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)
Went this evening to a launch of Im Ui-jn's "Book of Mark in the Jeonnam Dialect," mostly out of curiosity. I had no familiarity with the text itself, but I wanted to hear the story behind the translation and see the woodcuts Jeon Jeong-ho and Hong Seong-dam produced for it.
November 26, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Went this evening to a launch of Im Ui-jn's "Book of Mark in the Jeonnam Dialect," mostly out of curiosity. I had no familiarity with the text itself, but I wanted to hear the story behind the translation and see the woodcuts Jeon Jeong-ho and Hong Seong-dam produced for it.
Perusing old books about Korea written by Westerners at a friend's store in Seoul.
November 25, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Perusing old books about Korea written by Westerners at a friend's store in Seoul.
Stopped at Jeonbuk National University to look for the large mural of General Jeon Bong-jun, who led the Donghak Peasant Revolution, holding up a world of democracy, independence, and unification on his shoulders.
November 22, 2025 at 5:58 AM
Stopped at Jeonbuk National University to look for the large mural of General Jeon Bong-jun, who led the Donghak Peasant Revolution, holding up a world of democracy, independence, and unification on his shoulders.
Mongolia celebrates the 863rd birth anniversary of Chinggis Khan today. In the early 90s, Polish Solidarity activists came to Mongolia to assist in the publishing of pro-democracy posters and leaflets. Some featured Chinggis Khan whose image had been prohibited during Socialist times.
November 21, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Mongolia celebrates the 863rd birth anniversary of Chinggis Khan today. In the early 90s, Polish Solidarity activists came to Mongolia to assist in the publishing of pro-democracy posters and leaflets. Some featured Chinggis Khan whose image had been prohibited during Socialist times.
Newest additions to my personal collection. One purchased from Aladin and the rest received while visiting the University of Seoul Museum!
November 21, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Newest additions to my personal collection. One purchased from Aladin and the rest received while visiting the University of Seoul Museum!
Trying to get back to sharing longer musings on Substack (ggachi.substack.com). Have just added posts about Kim Bok-jin's Maitreya Statue in Geumsansa's Mireukjeon, the tour I gave YouTuber iGoBart in Seongbuk's Jeongneung-dong, and this week's Memorial for Industrial Accident Victims at Jogyesa.
Ggachi | Jack Greenberg | Substack
In Korean culture, a ggachi (magpie) is regarded as a bearer of good news. In the spirit of the magpie, this substack endeavors to tell and report on great stories about the lesser-known and unseen as...
ggachi.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 12:56 AM
Trying to get back to sharing longer musings on Substack (ggachi.substack.com). Have just added posts about Kim Bok-jin's Maitreya Statue in Geumsansa's Mireukjeon, the tour I gave YouTuber iGoBart in Seongbuk's Jeongneung-dong, and this week's Memorial for Industrial Accident Victims at Jogyesa.
1994 vs. 2024: Seung H-Sang and IROJE’s Emun 291 (1992)
November 19, 2025 at 11:31 AM
1994 vs. 2024: Seung H-Sang and IROJE’s Emun 291 (1992)
Attended the Prayer for Safe and Non-Discriminatory Workplaces and Memorial Service for Victims of Industrial Accidents at Jogyesa. Spirit tablets for 144 fallen workers, including 94 Koreans and 50 foreigners were placed on the high altar.
November 18, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Attended the Prayer for Safe and Non-Discriminatory Workplaces and Memorial Service for Victims of Industrial Accidents at Jogyesa. Spirit tablets for 144 fallen workers, including 94 Koreans and 50 foreigners were placed on the high altar.
Some autumn scenes from this past week in Gimje, Goyang, Gyeongsan, and Yeongcheon.
November 15, 2025 at 3:56 AM
Some autumn scenes from this past week in Gimje, Goyang, Gyeongsan, and Yeongcheon.
“무당” by Kim Jung-hyun was painted in 1941, and I believe it is still being displayed at the MMCA campus in Gwacheon. I saw it there back in May. TIL it also appeared on a 1985 postage stamp in a series featuring important works of modern art.
November 14, 2025 at 12:47 PM
“무당” by Kim Jung-hyun was painted in 1941, and I believe it is still being displayed at the MMCA campus in Gwacheon. I saw it there back in May. TIL it also appeared on a 1985 postage stamp in a series featuring important works of modern art.
Was a bit hazy but still a lovely view from Dorisa on Naengsan in Gumi, the earliest temple of the Silla dynasty.
November 8, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Was a bit hazy but still a lovely view from Dorisa on Naengsan in Gumi, the earliest temple of the Silla dynasty.
“Yeongcheon Gothic.” Finished harvesting this year’s sweet potatoes today.
November 6, 2025 at 11:41 AM
“Yeongcheon Gothic.” Finished harvesting this year’s sweet potatoes today.
Golden hour from the subway.
November 2, 2025 at 2:03 AM
Golden hour from the subway.
Saturday afternoon in Cheongju; listening to Professor Kim Chang-nam and Jo Gyeong-ok, who both participated in the first album of 노래를 찾는 사람들. Performance included a tribute to Nochatsa’s founder, Kim Min-ki, who passed away last year.
November 1, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Saturday afternoon in Cheongju; listening to Professor Kim Chang-nam and Jo Gyeong-ok, who both participated in the first album of 노래를 찾는 사람들. Performance included a tribute to Nochatsa’s founder, Kim Min-ki, who passed away last year.
For my latest Korea Times contribution I profiled the 25th anniversary exhibition of Cho Jong-goo’s guga Urban Architecture (구가도시건축). Writing it took me back to my master’s thesis on vanishing neighborhoods and resident-pedestrians’ experiences in different parts of Seoul.
October 31, 2025 at 11:25 AM
For my latest Korea Times contribution I profiled the 25th anniversary exhibition of Cho Jong-goo’s guga Urban Architecture (구가도시건축). Writing it took me back to my master’s thesis on vanishing neighborhoods and resident-pedestrians’ experiences in different parts of Seoul.
The RAS Korea Library Collection was officially donated to Soongsil University today, and the IKCC Research Library opened too. Honorary President Colin Crooks unveiled the signboard with Soongsil University President Lee Yoon-jae.
October 31, 2025 at 5:24 AM
The RAS Korea Library Collection was officially donated to Soongsil University today, and the IKCC Research Library opened too. Honorary President Colin Crooks unveiled the signboard with Soongsil University President Lee Yoon-jae.
Listened to some of Amitav Ghosh’s thoughts on Korea, violence and memory, and the challenges of writing about climate change at Kyobo earlier this week.
October 30, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Listened to some of Amitav Ghosh’s thoughts on Korea, violence and memory, and the challenges of writing about climate change at Kyobo earlier this week.
Given APEC has drawn so much attention to Gyeongju; a few photos from recent trips to four temples in different parts of the city (Bunhwangsa, Golgulsa, Girimsa, and Sambulsa).
October 30, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Given APEC has drawn so much attention to Gyeongju; a few photos from recent trips to four temples in different parts of the city (Bunhwangsa, Golgulsa, Girimsa, and Sambulsa).
Hard to believe 3 yrs have passed since the 10.29 이태원 참사 - a tragedy worsened by the Yoon admin’s diversion of police resources. Working-level officials took the fall while the Pres. spread conspiracy theories. Remember the lives lost, & the families still seeking truth.
October 29, 2025 at 2:36 AM
Hard to believe 3 yrs have passed since the 10.29 이태원 참사 - a tragedy worsened by the Yoon admin’s diversion of police resources. Working-level officials took the fall while the Pres. spread conspiracy theories. Remember the lives lost, & the families still seeking truth.
Before moving to Cheongju in 1985, the Korean Air Force was based in what is now Boramae Park in Sindaebang-dong, Dongjak District, Seoul. To accommodate Buddhists in the Air Force, a temple was built on the grounds in 1971 and named Seongmuhoguksa by President Park Chung-hee.
October 14, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Before moving to Cheongju in 1985, the Korean Air Force was based in what is now Boramae Park in Sindaebang-dong, Dongjak District, Seoul. To accommodate Buddhists in the Air Force, a temple was built on the grounds in 1971 and named Seongmuhoguksa by President Park Chung-hee.
Some excellent antique Sanshin-do seen this week in Daegu (Namjijangsa and Seobongsa) and Cheongdo (Yongcheonsa)
October 11, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Some excellent antique Sanshin-do seen this week in Daegu (Namjijangsa and Seobongsa) and Cheongdo (Yongcheonsa)
Made our annual trip to Daejeon Nat’l Cemetery for Chuseok. This year we came with fresh eyes, having listened to Im Jae-gun’s lecture on the cemetery’s history and read his book. We also brought the nephews to Hong Beom-do’s grave to pay respects and tell them the story of the illustrious general.
October 5, 2025 at 6:25 AM
Made our annual trip to Daejeon Nat’l Cemetery for Chuseok. This year we came with fresh eyes, having listened to Im Jae-gun’s lecture on the cemetery’s history and read his book. We also brought the nephews to Hong Beom-do’s grave to pay respects and tell them the story of the illustrious general.
Venturino Ventura’s eclectic, code-defying genius… What a delight to have discovered this 1968 palazzina on Via Bruxelles in Rome!
October 4, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Venturino Ventura’s eclectic, code-defying genius… What a delight to have discovered this 1968 palazzina on Via Bruxelles in Rome!
Stopped to take a picture of Cheonggyecheon while cycling home yesterday afternoon from Jongno. Popped into the Central Temple of Cheondogyo and ran into the march for climate justice on the way too.
September 28, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Stopped to take a picture of Cheonggyecheon while cycling home yesterday afternoon from Jongno. Popped into the Central Temple of Cheondogyo and ran into the march for climate justice on the way too.
Saw more tigers, including in Hojak-do and Sanshin-do, at the Insa-dong Antique Fair!
September 27, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Saw more tigers, including in Hojak-do and Sanshin-do, at the Insa-dong Antique Fair!