
Advertise on podcast: Kpop Bookshelf
Rating
5from
This podcast has
48 episodes
Language
EnglishPublisher
MinaExplicit
Yes
Date created
2021/10/03
Latest episode
2026/08/28
Average duration
50 min.
Release period
79 days
Description
Exploring Korean Pop Culture Through Books! This podcast will discuss books written about Korean society or set in Korea to help give a better understanding when consuming KPop culture such as KPop music and K Dramas! Each episode will be about a different book.
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Check latest episodes from Kpop Bookshelf podcast
In the Neo Zone: 10 Years of NCT (Regular, HUH?)
2026/08/28
Song Rae from the Black Girl Seoul podcast joins Mina to chitchat about NCT's 10 years in the industry!
Groups mentioned:
NCT U
NCT 127
NCT Dream
WayV
NCT Wish
SuperM
RIIZE
We also discuss the members who have recently left either the group or SM Entertainment or both!
A Comeback so BAD, it's Good! - An Atiny Rambling about ATEEZ's BAD
2026/07/08
Mina rambles on about ATEEZ's newest song BAD from Golden Hour Part 5
Online Atiny's reactions to BADLatin/US Fusion Pop Music from the 1990sK-Pop/Latin Fusion Music from the late 2010sSuper Junior's Lo SientoKARD (RIP)Getting into music genresDrumming and the perception of rhythm in different culturesThe chase and pure male idolRacism and Classism among kpop fansChase Infiniti for the win!Chase on Hey Tablo!Chase on MMTGHOW WAS THE SHOW - viral Atiny momentChase Infiniti being one of the best kpop fans (in Mina's opinion)
Queerness in Kpop in 2026 - The Evolution of Queer Representation and Storytelling
2026/06/07
Mina is joined by K^2 after 4 years to discuss LGBTQIA+ representation in Kpop today.
LINKS:
DDing DongDding Dong - DonateK-Pop Star Holland Explains Why He Had To Come Out [British Vogue]K-pop singer Bain of Just B comes out during US concert [BBC]25 years apart, one fight: Queer icons on shattering Korea's closet [Korea Times]2AM's Jo Kwon Shares Thoughts On Gender And More [Soompi]Landmark ruling finds South Korea military illegally discharged a transgender soldier [NPR]OnlyOneOf evokes LGBTQ+ and Latin pride [AMNY]Discovering Love and Affirmation in OnlyOneOf [Fandomentals]'Genderless' K-pop band XLOV breaks boundaries by being themselves [Korea Joongang]XLOV’s WUMUTI on the group’s genderless concept [X]XLOV interview XG's Cocona Came Out as Nonbinary, and Fans Are Seeing Themselves in His Scars [teenvogue]XG changes name after a singer came out as transmasculine, nonbinary [OUT]Interview: JUSTB on Finding Their Unique Sound and Carving Their Space in the K-Pop Industry [Broadway World]“It’s Written On My Skin” The Ephemeral She As An Allegory For The Other Self: On Park Seonghwa Of ATEEZ’s “Skin” MV [Her Campus]
From the TOP with a Bang! Another Dimension and Bangchella
2026/05/13
A fangirl yap about T.O.P., formerly of BIGBANG, and his new, independent album, Another Dimension! Mina goes through her fangirl journey of spending ten years wondering what the heck T.O.P. was up to after he enlisted (hint: he was in a little, obscure TV show). And a mini-review of BIGBANG at Coachella! Their set charmed newbies and left fans emotional.
LINKS:
Full set of links at www.kpopbookshelf.com/blog/ow3isg6ssflc42hj57bt2hhcy126y0
The Weaponization of Deep Fakes on Women and Girls in South Korea
2026/04/21
Mina & Ru look at the spate of deep fake photo and video sexual crimes that took over Korean middle schools, high schools, and universities in late 2024. The progression of online sex crimes in Korea over the last decade is discussed alongside the secondary victimization that occurs when the plight of victims is minimized or dismissed due to the images being faked. Celebrities, including K-pop idols and K drama actors are also affected by the impact of emerging technology on these situations, which is not at all unique to South Korea.
Content warning of discussions of sexual assault and violence. Listener discretion is advised.
LINKS:
“My Life is Not Your Porn” Digital Sex Crimes in South Korea [Human Rights Watch]Cyber Hell: Exposing an Internet Horror [trailer for the documentary on Netflix]Inside the deepfake porn crisis engulfing Korean schools [BBC]On Telegram, countless chat rooms dedicated to degrading deepfakes of female acquaintances [Hankyoreh]Cho Ju-bin: South Korea chatroom sex abuse suspect named after outcry [BBC] Everything You Need to Know About the Nth Room Case in ‘Cyber Hell’ [Netflix] On Telegram, countless chat rooms dedicated to degrading deepfakes of female acquaintances [Hankyoreh]4 middle schoolers booked for producing deepfake porn of classmates [Korea Herald]South Korea crusades against online pornography [USA Today]Adolescents 80% of 474 suspects arrested for deepfake porn this year [Korea JoongAng Daily]In South Korea, deepfake porn wrecks women’s lives and deepens gender conflict [AP]UK iPhone users face over-18 age check to use services after update [Guardian]South Korea’s ‘world-first’ AI laws face pushback amid bid to become leading tech power [Guardian]
Call Me By Y/N? - Covering the Book Y/N by Esther Yi
2026/04/14
Kathy from @mia2k podcast joined Mina back in 2023 to discuss the book Y/N by Esther Yi.
They did NOT anticipate the way this book would make them feel (spoiler alert - not great)!
Kathy and Mina are clueless about fan fiction, apologies for their deep lack of knowledge! Some topics explored in this episode:
The line between a fan's infatuation with their idol and actual love and affectionAgeism in Kpop FandomsHow chill of a friend BamBam from GOT7 would beThe tricky thing of trusting a stranger just because they, too, are a fellow fan
A huge thanks to Kathy for making it through this book!
Comeback Announcement: Putting the K-Pop Back into K-Pop Bookshelf!
2026/04/07
Mina explains where the K-Pop Bookshelf podcast has been after an absence of over a year!
Hint: Fangirling got in the way!
New episodes begin dropping soon!!
https://www.kpopbookshelf.com/
Instagram: @kpopbookshelf
DesTINY in the Desert - Our Trip to CHELLATEEZ! (Bonus Episode)
2024/10/30
Bonus Episode!
My ATINY friend, Ru, and I reminisce about our trip to Coachella to see the first kpop boy group to play there, ATEEZ! We discuss our planning, our adventures in surviving people who don't know how to mosh, ATEEZ's career and their set on Weekend 1.
We then go off on a tangent about ATEEZ's Towards the Light: Will to Power tour stop in NYC at Citi Field and our thoughts on Seonghwa's emotional ment.
Then we get back on track about Coachella and contemplate whether we would ever go back again.
TIMESTAMPS:
-00:00:00-00:18:35 Intro, Basic info about Coachella, Background on ATEEZ
-00:18:36-00:53:00-Coachella festival and planning
-00:53:01-00:58:39 -Day 1 of Coachella
-00:58:40-01:16:54- Content warning: Near crowd crush experience
-01:17:00-01:19:18 - Coachella weather
-01:19:19-01:36:46 - ATEEZ's set on weekend 1
-01:36:47-01:47:13 - Towards the Light in New York Citi Field and reaction to Seonghwa's ment
-01:47:14-01:51:18 - After ATEEZ's set
-01:51:19-01:54:18- Is ATEEZ behind us right now?
-01:54:19-01:59:33 - Coachella Day 2 and Day 3 impressions (FLO, Taking Back Sunday, Tiger JK, Yoon Mirae, Bibi, Jackson Wang, Atarashi Gakko, Yoasobi, Number i, the Rose, and more)
-01:59:34-end - Conclusion and would we go to Coachella again
LINKS:
ATEEZ in COACHELLA #1 | "Say My Name" https://youtu.be/QneendaO8U8?si=Iuo8efLFcCLWgyZB
ATEEZ in COACHELLA #2 | "ARRIBA" https://youtu.be/tiFZsr6-pyw?si=Tvq4pgPJoIS3mGVq
Truth and Reconciliation - The Investigation Into Adoptee's Human Rights in South Korea
2024/10/01
Season 6 Episode 6
We look at the latest news surrounding Korean inter-country adoption, including the preliminary findings from Korea's Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The commission is investigating whether certain Korean inter-country adoptions were handled appropriately in response to questions filed by Korean adoptees.
LINKS:
South Korea's Adoption Reckoning (full documentary) | FRONTLINE + AssociatedPress [YouTube]
South Korea was the world’s biggest ‘baby exporter.’ New evidence shows some mothers were forced to give up children [CNN]
South Korea reveals new evidence of ‘violent and systemic’ forced adoption abroad [Guardian]
South Korean truth commission says it found more evidence of forced adoptions in the 1980s [AP]
Adoptees from Korea left ‘stateless’, and searching for their roots [Hankyoreh]
Almost 10% of Korean adoptees may be stateless [The Korea Herald]
South Korean adoption fraud rocks Denmark as victims demand answers [Daily Sabah]
“We have a right to know our history”: Fraudulent records keep Korean adoptees from the truth [Hankyoreh]
All records must be unsealed for Korean adoptees who want it, argue experts [Hankyoreh]
Korean truth commission to investigate hundreds of possibly fraudulent overseas adoptions [Hankyoreh]
Adoption agency found liable for human rights abuses for first time in S. Korea [Hankyoreh]
Adam Crapser’s Bizarre Deportation Odyssey [The New York Times Magazine]
Adam Crapser vs. Republic of Korea [The Korea Times]
South Korea grants extension to truth commission as investigators examine foreign adoption cases [AP]
Seoul Searching [ABC]
Representatives Smith and Bacon and Senators Hirono and Collins Lead Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Close Loophole and Grant Citizenship to International Adoptees [AdamSmith.house.gov]
Congress Introduces the Adoptee Citizenship Act of 2024 [Adoptees United]
a href="https://travel.state.gov/
"Somehow I will find a way to help you" - Many Lives Intertwined by Hyun Sook Han
2024/05/14
Season 6 Episode 5
We cover the book Many Lives Intertwined by Hyun Sook Han
Mrs. Han was a strong-willed, very honest social worker in both Korea and the United States as well as an adoptive mother.
We will learn more about the Korean adoption process in the 1950s-1960s, including the adoption of mixed race Korean children, from the social worker perspective.
LINKS
Hyun Sook Han, Korean Social Worker and Adoption Pioneer, Dies at 83 [New York Times]
Shedding Light on the Stateless - Adoption of Korean Black Childern In The 1950s and 60s - A War Born Family By Kori Graves
2024/02/20
Season 6 Episode 4
We cover the book A WAR BORN FAMILY: African American Adoption in the Wake of the Korean War by Kori A. Graves
Dr. Graves explores the unique issues surrounding the adoption of Korean Black mixed race children during 1950s-60s from Korea to African American adoptive parents in pre-Civil Rights Era United States.
We also take a brief look at the story of Milton Washington. Check out the links below!
LINKS:
Dr Kori A Graves Biography [Rutgers]
A War Born Family - [NYU Press]
World’s Largest ‘Baby Exporter’ Confronts Its Painful Past [New York Times]
Jim Crow Laws [History. Com]
Occupational Segregation in America [Center for American Progress]
Black, Korean and searching for the American dream [BBC]
Lives Less Ordinary -Black, Korean, stateless: A Slickyboy’s American dream, part 1 [BBC]
Lives Less Ordinary - Black, Korean, stateless: a Slickyboy’s American dream, part 2 [BBC]
Adapted Podcast - podcast about Korean adoptees
The Janchi Show: Your New Favorite Korean Adoptee Podcast
Kori Graves on Black Korean Adoptees - [Time To Say Goodbye Podcast]
More Questions Than Answers - The Truth of Intercountry Korean Adoptions - Palimpsest by Lisa Wool-Rim Sjöblom
2023/12/05
Season 6 Episode 3
In this episode, we discuss the book Palimpsest: Documents From a Korean Adoption by Lisa Wool-Rim Sjöblom.
Lisa Wool-Rim Sjöblom is a Korean-Swedish adoptee who discovers some shocking truths about the circumstances surrounding her adoption.
We explore some of the secrets of the Korean intercountry adoption and learn about why some adoptees and adoptee advocates are accusing the South Korean government and the government of the country they were raised in of not enough oversight over South Korean adoption practices of the late 20th century.
LINKS:
Legally 'orphaned' to be adopted transnationally [The Korea Times]
Paper orphans [CBC]
Dutch gov't broke law by destroying adoption files: Inspectorate [NL Times]
South Korea’s truth commission to probe foreign adoptions [AP]
When her mother came to see her, Holt lied and said she’d already been adopted [Hankyoreh]
‘Korea is hiding our past’: the adoptees searching for their families – and the truth [Guardian]
All records must be unsealed for Korean adoptees who want it, argue experts [Hankyoreh]
Planes Full of Babies - The Rise of Inter-country Adoption in Korea - From Orphan to Adoptee by SooJin Pate
2023/11/14
Season 6 Episode 2
We discuss the book From Orphan to Adoptee: US Empire and Genealogies of Korean Adoption by SooJin Pate
This book gives some background on how Korea came to be one of the countries to adopted out the most children to other countries. Learn about how the US government and Americans played a big part in this practice, which continues to this day. There is so much more to this book than discussed here, but hopefully you can some small additional insight into the early days of Korea inter-country adoption.
LINKS:
The Janchi Show - 004 // SooJin Pate + Choco-Pies! [The Janchi Show]
Paper Orphans [CBC]
Christianity and Korea - How did the religion become so apparently prevalent in South Korea? [The Diplomat]
To Ask Would Be To Know The Answer - All You Can Ever Know by Nicole Chung
2023/09/21
Season 6 Episode 1
This season will be about Adoption from Korea.
In this first episode, we discuss the book ALL YOU CAN EVER KNOW: A MEMOIR by Nicole Chung.
We are joined by special guest and Korean American adoptee, Kim!
LINKS:
Kim’s Instagram
Adapted Podcast
Let's KCON? Black Oceans, Hurricanes, and Hi Waves [Bonus Episode]
2023/08/27
Bonus Episode with Teeny and JoJo where we talk about our experience at KCON LA 2023!
Find out what ticketing was like, what interacting with artists was like, whether anyone actually experienced a black ocean, and how we dealt with natural disasters during a major Kpop convention!
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