Korean. American. Podcast
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.
Episodes
121 episodes
Episode 121: A Spontaneous Dinner Guest, Spring Smiles, and The Joy of Defamiliarization
This week, Jun and Daniel ditch the "News and Trends" segments for a massive, all-encompassing "Daily Life" episode. Daniel shares his recent family trip to Gyeongju, reviewing the underwhelming scale of the Cheomseongdae observatory and the en...
Episode 120: A Korean 1st Grade Entrance Ceremony (입학식), BTS Comeback, and The Gift of Perspective
This week, Jun and Daniel catch up on their busy lives. Jun rants about his tech startup's obsession with AI efficiency over actual value, sparking a deep dive into why the Korean mindset fixates on perfecting "methodology" and process rather t...
Episode 119: No Other Choice (어쩔수가없다) Media Review
This week, Jun and Daniel sit down for a dedicated media review of Park Chan-wook's newly released dark comedy thriller, No Other Choice (어쩔수가없다). Starring heavyweights like Lee Byung-hun and Son Ye-jin, the film follows a desperate ma...
Episode 118: Korean Mu-ism, Spiritual Tarot Reading and Western Magic ft. Claire
Disclaimer: Everything shared in this conversation represents the guest's own personal experiences and perspectives — not advice, instruction, or advocacy of any kind.This week, Jun and Daniel welcome a very special guest, Clair...
Episode 117: A House Fire, The 5-Minute Dentist, Salad Utensils, and Matters of National Pride
This week, Jun and Daniel catch up on a whirlwind of events, starting with a frightening story about a fire at Jun's parents' house in Daegu that led to an unexpected fridge-clearing catharsis. Daniel shares observations from his recent trips t...
Episode 116: A 2964% Bonus, Indirectness Overload, and The Complexity of Taking a Stand
This week, Jun and Daniel dive back into their regular programming with a packed episode. Daniel shares his recent first-time shopping experience for men's skincare at Olive Young and his realization that he completely missed the start of the M...
Episode 115: Dubai Chewy Cookies, The K-Town Time Capsule, and The Sacredness of Goodbyes
This week, Jun and Daniel return from a month-long hiatus packed with international travel. Jun shares his experience in Los Angeles, discussing the eerie perfection of Waymo’s autonomous taxis, the specific "80s accent" found in Koreatown, and...
Episode 114: Culinary Class Wars 2 Media Review
This week, Jun and Daniel sit down to review the highly anticipated second season of "Culinary Class Wars" (흑백요리사). In a break from their usual format, the hosts dedicate the entire episode to dissecting the show, noting how this season felt le...
Episode 113: Outside the Seas Vacations, D+4 Kimchi, and Yet Another Data Leak
This week, Jun and Daniel kick off 2026 (while still technically in 2025) with a travel-centric episode filled with cultural observations. Daniel recounts his family trip to Okinawa, sharing his struggles with driving on the "wrong" side of the...
Episode 112: 2025 Year End Wrap Up “SSAMary”
This week, Jun and Daniel celebrate Christmas and close out 2025 with their third annual "Ssamary"—a comprehensive year-end wrap-up. The episode begins with a look at their current holiday vibes, exploring why Daniel is struggling to feel festi...
Episode 111: Pizza Injustice, American Jeong, and A Growing Sense of Home
This week, Jun and Daniel catch up on a busy month of events, kicking things off with Daniel’s participation in "No Shave November" and the cultural stigma surrounding beards in Korea. The conversation moves to a visit to a US Army base for Hal...
Episode 110: Silla Gold Crown, London Bagel Museum Controversy, Suneung English
This week Jun and Daniel discuss recent news and cultural trends from November 2025. The episode covers APEC 2025 hosted in Gyeongju where Korea gifted Trump a Shilla gold crown, contrasting Korean labor debates between the London Bagel Museum ...
Episode 109: The Wailing(곡성) Review (Media)
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 bo...
Episode 108: Chuseok Recaps, Scammers, No Kings Protests and Tapgol Park Changes
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...
Episode 107: On Moving to Korea For A Mid-Life Gap Year (ft. Raychel)
This week, Daniel and Jun sit down with Raychel McKelvy, a Black American teacher and aspiring actor who just moved to Korea from Chicago less than a month ago. Raychel shares her unique journey from living across multiple U.S. cities to taking...
Episode 106: Cilantro Sundae, Political Polarization, Violence in Media
This week Jun and Daniel discuss the evolution of acquired tastes in food, turbulent political news from America, controversial tech updates, and a thought-provoking listener perspective on violence in Western vs. East Asian culture. Daniel sha...
Episode 105: Summer Recaps, August News and Trends, and Podcast Updates
This week Jun and Daniel return after a two-and-a-half-month break with updates on the future of their podcast and stories from their summer European travels. They announce changes to their recording schedule required to maintain a predictable ...
Episode 104: K-Pop Demon Hunters Review (Media)
We’re back!This week Jun and Daniel finally tackle the highly anticipated media review of "K-Pop Demon Hunters" (or "케데헌" in Korea). After discussing the massive global success of the Netflix animated film—which became the number one Net...
Episode 103: Korean Etymology, Language Purification, and Hidden Origins ft. Byeong (Language)
⚠️Disclaimer⚠️This episode was recorded in early May while Daniel was traveling, as an experiment during their regular recording schedule. Some references may feel slightly dated as it's being released during their summer break.Th...
Episode 102: 100 Weeks of Korean. American. Podcast pt.3 (Podcast)
This week Jun and Daniel conclude their three-part series commemorating their 100th episode milestone by reflecting on episodes 67-99 of their podcast journey. They explore the evolution of their show from deep cultural discussions to more stru...
Episode 101: 100 Weeks of Korean. American. Podcast pt.2 (Podcast)
This week Jun and Daniel continue their milestone celebration by tackling episodes 34-66 in the second part of their three-part series honoring 100 episodes. From exploring the N-Po Generation's societal pressures to diving deep into Korean con...
Episode 100: 100 Weeks of Korean. American. Podcast pt.1 (Podcast)
This week Jun and Daniel celebrate reaching their 100th episode milestone by embarking on a comprehensive journey through their podcast's first 33 episodes. From their humble pilot episode recorded with a single microphone to exploring major cu...
Episode 99: The Match Review (Media)
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, dis...
Episode 98: Listener Grab Bag ft. Credit Cards, Board Games, Climate Change & Libraries (Media)
This week Jun and Daniel dedicate an episode to answering questions from their listeners via Patreon, Instagram, and email. From credit card rewards systems and loyalty points to board game culture and public libraries, our hosts tackle a varie...