How effective is political polling today? With social trends pointing to a continuing decrease in the rate of democratic participation, in South Korea and elsewhere around the world, how can polls remain representative? In our conversation prior to his recent lecture at the University of Michigan, UC Berkley Professor Taeku Lee discusses how the political science of public polling, until recently a primarily American area of study, has gained academic traction in South Korea over the last...

Joshua Van Lieu is a historian of 20th century East Asian politics and international relations and an authority on the histories of Joseon Korea and Late Imperial China.  In this conversation, Van Lieu discusses the diplomatic intrigue of the Qing-Korea relationship and explains how the pageantry of tributary practice successfully manipulated Western preconceptions of the “unknowable orient”.  This episode was produced in collaboration with the University of Michigan’s Nam Center for...

The Koreas remain officially at war, a situation unchanged since 1953 when the Armistice Agreement, signed by China, North Korea and the United States, brought an end to active hostilities on the peninsula.  But the Armistice was not a peace settlement and tensions along the DMZ, the 38th parallel, have continued ever since. This long stalemate between the divided Koreas has prevented most kinds of social, cultural and political exchanges, with some exceptions.  In the conclusion to our...

In his research I. Jonathan Kief, a Korea Foundation post-doctoral fellow at the University of Michigan’s Nam Center for Korean Studies, explores an unconventional perspective on the relationship between writers in North and South Korea. Here, in the first of a two-part conversation, he discusses the real as well as imagined ways in which literature of the post-war period managed to cross the 38th parallel and attempts to outline a more complicated and nuanced understanding of what division...

In her recent book, ‘The Capitalist Unconscious: From Korean Unification to Transnational Korea’, professor of sociology Hyun-ok Park, of Toronto's York University, demonstrates that the unseen currents of capitalism, rather than territorial integration or family union, are driving a movement towards peninsular integration and a united Korea. In this conversation, prior to her recent lecture at the University of Michigan’s Nam Center for Korean Studies, she discusses how migrant...

At a recent lecture at the University of Michigan's Nam Center for Korean Studies, Pepperdine University sociologist Rebecca Kim spoke on the phenomena of South Korean evangelical missionaries proselytizing in the United States.  Exploring the relationship between the two countries since World War 2, her talk addresses how Korean missionaries with the University Bible Fellowship attempted to evangelize the college-educated and why the UFB's outreach efforts focused racially only on white...

In part three of a conversation with conscientious objector, pacifist and 1950s aid worker Joe Smucker, he discusses the paranoia and chaos that he witnessed in a country in the grip of a post-colonial and post-war reality.  Plus, more on the Mennonites and their relationship with South Korea.   Also: an e-mail from a listener whose grandparents participated in educational and agricultural efforts in Daejon during the post-war period.   Music on this episode is from ??? with her 1960s trot...

Pacifist and conscientious objector Joe Smucker left for Korea by freighter in 1956 to help with the country’s post-war reconstruction. His three years on the peninsula participating in relief work efforts were life-changing.  In part two of our conversation, Smucker reveals how the Mennonite Central Committee’s reconstruction efforts and work with orphans in the 1950's led to the founding of an Anabaptist church on the peninsula 40 years later. He also reflects on the post-colonial social...

A pacifist and conscientious objector, Joe Smucker left for Korea by freighter in 1956 to help with the country’s post-war reconstruction. His three years on the peninsula participating in relief work efforts with the Mennonite Central Committee would change his life forever. In the first of a two-part interview, Smucker discusses the origins of the MCC, a relief organization similar to today’s Oxfam or Doctors Without Borders, their efforts to help cope with the post-war refugee crisis...

Corporate stereotyping, the cult power of Chaebol leadership and the structural differences before and after the 1997 IMF financial crisis. This is part three of a conversation with Michael Prentice, a PhD Candidate in the University of Michigan’s Department of Anthropology, on South Korea's hugely influential Chaebol.  Our fundraising campaign is live at https://www.patreon.com/thekoreafile?ty=h  Every dollar you pledge supports independent journalism and helps keep this podcast on...

This is part two of a conversation with Michael Prentice, a PhD Candidate in the University of Michigan’s Department of Anthropology, on South Korea's hugely influential Chaebol.  Our fundraising campaign is now live at  https://www.patreon.com/thekoreafile?ty=h      Every dollar you pledge supports independent journalism and helps keep this podcast on the air! Prentice interned for a year at a Seoul-area company, conducting semi-covert academic research on the country's unique corporate...

University of Michigan PhD Candidate Michael Prentice interned for a year at a Seoul-area corporation, conducting semi-covert academic research on the unique corporate culture of South Korea. Here, Prentice discusses the semantics, politics and evolution of the word ‘Chaebol’, the origins of post-Korean War corporate and economic development in the country as well as society’s fascination and obsession with the behaviour and excesses of its ruling oligarchy. This is the first of a 3-part...

Born in Seoul and raised in the United States, Rachel Lee’s first Gyeongju excavation was also her first visit to her country of origin.  Join us for a conversation about the differences between household and mortuary archaeology, a critique of popular misconceptions regarding the swashbuckling Indiana Jones-style archaeologist and a description of a typical archaeological research trip in Korea. This is the second of a two-part interview.  Music on this episode: ???'s 1978 single...

Join us for a discussion with archaeologist Rachel Lee concerning her work on ‘Household Archaeology’ excavations near Jinju in South Gyeongsang province and a conversation about the wider arc of her research concerning Korea’s pre-historic Mumun period.  Music on this episode is Bae In-suk's 1979 single '???? ?????'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-muMHVUOSM

Matt VanVolkenburg is an MA student at the University of Seattle in Washington and the long-time host of the prolific blog 'Gusts of Popular Feeling', which recently celebrated it's 10th year of analysis on Korean society, history, urban space, film and current events.  In this conversation, he recounts the story of how Japanese military successes in Singapore and Malaysia in 1942 led to the capture of an estimated 135,000 Allied soldiers, many of whom were imprisoned in colonial...

Jenna Gibson is the Director of Communications at the Korea Economic Institute in Washington DC, a think tank working to promote dialogue and understanding on economic, political and security relations between South Korea and the United States.   Gibson also hosts and produces the KEI’s Korean Kontext podcast, a weekly selection of interviews focusing on the experts, artists and opinion makers that shape the US-Korea policy world.   Here, Gibson talks about her own background with South...

Founded in 1982, The Korea Economic Institute's aims to promote dialogue and understanding on economic, political and security relations between South Korea and the U.S.  But how does this play out in the organization's day-to-day operations?  In this episode, we join Director of Communications and host of the Korean Kontext podcast Jenna Gibson in Washington, D.C. for a look inside the KEI. For more on the KEI, go to http://www.keia.org/ For episodes of the Korean Kontext podcast, go...

On this episode, UCLA PhD candidate in Asian Languages and Cultures Tommy Tran talks about his research concerning Japan’s Korean diaspora, with a focus on Osaka’s 80,000 residents with roots on Jeju Island.  Join us as we discuss dialect code-switching, Halla Mountain botany and shamanic deity worship in a metropolis of 19,000,000 people. This is the 2nd of a two part conversation. Music on this episode: Hwan Keum-sim's 1989 performance of 'Aldeulhan Dangsin' ( ??? - ???...

On this episode of The Korea File podcast, a conversation with UCLA PhD candidate in Asian Languages and Cultures Tommy Tran about his research on Japan’s Korean diaspora, including:  1) the colonial-era origins of Jeju migration to Osaka,  2) the role of terror and violence in migration trends during the Korean Civil War and Jeju’s 4.3 Massacre and 3) the Osaka diaspora’s sense of identity as pre-division Koreans.  This is the first of a two-part episode. Music on this episode:...

Park picnics in the Democratic People’s Republic. The Kim Dynasty: cult or religion? And: Rules for Communist Clam Cooking.  On this episode of The Korea File writer and journalist Jon Dunbar describes the experience of vacationing and travelling in one of the most insular countries in the world. Music on this episode: 'My Country is the Best!' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-kuOwUAHIQ

Noted cult watcher Peter Daley joins us for part two of a conversation concerning the social impact and documented criminal activity surrounding South Korea's influential cult community. Plus, a round of Describe-A-Cult featuring info on some of the country's most notorious organizations including Shinchoonji, Heavenly Culture, Restoration of Light, Good News Baptists, The Salvation Sect and more. From 1983, music on this episode is Yang Yi-eun's 'A Small Pond'...

Peter Daley is the host of the online cult forum jmscult.com, named after notorious cult leader Jeong Myeong-seok, the best information clearing house and discussion forum on South Korean cult activity.   This is the first of a two part conversation. Music on this episode: Nam In-su's 1938 classic song 'Sorrowful Serenade' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dYjI4ph6w4  

On this week`s episode of The Korea File, it`s Seoul`s most renown expat indie band!  With international recognition and crossover success in the Korean mainstream this is Used Cassettes, live at Haebongchoen`s Thunderhorse Tavern.  From the band bio at Magic Strawberry Sound:  ``Used Cassettes was formed as a drunken pact between some friends in a dingy basement in South Korea. Three years later the band come to the forefront of the Seoul indie music scene.  Currently, Used Cassettes...

In 2004, an agreement was reached between the United States and South Korean governments to relocate the United States Forces Korea from the heart of Seoul to Camp Humphreys, outside the mid-sized city of Pyeongtaek, and to a second major garrison outside of Daegu  The process, scheduled to be completed next year, will consolidate more than 28,000 troops into two regional hubs and will transform Camp Humphreys into the largest U.S. Army garrison in Asia. As the population of the...

In 2004, an agreement was reached between the United States and South Korean governments to move all U.S. forces in the country south of the Han River. This move will relocate the United States Forces Korea from the heart of Seoul to Camp Humphreys, outside the mid-sized city of Pyeongtaek, and to a second major garrison outside of Daegu.  The process, scheduled to be completed next year, will consolidate more than 28,000 troops into two regional hubs and will transform Camp Humphreys...