In this episode, Annie and Sharon sit down with Lydia Lim, host of the Cheonggaeguri podcast, for an honest conversation about faith, family, Korean church culture, and the evolving relationship between immigrant parents and their children. Lydia shares why she began recording candid conversations with her dad, how her family responded when she stopped attending church, and what she has learned about boundaries, acceptance, and communicating without trying to change one another. Together, they explore the pressure placed on pastors’ kids, the church’s role in Korean American identity, differences between Christianity in Korea and the diaspora, and the ways younger generations are approaching mental health and difficult family conversations more openly. It’s a thoughtful and often funny look at leaving church while continuing to love—and be loved by—the people who remain. In this episode we cover: 00:00 — Welcome and introduction to Lydia Lim 02:04 — Meet Lydia: PK, marketer, dancer, and “problem kid” 04:23 — Starting a podcast with her pastor dad 08:01 — Listener reactions, faith, and leaving church 10:55 — Telling her parents she would no longer attend church 16:21 — When church comes before family 19:24 — Returning to Korea and reverse culture shock 21:08 — Korean church as community and cultural identity 24:49 — Christianity in Korea versus Korean American churches 29:39 — Transparency, disagreement, and challenging religious authority 34:35 — Konglish, language loss, and Korean American identity 36:39 — How the podcast changed Lydia’s relationship with her dad 41:01 — The positive and painful sides of being a pastor’s kid 43:03 — Setting boundaries with Korean parents 46:02 — The meaning behind the Cheonggaeguri podcast 47:37 — Lydia’s evolving exit from church and Christianity 51:25 — Reflections on Gen Z, therapy, and healthier communication 57:45 — What went well—and what the hosts would do differently 1:05:49 — Closing and a preview of the next episode Sharon Kwon, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, psychotherapist, writer, and founder of Bodhi Aware Therapy. Sharon specializes in working with Korean Americans who have struggled with overcoming religious trauma and spiritual abuse. She has worked in private and community mental health settings with immigrant families struggling with intergenerational trauma. Sharon’s writing has been published in Huff Post, SLATE Magazine, SELF Magazine, and Psychology Today. Sharon is an avid traveller and fan of all things “K”—dramas, food, soccer, etc. She is currently based in Los Angeles, CA. Get to know her on Instagram @talkwithsharon or via her website: www.sharonkwon.com. Sion Lim (임시온) is a self-proclaimed “Koreanist” with a special passion to learn more about Korean Diaspora all over the world. She goes by her naturalized middle name, Annie. Her desire to connect with her K-side stems from her days as a graduate student at SOAS and as a former educator at Osaka Board of Education and Stanford University. Before becoming a podcaster, Annie's latest career adventure was with Silicon Valley corporations (fun!) ranging from Samsung to video games before the AI takeover. She currently resides in San Francisco with her husband and 3 kitties and would share more with you through her instagram, @sionannielim. If you enjoyed our podcast, please don't forget to rate us and leave a comment! Follow us on Instagram @2pkspod to connect with us. Episode Credits: Produced by Sharon Kwon and Annie Lim Mixed by Abdul Wasay Music: Risen by Gavin Luke via Epidemic Sounds Links: Follow us on our website and on Instagram!
