Episode 89: Communities, Social Circles, and Third Places (Culture)

This week Jun and Daniel dive into a deep exploration of social circles in Korea compared to America. Daniel shares his recent experience joining a church community group after five years, which sparks the main discussion about how social connections form differently across cultures. The hosts debate whether Korean social groups are more like "cliques" while American groups function as broader "communities," examining why Koreans tend to form smaller, deeper, and more exclusive social circles compared to the more open, expansive networks common in America. They explore the role of group harmony, hierarchy, and Korea's competitive society in shaping these differences, and discuss the concept of "third places" - neutral social environments outside of home and work - which Daniel feels are notably missing in modern Korean society.

If you're interested in understanding why Korean social groups often require multiple commonalities while American groups might form around just one shared interest, how utilitarian values factor into relationship-building in Korean society, or how much things have changed from the previous generation, tune in to hear Daniel and Jun discuss all this and more! Daniel also shares his personal struggles adapting to the Korean social landscape despite living in the country for well over three years.