The Soju Sessions

In this week’s episode, we discuss the idea that Koreans using a parasol is (somehow) linked to white supremacy, Korea’s greatest ever footballer, Son Heung-Min, calling it a day on his Spurs career and whether or not he makes it into the top-25 Premier League attackers of all time.We also talk about a recent Han River monster sighting, Korea’s ageing population increasingly turning to suicide and the conclusion of a decades-long case of a woman biting the tongue off her attacker. Loads more too, this week, including cutting willies off for cheating, a K-pop singer going down for rape and driving/parking etiquette. Something for everyone, as per.Get on it.#seoul #korea #expatskorea #britsinkorea #parasol #racism #racisiminkorea #sonheungmin #spurs #premierleague #hanriver #seamonster #ageingkorea #suicide #suicidekorea #selfdefence #kpop #kpoprapist #drivinginkorea #bts #koreanculture #korea4expats #itaewon #hongdae #koreanstyle #koreanpolitics #koreanfood #hallyu #southkorea

In this episode, we dig into gig culture in the UK (v Korea) after Josh's trip home to see Oasis, defend British food and a warning from Josh's Grandad re: trans women.We also discuss overzealous parents stealing the Suneung test, Korea's rainy season and the country's strong anti-immigration stance.There's also bits and pieces about Government stipends, Koreans in the Asian hierarchy, Park Chung-Hee's assassination (spoiler alert: it was his best mate) and a touch of probability for the maths fans out there.Something for everyone, as usual.Get on it.

After a considerable amount of time off, we're back with an all-new format for season 3!Heading off in a new direction, we will be reviewing the weekly (or bi-weekly) news happenings in Korea. Think of it like a tasteless Korean dispatches or gonzo "journalism" at its finest.This week, we report back on what the listeners would put in their Korean Room 101 before discussing the fabled Korean norae bus, setting a subway car on fire and some good news for K-League Football Manager players.We also talk Squid Game 3, propaganda speakers and shit balloons, and an absolutely mental story about American Jesus enthusiasts trying to send rice and dollar bills to North Korea via the sea.Loads more too, including a shout out for The North Sentinelese, Korea's stand-up scene and the best way to kill half a million of any species.Something for everyone, as usual.Get on it.

In this week’s (delayed) episode, we speak to music writer (and fellow Scouser) Jamie Finn about northerners in Korea tending to gravitate towards each other, heading to the peninsula for an adventure, basically not knowing anything about it and writing about the local Korean music scene through multiple outlets.We also discuss the evolution of music and events in Korea (and the beginnings of nonconformity), starting his own magazines, gentrification and its effects on the local culture (mainly in HBC), and the Busan music scene compared to SeoulThere’s plenty more this week, including (but not limited to) iconic Liverpool institution, The Krazyhouse, Robbie and Barry from Eastenders (we never quite know where these conversations will turn), Korean societal problems and the differences in gig culture between Korea and the West.As always, something for everyone.Get on it.

In this week’s episode we get into the weeds and discuss how NOT to run an English academy in Korea, following a very bad recent experience.We chat about closing the door on Korea for good, Korea losing its appeal due to inflation and saving potential, and the idea that everyday things like fruit are now a bit of a luxury.We also get into signing a contract before seeing the apartment (don’t EVER do that), hagwon bosses expecting you to live in an unfurnished shoebox and calling out greed/penny-pinching within the teaching industry.Something for everyone, as per.Get on it (link in stories)#korea #korealife #korea4expats #expatsinkorea #expatlife #expatkorea #seoullife #seoul4expats #koreanculture #koreansociety #hagwon #koreanhagwon #seoulhagwon #inflation #expensivefruit #hagwonhorror #greed #pennypinching #wonjangnim #oneroom #koreanapartment #prison #shoebox #gettofuck #koreaneducation #instagood #f4f #cheongju4life #suwon #seoul 

WE BACK!First and foremost, apologies for the delay in episodes; it wasn’t planned. Been a pretty turbulent past month or so with moving back to Korea only to find out the job/apartment wasn’t quite what was expected, but more on that in our special next weekend.In THIS WEEK’s episode, we speak to the founder of Korean Image (Instagram), Blair Naujok. But before we proceed any further, we should first apologise to Blair for sitting on this episode for so long (this was recorded over a month ago), whilst simultaneously thanking him for the postcards with Korean images on which he sent to both me and Josh - a lovely touch.This episode touches on how the archive first came about, Blair’s family history and viewing 50s and 60s Korea in colour for the first time.We also discuss a positive aspect of COVID (the birth of the archive), expanding and categorising the archive and contributing to various exhibitions.Of course, there’s loads more in this one, including (but not limited to) understanding heritage through photos, immigration and acceptance, and future plans for the archive.Something for everyone.Get on it.#seoul #korea #sojusessions #korea4expats #kwave #koreansociety #korealife #koreanculture #koreamilitary #koreanwar #koreanimmigrant #expatsinkorea #expatkorea #expatlife #koreanpolitics #hallyu #koreanimage #photography #traditionalkorea #usmilitary #colourphotography #historicalphotography #imagearchive #koreaincolor #50skorea #60skorea #koreaexhibition #koreanheritage

In the second part of Matt's #sojusessions, we discuss what Trump's policies towards the Korean peninsula might be, Obama being misportrayed as a saint and Westerners finding a purpose in Korea (and becoming better). We also talk about Korea being a second home to many ex-pats, homelessness in Korea (versus the West), young Koreans missing out on life experiences by living at home until they get married and the military toughening up young Korean men.

This week, we speak to one of the Cheongju old guard, Matt Phillips, about ex-pats possibly thinking a little too highly of Busan, small-town vs. big-city Korea, and Cheongju being the Wild West back in the mid-2000s. We also discuss the difference between Korea now and two decades ago, Yoon’s failed war plans, the K-wave boom, and the rise of democracy in Korea. Something for everyone, as per. Get on it.

In this week's episode, we mix it up a touch and look at the differences between Dubai and Seoul for expats. As you might imagine, there's a lot to get through, including (but not limited to) officials stopping workers from going to the beach (in Dubai), the eclectic mix of people who live in Dubai and expat kids who've grown up there. There's also bits and pieces about the cost of living (mental), having to download an app for everything and everyone trying to rip you off. Loads more too this week, including wearing £500 sunglasses indoors, the never-ending stream of traffic fines and some of the grotesque things Westerners with too much money get up to. There truly is something for everyone this week. Get on it.

In this week’s episode, we speak to Cheongju’s finest, Camila Ugarte, about first impressions of Korea, the legendary Cheongju social scene and shitting yourself in public (you heard). We also discuss injuring yourself trying to impress Korean men, the communal culture of Korea and strangers touching you in a jimjilbang (Korean sauna). Loads more, too, including (but not limited to) misunderstanding doctors, Korean efficiency, how (some) Koreans treat people who look differently and the juxtaposition of old and new in Korea. Something for everyone, as usual. Get on it.

In this week’s episode, we speak to native Korean Lee Da-Eun (이다은) about racism in Korea, the attitudes of older Koreans towards foreigners and the perception of foreigners only coming to Korea to party. We also discuss Koreans as introverts, fashion and identity in Korea, the challenges of integrating as an expat and superficial compliments from Koreans (think being called handsome by middle-aged taxi drivers, lads). Loads more too this week, including legally-covered discrimination, the biggest problems when learning Korean and/or English and what Korean society could take from Western society. As always, something for everyone. Get on it.

In the second part of Danielle's soju sessions, we discuss the stoicism of Russians, the difference between 'traditional' expat bars in China and Korea and those in UAE and the fabled Dubai Brunch. We also talk about hiking in Korea, the difference between Seoul and Dubai in a community sense and being followed around Tesco by Chinese people. There's also chat about the 'higher-status' person choosing and paying in restaurants, going to the toilet in the street in China and the cleanliness in UAE and Korea compared to the UK and China.

In this week’s episode, we step way, way out of our comfort zone (and knowledge sphere) and discuss what a Trump Presidency might look like for Korea. We get into Trump’s ‘America First’ policy, Korean government spending on US military personnel and the possibility of re-opening dialogue with North Korea. We also talk about South Korean propaganda leaflets, effects on the Korean economy, Korea’s dominance of the semiconductor industry and Japan’s attitude towards Korea. Loads more too this week, including the Democrats woeful showing in the American election, people not looking at issues for their own individual merits and Korean immigration into the US. Something for everyone, as usual. Get on it.

In this week’s episode, we speak with expat entrepreneur/influencer Tanaya Clark about initially heading to Korea as an exchange student, starting a business in Korea and the benefits of controlling your own visa. We also discuss dating differences in Korea (compared to The West), being a black woman in Korea (and how Koreans view black people in general) and competition within the expat community. We also get into “Tall Poppy Syndrome”, the great things about living in Korea, the Korean population possibly getting a bit bigger around the waistline and the oft-derided Korean beauty standards. Plenty of bases covered this week; as usual, something for everyone. Get on it.

In this week’s episode, we speak to seoulfuldiaries creator, Sharen Hau. We discuss the lack of onboarding at hagwons, being discriminated against as an Asian-American of Vietnamese origin and how Koreans view other Asians in the English teaching industry. We also get into older Koreans’ expectations of English teachers being white Americans, content creation during COVID and the challenges of collaborating with Korean brands. Loads more too this week, including (but not limited to) being a single mother in Korea (and Korean bosses’ attitudes to pregnant women), as well as the concerns of raising a child in America. Something for everyone, as usual. Get on it.

In the second part of Yoon-Seo's #sojusessions we discuss the foreigner experience through the eyes of a Korean, Korean being “more than K-pop” and Western individualism Vs Korean collectivism. We also discuss Koreans not questioning an older person under any circumstances, what Westerners could be doing better to integrate themselves and a spot of Western stereotype myth-busting. There’s also some talk about Korea becoming more accepting towards foreigners, Koreans experiencing a type of PTSD when hearing English and the idea of society possibly pushing back against the demand on children. Something for everyone, as per. Get on it.

In this week’s episode of #thesojusessions we speak to native Korean, Jeon Yoon-Seo (전윤서). We get into some really interesting topics from the other side of the Korea coin, including why English is seen as “mandatory” for Koreans, the Korean education system from a Korean point of view and why young Korean women don’t want to have children. We also discuss solutions to the birthrate problem, how foreigners are perceived in Korea and stereotypes Koreans have about Westerners. Loads more too this week, including (but not limited to the mentality of the first-year teacher in Korea, Koreans and people of “higher status”, the idea that the honorific system might be holding Korean society back and how Westerners are portrayed in Korean media. Really interesting this one and should resonate with anyone who has spent any time in Korea.

In the second part of Ryan’s #sojusessions we discuss his side hustle of making his own mead plus his future business plans, procuring an F visa and pouring drinks for your elders in Korea. We also get into Koreans who go out on midweek benders then put a 12-hour day in the next day, hangover cures and their limited effect when you drink to oblivion and the lack of traditional Western brekkies in Korea. There’s loads more as usual, including the difference in pub snacks, hare of the dog and arguably the worst thing about Korea: the bread/sandwich situation.

In this week's episode, we discuss escaping Ireland during COVID, choosing Korea over China and playing rugby in Seoul. We also get into the depressing fact that night-outs finish earlier as you get older, the Korean War and South Korea's un-democratic roots. There's a large focus on history this week, but there's also some chat about the perils of reunification, what NOT to do when visiting North Korea and the parallels between ROI and ROK.

In the second part of Sam’s #sojusessions, we settle a long-running lookalike debate (incredibly there are people in the world who think Josh looks like f*cking James Bond), meeting Koreans through non-traditional means (i.e. not in the pub) and starting a bioplastics company. We also discuss Sam’s current venture, Dusk Cider, and the difficulties of starting a cider company in a country with a limited cider culture, bosses who expect staff to work as hard as them and Korea’s (changing) desk-warming culture. We also chat about reading the bible/churchgoers in Korea, more Pachinko chat and a guest request for Josh.