: She opened her sketchbook and her hands started to move.Ko: 검은 하늘과 불꽃, 그리고 에게해를 배경으로 성진의 평온한 모습을 그리기 시작했다.En: Against the backdrop of the black sky, fireworks, and the Aegean Sea, she began to draw Seongjin's serene appearance.Ko: 새로운 해가 밝고, 그들의 여행도 끝이 났다.En: The new year dawned, and their journey came to an end.Ko: 돌아가는 비행기에서 성진은 말했다. "이제 정말 재충전된 기분이야.En: On the flight back, Seongjin said, "I really feel recharged now.Ko: 돌아가서 새로운 시작을 할 수 있을 것 같아."En: I think I can start anew when we return."Ko: 지우 역시 미소 지으며 말했다. "나도 새로운 그림 시리즈를 시작할 수 있을 것 같아요.En: Jiwoo also smiled and said, "I think I can start a new series of paintings too.Ko: 이번 여행 덕분에."En: Thanks to this trip."Ko: 서울로 돌아간 두 사람은 서로에게 고마움을 느꼈다.En: Returning to Seoul, both felt grateful to each other.Ko: 성진은 휴식의 중요성을 깨달았고, 지우는 색다른 곳에서 얻은 영감이 얼마나 큰 힘이 되는지 알게 되었다.En: Seongjin realized the importance of rest, and Jiwoo learned how powerful inspiration from a different place can be.Ko: 그들이 산토리니에서 얻은 것들은 단순한 추억을 넘어 삶의 재료가 되어 줄 것이었다.En: What they gained in Santorini would become more than just memories; they would be the materials for their lives. Vocabulary Words:azure: 푸른basking: 받으며routine: 일상free-spirited: 자유로운 영혼의capture: 담으려고contemplated: 생각했다frequented: 찾지 않는demeanor: 모습uneasy: 불안했지만burdens: 짐awestruck: 넋을 잃었다spectacle: 광경serene: 평온한recharged: 재충전된inspiration: 영감dawned: 밝고grateful: 고마움을realized: 깨달았고materials: 재료sketchbook: 스케치북worries: 걱정이adventure: 모험explore: 탐험하기로hidden: 숨겨진narrow: 좁은escapade: 모험uneasiness: 불안caldera: 칼데라fireworks: 불꽃놀이sketched: 그리기 시작했다

Send us your feedback — we're listeningPsalm 46:9 — Peace, Stability, and God's Intervention Across the NationsScripture NIV: “He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear.” Isaiah 60:2 — “See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.” From London to Accra, from Seoul to Buenos Aires, from Toronto to Nairobi — a global 6 P.M. nations prayer within the DailyPrayer.uk 24-Hour Devotional Cycle. Global search behaviour shows rising concern over conflict, instability, displacement, and fear of widening geopolitical tensions. People worldwide are seeking prayer for safety, peace, and stability as nations face crisis, pressure, and uncertainty.Sudan — Ukraine — Myanmar — HaitiPrayer Lord Jesus, we lift Sudan, Ukraine, Myanmar, and Haiti before You. In regions shaken by conflict, violence, hunger, and political turmoil, stretch out Your hand and bring peace where hostility rages. Protect civilians caught in chaos. Strengthen believers who worship in danger. Comfort families displaced and separated. Break the power of fear and restore order where lawlessness has taken hold. Bring wise leadership, stability, and breakthrough. Heal trauma across communities and shield children from terror. Let the Church in each nation shine with courage, compassion, and steadfast faith. Father, speak peace into the atmosphere and push back darkness. May Your glory rise over every region and may hope breathe again across these troubled lands. Prayer Points: prayer for peace, prayer for protection, prayer for stability, prayer for leadership, prayer for the displaced, prayer for the church, prayer for restoration Life Application  Pray specifically for one of these four nations today. Ask God to send peace, strengthen the Church, and protect families caught in conflict.Declaration: I declare God's peace will rise over the nations and darkness will not prevail.Call to Action: Share this prayer and visit DailyPrayer.uk for global devotional resources. Psalm 46:9 prayer, prayer for nations, global peace prayer, intercession for crisis nations, reverend ben cooper, dailyprayer.ukThank you for praying with us today. For more daily devotion, follow us on all social platforms at DailyPrayer.uk.Support this listener-funded ministry for £3 a month: https://buymeacoffee.com/reverendbencooperPrevious: 12 P.M. — Strength and Stability for the DSupport the showFor more inspiring content, visit RBChristianRadio.net — your home for daily devotionals, global prayer, and biblical encouragement for every season of life. We invite you to connect with our dedicated prayer hub at DailyPrayer.uk — a place where believers from every nation unite in prayer around the clock. If you need prayer, or would like to leave a request, this is the place to come. Our mission is simple: to pray with you, to stand with you, and to keep the power of prayer at the centre of everyday life. Your support through DailyPrayer.uk helps us continue sharing the gospel and covering the nations in prayer. You can also discover our ministry services and life celebrations at LifeCelebrant.net — serving families with faith, dignity, and hope. If this devotional blesses you, please consider supporting our listener-funded mission by buying us a coffee through RBChristianRadio.net. Every prayer, every gift, and every share helps us keep broadcasting God's Word to the world.

After nearly four decades of negotiations, sanctions, summits, threats, and backdoor channels, the United States has failed to stop North Korea's nuclear program which now has the capability to strike American cities with weapons of mass destruction. In Fallout: The Inside Story of America's Failure to Disarm North Korea (Yale UP, 2025), Joel S. Wit explains why US efforts to contain North Korea have not worked and gives readers a front-row seat to the policy debates, diplomatic deals, and secret talks between Washington and Pyongyang. Wit, a former State Department official, takes readers to the front lines of nuclear negotiations and recounts how perilously close the United States and North Korea have come, on various occasions, to nuclear confrontation. Based on more than three hundred interviews with officials in Washington, Beijing, and Seoul, as well as with the author's contacts in Pyongyang, this book chronicles how six American presidents have approached the problem of North Korea.Wit points to Barack Obama and Donald Trump as the two presidents most responsible for the failure to halt North Korea's march to build a nuclear arsenal, since it was under their successive tenures that Pyongyang acquired the ability to threaten every city in North America. Wit also offers an unparalleled portrait of Kim Jong Un that refutes his caricature as impulsive and illogical. Like his father and his grandfather, Kim is a ruthless despot but also a canny and informed negotiator determined to secure his dictatorship's future by exploring diplomacy or, failing that, by building a nuclear arsenal. Dr. Andrew O. Pace is a historian of the US in the world who specializes in the moral fog of war. He is currently a DPAA Research Partner Fellow at the University of Southern Mississippi and a co-host of the Diplomatic History Channel on the New Books Network. He is also working on his first book which examines the high price that the Roosevelt and Truman administrations were willing to pay in order to achieve total victory in World War II. He can be reached at andrew.pace@usm.edu or via his website. Andrew is not an employee of DPAA, he supports DPAA through a partnership. The views presented are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of DPAA, DoD or its components.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

After nearly four decades of negotiations, sanctions, summits, threats, and backdoor channels, the United States has failed to stop North Korea's nuclear program which now has the capability to strike American cities with weapons of mass destruction. In Fallout: The Inside Story of America's Failure to Disarm North Korea (Yale UP, 2025), Joel S. Wit explains why US efforts to contain North Korea have not worked and gives readers a front-row seat to the policy debates, diplomatic deals, and secret talks between Washington and Pyongyang. Wit, a former State Department official, takes readers to the front lines of nuclear negotiations and recounts how perilously close the United States and North Korea have come, on various occasions, to nuclear confrontation. Based on more than three hundred interviews with officials in Washington, Beijing, and Seoul, as well as with the author's contacts in Pyongyang, this book chronicles how six American presidents have approached the problem of North Korea.Wit points to Barack Obama and Donald Trump as the two presidents most responsible for the failure to halt North Korea's march to build a nuclear arsenal, since it was under their successive tenures that Pyongyang acquired the ability to threaten every city in North America. Wit also offers an unparalleled portrait of Kim Jong Un that refutes his caricature as impulsive and illogical. Like his father and his grandfather, Kim is a ruthless despot but also a canny and informed negotiator determined to secure his dictatorship's future by exploring diplomacy or, failing that, by building a nuclear arsenal. Dr. Andrew O. Pace is a historian of the US in the world who specializes in the moral fog of war. He is currently a DPAA Research Partner Fellow at the University of Southern Mississippi and a co-host of the Diplomatic History Channel on the New Books Network. He is also working on his first book which examines the high price that the Roosevelt and Truman administrations were willing to pay in order to achieve total victory in World War II. He can be reached at andrew.pace@usm.edu or via his website. Andrew is not an employee of DPAA, he supports DPAA through a partnership. The views presented are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of DPAA, DoD or its components.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/east-asian-studies

After nearly four decades of negotiations, sanctions, summits, threats, and backdoor channels, the United States has failed to stop North Korea's nuclear program which now has the capability to strike American cities with weapons of mass destruction. In Fallout: The Inside Story of America's Failure to Disarm North Korea (Yale UP, 2025), Joel S. Wit explains why US efforts to contain North Korea have not worked and gives readers a front-row seat to the policy debates, diplomatic deals, and secret talks between Washington and Pyongyang. Wit, a former State Department official, takes readers to the front lines of nuclear negotiations and recounts how perilously close the United States and North Korea have come, on various occasions, to nuclear confrontation. Based on more than three hundred interviews with officials in Washington, Beijing, and Seoul, as well as with the author's contacts in Pyongyang, this book chronicles how six American presidents have approached the problem of North Korea.Wit points to Barack Obama and Donald Trump as the two presidents most responsible for the failure to halt North Korea's march to build a nuclear arsenal, since it was under their successive tenures that Pyongyang acquired the ability to threaten every city in North America. Wit also offers an unparalleled portrait of Kim Jong Un that refutes his caricature as impulsive and illogical. Like his father and his grandfather, Kim is a ruthless despot but also a canny and informed negotiator determined to secure his dictatorship's future by exploring diplomacy or, failing that, by building a nuclear arsenal. Dr. Andrew O. Pace is a historian of the US in the world who specializes in the moral fog of war. He is currently a DPAA Research Partner Fellow at the University of Southern Mississippi and a co-host of the Diplomatic History Channel on the New Books Network. He is also working on his first book which examines the high price that the Roosevelt and Truman administrations were willing to pay in order to achieve total victory in World War II. He can be reached at andrew.pace@usm.edu or via his website. Andrew is not an employee of DPAA, he supports DPAA through a partnership. The views presented are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of DPAA, DoD or its components.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/political-science

South Korea says it's ending the foreign adoptions of Korean children. AP correspondent Donna Warder reports.

After nearly four decades of negotiations, sanctions, summits, threats, and backdoor channels, the United States has failed to stop North Korea's nuclear program which now has the capability to strike American cities with weapons of mass destruction. In Fallout: The Inside Story of America's Failure to Disarm North Korea (Yale UP, 2025), Joel S. Wit explains why US efforts to contain North Korea have not worked and gives readers a front-row seat to the policy debates, diplomatic deals, and secret talks between Washington and Pyongyang. Wit, a former State Department official, takes readers to the front lines of nuclear negotiations and recounts how perilously close the United States and North Korea have come, on various occasions, to nuclear confrontation. Based on more than three hundred interviews with officials in Washington, Beijing, and Seoul, as well as with the author's contacts in Pyongyang, this book chronicles how six American presidents have approached the problem of North Korea.Wit points to Barack Obama and Donald Trump as the two presidents most responsible for the failure to halt North Korea's march to build a nuclear arsenal, since it was under their successive tenures that Pyongyang acquired the ability to threaten every city in North America. Wit also offers an unparalleled portrait of Kim Jong Un that refutes his caricature as impulsive and illogical. Like his father and his grandfather, Kim is a ruthless despot but also a canny and informed negotiator determined to secure his dictatorship's future by exploring diplomacy or, failing that, by building a nuclear arsenal. Dr. Andrew O. Pace is a historian of the US in the world who specializes in the moral fog of war. He is currently a DPAA Research Partner Fellow at the University of Southern Mississippi and a co-host of the Diplomatic History Channel on the New Books Network. He is also working on his first book which examines the high price that the Roosevelt and Truman administrations were willing to pay in order to achieve total victory in World War II. He can be reached at andrew.pace@usm.edu or via his website. Andrew is not an employee of DPAA, he supports DPAA through a partnership. The views presented are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of DPAA, DoD or its components.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies

In this year-end episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, Jeongmin, John and Joon Ha reflect on how political volatility, external trade pressure and strategic industrial cooperation shaped South Korea's risk environment in 2025. They begin with the Jan. 18 storming of a Seoul court by pro-Yoon protesters, discussing why the episode marked a rare breach of assumptions around judicial security and highlighted growing stress on democratic institutions. The conversation then turns to South Korea's succession of acting presidents, examining how prolonged caretaker leadership has diluted authority, slowed decision-making and complicated policy coordination. The hosts also assess the expanding use of tariffs as political tools rather than economic instruments and U.S.-ROK shipbuilding cooperation. About the podcast: The Korea Pro Podcast is a weekly conversation hosted by Korea Risk Group Executive Director Jeongmin Kim, Editor John Lee and correspondent Joon Ha Park, delivering deep, clear analysis of South Korean politics, diplomacy, security, society and technology for professionals who need more than headlines. Uploaded every Friday. This episode was recorded on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025. Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson

After nearly four decades of negotiations, sanctions, summits, threats, and backdoor channels, the United States has failed to stop North Korea's nuclear program which now has the capability to strike American cities with weapons of mass destruction. In Fallout: The Inside Story of America's Failure to Disarm North Korea (Yale UP, 2025), Joel S. Wit explains why US efforts to contain North Korea have not worked and gives readers a front-row seat to the policy debates, diplomatic deals, and secret talks between Washington and Pyongyang. Wit, a former State Department official, takes readers to the front lines of nuclear negotiations and recounts how perilously close the United States and North Korea have come, on various occasions, to nuclear confrontation. Based on more than three hundred interviews with officials in Washington, Beijing, and Seoul, as well as with the author's contacts in Pyongyang, this book chronicles how six American presidents have approached the problem of North Korea.Wit points to Barack Obama and Donald Trump as the two presidents most responsible for the failure to halt North Korea's march to build a nuclear arsenal, since it was under their successive tenures that Pyongyang acquired the ability to threaten every city in North America. Wit also offers an unparalleled portrait of Kim Jong Un that refutes his caricature as impulsive and illogical. Like his father and his grandfather, Kim is a ruthless despot but also a canny and informed negotiator determined to secure his dictatorship's future by exploring diplomacy or, failing that, by building a nuclear arsenal. Dr. Andrew O. Pace is a historian of the US in the world who specializes in the moral fog of war. He is currently a DPAA Research Partner Fellow at the University of Southern Mississippi and a co-host of the Diplomatic History Channel on the New Books Network. He is also working on his first book which examines the high price that the Roosevelt and Truman administrations were willing to pay in order to achieve total victory in World War II. He can be reached at andrew.pace@usm.edu or via his website. Andrew is not an employee of DPAA, he supports DPAA through a partnership. The views presented are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of DPAA, DoD or its components.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After nearly four decades of negotiations, sanctions, summits, threats, and backdoor channels, the United States has failed to stop North Korea's nuclear program which now has the capability to strike American cities with weapons of mass destruction. In Fallout: The Inside Story of America's Failure to Disarm North Korea (Yale UP, 2025), Joel S. Wit explains why US efforts to contain North Korea have not worked and gives readers a front-row seat to the policy debates, diplomatic deals, and secret talks between Washington and Pyongyang. Wit, a former State Department official, takes readers to the front lines of nuclear negotiations and recounts how perilously close the United States and North Korea have come, on various occasions, to nuclear confrontation. Based on more than three hundred interviews with officials in Washington, Beijing, and Seoul, as well as with the author's contacts in Pyongyang, this book chronicles how six American presidents have approached the problem of North Korea.Wit points to Barack Obama and Donald Trump as the two presidents most responsible for the failure to halt North Korea's march to build a nuclear arsenal, since it was under their successive tenures that Pyongyang acquired the ability to threaten every city in North America. Wit also offers an unparalleled portrait of Kim Jong Un that refutes his caricature as impulsive and illogical. Like his father and his grandfather, Kim is a ruthless despot but also a canny and informed negotiator determined to secure his dictatorship's future by exploring diplomacy or, failing that, by building a nuclear arsenal. Dr. Andrew O. Pace is a historian of the US in the world who specializes in the moral fog of war. He is currently a DPAA Research Partner Fellow at the University of Southern Mississippi and a co-host of the Diplomatic History Channel on the New Books Network. He is also working on his first book which examines the high price that the Roosevelt and Truman administrations were willing to pay in order to achieve total victory in World War II. He can be reached at andrew.pace@usm.edu or via his website. Andrew is not an employee of DPAA, he supports DPAA through a partnership. The views presented are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of DPAA, DoD or its components.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/korean-studies

Fluent Fiction - Korean: Skating Surprises: Laughter and Lessons on Ice in Seoul Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ko/episode/2025-12-26-08-38-20-ko Story Transcript:Ko: 서울의 겨울은 눈처럼 하얗고, 공기는 상쾌했다.En: Winter in Seoul was as white as snow, and the air was refreshing.Ko: 크리스마스를 앞둔 주말, 크리스마스 조명으로 반짝이는 야외 아이스 스케이트장이 북적거렸다.En: On the weekend before Christmas, the outdoor ice skating rink, sparkling with Christmas lights, was crowded.Ko: 가족, 연인들이 음악에 맞춰 유유히 슬라이드하고 있었다.En: Families and couples were gliding gracefully to the music.Ko: "준비됐어, 민준아?" 지수는 스케이트 신발 끈을 다 매고 자신만만하게 말하며 민준을 바라보았다.En: "Ready, Minjun-a?" Jisoo said confidently, looking at Minjun, as she finished tying the laces of her skates.Ko: 지수는 아이스 스케이팅을 가르쳐 주겠다고 큰소리쳤다.En: Jisoo had boldly declared that she would teach him ice skating.Ko: 민준은 눈이 반짝이며 고개를 끄덕였다. "네, 지수! 제발 천천히 가르쳐 줘요!"En: Minjun nodded eagerly, his eyes shining. "Yes, Jisoo! Please teach me slowly!"Ko: 해진은 그들을 응원하며 카메라를 들고 있었다. "넌 수년 만에 처음으로 스케이트를 타는 거잖아, 괜찮겠어?"En: Haejin was encouraging them, holding a camera. "You're skating for the first time in years; will you be okay?"Ko: 해진이 물었지만, 지수는 웃으며 말했다. "걱정 마! 익숙해지면 다 돌아올 거야."En: Haejin asked, but Jisoo just laughed and said, "Don't worry! Once I get used to it, it will all come back to me."Ko: 하지만 스케이트 도중 지수는 곧 문제가 생겼다.En: However, during skating, Jisoo soon encountered a problem.Ko: 지수의 기억 속의 유려한 동작은 생각만큼 쉽게 몸에 익히지 않았다.En: The graceful moves in her memory were not as easy to execute as she thought.Ko: 결과는 발이 엉키고, 지수가 빙판 위에서 넘어지고 말았다.En: The result was tangled feet, and Jisoo ended up falling on the ice.Ko: 민준은 뒤에서 드듬거리며 따라오다가 결국 지수와 부딪혀 함께 넘어졌다.En: Minjun was stumbling behind, trying to follow her, and eventually collided with Jisoo, causing them both to fall together.Ko: 빙판 위의 민준과 지수는 웃음소리가 끊이지 않았다.En: Laughter didn't stop from Minjun and Jisoo as they lay on the ice.Ko: 둘은 뒤엉켜서 엉거주춤 일어나려 애썼고, 주변의 사람들이 그 모습을 보고 미소를 지었다.En: They struggled to stand up, tangled together, and people around them smiled at the scene.Ko: 크리스마스의 신나는 분위기에 휘말려 웃음이 멈추지 않았다.En: Caught up in the exciting Christmas atmosphere, they couldn't stop laughing.Ko: "이건 정말 기억에 남는 첫 수업이야!" 민준은 웃으며 말했다.En: "This is really a memorable first lesson!" Minjun said with a laugh.Ko: 지수는 부끄러웠지만 웃을 수밖에 없었다.En: Jisoo, though embarrassed, couldn't help but join in the laughter.Ko: "맞아, 한 번 더 해보자."En: "Right, let's try again."Ko: 이후, 그들은 해진과 함께 커피숍에 앉아 따뜻한 핫초코를 마시며 오늘 일어난 실수와 웃음거리를 나눴다.En: Later, they sat with Haejin in a coffee shop, sharing warm hot chocolate and laughing over today's mishaps.Ko: 지수는 스케이트 기술을 제대로 다시 배우기로 다짐했다.En: Jisoo resolved to properly relearn skating skills.Ko: "다시 시작할거야. 가끔은 실패하고 웃으면서 배우는 게 중요하다는 걸 깨달았어."En: "I'll start again. I've realized it's important to fail sometimes and learn with laughter."Ko: 웃음과 따뜻함으로 가득 찬 하루가 크리스마스의 진정한 선물처럼 느껴졌다.En: A day filled with laughter and warmth felt like the true gift of Christmas.Ko: 민준, 지수, 해진은 오늘의 추억을 안고 앞으로의 크리스마스를 더욱 기대하게 되었다.En: Minjun, Jisoo, and Haejin carried the memory of today and looked forward to future Christmases even more. Vocabulary Words:refreshing: 상쾌했다crowded: 북적거렸다gliding: 슬라이드하고gracefully: 유유히laces: 끈confidently: 자신만만하게boldly: 큰소리쳤다eagerly: 반짝이며encountered: 문제가 생겼다execute: 몸에 익히지tangled: 엉키고collided: 부딪혀struggled: 애썼고atmosphere: 분위기exciting: 신나는memorable: 기억에 남는embarrassed: 부끄러웠지만mishaps: 실수relearn: 다시 배우기로resolved: 다짐했다gift: 선물laughter: 웃음warmth: 따뜻함true: 진정한realized: 깨달았다fail: 실패lesson: 수업encouraging: 응원하며eagerly: 반짝이며smiled: 미소

This week, Jun and Daniel celebrate Christmas and close out 2025 with their third annual "Ssamary"—a comprehensive year-end wrap-up. The episode begins with a look at their current holiday vibes, exploring why Daniel is struggling to feel festive this year and Jun's memories of his father's unique "sparrow" surveillance tactic for behavior. As they transition into the review, they break down the podcast's statistics, celebrate milestones like surviving creative burnout to find a sustainable schedule, and share their personal highs and lows of the year, including Daniel's journey toward finding peace in Korea and Jun's resilience through career turbulence.If you're interested in hearing about the surprising history behind December 25th, the exorbitant price of Korean hotel Christmas cakes, or Daniel's daughter's ambitious Christmas wish list asking for a new house and baby twins, this episode offers plenty of laughs and insights. We also dive deep into our personal resolutions for 2026, including Jun's "9th inning" career mindset and Daniel's candid thoughts on whether his family will stay in Korea or move back to the US next summer. Whether you want to know which episodes were our favorites or just hear us reflect on the reality of aging and job stability, tune in for this special holiday edition.As a reminder, we publish our episodes bi-weekly from Seoul, South Korea. We hope you enjoy listening to our conversation, and we're so excited to have you following us on this journey!Support the showWe hope you enjoy listening to our conversation, and we're so excited to have you following us on this journey!Support us on Patreon:https://patreon.com/user?u=99211862Follow us on socials: https://www.instagram.com/koreanamericanpodcast/https://twitter.com/korampodcasthttps://www.tiktok.com/@koreanamericanpodcastQuestions/Comments/Feedback? Email us at: koreanamericanpodcast@gmail.com Member of the iyagi media network (www.iyagimedia.com)

Send us your feedback — we're listeningPsalm 139:11–12 — Comfort for the Night: God With Us in the Quiet Hours From London to Toronto, from Seoul to Cape Town, from Lisbon to Wellington — a global 10 P.M. Christmas prayer within the DailyPrayer.uk 24-Hour Cycle. Psalm 139:11–12 — “Even the darkness will not be dark to You… for darkness is as light to You. Isaiah 41:10 — “Do not fear, for I am with you… I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Night-time search patterns rise sharply on Christmas Day as emotions deepen: loneliness, reflection, spiritual longing, and fear of the quiet hours. This prayer brings God's gentle presence to those who need reassurance that He is near, awake, and guarding their night. prayer Father, as night wraps the world, we rest in the truth that You never sleep and never step away. For those facing the quiet hours with heaviness, anxiety, or sadness, draw close now. Lord Jesus, be Emmanuel—God with us—even in the stillness where thoughts grow loud. Bring comfort to those missing loved ones, strength to the weary, and calm to unsettled hearts. Let every dark corner be filled with Your light. Holy Spirit, watch over every home, every room, every pillow soaked in hidden tears. Wrap Your people in peace that settles the mind and softens the soul. Give deep, uninterrupted rest, and banish fear from the night. We trust You with these final hours of Christmas. Stay with us, Lord. prayer points prayer for comfort, prayer for night peace, prayer for God's nearness, prayer for calm thoughts, prayer for emotional safety, prayer for restful sleep, prayer for renewed strength life application  Before sleep, place your hand over your heart and whisper, “God is with me in the night,” allowing His presence to quiet every fear. declaration I declare that God is with me in the night, and His light surrounds every hour until morning.call to action Share this prayer and visit DailyPrayer.uk for global devotional resources. 24-hour arc connectorPrevious: 8 P.M. Calm for the Evening — Rest in God's PresenceThis Episode: 10 P.M. Comfort for the Night — God With Us in the Quiet HoursNext: 12 A.M. Christmas Night into Boxing Day Prayer (Strength for the New Dawn)Support this listener-funded ministry for £3 a monthhttps://buymeacoffee.com/reverendbencooperpsalm 139:11–12 prayer, isaiah 41:10 comfort, night-time peace prayer, christmas night prayer, god with us in Support the showFor more inspiring content, visit RBChristianRadio.net — your home for daily devotionals, global prayer, and biblical encouragement for every season of life. We invite you to connect with our dedicated prayer hub at DailyPrayer.uk — a place where believers from every nation unite in prayer around the clock. If you need prayer, or would like to leave a request, this is the place to come. Our mission is simple: to pray with you, to stand with you, and to keep the power of prayer at the centre of everyday life. Your support through DailyPrayer.uk helps us continue sharing the gospel and covering the nations in prayer. You can also discover our ministry services and life celebrations at LifeCelebrant.net — serving families with faith, dignity, and hope. If this devotional blesses you, please consider supporting our listener-funded mission by buying us a coffee through RBChristianRadio.net. Every prayer, every gift, and every share helps us keep broadcasting God's Word to the world.

Send us your feedback — we're listeningJohn 1:5 — Light in the Darkness, Hope for a Weary World This ChristmasFrom London to Seoul, from Toronto to Mumbai, from Cape Town to Buenos Aires — a global 6 P.M. Christmas prayer within the DailyPrayer.uk 24-Hour Cycle. John 1:5 — “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Isaiah 9:2 — “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light…” By Christmas evening, global searches show rising emotional fatigue, heaviness, and the desire for renewed hope. Many feel spiritually drained, carrying private battles beneath the celebrations. Today's prayer speaks strength into a weary world longing for light, clarity, and divine reassurance. prayer  Father, in the name of Jesus, shine Your light into every shadow we carry tonight. For the weary, breathe fresh strength. For the anxious, release calm. For those overwhelmed by silence, noise, fear, or expectations, let Your presence break through like dawn after a long night. Lord, You are the Light that darkness cannot overcome—steady our minds, lift our spirits, and renew every faint heart. Bring clarity where confusion sits, courage where fear whispers, and joy where heaviness presses. Let households feel Your peace settling like a warm mantle. Illuminate paths that seem hidden, restore souls that feel empty, and remind us that Your light still leads, heals, and prevails. Tonight, let hope rise again—quiet, strong, unshakeable. prayer points prayer for renewed hope, prayer for inner strength, prayer for God's light, prayer for weary hearts, prayer for emotional clarity, prayer for restored joy, prayer for peace in every homelife application Step outside for one quiet minute tonight. Breathe deeply and ask God to shine light on one area where you need renewed hope and direction. declaration I declare that the light of Christ breaks every darkness and fills my life with unshakeable hope. call to action Share this prayer and visit DailyPrayer.uk for global devotional resources. 24-hour arc connectorPrevious: 12 P.M. Healing for Loneliness and the Empty ChairThis Episode: 6 P.M. Light in the Darkness — Hope for a Weary WorldNext: 8 P.M. Calm for the Evening — support this listener-funded ministry for £3 a monthhttps://buymeacoffee.com/reverendbencooperjohn 1:5 prayer, isaiah 9:2 christmas hope, light in darkness prayer, christmas encouragement,Support the showFor more inspiring content, visit RBChristianRadio.net — your home for daily devotionals, global prayer, and biblical encouragement for every season of life. We invite you to connect with our dedicated prayer hub at DailyPrayer.uk — a place where believers from every nation unite in prayer around the clock. If you need prayer, or would like to leave a request, this is the place to come. Our mission is simple: to pray with you, to stand with you, and to keep the power of prayer at the centre of everyday life. Your support through DailyPrayer.uk helps us continue sharing the gospel and covering the nations in prayer. You can also discover our ministry services and life celebrations at LifeCelebrant.net — serving families with faith, dignity, and hope. If this devotional blesses you, please consider supporting our listener-funded mission by buying us a coffee through RBChristianRadio.net. Every prayer, every gift, and every share helps us keep broadcasting God's Word to the world.

Send us your feedback — we're listeningPsalm 46:1 — Global Nations Prayer for Protection, Stability and God's Intervention in Crisis From London to Warsaw, from Warsaw to Nairobi, from Nairobi to Seoul, from Seoul to Vancouver, from Vancouver to São Paulo — a global 6 P.M. prayer within the DailyPrayer.uk 24-Hour Cycle. Scripture NIV: Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Isaiah 60:2 “Darkness covers the earth… but the Lord rises upon you and His glory appears over you.” Global search behaviour shows rising concern today for war zones, political instability, economic anxiety and international tensions affecting families worldwide. Prayer: Father, in the name of Jesus, we lift before You the nations facing crisis, turmoil and uncertainty. We pray for peace, protection and divine intervention. Cover Haiti, where violence and instability continue to fracture daily life. Strengthen Yemen, where humanitarian suffering remains severe. Bring stability to Ukraine, amid conflict, displacement and fear. Restore hope in Sudan, where families are caught in war and devastation. Lord, let Your mercy break through political darkness and human suffering. Bring wisdom to leaders, safety to civilians and provision to the vulnerable. Stretch out Your hand over every city where fear rises, where economies falter, where families are uncertain of tomorrow. Let Your light pierce the global atmosphere with hope, healing and supernatural calm. Prayer Points: prayer for peace, prayer for protection, prayer for crisis nations, prayer for leaders, prayer for civilians, prayer for stability, prayer for restoration Life Application: Pray specifically for one nation facing crisis today and ask God to send peace and protection over its people.Declaration: I declare the Lord is the refuge and strength of every nation in crisis. Call to Action: Share this prayer and visit DailyPrayer.uk for global devotional resources.Previous: Tuesday 23 December — 12 P.M. Healing and Renewal for the BodyThis Episode: Tuesday 23 December — 6 P.M. Global Nations Prayer for Protection and PeaceNext: Tuesday 23 December — 8 P.M. Emotional Strength and December OverwhelmThank you for praying with us today. For more daily devotion, follow us on all social platforms at DailyPrayer.uk.Support this listener-funded ministry for £3 a month:https://buymeacoffee.com/reverendbencooperSupport the showFor more inspiring content, visit RBChristianRadio.net — your home for daily devotionals, global prayer, and biblical encouragement for every season of life. We invite you to connect with our dedicated prayer hub at DailyPrayer.uk — a place where believers from every nation unite in prayer around the clock. If you need prayer, or would like to leave a request, this is the place to come. Our mission is simple: to pray with you, to stand with you, and to keep the power of prayer at the centre of everyday life. Your support through DailyPrayer.uk helps us continue sharing the gospel and covering the nations in prayer. You can also discover our ministry services and life celebrations at LifeCelebrant.net — serving families with faith, dignity, and hope. If this devotional blesses you, please consider supporting our listener-funded mission by buying us a coffee through RBChristianRadio.net. Every prayer, every gift, and every share helps us keep broadcasting God's Word to the world.

Send us your feedback — we're listeningIsaiah 40:31 — Renewed Strength, Hope and Christmas Morning Emotional Reset From London to Toronto, from Nairobi to Seoul, from Belfast to Sydney — a global 5 A.M. Christmas Day prayer within the DailyPrayer.uk 24-Hour Cycle. Isaiah 40:31 — “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles.” Psalm 118:24 — “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Christmas morning brings mixed emotions worldwide: joy, pressure, anticipation, and quiet exhaustion. Search behaviour spikes for strength, renewed hope, and emotional grounding at dawn. Today we pray for supernatural refreshing as Christmas Day begins across the nations. prayer  Father, in Jesus' name, renew the strength of every listener waking early on Christmas morning. Lift the heaviness that comes from tiredness, expectation, or the weight of family responsibilities. Holy Spirit, breathe fresh hope into weary hearts. Lord, let today be filled not with pressure but with Your sustaining joy. Restore physical energy, emotional clarity, and spiritual focus. For those dreading the day ahead, replace anxiety with courage. For those waking alone, surround them with Your nearness. For families preparing gatherings, fill homes with gentleness, patience, and kindness. Lord, let Your renewing strength rise like morning light, empowering every step, every conversation, and every moment. Make this day a testimony of Your goodness, carrying us on eagle's wings. prayer points prayer for renewed strength, prayer for christmas hope, prayer for emotional clarity, prayer for courage today, prayer for joy in christ, prayer for spiritual focus, prayer for gentle family atmosphere life application  Before starting the day, pause and speak aloud: “Lord, renew my strength.” Let this shape your thoughts, decisions, and interactions throughout Christmas morning. declaration I declare that God renews my strength and fills this Christmas Day with hope. call to action Share this prayer and visit DailyPrayer.uk for global devotional resources.24-hour arc connectorPrevious: 3 A.M. Peace for Night AnxietyThis Episode: 5 A.M. Renewed Strength and Hopesupport this listener-funded ministry for £3 a monthhttps://buymeacoffee.com/reverendbencooperisaiah 40:31 prayer, christmas morning strength, hope for christmas day, christian morning prayer, reverendSupport the showFor more inspiring content, visit RBChristianRadio.net — your home for daily devotionals, global prayer, and biblical encouragement for every season of life. We invite you to connect with our dedicated prayer hub at DailyPrayer.uk — a place where believers from every nation unite in prayer around the clock. If you need prayer, or would like to leave a request, this is the place to come. Our mission is simple: to pray with you, to stand with you, and to keep the power of prayer at the centre of everyday life. Your support through DailyPrayer.uk helps us continue sharing the gospel and covering the nations in prayer. You can also discover our ministry services and life celebrations at LifeCelebrant.net — serving families with faith, dignity, and hope. If this devotional blesses you, please consider supporting our listener-funded mission by buying us a coffee through RBChristianRadio.net. Every prayer, every gift, and every share helps us keep broadcasting God's Word to the world.

Send us your feedback — we're listeningIsaiah 40:31 — Strength for Christmas Morning, Renewed Energy and Emotional Reset From London to Toronto, from Nairobi to Sydney, from Seoul to Los Angeles — a global 12 A.M. Christmas Day prayer within the DailyPrayer.uk 24-Hour Cycle. Isaiah 40:31 — “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles.” Psalm 18:1 — “I love you, Lord, my strength.” Across the world tonight, countless people are searching for strength, energy and calm as Christmas Day begins. Global behaviour shows a surge in emotional fatigue, low resilience and fear of the morning. We pray into this now. prayer  Father, in the name of Jesus, renew our strength as this Christmas Day begins. Where hearts feel tired, restore energy. Where minds feel overwhelmed, bring calm. Lord, lift the weight of emotional pressure and breathe stability into our spirit. Strengthen those waking early to prepare, to care, to hold families together. Strengthen those who face this day alone. Strengthen those carrying hidden fears and private exhaustion. Jesus, let Your presence become our endurance. Let divine energy flow into every weary bone, every overloaded mind, every anxious heart. Holy Spirit, steady our emotions and anchor our thoughts. Father, replace dread with courage and replace heaviness with supernatural strength. Renew us for this day. Empower us to stand, breathe, move, serve, love, and hope again. prayer points prayer for renewed strength, prayer for calm, prayer for steady emotions, prayer for morning courage, prayer for emotional resilience, prayer for restored energy, prayer for God's presence life application  Take one deep breath and speak Isaiah 40:31 aloud. Remind your heart that strength comes from the Lord, not from pressure, performance, or expectation. declaration I declare that the Lord renews my strength for this Christmas Day. call to action Share this prayer and visit DailyPrayer.uk for global devotional resources.24-hour arc connectorPrevious: Christmas Eve Prayer 9 — Night Peace & SurrenderThis Episode: 12 A.M. Strength for Christmas MorningNext: 3 A.M. Night Peace and Protection for Christmas Daysupport this listener-funded ministry for £3 a monthhttps://buymeacoffee.com/reverendbencooper isaiah 40:31 prayer, strength for christmas day, renewed strength prayer, emotional resilience christmas, christian morning prayer, reveSupport the showFor more inspiring content, visit RBChristianRadio.net — your home for daily devotionals, global prayer, and biblical encouragement for every season of life. We invite you to connect with our dedicated prayer hub at DailyPrayer.uk — a place where believers from every nation unite in prayer around the clock. If you need prayer, or would like to leave a request, this is the place to come. Our mission is simple: to pray with you, to stand with you, and to keep the power of prayer at the centre of everyday life. Your support through DailyPrayer.uk helps us continue sharing the gospel and covering the nations in prayer. You can also discover our ministry services and life celebrations at LifeCelebrant.net — serving families with faith, dignity, and hope. If this devotional blesses you, please consider supporting our listener-funded mission by buying us a coffee through RBChristianRadio.net. Every prayer, every gift, and every share helps us keep broadcasting God's Word to the world.

Religion and urban life are the most successful strategies of handling, enhancing, and capitalizing on human sociability. By integrating religious studies, archaeology, and spatial theory, Emiliano Rubens Urciuoli aims to re-describe the formation of Christ religion as urban religion in Citifying Jesus: The Making of a Roman Religion in the Roman Empire (Mohr Siebeck, 2024). Spanning almost four centuries of Christian literature from Paul to Augustine, the author shows that several characteristics commonly attributed to Christ religion are, in fact, outcomes of the distinct ways in which religious agents enact urbanity and interact with the urban space. The study brings the urbanity of religious agents into focus, shedding light on significant elements of religious transformation, innovation, institutionalization, empowerment, and resistance to power. Simultaneously, it explores the key urban features that shaped the emergence and development of Christ religion. Emiliano Rubens Urciuoli is Associate Professor in the Department of History and Cultures at the University of Bologna. Previously he was a postdoctoral researcher at the Max-Weber-Kolleg of the University of Erfurt and has spent research stays in Paris, Berlin, and Geneva. His research interests focus on the history of the ancient Christ religion, methodological advances in the study of ancient Mediterranean religious groups and traditions, issues of theory and method in the accademic study of religions, and the phenomenon of ancient and contemporary urban religion. He is conversant with issues of political theology, sociology of religion, critical theory of space, and critique of ideology (including religious ideologies). Jonathon Lookadoo is Associate Professor at the Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary in Seoul, South Korea. While his interests range widely over the world of early Christianity, he is the author of books on the Epistle of Barnabas, Ignatius of Antioch, and the Shepherd of Hermas, including The Christology of Ignatius of Antioch (Cascade, 2023). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

진행자: 최정윤, Tannith KrielFrom loneliness to rebuilding identity: Inside lives of expat spouses in Korea기사 요약: 남편을 따라 한국에 살게 되면서 유망한 커리어를 포기해야 했던 국내 체류 외국인 여성들. 한국에서의 삶과 그 속에서 다시 찾아가는 성장의 이야기[1] On a weekday morning in Seoul, a group of women introduced themselves in a mix of accents: Indian, Danish, French, American, German and more. Some wheeled strollers. Others arrived straight from school drop-off.stroller: 유모차drop-off: 차로 내려줌[2] Nearly all of them, at some point in their lives, had been the person at the center of a meeting room, a project or a team. In South Korea, many now find themselves identified first as something else: someone's mother or someone's wife -- an "expat spouse.”identify A as B: A를 B로 규정, 확인하다, 설명하다expat: (고국이 아닌 곳에 거주하는) 국외 거주자 (expatriate)[3] One of them is 43-year-old Yolekha Mallier, who arrived in Seoul from Seattle two years ago. With two young children, she carried with her a decadelong career leading product teams at Amazon. She always had a certainty that work — meaningful, stimulating work — would anchor her idedntity.decade-long: 10년 간의anchor: 닻을 내리다, 근간이 되다[4] For Inger Winther Johannsen, the free fall came unexpectedly.Back in Denmark, Winther Johannsen had a career she loved rooted in public welfare. With genuine passion, she developed programs for families and children in vulnerable situations, supported advocacy groups and led nonprofit teams.free fall: 자유 낙하, 갑작스러운 하락advocacy: 변호. 지지기사 원문: https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10637423

Religion and urban life are the most successful strategies of handling, enhancing, and capitalizing on human sociability. By integrating religious studies, archaeology, and spatial theory, Emiliano Rubens Urciuoli aims to re-describe the formation of Christ religion as urban religion in Citifying Jesus: The Making of a Roman Religion in the Roman Empire (Mohr Siebeck, 2024). Spanning almost four centuries of Christian literature from Paul to Augustine, the author shows that several characteristics commonly attributed to Christ religion are, in fact, outcomes of the distinct ways in which religious agents enact urbanity and interact with the urban space. The study brings the urbanity of religious agents into focus, shedding light on significant elements of religious transformation, innovation, institutionalization, empowerment, and resistance to power. Simultaneously, it explores the key urban features that shaped the emergence and development of Christ religion. Emiliano Rubens Urciuoli is Associate Professor in the Department of History and Cultures at the University of Bologna. Previously he was a postdoctoral researcher at the Max-Weber-Kolleg of the University of Erfurt and has spent research stays in Paris, Berlin, and Geneva. His research interests focus on the history of the ancient Christ religion, methodological advances in the study of ancient Mediterranean religious groups and traditions, issues of theory and method in the accademic study of religions, and the phenomenon of ancient and contemporary urban religion. He is conversant with issues of political theology, sociology of religion, critical theory of space, and critique of ideology (including religious ideologies). Jonathon Lookadoo is Associate Professor at the Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary in Seoul, South Korea. While his interests range widely over the world of early Christianity, he is the author of books on the Epistle of Barnabas, Ignatius of Antioch, and the Shepherd of Hermas, including The Christology of Ignatius of Antioch (Cascade, 2023). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/religion

Religion and urban life are the most successful strategies of handling, enhancing, and capitalizing on human sociability. By integrating religious studies, archaeology, and spatial theory, Emiliano Rubens Urciuoli aims to re-describe the formation of Christ religion as urban religion in Citifying Jesus: The Making of a Roman Religion in the Roman Empire (Mohr Siebeck, 2024). Spanning almost four centuries of Christian literature from Paul to Augustine, the author shows that several characteristics commonly attributed to Christ religion are, in fact, outcomes of the distinct ways in which religious agents enact urbanity and interact with the urban space. The study brings the urbanity of religious agents into focus, shedding light on significant elements of religious transformation, innovation, institutionalization, empowerment, and resistance to power. Simultaneously, it explores the key urban features that shaped the emergence and development of Christ religion. Emiliano Rubens Urciuoli is Associate Professor in the Department of History and Cultures at the University of Bologna. Previously he was a postdoctoral researcher at the Max-Weber-Kolleg of the University of Erfurt and has spent research stays in Paris, Berlin, and Geneva. His research interests focus on the history of the ancient Christ religion, methodological advances in the study of ancient Mediterranean religious groups and traditions, issues of theory and method in the accademic study of religions, and the phenomenon of ancient and contemporary urban religion. He is conversant with issues of political theology, sociology of religion, critical theory of space, and critique of ideology (including religious ideologies). Jonathon Lookadoo is Associate Professor at the Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary in Seoul, South Korea. While his interests range widely over the world of early Christianity, he is the author of books on the Epistle of Barnabas, Ignatius of Antioch, and the Shepherd of Hermas, including The Christology of Ignatius of Antioch (Cascade, 2023). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/italian-studies

Religion and urban life are the most successful strategies of handling, enhancing, and capitalizing on human sociability. By integrating religious studies, archaeology, and spatial theory, Emiliano Rubens Urciuoli aims to re-describe the formation of Christ religion as urban religion in Citifying Jesus: The Making of a Roman Religion in the Roman Empire (Mohr Siebeck, 2024). Spanning almost four centuries of Christian literature from Paul to Augustine, the author shows that several characteristics commonly attributed to Christ religion are, in fact, outcomes of the distinct ways in which religious agents enact urbanity and interact with the urban space. The study brings the urbanity of religious agents into focus, shedding light on significant elements of religious transformation, innovation, institutionalization, empowerment, and resistance to power. Simultaneously, it explores the key urban features that shaped the emergence and development of Christ religion. Emiliano Rubens Urciuoli is Associate Professor in the Department of History and Cultures at the University of Bologna. Previously he was a postdoctoral researcher at the Max-Weber-Kolleg of the University of Erfurt and has spent research stays in Paris, Berlin, and Geneva. His research interests focus on the history of the ancient Christ religion, methodological advances in the study of ancient Mediterranean religious groups and traditions, issues of theory and method in the accademic study of religions, and the phenomenon of ancient and contemporary urban religion. He is conversant with issues of political theology, sociology of religion, critical theory of space, and critique of ideology (including religious ideologies). Jonathon Lookadoo is Associate Professor at the Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary in Seoul, South Korea. While his interests range widely over the world of early Christianity, he is the author of books on the Epistle of Barnabas, Ignatius of Antioch, and the Shepherd of Hermas, including The Christology of Ignatius of Antioch (Cascade, 2023). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/biblical-studies

Religion and urban life are the most successful strategies of handling, enhancing, and capitalizing on human sociability. By integrating religious studies, archaeology, and spatial theory, Emiliano Rubens Urciuoli aims to re-describe the formation of Christ religion as urban religion in Citifying Jesus: The Making of a Roman Religion in the Roman Empire (Mohr Siebeck, 2024). Spanning almost four centuries of Christian literature from Paul to Augustine, the author shows that several characteristics commonly attributed to Christ religion are, in fact, outcomes of the distinct ways in which religious agents enact urbanity and interact with the urban space. The study brings the urbanity of religious agents into focus, shedding light on significant elements of religious transformation, innovation, institutionalization, empowerment, and resistance to power. Simultaneously, it explores the key urban features that shaped the emergence and development of Christ religion. Emiliano Rubens Urciuoli is Associate Professor in the Department of History and Cultures at the University of Bologna. Previously he was a postdoctoral researcher at the Max-Weber-Kolleg of the University of Erfurt and has spent research stays in Paris, Berlin, and Geneva. His research interests focus on the history of the ancient Christ religion, methodological advances in the study of ancient Mediterranean religious groups and traditions, issues of theory and method in the accademic study of religions, and the phenomenon of ancient and contemporary urban religion. He is conversant with issues of political theology, sociology of religion, critical theory of space, and critique of ideology (including religious ideologies). Jonathon Lookadoo is Associate Professor at the Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary in Seoul, South Korea. While his interests range widely over the world of early Christianity, he is the author of books on the Epistle of Barnabas, Ignatius of Antioch, and the Shepherd of Hermas, including The Christology of Ignatius of Antioch (Cascade, 2023). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/christian-studies

Send us your feedback — we're listeningHebrews 13:3 — Faith Under Fire: Strength, Courage, Protection and Hope for the Persecuted Church From London to Lagos, from Lagos to Seoul, from Seoul to Buenos Aires, from Buenos Aires to Nairobi, from Nairobi to Vancouver — a global 9 A.M. prayer within the DailyPrayer.uk 24-Hour Cycle. Scripture NIV: Hebrews 13:3 “Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them… and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.”  2 Corinthians 4:9 “Persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” Across December, persecution intensifies as underground believers face isolation, fear, and pressure while still carrying the hope of Christ in hostile environments. Prayer: Father, in Jesus' name, we lift the Persecuted Church, the Underground Church, the Whispering Church, and the Secret Church across the world. Strengthen believers standing firm under danger, intimidation, and surveillance. Cover those worshipping in hidden rooms, remote villages, or locked-down regions. We pray protection over Your people in North Korea, Eritrea, Yemen, and Afghanistan today. Give courage to pastors, evangelists, families, and new believers taking risks simply to follow Jesus. Shield those facing imprisonment, beatings, threats, and the loss of homes or livelihoods. Surround isolated Christians with unseen angelic help. Restore hope where despair tries to settle. Let the fire of the Holy Spirit strengthen every persecuted believer, reminding them they are not forgotten by the global Body of Christ. Prayer Points: prayer for protection, prayer for courage, prayer for hidden believers, prayer for imprisoned Christians, prayer for persecuted families, prayer for gospel endurance, prayer for supernatural strength Life Application: Choose one persecuted nation today and speak a 30-second prayer of protection over believers there, aligning your heart with Hebrews 13:3. Declaration: I declare the persecuted church is upheld, strengthened, and protected by the power of God. Call to Action: Share this prayer and visit DailyPrayer.uk for global devotional resources. Previous: Tuesday 23 December — 5 A.M. Strength for Emotional StabilityThis Episode: Tuesday 23 December — 9 A.M. Faith Under Fire — Persecuted ChurchNext: Tuesday 23 December — 12 P.M. Healing and Renewal for the BodyThank you for praying with us today. For more daily devotion, follow us on all social platforms at DailyPrayer.uk.Support this listener-fSupport the showFor more inspiring content, visit RBChristianRadio.net — your home for daily devotionals, global prayer, and biblical encouragement for every season of life. We invite you to connect with our dedicated prayer hub at DailyPrayer.uk — a place where believers from every nation unite in prayer around the clock. If you need prayer, or would like to leave a request, this is the place to come. Our mission is simple: to pray with you, to stand with you, and to keep the power of prayer at the centre of everyday life. Your support through DailyPrayer.uk helps us continue sharing the gospel and covering the nations in prayer. You can also discover our ministry services and life celebrations at LifeCelebrant.net — serving families with faith, dignity, and hope. If this devotional blesses you, please consider supporting our listener-funded mission by buying us a coffee through RBChristianRadio.net. Every prayer, every gift, and every share helps us keep broadcasting God's Word to the world.

Today, I'm joined by Jane Newman, an international speaker, entrepreneur, and coach. Jane writes and speaks on the urgent necessity of retaining our humanity in a techno-centric world.   Based in Seoul, South Korea, she travels internationally, working with global thought leaders on reimagining AI and technology. Her message to live joyfully offers a necessary panacea to lives driven by efficiency and productivity.   In this episode, we'll explore: The massive hidden impact AI is having on the climate What happens when technology fails us and there's no human to help Why Gen Z is struggling to envision an optimistic future Simple ways to reduce AI usage and create a rehumanized future Jane's current favorites: Book: The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran, Speaker: Tricia Brouk, and Podcast: What a Stranger Told Me More from Jane Newman Website: https://www.jane-newman.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-newman-writer-and-speaker/    More from Tricia  Unlock your potential and grow your speaking business during The Art of The Big Talk, my LIVE Two-Day Virtual Masterclass Join me LIVE for my Free Monthly Workshop Explore my content and follow me on YouTube Follow me on Instagram  Connect with me on Facebook  Connect with me on LinkedIn  Visit my website at TriciaBrouk.com

This week's podcast starts by discussing the U.N. General Assembly's adoption of a resolution condemning North Korea's human rights abuses for the 21st consecutive year. NK News correspondent Jooheon Kim explains the implications of the resolution and Seoul's support, before talking about messages to South Korean President Lee Jae Myung from the families of prisoners of war and abductees trapped in North Korea. Finally, the conversation turns to Hyundai Asan's stated goal of working with North Korea to resume inter-Korean tourism projects, including the commissioning of a vessel to transport South Korean tourists to the North. About the podcast: The North Korea News Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Jacco Zwetsloot exclusively for NK News, covering all things DPRK — from news to extended interviews with leading experts and analysts in the field, along with insights from our very own journalists.

Top Stories for December 23rd Publish Date: December 23rd From the BG AD Group Studio Welcome to the Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. Today is Tuesday, December 23rd and Happy Birthday to Eddie Vedder I’m Peyton Spurlock and here are your top stories presented by KIA Mall of Georgia. Christkindl Market heading into final days of first run in Lawrenceville Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 66 hosts annual Cops and Kids Christmas event EXPLORING GWINNETT'S HISTORY: Christmas in the past 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: Kia Mall of Georgia - Sugar Hill Ice Skating Rink Final STORY 1: Christkindl Market heading into final days of first run in Lawrenceville The Atlanta Christkindl Market has been buzzing with holiday cheer, drawing over 226,000 visitors to downtown Lawrenceville since Thanksgiving. But if you haven’t made it out yet, time’s running out—Christmas Eve is your last chance. This German-inspired market has become a magnet for families across Gwinnett and beyond, offering European treats, handmade ornaments, and festive vibes. City Manager Chuck Warbington predicts the final tally will top 320,000 visitors. The market, at 210 Luckie St., is open daily now through Christmas Eve. Hours vary, so check ahead—and maybe book a Santa photo while you’re at it. STORY 2: Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 66 hosts annual Cops and Kids Christmas event Holiday traditions come in all shapes—carols, candles, big family dinners, and gift exchanges. But for the past 35 years, Gwinnett law enforcement has added its own twist: one December night dedicated to giving back. On Thursday, officers from 10 Gwinnett departments gathered at the Walmart on Lawrenceville Highway for the annual Cops and Kids Christmas. They strolled the aisles with families, helping kids pick out toys and clothes—making sure there’d be something under the tree. For many officers, this event is tradition. This year, 61 families and 104 kids were treated to gifts, Christmas dinner fixings, and even a “blessing box” from Hebron Baptist Church. For officers, it’s more than just shopping—it’s a chance to connect with the community and show a different side of law enforcement. More than 100 officers, plus Gwinnett Police Explorers, joined in this year. STORY 3: EXPLORING GWINNETT'S HISTORY: Christmas in the past When we think about Christmases past, it’s easy to romanticize them—quiet, simple, less commercial. Maybe we picture what our grandparents described or scenes from old books, but the truth? It all depends. Time, place, culture, class—Christmas looked different for everyone. By the 1800s, Christmas shifted toward family. Homemade gifts, carols, and decorated trees became staples. For enslaved people, though, the holiday was bittersweet—sometimes a brief reprieve, sometimes more work. In Gwinnett’s early days, Christmas was simple. Handmade decorations, maybe a church service, and stockings filled with candy, nuts, and—if you were lucky—an orange. 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: Ingles Markets STORY 4: ART BEAT: Instructor Jae Montano helps people find 'The Joy of Painting' Jae Montano doesn’t believe in mistakes—just “happy accidents.” A Certified Bob Ross Instructor (one of only 18 in Georgia), she’s made it her mission to share the joy of painting, one brushstroke at a time. Born in Seoul, South Korea, Jae didn’t start painting until the pandemic hit. Stuck at home, she stumbled across Bob Ross on YouTube and was hooked. That spark led her to classes with Steve Ross, Bob’s son, and eventually to becoming a certified instructor herself in 2022. Now, Jae teaches Ross’s wet-on-wet technique across Atlanta and Gwinnett, helping students create dreamy landscapes without fear or perfectionism. You can catch her at festivals like Suwanee Arts and Duluth Spring and Fall, or shop her work at Suwanee and John’s Creek Art Centers. For classes and more, visit www.paintingwithjae.com. STORY 5: HOUSING MATTERS: Georgians struggle with cost of living more than most Americans The cost of living is crushing. For some, it’s meant bouncing between overpriced motels; for others, it’s homelessness. Here’s a look at the latest on affordable housing and the fight against homelessness: Georgia ranks 8th in financial struggle: A United Way study puts Georgia in the top 10 states where people can’t afford basics like food, gas, and housing. Nearly 34% of adults are behind on rent or mortgage, and 41% struggle with daily expenses. Nationwide, 42% of households can’t cover essentials—13% live in poverty, while 29% are stuck in the “ALICE” gap: earning too much for aid, but not enough to get by. Warming centers hiring Gwinnett’s warming centers open when temps hit 35°F or below, offering meals and shelter. They’re hiring attendants ($18/hour) to work 5:30 p.m.–7 a.m. Apply at gwinnettcounty.com/WarmingStationsJob. It’s tough out there—help is out there too. Break 3: DTL HOLIDAY INTERVIEW GDP_DTL_MARK BERENS_122325_FINAL STORY 6: Gwinnett school board drops high schools from cell phone ban Gwinnett County Public Schools will follow the new state law banning cell phones in K-8 classrooms, but high schools? Not yet. The school board voted 3-2 last week to ban personal devices—phones, smartwatches, tablets, headphones—in elementary and middle schools. Originally, the plan included high schools too, but that part was dropped after some debate. Why? Flexibility. “High schoolers have jobs, leave early, and have different responsibilities,” said Vice Chairwoman Tarece Johnson-Morgan. Still, the state might force the issue soon. Lawmakers are already eyeing a high school ban for 2026. For now, the K-8 ban covers the entire school day—class, recess, even assemblies. Exceptions? Only for students with special needs. STORY 7: Atlanta's Christmas Day forecast sees temperatures near record high It’s not exactly sweater weather, folks—Christmas in Atlanta is shaping up to feel more like a spring fling. Highs are expected to hit the low to mid-70s, putting this year in the running for one of the warmest Christmas Days on record. The all-time high? A toasty 75 degrees back in 2015. By Christmas Eve, most of metro Atlanta will bask in the 70s, while the North Georgia mountains hover in the 60s. Rain? Not likely. Just sunshine, warmth, and maybe a little disbelief. We’ll have closing comments after this Break 4: GCPS Hiring 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 Ice Rink – Downtown Sugar Hill Holiday Celebration 2025 – City of Sugar Hill Team GCPS https://www.downtownlawrencevillega.com/ NewsPodcast, CurrentEvents, TopHeadlines, BreakingNews, PodcastDiscussion, PodcastNews, InDepthAnalysis, NewsAnalysis, PodcastTrending, WorldNews, LocalNews, GlobalNews, PodcastInsights, NewsBrief, PodcastUpdate, NewsRoundup, WeeklyNews, DailyNews, PodcastInterviews, HotTopics, PodcastOpinions, InvestigativeJournalism, BehindTheHeadlines, PodcastMedia, NewsStories, PodcastReports, JournalismMatters, PodcastPerspectives, NewsCommentary, PodcastListeners, NewsPodcastCommunity, NewsSource, PodcastCuration, WorldAffairs, PodcastUpdates, AudioNews, PodcastJournalism, EmergingStories, NewsFlash, PodcastConversations See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to JCO's Art of Oncology article, "Final Silence" by Dr. Ju Won Kim, who is an Assistant Professor at Korea University College of Medicine, Medical Oncology. The article is followed by an interview with Kim and host Dr. Mikkael Sekeres. Dr Kim explores the burden of silence when caring for dying patients. TRANSCRIPT Narrator: Final Silence, by Ju Won Kim  Dr. Mikkael Sekeres: Welcome back to JCO's Cancer Stories: The Art of Oncology. This ASCO podcast features intimate narratives and perspectives from authors exploring their experiences in oncology. I'm your host, Mikkael Sekeres. I am a Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Division of Hematology at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami. We are so thrilled to have joining us today, Dr. Ju Won Kim. She is Assistant Professor at Korea University College of Medicine, and she is here to discuss her Journal of Clinical Oncology article, "Final Silence." Ju Won, thank you for contributing to the Journal of Clinical Oncology and for joining us today to discuss your article. Dr. Ju Won Kim: Hello, Mikkael. It's really nice to be here. Thanks so much for inviting me. Dr. Mikkael Sekeres: It's so nice to have you here today also. Thank you for also taking time so late in the evening because our time difference is so huge. Dr. Ju Won Kim: Yeah, it's not that late. It's 9 o'clock in Seoul. 9:00 PM. Dr. Mikkael Sekeres: I wonder if I could start by asking you if you can tell us about yourself. Could you walk us through your career so far? Dr. Ju Won Kim: Yes. I am Ju Won Kim from Korea University in Seoul. I was born and also raised here and never really left from Seoul. I did my residency in internal medicine and fellowship in oncology at the same hospital, and now I'm an assistant professor there. So you could say I've spent my whole life on the same campus, just moving from one side of the hallway to another. Dr. Mikkael Sekeres: That's a beautiful way of describing it. Is that common in Korea for somebody to remain at the same institution for training and then to continue through your career? Dr. Ju Won Kim: It used to be common about a decade ago, but nowadays it is not that common. Most of my colleagues are from another campus or another hospital. Dr. Mikkael Sekeres: Well, I'm so curious, what is a typical week like for you? How many days do you spend seeing patients and how much time do you spend doing research or writing or have other responsibilities? Dr. Ju Won Kim: Usually, I spend four times for my outpatient clinic, but in Korea, there are so many cancer patients and so little number of medical oncologists. I usually treat so many patients in one clinic, like maybe 20 to 30 in one time. Dr. Mikkael Sekeres: Wow. Dr. Ju Won Kim: Yeah, that's a burden. Most of the time I spend treating my patients, and rest of them I use to spend for my research with my lab students, and maybe with my colleagues, and I have to write something like documents or some kind of medical articles. That is about 10 or 20% of my working time, I think. Dr. Mikkael Sekeres: Okay, okay. That makes sense. So, and do you specialize within oncology, or do you see any person who has cancer? Dr. Ju Won Kim: I'm a medical oncologist, and I used to treat breast cancer or biliary pancreatic cancer or some kind of liver cancer or rare cancer, maybe, also. Dr. Mikkael Sekeres: Okay, okay. It's such a long trip. Are you able to make it to the ASCO Annual Meeting in Chicago? Dr. Ju Won Kim: Actually, I've been Chicago for ASCO meeting just one time in this year. Actually, I gave birth to my son in March, and I was in the long vacation for my birth, and the last part of my birth vacation, I went to Chicago to participate in ASCO. It was a really good time. Dr. Mikkael Sekeres: Oh, fantastic. That's great. How about your own story as a writer? How long have you been writing narrative pieces and when did you start? Dr. Ju Won Kim: Actually, I've always thought of myself more as a reader than a writer. Reading was my comfort zone from childhood. Then I started a small book club with friends about 10 years ago, and we began writing short reflections after each meeting. That's how writing slowly became part of my routine. When reading feels heavy, I write. When writing feels tiring, I read. It's a rhythm that keeps me balanced. At first, it was only academic writing like medical articles, but a few years ago, I challenged myself to post one short reflection a month on my Instagram, usually a quote from a book and a few sentences on why it mattered to me. It was my life about writing. Dr. Mikkael Sekeres: That is really remarkable. So, did you take any formal writing classes at university? Dr. Ju Won Kim: Not really. It was just a hobby of my own. Dr. Mikkael Sekeres: It always impresses me when people come into writing organically like this, where they just discover it and start and don't have formal teaching because your writing is very, very good. Dr. Ju Won Kim: Oh, thank you. Dr. Mikkael Sekeres: And how do you find the time to read and write when you have a busy career, academic career, and you have a child? Dr. Ju Won Kim: It was my old routine that I used to read it before going to bed, from my bedside with a small light, I used to read some novels and get to sleep easily. But after I started to work as a medical oncologist, it was a very busy job as you know. I used to sleep more and not have time for reading. I try to read more when I get some free time. Dr. Mikkael Sekeres: I love how you talk about alternating reading and writing and how when one gets too heavy, you go to the other, and then you switch back. One of the most common pieces of advice I've heard from writers is to read more. Dr. Ju Won Kim: Yeah. Dr. Mikkael Sekeres: You can see how other people put thoughts together and the cadence of their writing, and also it inspires your mind to develop new ideas for writing. Dr. Ju Won Kim: Actually, the new idea also comes from the book, I think, when I came into a new book and the idea bangs up with me, so I started to write and that's an easy way to have some idea about writing. Dr. Mikkael Sekeres: I'm always impressed by people who are facile with languages and bilingual or trilingual. I think I'm unfortunately a hopeless monoglot. Dr. Ju Won Kim: Maybe you can try Korean. Dr. Mikkael Sekeres: I'd be embarrassed to even attempt it. When you read, do you read in Korean or do you read in English or other languages? Dr. Ju Won Kim: Definitely in Korean. Dr. Mikkael Sekeres: Okay, okay. And when do you find the space to write? Do you need to be alone at home in a special room or at a special desk, or do you write at work, or do you just find any time to write? Dr. Ju Won Kim: I usually don't have much time on my own because I have my baby now and some family gathers frequently. So, I always write every free time I'm trying to, any short free time in my work maybe. Dr. Mikkael Sekeres: If you feel comfortable doing so - this is a very heavy piece, and a lot of us have dealt with deaths of our own patients, of course, we see this unfortunately commonly in oncology, but many of us, myself included, have also dealt with patients or their family members who've committed suicide - can you tell us what prompted you to write this piece? Dr. Ju Won Kim: As an oncologist treating biliary and pancreatic cancers, I've witnessed many deaths, as you know. Most fade with time because I treat so many patients, but just one family stayed with me, I think. It was early in my career, just months after I started this specialty, and even 5 years later, I still think about them, the family I wrote about in the "Final Silence." The story eventually became the piece I wrote. Dr. Mikkael Sekeres: And what is it about them that caused you to think about them so much even years later? Dr. Ju Won Kim: I'm not sure. That's the only experience I came into someone's suicide so closely in my life, I think, and also it happened in my very early career. That's the impact. Dr. Mikkael Sekeres: It is amazing how certain patients stick with us even years or decades later, particularly when they're tied to an emotional response to illness, and that can be our patients' emotional response or our own. Can you talk some about Korean culture and how cancer is viewed? Is it discussed openly? Dr. Ju Won Kim: In Korea, death is still a quiet topic. Cancer equals death in many people's minds, and death equals grief. Even today, some families ask doctors not to tell their patients about the diagnosis, but Korea is aging so fast, so I see more older patients now, but culturally, we are still learning how to talk about dying openly. That's the big problem as a medical oncologist, especially treating biliary and pancreatic cancers. Dr. Mikkael Sekeres: I can just imagine. When you first meet a patient and their family is in the room, do you tell them that they have cancer, or do you need to check in with the family and with the patient how much they know about their diagnosis first? Dr. Ju Won Kim: Actually, I usually try to tell them there is a cancer, which can never be treated perfectly, because I used to treat patients with stage four, which is incurable, but I'm not sure is it okay to tell them that your life is about 3 months or 6 months or 1 year. It is not that okay for the Korean patients, especially the first time when they meet me in the clinic. I try to tell them about the truth just a few times later. Dr. Mikkael Sekeres: I think that's common. I think we do that in the United States also. We may not mention a number to patients during that very first meeting because when you're talking to somebody and once you mention that number, often people will shut down. They won't hear anything else that you say. And you need to build up a relationship and some trust with somebody and also get the sense how much they want to know about their cancer and their prognosis before entering that conversation. I've certainly had instances when I'm in a room with a patient, and that patient's spouse or children, and someone else in the room will say, "How long does Dad have to live?" And I've turned to my patient, "Dad", and said, "Is this a number that you want to know?" And the patient has said, "No, I don't." Dr. Ju Won Kim: Yeah, that happens. Dr. Mikkael Sekeres: So sometimes we have to be careful and check in and remind ourselves in the high emotions around a cancer diagnosis that our first responsibility is always to our patient and what they want to know about their diagnosis and their prognosis. Dr. Ju Won Kim: Do you have any opposite cases where patients really want to know the numbers? Dr. Mikkael Sekeres: Yeah, I do. And, you know, you can almost predict who that's going to be depending on what they did during their lives. Dr. Ju Won Kim: Yes. Dr. Mikkael Sekeres: So I have patients who are engineers or who have a math-based career like they're accountants and they'll come in and they write every number down and they want to know the number about their prognosis. I have other patients who are English professors and they want descriptively to know what the prognosis is but maybe don't want a number. So... Dr. Ju Won Kim: I think most Koreans want the number, the specific number. Yeah. Dr. Mikkael Sekeres: I'm curious, is cancer in a father or a son dealt with differently than cancer in a mother or a daughter? Dr. Ju Won Kim: I don't think there's much difference between sons and daughters, or maybe moms and dad, because every child is very precious in Korea now, but between husband and wives, I think the dynamic stands out. People often say when a husband gets cancer, the wife becomes his main caregiver, but when the wife gets cancer, sometimes the husband disappears. I've heard that from my colleagues, though not often in my own clinic. Now, what I do see is many middle-aged women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, women coming to treatment alone, strong and very independent. Dr. Mikkael Sekeres: Interesting. So I was going to follow up by asking if you've seen that in your own clinic. Have you seen- is it more likely that your female patients who have a cancer diagnosis come to clinic alone but the male patients come with their spouse and with family support? Dr. Ju Won Kim: Yeah, it is not just because of their sex, but most of the breast cancer patients who are female are in good condition, but biliary pancreatic cancer male patients have very poor condition, so... Dr. Mikkael Sekeres: Ah... Dr. Ju Won Kim: Maybe, I think that's the problem. Dr. Mikkael Sekeres: Interesting. The part of your essay in which you describe the attempted suicide of your patient's daughter is absolutely chilling. How did that affect you? Have you ever had a patient attempt suicide before? Dr. Ju Won Kim: Yes, the event I wrote in my essay was extremely shocking for me, but it's the only experience I have. It wasn't my patient, but I've heard a few cases where someone in the hospital tried to take their own life. I haven't had that happen directly, but I've seen patients fall into deep depression or break down in tears. In those moments, I always suggest psychiatry nowadays. That used to be taboo in here, but the stigma is fading, and many patients actually feel better afterwards. I also check in with close family members because their mental state affects the patients, too. It's something I hope never to experience again. Dr. Mikkael Sekeres: It's so unsettling when that happens, and as I mentioned, I've had a patient who took his own life, and you go back and back and back to it to wonder if there's something you could have done to intervene quicker or to get that psychosocial support in place to help that patient so that you avoid it in the future. And, you know, you protect your patients and yourself. Dr. Ju Won Kim: Yeah, I try to. Dr. Mikkael Sekeres: Speaking of protecting, you write, and I'm going to quote you to you, "I told myself I was protecting her, that to burden her in her final hours with such unthinkable news would be cruel. But a deeper truth is that I was protecting myself. I didn't know how to say it. I didn't know how to bear the weight of her devastation on top of my own shock and helplessness, so I avoided it." Do we owe it to ourselves sometimes to protect ourselves from the pain we sometimes impart to our patients? Dr. Ju Won Kim: That reflection came from realizing how doctors sometimes say we are protecting patients from pain, but really, we are protecting ourselves, I think. It's human. We can't hold every piece of suffering we see. Setting emotional boundaries isn't weakness. It's survival. What matters is recognizing when it's self-protection and being honest about it later. Dr. Mikkael Sekeres: Well, I think something that really helps with that is being able to talk to our colleagues about times when this happens and recognize we're in a shared experience and that we have the support of our colleagues, and they recognize how hard it is to be the bearer of bad news to other people and to bring pain to them sometimes. Dr. Ju Won Kim: That really works. Dr. Mikkael Sekeres: Dr. Ju Won Kim, it has been such a pleasure having you on this show. Dr. Kim has written just a fabulous essay called "Final Silence" for JCO Art of Oncology. Thank you so much for sharing your article with us and for joining us today. Dr. Ju Won Kim: Yeah, thank you so much for the conversation. It was a pleasure talking with you. Dr. Mikkael Sekeres: If you've enjoyed this episode, consider sharing it with a friend or a colleague or leave us a review. Your feedback and support helps us continue to have these important conversations. If you're looking for more episodes and context, follow our show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen and explore more from ASCO at asco.org/podcasts. Until next time, this has been Mikkael Sekeres for Cancer Stories. The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. This is not a substitute for professional medical care and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or treatment of individual conditions. Guests on this podcast express their own opinions, experience, and conclusions. Guest statements on the podcast do not express the opinions of ASCO. The mention of any product, service, organization, activity, or therapy should not be construed as an ASCO endorsement. Show Notes: Like, share and subscribe so you never miss an episode and leave a rating or review. Guest Bio:Dr Ju Won Kim is an Assistant Professor at Korea University College of Medicine, Medical Oncology.

Last time we spoke about the Japanese Victory over Changkufeng. Japan's generals hatched a plan: strike at night, seize the peak, then bargain if need be. Colonel Sato, steady as a compass, chose Nakano's brave 75th Regiment, selecting five fearless captains and a rising star, Nakajima, to lead the charge. Ahead, scouts and engineers threaded a fragile path through darkness, while distant Soviet tanks rumbled like distant thunder. At 2:15 a.m., wire breached and soldiers slipped over the slope. The crest resisted with brutal tenacity, grenades flashed, machine guns spit fire, and leaders fell. Yet by 5:15 a.m. dawn painted the hill in pale light, and Japanese hands grasped the summit. The dawn assault on nearby Hill 52 and the Shachaofeng corridor followed, with Takeshita's and Matsunobe's units threading through fog, fire, and shifting trenches. Narukawa's howitzers answered the dawn with measured fury, silencing the Soviets' early artillery as Japanese infantry pressed forward. By daybreak, the Russians were driven back, their lines frayed and retreating toward Khasan. The price was steep: dozens of officers dead or injured, and a crescent of smoke and memory left etched on every face.    #181 The Russian Counter Offensive over the Heights 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. After admitting the loss of Changkufeng and Shachaofeng by dawn on 31 July, the Russian government issued a communique the next day asserting that Soviet troops had "hurled back a Japanese division… after a two-day battle" involving tanks, artillery, and aircraft. Some hours after the Japanese penetration, Soviet regulars rushed to the scene and drove out the invaders. Japanese losses amounted to 400 men; Soviet losses were 13 killed and 55 wounded. On Soviet soil, the Japanese abandoned five cannons, 14 machine guns, and 157 rifles, while the Russians admitted losing one tank and one gun. A Soviet reconnaissance pilot may have fallen into Japanese hands after bailing out. "Both before and during the Japanese attack… Soviet troops did not once cross the Manchukuoan frontier,which deprived them of the possibility of surrounding or outflanking the invaders." By 1 August, Russian ground forces were deployed and the Soviet Air Force took action. Soviet aircraft appeared at 24:30 to reconnoiter. Soon after, more than ten planes flew in formation, launching strikes against forward units. Eight sorties, light bombers and fighters, roughly 120–150 aircraft in flights of two or three dozen, bombed and strafed. Raids were conducted by as many as 30 planes, though no Soviet losses were reported. The Russians also hit targets on the Korean side of the Tumen. The 75th Regiment judged that the Soviet Air Force sought only to intimidate. Russian planes dropped several dozen bombs on the Kyonghun bridge, but the span was not struck; damage was limited to the railway, producing an impression of severity that was misleading. The lack of air cover troubled the troops most. Japanese casualties on 1 August were modest: three men wounded in the 75th Infantry, and one wounded and a horse killed in the 76th. However the three Japanese battalions expended over 15,000 machine-gun and 7,000 rifle rounds that day. The appearance of Soviet air power at Changkufeng drew anxious international attention. Shanghai reports electrified observers, who anticipated that major Russo-Japanese hostilities would transform the China campaign overnight. Some observers were openly dismayed, foreseeing a prolongation of the mainland war with potential benefits to Soviet interests. Japanese Army spokesmen sought to downplay the situation. Officers in Hsinking told correspondents that the raids, while serious, represented only a face-saving measure. The Red Army was reportedly attempting to compensate for losses at Changkufeng and other disputed positions, but aside from the bombings, the frontier remained quiet. If the Russians were serious, observers noted, they would have bombed the vital Unggi railway bridge, which remained untouched; raids focused on minor bridges, with limited damage. In Tokyo, foreign observers believed the appearance of about 50 Soviet heavy bombers over North Korea signaled an extension of the incidents and that the Japanese government was taking urgent measures. Military leaders decided not to escalate but prepared for emergencies. The Korea Army Headquarters denied Soviet bombing of Harbin in Manchuria or Najin and Chongjin in Korea. Regarding retaliation, an American correspondent reported that the Japanese military had no intention of bombing Russian territory. Although Soviet use of aircraft introduced a new dimension of danger, the main efforts remained ground-based on both sides. After Japanese troops cleared Changkufeng and Shachaofeng, the Russians appeared to be redeploying to contract their defensive frontage; no troops or works remained west of Khasan. Four or five Russian infantry companies and ten artillery pieces stood between the lake and Paksikori, while the main forces, with numerous gun sites, were concentrated west of Novokievsk. On the Kwantung Army front in southeast Manchuria, no changes were observed. "The Russians were apparently shocked by their defeat at Changkufeng and must suddenly have resorted to negative, conservative measures." Korea Army Headquarters assessed the situation as of the evening of 31 July: "The enemy must fear a Japanese advance into the Novokievsk plain and therefore is concentrating his main forces in that district. Our interests require that we anticipate any emergency, so we must prepare the necessary strength in the Kyonghun region and reinforce positions at Wuchiatzu."  At 20:45 on the 31st, the 19th Division received a detailed message from the Hunchun garrison commander describing his northward deployments. Suetaka was heartened; he "earnestly desired to bring about the end of the incident as a result of the fighting of 30–31 July but was equally resolved to defend the border firmly, based on Japanese interpretation of the Hunchun pact, in case the Soviet side did not perform intensive self-reflection." First, Suetaka issued instructions from Kyonghun at 8:15 on the 31st via K. Sato: "It is our intention that Changkufeng and the high ground northwest of Shachaofeng be secured, as well as the high ground south of Shachaofeng if possible. Enemy attacks are to be met at our positions, but you are not to pursue far." Second, Colonel Tanaka was instructed not to fire as long as Russian artillery did not bombard friendly forces. "Except for preparing against counterassaults, your actions will be cautious. In particular, harassing fire against inhabited places and residents is prohibited." Suetaka was finally armed with formal authority, received at 22:05 on 1 August. He did not delay in implementing it. At 23:00 he ordered the immediate rail movement of strong reinforcements: the alerted infantry brigade headquarters, as well as four infantry battalions and the remaining mountain artillery battalion. Thus, Suetaka could deploy forward not only the forces he had requested but also a brigade-level organization to assume control of the now sizeable combat elements massed at the front for "maneuvers." Earlier that afternoon he had already moved his division's message center forward to the Matsu'otsuho heights at the Tumen, and he regularly posted at least one staff officer there so that the center could function as the division's combat headquarters. An additional matter of explosive potential was built into the divisional order: provision of Japanese Air Force cover for rail movements forward, although use of aircraft had been prohibited by all higher headquarters; Nakamura intended only ground cover. At the front, Japanese units spent most of their time consolidating their hard-won positions. By 3 on 1 August, a column of Soviet forces with vehicles was observed moving from the east side of Khasan. Late in the day, the division received an extremely important telegram from the 2nd (Intelligence) Section of the Kwantung Army: "According to a special espionage report from our OSS in Khabarovsk city, Red Army authorities there have decided to retake the high ground along Changkufeng." From other intelligence, the Kwantung Army concluded that the Russians were rebuilding in the Novokievsk region. Frequent movements observed immediately to the rear of the Soviet battle zone caused K. Sato to grow apprehensive about a dawn counterattack on the 1st, and he reinforced Changkufeng with the 6th Company. The second of August was marked by continuation of Soviet air attacks and the anticipated Russian counteroffensive. According to Japanese intelligence, Marshal Blyukher had arrived in Khabarovsk, and Lieutenant General Sokolov was in Voroshilov. An offensive buildup, estimated at about 3,000 men plus tanks and guns, was reported in the Kozando area by evening on the 1st. Hirahara, commanding the battalion at Changkufeng, grew concerned about Hill 52. With day's end approaching, he reinforced the defenses further and ordered the battalion medical officer to establish a dressing station at Fangchuanting. Around 15:00 Soviet artillery began firing at forward areas, especially gun positions; the bombardments were described as severe. Japanese artillery sought to conserve ammunition, firing only at worthwhile, short-range targets. Main Russian ground actions focused on the far-right (Hill 52) and far-left (Shachaofeng) sectors, not Changkufeng. In line with Hirahara's orders, two infantry companies and four heavy machine guns were moved by 8:00 from Changkufeng to the heights 800 meters southeast. Soviet heavy artillery pounded the zone between Fangchuanting and Hill 52; observing the enemy became difficult. Russian planes engaged at 9:00 fighters, then bombers, to soften defenses and gun positions. Meanwhile, the Soviets deployed firepower southeast of Khasan, while two infantry battalions and more than ten tanks advanced through the pines on the western slopes. Japanese regimental guns and two machine-gun platoons at Hill 52 attacked the enemy heavy machine guns and neutralized them. By 10:00 the Russians had advanced with heavy weapons to the high ground 800 meters from Hill 52. From Changkufeng, the battalion guns engaged heavy weapons. Hirahara moved with the engineers and battalion guns to the heights to which he had transferred reinforcements earlier, took command, and prepared an assault. Initially, Soviet troops advanced in formation, but after cresting a dip, they dispersed and moved onto the high ground opposite Hill 52. Heavily armed, they drew within 700 meters, with artillery and heavy machine guns providing coverage. By 10:00 Sato requested Shiozawa's mountain guns across the Tumen to unleash a barrage against Hill 52's front. For about half an hour, the battery fired. By 10:30, the Soviet advance grew listless. Believing the moment ripe, Hirahara deployed his men to charge the foe's right wing, ordering rapid movement with caution against eastern flank fire. On the heights north of Hill 52, Inagaki watched the struggle; with the telephone out and the situation urgent, he brought up firepower on his own initiative. Taking the main body of the 1st Machine Gun Company, along with the battalion guns, he moved out at noon, making contact with the 10th Company on Hill 52 around 14:00, where the Japanese machine guns and battalion guns joined the fray. The Russians, losing momentum, were checked by Japanese heavy weapons and by mountain guns from Hill 82. Hirahara's main battalion advanced onto the high ground north of Hill 52 around noon. By 15:00, two enemy companies began to fall back, climbing the western slopes of Hill 29 as the main forces retreated piecemeal to a dip. By 16:00, Suetaka observed that his units were continuing to secure their positions and were "gradually breaking the hostile intention." Despite heat and rain, front-line troops showed fatigue but remained vigilant. Between 11:00 and 16;00, Sato inspected the lines and directed defensive positions, particularly at Hill 52. After a poor initial performance, the Russians awaited reinforcements before attempting another assault on Hill 52. They moved up a mechanized corps, and by 15:00 50 tanks massed east of Maanshan. Around 17:00, the Russians began moving south along the high ground across Khasan. Another two Soviet battalions advanced along the Tumen hills, led by armor. Hirahara anticipated an assault at twilight, especially after 18:00, when nine bombers struck Hill 52. Earlier, Takeshita had received reports from the antitank commander, Lieutenant Saito, that at 17:00 several enemy tanks and three infantry battalions were advancing from Hill 29. Convinced of an imminent Soviet strike, Takeshita ordered the defense to conceal its efforts and to annihilate the foe with point-blank fire and hand-to-hand fighting. He sought to instill confidence that hostile infantry could not reach the positions. Before 19:00, the enemy battalions came within effective range, and Japan opened with all available firepower. Rapid-fire antitank guns set the lead tank alight; the remaining tanks were stopped. Support came from Hisatsune's regimental guns and two antitank gun squads atop Changkufeng. The Russian advance was checked. By nightfall, Soviet elements had displaced heavy weapons about 400 meters from Japanese positions. As early as 16:00, Suetaka ordered a mountain artillery squad to cross the river. Sato told Takeshita at 7:30 that there would be a night attack against Hill 52. Takeshita was to annihilate the foe after allowing them to close to 40–50 meters. The Russians did mount a night assault and pressed close between 8 and 9 p.m. with three battalions led by four tanks. The main force targeted Takeshita; all ten Russian heavy machine guns engaged that side. Japanese machine guns and battalion guns joined the fray. The Russians pressed within 30 meters, shouted "Hurrah! Hurrah!" and hurled grenades before advancing a further 15 meters. The Japanese repelled the first waves with grenades and emplaced weapons, leaving light machine guns and grenade dischargers forward. Soviet illuminating shells were fired to enable closer approaches within 100 meters. Japanese grenade-discharger fire blasted the forces massed in the dead space before the works. While the Hill 52 night attack collapsed, other Russian units, smaller in strength and with one tank leading, moved against the hill on the left that the Japanese had not yet occupied that morning. The Russians advanced along the Khasan slope north of Hill 52, came within point-blank range, and shouted but did not charge. By 22:00, the Japanese, supported by machine guns, had checked the foe. Thereupon, the 6th Company, now under a platoon leader, Narusawa, launched a counterattack along the lake. "The enemy was bewildered and became dislocated. Buddies were heard shouting to one another, and some could be seen hauling away their dead." The Soviet troops held back 300–400 meters and began to dig in. Sato decided artillery should sweep the zone in front of Hill 52. At 21:30, he requested support, but the mountain guns could not open fire. Still, by 23:00, not a shadow of an enemy soldier remained on the Hill 52 front, where the Japanese spent the night on alert. In the northern sector, eight Russian tanks crossed the Japanese-claimed border at 5:25 on 2 August and moved south to a position northwest of Shachaofeng. Around 7 Russian artillery opened fire to "prepare" the Japanese while a dozen heavy bombers attacked. An hour later, the ground offensive began in earnest, with one and a half to two infantry battalions, a dozen machine guns, and several tanks. Supporting Takenouchi's left wing were several batteries of mountain artillery and two heavy batteries. Well-planned counterfire stopped the offensive. There was little change north of Shachaofeng and in the southeast, where Kanda's company held its positions against attack. On Takenouchi's front, Akaishizawa notes 120-degree daytime heat and nighttime chill. Men endured damp clothes and mosquitoes. To keep warm at night, soldiers moved about; during the day they sought shade and camouflage with twigs and weeds. No defense existed against cold night rain. Nocturnal vigilance required napping by day when possible, but the intense sun drained strength. For three days, Imagawa's company had only wild berries and dirty river water to eat. At 6:00 on 2 August, Colonel Tanaka exhorted his artillery to "exalt maximum annihilation power at close range, engage confirmed targets, and display firepower that is sniperlike—precise, concentrated, and as swift as a hurricane." Tanaka devised interdiction sectors for day and night attacks. At 10:30, the artillery laid down severe fire and eventually caused the enemy assault to wither. Around 24:40, Rokutanda's battalion detected a Russian battalion of towed artillery moving into positions at the skirt of Maanshan. When the first shells hit near the vanguard, a commander on horseback fled; the rest dispersed, abandoning at least eight artillery wagons and ten vehicles. Suetaka, observing from the Kucheng BGU, picked up the phone and commended the 3rd Battalion. Japanese casualties on 2 August were relatively light: ten men killed and 15 wounded. Among the killed, the 75th Infantry lost seven, the 76th Infantry two, and the engineers one. Among the wounded, the 75th suffered nine and the 76th six. Infantry ammunition was expended at an even higher rate than on 30–31 July. In Hirahara's battalion area, small arms, machine guns, ammunition, helmets, knapsacks, and gas masks were captured. A considerable portion of the seized materiel was employed in subsequent combat, as in the case of an antitank gun and ammunition captured on 31 July. Soviet casualties to date were estimated at 200–250, including 70 abandoned corpses. Twelve enemy tanks had been captured, and five more knocked out on 1–2 August; several dozen heavy bombers and about 5,000 Soviet ground troops were involved in the concerted offensives.  Nevertheless, reports of an imminent Soviet night attack against Hill 52 on 2–3 August alarmed Suetaka as much as his subordinates. Shortly after 20:00 accompanied by his intelligence officer, Suetaka set out for the hill, resolved to direct operations himself. Somewhat earlier, the division had sent Korea Army Headquarters a message, received by 18:30, reflecting Suetaka's current outlook: 30 to 40 Soviet planes had been bombing all sectors since morning, but losses were negligible and morale was high. The division had brought up additional elements in accord with army orders, and was continuing to strive for nonenlargement, but was "prepared firmly to reject the enemy's large-scale attacks." Impressed by the severity of the artillery and small-arms fire, Suetaka deemed it imperative "quickly to mete out a decisive counterassault and thus hasten the solution of the incident." But Japanese lines were thinly held and counterattacks required fresh strength. This state of affairs caused Suetaka to consider immediate commitment of the reinforcements moving to the front, although the Korea Army had insisted on prior permission before additional troops might cross the Tumen. Suetaka's customary and unsurprising solution was again to rely on his initiative and authorize commitment of every reinforcement unit. Nearest was T. Sato's 73rd Regiment, which had been ordered the night before to move up from Nanam. Under the cover of two Japanese fighters, these troops had alighted from the train the next morning at Seikaku, where they awaited orders eagerly.   K. Sato was receiving reports about the enemy buildup. At 20:10 orders were given to the 73rd Regiment to proceed at once to the Matsu'otsuho crossing and be prepared to support the 75th. Involved were T. Sato's two battalions, half of the total infantry reinforcements. Suetaka had something else in mind: his trump, Okido's 76th Infantry. At 23:40 he ordered this regiment, coming up behind the 73rd, to proceed to Huichungyuan on the Manchurian side of the Tumen, via Kyonghun, intercept the enemy, and be ready to go over to the offensive. On the basis of the information that the division planned to employ Okido's regiment for an enveloping attack, K. Sato quickly worked out details. He would conceal the presence of the reinforcements expected momentarily from the 73rd Regiment and would move Senda's BGU and Shimomura's battalion to Huichungyuan to cover the advance of the 76th Regiment and come under the latter's control. Japanese forces faced the danger of Soviet actions against Changkufeng from the Shachaofeng front after midnight on 2 August. Takenouchi had been ready to strike when he learned that the enemy had launched an attack at 01:00 against one of his own companies, Matsunobe's southwest of Shachaofeng. Therefore, Takenouchi's main unit went to drive off the attackers, returning to its positions at 02:30. The Russians tried again, starting from 04:00 on 03 August. Strong elements came as close as 300 meters; near 05:00 Soviet artillery and heavy weapons fire had grown hot, and nine enemy fighters made ineffective strafing passes. By 06:30 the Russians seemed thwarted completely. Hill 52 was pummeled during the three battles on 2 August. Taking advantage of night, the Russians had been regrouping; east of the hill, heavy machine guns were set up on the ridgeline 500 meters away. From 05:00 on 03 August, the Russians opened up with heavy weapons. Led by three tanks, 50 or 60 infantrymen then attacked from the direction of Hill 29 and reached a line 700–800 meters from the Japanese defenses. Here the Russian soldiers peppered away, but one of their tanks was set ablaze by gunfire and the other two were damaged and fled into a dip. Kamimori's mountain artillery reinforcements reached Nanpozan by 07:15 on 03 August. Tanaka issued an order directing the battalion to check the zone east of Hill 52 as well as to engage artillery across Khasan. A site for the supply unit was to be selected beyond enemy artillery range; on the day before, Russian shells had hit the supply unit of the 3rd Mountain Artillery Battalion, killing two men and 20 horses. The exposed force was ordered to take cover behind Crestline 1,000 meters to the rear. After 09:00 on 03 August, the artillery went into action and Japanese morale was enhanced. Near 09:00, Soviet bombardment grew pronounced, accompanied by bomber strikes. The Japanese front-line infantry responded with intensive fire, supported by mountain pieces and the regimental guns atop Changkufeng. Enemy forces stayed behind their heavy weapons and moved no further, while their casualties mounted. At 11:00 the Russians began to fall back, leaving only machine guns and snipers. One reason the Soviets had been frustrated since early morning was that K. Sato had seen the urgency of closing the gap midway between Changkufeng and Hill 52 (a site called Scattered Pines) and had shifted the 2nd Company from Changkufeng. Between 06:00 and 07:40, the company fired on Soviet troops which had advanced north of Hill 52, and inflicted considerable casualties. A corporal commanding a grenade launcher was cited posthumously for leading an assault which caused the destruction of three heavy machine guns. In the afternoon, the Japanese sustained two shellings and a bomber raid. Otherwise, the battlefield was quiet, since Russian troops had pulled back toward Hill 29 by 15:00 under cover of heavy weapons and artillery. At Hill 52, however, defense posed a problem, for each barrage smashed positions and trenches. During intervals between bombardments and air strikes, the men struggled to repair and reinforce the facilities. Changkufeng was again not attacked by ground troops during the day but was hit by planes and artillery. Trifling support was rendered by the mountain gun which had been moved to the Manchurian side of the Tumen. Japanese infantry reinforcements were on the way. By 23:00 on 02 August, T. Sato had left Shikai. His 73rd Regiment pushed forward along roads so sodden that the units had to dismantle the heavy weapons for hauling. The rate of advance was little more than one kilometer per hour, but finally, at 05:20 on 03 August, he reached Chiangchunfeng with the bulk of two battalions. The esprit of the other front-line troops "soared." K. Sato, who was commanding all forces across the Tumen pending Morimoto's setting up of headquarters for the 37th Brigade, had T. Sato take over the line to the left of Changkufeng, employing Takenouchi's old unit and the 73rd Regiment to cover Shachaofeng. T. Sato set out with his battalions at 06:00 amid heavy rain. By 07:30, under severe fire, he was in position to command the new left sector. According to division orders to Morimoto, this zone was to include the heights south and northwest of Shachaofeng, but, in the case of the former, it was "permissible to pull back and occupy high ground west of the heights south of Shachaofeng." T. Sato contemplated using his regiment to encircle the foe on the north side of the lake, while Okido's 76th Infantry formed the other prong. Most of the day afterward, Soviet artillery was active; the Japanese responded with barrages of their own. Eventually, from 15:30, the entire enemy front-line force in this sector began falling back under violent covering fire. Morimoto's initial operations order, received at 18:00, advised T. Sato officially that he was coming under command of the 37th Brigade. The night of 03–04 August passed with the units uneasy, striving to conduct security and reconnaissance while working on the battered defenses. Total Japanese casualties on 3 August were light again: six men killed and ten wounded, four of the dead and seven of the wounded being suffered by the 75th Infantry, the rest by Takenouchi's battalion. Ammunition was expended at a lower rate than on the preceding day. The Japanese War Ministry reported no significant change since nightfall on 03 August. Thereafter, the battlefield seemed to return to quiescence; Japanese morale was high. In the press abroad, Changkufeng attracted overriding attention. The world was no longer talking of "border affrays." Three-column headlines on page 1 of the New York Times announced: "Soviet Hurls Six Divisions and 30 Tanks into Battle with Japanese on Border, 2 Claims Conflict, Tokyo Reports Victory in Manchukuo and Foes' Big Losses, Moscow Asserts It Won." The startling claim that six Soviet divisions were in action seemed to have been supplied for external consumption by Hsinking as well as Seoul. According to Nakamura Bin, the Russians employed 4,000 to 5,000 men supported by 230 tanks. Although Japanese casualties were moderate, Soviet artillery bombardment had stripped the hills of their lush summer grass. According to the uninformed foreign press, "the meager information showed both sides were heavily armed with the most modern equipment. The Russians were using small, fast tanks and the Japanese apparently were forewarned of this type of weapon and were well supplied with batteries of armor-piercing antitank guns." On 03 August the Russians lost 200 men, 15 tanks, and 25 light artillery pieces. One feature of the fighting was Japanese use of "thousands of flares" to expose fog-shrouded enemy ranks during a Soviet night attack. During the "first phase counteroffensive" by the Russians on 2–3 August, the 75th Regiment judged that the enemy's choice of opportunities for attacking was "senseless"; once they started, they continued until an annihilating blow was dealt. "We did not observe truly severe attacking capacity, such as lightning breakthroughs." With respect to tactical methods, the Japanese noted that Soviet offensive deployment was characterized by depth, which facilitated piecemeal destruction. When Russian advance elements suffered losses, replacements were moved up gradually. Soviet artillery fired without linkage to the front-line troops, nor was there liaison between the ground attacks staged in the Shachaofeng and Hill 52 sectors. Since enemy troops fought entirely on their own, they could be driven off in one swoop. Additionally, although 20–30 Russian tanks appeared during the counterattacks, their cooperation with the infantry was clumsy, and the armor was stopped. Soviet use of artillery in mobile warfare was "poorness personified." "Our troops never felt the least concern about hostile artillery forces, which were quite numerous. Even privates scoffed at the incapability of Russian artillery." It seemed that "those enemies who had lost their fighting spirit had the habit of fleeing far." During the combat between 31 July and 03 August, the defeated Russians appeared to fear pursuit and dashed all the way back to Kozando, "although we did not advance even a step beyond the boundary." On 4 August Suetaka prepared a secret evaluation: the enemy attacks by day and night on 2 August were conducted by front-line corps built around the 40th Rifle Division. "In view of the failure of those assaults, the foe is bound to carry out a more purposeful offensive effort, using newly arrived corps reinforcements." Russian actions on 02 August had been the most serious and persistent offensive efforts undertaken since the outset of the incident, but they were about the last by the front-line corps whose immediate jurisdiction lay in the region of the incident. Consequently, the enemy's loss of morale as a result of their defeat on 30–31 July, combined with their lack of unity in attack power, caused the attacks to end in failure. "We must be prepared for the fact that enemy forces will now mount a unified and deliberate offensive, avoiding rash attacks in view of their previous reversal, since large new corps are coming up." I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. In the shadowed night, Japan's Sato chose Nakano's 75th to seize a peak, sending five captains and a rising Nakajima into darkness. At 2:15 a.m., they breached wires and climbed the slope; dawn lit a hard-won crest, then Hill 52 and Shachaofeng yielded to resolve and fire. The day wore on with brutal artillery, fluttering bombers, and relentless clashes. By August's edge, casualties mounted on both sides, yet Japanese regiments held fast, repelling night assaults with grit. 

The girls sit down with their first official guest of Season 5, Randa Newman! We delve into Randa's background, including her adoption from South Korea to a family in Kentucky and she shares her personal journey through an ectopic pregnancy, IVF, and the challenges of balancing motherhood with career. Join us! About our guest: Randa Newman is a producer, actor, and genetic counselor. Born in Seoul and adopted into a family of Eastern Kentucky Appalachians at three months old, she brings a unique perspective to both science and storytelling. She is the co-founder of Ranch Vovo, a narrative film production company based in East Nashville. Randa has produced several films and served as executive producer on the TV pilot Morse Code, which earned multiple awards on the film festival circuit. In 2025, she made her directorial debut with the critically acclaimed short film I'm a Winner (written by Joy Todd), which won the Audience Choice Award at Nashville Film Festival. Her on-screen credits include 911 Nashville (ABC), Sketch (starring Tony Hale), Young Rock (NBC), Walker (CW), and The WASP, in which she portrayed WWII pilot Hazel Ying Lee. Randa lives in East Nashville with her husband, Korby, and their daughter, Zuzu. Follow Momcult on Instagram @momcultpodcast.

Fluent Fiction - Korean: Gifts from the Heart: A Seoul Christmas Tale Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ko/episode/2025-12-22-23-34-02-ko Story Transcript:Ko: 서울의 겨울은 참 특별합니다.En: Winter in Seoul is truly special.Ko: 특히 인사동은 작은 골목마다 겨울의 정취가 가득합니다.En: Especially in Insadong, every small alley is filled with the essence of winter.Ko: 좁은 거리에는 형형색색의 등불이 걸려 있고, 구운 밤의 고소한 냄새가 코끝을 간지럽힙니다.En: Brightly colored lanterns hang in the narrow streets, and the savory smell of roasted chestnuts tickles the nose.Ko: 크리스마스를 앞두고 거리마다 열기가 오르며, 가게들은 전통 공예품과 화려한 장식으로 가득합니다.En: With Christmas approaching, the streets heat up with excitement, and the shops are filled with traditional crafts and dazzling decorations.Ko: 민준은 크리스마스 선물을 찾기 위해 인사동에 왔습니다.En: Minjun came to Insadong to find a Christmas present.Ko: 그의 목표는 사랑하는 여동생 지수에게 특별한 선물을 주는 것입니다.En: His goal is to give a special gift to his beloved younger sister Jisoo.Ko: 어렸을 때 함께했던 크리스마스의 따뜻함과 기쁨을 다시 나누고 싶었죠.En: He wanted to share again the warmth and joy of the Christmases they experienced together as children.Ko: 하지만 주변의 많은 사람들, 그리고 수많은 선택지 속에서 민준은 약간 어리둥절합니다.En: However, amidst the many people around and countless options, Minjun feels a bit bewildered.Ko: 게다가 한정된 예산까지, 그의 고민은 더욱 깊어집니다.En: Furthermore, with a limited budget, his dilemma deepens.Ko: 사람들 사이를 힘겹게 헤치고 나가자, 민준은 작은 공방 하나를 발견합니다.En: After struggling through the crowd, Minjun discovers a small workshop.Ko: 내부에는 한가히 앉아 작업하고 있는 젊은 여성이 있습니다.En: Inside, a young woman is leisurely sitting and working.Ko: 그녀의 이름은 하나입니다.En: Her name is Hana.Ko: 그녀는 민준을 보고 미소 지으며 말합니다. "무엇을 찾는 중인가요?"En: She sees Minjun and greets him with a smile, saying, "What are you looking for?"Ko: 민준은 눈을 반짝이며 대답했습니다. "여동생에게 줄 특별한 선물을 찾고 있어요. 하지만 주머니 사정이 좋지 않아 직접 만들려고 해요."En: Minjun's eyes sparkle as he responds, "I'm looking for a special gift for my younger sister, but my budget isn't great, so I want to make it myself."Ko: 하나는 민준의 이야기를 흥미롭게 들으며 다양한 아이디어를 제안합니다.En: Hana listens with interest to Minjun's story and suggests various ideas.Ko: 두 사람은 함께 공방의 재료를 고르고 밤늦게까지 작업에 몰두합니다.En: The two of them choose materials in the workshop and become engrossed in their work late into the night.Ko: 하나는 나무를 깎아 작은 상자를 만들고, 민준은 그 위에 아름다운 그림을 그립니다.En: Hana carves wood to make a small box, and Minjun paints a beautiful picture on it.Ko: 그림은 그들의 어린 시절, 가족과 함께했던 크리스마스를 떠올리게 합니다.En: The painting reminds them of their childhood, Christmases spent with family.Ko: 둘은 웃으며 이야기하며, 민준의 마음에는 어느새 따뜻함이 느껴집니다.En: They chat and laugh together, with warmth gradually filling Minjun's heart.Ko: 드디어 크리스마스 아침, 민준은 지수에게 직접 만든 선물을 건넸습니다.En: Finally, on Christmas morning, Minjun presented the handmade gift to Jisoo.Ko: 지수가 상자를 열고 그것을 보자, 그녀의 눈에 눈물이 맺혔습니다.En: When Jisoo opened the box and saw it, tears welled up in her eyes.Ko: "오빠, 정말 고마워. 이게 우리가 함께했던 크리스마스를 다시 생각나게 해."En: "Oppa, thank you so much. This makes me remember the Christmases we spent together."Ko: 민준은 지수의 손을 잡으며 말했습니다. "선물은 크지 않아도 우리의 추억으로 가득 채워져 있잖아."En: Holding Jisoo's hand, Minjun said, "Even if the gift isn't big, it's filled with our memories."Ko: 그 순간, 민준은 깨달았습니다. 선물의 진정한 가치는 가격이 아니라 그 안에 담긴 사랑과 마음이라는 것을.En: At that moment, Minjun realized that the true value of a gift lies not in its price but in the love and thought contained within.Ko: 크리스마스의 따스한 빛이 민준과 지수의 마음을 채우며, 가족의 소중함을 다시금 느끼게 해주는 그런 하루였습니다.En: It was a day where the warm light of Christmas filled the hearts of Minjun and Jisoo, reminding them once again of the preciousness of family. Vocabulary Words:essence: 정취roasted chestnuts: 구운 밤bewildered: 어리둥절한dilemma: 고민workshop: 공방leisurely: 한가히sparkle: 반짝engrossed: 몰두한carves: 깎다tears welled up: 눈물이 맺히다preciousness: 소중함limited budget: 한정된 예산savory: 고소한dazzling: 화려한goal: 목표crafts: 공예품chat: 이야기하다heat up: 열기가 오르다narrow: 좁은handmade: 직접 만든countless: 수많은smell: 냄새budget: 예산welled up: 맺히다sparkle: 반짝이다traditional: 전통materials: 재료carve: 깎다engrossed: 몰두하다precious: 소중한

Mu'awiya Said Abdullahi, ya yi karatu ne a fannin zanen gidaje da kuma tsara birane. An haifeshi ne a garin Kaduna, sannan iyayensa Lauyoyi ne. Ya fara digirinsa ne daga jami'ar Ahmadu Bello ta Zaria, ya kuma kammala a daya daga jami'o'in kasar Malaysia. Yayi digirinsa na biyu da na uku a Korea ta Kudu, inda yanzu haka ya ke aiki a matsayin shugaban bangaren kula da bangaren tsara biranen kasashen waje a wani babban kamfani a kasar ta Koriya ta Kudu mai suna WithWorks da ke birnin Seoul.

Pope Leo appoints Richard Moth as the 12th Archbishop of Westminster in the United Kingdom. Meanwhile, the Archbishop of Seoul previews what's ahead for young pilgrims at World Youth Day 2027. And, we learn more about Saint Alfonso's Christmas song for the shepherds of Italy.

#korea #woodcutter #folktaleIn this story, a woodcutter watches some fairies play a game. When the game is done, he finds that centuries have passed. Will he fit in?Source: Korean Fairy Tales by William Elliot GriffisNarrator: Dustin SteichmannMusic: 자진뱃노래_3대의 가야금을 위한 민요앙상블Sound Effects: Arrowwood Rain by Dustin SteichmannPodcast Shoutout: Bewilderbeasts by M3Listener Shoutout: Balkh AfghanistanPhoto credit: "No Known Restrictions: 'Go-ban' Game in Seoul, Korea, 1904 (LOC)" by pingnews.com is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0.

The year winds down, but our maps are just getting interesting. After a warm reset in Florida, a birthday pilgrimage to Iceland, canyon time in West Texas, an Austin do-over, and a passport-stacking cruise, we took a hard look at what actually made 2025 travel feel good—and what didn't. The frenzy cooled, flight deals quietly returned, and a new mindset emerged: go with intention, spend smarter, and skip the crush.From that lens we reveal seven destinations we're excited about for 2026, all chosen with solo women in mind: Albania's affordable Riviera and rugged Alps, Taiwan's festival-rich culture and flawless transit, Uzbekistan's Silk Road splendor stitched together by high-speed rail, Poland's overlooked mix of medieval squares and Baltic breezes, Slovenia's lakes-and-Alps perfection anchored by walkable Ljubljana, South Korea's Seoul where palaces meet neon and late-night eats, and Mongolia's vast steppe, monasteries, and wild horses that reward guided exploration. Each pick balances safety, value, and texture, offering big experiences without elbowing through the usual lines.We also share why revenge travel finally ran out of steam, how to spot mistake fares without chasing noise, and when shoulder seasons stretch budgets while keeping the magic. If you're ready to trade overdone itineraries for places that still surprise, this guide is your green light. Listen to map your next move, then tell us where you're headed. Subscribe, share with a friend who travels solo, and leave a review with the destination you want us to tackle next.Support the showhttps://www.cherylbeckesch.com hello@cherylbeckesch.com Instagram @solotraveladventures50

Last time we spoke about the battle over Changfukeng Hill. In the frost-bit dawn by the Chaun and Tumen, two empires faced a cliff of fate: Soviet and Japanese, each convinced that Changkufeng belonged to them. Diplomats urged restraint, yet Tokyo's generals brewed a daring plan, strike at night, seize the crest, then bargain. Sato and Suetaka debated risk and restraint, weighing "dokudan senko" against disciplined action as rain hissed on the ground. Night fell like velvet. Nakano, a quiet, meticulous regimental leader, gathered the 75th Regiment's veterans, choosing five fearless captains and a rising star, Nakajima, to carry the charge. Scouts and engineers moved ahead, weaving a fragile path across the Tumen: wire-cutters in the dark, signals humming softly, and the thunder of distant Soviet tanks rolling along the shore. At 02:15, after breaches breached and silent men slid through wire, the Japanese surged up the slopes with bayonets glinting, swords ready, and nerves as taut as steel. The crest lunged with savage resistance: grenades flashed, machine guns roared, and leaders fell. By 05:15, dawn broke, and the hill, Course of blood and courage, stood in Japanese hands.   #180 A premature Japanese Victory over Changkufeng Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. On 31 July 1938, dawn seemed to indicate Changkufeng Hill was in Japanese hands. From his command post, Colonel Sato Kotoku, his regimental staff, and most of Hirahara's 3rd Battalion had been anxiously watching the progress of the 1st Battalion's operations since 12:30 on 31 July. Around 03:00, the Japanese infantry commanders issued "heroic orders to charge," audible above the withering fire. Sato expected the crest to fall in little more than an hour; when no signal shell burst over the hill, he grew apprehensive, praying for success with his heart breaking. A mile away on Hill 52, the troops could discern no voices, only gunfire and the spectacular glow of flares and tracers. As one soldier recalled "It was like fireflies," another soldier added "it was like a carnival". To Sasai, on the heights at Kucheng, it was, as he put it, "c'était un grand spectacle." By the way I think its one of the only times I've read a Japanese soldier using French, what he said translates to "it was a large spectacle", I am from Quebec so I speak baguette. The mist moved up Changkufeng Hill, and Japanese troops followed it, fighting for hours. Fearing Nakano's battalion might have been wiped out, Sato's staff prayed for fog. Sato later admitted, "By dawn we were failing to take our objectives."   At the base of Chiangchunfeng, Sato held the 6th Company in reserve, ready to attack Changkufeng from the left. He would have preferred not to commit it, given the danger of an accidental fire-fight with friendly forces. Nevertheless, as combat intensified, Sato decided to push the company into support of the 1st Battalion. After orders at 03:15, Ito moved toward the northwest side of Changkufeng. The Russians laid down heavy fire, especially from a well-placed machine-gun position on the far left. Ito's company, suffering heavy and needlessly casualties, had to hold near the middle of the slope. A runner was sent to the regimental command post requesting artillery support after dawn. By 04:30, Sato could discern the Changkufeng crest, where fierce close-quarters fighting raged between Japanese and Russians on the south edge, while the enemy continually sent reinforcements, troops followed by tanks, up the northern slope. Ito's company was visible on the western slope, bravely bearing a Japanese flag. 10-15 minutes later, grenade-discharger fire began to blast the Soviet positions. At 04:40, Ito, redeploying at dawn, observed elements of the 1st Company near the hill's summit. Contact was established with Inagaki's men. The Russians began to show signs of disarray under the grenade dischargers and the heavy weapons deployed by the reserve battalion at Chiangchunfeng. Thereupon Ito's company charged as well, capturing the northwest corner of Changkufeng roughly concurrently with the main body of the 1st Battalion under Sakata. Ito was wounded and evacuated; two sergeants were later cited in dispatches. Meanwhile, the 10th Company, led by Takeshita of the 3rd Battalion, was to conduct a separate night assault against fire points around Hill 24, about 1,000 meters north of Changkufeng. The aim was to disrupt Russian withdrawal along the slopes to the rear and to hinder reinforcements. At midnight, the company left the skirts of Chiangchunfeng in fog and darkness. Moving stealthily over the undulating terrain, they faced knee-deep bogs and tall vegetation. After evading sentries, they penetrated behind the enemy. By 02:00, five teams totaling 16 men under Sergeant Uchibori were ready to strike Hill 24. Takeshita led the charge from the right and overran the defenders by 02:20. The Russians, numbering 20 to 30 riflemen with one machine gun, fled toward Khasan, leaving four soldiers behind whom the Japanese bayoneted. Takeshita's company continued to consolidate Hill 24, awaiting counterattacks, which soon followed. At 04:00, eight tanks, with headlights on, launched an attack from the Shachaofeng sector, supported by an infantry company . Takeshita reinforced Uchibori's unit with assault teams; the Russian infantry were routed, and five tanks were knocked out. At dawn, about 100 Soviet troops were observed retreating from the direction of Changkufeng, surprised and mowed down by heavy and light machine guns at ranges of about 300 meters. At 06:30, the Soviets attacked again with an infantry battalion and a machine-gun company from north of Khasan. The Japanese allowed them to close, then concentrated the firepower of both infantry platoons plus heavy machine guns. After a 30-minute firefight with heavy casualties on the Soviet side, the Russians fell back. Again, at 07:10, the Soviets struck from the north of Khasan, this time with one company and five tanks. Russian infantry, supported by three tanks, pushed in front of the Japanese positions, but machine-gun and small-arms fire forced them to retreat eastward, the tanks being stopped 50 meters from the lines. Meanwhile, two Japanese enlisted men on patrol near the lake encountered armor; they attacked and, after taking casualties, returned with captured ammunition and equipment. One rapid-fire piece had been providing covering fire behind Takeshita's unit and opened fire on three tanks attacking north of Changkufeng, helping to stop them. As daybreak arrived, Takeshita's company cleared the battlefield, retrieved casualties, and reinforced the defenses. Then an order from the regiment transferred the main body to Changkufeng. Leaving one platoon at Hill 24, Takeshita came directly under Hirahara's command. Takeshita was later officially cited by the regiment. If Hill 52 fell, Changkufeng would be lost. The Russians understood the importance of this constricted sector as well. Their armor could swing south of Khasan, while the terrain to the north was boggier and could be made impassable by the field-artillery battery emplaced on the Korean side of the Tumen. To check hostile reinforcements into this vital region, Sato had dispatched an infantry element to Hill 52 early. Northward, he had 1st Lieutenant Hisatsune emplacement the two 75-millimeter mountain pieces belonging to his infantry gun battery, together with two of 2nd Lieutenant Saito's three 20-millimeter anti-tank guns and the two 37-millimeter infantry rapid-fire guns belonging to 2nd Lieutenant Kutsukake's battalion gun battery. At 23:00 on 30 July, in accord with Nakano's orders, Hisatsune moved these six guns to the ridgeline between Changkufeng and Hill 52. Apart from the guns to the left, defense of Hill 52 was entrusted to the experienced Master Sergeant Murakoshi Kimio, 2nd Platoon leader in Nakajima's company. After the Shachaofeng affair, Murakoshi was ordered to occupy the hill. Moving along the shore on 30 July, his unit encountered neither friendly nor hostile troops. The regimental records note that "some enemy unit came into the dip east of Hill 52 since morning on the 30th, and both sides were watching each other." Murakoshi deployed his three rifle squads, totaling 34 men. After Nakano's battalion jumped off on 31 July, the platoon observed not only the "fireworks display" but also Soviet motorized units with lights aglow, moving on high ground east of Khasan. Later, tanks could be heard clanking toward Hill 52. Around 04:00, Murakoshi organized anti-tank teams and sent them into action. Most accounts emphasize the anti-tank efforts, rather than the fire of Murakoshi's machine gunners. Three privates, carrying anti-tank mines, undertook daring assaults once the terrain obliged the Russian tanks to slow. They laid their mines, but the soil proved too soft, and the attempt failed. In the most publicized episode, Private First Class Matsuo, nicknamed a "human bullet," was badly wounded by machine-gun fire from a tank and knocked from the vehicle, but he managed to reboard with a satchel charge and, it is said, stop the tank at the cost of his life. The platoon leader and his remaining 20 men, having withdrawn 200 meters below their positions, poured torrents of fire at the infantry accompanying the tanks. Flames from the antitank mine assaults provided blazing targets. In concert with Hisatsune's six infantry guns emplaced on the Crestline southeast of Changkufeng, Murakoshi knocked out the remaining two tanks. When the tanks were immobilized, the Soviet troops did not press forward; exposed to Japanese fire, their losses mounted. By daybreak, the Russians had pulled back. Official records describe one Soviet company with four heavy machine guns, led by mounted officers. After hours of intense combat, Colonel Sato and his staff observed that all operations were succeeding by dawn. It was fortunate that Japanese units had posed a threat from the east; only then did the Russians begin to retreat. "But what an incomparably heroic first combat it had been… the scene at Changkufeng was sublime and inspiring. Private feelings were forgotten, and all bowed their heads in respect for the gallant fighting by matchless subordinates." As soon as Sato confirmed that Changkufeng had been occupied, he sent an aide to assess casualties. "When the colonel learned about the death of his capable and dependable officers," a lieutenant recalled, "he… murmured, 'Is that so?' and closed his eyes. The dew glistened on his lids." Meanwhile, in addition to the battle of annihilation at Changkufeng, Major Takenouchi of Okido's regiment was to conduct the dawn assault in the Shachaofeng area. His 1st Battalion and attached elements numbered 379 men; Kanda's company of the Kucheng Border Guard Unit added another 49. An engineer platoon was attached. At 18:00 on 30 July, Takenouchi issued his orders. According to that evening's regimental maps, north of Khasan were two battalions of Soviet infantry and 20 tanks. South of Shachaofeng, the Russians had entanglements and machine-gun nests, with additional emplacements to the rear, west of the lake, and armor moving south toward Changkufeng. Northwest of Shachaofeng lay the main body of Takenouchi's battalion. Signal lines connected his headquarters with Sato's command post. The only Soviet patrol activity noted, as of evening, was in the direction of Matsunobe. Around 02:00, machine guns chattered south of Changkufeng, signaling an increasing intensity of Sato's night assault. On Takenouchi's front, the Russians went on alert, firing illuminating shells and opening fire from the north side of Changkufeng. At 02:30, Matsunobe's unit finished breakfast and moved to the jump-off site. The terrain was difficult and there was considerable enemy tracer fire, but, thanks to effective reconnaissance, the force reached its destination without loss by 04:00. Matsunobe eliminated an outpost unit using rear-area scouts who struck from the rear and gave the enemy little opportunity to respond. Then the Japanese prepared for the main attack as they awaited daybreak. At 04:00, the supporting mountain artillery platoon took position between Matsunobe and Takenouchi. Throughout this period, the sounds of fighting grew more violent toward Changkufeng; machine guns were especially active. At 05:00, three enemy tanks could be seen moving up the northern slope of Changkufeng, but soon after news arrived that friendly forces had seized the crest. With sunrise imminent, the Japanese guns assumed their role. The longest-range support Takenouchi could expect was Narukawa's two 15-centimeter howitzers, emplaced across the Tumen north of Sozan. This battery took position at 04:20, after which the commander went to join Sato just behind the front. Several thousand meters of telephone line had been strung across the river, linking observation post and battery. Narukawa watched the fierce struggle at Changkufeng and prepared to support the dawn assault, while honoring the desperate effort of Ito's company for covering fire. Firing began at 05:10, though range data were not adequate. After little more than ten rounds, the enemy heavy machine guns on the Shachaofeng front subsided. A veteran artilleryman proudly remarked, "These were the first howitzer shells ever fired against the Soviet Army." At 05:20, Takenouchi's own heavy weapons added effective counterfire. Matsunobe and his company had crept to a line 150 meters in front of the Russian positions, taking advantage of dead angles and covered by light machine guns. Three Soviet tanks, however, had pressed forward against the main body. Two Private First Class soldiers, members of a close-quarters team, waited until the lead tank reversed course, then dashed in from the rear and blew it up. Two other soldiers attacked the third tank with mines but could not destroy it because of the tall grass. In a dramatic action that always thrilled Japanese audiences, a Private First Class jumped aboard with a portable mine, while a superior private jammed explosives into the tank's rear and allegedly blew off both treads, though the tank continued firing. While Matsunobe's company laid a smoke screen and prepared to charge, the Soviet tank was knocked out by rapid-fire guns. Master Sergeant Sudo's platoon seized the opportunity to race forward 15 meters and overrun two firing points at 05:40. When the Russians counterattacked with 60 infantrymen and three new tanks, Matsunobe ordered the grenade-discharger squad to fire while he had Sudo pull back to the foot of the hill. Close-quarter teams knocked out the tanks in succession. By this time the Russians had been shaken badly, allowing Matsunobe's main force to surge into two more positions. Five or six remaining Soviet soldiers were wiped out by a combination of Japanese pursuit fire and Soviet gunfire emanating from east of Khasan. After 06:00, the Japanese held the high ground at Shachaofeng. Kanda's unit had achieved a similar result, swinging around Matsunobe and skirting the left of the Soviet positions. Russian artillery opened from the east, but the Japanese used the terrain to advantage and suffered no casualties. Around this time, enemy forces in the Changkufeng area began to retreat, a portion by motor vehicle. Takenouchi had Matsunobe secure the site and, at 06:13, directed the main battalion to advance toward the north side of Khasan. A stubborn four-hour battle then ensued as Soviet forces delayed their retreat and the covering unit occupied the northern edge of the lake. Takenouchi estimated the enemy's strength at two infantry companies, a company of 12 heavy machine guns, and one heavy battery. Several Russian counterattacks were mounted against Matsunobe, while Takenouchi reinforced Kanda. The battalion attacked with great intensity and by 10:30 had managed to encircle the right flank of the enemy defenses at the northwest edge of Khasan. The Russians began to fall back, though one company of infantry resisted vigorously. At 10:50, the Soviet rear-guard company opened fire with machine guns while several tanks delivered heavy machine-gun and cannon fire. Soviet artillery, firing rapidly, also joined the resistance to Takenouchi's advance. Firepower pinned down the Japanese in this sector from late morning until nightfall.    For reasons of necessity as well as doctrine, the night assault on Changkufeng Hill received no artillery support. The dawn assault to clear Shachaofeng, however, required all available firepower, even if limited. Firing diagrams reflect no howitzer fire directed north of Changkufeng; this is understandable since Narukawa had only two pieces to handle numerous targets. A Soviet tank element was driven off, west of the lake, by 03:00 from the skirt of Chiangchunfeng by 3rd Battalion heavy weapons. Sasai, at the Kucheng command post, contends that Japanese artillery scored a significant success: school-tactics were followed, and the battery stood ready in case the night assault by the infantry failed. By dawn, Russian remnants clung to the crest, though the infantry had "peeled the skin" from their defenses. "In the morning, one of our howitzer shells hit near Changkufeng, whereupon the last of the enemy fled." Survivors of the night assault recalled no direct artillery support by Japanese artillery, though firing charts suggest some; Soviet sources dispute this. Regimental records note: "After firing against positions southwest of Shachaofeng, the Narukawa battery fired to cut off the enemy's retreat path from Shachaofeng and to neutralize the foe's superior artillery. Results were great." In the morning, Sato returned to Chiangchunfeng, observed the difficult anti-artillery combat by the Narukawa battery, and commended their performance. He watched howitzer fire disrupt Soviet artillery positions opposite Shachaofeng and estimated enemy strength at a battalion. Sato saw Russian horse-drawn artillery blasted from its sites and pulled back north of Khasan. Narukawa's first targets were positions and tanks south of Shachaofeng. Northeast of the lake, one battery of Russians headed north after dawn. In Narukawa's firing pattern, north of the lake, a Soviet motorized unit of more than ten vehicles withdrew in the afternoon. A new Russian artillery formation moving north of Khasan that afternoon received the heaviest fire from the howitzers. On that day Narukawa's two active pieces fired a total of 74 rounds. The only other Japanese artillery support for the infantry consisted of the half-battery of 75-millimeter mountain guns already forward. The platoon under 2nd Lieutenant Ikue moved west of Shachaofeng, starting from behind Kanda at 04:00, and bombarded Soviet positions to the northeast. Firing a lighter projectile than Narukawa's pieces, Ikue's men fired 162 shells and 37 shrapnel rounds at the Russians. Colonel Tanaka, the artillery regiment commander, reached the front during the night as battle's fury peaked from Changkufeng. Tanaka's mission was to take over Narukawa's battery and support infantry combat from dawn. Upon establishing his headquarters, Tanaka sent a liaison officer to the 75th Regiment. The 3rd Mountain Artillery Battalion completed unloading at Shikai Station in the night, and at 03:40, it entered emplacements on the north side of Nanpozan. Tanaka ordered Rokutanda to repel any enemy attacks that might be staged from Changkufeng and north of Yangkuanping. The battalion made good use of prior surveys and proved helpful in thwarting offensive attempts from the vicinity of Shachaofeng after daybreak. Rokutanda also coordinated with Narukawa to cut off the Soviet retreat route after enemy motorized and infantry forces began to fall back from Shachaofeng.   At Changkufeng, once the last Russians had been routed, two hours of quiet settled over both sides. The Japanese busied themselves with cleaning up the field, retrieving casualties, and bearing the dead to the rear. The few Japanese historians who have worked with 75th Regiment records have argued with a dramatic passage describing dawn: "From 05:15, after the top had been secured by us, the fog began to drift in. At about 05:30 rain started to drench the whole area; therefore, enemy artillery had to stop firing. God's will." Sakata counters that no Russian artillery shelled the peak after his men had cleared it. Sato agrees; only in the afternoon did at least 20 Soviet guns, emplaced north of the lake, open fire at Changkufeng. At first, Russian shells fell harmlessly into a pond nearby; Sato recalls fish splashing out. Thereafter, Soviet gunners gradually corrected their aim, but the Japanese took cover behind rocks and sustained no casualties. Soviet shellfire may have begun at dawn but appeared to be directed mainly toward Shachaofeng, where Soviet defenders were not evicted until an hour after Changkufeng fell. Tanaka, however, argues that when he arrived at the front at 05:00, Russian artillery was firing on objectives west of the Tumen, and several shells struck his men and guns. Japanese firing charts show that Soviet guns initially bombarded Takenouchi's sector at Shachaofeng from two positions north and northeast of Khasan. After these Russian positions were forced to evacuate, the new Soviet gun unit that arrived in the afternoon engaged not only Changkufeng but also the area of the Japanese regimental headquarters. A Japanese military history suggests that Chiangchunfeng, the site of the observation post for the heavy field-artillery battery, was hit early in the morning, just after Takenouchi's ground assault against Shachaofeng had begun. The only other Russian artillery fire noted is the early-morning bombardment of the region of Hill 52. This shelling emanated from a point southeast of the lake but appeared directed primarily against Hisatsune's guns, which pulled back to Changkufeng at 06:00. Takeshita's company, which had jumped off at 02:00 and struck to the rear of Changkufeng toward the heights southwest of Shachaofeng, sustained severe enemy artillery fire after dawn. The main body secured the positions it had captured, while one platoon occupied Hill 24. On Takenouchi's front, intense enemy artillery fire continued after the Shachaofeng district was cleared, but the battalion maintained its position throughout the day. At 20:00, Takenouchi pulled back to the heights northwest of Shachaofeng. Elements of Matsunobe's unit on the right flank clung to advanced positions southeast of Shachaofeng. Regarding the theological allusion to merciful rain at dawn, no interviewee recalled a torrential downpour at Changkufeng. One soldier remembered descending from the crest at 08:30, taking breakfast, and returning for battlefield cleanup an hour later, at which time it began to drizzle. The 75th Regiment's weather record for Sunday, 31 July, simply states, "Cloudy; sunrise 05:08."   At 06:40, Colonel Sato ordered Hirahara's 3rd Battalion to relieve Nakano's mauled 1st Battalion and Ito's company atop Changkufeng. The 1st Battalion was to become the regimental reserve force, assemble at Chiangchunfeng, and collect its dead and wounded. Shortly after 08:00, Hirahara arrived at the crest of Changkufeng. Sakata was still upright, blood-streaked. "It's all right now," Hirahara told him. "You can go down." Sakata limped away with the remnants of the 1st Battalion. At the command post he met Sato, who praised him, promised to replace his damaged sword with one of his own, and told him to head for the hospital. When he protested, Sato bellowed, more in pride than anger, "To the hospital with you!" Sakata went, leaving Kuriyama as acting company commander. That morning, Sato climbed Changkufeng and gave Hirahara instructions. He commended the heavy field artillery battery commander, Narukawa, for his effective support of Takenouchi's dawn attack at Shachaofeng. Before returning to his command post, Sato carefully supervised the collection of Japanese dead. He looked into the face of each man and bade him farewell, a regiment officer recalls. "His sincerity and sorrow inspired reverence in all of us." In the afternoon, Sato sent Oshima back to Haigan to report the victory to forces in the rear, to visit the families of the fallen, and to "exert a beneficial influence on the native inhabitants lest they become confused and upset by the recent fighting." After the Russians had been ousted from Changkufeng and Shachaofeng, information became available to Japanese headquarters concerning the extent of the victory and the price. The 75th Regiment put Soviet casualties at 300 men in each area and claimed a total of 17 tanks knocked out during the operations—seven at Changkufeng, three at Hill 52, seven at Shachaofeng. Assault infantrymen noted that few Soviet bodies were found in the crestline positions, other than those cut down by cold steel; many Russians were presumably wounded by grenades. Colonel Sato asserts that 30 Soviet corpses were picked up in the Changkufeng area after the night attack. Most Japanese survivors judge that Soviet casualties were at least double those incurred by their own forces. The Japanese used much of the materiel they had captured. The price had been grim in the assault units: 45 killed, 133 wounded. In both Colonel Nakano's and Colonel Takenouchi's battalions, about 25 percent of the officers and almost 10 percent of the men were killed or wounded. The main assault waves, chiefly the 1st and 2nd infantry companies and 1st Machine-Gun Company of Colonel Nakano's unit, suffered as many as one-half or two-thirds casualties, down to platoons and squads. Before the night attack, Colonel Nakano's battalion had a total of 401 men. The strength of Shimomura's battalion had diminished by only 17: Hirahara's by 10. Nakano's unit lost over 80 percent of all Japanese killed and wounded in the Changkufeng–Hill 52 sector.  Japanese accounts were lavish in their praise of Colonel Sato's conception and execution of the night-dawn assaults. "Everybody had conducted several inspections of the front, yet only two or three individuals were acquainted with the precise sector where we carried out our assault." The costly lack of comprehensive intelligence necessitated reduction of firing points in succession and made the assault on the peak, the true key, possible only at the end. "This was a rather difficult method. It would have been better to have thrown one small unit against one firing point invariably and to have used the main force to break through the depth of the foe swiftly." On the larger benefits of the night operation, Akaishizawa wrote, "We prevented the main hostile forces, numbering several thousand troops concentrated east of Khasan about 600 or 700 meters behind Changkufeng, from laying a finger on us." Sato regards the night attack as a success: "The Soviets would have taken over the entire region unless checked." But with respect to Suetaka's words of praise for Sato himself, one candid division staff officer does not share what he calls "extravagant laudation." "The night-attack plan had been devised long in advance. I do not see anything particularly brilliant about it. Only in terms of results could one call the assault well done." Sakata concurs but stresses that training paid off: "All the men in my company followed their leaders to the crest and thus displayed their teamwork and unity," despite the unexpectedly severe casualties. The Soviets seemed particularly apprehensive about the possibility of Japanese armored operations. Antitank weapons were deployed on the eastern slopes of Changkufeng, ready to fire against the axis of Hill 52, which theoretically was good tank country. Illuminating shells and flares were employed profusely in concert with heavy machine guns firing blue tracers from the time Japanese troops entered the zone of wire defenses. Tanks supplemented the fire network, as did artillery zeroed in east of Khasan. But it was the grenades, in "heaps and mounds," that troubled the attackers most: "This tactic must be one of the most important aspects of Soviet infantry training, together with snipers. Our night assault unit did not sustain too many casualties until the crest but, since we could not run up into the positions, the foe was able to hurl many milk-bottle-size grenades. Our forces must be given more training with hand grenades".  The first phone call to Seoul did not come until Changkufeng had been assaulted and cleared. Around 05:00 the division learned that victory had been achieved at Changkufeng; the first reports mentioned no Japanese casualties. "Thank God!" was the reaction. Suetaka and the major toasted Sato's victory with sake. "At 06:00, one company of the Sato unit occupied Shachaofeng and expelled the Soviet forces across the border." Not long afterward, the division, like the 75th Regiment, began to learn the extent of the casualties. Although personal sorrow displaced initial elation, there was grim satisfaction that the insolent Russians had been ousted and the dignity of the Imperial Army maintained. It was hoped and expected that the Korea Army would share this view. Seoul had learned of the Japanese assaults only after the fact and in a rather cursory fashion. Nakamura ordered the front-line units to secure the heights and to localize the affair by limiting the strength used in that area and by ensuring cautious action.  Nakamura's orders to not expand upon the victory were criticized heavily. However Tsuchiya recalled "The decision was taken too easily. Perhaps some had covert opposition, but no one spoke up. I think there was some misunderstanding of individual positions. Yet the crisis should have been analyzed carefully. It is too bad that there was no direct supervision by the Chief of Staff." For Tsuchiya, the Korea Army would have been in trouble if the incident had dragged on because of Soviet buildup and Japanese casualties and low mobilization. Although Nakamura likely wished the 19th Division to abandon unnecessary actions regardless of victory or defeat, he did not seem to care; he showed no intention of inspecting the local scene. Yet Tsuchiya felt such a keen sense of responsibility that he was prepared to commit suicide if matters went wrong. Inada argued that Nakamura did not visit the front to avoid expanding the troubles and disturbing the troops. Analyzing the Korea Army's nebulous control, Imaoka notes that Nakamura had only recently arrived in Korea and had little time before fighting began, but something seemed lacking in the army's exercise of command. Thus, Nakamura never met Suetaka until after the incident had been resolved, although the governor-general came from Seoul to visit Suetaka at the battlefront and to express appreciation in person. "It was quite proper to adhere to the policy of nonenlargement, but the Korea Army should have furnished more positive operational guidance in such a case when a subordinate division was in serious trouble." There were important lessons to be learned here, Tsuchiya recalled  "The 19th Division attacked the Russians twice in 36 hours without army orders or approval. How is it that the division commander, a lieutenant general and certainly not an reckless man, could have been allowed so much margin to act independently?" Some suggest that Suetaka tended to violate the spirit of the law, especially in force majeure. Others think that Suetaka was loyal, deliberate, and law-abiding, a worrier who could be expected to follow orders. Why risk one's career—one's life, given that self-censure loomed—when headquarters' decision was available? Military discipline and national interest dictated prior consultation and compliance. Or did Suetaka, like other notable generals, think gambles were justified by the goddess of Victory? 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. A daring Japanese night assault, led by Colonel Sato and his bold captains, threaded through fog, wire, and enemy fire. As dawn broke, the crest fell into Japanese hands, after brutal stand-ins on Hill 52 and Shachaofeng. Glinting grenades, roaring tanks, and disciplined infantry forged the victory, at a heavy price: dozens of officers and many men lost.   

Liting Cong is Legal Counsel at ASICS, one of Japan's most successful sportswear companies. Liting shares her journey through the lens of Japanese aesthetics, particularly the concept of wabi-sabi or embracing imperfection, impermanence, and incompleteness. If you're considering an in-house career in Japan, curious about human-centric AI, or looking for wisdom on embracing life's uncertainties, you will enjoy the metaphor Liting shares about building a beautiful garden. More on that inside this episode! If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we'd love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Head over to Apple Podcasts to leave a review and we'd love it if you would leave us a message here!In this episode you'll hear:How Japanese martial arts and dance became a source of peace and resilience during challenging timesThe evolution of in-house counsel roles beyond gatekeeping and contract reviewPractical strategies for unlearning perfectionism that Liting uses herself at workWhy ideation is a lawyer's secret weapon in the age of AILiting's favourite book and other fun facts About LitingLiting Cong is a Legal Counsel at ASICS Corporation, where she leads global privacy, AI governance, and digital initiatives in the Legal Department. She graduated from Grinnell College in 2011, and University of Toronto Faculty of Law in 2014. She was admitted to the bar in Ontario in 2015, and in New York in 2019. Before relocating to Japan, Liting gained diverse international experience at King & Wood in Shanghai, Shin & Kim in Seoul, and Stikeman & Elliott in Toronto, and started her own practice as a sole practitioner in Toronto.In addition to her legal credentials, Liting is a data protection professional with multiple certifications from the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) for European privacy (CIPP/E), privacy program management (CIPM), and artificial intelligence governance (AIGP). With over a decade of experience living and working in Canada and Japan, Liting brings not only legal expertise but also fluency in the languages--English, Chinese, and Japanese--and a deep understanding of cross-cultural business environments. In 2018, as an avid fan of Japanese arts and culture since childhood, Liting relocated to Japan. She joined Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation in Osaka as Legal Counsel, and later SymBio Pharmaceuticals Limited in Tokyo as Legal Manager.In 2023, Liting joined ASICS Corporation in its global headquarters in Kobe. She now serves as the lead in global privacy and AI governance and managing ASICS' digital initiatives across the globe. Liting lives in Osaka with her husband and a cat who enjoys making cameos in Teams calls and supervising all her legal work.  Connect with LitingLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/litingcong/ LinksGokan: https://patisserie-gokan.co.jp/item/ The Cultural Map by Erin Meyer https://amzn.asia/d/9w9muCI Connect with Catherine LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/oconnellcatherine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyeronair

On this very special episode, Justin is joined by Stephan Fasold, a German film critic and film festival programmer from Kino Korea, to talk about all the films they watched at The Seoul Independent Film Festival. 

This isn't the final episode of 2025 for Des and Kara, but this is the last episode of the year with a long list of running results to discuss. Listen in because there was A LOT of running action this past weekend from XC to the indoor track to the marathon. Des and Kara start with updates on their recent travels - Des to Shanghai and Seoul, Kara to snowy Wisconsin. As highlights, we learn Des's nickname in China and get an update on Colt's race at Brooks XC regionals in proper blizzard conditions. Then, they turn to this past weekend's results, starting with Nike NXN and the US XC Champs in Portland. Who showed up and showed out to earn spots on the World XC team for the US?  Plus, holy Hedengren(!) as Jane H ran 14:44 to break the collegiate indoor and outdoor 5K record at BU. That's also the 2nd fastest time ever by an American indoors. She is only 19, but it seems like she is making it look too easy! The sky is the limit for her. Finally, they drill in on the US Marathon Champs at CIM (including Courtney D's near OTQ) and some fast times at the Valencia Marathon in Spain as the fall marathon season finally wraps up. Thanks to Lever Movement for sponsoring the very uplifting Top 5 this week. For 20% off on your Lever system, use code NOBODYASKEDUS at levermovement.com. 

Have you ever had a moment where you thought, “OK, time for revenge”? In this episode, Andrew takes you to the streets of Seoul to talk about participating in the 2025 JTBC Marathon. As you listen, you will hear clear, natural English and pick up useful expressions and storytelling language that can help you understand English more easily and speak it more smoothly. Don’t forget to check out the free interactive transcript and glossary to learn the idioms, phrasal verbs, and vocabulary Andrew uses in this episode that will help you sound more natural and confident when speaking English. Important links: Become a Culips member Study with the interactive transcript Join the Culips Discord server Small-group speaking class schedule Andrew's Gyeongju Marathon story

 Nuclear Ambitions in South Korea: Colleague Henry Sokolski reports that South Korea is requesting nuclear-powered submarines and enrichment rights, raising concerns about potential nuclear proliferation, with some arguing this could lead to a confederation with the North or US withdrawal, while others prefer Seoul invest in American nuclear facilities to strengthen the alliance. 1953

SHOW 12-5-25 CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR 1940 PITTSBURGH THE SHOW BEGINS IN THE DOUBTS ABOUT INFLATION. FIRST HOUR 9-915 Infrastructure Booms and Business Exoduses in the West: Colleague Jeff Bliss reports that high-speed rail construction from Los Angeles to Las Vegas is accelerating in anticipation of the 2028 Olympics, while the Boring Company expands tunnel networks; conversely, California faces corruption scandals and business flights, and Oregon sees companies like Columbia Sportswear struggle with the business climate. 915-930 Milan Prepares for Christmas and the Olympics: Colleague Lorenzo Fiori reports that Milan celebrates St. Ambrose Day with traditional markets and lights, marking the start of the holiday season, as the city prepares to host the Winter Olympics in February 2026, with cultural events including the La Scala premiere of Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk and the enjoyment of Panettone. 930-945 Supreme Court Enables Partisan Gerrymandering: Colleague Richard Epstein discusses the Supreme Court permitting Texas to redraw congressional districts for 2026, favoring Republicans, arguing that lack of oversight allows parties to entrench power, creating extreme polarization where "reds become redder and blues become bluer," making legislative compromise nearly impossible. 945-1000 Scrutiny Over Lethal Strike on Drug Boat: Colleague Richard Epstein examines Defense Secretary Hegseth facing pressure regarding a lethal strike on alleged drug traffickers in the Caribbean, with reports suggesting survivors may have been shot in the water, asserting that murdering surrendered individuals violates the laws of war, regardless of whether the targets were smugglers. SECOND HOUR 10-1015 Lancaster County Shows Consumer Fatigue: Colleague Jim McTague reports that retailers in Lancaster are using deep discounts to attract price-sensitive shoppers, noting that while weekend traffic is decent, weekdays are slow and high-end dining is struggling, with the job market tightening significantly as skilled labor demands vanish, suggesting consumers are "running out of disposable income". 1015-1030 Future Tech and Economic Shifts: Colleague Jim McTague predicts "creative destruction" where old industries fade, expressing bullishness on solar power due to data center demands and envisioning self-driving cars and useful humanoid robots revolutionizing daily life, with rate cuts expected in 2026 as consumers rebuild savings after a period of spending. C 1030-1045 Private Space Sector Challenges and Triumphs: Colleague Bob Zimmerman reports that Jared Isaacman testified that private companies, not NASA, are driving space colonization; a Russian cosmonaut was removed from a SpaceX mission for spying, while China successfully tested a reusable rocket; additionally, Boeing faces legal challenges from crash victims' families, and activists oppose Blue Origin's operations. 1045-1100 New Discoveries Challenge Cosmic Models: Colleague Bob Zimmerman reports that ground-based telescopes have directly imaged exoplanets and debris discs, the James Webb Telescope found a barred spiral galaxy in the early universe defying evolutionary models, scientists discovered organic sugars on asteroid Bennu, and admits solar cycle predictions have been consistently incorrect. THIRD HOUR 1100-1115 The Early Church Headquarters on Mount Zion: Colleague James Tabor discusses archaeology on Mount Zion revealing a first-century foundation beneath a medieval church, likely the headquarters of the early movement, describing this as the home where James led the church and Mary hosted pilgrims, with Mary possibly living long enough to witness James's martyrdom. 1115-1130 The Historical Disappearance of Mary: Colleague James Tabor explains that following the crucifixion, Mary disappears from the biblical record, likely dying before the 70 AD destruction of Jerusalem; while early Christians fled to Pella under Simon's leadership, traditions suggest Mary died on Mount Zion, with Tabor arguing she was "written out" of the story by later traditions. 1130-1145 The Talpiot Tomb and Ossuary Evidence: Colleague James Tabor discusses a tomb discovered in 1980 containing ossuaries with a unique cluster of names, including Jesus, Maria, and Jose, suggesting this could be the Jesus family tomb, supported by statistical analysis and an ossuary inscribed "James son of Joseph brother of Jesus," with new DNA testing underway. 1145-1200 Mary's Influence on Early Christian Teachings: Colleague James Tabor examines the "Q" source containing teachings shared by Matthew and Luke that parallel the words of James and John the Baptist, positing that Mary, as the mother, was the source of this shared wisdom, arguing that historians must reclaim her humanity and influence from theological erasure. FOURTH HOUR 12-1215 The Limits of AI and the Global Quantum Race: Colleague Brandon Weichert explains that current AI models are data crunchers rather than thinking entities, facing limits known as "The Bitter Lesson," while China is "nanoseconds" away from practical quantum computing aimed at decrypting military communications, with Switzerland and Singapore also pursuing sovereign quantum capabilities to ensure digital independence. 1215-1230 Lebanon's Demographic Decline and Political Stagnation: Colleague Hussain Abdul-Hussain reports that Pope Leo's visit highlighted Lebanon's diminishing Christian population, now estimated at perhaps one-quarter, with the government remaining weak and reluctant to disarm Hezbollah, fearing foreign deals that sacrifice national interests; while civil war is unlikely, the country remains dominated by an Iranian-backed militia. 1230-1245 Nuclear Ambitions in South Korea: Colleague Henry Sokolski reports that South Korea is requesting nuclear-powered submarines and enrichment rights, raising concerns about potential nuclear proliferation, with some arguing this could lead to a confederation with the North or US withdrawal, while others prefer Seoul invest in American nuclear facilities to strengthen the alliance. 1245-100 AM audi Arabia Seeks Nuclear Capabilities: Colleague Henry Sokolski explains that Saudi Arabia wants a nuclear power plant but resists signing US protocols allowing inspections; while Washington may view this as a hedge against Iran, a Saudi nuclear capability would threaten Israel's qualitative military edge, and the US has not yet granted advanced consent for enrichment.