Lots of fun--really great cluing! I started to list ones I found especially clever and elegant, and realized I was basically listing them all! I didn't quite understand the wordplay for 1D, though. Can you explain?
Thanks! The definition is sticky, oily substance. Then "has" must "leave" "ambushes" before you anagram it ("confused") I am pleased with how natural the surface is.
Fun one, but minor pet peeve - 1A isn't really meant to be pronounced anywhere close to 'soul' at all, it's actually way more closer to something like suh-wool, as a two-syllable word.
That's a fair point. I guess there's a question of common pronunciation versus correct. The way I've heard, it is always a homophone. Is that pronunciation common outside of Korea or the larger area? I guess I'm revealing my ignorance a little there. Thanks for the insight though. It is good to know!