5: Grains of Truth

Caty Szeto is a woman with a dream: to become a K-Pop superstar. The 23-year-old Asian American is traveling from her home in LA to South Korea’s capital Seoul to attend a K-Pop academy. There she’ll do hardcore training in singing, dancing and styling. All this is to prepare for make-or-break auditions for K-Pop entertainment agencies. If she makes it, Caty could be like all those chart-topping idols who travel the world, perform to legions of fans and make millions. But this quest has its challenges. Caty finds out about ageism in the industry, where many new idols are in their teens. Then she comes face-to-face with incredibly specific K-beauty standards while navigating being a foreigner in K-Pop. Over just three months, our host journalist Haeryun Kang follows Caty to see if she can overcome these obstacles and reach K-Pop stardom. Listen to Mission K-Pop on all platforms or wherever you get your podcasts. Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As Nic’s investigation comes to a close he looks into whether modern DNA testing could provide a breakthrough. He learns about a new process which could create a face for the suspect, and hears how a change in the law might finally provide answers. Credits:Josh Bloch- For USG AudioJennifer Sears- For USG AudioNic Obregon- Writer, HostDarrell Brown- Executive Producer, EditorSophie Ellis- Executive ProducerTom Brewins- Sound DesignerJames Warburton/ KPM Music- ComposerRyushi Lindsay- Producer (Japan)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Just when you think you’ve learned everything about the Miyazawa murders, Nic discovers an ominous note, potentially written by the killer, predicting the crimes. And he is forced to confront a theory that the killer was just a teenager. Credits:Josh Bloch- For USG AudioJennifer Sears- For USG AudioNic Obregon- Writer, HostDarrell Brown- Executive Producer, EditorSophie Ellis- Executive ProducerTom Brewins- Sound DesignerJames Warburton/ KPM Music- ComposerRyushi Lindsay- Producer (Japan)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nic assumed his investigation would take him around Japan. But evidence left at the scene has actually led him to California – and a new lead which provides a remarkable new theory.Credits:Josh Bloch- For USG AudioJennifer Sears- For USG AudioNic Obregon- Writer, HostDarrell Brown- Executive Producer, EditorSophie Ellis- Executive ProducerTom Brewins- Sound DesignerJames Warburton/ KPM Music- ComposerRyushi Lindsay- Producer (Japan)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We don’t know what the Faceless Man looks like, but we do know what he was wearing. Nic investigates claims that the killer was a skateboarder, and meets one of the only people ever questioned about the murders. Credits:Josh Bloch- For USG AudioJennifer Sears- For USG AudioNic Obregon- Writer, HostDarrell Brown- Executive Producer, EditorSophie Ellis- Executive ProducerTom Brewins- Sound DesignerJames Warburton/ KPM Music- ComposerRyushi Lindsay- Producer (Japan)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Faceless Man spent hours inside the murder scene. In this episode Nic breaks down exactly what he did, and looks for clues in his behaviour that might help to identify him. Credits:Josh Bloch- For USG AudioJennifer Sears- For USG AudioNic Obregon- Writer, HostDarrell Brown- Executive Producer, EditorSophie Ellis- Executive ProducerTom Brewins- Sound DesignerJames Warburton/ KPM Music- ComposerRyushi Lindsay- Producer (Japan)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nic starts unpacking the evidence, beginning with the DNA profile of the Faceless Man. And he investigates a claim that a Korean Hit-man was behind the murders. Credits:Josh Bloch- For USG AudioJennifer Sears- For USG AudioNic Obregon- Writer, HostDarrell Brown- Executive Producer, EditorSophie Ellis- Executive ProducerTom Brewins- Sound DesignerJames Warburton/ KPM Music- ComposerRyushi Lindsay- Producer (Japan)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nic Obregon begins his investigation into the Miyazawa murders by finding out about the victims, meeting the former chief of police who led the case, and arming himself with the facts. Credits:Josh Bloch- For USG AudioJennifer Sears- For USG AudioNic Obregon- Writer, HostDarrell Brown- Executive Producer, EditorSophie Ellis- Executive ProducerTom Brewins- Sound DesignerJames Warburton/ KPM Music- ComposerRyushi Lindsay- Producer (Japan)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In December of the year 2000, an unknown male broke into a suburban Tokyo home and killed an entire family. Despite leaving thousands of pieces of evidence in the house, including his clothes, the murder weapon, his DNA, his blood, even his excrement—we are no closer to knowing this man’s identity. There’s no clear motive. And no sign of the case being closed. The Miyazawa family murders are a paradox. They’re a case which has haunted Tokyo police for 22 years now. A case which should be solved. But one which has far more questions than answers.Credits:Josh Bloch- For USG AudioJennifer Sears- For USG AudioNic Obregon- Writer, HostDarrell Brown- Executive Producer, EditorSophie Ellis- Executive ProducerTom Brewins- Sound DesignerJames Warburton/ KPM Music- ComposerRyushi Lindsay- Producer (Japan)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.