Why do people join cults? The reality is seemingly very complex. In this episode of Korea Deconstructed, I sit down with Peter Daley, a long-term resident of Korea and someone who has spent decades observing and documenting the world of fringe religious movements and cultic groups. Peter Daley is an Australian who has lived in Korea since 2002. He worked at Keimyung University in Daegu for eight years, teaching English for six years and spending two years working in Keimyung's Office of International Affairs. He has been teaching English at Sookmyung Women's University since 2012. Find him online: https://peterdaley.net/strangerthings/ https://internationalculticstudies.org/ (ICSA) Discussion Outline 0:00 Introduction to Cults 7:00 The Unification Church (통일교) 13:00 Church or Cult? 20:00 Who Do Cults Approach? 23:56 Shincheonji 29:00 Christianity 37:20 Influence in Korean Society 40:55 Aum Shinrikyo 46:50 Former Members of Cults 56:30 Scientology 1:06:00 The Necessity of Empathy 1:11:20 Getting People Out of Cults 1:17:02 Are Cults Getting Bigger or Smaller in Korea? 1:20:10 How to Spot Cults? 1:25:55 Mass Weddings Thanks to Patreon members: Bhavya, Roxanne Murrell, Sara B Cooper, Anne Brennels, Ell, Johnathan Filbert, Daniela Körppen Join Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/user?u=62047873 David A. Tizzard has a PhD in Korean Studies and lectures at Seoul Women's University and Hanyang University. He writes a weekly column in the Korea Times, is a social-cultural commentator, and a musician who has lived in Korea for nearly two decades. He can be reached at [email protected]. ▶ David's Insta: @datizzard ▶ KD Insta: @koreadeconstructed ▶ Listen on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/kr/podcast/korea-deconstructed/id1587269128 ▶Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5zdXkG0aAAHnDwOvd0jXEE ▶ Listen on podcasts: https://koreadeconstructed.libsyn.com