Korean. American. Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis
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Korean. American. Podcast
Daniel and Jun
Frequency: 1 episode/9d. Total Eps: 123
How does modern day Korea compare to America? Join co-hosts Daniel and Jun every week as they explore a topic and discuss it from both the American and Korean perspective. If you're looking to learn more about Korean society and culture, are a part of the Korean diaspora and curious how Korea has changed since you, your parents, or your grandparents left, or are simply interested in broadening your personal worldview and perspective, then we hope you'll listen in and join us on this journey!
Host Bios
Daniel, a Korean American in his 30s, was born and raised in the US, having lived in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and California. During the pandemic, realizing that time is precious, he moved with his wife and young children to Korea in 2021 to help them connect with their cultural heritage and to expand their global cultural awareness. He has a background in software engineering, works as an investor, and enjoys basketball and gaming.
Jun, a native Korean in his 30s, was born in Daegu, where he also spent his childhood years. After moving to Seoul for college, he went to the US (Boston) for grad school, but returned to Seoul after and has lived there ever since. He has a background in architecture, works as a product designer, makes ice cream, and is a drummer in a band.
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See allScore global : 42%
Publication history
Monthly episode publishing history over the past years.
Episode 109: The Wailing(곡성) Review (Media)
jeudi 13 novembre 2025 • Duration 01:12:19
This week Jun and Daniel dive deep into a media review of "The Wailing" (곡성), the critically acclaimed 2016 Korean horror film directed by Na Hong-jin. They begin by unpacking the clever wordplay behind the Korean title—"Gokseong" doubles as both the name of the real Korean city where the film is set and the Chinese character meaning "wailing." The hosts explore the film's complex narrative structure, debating whether the mysterious Japanese man is truly a demon or just an unfortunate scapegoat, analyzing the deacon character's true motivations, and discussing the tragic ending where the protagonist's choices lead to devastating consequences. They examine the film's commentary on faith, superstition, and mob mentality, while also touching on the masterful cinematography, the haunting shaman ritual scene, and the unforgettable performances.
If you're interested in understanding why this film is considered one of Korea's most important horror achievements, how Korean shamanism and religious syncretism create the story's ambiguity, why the film's open-ended interpretation makes it endlessly rewatchable, or Daniel's instant regret watching a horror film late at night in the dark, tune in to hear Daniel and Jun discuss all this and more! This episode also features discussion about recognizing famous Korean actors (including Hwang Jung-min, one of Korea's top movie stars), comparisons to The Blair Witch Project, and reflections on how the film uses the real city of Gokseong as its setting.
As a reminder, we publish our episodes bi-weekly from Seoul, South Korea. We hope you enjoy listening to our conversation, and we're so excited to have you following us on this journey!
We hope you enjoy listening to our conversation, and we're so excited to have you following us on this journey!
Support us on Patreon:
https://patreon.com/user?u=99211862
Follow us on socials:
https://www.instagram.com/koreanamericanpodcast/
https://twitter.com/korampodcast
https://www.tiktok.com/@koreanamericanpodcast
Questions/Comments/Feedback? Email us at: koreanamericanpodcast@gmail.com
Member of the iyagi media network (www.iyagimedia.com)
Episode 108: Chuseok Recaps, Scammers, No Kings Protests and Tapgol Park Changes
jeudi 30 octobre 2025 • Duration 01:43:12
This week Jun and Daniel return from their extended Chuseok holiday break to discuss a range of topics starting with daily life observations about technology, from wireless floor fans to Tesla's touchscreen interfaces to the state of autonomous vehicles in both the US and Korea. They then share their Chuseok vacation experiences, with Jun describing his MT-style trip to Gapyeong and Daniel reflecting on his trip to Seodaemun prison and museum. The conversation then shifts to significant news including the No Kings protests—massive nationwide demonstrations against Donald Trump's second presidential term in 2025—the controversial ban on Chinese chess at Tapgol Park in Seoul, the tragic incident involving Koreans in Cambodia, and the W Magazine Breast Cancer Awareness campaign controversy. The episode concludes with listener questions about Korean apartment uniformity and a spirited debate about nunchi, sparked by a question from a previous guest episode.
If you're interested in understanding how Korean efficiency and collectivism shape everything from apartment design to consumer products, learning about the No Kings movement and its significance in American politics, exploring the concept of nunchi and indirect communication in Korean culture, or hearing about nonprofit youth programs bridging Korean and American communities, tune in to hear Daniel and Jun discuss all this and more!
As a reminder, we record one episode a week in-person from Seoul, South Korea. We hope you enjoy listening to our conversation, and we're so excited to have you following us on this journey!:
Sponsored Content
This episode is sponsored by City Youth Martial Arts, a nonprofit taekwondo program serving Milwaukee's diverse urban neighborhoods. Find out more at https://cityyouthmartialarts.org
We hope you enjoy listening to our conversation, and we're so excited to have you following us on this journey!
Support us on Patreon:
https://patreon.com/user?u=99211862
Follow us on socials:
https://www.instagram.com/koreanamericanpodcast/
https://twitter.com/korampodcast
https://www.tiktok.com/@koreanamericanpodcast
Questions/Comments/Feedback? Email us at: koreanamericanpodcast@gmail.com
Member of the iyagi media network (www.iyagimedia.com)
Episode 99: The Match Review (Media)
jeudi 29 mai 2025 • Duration 01:59:00
This week Jun and Daniel review the popular Korean film "The Match" (승부), which tells the story of two legendary Go players in Korea during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Our hosts explore the cultural significance of Go in Korean society, discussing how it was once one of the four major activities Korean children would pursue alongside math academies, taekwondo, and piano. They delve into the controversy surrounding the film's star Yoo Ah-in and his drug scandal, examining Korea's strict cancellation culture and how it differs between actors, K-pop stars, and politicians. The conversation expands to cover the historic AlphaGo vs. Lee Sedol match in 2016 and its symbolic impact on Korean society's understanding of AI. Through scene-by-scene analysis, they highlight cultural details from 1980s Korea including car parades for international achievements, traditional family hierarchies, smoking culture, and nostalgic elements like fumigation trucks and Nikon cameras as status symbols.
If you're interested in learning about the cultural significance of Go in East Asian societies, understanding Korea's approach to celebrity scandals and cancellation culture, exploring the philosophical differences between individualism and traditional hierarchy in Korean society, or discovering nostalgic details about 1980s Korean life including housing styles and family dynamics, tune in to hear Daniel and Jun discuss all this and more! This episode also touches on topics like the decline of Go's popularity in modern Korea, the East Asian "Cold War" competition in Go between Korea, Japan, and China, and how the film serves as a metaphor for Korea's journey from copying to innovating on the global stage.
We hope you enjoy listening to our conversation, and we're so excited to have you following us on this journey!
Support us on Patreon:
https://patreon.com/user?u=99211862
Follow us on socials:
https://www.instagram.com/koreanamericanpodcast/
https://twitter.com/korampodcast
https://www.tiktok.com/@koreanamericanpodcast
Questions/Comments/Feedback? Email us at: koreanamericanpodcast@gmail.com
Member of the iyagi media network (www.iyagimedia.com)
Episode 9: The 80-Hour School Week (Education)
jeudi 7 septembre 2023 • Duration 45:33
This week Jun and Daniel take a first stab at tackling a fairly big topic in Korea: the education system. It wasn’t that long ago that Korean students went to school from morning to midnight, six days a week. While this is technically no longer the case, in practice, not much has changed. Why are Koreans so obsessed with education? How does a day in the life of a Korean and an American high school student compare? How much homework do Korean students get? What is a common stereotype that Koreans have of American schools? How does the college admissions process work? What do planes and police have to do with the Korean SAT? How has the role of public school teachers changed? Why does Daniel love the daycare/preschools in Korea? Who are some of the top earners in Korea?
If you're interested in any of these questions, tune in to hear Daniel and Jun discuss all this and more! This week we also learn a bit about what Jun was like in high school, a nerdy programming joke from Daniel, and whether our parents really did walk uphill 5 miles both ways through the snow to get to school.
We hope you enjoy listening to our conversation, and we're so excited to have you following us on this journey!
Support us on Patreon:
https://patreon.com/user?u=99211862
Follow us on socials:
https://www.instagram.com/koreanamericanpodcast/
https://twitter.com/korampodcast
https://www.tiktok.com/@koreanamericanpodcast
Questions/Comments/Feedback? Email us at: koreanamericanpodcast@gmail.com
Member of the iyagi media network (www.iyagimedia.com)
Episode 8: Everywhere Bagels (Trends)
jeudi 31 août 2023 • Duration 34:02
This week Jun and Daniel explore the phenomenon of how things become “trending” (viral) in Korea. You may have heard of the honey butter chip craze back in 2015, but what are some more recent food trends that went viral in Korea? You may have heard of screen golf, but what other popular sport has Korea turned into an indoor screen game? What does Daniel believe are the three ingredients for a sport or hobby to go viral in Korea, and does pickleball fit the bill? How do viral trends in Korea and America differ, and why?
If you're interested in any of these questions, tune in to hear Daniel and Jun discuss all this and more! This week we also learn what an “open run” is, one of Daniel’s favorite snacks, and why it’s easier to get BTS tickets in the US than it is in Korea.
We hope you enjoy listening to our conversation, and we're so excited to have you following us on this journey!
Support us on Patreon:
https://patreon.com/user?u=99211862
Follow us on socials:
https://www.instagram.com/koreanamericanpodcast/
https://twitter.com/korampodcast
https://www.tiktok.com/@koreanamericanpodcast
Questions/Comments/Feedback? Email us at: koreanamericanpodcast@gmail.com
Member of the iyagi media network (www.iyagimedia.com)
Episode 7: Won't You Be My Neighbor? (Relationships)
jeudi 24 août 2023 • Duration 34:46
This week Jun and Daniel explore Jun’s first time meeting his mysterious next-door neighbor, and generally discuss the differences between how Koreans and Americans view human connection. Why is knowing someone’s name a big deal in Korea? What do Koreans think of small talk? How does the size and composition of social circles differ between the two countries? How should you respond if a Korean comes up to you and starts talking to you? How will Koreans respond if you just start talking with them?
If you're interested in any of these questions, tune in to hear Daniel and Jun discuss all this and more! This week we also touch on Daniel’s quest to get to know his neighbors, a fun fact from the Joseon era, and Jun’s awkward nightmare.
We hope you enjoy listening to our conversation, and we're so excited to have you following us on this journey!
Support us on Patreon:
https://patreon.com/user?u=99211862
Follow us on socials:
https://www.instagram.com/koreanamericanpodcast/
https://twitter.com/korampodcast
https://www.tiktok.com/@koreanamericanpodcast
Questions/Comments/Feedback? Email us at: koreanamericanpodcast@gmail.com
Member of the iyagi media network (www.iyagimedia.com)
Episode 6: Size Matters (Geography)
vendredi 18 août 2023 • Duration 27:02
Listen this week as Jun and Daniel discuss matters of scale. South Korea is the size of Indiana, with the population of California, Washington, and Oregon combined. How does it’s relatively small geographical size and incredible density impact life and society? You've heard of the movie Train to Busan, but is this actually a thing in Korea? What intra-Korea flight is the most flown in the world? How is public transportation in Korea, and why is it world class? Why is every tropical location other than Jeju island ruined as a vacation destination for Daniel?
If you're interested in any of these questions, tune in to hear Daniel and Jun discuss all this and more! This week we also touch on the Kim family north of us (Korea), state pride, deliveries, and child care, as we try not to offend our (American) friendly neighbors up north.
We hope you enjoy listening to our conversation, and we're so excited to have you following us on this journey!
Support us on Patreon:
https://patreon.com/user?u=99211862
Follow us on socials:
https://www.instagram.com/koreanamericanpodcast/
https://twitter.com/korampodcast
https://www.tiktok.com/@koreanamericanpodcast
Questions/Comments/Feedback? Email us at: koreanamericanpodcast@gmail.com
Member of the iyagi media network (www.iyagimedia.com)
Episode 5: i do, thank u, next (Weddings)
jeudi 10 août 2023 • Duration 52:33
Join hosts Daniel and Jun as they discuss one of the biggest and oldest traditions: weddings. Daniel recently attended his very first Korean wedding, and came away with a lot of comparisons to American-style weddings. Meanwhile, Jun has many questions as a native Korean having never attended an American wedding, but seeing them depicted often in shows and movies. What does a typical wedding in Korea look like? Do Koreans still do 폐백 (pyebaek), or is it seen as too old-fashioned? What happens in the months leading up to the wedding? Between the food, cake, gifts, guest list, bridal party, bouquet toss, and favors, how do these compare across the two styles of weddings? What might an American find most appealing about a Korean wedding?
If you're interested in any of these questions, tune in to hear Daniel and Jun discuss all this and more!
We hope you enjoy listening to our conversation, and we're so excited to have you following us on this journey!
Support us on Patreon:
https://patreon.com/user?u=99211862
Follow us on socials:
https://www.instagram.com/koreanamericanpodcast/
https://twitter.com/korampodcast
https://www.tiktok.com/@koreanamericanpodcast
Questions/Comments/Feedback? Email us at: koreanamericanpodcast@gmail.com
Member of the iyagi media network (www.iyagimedia.com)
Episode 4: Do You Even Lift? (Beauty)
jeudi 3 août 2023 • Duration 28:37
Join hosts Daniel and Jun as they discuss cosmetic surgery. It's well known that Korea is one of most famous places in the world for getting these procedures done. How much does it cost? Do men get it too? How is it perceived, and how has that changed over time? How does being immersed in this culture impact how an American thinks about it? Do Koreans still attach a photo with all of their resumes? What are one's 'specs' and why are Korean's obsessed with them?
If you're interested in any of these questions, tune in to hear Daniel and Jun discuss all this and more!
We hope you enjoy listening to our conversation, and we're so excited to have you following us on this journey!
Support us on Patreon:
https://patreon.com/user?u=99211862
Follow us on socials:
https://www.instagram.com/koreanamericanpodcast/
https://twitter.com/korampodcast
https://www.tiktok.com/@koreanamericanpodcast
Questions/Comments/Feedback? Email us at: koreanamericanpodcast@gmail.com
Member of the iyagi media network (www.iyagimedia.com)
Episode 3: An Ounce of Prevention (Healthcare)
dimanche 30 juillet 2023 • Duration 38:39
Join hosts Daniel and Jun as they discuss the differences in health care between Korea and America. As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Every year, Koreans get a comprehensive preventative health screening. What is it like? Why are Koreans in dramas always hooked up to an IV? Are Koreans still smoking as much as before? What is it like being in a country with universal health care? As an American, are you always Google searching "when am I sick enough to go to the hospital"? What are all exchange students from Korea warned about before going to the US? As broken as the health care system in the US seems to be, what does an American living in Korea miss about it? What do ahjussis and NBA stars have in common? Why do Koreans prefer to "sweat it out" when they have fevers? What do dentists in Korea and the US have in common? Have you ever gotten "scaling" done from the dentist?
If you're interested in any of these questions, tune in to hear Daniel and Jun discuss all this and more!
We hope you enjoy listening to our conversation, and we're so excited to have you following us on this journey!
Support us on Patreon:
https://patreon.com/user?u=99211862
Follow us on socials:
https://www.instagram.com/koreanamericanpodcast/
https://twitter.com/korampodcast
https://www.tiktok.com/@koreanamericanpodcast
Questions/Comments/Feedback? Email us at: koreanamericanpodcast@gmail.com
Member of the iyagi media network (www.iyagimedia.com)
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