Jack Greenberg (그린버그 잭)
@jackwgreenberg.bsky.social
Independent Researcher and Freelance Writer. Former Global 🇰🇷 Scholar. 고려대학교 and McGill Alumnus. Currently working on contested histories, memory sites, and Korea’s truth commission.
📧 jwgreenberg@outlook.com
‘Ggachi’ on Substack (ggachi.substack.com)
📧 jwgreenberg@outlook.com
‘Ggachi’ on Substack (ggachi.substack.com)
Terrible, heartbreaking news from here in Ube. As this morning’s memorial came to its conclusion, Taiwanese diver Wei Hsu suffered cardiac arrest and lost consciousness underwater. He was transported to hospital and later pronounced dead. All dives from tomorrow onwards are indefinitely suspended.
February 7, 2026 at 8:39 AM
Terrible, heartbreaking news from here in Ube. As this morning’s memorial came to its conclusion, Taiwanese diver Wei Hsu suffered cardiac arrest and lost consciousness underwater. He was transported to hospital and later pronounced dead. All dives from tomorrow onwards are indefinitely suspended.
This morning after arriving by ferry to Shimonoseki, Jenna and I made our way to the site of the Josei Coal Mine. We’ll be in Japan for a week to visit and research sites associated with Korean forced labour in mines.
February 6, 2026 at 2:00 PM
This morning after arriving by ferry to Shimonoseki, Jenna and I made our way to the site of the Josei Coal Mine. We’ll be in Japan for a week to visit and research sites associated with Korean forced labour in mines.
오늘 장생탄광 있는 우베시에 갔습니다. 오후 3시 30분경 희생자 유해가 추가로 수습되었습니다. 국제 다이버 팀이 지난해 8월에 첫 번째 유해를 발견했는데, 오늘 이어 두 번째로 두개골 1점을 수습되어 현장에 있었던 유가족 품으로 돌아왔습니다.
February 6, 2026 at 1:58 PM
오늘 장생탄광 있는 우베시에 갔습니다. 오후 3시 30분경 희생자 유해가 추가로 수습되었습니다. 국제 다이버 팀이 지난해 8월에 첫 번째 유해를 발견했는데, 오늘 이어 두 번째로 두개골 1점을 수습되어 현장에 있었던 유가족 품으로 돌아왔습니다.
Two rainbow mosaics photographed on opposite sides of the world. Toronto's Concourse Building boasts mosaics from 1928 by the Group of Seven's J. E. H. MacDonald and his son, Thoreau. Tashkent's School No. 110 features V. Kutkin's 1970 mosaic dedicated to Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko.
February 4, 2026 at 11:45 AM
Two rainbow mosaics photographed on opposite sides of the world. Toronto's Concourse Building boasts mosaics from 1928 by the Group of Seven's J. E. H. MacDonald and his son, Thoreau. Tashkent's School No. 110 features V. Kutkin's 1970 mosaic dedicated to Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko.
Sungshin Cement’s Danyang Plant; snapped just as I finished reading a report while riding the Jungang Line to Yeongcheon this afternoon. The company broke ground on the site in 1967.
February 1, 2026 at 3:50 PM
Sungshin Cement’s Danyang Plant; snapped just as I finished reading a report while riding the Jungang Line to Yeongcheon this afternoon. The company broke ground on the site in 1967.
Interesting... A branch of the V&A in Dongjak-gu, Sadang-dong?
n.news.naver.com/article/001/...
n.news.naver.com/article/001/...
동작구 "사당동에 영국 V&A박물관 분관 유치…MOU 체결"
동작구(구청장 박일하)는 사당동에 영국 왕립 박물관인 빅토리아 앤 앨버트(V&A) 박물관의 분관 유치를 추진한다고 30일 밝혔다. 이와 관련, 지난 16일 영국 런던 V&A 박물관에서 박일하 구청장, 트리스트램 헌트
n.news.naver.com
January 31, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Interesting... A branch of the V&A in Dongjak-gu, Sadang-dong?
n.news.naver.com/article/001/...
n.news.naver.com/article/001/...
Fruitful visit to the National Assembly Library today to track down some materials.
January 30, 2026 at 2:01 PM
Fruitful visit to the National Assembly Library today to track down some materials.
Amendment to South Korea’s Framework Act for the Settlement of Past History Clears the Way for a Third Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Amendment to South Korea’s Framework Act Clears the Way for a Third Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Expanded authority and improved victim access, with lingering institutional constraints.
open.substack.com
January 29, 2026 at 1:51 PM
Amendment to South Korea’s Framework Act for the Settlement of Past History Clears the Way for a Third Truth and Reconciliation Commission
The amendment bill to the Framework Act on Settling the Past has been passed with 168 in favor. 8 opposed and 18 abstained. Victims of state violence and bereaved family members in the gallery bowed as Speaker Woo Won-shik offered congratulations and hope that the 3rd TRC will resolve their pain.
January 29, 2026 at 7:01 AM
The amendment bill to the Framework Act on Settling the Past has been passed with 168 in favor. 8 opposed and 18 abstained. Victims of state violence and bereaved family members in the gallery bowed as Speaker Woo Won-shik offered congratulations and hope that the 3rd TRC will resolve their pain.
The two negotiating parties in the Nat'l Assembly agreed to hold a plenary session today. A comprehensive amendment bill to the Framework Act on Settling the Past is on the agenda (no. 47). If passed, it will enable the establishment of South Korea's 3rd Truth & Reconciliation Commission on Feb 26.
January 29, 2026 at 5:39 AM
The two negotiating parties in the Nat'l Assembly agreed to hold a plenary session today. A comprehensive amendment bill to the Framework Act on Settling the Past is on the agenda (no. 47). If passed, it will enable the establishment of South Korea's 3rd Truth & Reconciliation Commission on Feb 26.
Kim Yeo-jeong is one person who tried to record the hardships endured by Bogwang-dong residents since the Korean War. In a bid to overcome her depression, she had opened Cafe Tara in the neighbourhood, and it turned into a sort of community center that drew a diverse cast of regulars.
January 27, 2026 at 11:35 AM
Kim Yeo-jeong is one person who tried to record the hardships endured by Bogwang-dong residents since the Korean War. In a bid to overcome her depression, she had opened Cafe Tara in the neighbourhood, and it turned into a sort of community center that drew a diverse cast of regulars.
Recalling a visit to the Shinto Shrine on Sorokdo, the island in southwest Korea where colonial authorities forcibly segregated leprosy patients.
substack.com/@jackwgreenb...
substack.com/@jackwgreenb...
January 26, 2026 at 12:22 PM
Recalling a visit to the Shinto Shrine on Sorokdo, the island in southwest Korea where colonial authorities forcibly segregated leprosy patients.
substack.com/@jackwgreenb...
substack.com/@jackwgreenb...
Large parts of Bogwang-dong and Hannam-dong in Seoul’s Yongsan-gu are being demolished for the Hannam District 3, or New Town, redevelopment project. This is happening 17 years after the area was first designated a promotion district. The plan calls for 127 residential and commercial high rises.
January 24, 2026 at 1:27 PM
Large parts of Bogwang-dong and Hannam-dong in Seoul’s Yongsan-gu are being demolished for the Hannam District 3, or New Town, redevelopment project. This is happening 17 years after the area was first designated a promotion district. The plan calls for 127 residential and commercial high rises.
A winter’s day walk at the Han River.
January 24, 2026 at 3:34 AM
A winter’s day walk at the Han River.
Heartened by today’s announcement regarding the successful identification of seven Jeju 4.3 victims through forensic testing and DNA analysis, in 2025. Two were held at Daegu Prison and executed at Gyeongsan Cobalt Mine. This is the 1st time 4.3 victims have been confirmed from the Gyeongsan site.
Seven Victims of Jeju 4.3 Identified, Including First Confirmations from Gyeongsan Cobalt Mine
Jeju to Restart Blood Sample Collection on Feb. 2 as DNA Identifications Rise to 154 Nationwide
open.substack.com
January 23, 2026 at 12:23 PM
Heartened by today’s announcement regarding the successful identification of seven Jeju 4.3 victims through forensic testing and DNA analysis, in 2025. Two were held at Daegu Prison and executed at Gyeongsan Cobalt Mine. This is the 1st time 4.3 victims have been confirmed from the Gyeongsan site.
The stunning gold-coffered ceiling in Toronto’s Commerce Court North (1930), which was designed by Toronto architecture firm Pearson & Darling, and had been the British Empire’s tallest building until 1962. CIBC still maintains offices in the 34-storey tower.
January 22, 2026 at 9:41 PM
The stunning gold-coffered ceiling in Toronto’s Commerce Court North (1930), which was designed by Toronto architecture firm Pearson & Darling, and had been the British Empire’s tallest building until 1962. CIBC still maintains offices in the 34-storey tower.
Today’s the 135th birth anniversary of Antonio Gramsci; brilliant thinker/theorist, anti-Fascist, genius strike leader, and a founder of the Italian Communist Party. I found this mural depicting his face and the motto from L’Ordine Nuovo's 1st issue on a Bologna HS near the site of Le Caserme Rosse.
January 22, 2026 at 1:51 PM
Today’s the 135th birth anniversary of Antonio Gramsci; brilliant thinker/theorist, anti-Fascist, genius strike leader, and a founder of the Italian Communist Party. I found this mural depicting his face and the motto from L’Ordine Nuovo's 1st issue on a Bologna HS near the site of Le Caserme Rosse.
One resolution for 2026 is write more frequently on my Substack. This week I posted the year's first newsletter, which covers LJM's mtg w/ Takaichi, Daegu's mayoral race, a possible Daegu-Gyeongbuk merger, and an update on the PCH statue at Dongdaegu Plaza dispute.
open.substack.com/pub/ggachi/p...
open.substack.com/pub/ggachi/p...
Ggachi vol. 3, no. 1.
Tuesday, January 20th, 2026
open.substack.com
January 22, 2026 at 12:37 AM
One resolution for 2026 is write more frequently on my Substack. This week I posted the year's first newsletter, which covers LJM's mtg w/ Takaichi, Daegu's mayoral race, a possible Daegu-Gyeongbuk merger, and an update on the PCH statue at Dongdaegu Plaza dispute.
open.substack.com/pub/ggachi/p...
open.substack.com/pub/ggachi/p...
This week I finished a history of the Old Don Jail -- third book of the year so far. I recently went to see this former "monument to human misery" for myself. Before its closure in 1977, 1 million were confined in its cramped, rat-infested cells & 70 ppl died on its gallows, including 34 by hanging.
January 21, 2026 at 12:48 PM
This week I finished a history of the Old Don Jail -- third book of the year so far. I recently went to see this former "monument to human misery" for myself. Before its closure in 1977, 1 million were confined in its cramped, rat-infested cells & 70 ppl died on its gallows, including 34 by hanging.
Goodbye & good riddance to ex-PM Han Duck-soo, convicted today and sentenced to 23 yrs in prison for his role aiding Yoon’s insurrection. Special counsel only sought 15 yrs but a longer sentence was imposed as the crime “from above” shook the rule of law & undermined the ppl’s belief in democracy.
January 21, 2026 at 7:24 AM
Goodbye & good riddance to ex-PM Han Duck-soo, convicted today and sentenced to 23 yrs in prison for his role aiding Yoon’s insurrection. Special counsel only sought 15 yrs but a longer sentence was imposed as the crime “from above” shook the rule of law & undermined the ppl’s belief in democracy.
Have previously photographed the exterior of this building, the former Central Testing Laboratory of the Government General of Korea. Popped inside today and saw the recently restored 2nd floor auditorium, which still has the original, old ceiling intact and exposed.
January 20, 2026 at 2:03 PM
Have previously photographed the exterior of this building, the former Central Testing Laboratory of the Government General of Korea. Popped inside today and saw the recently restored 2nd floor auditorium, which still has the original, old ceiling intact and exposed.
Walked down to Dongmyo this afternoon, the shrine that honors Guan Yu, a military general of the Three Kingdoms period, as a deity. The antique painting of Guan Yu on the right is enshrined at Heungcheonsa, a splendid temple less than four kilometers north in Donam-dong.
January 18, 2026 at 11:38 AM
Walked down to Dongmyo this afternoon, the shrine that honors Guan Yu, a military general of the Three Kingdoms period, as a deity. The antique painting of Guan Yu on the right is enshrined at Heungcheonsa, a splendid temple less than four kilometers north in Donam-dong.
Urban layers of northeastern Seoul with Cheongnyangni (Hongneung) revival housing (circa 1955-1957) in the foreground.
January 18, 2026 at 12:06 AM
Urban layers of northeastern Seoul with Cheongnyangni (Hongneung) revival housing (circa 1955-1957) in the foreground.
Minhwa is experiencing a resurgence in the Korean art scene, and also attracting more int'l attention. Gallery Hyundai opens 2026 with a new exhibit to celebrate the genre. Across the main and new buildings, it highlights Joseon-era masterpieces together with modern reinterpretations by six artists.
January 17, 2026 at 11:28 AM
Minhwa is experiencing a resurgence in the Korean art scene, and also attracting more int'l attention. Gallery Hyundai opens 2026 with a new exhibit to celebrate the genre. Across the main and new buildings, it highlights Joseon-era masterpieces together with modern reinterpretations by six artists.
Court has sentenced Yoon to five years in prison for obstruction of justice and other charges. Remember this is the first of eight cases related to his 12.3 martial law bid in 2024.
Watching live as Yoon Suk-yeol is being sentenced in the first of eight cases related to his 12.3 attempt to impose martial law
January 16, 2026 at 6:06 AM
Court has sentenced Yoon to five years in prison for obstruction of justice and other charges. Remember this is the first of eight cases related to his 12.3 martial law bid in 2024.