The Soju Sessions
The Soju Sessions
The Soju Sessions
A (Korea-focused) expat podcast covering everything from socio-economics to the sh*te we've searched on Chat GPT over the course of any given week. A podcast by expats, for expats. https://www.instagram.com/thesojusessionspodcast/
Episode 110: Yoon in prison, Lee upsetting Israel, the Middle East conflict and much more
In this month’s episode, we discuss the BTS comeback gig, Yoon’s prison life and old people being banned from public transport in rush hour. There’s also talk about President Lee’s recent comments on Israel, Japan’s imperialist ideologies, Koreans saying ‘I Love You’ and the Kim Dynasty. Loads more too this month, including (but not limited to) how the Middle East conflict is affecting Korea, the UK’s absurd economic and extremist policies, K-pop marketing and an asylum seeker held in Incheon airport for 14 months.
Apr 15
1 hr 11 min
Episode 109: Yoon's life sentence (and the Epstein files), Stray Kids, Korea at the Olympics, the behaviour of Chinese tourists, Dokdo and much more
In this month’s episode, we discuss Yoon’s recent life sentence, the Epstein files (and a notorious former resident of Cheongju), and people on death row (not the rap label). We also get into the IOC messing up the Korean flag (and playing the wrong national anthems), Stray Kids and effeminate Korean men, Ssireum and Korea’s Winter Olympic performance. Loads more too, including the behaviour of Chinese tourists, a potential solution for Dokdo, and the recent South Korea v SE Asia arguments.Something for everyone, as per.Get on it.
Mar 3
1 hr 16 min
Episode 108: Our recent feature in a BBC article, the return of BTS, Yoon's sentencing and loads more.
In this week’s (month’s ?) episode, we discuss our recent appearance in one of the world’s foremost media outlets, President Yoon’s sentencing, the exploitative practices of Chaebols, and BTS’s return (and the delusion of some of their fans).We also get into the Trump administration recently acknowledging kimchi as a superfood, a Korean mum jailed for stealing test papers, fruit prices and the lack of football talent in Korea.Loads more too, including a recent fire in a Gangnam slum, conscription in England, gay dating shows and marital expectations in Korea.Something for everyone, as usual.Get on it.
Jan 19
1 hr 8 min
Episode 107: Falling asleep on the Seoul Subway, people who get in the lift to go down one floor and Nuns and Priests running schools, plus loads more.
In this week’s episode, we discuss recent happenings on the Korean peninsula, including ciggie-style warning on soju, falling asleep on the Seoul subway and low-skilled workers having to show complete deference to everyone in Korean society.We also talk about Josh’s weird behaviour-management techniques, recent ChatGPT searches, the division of India and Pakistan, and Nuns and Priests being the very last people suited to running schools (we never quite know where these conversations will go).Loads more too, including people who get in the lift to go down one floor, a Jeonbuk Motors coach being banned for racial gestures, Dad Heung-Min, Hongdae Man and foreign property ownership in Korea. Oh, and Turkey teeth.Something for everyone, as per. Get on it.
Dec 12, 2025
1 hr 3 min
Episode 106: The Suneung, Korea's crackdown on foreign content creators and plans to introduce male students into women's only univesities
In this week’s episode, we discuss Josh’s reverse culture shock now that he’s back in England, the Suneung and the absolutely horrible questions Korean kids have to deal with, as well as Chat GPT potentially diminishing the need for language acquisition.We also talk about the Korean government recently giving off North Korea vibes with the announcement that they're cracking down on foreign content creators slagging them off, defamation laws in Korea, and nuclear submarines.Loads more too, this week, including drones dropping gear into nick, chaebol nepotism, the recovery of a 600-year-old ship off the Korean coast, more ket turning up on Jeju beaches, and men potentially being allowed to study in female-only universities.Something for everyone, as per.Get on it. 
Nov 22, 2025
1 hr 10 min
Episode 105: K-Pop fellas' extracurricular activities & K-Pop fans , ket in Jeju & fellas who split up with famous wives ($$$), plus loads more
In this week’s episode, we begin with news of a bit of recognition from none other than broadcasting royalty, the BBC (courtesy of Josh). We then discuss things like tattooing finally being legal now in Korea, and a shout out to an old friend, marriage expectations, and men claiming money from famous wives when they get divorced.We also discuss the backlash you receive if you ever say anything about K-pop fellas that could be perceived as negative, the recent suicide of a Korean author, and loads of ket washing up on a Korean beach.Loads more too this week, as we get into Trump and Korea, comfort women, anti-China sentiment in Korea, shirtless running in Seoul and a rant (again) about Spotify playlists.
Oct 18, 2025
1 hr 8 min
Episode 104: Koreans arrested by ICE, K-pop Demon Hunter, obesity in Korea & "cultural appropriation"
In this week’s episode (recorded a couple of weeks ago), we discuss Josh’s reverse culture shock as he re-adapts to life in England, dealing with differentiation in class, the lack of a need for discussion about objective issues in class and the results of our white supremacy/parasol poll.We also discuss the recent issue of Koreans being arrested by ICE, people overstaying visas in various places, the contrast between Koreans driving and Koreans face-to-face, and the historic abductions of Korean children being sent to America for adoption.Loads more this week, too, as we get into current parallels to 1984, PE teachers not being real teachers, winter World Cups, obesity in Korea and a rant about cultural appropriation, too.Something for everyone, as per.Get on it.
Oct 5, 2025
1 hr 11 min
Episode 103: Using a parasol being linked to white supremacy, Son Heung-Min & cutting willies off for cheating
In this week’s episode, we discuss the idea that Koreans using a parasol is (somehow) linked to white supremacy, Korea’s greatest ever footballer, Son Heung-Min, calling it a day on his Spurs career and whether or not he makes it into the top-25 Premier League attackers of all time.We also talk about a recent Han River monster sighting, Korea’s ageing population increasingly turning to suicide and the conclusion of a decades-long case of a woman biting the tongue off her attacker. Loads more too, this week, including cutting willies off for cheating, a K-pop singer going down for rape and driving/parking etiquette. Something for everyone, as per.Get on it.#seoul #korea #expatskorea #britsinkorea #parasol #racism #racisiminkorea #sonheungmin #spurs #premierleague #hanriver #seamonster #ageingkorea #suicide #suicidekorea #selfdefence #kpop #kpoprapist #drivinginkorea #bts #koreanculture #korea4expats #itaewon #hongdae #koreanstyle #koreanpolitics #koreanfood #hallyu #southkorea
Aug 8, 2025
1 hr
Episode 102: Stealing the Sunenug, Anti-Immigration & the Asian "Hierarchy"
In this episode, we dig into gig culture in the UK (v Korea) after Josh's trip home to see Oasis, defend British food and a warning from Josh's Grandad re: trans women.We also discuss overzealous parents stealing the Suneung test, Korea's rainy season and the country's strong anti-immigration stance.There's also bits and pieces about Government stipends, Koreans in the Asian hierarchy, Park Chung-Hee's assassination (spoiler alert: it was his best mate) and a touch of probability for the maths fans out there.Something for everyone, as usual.Get on it.
Jul 26, 2025
1 hr 12 min
Episode 101: Korean Goalkeepers, $1 Bills in Plastic Bottles, and How to Kill 500 of Any Species
After a considerable amount of time off, we're back with an all-new format for season 3!Heading off in a new direction, we will be reviewing the weekly (or bi-weekly) news happenings in Korea. Think of it like a tasteless Korean dispatches or gonzo "journalism" at its finest.This week, we report back on what the listeners would put in their Korean Room 101 before discussing the fabled Korean norae bus, setting a subway car on fire and some good news for K-League Football Manager players.We also talk Squid Game 3, propaganda speakers and shit balloons, and an absolutely mental story about American Jesus enthusiasts trying to send rice and dollar bills to North Korea via the sea.Loads more too, including a shout out for The North Sentinelese, Korea's stand-up scene and the best way to kill half a million of any species.Something for everyone, as usual.Get on it.
Jul 1, 2025
58 min
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