Understanding Korea, One Story at a Time Podcast

Happy New Year! 새해 복 많이 받으세요!This is my first episode of 2026, and it comes as a companion to this week’s Substack essay. It’s not a word-for-word reading. Think of it as the version I’d tell you over coffee. If you read the post and then listen, you’ll get the full picture.This year, I’m leaning into what this show was always meant to be: Understanding Korea, one story at a time. Lighter on the inbox, deeper in the long run, with the book getting its own separate space to grow. If you listen to this episode, you’ll have a clearer sense of where I’m headed and what I’m building this year.One little surprise to start 2026: FeedSpot recently ranked this podcast #2 among AI-generated podcasts and #26 on its NotebookLM-generated podcast list. I’m recording in my own voice now, but I’m genuinely glad those early experiments are still finding listeners. And the roundups include plenty of other great shows too, so take a look! Thanks for being here. If you enjoy the show, subscribing and sharing it helps more than you know. It’s one of the simplest ways to help new listeners discover the podcast.See you next week. Bye! Get full access to Understanding Korea, One Story at a Time at yoonjiwon.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is the audio “director’s commentary” to my latest Substack essay in the K-Book Uncovered series, where we have been walking through Yu Si-min’s My History of Contemporary Korea (나의 한국 현대사) together. If Korea’s modern history were a movie, 1987 would be the perfect place to roll the credits. The crowds win. The generals step back. Democracy arrives. The end.Except... Yu Si-min refuses to end the story there.In this finale, we ask the quiet, uncomfortable question that doesn’t make it into history movies: Once you finally win democracy and development, what do you actually do with them?We’ll walk through:• The “roommate situation” between Korea’s industrialization and democratization camps after 1987• The 1997 IMF crisis, when the floor dropped out and the old promises shattered• Four new desires reshaping Korea today: fairness, safety, rest, and belonging• Why the protests keep coming—from candlelight seas to K-pop light sticks• And what “limited pride” means in a country that’s both a miracle and a messThis episode is designed to complement this week’s Substack essay. If you can, read and listen together—they complete each other like stereo sound.A Few Personal Notes:This is my last podcast of the year. Next Monday (Dec 22), I’ll publish one final bonus essay: a deep dive into Yu Si-min’s What is the State? (국가란 무엇인가), the philosophical companion to the history we just walked through.After that, I am finally going to practice something Koreans are famously bad at: rest. I’ll be taking a break until January 15 to spend unhurried time with my family.Before I go, I need to say thank you. This year, you’ve been listening from 82 countries—with the US, Indonesia, and Korea leading the way. To everyone who let me whisper into your ears while you commuted, cooked, or scrolled in bed: thank you for caring about this small peninsula and letting Korea’s story speak into your own.I’ll see you in 2026. Take care, rest if you can, and thank you for listening—and for reading.— Jiwon Get full access to Understanding Korea, One Story at a Time at yoonjiwon.substack.com/subscribe

This podcast episode is the audio companion to my newsletter essay:“Two Desires, One Nation, Part 3: The City That Would Not Stay Silent”Read first? You’ll get the photos, timelines, and historical context.Listen first? You’ll get the feeling, the emotional core I couldn’t fit into 3,000 words.Both together? That’s the full experience.Here’s a question: Why do Koreans protest so much?No, seriously. Every few years, millions take to the streets. Light sticks. Chants. Grandmothers and college students side by side.Western media always say, “Koreans are passionate about democracy.”Sure. But why?This episode is about the why.What You’ll Learn:* 부채감 (buchae-gam): The Korean word that has no English translation, but explains everything* The photo that changed history: How one image of Lee Han-yeol became a symbol of moral debt* The “necktie troops”: Why office workers in suits joined student protesters in 1987* Gwangju’s seven-year silence: The hidden massacre that became Korea’s original debt* Why 2024 felt like 1987 — From Yoon Suk-yeol’s martial law to impeachment in daysA Taste of What’s Inside:“Rage burns hot and fast. You can be furious for a week, a month, maybe a year. Then it fades. But debt? Debt doesn’t go away. It sits in your chest. It wakes you up at 3 a.m. It whispers, ‘You’re still alive. They’re not. What are you going to do about it?’”“Democracy, in Korea, has names and faces. Park Jong-chul. Lee Han-yeol. 166+ people in Gwangju. You don’t just ‘care about democracy.’ You fight for it like your life depends on it because someone else’s did.”“There’s a saying: Democracy doesn’t grow in fertile soil. It grows in blood.”Why This Episode Hits Different:This isn’t just history. It’s personal.Because 부채감 (buchae-gam) isn’t just something Koreans felt in 1987.It’s what brought millions into the streets in December 2024.It’s why the impeachment process began within days, not weeks or months.It’s why Korean democracy looks the way it does: urgent, loud, uncompromising.If you’ve ever wondered why Koreans don’t take democracy for granted, this episode will answer that question.About This Series:This is Part 3 of 4 in my deep dive into Yu Si-min’s My History of Contemporary Korea (나의 한국 현대사), a book that’s never been translated into English, but should be required reading for anyone trying to understand modern Korea.Missed the earlier episodes?→ Part 1: Twins Born in the Ruins→ Part 2: The Barracks State & The Boy Who Refused to Bow→ Part 4: Coming next week Get full access to Understanding Korea, One Story at a Time at yoonjiwon.substack.com/subscribe

Hello, everyone.Last week, we stood at “Ground Zero.” This week, we enter the “Barracks State.”In this week’s newsletter (Part 2), we covered the history of the 1960s and 70s—the economic explosion, the dictatorship, and the tragic death of Jeon Tae-il.But in this podcast episode, I want to go behind the text. I want to talk about the emotional and psychological weight of living in a country that tried to turn its citizens into soldiers and machines.I talk about Park Chung-hee’s “Barracks State,” why so many people accepted that level of control, and how the slogan “Let’s live well” powered the economic miracle while grinding down real human bodies. We also spend time with two people who shape the way I read this history: Yu Si-min himself and a young garment worker named Jeon Tae-il, whose final cry was, “We are not machines.”This episode is not just an audio version of the article. It is meant to complement it. The newsletter gives you the structure, photos, and key quotes; the podcast lingers on the emotions, the contradictions, and the questions I could not fit on the page.🔗 Read the full Part 2 essay here:Two Desires, One Nation, Part 2: The Barracks State and the Boy Who Wouldn’t BowIf you are new to this series, you might also want to start with Part 1 for the origin story of our “twins”:Part 1: The Twins Born in the RuinsThank you for listening, and I hope you will enjoy reading the piece and then hearing the story unfold in your ears. Get full access to Understanding Korea, One Story at a Time at yoonjiwon.substack.com/subscribe

Hello everyone! Last month, I started a monthly K-Book Uncovered series, where I explore essential Korean books that haven’t yet been translated into English. We began with historian Kim Won’s The June 1987 Uprising (87년 6월 항쟁), a vivid chronicle of the democracy movement that forced Korea’s military regime to accept direct presidential elections.This month, we moved one step wider in scope.In the newsletter, I’m doing a four-part deep dive into Yu Si-min’s My History of Contemporary Korea (나의 한국 현대사), using his frame of two rival camps—industrialization and democratization—to understand how Korea went from ruins and dictatorship to K-pop, K-dramas, and candlelight protests.While the newsletter focuses on the historical narrative—the “Fraternal Twins” of Industrialization and Democracy—I realized that some of the most powerful insights in the book are psychological and emotional. They didn’t quite fit into the historical timeline, but they are absolutely essential for understanding why Korea feels the way it does today.So, I recorded a podcast episode to complement the written series.In this episode, we go off-script to discuss:* The “Refugee Mentality”: Why South Korea in 1959 wasn’t just a poor country, but a “refugee camp masquerading as a nation,” and how that anxiety still drives the hyper-competition of today.* The “Cool Kid” of the 1950s: The shocking reality that, for a long time, North Korea was actually the more successful sibling.* Radical Empathy: Yu Si-min’s moving explanation of why the older generation votes for conservative leaders (hint: it’s not just “brainwashing.” It’s about validating their own survival).* “Limited Pride”: Why loving Korea means accepting that it is both an ugly and a beautiful country.Think of the newsletter as the “Textbook” and this podcast as the “Coffee Chat” afterwards. Even if you’ve already read the article, this episode adds a whole new layer of context and emotion that will change how you see the history we are exploring.I hope you enjoy this deeper look.A small Thanksgiving note from Seattle (via Vancouver)As I’m releasing this episode, Thanksgiving is just starting here in the United States.Traditionally, it’s a holiday for gathering with extended family, but in our case, most of our relatives live in other countries. So our little family of three has developed our own tradition: on Thanksgiving, we usually drive up from the Seattle area to Vancouver, Canada, our “next-door neighbor” across the border.By the time you’re listening to this, I’ll probably be somewhere between rain clouds, coffee shops, and bookstores in Vancouver, trying to keep my 7-year-old entertained and sneaking in a few pages of Korean history whenever I can.Wherever you are, I hope this week brings you at least a few moments of genuine rest and small, surprising things to be grateful for.Thank you, as always, for listening, for reading, and for caring enough to understand Korea one story at a time. 💛I hope you enjoy this week’s episode: “The Twins Born in the Ruins.” Get full access to Understanding Korea, One Story at a Time at yoonjiwon.substack.com/subscribe

Dive into South Korea’s turbulent cultural history under authoritarian rule. This episode unpacks how dictators used censorship alongside the 3S Policy—Sex, Sports, and Screens—to control pop culture, silence dissent, and inadvertently spark a resistance movement. Hear stories of banned songs, erotic cinema, rigged baseball leagues, and hidden books fueling democracy. Includes short clips from banned songs to give you a real feel for the era’s soundtrack.Whether you know Korea or are new to its stories, this episode connects culture and politics with vivid examples and lively commentary. Music excerpts used under fair use for commentary and education.🔗 Want to read the full post? Click here Get full access to Understanding Korea, One Story at a Time at yoonjiwon.substack.com/subscribe

A Nation in Uniform: How Emergency Became Everyday in South KoreaSummaryAfter the 1968 shocks, South Korea rebuilt everyday life around emergency. This episode looks at how the state turned men into reserve soldiers, schools into drill grounds, and citizens into trackable numbers. It is the “hardware” of the garrison state that sat on top of last week’s “software” of laws, policing, and ideology.What’s inside1968 aftershocks: Blue House Raid and the Uljin–Samcheok landingsHardware 1: Yebigun (reserve forces) and the monthly culture of readinessHardware 1.5: Minbangwi (Civil Defense Corps), blackout drills, and why the upper age later dropped to 40Hardware 2: Gyoryeon (school military training), plus Jihyun’s memories from classHardware 3: Resident Registration Number, the 12→13-digit ID, and embodied surveillanceThe “iron triangle” recap and what slowly changed after democratization📝 Read the original full essay here🎨 See Jihyun’s graphic novel about this era hereThanks so much for listening. Get full access to Understanding Korea, One Story at a Time at yoonjiwon.substack.com/subscribe

Original Post- 33(23). GOVERNANCE BY FEAR — When "National Security" Became the Perfect ExcuseIn 1968, real North Korean commandos almost assassinated the South Korean president. The threat was real.The state's response? To build a "Garrison State"—a system of total control pointed not at the enemy, but at its own citizens.How do you build an invisible prison for an entire nation? In this episode, we break down the three engines of control that made it possible.In this episode, you'll learn about:Engine 1: The Law Discover the National Security Law—a vague, powerful legal weapon that criminalized thought. Find out how mentioning Picasso or quoting Marx could be redefined as "treason."Engine 2: The Spies Meet the KCIA, a secret police that enforced the law with terror. We explore how they fabricated entire spy rings, like the "People's Revolutionary Party Incident," to conduct "judicial murder" and turn neighbors against each other.Engine 3: The Ideology "I Hate Communism" wasn't just a slogan; it was a national identity. Host Jiwon Yoon shares a chilling, personal memory of winning a silver medal in an anti-communist speaking contest as a child.This is the story of how a real fear was amplified, weaponized, and turned into the perfect excuse for total control.Coming Up Next Week: We explore the hardware of the Garrison State—how daily life itself was militarized. Get full access to Understanding Korea, One Story at a Time at yoonjiwon.substack.com/subscribe

Why this sounds differentI’m rebuilding the podcast to feel more personal. No more auto-generated audio. You’re hearing this in my own voice. Posts go out on Thursdays and the podcast comes out on Tuesdays.Today’s episodeI launch “K-Book Uncovered,” a monthly pick of vital Korean books not yet in English. This week: Kim Won’s The June 1987 Uprising. We revisit the June Democracy Movement through three lenses: office workers in Seoul, labor organizers in Incheon, and a delivery worker in Busan. We look at what sparked the protests, why experiences differed by class and region, and how “historical imagination” helps us read history from the ground up.Read the full essayFull write-up on Substack: https://yoonjiwon.substack.com/p/korea-1987-democracy-uprisingTell me what you thinkYour feedback really helps. Comments, suggestions, or quick thoughts are all welcome. Get full access to Understanding Korea, One Story at a Time at yoonjiwon.substack.com/subscribe

Hello, curious minds,This week I share a personal update, what is changing with the newsletter, and how you can support the work.Starting next week, I will publish the first-ever post exclusively for paid subscribers.But first, let me make one thing perfectly clear: The in-depth weekly essays and podcasts you receive every Thursday will always remain free for everyone. That is my promise.At the same time, I’ve long dreamed of becoming a full-time writer, creating deeper stories that require even more time and research. Until now, I’ve been funding this newsletter by taking on other research and consulting projects. But my goal is to dedicate much more of my energy to this space and to a book I’m working on about Korea’s democracy. That’s why I recently turned on the paid subscription option.Even without a single paywalled post, a few of you have already upgraded to paid. I was so touched and grateful for that vote of confidence.As the first step toward this dream, I’m launching a new monthly series for paid members.📚 Unlocking Korea’s Hidden Library: A Series for Paid MembersIn this series, I’ll introduce and deeply analyze books that are essential to understanding modern Korea but are not yet available in English. Each month, I’ll share a piece that explores what the book reveals about Korean society, who wrote it, and why it matters now. Together with my wonderful collaborator, webtoon artist Jihyun Lee, we’ll craft each piece so you can feel like you’re discovering the hidden context within the book itself.🌟 Become a Founding MemberTo thank those who want to support this new journey, I’m offering a special, one-time discount.Become an annual paid subscriber by November 30th, and you can lock in the founding member rate of $30/year forever. On December 1st, the annual price will increase to $50/year. If you join now at the founding rate, your price will never increase upon renewal. Ever.Your paid subscription is the most direct way to support this work, allowing me to dedicate more time to in-depth research and writing. It is the single biggest driver of this newsletter’s sustainable growth.So, What’s Changing?👍 For Free Subscribers (Your great experience continues!)* Weekly essays on Korean history, culture, and politics* In-depth analysis based on Korean-language sources* Podcast-style audio versions of posts so you can listen on the go✨ For Paid Subscribers (Get everything above, plus exclusive benefits!)* [NEW] The monthly members-only series, Unlocking Korea’s Hidden Library* Full access to the entire archive of paid posts* The ability to comment on all posts and join community discussionsOther Ways to Join & Support💰 Group Subscriptions: Better with friends!Get a 20% discount when 2 or more people subscribe together for an annual plan. During the founding member window (through Nov 30), that’s just $24 each!Learn more: Subscribe to Understanding Korea, One Story at a Time💌 Refer Friends, Earn Free Months!If you enjoy Understanding Korea, it would mean the world if you shared it with friends. When you use your personal referral link below (or the Share button on any post), you’ll earn complimentary time on your paid plan:* 3 referrals → 1 month free* 5 referrals → 3 months free* 10 referrals → 9 months freeTimeline at a Glance* Last week of Oct: The first paid-only post from the Unlocking Korea’s Hidden Library series. Get ready: we’ll be diving into a book by a historian who was a direct participant in South Korea’s democratization movement.* Through Nov 30: The founding member price window ($30/year) is open.* Dec 1: The annual price returns to $50.* Mid-Dec: I’ll be taking a short family break for about two weeks. I’ll use the time to refresh, study, and come back in January with even better stories for you!Where to Listen, Watch, and ConnectI recently gathered all my sites in one place.If you’re on social media beyond Substack, let’s connect there too! - https://www.jiwon-yoon.com/links/If you have any questions about the paid plan, please reply to this email. And if there’s a Korean book you think I should evaluate for the new series, don’t hesitate to tell me.Thank you for being here and for joining this journey to make Korea more understandable, one story at a time. Whether you choose to remain a free reader or become a paid member, you are a valued part of the Understanding Korea community.I am so excited about the stories we will continue to explore together.Warmly,Jiwon Get full access to Understanding Korea, One Story at a Time at yoonjiwon.substack.com/subscribe

31(21). The Security Prison: North Korea as Mirror, Memory as WeaponHow Korea’s Cold War became a domestic surveillance system—and how writers fought to remember what the state erasedThis episode opens on a winter night in 1968 Seoul, when 31 North Korean commandos nearly reached the Blue House. But their failure became something larger: proof that the war never ended. From that fear, the South Korean state built not just a military—but a memory regime.We trace how North Korea became both ghost and mirror, how Park Chung-hee’s regime invoked “security” to justify dictatorship, and how anti-communism became a license to control thought, family lineage, and even grief. From the 7.4 Joint Statement to the Yushin Constitution, we examine how peace-talk optics masked deeper entrenchments of power.But the heart of this episode is literary. We explore the novels that bore witness—Jeong Ji-a’s stories of yeonjwaje, Hwang Sok-yong’s indictment of love under surveillance, and Han Kang’s Nobel-winning elegy for the voiceless in Gwangju. These stories didn’t just resist censorship—they reclaimed the right to speak, to remember, and to grieve.Original post & full show notes: https://yoonjiwon.substack.com/p/korea-security-prisonEp. 31(21) — Glossary of Key Korean Terms(Romanization · Hangul · Meaning — timestamps show first mention; app variances ± a few seconds.)Park Chung-hee · 박정희 — 1:19 Military dictator (1961–1979) whose regime fused Cold War logic with industrial modernization—and extreme domestic control.Kim Il-sung · 김일성 — 4:14 North Korea’s founding leader. From the 1960s–70s, his provocations helped justify authoritarian crackdowns in the South.Pyongyang · 평양 — 4:18 North Korea’s capital, seen from the South as both enemy stronghold and estranged twin city.Yushin Constitution · 유신헌법 — 5:22 The 1972 legal framework that extended Park Chung-hee’s rule indefinitely—essentially legalizing dictatorship.yeonjwaje · 연좌제 — 6:37 “Guilt by association.” A system under which children of dissidents could be denied jobs, education, or civil rights.Jeong Ji-a · 정지아 — 6:55 Author of Daughter of a Partisan and A Father’s Liberation Diary, both based on her real-life parents who were former partisans. Her novels fictionalize their lives under surveillance, exile, and erasure—bearing witness to how South Korea’s security state punished families across generations.Han Kang · 한강 — 8:35 2024 Nobel laureate and author of Human Acts, a novel on the Gwangju Uprising’s grief, silence, and memory.Gwangju · 광주 — 8:44 Site of the 1980 pro-democracy uprising. The state's violent suppression of it became a literary and moral touchstone.Hwang Sok-yong · 황석영 — 9:06 Author of The Old Garden, a love story set during South Korea’s dictatorship that explores surveillance, memory, and resistance. Hwang was imprisoned for attending a North Korean literary conference in 1989. A leading voice in modern Korean literature, his other major works include The Guest (about the Sinchon Massacre and divided memory), The Road to Sampo (capturing displacement in industrializing Korea), and Princess Bari (a mythical refugee tale crossing borders and trauma).Choi In-hun · 최인훈 — 9:43 Wrote The Square, a landmark post-war novel on ideological paralysis and divided identity.Cho Se-hui · 조세희 — 10:12 Wrote The Dwarf, capturing how “anti-communism” masked state-led economic violence against workers. Get full access to Understanding Korea, One Story at a Time at yoonjiwon.substack.com/subscribe

30(20). How Trauma Built Modern Korea: From "Ppalli-Ppalli" to the Miracle on the Han RiverThe postwar survival algorithm—speed, education, real estate, and han—behind South Korea’s rapid riseEpisode summaryThis episode traces how the Korean War’s unresolved grief—ambiguous loss, hypervigilance, and a family-as-fortress mindset—evolved into a national operating system: ppalli-ppalli speed, education as an indestructible asset, real estate as a tangible anchor, han as fuel, and village-style mutual aid. We follow that code from expressways and apartments to cram schools and conglomerates—and we confront the bill: burnout, gwarosa (death from overwork), and a mental-health strain that shadows the “Miracle on the Han.”Original post & full show notes: https://yoonjiwon.substack.com/p/how-trauma-built-modern-koreaEp. 30(20) — Glossary of Key Korean Terms(Romanization · Hangul · Meaning — timestamps show first mention; app variances ± a few seconds.)ppalli-ppalli · 빨리빨리 — 1:28 Literally “hurry-hurry.” The shorthand for Korea’s speed reflex—reply fast, build fast, ship fast—rooted in postwar survival logic.Park Chung-hee · 박정희 — 2:55 South Korean president (1963–1979). Drove state-led industrialization and export-oriented growth; also synonymous with authoritarian rule.Gyeongbu Expressway · 경부 고속도로 — 3:11 The Seoul–Busan highway, completed in 1970 on an accelerated timetable—an emblem of “build fast” development.Seoul · 서울 — 3:14 South Korea’s capital; massive urban expansion, especially south of the Han River, defined late-20th-century growth.Busan · 부산 — 3:15 Major southern port city and wartime refuge; the south anchor of the Gyeongbu corridor.ugoltap (“cow-bone tower”) · 우골탑 — 4:45 A biting phrase from the 1970s–80s: selling the family cow to fund university—i.e., the family burden around education.ingoltap (“human-bone tower”) · 인골탑 — 5:03 A darker update of ugoltap: university “towers” built on parents’ back-breaking sacrifice—social critique of education costs borne by families.hagwon (cram school) · 학원 — 5:22 Private after-school institutes for test prep, languages, music, etc.; core to the education arms race.han · 한 (恨) — 6:43 A debated concept: a knot of sorrow, grievance, and resolve. In this episode, it frames how loss can harden into motion — “never this helpless again.”jaebeol (chaebol) · 재벌 — 7:48 Family-controlled conglomerates central to Korea’s rise (e.g., Samsung, LG, Hyundai); vast scope and complex legacies.Samsung / Hyundai · 삼성 / 현대 — 7:50 Flagship chaebol groups; their founding lore often symbolizes grit, speed, and scale in high-growth decades.dure · 두레 — 9:31 Traditional village work teams for collective farming; a form of mutual aid.pumasi · 품앗이 — 9:37 Reciprocal labor exchange between households — “help me today, I help you tomorrow.”Saemaul Undong (New Village Movement) · 새마을운동 — 9:59 1970s rural modernization drive channeling community labor and state resources into roofs, roads, and waterworks.gwarosa (death from overwork) · 과로사 — 11:48 Fatal outcomes linked to chronic overwork and stress—the pressure-cooker cost of speed.Han Kang (novelist) · 한강 — 12:43 Nobel Prize in Literature (2024) and International Booker Prize (2016)–winning South Korean novelist (The Vegetarian, Human Acts, Greek Lessons). In this episode, we introduce her as a writer whose fiction lays bare the pain and contradictions of modern Korean society. Get full access to Understanding Korea, One Story at a Time at yoonjiwon.substack.com/subscribe

Ep. 29(19). The Korean War Never Ended: Family Trauma Across Generations -The true cost of separated families, silence, and survival in modern KoreaThis episode uncovers how the unresolved grief and invisible aftermath of the Korean War have quietly shaped Korean families for generations.We revisit the lived experiences of war survivors, exploring why, even today, nearly every Korean family shares a table with a “ghost” — the presence of missing loved ones whose fate was never truly known.Original post and show notes: https://yoonjiwon.substack.com/p/korean-war-separated-familiesEp. 29(19) — Glossary of Key Korean Terms(Romanization · Hangul · Meaning — timestamps show first mention; app variances ± a few seconds.)“Isangajogeul Chajseumnida” · 이산가족을 찾습니다 — 3:28 Direct translation: “Finding Dispersed Families.”KBS’s 1983 live TV marathon that reunited thousands of people separated by the Korean War and later entered UNESCO’s Memory of the World. Think: a nation-wide, 138-day on-air search for missing relatives.Bodo League Massacre · 보도연맹 학살 — 6:35Mass killings of suspected leftists and alleged members of the National Guidance League (Bodo Yeonmaeng) during the early months of the Korean War—a horrific episode carried out in South Korea, which deeply shattered social trust.Isan gajok (Separated families) · 이산가족 — 12:40Families split by the 1950–53 war and the division of Korea. Many never received proof of death or survival—what psychologists call “ambiguous loss.”Geumgangsan (Mt. Kumgang) · 금강산 — 13:08 A spectacular mountain in North Korea, famed for sheer cliffs, autumn foliage, and coastal views. It also hosted inter-Korean family reunions (notably in 2009 and 2018). In 2025, North Korea began demolishing the Reunion Center facility, dimming hopes for future large-scale meetings. Get full access to Understanding Korea, One Story at a Time at yoonjiwon.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 28 | The Three-Year Inferno — Civilian Loss, Suppressed Mourning, and an Unfinished WarTo understand modern Korea, you have to walk through 1950–53. This episode, drawn from my Substack series, explores the brutality of the Korean War and the operating system it left behind: a country standing not on peace but on waiting.Original Post: https://yoonjiwon.substack.com/p/korean-war-brutal-historyKey themesWhy this was not just a soldiers’ war but a catastrophe that swallowed kitchens, schools, and bridges.How hunger, cold, bombing, and checkpoints turned daily life into survival tactics.“Our own hands, too”: North Korean, Chinese, South Korean, and UN/US forces all left civilian victims.The right to mourn and ambiguous loss—how missing names froze grief.Armistice as operating system: conscription, drills, and emergency politics as a lasting tempo.Glossary of Key Korean Terms (Romanization · Hangul · Meaning)(Timestamps mark the first mention; your app may vary by a few seconds.)Bodo Yeonmaeng haksal · 보도연맹 학살 · 4:01Mass executions tied to the National Guidance League (Gukmin Bodo Yeonmaeng, 국민보도연맹), a “rehabilitation” program that became the basis for preventive arrests and killings as the war broke out.Yi Seung-man (Syngman Rhee) · 이승만 · 4:15South Korea’s first president (1948–1960). Note the dual spelling: Yi Seung-man is the scholarly romanization of his Korean name; Syngman Rhee is the English name he used internationally. His government oversaw the Bodo League–related mass killings of suspected leftists by state, police, and army.Nogeun-ri yangmin haksal sageon · 노근리 양민 학살 사건 (No Gun Ri massacre) · 5:23The massacre of civilians at No Gun Ri (July 1950), in which U.S. troops fired on refugees near a railway underpass—now a touchstone for civilian vulnerability and wartime panic.Seoul Daehakgyo Byeongwon haksal · 서울대학교병원 학살 · 6:40The Seoul National University Hospital massacre (June 28, 1950): patients, staff, and wounded killed during the first North Korean occupation of Seoul; later formally recognized by Korea’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission.Jeongjeon · 정전 · 12:31Armistice—a cease-fire that stops the shooting but doesn’t end the war. Korea has an armistice (1953), not a peace treaty.Jongjeon / Pyeonghwa hyeopjeong · 종전 / 평화협정 · 12:33End of war / peace treaty—the legal termination of war. Korea never signed one, which is why the past keeps leaking into the present. Get full access to Understanding Korea, One Story at a Time at yoonjiwon.substack.com/subscribe

How a Pencil Line Split Korea: Why Korea’s division is key to understanding South Korea’s democracyDisclosure: This episode was produced with assistance from Google NotebookLM. It draws on reporting conducted while writing the Substack article and includes additional material that did not appear in the original piece. The audio was created using NotebookLM’s Deep Dive overview.🔗 Original article: https://yoonjiwon.substack.com/p/how-korea-was-dividedEpisode SummaryIn 1945, a rushed line on a map became the 38th parallel—and then the DMZ. Here’s why that division still shapes South Korea’s hard-won democracy under a permanent ceasefire.Key Takeaways- Korea’s division began as a temporary 1945 line and became a system.- The Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty; the DMZ marks a ceasefire, not closure.- South Korea’s democracy was won under pressure, with unique checks: mass protest, independent reporting, and impeachment used rarely but decisively.Glossary of Key Korean Terms (Romanization · Hangul · Meaning)(Timestamps indicate the first mention in the episode; they may vary by a few seconds depending on your app.)Rhee Syngman (이승만) — 5:48: South Korea’s first president. When all-Korea elections failed, he pushed to found a South-only government, a move critics say helped harden a division first drawn by the U.S.–Soviet occupation line in 1945.Kim Gu (김구) — 5:52: Iconic independence leader and head of the Provisional Government in exile—often invoked as a symbol of unity and a hope for one Korea.Jo Man-sik (조만식) — 9:07: A respected nationalist in Pyongyang who opposed “trusteeship” after 1945. Soviet authorities sidelined Jo Man-sik and instead promoted Kim Il-sung (김일성), a Soviet-trained anti-Japanese guerrilla, as the North’s leader.Kim Il-sung (김일성) — 9:11: Soviet-backed guerrilla commander who became North Korea’s first leader—Moscow’s choice to consolidate power in the North.Kim Kyu-sik (김규식) — 11:05: Diplomat-educator and independence activist who pushed for moderation and a negotiated, unified government for all Koreans.Yeo Un-hyeong (여운형) — 11:08: Broad-tent nationalist who worked to unite left and right soon after liberation; advocated “build the state first, then argue.”Park Heon-young (박헌영) — 11:27: Leading communist organizer in the South; later held top posts in the North before falling from power during early purges.Jeju 4·3 (제주 4·3) — 11:50: The Jeju Uprising (1948–54): protests, armed clashes, and a severe crackdown on Jeju Island with heavy civilian casualties—key to understanding how national politics turned deadly on the ground.Yeosu–Suncheon 10·19 Incident (여수·순천 10·19 사건) — 12:34: In 1948, soldiers ordered to suppress the Jeju revolt refused and rose up; the rebellion spread to Yeosu and Suncheon and was crushed by government forces—a chain-reaction moment in early South Korean history.Reading tip for learners:Names appear as Romanization (Hangul) so you can recognize them when spoken and also search them later. Explanations are simplified on purpose—so you can follow the story arc (who’s who, what they stood for, and why it mattered) without getting lost in jargon. Get full access to Understanding Korea, One Story at a Time at yoonjiwon.substack.com/subscribe

Why isn’t Korea a nation of cynics after invasion, colonization, war, and dictatorships? In this final episode of the series, we look at how the Korean “we” (uri) turns memory into method: the default is still “try.” We explore two flavors of laughter—pungja (biting satire) and haehak (warm, in-group humor)—and how they help people process hardship without losing the group. From village talchum mask dances to Parasite and Squid Game, we trace a through-line of social critique that keeps uri intact while demanding change. We end with Daedong, the horizon of a just, caring society—and the modern clash with hyper-competition.Read the full article (with visuals and references):https://yoonjiwon.substack.com/p/uri-series-3Listen forWhy “try anyway” is a learned, social reflex in KoreaHow pungja and haehak work together (pressure valve + bonding)Why talchum is the living ancestor of modern satireThe Daedong ideal and today’s “Hell Joseon” tensionGlossary of Key Korean Terms (Romanization · Hangul · Meaning)Uri · 우리 — “we; our.” Also used before kinship/place words to mean “my/our” (e.g., uri eomma = “my mom”).Nakcheonseong · 낙천성 — Optimism; a buoyant outlook and tendency to expect good outcomes.Pungja · 풍자 — Satire; humor/irony/exaggeration used to critique power or social ills.Haehak · 해학 — Earthy, witty humor; often paired with satire to soften the landing.Daedong · 대동 — “Great unity”; communal togetherness and inclusive social harmony.Joseon · 조선 — Historical name of Korea (1392–1897); appears in North Korea’s official name and some diaspora contexts.Hell Joseon · 헬조선 — Contemporary slang critiquing harsh inequality, overwork, and low mobility in modern Korea. Get full access to Understanding Korea, One Story at a Time at yoonjiwon.substack.com/subscribe

Inside the Korean “We (Uri),” Part 2 — People First: Radical Humanism at the Heart of Korea’s “We” (uri)We continue our series on Kim Tae-hyung’s book In the Korean Mind, There Is “We” (한국인의 마음속엔 우리가 있다). This series is shared with the author’s permission.What we cover—briefly:People first, then rules. From Hongik Ingan (“broadly benefit the human world”) to the emergency cry Saram sallyeo! (사람살려, “Save the person!”).How human-centeredness becomes uri. Why “our mom” (우리 엄마, uri eomma) signals care, and why a server may be called imo (“auntie”)—pulling strangers into a warm, temporary we.Conscience over code. The highest compliment: beop eopsi-do sal saram (법 없이도 살 사람, “a person who could live without laws”).Two moral pillars. Uiri (의리, righteous fidelity) and myeongbun (명분, just cause) as the backbone of public trust.Public figures and proportion. Why leaders and celebrities face a higher bar—and why a healthy uri seeks truth and protects people (proportion, due process, care).👉 Read the full essay (with visuals):https://yoonjiwon.substack.com/p/uri-series-2Missed Part 1? Start here:https://yoonjiwon.substack.com/p/uri-series-1Production note: Made with NotebookLM (from my script and sources); reviewed and edited by Dr. Jiwon Yoon. Get full access to Understanding Korea, One Story at a Time at yoonjiwon.substack.com/subscribe

Glossary of Key Korean Terms (with Hangul, romanization, and English meaning): 우리 (uri) – “we”; a fused sense of shared destiny and belonging. 우리 엄마 (uri eomma) – “our mom”; how Koreans often refer to their own mother, signaling closeness beyond the individual. 우리집 (uri jip) – “our house”; emphasizes home as a shared space, not just individual property. 우리주의 (urijuui) – “uri-ism”; the cultural mindset centered on “we” rather than “I.” 민족심리 (minjok simni) – “national psychology”; the collective patterns of thought and feeling of a people. 떼창 (ttae-chang) – “mass singing”; everyone singing together in unison, dissolving boundaries between performer and audience. 호구조사 (hogu josa) – “background check”; colloquial for nosy or probing questions about someone’s situation. 선배 (seonbae) – “senior”; someone older or with more experience in school or work, with implied mentoring role. 오지랍 (ojirap) – “intrusiveness”; meddling in others’ business under the guise of concern. 마당극 (madanggeuk) – “yard play”; traditional Korean open-air community theater. 마음교환 (maeum gyohwan) – “exchange of hearts”; sharing feelings in a way that builds deep mutual trust. 품앗이 (pumasi) – “labor exchange”; neighbors helping one another with tasks, taking turns. 두레 (dure) – “community work group”; traditional collective farming association. 향약 (hyangyak) – “village code”; local community pact for mutual aid and moral guidance. 서열주의 (seoyeol-juui) – “hierarchism”; strict ranking culture based on age or position. 사람 살려 (saram sallyeo) – “save the person!”; traditional Korean cry for urgent help, centering the person in need. ===========================Back in 2017, when South Korea impeached its president, my American friends all asked the same thing: "How do you guys do that?" Now, in an uncanny coincidence, it's happening again—and a "parallel theory" joking about the US and Korean presidencies has gone viral.This isn't just a political event; it's a cultural phenomenon. The key to understanding how millions of Koreans can act as one powerful, democratic force lies in a single word: uri (우리), or "we." It's a concept that goes far beyond a simple pronoun.In this episode, based on the brilliant work of psychologist Kim Tae-hyung, I explore:Why the Korean concept of uri is not just collectivism, but a "psychological fusion."How this idea of a shared destiny fuels everything from massive stadium sing-alongs (ttae-chang) to successful citizen-led protests.The non-negotiable rule of uri: why a deep sensitivity to fairness and equality is the true engine of Korean democracy.How this invisible software explains why Koreans can seem fiercely individualistic one moment and cohere into a powerful collective the next.👉 Read the full article with references, visuals, and context: https://yoonjiwon.substack.com/p/uri-series-1 Get full access to Understanding Korea, One Story at a Time at yoonjiwon.substack.com/subscribe

Original post: https://yoonjiwon.substack.com/p/hongik-ingan-korean-democracyAn origin myth that starts with helping—not conquering—became Korea’s moral operating system, shaping democracy, classrooms, and how the country shows up in the world.What this episode is about: We trace Hongik Ingan—“to broadly benefit humankind”—from the Dangun myth to the independence movement (Jo So-ang’s Samgyunjuui, Kim Gu’s cultural ideal), into education law (Education Basic Act, Article 2), and out to lived practice: Saemaul Undong, the IMF Gold Collection Campaign, COVID-19 collective action, and KOICA’s co-prosperity approach abroad.We sit with the tension: high ideals vs. high-pressure schooling, and how an ethic for “all” avoids becoming coercive.Why it mattersA non-Western frame for democratic purpose: benefit broadly, not just win narrowly.A practical lens for AI ethics, climate, and inequality: Who broadly benefits?A decoder for Korea’s soft power—stories of relationship, responsibility, and community.Key terms (quick glossary)Hongik Ingan (홍익인간): to broadly benefit humankind.Ihwasegye (이화세계): ordering/transforming the world by principle—how to realize Hongik Ingan.Samgyunjuui (삼균주의): Jo So-ang’s “three equalities” (political, economic, educational) as institutional design.Dure spirit (두레정신): traditional community cooperation; backbone of Saemaul Undong.KOICA / co-prosperity: Korea’s positive-sum, partner-first development framing.Pull quotes“Korea’s origin story doesn’t begin with conquest; it begins with a service project.”“People power in Korea didn’t just topple dictators—it held presidents to account.”“Not charity—design. That’s what co-prosperity looks like.”Full essay + images: Original post on Substack → https://yoonjiwon.substack.com/p/hongik-ingan-korean-democracy Get full access to Understanding Korea, One Story at a Time at yoonjiwon.substack.com/subscribe

The Internet Has Pronounced Korea DeadIf you only went by what you see online, you might think South Korea is already gone. A 13-million-view YouTube video declares, "South Korea is Over," and a viral tweet urges people to "remember these folks about to go extinct" whenever they encounter racism from a Korean.The numbers seem to back it up: record-low fertility rates, a shrinking population, and projections that look straight out of a dystopian film. But history tells a different story. From liberation and war recovery to economic crises and democratic revolutions, Korea has a long track record of doing the impossible—often when the world least expects it.In this episode, I explore:Why the “extinction” narrative resonates so strongly inside KoreaThe brutal math behind demographic declineThe First Penguin Theory and how Korea could become a blueprint for aging societiesWhy I believe Korea will overcome, again 👉 Read the full article with references, visuals, and historical context:https://yoonjiwon.substack.com/p/is-south-korea-going-extinctGlossary of Key Korean Terms (Romanization · Hangul · Meaning):Geumui Hwanhyang (금의환향): returning home in glory; lit. “return in brocade,” used for a triumphant homecoming.Jinan-gun (진안군): rural county in North Jeolla Province; in this podcast, mentioned for severe population decline.Yeongyang-gun (영양군): rural county in North Gyeongsang Province; in this podcast, mentioned for severe population decline.Icheon-si (이천시): city in Gyeonggi Province known for ceramics and rice; in this podcast, cited as an example of population growth.Eungeun (은근): subtly; quietly; low-key; colloquially “quite/pretty” (e.g., “surprisingly fun”).Kkeun-gi (끈기): perseverance; grit; tenacity. Get full access to Understanding Korea, One Story at a Time at yoonjiwon.substack.com/subscribe