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 122: The Beginning of the End
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This week, Jun and Daniel sit down for a very special, albeit bittersweet, episode disguised as a fake media review of the movie Decision to Leave. After five beautiful and transformative years of living in South Korea, Daniel makes the official announcement: his family is packing up and moving back to the United States this summer.
The hosts spend the episode reflecting on Daniel’s incredible five-year journey from a temporary visitor to a seasoned local. They discuss the logical factors driving the move (specifically, navigating the education system as their kids approach middle school), Daniel’s evolution from being terrified of the Korean bus system to finding peace in the culture, and why maintaining a "temporary visitor mentality" for five years remains his biggest regret. Daniel also shares his most cherished memory of experiencing true, spontaneous neighborhood Jeong over convenience store ice cream.
If you’re interested in why Jun's lack of an "American fantasy" makes him feel more Korean than his peers, what Daniel's retirement plans in Busan might look like, or the ultimate fate of the Korean American Podcast once Daniel crosses the Pacific, this episode is a must-listen. Finally, the guys announce their plan to donate all their accumulated Patreon and YouTube earnings to a good cause, and they need your help deciding where it should go!
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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