{
  "id": 15275451,
  "title": "Dark Side of Seoul Podcast digs up city's secrets",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/dark-side-of-seoul-podcast-digs-up-citys-secrets",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-17T20:52:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/globalcommunity/20261018/dark-side-of-seoul-podcast-digs-up-citys-secrets"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Seoul is renowned for its glamorous facade, attracting visitors with a facade of K-content exports, tourism figures, and the alluring sights of K-dramas. However, beneath the surface lies a more complex narrative. The Dark Side of Seoul Podcast seeks to expose the unvarnished truth about the city's history and culture, appealing to those who crave an authentic perspective. Hosts Joe McPherson and Shawn Morrissey, both longtime residents of Korea, lead this podcast in collaboration with their popular Ghost Walk tours. Their approach is far from a critique of Korean culture by outsiders. Rather, they strive to present a balanced view, respecting the culture while acknowledging its darker aspects. Their comedy-laced commentary adds a unique touch to the exploration of Seoul's secrets.",
  "summary": "Korea has always been conscious of its own image, even as K-content exports and inbound tourism numbers continue to break records. But that global spotlight comes with an unspoken condition: show the shiny face, and sweep the unpolished parts under the rug. From outside, the country is often viewed through rose-tinted glasses, a tidy utopia of cute cafes and picture-perfect K-drama lifestyles.…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Dark Side of Seoul Podcast digs up city's secrets",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/dark-side-of-seoul-podcast-digs-up-citys-secrets-15279089",
        "published": "2026-10-17T21:12:04.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}