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EPISODE · Oct 15, 2025 · 23 MIN

The samurai assassins who killed a Korean Empress

from ASSASSINS · host Australian Broadcasting Corporation

How do you assassinate someone when you don't know what they look like?The K-Pop Demon Hunter of her time, Korea's first empress, Queen Min, was a total bad ass. But there weren't any reliable images of her, so no one beyond her immediate court knew what she looked like.Which turned out to be a problem when samurai assassins, part of a rabble-rousing mob, stormed her palace early one morning with one thing on their mind: assassination.A progressive woman, who outmanoeuvred every man in her court, Queen Min was killed by those in power for being ahead of her time — and trying to drag her country, the so-called Hermit Kingdom, out of the past with her.Host: Aslan PahariProducer: Hannah JoseAudio Engineer: John JacobsVideo Producer: Tejas BhatSpecial thanks: Michael Osmond for archives researchExecutive Producers: Joel Werner, Eric George, Jessica RadburnTo binge even more great episodes of ASSASSINS with Aslan Pahari go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you'll find more stories of the world's most shocking assassinations — from the lone wolf hitman to the professional assassin, you'll hear how famous figures like Abraham Lincoln, Benazir Bhutto, Ramses III, Tupac, Rasputin, and Gandhi met their end.

How do you assassinate someone when you don't know what they look like? The K-Pop Demon Hunter of her time, Korea's first empress, Queen Min, was a total bad ass. But there weren't any reliable images of her, so no one beyond her immediate court knew what she looked like. Which turned out to be a problem when samurai assassins, part of a rabble-rousing mob, stormed her palace early one morning with one thing on their mind: assassination. A progressive woman, who outmanoeuvred every man in her court, Queen Min was killed by those in power for being ahead of her time — and trying to drag her country, the so-called Hermit Kingdom, out of the past with her. Host: Aslan Pahari Producer: Hannah Jose Audio Engineer: John Jacobs Video Producer: Tejas Bhat Special thanks: Michael Osmond for archives research Executive Producers: Joel Werner, Eric George, Jessica Radburn To binge even more great episodes of ASSASSINS with Aslan Pahari go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you'll find more stories of the world's most shocking assassinations — from the lone wolf hitman to the professional assassin, you'll hear how famous figures like Abraham Lincoln, Benazir Bhutto, Ramses III, Tupac, Rasputin, and Gandhi met their end.

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The samurai assassins who killed a Korean Empress

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Infamous America Black Barrel Media Historical True Crime — assassins, gangsters, mobsters and lawmen; manhunts, scandals and unexplained phenomena. Stories of the wildest and darkest chapters of America's past. History of the Crusades Sharyn Eastaugh Over 900 years ago, thousands of Christians invaded the Middle East, intent on taking the Holy Land from the Muslims. The following 200 years were marked by a series of military campaigns known as the Crusades. Join us to follow the history of the Crusades from 1095 onwards. Castles, battles, religious clashes, Richard the Lionheart, the Assassins, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Saladin, the Knights Templar - all will feature as we examine one of the most interesting periods in history. Ancient History Fangirl Jenny Williamson and Genn McMenemy An ancient history podcast run by two Millennial women. Misbehaving emperors, poison assassins, mythological mayhem; it’s like if Hardcore History met up with My Favorite Murder in the ancient world, with a heavy helping of booze and laughter. If You're Listening ABC Australia The world is on fire. There's a coup. Inflation is through the roof, and AI is taking our jobs. What does it all mean? Each week, Matt Bevan explains the biggest story in world news while hiding in his basement from assassins and authoritarian regimes.Recent episodes include an exploration of the relationship between India and China, a closer look at the Saudi Arabian city of NEOM, the conflict in the Middle East, the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran, and Ukraine's incursions into Vladimir Putin's Russia. Matt Bevan draws connections between stories from the past and the events of the present to help listeners understand world news and international affairs.The podcast also features series about big moments in world news; previous series have focused on the United States presidential election, the United Kingdom's 14 years of Conservative Party leadership, Donald Trump's relationship with Russia, Donald Trump's presidency and promise to Make America Great Again, t

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This episode was published on October 15, 2025.

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How do you assassinate someone when you don't know what they look like?The K-Pop Demon Hunter of her time, Korea's first empress, Queen Min, was a total bad ass. But there weren't any reliable images of her, so no one beyond her immediate court...

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