Korea Deconstructed

A few years ago, Blair's grandmother gave him a present. Approximately 300 photographs his grandfather had taken in Korea nearly 70 years ago. These beautifully preserved color photos not only revealed a country and its people emerging from war and beginning to rebuild, it also showed Blair members of his family. It showed him where he was from, and, therefore, where he was going. He has digitized these photos and made them into an archive. This has since grown to feature a wide range of photos and videos expertly organized to allow visitors to discover Korea as it once was and, perhaps, also help some people understand where they came from.

Korean Image Archive: https://www.koreanimage.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/koreanimage

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/koreanimage

Discussion

0:00 My Grandparents in 1950s Korea

9:45 300 color photos of old Korea

27:40 Creating an archive

34:40 Mixed race families in Korean history

54:10 American soldiers and camptown Korean women

1:05:35 Recommendations

David A. Tizzard has a PhD in Korean Studies and lectures at Seoul Women's University and Hanyang University. He writes a weekly column in the Korea Times, is a social-cultural commentator, and a musician who has lived in Korea for nearly two decades.

He can be reached at [email protected].

Watch this video next: https://youtu.be/L9azQpXZ2Rc

Subscribe to the channel: @DavidTizzard/videos

Thanks to Patreon members: Hee Ji Jacobs, Bhavya, Roxanne Murrell

Join Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/user?u=62047873

Connect with us:

▶ Get in touch: [email protected]

▶ David's Insta: https://www.instagram.com/datizzard/

▶ KD Insta: https://www.instagram.com/koreadeconstructed/

▶ Listen on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/kr/podcast/korea-deconstructed/id1587269128

▶Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5zdXkG0aAAHnDwOvd0jXEE

▶ Listen on podcasts: https://koreadeconstructed.libsyn.com

David A. Tizzard has a PhD in Korean Studies and lectures at Seoul Women's University and Hanyang University. He writes a weekly column in the Korea Times, is a social-cultural commentator, and a musician who has lived in Korea for nearly two decades. He can be reached at [email protected].

Jack Greenberg works as an independent consultant, researcher, and freelance writer. His current focus is on heritage and conservation issues, historical memory debates, truth-seeking and reconciliation, and civilian massacres of the Korean War.

Connect with Jack

Substack: https://ggachi.substack.com/

Twitter: https://x.com/jackwgreenberg

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/jackwgreenberg.bsky.social

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/jackwgreenberg/

Jack's Work

False Squid Game Links: https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2025/02/113_390188.html

Brothers Home Adoption Scandal: https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2025/02/113_392647.html

Togani Review: https://chajournal.blog/2023/05/29/togani/

Watch this video next: https://youtu.be/L9azQpXZ2Rc

Subscribe to the channel: @DavidTizzard/videos

Thanks to Patreon members: Hee Ji Jacobs, Bhavya, Roxanne Murrell

Join Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/user?u=62047873

Discussion Outline

0:00 Shamanism

15:30 Shamanism and Politics

21:50 The Minjung Movement

36:15 North Korean Sympathy and the Korean Left

43:30 The Protests of 2025

53:20 Group Confinement Facilities: 형제복지원

1:01:25 The Truth and Reconciliation Commission

1:09:45 Japanese Collaboration (친일파)

1:20:25 Civilian Massacres in Korea

1:42:00 American Military Comfort Women

1:50:50 Finding Courage

Connect with us:

▶ Get in touch: [email protected]

▶ David's Insta: https://www.instagram.com/datizzard/

▶ KD Insta: https://www.instagram.com/koreadeconstructed/

Korea Deconstructed by David Tizzard

▶ Listen on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/kr/podcast/korea-deconstructed/id1587269128

▶Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5zdXkG0aAAHnDwOvd0jXEE

▶ Listen on podcasts: https://koreadeconstructed.libsyn.com

Eunjae Cho is currently studying Chinese Language and Literature at Seoul Women's University. She has a deep interest in languages and Asian culture, which led her to work as a journalist in the e-sports industry. She has primarily written articles about League of Legends and Japanese subculture. A distinctive feature of her articles is that they include voices and interviews from fans and professionals across various countries.

Her recent work: https://m.post.naver.com/viewer/postView.naver?volumeNo=42695436&memberNo=6799533

Her social media: https://www.instagram.com/noir_p90?igsh=czdvc3NiY3ltd2Ru&utm_source=qr

Thanks to Patreon members: Hee Ji Jacobs, Bhavya, Roxanne Murrell

Join Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/user?u=62047873

Discussion Outline

0:00 Introduction

4:35 League of Legends

10:35 Who Plays E-Sports?

15:45 Why are Koreans so good at E-Sports?

18:55 National E-Sports Culture

21:50 PC Bang Culture

25:00 DDOS Attacks

28:15 E-Sports Online Communities: Inven and More

31:00 Zeus Leaving T1 for Hanwha

36:10 E-Sports in the Asian Games and Military Service

40:05 Can it become an Olympic Sport?

44:00 Being an E-Sports Journalist

48:20 E-Sports Fan Culture

1:01:10 Recommendations

Connect with us:

▶ Get in touch: [email protected]

▶ David's Insta: https://www.instagram.com/datizzard/

▶ KD Insta: https://www.instagram.com/koreadeconstructed/

▶ Listen on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/kr/podcast/korea-deconstructed/id1587269128

▶Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5zdXkG0aAAHnDwOvd0jXEE

▶ Listen on podcasts: https://koreadeconstructed.libsyn.com

I watched Squid Game Season 2 over the holidays and decided to record some brief thoughts on it. You can find an abridged version in the newspaper here: https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2025/01/782_389692.html

I am back in the studio next week with a new guest and a new topic before flying to the UK to spend a month with my family.

Happy 2025 everyone.

David A. Tizzard has a PhD in Korean Studies and lectures at Seoul Women's University and Hanyang University. He writes a weekly column in the Korea Times, is a a social-cultural commentator, and musician who has lived in Korea for nearly two decades. He can be reached at [email protected].

Subscribe to the channel: @DavidTizzard/videos

Thanks to Patreon members: Hee Ji Jacobs, Bhavya, Roxanne Murrell

Join Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/user?u=62047873

Connect with us:

▶ Get in touch: [email protected]

▶ David's Insta: https://www.instagram.com/datizzard/

▶ KD Insta: https://www.instagram.com/koreadeconstructed/

▶ Listen on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/kr/podcast/korea-deconstructed/id1587269128

▶Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5zdXkG0aAAHnDwOvd0jXEE

▶ Listen on podcasts: https://koreadeconstructed.libsyn.com

#koreadeconstructed #davidtizzard

David A. Tizzard has a PhD in Korean Studies and lectures at Seoul Women's University and Hanyang University. He writes a weekly column in the Korea Times, is a a social-cultural commentator, and musician who has lived in Korea for nearly two decades. He can be reached at [email protected].

Sanko Lewis (PhD) is a professor, philosopher, martial arts researcher, and artist living in Seoul, South Korea.

Find him and his work: https://linktr.ee/sankolewis

Subscribe to the channel: @DavidTizzard/videos

Thanks to Patreon members: Hee Ji Jacobs, Bhavya, Roxanne Murrell

Join Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/user?u=62047873

Discussion Outline

0:00 Taekwondo as Korean Wave

4:03 Explaining 천지 (Heaven and Earth)

6:02 The Birth of Taekwondo

12:55 North Korea and Taekwondo

15:12 Olympics Taekwondo

20:00 Martial Arts Deconstructed

32:40 Early Western Interactions with Martial Arts

39:20 Taoism as Asian Philosophy

55:00 The Japanese Origins of Taekwondo

1:04:22 Choi Hong-hi

1:14:50 Taekwondo in Modern Korea

1:20:20 Ethnographic Research

1:26:00 Korean Body Culture

1:32:20 곡선미 (The Beauty of Curved Lines)

1:43:31 단전 호흡 (Korean Breathing)

1:47:48 Korean Aesthetics in Modern K-Pop

1:56:55 Recommendations

Connect with us:

▶ Get in touch: [email protected]

▶ David's Insta: https://www.instagram.com/datizzard/

▶ KD Insta: https://www.instagram.com/koreadeconstructed/

#koreadeconstructed #davidtizzard

Korea Deconstructed by David Tizzard

▶ Listen on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/kr/podcast/korea-deconstructed/id1587269128

▶Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5zdXkG0aAAHnDwOvd0jXEE

▶ Listen on podcasts: https://koreadeconstructed.libsyn.com

David A. Tizzard has a doctorate in Korean Studies and lectures at Seoul Women's University and Hanyang University. He is a social-cultural commentator and musician who has lived in Korea for nearly two decades. He can be reached at [email protected].

Watch this video next: https://youtu.be/L9azQpXZ2Rc

Subscribe to the channel: @DavidTizzard/videos

Thanks to Patreon members: Hee Ji Jacobs, Bhavya

Join Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/user?u=62047873

Connect with us:

▶ David's Insta: https://www.instagram.com/datizzard/

▶ KD Insta: https://www.instagram.com/koreadeconstructed/

#koreadeconstructed #davidtizzard

Korea Deconstructed by David Tizzard

▶ Listen on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/kr/podcast/korea-deconstructed/id1587269128

▶Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5zdXkG0aAAHnDwOvd0jXEE

▶ Listen on podcasts: https://koreadeconstructed.libsyn.com

Korean gender, feminism, fairness and equality are discussed here at length. We also cover transgender representation in media, male mandatory military service, magic days for women, and the world's lowest birthrate.

Watch this video next: https://youtu.be/L9azQpXZ2Rc?si=u-xsXr1c2atGH-ri

Subscribe to the channel: @DavidTizzard/videos

Connect with us:

▶ Email: [email protected]

▶ David's Insta: https://www.instagram.com/datizzard/

▶ KD Insta: https://www.instagram.com/koreadeconstructed/

▶ Jeon Yunseo: https://www.instagram.com/y_jeon_s/

▶ Jongmin: https://www.instagram.com/dunchonerd/

Guest Ms. Samantha Afflick-Smith is an associate professor at Hanyang University's Seoul campus. She works for the Centre for Creative Convergence Education's College of English Education Committee (CCCE:CEEC), where she teaches courses from conversation skills, critical analysis, academic writing to professional presentations. She also teaches a vibrant PBL discussion course on South Korean society and its evolving cultural diversity. Samantha is known as an educator, peer and mentor who regularly encourages people to be their best and persevere through challenges with her positive attitude and tireless energy. In her free time, Samantha enjoys reading, writing short stories for her blog – Cacophony of Cerebral Consciousness @c3griot.wordpress.com and learning new skills, such as drawing, and audio editing.

Discussion Outline

0:00 What is (Korean) Feminism?

12:05 Radical Feminism and the Internet

17:25 The Silencing of Men

23:40 Are Women and Men the Same or Different?

33:00 Can Men and Women be Friends?

42:50 Monthly Menstrual Leave

55:20 Transgenderism and Poongja

58:15 Should Women do Mandatory Military Service?

1:17:10 The World's Lowest Birthrate

1:38:40 How to Make the World a Better Place?

1:47:50 Recommendations

#koreadeconstructed #davidtizzard

Korea Deconstructed by David Tizzard

▶ Listen on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/kr/podcast/korea-deconstructed/id1587269128

▶Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5zdXkG0aAAHnDwOvd0jXEE

▶ Listen on podcasts: https://koreadeconstructed.libsyn.com

▶ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/user?u=62047873

This week I sat down with a group of BTS fans from around the world and spent two hours listening to their stories. As a lot of the media hype and attention around them has either focused on their solo efforts or been replaced by the next generation of idols, I thought it would provide some nice distance from the unprecedented levels of success they were achieving as a group a few years back.

And so we explored different things together: When did they first discover BTS? What was the performance or the album that made them fall in love? How has their fandom affected their lives? What's their favorite song? How many of the dances can they do? Who's their favorite member? What makes them stand out from other groups?

Big thanks to the guests: Kit, Aishu, Celine, and Annis

Member

Thank you again to the paid Patreon member Bhavya.

Discussion Outline

0:00 Introduction

1:00 Discovering BTS

5:35 The Evolution of BTS

10:48 What Makes BTS Great?

15:30 The Seven Members

36:35 BTS and Mental Health

43:05 ARMY

52:30 BTS and Politics

1:00:35 BTS and the K-Pop Industry

1:04:20 Recommendations

Korea Deconstructed by David Tizzard

▶ Get in touch: [email protected]

▶ David's Insta: https://www.instagram.com/datizzard/

▶ KD Insta: https://www.instagram.com/koreadeconstructed/

▶ Kim Soyoon: https://www.instagram.com/celinesoyoon/

▶ Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=62047873

▶ Watch us on Youtube: www.youtube.com/@UCXcdboOUCnCFnrAOF5dV1sg

▶ Listen on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/kr/podcast/korea-deconstructed/id1587269128

▶Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5zdXkG0aAAHnDwOvd0jXEE

▶ Listen on podcasts: https://koreadeconstructed.libsyn.com

▶ Song by Radical Gary (David): Savage Penguin

Zeljana Zmire, Ph.D. in International Studies and Korean Studies, is a lecturer at Hanyang University in Seoul. Her research interests include multiculturalism, immigration policy, comparative politics, international politics and other. She can be reached via [email protected].

You can also find her on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zeljana-zmire-2927307b/

Members

Thank you again to the paid Patreon member Bhavya.

Discussion Outline

0:00 Defining Multiculturalism

6:00 Korea's Homogeneity

15:35 The Effects of Media

23:11 International Marriages

31:30 Becoming Korean

39:15 Racism in Korea

48:00 Nouveau-Riche Nationalism

53:05 Stereotypes on White Women

56:05 How to Make the World Better

Korea Deconstructed by David Tizzard

▶ Get in touch: [email protected]

▶ David's Insta: https://www.instagram.com/datizzard/

▶ KD Insta: https://www.instagram.com/koreadeconstructed/

▶ Jeon Yunseo: https://www.instagram.com/y_jeon_s/

▶ Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=62047873

▶ Watch us on Youtube: www.youtube.com/@UCXcdboOUCnCFnrAOF5dV1sg

▶ Listen on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/kr/podcast/korea-deconstructed/id1587269128

▶Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5zdXkG0aAAHnDwOvd0jXEE

▶ Listen on podcasts: https://koreadeconstructed.libsyn.com

▶ Song by Radical Gary (David): https://youtu.be/AAkVRbH8eyg?si=FYtMqj2YfmJcmPPI

Carlos Gorito is many things but most in Korea would have first come across him when he appeared on the hit television show 비정상회담 in 2015. Discussing a wide-range of topics in Korean, his personality and passion saw him gain many fans and win respect from the nation. He has worked with the Brazilian Embassy in South Korea and does a fabulous job of promoting relations between the two countries. When you listen to him speak, he says "us" and "we" when talking about Korea, and is now a public relations ambassador for Jeju Island. I first met him when we were both appointed by the Ministry of Justice to help people acclimatize to life here, a position he still proudly holds.

Find him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlosgorito/

Thank you to Bhavya for joining the Patreon as a paid member. I try to put free stuff there for members so you can see things with or without money. Because the studio and everything else involved costs a fair bit, any contribution certainly helps, but is not required.

Discussion Outline

0:00 비정상회담

10:44 The Korean Language

18:20 Korean Culture

25:10 Our 애국심

33:40 Korean History

36:50 North Korea

43:20 Multiculturalism in Korea

51:30 Beauty Standards in Korea

54:55 Misconceptions about Korea

1:05:20 Advice for Coming to Korea

1:11:00 Korean Korea Deconstructed (한국어로...)

Korea Deconstructed by David Tizzard

▶ Get in touch: [email protected]

▶ David's Insta: https://www.instagram.com/datizzard/

▶ KD Insta: https://www.instagram.com/koreadeconstructed/

▶ Kim Soyoon: https://www.instagram.com/celinesoyoon/

▶ Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=62047873

▶ Watch us on Youtube: www.youtube.com/@UCXcdboOUCnCFnrAOF5dV1sg

▶ Listen on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/kr/podcast/korea-deconstructed/id1587269128

▶Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5zdXkG0aAAHnDwOvd0jXEE

▶ Listen on podcasts: https://koreadeconstructed.libsyn.com

▶ Song by Radical Gary (David): https://youtu.be/AAkVRbH8eyg?si=FYtMqj2YfmJcmPPI