Korean. American. Podcast

This week Jun and Daniel reflect on 2024, and look ahead to 2025 in their year-end wrap-up “SSAMary” episode. The hosts examine their podcast's growth over the past year including reaching #1 on the Apple Podcasts Korea charts and 27000% growth in YouTube subscribers. Additionally, our hosts discuss their most and least favorite episodes, dive into stats across various platforms, highlight me...

This week Jun and Daniel discuss all things winter! Prompted by the recent first snow (​​첫눈), which happened to be the biggest November snowfall ever recorded in Korean history, our hosts discuss winter life and traditions in Korea compared to America. What is gimjang (김장) season and what is typically eaten with the first batch of kimchi? What are the distinct differences between Korean and Am...

This week Jun and Daniel dive into fashion trends and cultural differences between Korea and America. From men’s hairstyles to women’s modesty norms, our hosts explore how fashion intersects with cultural values, generational divides, and societal expectations. They discuss topics like Korea's recent trend toward athleisure wear, the popularity of certain global brands, and how beauty standar...

This week Jun and Daniel explore the annual calendar of holidays and events in both Korea and America. Through a quiz format and month-by-month discussion, our hosts compare how each country celebrates its major holidays, from Lunar New Year and Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) in Korea to Thanksgiving (American Mid-Autumn Festival) and Independence Day in America. They also explore deeper cultural d...

This week Jun and Daniel discuss major news headlines from October and November 2024. From cultural controversies surrounding Dongduk Women's University and the 4B movement, to Korea's surging soft power with Blackpink’s Rosé topping the music charts and Han Kang winning the Nobel Prize for Literature, our hosts explore how these events reflect and impact Korean society. They examine the...

This week Jun and Daniel discuss sports culture in Korea and America, prompted by their recent experience attending a KBO (Korean Baseball Organization) playoff game together. Through comparing stadium experiences, fan behavior, player salaries, and cultural attitudes towards athletics, our hosts explore deeper societal differences between the two countries - from how Koreans view sports more as e...

This week Jun and Daniel risk it all by using the charged 2024 US presidential election as a reason to compare and discuss the political systems and landscape in Korea and America. Our hosts attempt to discuss politics while remaining as neutral as possible, covering topics like the two-party system, campaign financing, big tech's political leanings, and the unique characteristics of conserva...

This week Jun and Daniel continue their discussion of listener comments and reactions from social media, blogs, and other platforms. They explore the complex topic of Korean American identity, diving into experiences of discrimination, dual cultural belonging, and what it means to be a "third culture kid." The hosts also tackle comments about Korean driving habits, luxury goods consumpti...

This week Jun and Daniel dedicate an episode to reading and responding to comments from their social media channels over the past few months. From inverter AC technology to birthing experiences to racism and cultural differences, our hosts dive deep into various topics that sparked discussion among their listeners. They explore Korean and American perspectives on everything from technical knowledg...

This week Jun and Daniel dive into famous food debates and preferences that divide both Korean and American society. Starting from whether you dip (jjik) or boo (pour) the sauce with sweet and sour pork (tangsuyuk), our hosts explore the many famous food debates that Koreans have, including kimchi jiggae versus doenjang jjigae, mul naengmyun vs bibimnaengmyun, and many more. They then shift to som...

This week Jun and Daniel dive into the world of MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) and its popularity in Korea. They explore why MBTI has become such a cultural phenomenon in Korea, from its use in social settings to its integration into various aspects of daily life. The conversation then expands to include the Enneagram personality system, which Daniel is particularly passionate about. In contin...

This week Jun and Daniel discuss some major news headlines from August and September 2024 in Korea. They cover topics including a pilot program bringing Filipino nannies to Korea, the ongoing doctor strike, and a deepfake porn scandal. The hosts explore the cultural context and public reactions to these issues, touching on themes of immigration, online privacy, and healthcare policy. They also dis...

This week Jun and Daniel review the popular Korean Netflix cooking competition show "Culinary Class Wars" (흑백요리사). They discuss the show's format, cultural aspects, and why it has become such a sensation in Korea. Our hosts compare fine dining experiences in Korea vs the US, debate the merits of peelers vs knives in the kitchen, and explore concepts of teamwork and hierarchy as...

This week Jun and Daniel explore the world of small talk through conversations with random strangers on the Connecting app. Our hosts discuss cultural differences in social interactions between Korea and America, practice their own small talk skills, and gather interesting perspectives from their chat partners. Topics range from stereotypes Koreans and Americans have of each other, to experiences...

This week Jun and Daniel dive into the world of Korean names and family genealogy. Listen as our hosts explore the cultural significance, history, and trends around names in Korea compared to America. What are the most common Korean last names and how did they originate? How do Koreans choose names for their children and what do the characters mean? What are some generational trends in Korean name...

This week Jun and Daniel dedicate another episode to run through Daniel’s constantly growing and evolving list of notes on daily life in Korea. Our hosts tackle a 짬뽕 (hodgepodge) of topics ranging from apartment community life to driving habits and hierarchy-based social expectations. What does Daniel find depressing about his apartment living situation? Which part of the metric system is Daniel...

This week Jun and Daniel dive into the latest trends sweeping across Korea. From viral language catchphrases to K-pop sensations, luxury athleisure wear to running crews, and electric vehicles to trendy desserts, our hosts explore what's hot in various aspects of Korean society. They discuss the origins of these trends, debate their staying power, and share personal experiences with some of t...

This week Jun and Daniel discuss the 2024 Paris Olympics. They cover highlights from Korea's performance, memorable moments, and reflect on famous Korean Olympians throughout history. The hosts also explore cultural differences in how Korea and America approach the Olympics, from medal counting methods to how athletes are celebrated. If you're interested in hearing about breakout stars l...

This week Jun and Daniel discuss Korean shamanism and occult practices through a review of the popular Korean movie "Exhuma" (or "파묘" in Korean). How integrated is shamanism in modern Korean society? What are some common superstitions and spiritual practices in Korea? How does the movie portray traditional Korean beliefs and anti-Japanese sentiment? What aspects of the film m...

This week Jun and Daniel discuss some notable news headlines from July 2024. What led to the scandal surrounding popular mukbang YouTuber Tzuyang, and what does it reveal about Korea's entertainment industry and cyber bullying culture? How significant is the recent Supreme Court ruling recognizing same-sex couples' rights, and what might it signal for LGBTQ+ progress in Korea? Are Gen Z...

This week Daniel shares his reflections after spending a month back in the United States with his family. Listen in as Daniel and Jun discuss the stark differences between life in Korea versus America, from diverse communities to driving habits to portion sizes. What aspects of American life did Daniel miss most while living in Korea? How did his perspective on the US change after living abroad? W...

This week Jun and Daniel are joined by special guests Young and Grace to discuss parenting in Korea vs. America. How does the Korean postpartum care system differ from the U.S.? What level of independence do Korean parents give their children compared to American parents? How do discipline styles vary between the cultures? What is the hagwon system and why is it so prevalent in Korea? How do defin...

This week Jun and Daniel discuss E-sports and gaming culture with a friend of the show and professional gaming coach, Wizard Hyeong. Korea is famously known as the birthplace of Esports, where the Korean e-Sports Association (KeSPA), an arm of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, was founded in 2000 to promote and regulate esports in the country. From PC Bangs to TV channels dedicated to s...

This week Jun and Daniel experiment with a new format in which they read and respond to various channels of fan and follower engagement. For the inaugural episode, our hosts look at comments left on their Instagram Reels and YouTube media. After reading and discussing some of the most popular comments, our hosts then give each a rating from mild, to spicy, to incendiary, and discuss. How can our K...

This week Jun and Daniel take on another so-called pillar of Korean culture and society: han. How does Jun define han, and what issue does he take with the definition from its Wikipedia page? What was behind Jun’s initial reluctance to dedicate an episode to this topic? What are some of our hosts’ personal examples of han? What does it mean to have han at a national level? What are some other coun...