Korean. American. Podcast

Daniel and Jun
  • 5.0 (12)
  • Personal Journals
  • Updated Weekly

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 BiosDaniel, 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.

  1. 11 hrs ago

    Episode 125: A Stockholm Castle Wedding, Jeonse Stress, and Kids’ Milestones

    This week, Jun and Daniel delay the topic they were supposed to discuss and instead catch up after Daniel's recent trip to Stockholm, Sweden. Daniel brings back some authentic Swedish Fish and speed-runs his observations on Nordic life—from the beautifully balanced philosophy of lagom, the prevalence of dads out alone with their young children, and the sheer amount of bicyclists flying about town. He also recounts his deeply emotional "Avicii pilgrimage," surviving Finnish airport security, and the highly structured, chant-filled festivities of a Swedish castle wedding, while Jun adds on with the "SwedenGate" hospitality debate that went viral in Korea. If you're interested in learning about what Daniel’s biggest stress is, logistics-wise, with his impending move back to the US, some recent trends our hosts have observed, or what surprisingly expensive item Jun may or may not have, tune in to hear Daniel and Jun discuss all this and more! The hosts also take a moment to express their heartfelt gratitude for the flood of touching listener emails following the announcement of the podcast's end. 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! Support the show We hope you enjoy listening to our conversation, and we're so excited to have you following us on this journey! Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/user?u=99211862 Follow us on socials: https://www.instagram.com/koreanamericanpodcast/ https://twitter.com/korampodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@koreanamericanpodcast Questions/Comments/Feedback? Email us at: koreanamericanpodcast@gmail.com Member of the iyagi media network (www.iyagimedia.com)

    59 min

  2. Jun 13

    A Special Announcement

    🎉 We're finally doing it! After a year and a half of talking about it, we're having our very first (and probably only 😅) in-person Korean. American. Podcast meet-up! Come hang out with us, grab some food and drinks on us, ask us anything, take a photo, and meet fellow listeners. We'll also have a small giveaway for attendees. 📅 Monday, June 22 🕖 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM 📍 Tap Public (Pangyo Station Branch) A few reasons to come: 🍻 Food & drinks on us  📸 Photo opportunities  🎙️ Ask us anything 🎁 Small giveaway We've had so many people suggest a meet-up over the years, and before Daniel heads out, we wanted to make it happen at least once. No formal agenda. No speeches. Just a relaxed evening hanging out, chatting, and getting to know everyone. We know this is very short notice, and we're sorry about that. But we're genuinely excited to finally meet some of you in person. Hope to see you there! ❤️ — Daniel & Jun Support the show We hope you enjoy listening to our conversation, and we're so excited to have you following us on this journey! Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/user?u=99211862 Follow us on socials: https://www.instagram.com/koreanamericanpodcast/ https://twitter.com/korampodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@koreanamericanpodcast Questions/Comments/Feedback? Email us at: koreanamericanpodcast@gmail.com Member of the iyagi media network (www.iyagimedia.com)

    3 min

  3. Jun 11

    Episode 124: The One With the Little Guests

    This week, Jun and Daniel sit down for a very special, one-of-a-kind episode featuring four unprecedented guests: Daniel’s children! Ranging in age from 3 to 11, the kids have spent the last five years growing up in South Korea, and with the family’s impending move back to the United States, Daniel and Jun wanted to capture their unique perspectives as a family time capsule. If you’re interested in what third culture kids think about transitioning from Korean elementary schools to American ones, how playground politics are divided by language fluency, or the hilarious ways children interpret adult podcast conversations (hint: interest rates and elevators), this episode is a must-listen. The kids also share their earliest memories of moving to Korea during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic—including the two-week mandatory quarantine, daily cotton swabs, and the indoor arcade in their temporary housing. We even get a live, unscripted Pokémon card unboxing! 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 Support the show We hope you enjoy listening to our conversation, and we're so excited to have you following us on this journey! Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/user?u=99211862 Follow us on socials: https://www.instagram.com/koreanamericanpodcast/ https://twitter.com/korampodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@koreanamericanpodcast Questions/Comments/Feedback? Email us at: koreanamericanpodcast@gmail.com Member of the iyagi media network (www.iyagimedia.com)

    52 min

  4. May 29

    Episode 123: A Busan Birthday, Tank Day Disaster, and Spitting Watermelon Seeds

    This week, Jun and Daniel sit down for their final "regular" episode before Daniel's upcoming move back to the US. Daniel shares the stressful reality of his international moving logistics, from the staggering drop in the USD-KRW exchange rate destroying the value of his Jeonse deposit, to the uniquely Korean anxiety of landlords holding deposits hostage until a new tenant moves in. Meanwhile, Jun recounts his birthday trip to Busan's trendy Jeonpo-dong and his observations from the Seoul Jazz Festival, where leaving luxury bags unattended on picnic blankets and organizing synchronized audience light shows is perfectly normal. If you're interested in the disastrous Starbucks Korea "Tank Day" marketing fail that mocked the Gwangju Uprising and led to the CEO's resignation, why Korean men are increasingly embracing Kkeul-gyeo (shaved armpits) to match the asexual aesthetic of K-Pop idols, or the massive FOMO driving Samsung employees to strike over SK Hynix's insane profit-sharing bonuses, this episode is a must-listen. The hosts also discuss the cultural etiquette of spitting watermelon seeds, the depressing reality of Korea's only legal casino for locals, and unbox some incredibly thoughtful listener gifts sent from around the world. 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! Support the show We hope you enjoy listening to our conversation, and we're so excited to have you following us on this journey! Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/user?u=99211862 Follow us on socials: https://www.instagram.com/koreanamericanpodcast/ https://twitter.com/korampodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@koreanamericanpodcast Questions/Comments/Feedback? Email us at: koreanamericanpodcast@gmail.com Member of the iyagi media network (www.iyagimedia.com)

    1h 49m

  5. May 14

    Episode 122: The Beginning of the End

    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! Support the show We hope you enjoy listening to our conversation, and we're so excited to have you following us on this journey! Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/user?u=99211862 Follow us on socials: https://www.instagram.com/koreanamericanpodcast/ https://twitter.com/korampodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@koreanamericanpodcast Questions/Comments/Feedback? Email us at: koreanamericanpodcast@gmail.com Member of the iyagi media network (www.iyagimedia.com)

    44 min

  6. Apr 30

    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 endless street food options on Hwangridan-gil, before showing off his incredibly lucky $3 denim jacket find at a Korean Goodwill. Daniel also recounts a rare, magical streak of spontaneous social interactions—from hosting their kids' tutor for a homemade taco night to a five-hour, impromptu neighborhood playground hangout that gave him a heartwarming preview of what community life in America might look like. If you're interested in the traumatic, old-school Korean school gate "hair checks", why Jun desperately avoids making eye contact with the older men at his 7:30 AM gym sessions, or why Daniel no longer feels the urge to offer help to the growing number of foreigners in Pangyo, this episode is for you. The hosts also dive into a deep culinary debate about American vs. Korean snack profiles, explaining why US Doritos and gum pack a much heavier punch, and analyzing the cultural divide between Korean sweet potatoes (Goguma) baked into pizzas and cakes versus American yams smothered in marshmallows. 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! Sponsorship Note:  This episode contains a paid sponsorship for KimlyParc. KimlyParc is the premiere instant coffee brand with amazing flavors and the highest quality ingredients. This week, we are so excited to highlight their brand new Sweet Potato Latte! Made with real Korean sweet potato (Goguma) extract and naturally sweetened with allulose, it's a rich, caffeine-free treat that tastes amazing both hot and iced. If you’re in the US, head to kimlyparc.com and use the code “KAP20” at checkout to get 20% off your order today. If you’re in Korea, search “킴리팍” on Naver. US: https://kimlyparc.com/discount/KAP20  Korea: https://smartstore.naver.com/kimlyparc Support the show We hope you enjoy listening to our conversation, and we're so excited to have you following us on this journey! Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/user?u=99211862 Follow us on socials: https://www.instagram.com/koreanamericanpodcast/ https://twitter.com/korampodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@koreanamericanpodcast Questions/Comments/Feedback? Email us at: koreanamericanpodcast@gmail.com Member of the iyagi media network (www.iyagimedia.com)

    2h 14m

  7. Apr 15

    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 than focusing on the big picture. Meanwhile, Daniel navigates his first Korean elementary school Iphaksik (entrance ceremony), observing everything from a surprisingly sobering speech by the principal to the painstakingly meticulous cultural requirement of labeling every single colored pencil with a name sticker. If you're interested in why Daniel's midnight comfort food has evolved into a bizarre "Spam Dubu Kimchi" hybrid, the game-theory brilliance behind Korea's shared traffic accident liability rules (where it's rarely 100-to-0), or why K-Pop idols are ironically wearing retro floral "Kimjang vests," this episode has it all. We also review BTS's massive, city-stopping comeback performance at Gwanghwamun Palace, marvel at Apple's genius Korean pun for their new M5 chip, and unpack a listener's email that leads to Daniel's realization that Pangyo might be the absolute worst place in Korea to experience true community and "Jeong." 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! Support the show We hope you enjoy listening to our conversation, and we're so excited to have you following us on this journey! Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/user?u=99211862 Follow us on socials: https://www.instagram.com/koreanamericanpodcast/ https://twitter.com/korampodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@koreanamericanpodcast Questions/Comments/Feedback? Email us at: koreanamericanpodcast@gmail.com Member of the iyagi media network (www.iyagimedia.com)

    2h 13m

  8. Apr 2

    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 man who loses his corporate job and resorts to lethal measures against his competitors to win it back. The hosts break down the film's stark social commentary on the "American Dream" in a Korean setting, the brilliant subversion of the corporate rat race, and the terrifying reality of an AI-driven dystopian future. If you’re interested in why Koreans historically associate eel and "Bokbunja" (raspberry wine) with male stamina, the quirky 1980s history behind naming dry cleaners "Computer Cleaning," or why giving shoes as a romantic gift in Korea is a terrible idea, this episode is for you. We also discuss the shifting symbols of luxury cars—from the classic 90s Hyundai "Gak-Grandeur" to the Cadillac Escalade—the Korean cultural stigma surrounding layoffs compared to the US, and why the idiom "an aching tooth falling out" perfectly captures the film's chaotic climax. 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! Support the show We hope you enjoy listening to our conversation, and we're so excited to have you following us on this journey! Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/user?u=99211862 Follow us on socials: https://www.instagram.com/koreanamericanpodcast/ https://twitter.com/korampodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@koreanamericanpodcast Questions/Comments/Feedback? Email us at: koreanamericanpodcast@gmail.com Member of the iyagi media network (www.iyagimedia.com)

    1h 29m
See All (126)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

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 BiosDaniel, 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.

Information

  • Creator
    Daniel and Jun
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    126
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Korean. American. Podcast
  • Show Website
    Korean. American. Podcast

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