60 acast.com Digital Divide: Mobile Lives of Two Koreas https://shows.acast.com/digital-divide-mobile-lives-of-two-koreas en Grace Lee North Korea,South Korea,Technology,Phones,Censorship,Communication,Education Grace Lee Digital Divide: Mobile Lives of Two Koreas explores how mobile technology shapes life, communication, education, and commerce in both North and South Korea.


A new episode every month.


Also available on YouTube!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Digital Divide: Mobile Lives of Two Koreas explores how mobile technology shapes life, communication, education, and commerce in both North and South Korea.


A new episode every month.


Also available on YouTube!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> false Grace Lee info+692fafbd82364902e0575e14@mg-eu.acast.com 692fafbd82364902e0575e14 digital-divide-mobile-lives-of-two-koreas episodic https://assets.pippa.io/shows/cover/1764732397439-3ee17484-cb9a-430d-ac09-88ce895951f7.jpeg https://shows.acast.com/digital-divide-mobile-lives-of-two-koreas Digital Divide: Mobile Lives of Two Koreas North Korea’s Mobile Money: When Minutes Become Money North Korea’s Mobile Money: When Minutes Become Money Fri, 27 Mar 2026 13:00:00 GMT 18:47 69c5f179b991732771a0ea8c false https://shows.acast.com/digital-divide-mobile-lives-of-two-koreas/episodes/north-koreas-mobile-money-when-minutes-become-money 69c5f179b991732771a0ea8c 692fafbd82364902e0575e14 north-koreas-mobile-money-when-minutes-become-money full 5 In this episode, Grace and Professor Kim dive into the fascinating world of "Phone Money." From "Money Masters" (Donju) running informal wire transfers to parents sending digital talk time to feed their sons in the military, discover how North Koreans turned simple SIM cards into a sophisticated financial network.



❤️ Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/IL3nvHE_m-s 

📱 Follow us on social media: https://linktr.ee/gwiks.elliott.gwu 

🔑 Supported by the UniKorea Foundation: https://www.unikoreafoundation.org/

🇰🇷 Check out GW Institute for Korean Studies: https://gwiks.elliott.gwu.edu/ 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> In this episode, Grace and Professor Kim dive into the fascinating world of "Phone Money." From "Money Masters" (Donju) running informal wire transfers to parents sending digital talk time to feed their sons in the military, discover how North Koreans turned simple SIM cards into a sophisticated financial network.



❤️ Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/IL3nvHE_m-s 

📱 Follow us on social media: https://linktr.ee/gwiks.elliott.gwu 

🔑 Supported by the UniKorea Foundation: https://www.unikoreafoundation.org/

🇰🇷 Check out GW Institute for Korean Studies: https://gwiks.elliott.gwu.edu/ 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Phones on Wheels: North Korea’s Markets in Motion Phones on Wheels: North Korea’s Markets in Motion Fri, 27 Feb 2026 13:50:00 GMT 21:22 69a12d76eebc4a99c634dcf0 false https://shows.acast.com/digital-divide-mobile-lives-of-two-koreas/episodes/phones-on-wheels-north-koreas-markets-in-motion 69a12d76eebc4a99c634dcf0 692fafbd82364902e0575e14 phones-on-wheels-north-koreas-markets-in-motion full 4 The fourth episode of Digital Divide examines the rise of servi-cha, North Korea’s semi-private transport vehicles. The spread of cell phones, combined with a nationwide road-based network, has sparked a logistics revolution—enabling real-time coordination among drivers, merchants, brokers, fuel traders, and even checkpoint officials.


This video/podcast series is sponsored by the UniKorea Foundation. 


❤️ Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/aQnkVF6l6Nc 

📱 Follow us on social media: https://linktr.ee/gwiks.elliott.gwu 

🔑 Check out UniKorea Foundation: https://www.unikoreafoundation.org/unikoreafoundation/ 

🇰🇷 Check out GW Institute for Korean Studies: https://gwiks.elliott.gwu.edu/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> The fourth episode of Digital Divide examines the rise of servi-cha, North Korea’s semi-private transport vehicles. The spread of cell phones, combined with a nationwide road-based network, has sparked a logistics revolution—enabling real-time coordination among drivers, merchants, brokers, fuel traders, and even checkpoint officials.


This video/podcast series is sponsored by the UniKorea Foundation. 


❤️ Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/aQnkVF6l6Nc 

📱 Follow us on social media: https://linktr.ee/gwiks.elliott.gwu 

🔑 Check out UniKorea Foundation: https://www.unikoreafoundation.org/unikoreafoundation/ 

🇰🇷 Check out GW Institute for Korean Studies: https://gwiks.elliott.gwu.edu/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Jangmadang Goes Digital Jangmadang Goes Digital Fri, 30 Jan 2026 14:15:00 GMT 20:01 697920989b5ca1c75cd8de2c false https://shows.acast.com/digital-divide-mobile-lives-of-two-koreas/episodes/jangmadang-goes-digital 697920989b5ca1c75cd8de2c 692fafbd82364902e0575e14 jangmadang-goes-digital full 3 North Korea’s markets run on information—and increasingly, on cell phones. This episode explores how traders at jangmadang, North Korea’s informal marketplaces, use phones to share prices, coordinate transport, move money, and navigate corruption in a gray-zone economy tolerated by the state. It also shows how COVID-19 restrictions disrupted trade and reshaped daily life inside North Korea.


This video/podcast series is sponsored by the UniKorea Foundation. 


❤️ Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/qvDW_ey2uvM

📱 Follow us on social media: https://linktr.ee/gwiks.elliott.gwu 

🔑 Check out UniKorea Foundation: https://www.unikoreafoundation.org/unikoreafoundation/ 

🇰🇷 Check out GW Institute for Korean Studies: https://gwiks.elliott.gwu.edu/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> North Korea’s markets run on information—and increasingly, on cell phones. This episode explores how traders at jangmadang, North Korea’s informal marketplaces, use phones to share prices, coordinate transport, move money, and navigate corruption in a gray-zone economy tolerated by the state. It also shows how COVID-19 restrictions disrupted trade and reshaped daily life inside North Korea.


This video/podcast series is sponsored by the UniKorea Foundation. 


❤️ Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/qvDW_ey2uvM

📱 Follow us on social media: https://linktr.ee/gwiks.elliott.gwu 

🔑 Check out UniKorea Foundation: https://www.unikoreafoundation.org/unikoreafoundation/ 

🇰🇷 Check out GW Institute for Korean Studies: https://gwiks.elliott.gwu.edu/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> The Cell Phone North Korea Can’t Control The Cell Phone North Korea Can’t Control Tue, 23 Dec 2025 22:52:31 GMT 21:32 694b0de309314afbec4f4338 false https://shows.acast.com/digital-divide-mobile-lives-of-two-koreas/episodes/the-cell-phone-north-korea-cant-control 694b0de309314afbec4f4338 692fafbd82364902e0575e14 the-cell-phone-north-korea-cant-control full 2 The second episode of Digital Divide focuses on how mobile phones in North Korea provide personal connectivity while reinforcing strict state control. Although their introduction sparked excitement and sacrifice among citizens, phone usage is tightly monitored—with no chat rooms, heavy surveillance, and widespread self-censorship. 


So why does the regime even allow cell phones?


This video/podcast series is sponsored by the UniKorea Foundation. 


❤️ Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhM_IyUMR-i3fnlT1lOX1bYl937yiiVyr 

📱 Follow us on social media: https://linktr.ee/gwiks.elliott.gwu 

🔑 Check out UniKorea Foundation: https://www.unikoreafoundation.org/unikoreafoundation/ 

🇰🇷 Check out GW Institute for Korean Studies: https://gwiks.elliott.gwu.edu/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> The second episode of Digital Divide focuses on how mobile phones in North Korea provide personal connectivity while reinforcing strict state control. Although their introduction sparked excitement and sacrifice among citizens, phone usage is tightly monitored—with no chat rooms, heavy surveillance, and widespread self-censorship. 


So why does the regime even allow cell phones?


This video/podcast series is sponsored by the UniKorea Foundation. 


❤️ Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhM_IyUMR-i3fnlT1lOX1bYl937yiiVyr 

📱 Follow us on social media: https://linktr.ee/gwiks.elliott.gwu 

🔑 Check out UniKorea Foundation: https://www.unikoreafoundation.org/unikoreafoundation/ 

🇰🇷 Check out GW Institute for Korean Studies: https://gwiks.elliott.gwu.edu/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Mobile North Korea: A World Hidden in Plain Sight Mobile North Korea: A World Hidden in Plain Sight Wed, 03 Dec 2025 10:14:00 GMT 20:00 692fb1500a19c631c0c00f89 false https://shows.acast.com/digital-divide-mobile-lives-of-two-koreas/episodes/mobile-north-korea-a-world-hidden-in-plain-sight 692fb1500a19c631c0c00f89 692fafbd82364902e0575e14 mobile-north-korea-a-world-hidden-in-plain-sight full 1 The debut episode of Digital Divide explores North Korea’s evolving mobile ecosystem—from domestically made smartphones and new foldable models to strict controls over ownership, monitoring, and access to foreign media. The hosts highlight how phones have become central to daily life, with people engrossed in games and state-approved streaming despite constant surveillance. They also touch on smuggling networks, black-market devices, and efforts to block foreign signals.


Could North Korea eventually adapt to South Korea’s advanced digital landscape?


This video/podcast series is sponsored by the UniKorea Foundation. 


❤️ Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@gwiks/featured

📱 Follow us on social media: https://linktr.ee/gwiks.elliott.gwu

🔑 Check out UniKorea Foundation: https://www.unikoreafoundation.org/unikoreafoundation/

🇰🇷 Check out GW Institute for Korean Studies: https://gwiks.elliott.gwu.edu/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> The debut episode of Digital Divide explores North Korea’s evolving mobile ecosystem—from domestically made smartphones and new foldable models to strict controls over ownership, monitoring, and access to foreign media. The hosts highlight how phones have become central to daily life, with people engrossed in games and state-approved streaming despite constant surveillance. They also touch on smuggling networks, black-market devices, and efforts to block foreign signals.


Could North Korea eventually adapt to South Korea’s advanced digital landscape?


This video/podcast series is sponsored by the UniKorea Foundation. 


❤️ Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@gwiks/featured

📱 Follow us on social media: https://linktr.ee/gwiks.elliott.gwu

🔑 Check out UniKorea Foundation: https://www.unikoreafoundation.org/unikoreafoundation/

🇰🇷 Check out GW Institute for Korean Studies: https://gwiks.elliott.gwu.edu/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]>