THE ORIGINAL GHOST WALK

Thursday, Saturday, Sunday*

Anguk Station, exit 2

Joe’s tour shows what’s so exciting and intriguing about Korean history. Meeting outside Anguk Station exit 2, he guides you through twisting alleys and weird landmarks. Highlights include the following:

• The site of a royal massacre
• The remains of a general’s home that had a bloody ending
• Unhyeongung Royal Residence and the notorious ruler who lived there
• The former red light district of Jongno 3-ga
• The sexual energy focused in Tapgol Park
• How Pimatgol Alley aided the 1987 democracy movement
• A surprising historic international landmark that Seoulites are unaware of
• Water related ghost stories while strolling down the Cheonggyecheon Stream
• A bridge that tells the story of revenge
• PLUS tales and warnings of ghosts sightings on the tour itself

The EXTENDED EDITION also includes

• The assassination of Queen Min
• Seoul’s most haunted intersection
• The building where the American ambassador got attacked
• Seoul City Hall’s funny mix up
• A wall that bodes ill luck for couples
• Seoul’s most haunted house
• The ghosts of Gyeonghuigung Palace

Meeting Location

Start location

Anguk Station, exit 2
Please check your confirmation email to make sure about the location.

End locations

Regular Edition: Between Gwanghwamun and Jonggak Stations
Extended Edition: Near Seodaemun Station

* Unless otherwise stated

Ghostlore & Urban Legends

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday*

Seodaemun Station, exit 4

Shawn’s tour focuses on Korea’s ghostlore, folk beliefs, and urban legends, highlighting how these were – and sometimes still are – important to Korean culture. Meeting outside Seodaemun Station exit 4, he weaves you through 600 years of hauntings. Highlights include the following:

• The ghosts of Gyeonghuigung Palace
• How the landscape wards off ghosts
• The dangers of wandering resentful souls
• Ghosts that linger in modern homes
• Phantoms who don’t know they’re dead
• PLUS tales and warnings of ghost sightings on the tour itself

The EXTENDED EDITION also includes

• The ghosts of Korea’s oldest hotel
• A wall that bodes ill luck for couples
• Supposed sightings of mythical creatures

Meeting Location

Start location

Seodaemun Station , exit 4
Please check your confirmation email to make sure about the location.

End locations:

Regular Edition: Near Gwanghwamun Station
Extended Edition: Namdaemun Gate

* Unless otherwise stated

Podcast

• 
  The Ulsan Family Tragedy
  A father and his four children were found dead in their home in Ulsan after months of severe financial hardship. While the case was ruled a murder-suicide, the discussion quickly expands beyond the crime itself into the failures of Korea’s welfare system, the stigma surrounding mental health, and the bureaucratic obstacles that can leave vulnerable families without meaningful support. Joe and Shawn… Read more: The Ulsan Family Tragedy
• 
  The Weird Science Behind Korean Food Nationalism
  A 2023 paper published in the Journal of Ethnic Foods argues that Korean cuisine developed in isolation, authentic Korean food isn’t spicy, and even that royal court cuisine isn’t truly Korean. In this episode, we examine the paper’s historical, linguistic, archaeological, and scientific claims to see where the evidence supports the authors and where nationalism appears to outweigh scholarship. The Weird Science… Read more: The Weird Science Behind Korean Food Nationalism
• 
  The Korean Ghost and Mr. Skeptic
  After the release of Supernatural Encounters in South Korea, one of the comments Shawn received surprised him. Several readers expected a book about ghosts to be written by a true believer. Instead, they found a surprisingly skeptical approach to paranormal claims. One reviewer described the book as “a rather clever turn,” while another called Shawn “a more discerning Peter Underwood.” In this… Read more: The Korean Ghost and Mr. Skeptic

Stories

• 
  The Legend of Rising Dragon Peak
  This seemingly simple peak has a charming legend.
• 
  The Ghost in Our Apartment
  I played a small joke on my wife and daughter, and it has backfired. Recently, my wife and daughter have been on a different sleeping schedule, so I’ve been sleeping in my daughter’s room while she sleeps with her mom. One night, the wind was really strong. The door to the bedroom rattled hard. I then heard the loud footsteps of one… Read more: The Ghost in Our Apartment