Sarah and Grace were thrilled to have fellow Afternoona Delight Patreon member Susan on as a guest to discuss a favorite topic: Korean food. We chat about how we were each introduced to Korean food, what it consists of and its signature characteristics, how we have seen its popularity and influence grow, for better or worse, and how accurately it is portrayed in Korean dramas. This ended up being an extended conversation--what with tangents about memorable foods eaten on trips to Korea, all time favorite Korean dishes, and ones we still have on our foodie bucket list--so we have split it into two parts. We hope you enjoy listening to us talk about Korean food as much as we enjoyed discussing it!

Korean shows mentioned in this episode:

Goblin aka Guardian: The Great and Lonely God

Mr. Queen

Hospital Playlist 

My Dearest

Death's Game

Reply 1988

Singles' Inferno

I Live Alone

Crash Course in Romance

A further introduction to our guest, Susan, can be found here:

Afternoona Delight: Across Borders and Beyond K-Dramas

The review of green onion Chex mentioned in this episode

Some banchan recipes recently posted on Instagram, here, here, and here

Korean food mentioned in this episode: 
Jokbal 족발 
Galbi 갈비 (type of KBBQ, usually beef rib meat - samgyeopsal 삼겹살 is the other most popular KBBQ, that is pork belly)
Japchae 잡채 
Kimchi 김치
Pajeon 파전
Yachae twigim 야채튀김 
Naengmyeon 냉면 
Kimbab 김밥
Hot dog 핫도그 (we call them corn dogs, but the Korean kind rarely have corn meal batter and they aren't called that in Korea)
Chicken 치킨 (calling it by the Konglish word indicates you want the fried kind)
Tongdak 통닭 (this is also fried chicken, but the old fashioned whole-fried variety)
Banchan 반찬 
Doenjang jjigae 된장찌개
Hoe (sounds more like hweh) naengmyun 회냉면 
Hongeo hoe  홍어회
Ganjang gyejang 간장게장
Yangnyeom gyejang 양념게잔
Gyeran mari 계란말이

Sarah and Grace had fun discussing the Confucian elements found in Mr. Plankton, Grace's favorite Kdrama of 2024. We talked about the symbolism of traditional Korean wedding clothes, the importance of bloodlines in Confucianism, and why there is a stigma attached to being an orphan. Grace goes through the different meanings/word play found in the characters' names in the language section.

Sarah and Grace had a fascinating conversation with Professor Charles Kim about the history and culture of South Korean protest. We touched on ancient and modern stories of Korean resistance viewed as precursors to South Korean protest, the student protests that ousted the first South Korean president in 1960, the evolution of mass protest in South Korea over the 1970s and 1980s, and characteristics of its present-day culture of protest. We also discussed the way language changed in South Korea during the transition from the Japanese colonial era through post-Korean War in our language section.

Book: 

Youth for Nation: Culture and Protest in Cold War South Korea by Charles Kim

Korean dramas and reality shows mentioned in this episode (Charles's favorites with rankings in parentheses):
Signal (5)
Mr. Sunshine (4)
Misaeng
Reply series
Cunning Single Lady
Love After Divorce (3)
Culinary Class Wars
Familiar Wife (2)
Our Blues (1)
Twinkling Watermelon
Tomorrow
My Dearest

We asked and the Patreon replied - who won our Afternoona Awards for 2024. Join our sister podcast co-hosts Sarah and Grace from Afternoona Asks as they run through the categories and the winners of our Year End poll. Sarah and Grace also discuss what Lunar New Year means for them and other Korean and Chinese people.

Find out who was the outstanding performance of 2024, who were the best couple, an underrated show you might have missed amongst other questions. Who ultimately won the drama of the year prize? Find out in this episode and see if you agree with the Afternoona Delight Patreon picks!

Notes from the show:
Afternoona Asks Year End Review Part 1- Claudia & Sarah
Afternoona Asks Year End Review Part 2 - Krista & Grace
Afternoona Asks with William Han - discussion of Xia
Afternoona Asks Love Next Door through a Confucian Lens

Afternoona Delight SOS with KIm Taeseong

Sarah and Grace discuss the cultural context and nuances of Love Next Door in this episode, as part of our ongoing Confucian series. We first mark some milestones in our podcasting journey and reflect on how much hallyu has continued to sweep the globe. We talk about Confucian familial expectations and pressures, how age-based hierarchy has influenced our relationships with our parents, and the kinds of dreams Asian immigrant families have for their children. In the language section, Grace talks about a few fun Korean phrases that showed up in the drama, which unfortunately lost their color upon translation.

Sarah's deep dive of Love Next Door with Liliana from Tea and Soju: 

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4HFZDwVh05dSE732YIiFvl?si=rD4_Wm5sQiGoGEtdOW33CQ 

Forbes articles on cultural nuances in Love Next Door by Regina Kim:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/reginakim/2024/10/15/love-next-door-15-things-you-may-have-missed-in-episodes-15-and-16/

@kenjikundesu's Kdrama Club: 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDBUTuxpihb/?igsh=MTc4MmM1YmI2Ng==

Sarah and Grace had a lovely time chatting with special guest and fellow Afternoona Delight Patreon member, Krista, for Part 2 of their Year End Review. Krista and Grace each discuss how 2024 was for drama-viewing overall, their picks for best performances, underrated dramas, and top dramas of the year, as well as special awards and dream dramas for 2025. 

Other podcast episodes mentioned:

Year End Review 2024 Part 1 with Claudia

CDramas 2024 Review with Liliana

Afternoona Delight Tomorrow Deep Dive

Dramas mentioned:

It’s Okay to Not Be Okay

Yumi’s Cells, specifically season 2 

Lost You Forever

Mr. Queen

The Red Sleeve 

Till The End of the Moon

Touch Your Heart

Tale of the Nine Tailed

Daily Dose of Sunshine 

Mr. Plankton

Ready, Set, Love 

Marry My Husband 

A Good Day to Be a Dog

Knight Flower

Death's Game

My Dearest

Twinkling Watermelon

Queen of Tears

Lovely Runner

Doctor Slump

Tomorrow

Under the Queen's Umbrella

Signal

Chicago Typewriter

Upcoming dramas mentioned:

The Tempest

When Life Gives You Tangerines 

Life of a 21st Century Prince

Twelve

Monthly Boyfriend

Can This Love Be Translated

The S Line

God's Beads

Other K-content creator accounts mentioned:

afternoonadelight

deemalovesdrama

swoondiaries

teaandsoju

OST songs mentioned:

“Boyfriend” by Yeonjun of Tomorrow x Together from Cinderella at 2AM

"Blade" from Knight Flower 

"Sudden Shower" from Lovely Runner 

"Leave it all behind" from Love Next Door

"I told you" from What Happens to My Family?

Playlist of all Afternoona Asks 2024 Year End Review OST tracks

Sarah and Grace are excited to close out the year with a two-part Year End Review. For part one, Sarah and special guest Claudia, a fellow member of the Afternoona Delight Patreon, chat through their 2024 drama year. Claudia and Sarah each discuss how 2024 was for drama-viewing overall, their picks for best performances, their favorite underrated dramas, and their top dramas of the year. They also give out special awards of their own choice and manifest their dream dramas for 2025.

Other Podcast Episodes mentioned:

2023 Year End Review Episodes: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

Nirvana in Fire with Tea and Soju Pod

Afternoona Delight Death's Game

Afternoona Delight Second Male Lead SOS

Dramas mentioned:

Chocolate

Healer

Hospital Playlist

Taxi Driver

Our Beloved Summer

Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born
The Judge from Hell 

Queen of Tears
Marry My Husband
Wonderful World
Mr. Plankton
The Midnight Romance in Hagwon
Love Next Door
Knight Flower
The Tale of Lady Ok
Ask the Stars/When the Stars Gossip
Treasure Island 

Twelve

Culinary Class Wars (reality)

My Dearest

Twinkling Watermelon

Moving

Deaths Game

My Sweet Mobster

Lovely Runner

Miss Night and Day

Atypical Family

Nirvana in Fire

Love All Play

Love Like the Galaxy

Signal

No Gain No Love

A Virtuous Business

Love in the Big City

The Forbidden Marriage

OST songs mentioned:

“What Are We?” from Love Next Door

“Now and Then” from The Midnight Romance in Hagwon 
“If I Could Be Together” from Mr. Plankton 

 "Love You With All My Heart" from Queen of Tears

"Tell Me It's Not a Dream" from Queen of Tears

"Beautiful" from Goblin

Sarah is delighted to be joined by Liliana from Tea and Soju Podcase to review the year in Chinese Dramas. Join us as we discuss what CDramas Sarah has watched this year, what were Liliana's faves for the year and hear some more of her recommendations. We also briefly discuss what's coming up in CDrama-land in 2025.

Links for Liliana's: Tea and Soju Podcast and Instagram

To listen to Liliana’s previous 2023 podcast with us check out the episode

Love Next Door Deep Dive – Tea and Soju Podcast

Nirvana in Fire Deep Dive – Tea and Soju Podcast

Dramas mentioned:

-          Nirvana in Fire

-          Hidden Love

-          One and Only

-          Love Like the Galaxy

-          The Double

-          Joy of Life Season 2

-          The Princess Royal

-          To The Wonder

-          You Are My Lover Friend

-          Amidst A Snowstorm of Love

-          The Long Night

-          The Bad Kids

-          Shining for One Thing

-          A Murderous Affair in Horizon Tower

-          Goodbye My Princess

-          Love & Redemption

-          My Journey to You

-          A Journey to Love

-          Meet Yourself

-          Till the End of the Moon

-          Back from the Brink

-          The Starry Love

-          Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms

-          Ashes of Love

Sarah and Grace are excited to welcome fellow Afternoona Delight Patreon member Jasmine on the pod to talk fan events for Korean actors. We discuss the different kinds of events K-stars put on for their fans, how difficult it is to get into the events, and what features of the events may differ actor-to-actor. We also talk a bit more in depth about events put on by one of Sarah's and Jasmine's faves, Lee Jehoon.

Find more information from Jasmine on Lee Jehoon's fan events in this blog post:
 
https://thefangirlverdict.com/2024/11/25/guest-post-in-the-mood-for-reel-real-lee-je-hoon-love/ 
 
You can also find Jasmine on Instagram @princess.jasmine.06  

Grace welcomes guest Ryan Estrada, co-author of the critically acclaimed graphic novel Banned Book Club to the show. We discuss Ryan's work and the history and culture of protest in South Korea. We also get a sneak peek behind the scenes of a Kdrama on which Ryan was an extra. And, in the language section, we talk about how easy it is (for some) to learn the Korean alphabet.

Find Ryan online at:
www.ryanestrada.com
@ryanestrada.com on Bluesky
@ryanestradadotcom on Instagram 
@ryanestrada on X

Dramas and movies mentioned on this show:
Squid Game (2021)
JSA (2000)
Memories of Murder (2003)
Castaway on the Moon (20099
Break Out (2002)
Youth of May (2021)
Tempest (not yet released)