Podcast #21 Is Ready! Comments for the Next One?

The fabled and much anticipated 21st podcast is ready to listen in the left menu, or a click away from the white iPod icon, also in the left menu bar.

This week, the show starts off with a bangup old school song that's strangely apropos for the subject of media, misrepresentation of the truth, and the consequences of being naughty and getting caught in the public eye. First, though, we get a few listener letters and then try to fly through a few "What the Hell?" stories, including the non-issue of fan death and other urban myths. While editing, I realized that I could have dealt with the questions better, and thought of a few better answers after the fact, but realized that what with the difficulties of producing this episode, if I went to re-record, this podcast would never get done.

So I'll talk here a bit more about a couple things I thought of after I had already laid down my answers on the digital "tape." First of all, there is the issue of "air conditioner disease," which seems to be only a disease in Korea. I know many other places that are hotter, run air conditioners longer and hotter – but have never heard of this dread disease. I am convinced that it is simply part of many austerity, conservation, and public awareness programs typical of the more propaganda-filled pre-2000 Korea I remember. Back then, there was always an obligatory brainwashing piece public service announcement before every movie in the theater, focusing on subject such as not inadvertently starting forest fires with your family, the dangers of not conserving water, the need to continue keeping an eye out for spies, and detailed descriptions of "air conditioner disease." In that one, I distinctly remember describing how all kinds of evil bacteria live in the filter (which sounds like it might be plausible) but the real culprit lies in overuse of the air conditioner in the first place. Basically, the line was that overusing the "aircon" was not only a waste of resources, but it was also detrimental to your health. So STOP – turn that aircon down, get off your ass and get a handfan or two, and smile with the knowledge that you're helping make Korea a better, safer, and more energy-efficient city.

That's when I knew, deep in my heart, that I was a big, fat, ugly American – my reaction was, "Screw that. I'm keeping my aircon on at 11 on the dial and not stopping until my fingers turn blue and my Diet Coke starts developing ice crystals in the bottle. And pass my Big Mac, punk."

OK – so maybe I got a bias against believing such campaigns, and maybe I just assume everything I've learned on logical, scientific America is inherently true until proven otherwise. But I still think "air conditioner disease" is a crock. If it were so dangerous, then wouldn't frail, little old people in Miami be keeling over all the time? I mean, we're talking about sticking kimchee in air conditioners to prevent bird flu. Whaaaat?!

Anyway, the main feature is an interview with journalist Sei Chong, former editor of a major newspaper here in Seoul, who will give us the inside scoop on journalism and the Korean media. She's frank and likes to tell things straight – so if you've ever wondered what some of the issues are with journalism in Korea, standards of ethics, and how all that mixes together with various interests here – you gotta take a listen. The show runs a bit long, but that's the beauty of time-shifted media, ain't it? You can always save some for later!

Running Time: 1:25:29
File Size: 29.4 MB
File Info: 48 kbps (technically 96 kpbs stereo) at 22.050 kHz, MPEG-2, layer 3 (MP3)

Show Links:
Roland R-1 Digital Audio Recorder
The recorder I use – it's served me well. No real complaints here and more rugged than the cheap plastic body would have you think.

M-Audio's MicroTrack 24/96 Portable Digital Recorder
A highly-recommended recorder for prosumer enthusiasts.

Comments

[Spewer]

I agree that a/c disease, like fan death is primarily a bullshit effort to scare people into using less electricity. However, unlike fan death, a/c disease can also be a real phenomenon. Remember Legionnaires Disease? Of course, the problem is not the a/c itself, but lack of proper maintenance of air conditioners cooling systems that permits the proliferation of some nasty bugs that can then get spread around by being spewed out of the a/c. Given the rather poor overall hygenic standards in Korea, the general disreagrad for maintenance, etc., it's not difficult to imagine legionnaires' being in the air here too. In fact, I'm willing to hazard a guess that in fact it is and has a lot to do with the rather high incidence of respiratory infections here - especially those among office workers. I also suspect that the reason we haven't seen a killer version like that original outbreak in Philadelphia is because all the older buiding here have windows that open and are pretty poorly sealed when closed, resulting in dilution of the germ ratio.

[michael]

Enjoy your blog immensely--much of what you write about on Korea/Koreans I've discussed with fellow waegukin from our "privileged" position outside the Matrix.... The post about Shin Chae Ho was great. Have you seen this site?:
http://www.danjae.or.kr/

[jyce]

Love your blog, love your podcasts. I only regret I didn't discover them sooner.

[Aaron]

Enjoyed this podcast. I have a suggestion for the "What the Hell?" segment: the internet registration system in Korea (that requires people to provide their citizen ID numbers to register for most websites). How did this start, why do Koreans put up with it, and are there any well-organized groups fighting against it? (If there are, I would gladly make a donation!)

I fail to understand how merely registering under one's real identity is in any way a deterrent to flaming on websites. (This argument is cited frequently, for example here.) Judging from the level of discourse in the comment sections of major media sites, I don't think it could possibly be any worse even if people could more easily acquire multiple IDs.

The immediate reason for my interest in this is of course that the system makes life difficult for Korean-speaking foreigners who wish to take advantage of the incredible wealth of information and services online in Korea. (When I was in Korea, I couldn't even reserve train and bus tickets online.) But I think it should also be a privacy concern for Koreans. Your interview subject in this podcast pointed out the "concern for privacy" in Korean libel laws; I don't see any similar concern in the registration system. I try to imagine the outcry in the U.S. if almost all websites required a Social Security Number for registration. I can't think of any that do except for online banking services.

This could probably be the topic of an entire podcast, actually.