Episode 126: Thank You, Halmonis

This week, Jun and Daniel sit down for a deeply personal and emotional episode dedicated to honoring the lives, sacrifices, and unconditional love of Daniel’s two halmonis (grandmothers). With his family's impending move back to the US, Daniel shares one of his biggest regrets: failing to formally archive his 102-year-old grandmother’s incredible life story before her memory faded.

Daniel recounts the awe-inspiring resilience of his paternal grandmother—who survived Japanese occupation and fled south during the Korean War with his one-year-old father strapped to her back, dodging guards and riding atop crowded train boxcars to reach Daegu. He then reads a touching eulogy written for his maternal grandmother in 2008, remembering her not just as an immigrant who moved to America to raise him, but as a college-educated woman, an orphanage director in Baengnyeongdo, and a living example of unconditional love. The hosts also discuss the broader generational shift in Korea, mourning the loss of the profound wisdom and history held by the last generation to live through the war.

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!