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.
Korean. American. Podcast
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 less like a global competition and more like a "love letter" to Korean cuisine, ingredients, and geography. They discuss the shift in casting—notably the lack of foreign chefs compared to season one—and analyze the distinct narrative arcs that made this season emotionally resonant, from the "Loner Chef" to the tear-jerking backstories of the "Black Spoon" underdogs.
If you’re interested in understanding why a "vegan Dweji-gomtang" (pork soup) is a cultural oxymoron that made a judge smirk, the ethics of cooking live crabs in Korea versus the US, or why Koreans consider tofu to be a "perfect food" while Americans might find it bland, this episode is for you. We also dive into the cultural pressure to be humble versus confident, and a deep philosophical discussion sparked by the show’s finale about "doing things for yourself" versus living for societal expectations.
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!
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