This week Jun and Daniel review the popular Korean film "The Match" (승부), which tells the story of two legendary Go players in Korea during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Our hosts explore the cultural significance of Go in Korean society, discussing how it was once one of the four major activities Korean children would pursue alongside math academies, taekwondo, and piano. They delve into the controversy surrounding the film's star Yoo Ah-in and his drug scandal, examining Korea's strict cancellation culture and how it differs between actors, K-pop stars, and politicians. The conversation expands to cover the historic AlphaGo vs. Lee Sedol match in 2016 and its symbolic impact on Korean society's understanding of AI. Through scene-by-scene analysis, they highlight cultural details from 1980s Korea including car parades for international achievements, traditional family hierarchies, smoking culture, and nostalgic elements like fumigation trucks and Nikon cameras as status symbols.

If you're interested in learning about the cultural significance of Go in East Asian societies, understanding Korea's approach to celebrity scandals and cancellation culture, exploring the philosophical differences between individualism and traditional hierarchy in Korean society, or discovering nostalgic details about 1980s Korean life including housing styles and family dynamics, tune in to hear Daniel and Jun discuss all this and more! This episode also touches on topics like the decline of Go's popularity in modern Korea, the East Asian "Cold War" competition in Go between Korea, Japan, and China, and how the film serves as a metaphor for Korea's journey from copying to innovating on the global stage.

Support the show

As a reminder, we record one episode a week in-person 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 us on Patreon:
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This week Jun and Daniel dedicate an episode to answering questions from their listeners via Patreon, Instagram, and email. From credit card rewards systems and loyalty points to board game culture and public libraries, our hosts tackle a variety of topics that don't quite warrant full episodes but deserve thoughtful responses. They explore how Korean and American credit card systems differ, discuss the prevalence of board game cafes (보드게임방) in Korea versus home gaming culture in America, and compare public library usage between the two countries. The conversation also touches on college alumni culture, environmental consciousness around recycling and electric vehicles, age-exclusive venues, and intergenerational socializing patterns. Throughout the episode, they acknowledge the deeper, more complex questions they've received about topics like disabilities, adoption, and racism that require more research and preparation to address properly.

If you're interested in learning about Korean loyalty point systems and how they're consolidated through major conglomerates, understanding why Korean libraries are primarily used for studying rather than book borrowing, discovering the evolution of board game cafes from communal spaces to private rooms, or hearing about the cultural differences in physical punishment games and cross-generational activities, tune in to hear Daniel and Jun discuss all this and more! This episode also features Daniel sharing his Costco adventures, Jun's spontaneous membership decision, and both hosts reflecting on their different childhood reading cultures and the universal appeal of gaining cultural perspective.

Support the show

As a reminder, we record one episode a week in-person 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 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: [email protected]

This week Jun and Daniel dive deeper into college education, comparing American and Korean university systems. Following their more personal discussion in part one, they examine the structural differences between college admissions, costs, and cultural impacts across both countries. From holistic application processes in the US versus test-score-focused admissions in Korea, to the emphasis on networking versus academics, our hosts explore how these educational approaches reflect broader societal values. They discuss the stark contrast in university costs, the role of public versus private institutions, and how the perception of college degrees impacts career trajectories in both countries. The conversation also touches on topics like diversity in student populations, the prevalence of medical school aspirations in Korea, and how sports culture shapes American university life.

If you're interested in how Korean universities are shifting from pure test scores to more holistic admissions, or why top-performing Korean students overwhelmingly choose medical school instead of other fields, tune in to hear Daniel and Jun discuss all this and more!

Support the show

As a reminder, we record one episode a week in-person 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 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: [email protected]

This week Jun and Daniel explore the social aspects of college life in Korea versus America during the mid-2000s. From orientation experiences and drinking culture to roommate dynamics and networking, our hosts walk down memory lane sharing their vastly different undergraduate experiences. What is "OT" in Korea and how does it differ from American college orientation? How do Korean freshmen interact with upperclassmen? Why is drinking culture so different between the two countries? What political influences existed on Korean campuses in the early 2000s? How do student clubs, dorm life, and major-based communities compare?

If you're interested in learning about college admissions processes, the infamous "enrollment wars" for Korean class registration, department rivalries, online gaming obsessions, or the impact of military service on Korean college timelines, tune in to hear Daniel and Jun discuss all this and more! This episode also features stories about Daniel's online poker side hustle, Jun's experiences with politically charged university culture, and the striking differences in how students form social bonds in each country. The hosts reveal their regrets and lessons learned, including Daniel's decision to graduate early and Jun's reflections on focusing too much on academics.

Support the show

As a reminder, we record one episode a week in-person 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 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: [email protected]

This week, Daniel and Jun reflect on the small routines and habits that shape daily life—and how those ordinary moments reveal cultural contrasts between Korea and America. From elevator etiquette to bike-riding, math education to parenting styles, they explore how values like speed, structure, and success show up in the simplest of places. They also touch on entrepreneurship in Korea, screen time for kids, and the cultural weight of words like “macho(맞죠)” and “oriental.”

If you’re interested in how everyday details—like drawing maps, riding bikes, or doing math homework—can reveal deeper societal values, tune in to hear Daniel and Jun discuss all this and more.

Support the show

As a reminder, we record one episode a week in-person 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 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: [email protected]

This week, Daniel and Jun recap significant news events from February to mid-April 2025. They discuss several major stories including the impeachment of the Korean president and upcoming emergency elections, the worst wildfires in Korean history and how Indonesian foreign workers heroically helped with rescue efforts, controversial allegations surrounding Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun, and the viral trend of Ghibli-style AI-generated images. They also touch on American politics including Trump's firing of officials and controversial tariffs, while reflecting on Johnny Kim, a Korean American doctor, Navy SEAL, and astronaut who recently made headlines.

If you're interested in the contrast between Korean and American politics, international perceptions of Korean Americans, immigration policy challenges facing Korea's aging population, or fascinating cultural observations about both countries, this episode offers thoughtful discussion on these complex topics. The hosts blend serious news analysis with lighter personal anecdotes, creating an informative yet accessible conversation about current events.

Support the show

As a reminder, we record one episode a week in-person 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 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: [email protected]

This week Jun and Daniel explore the differences in roommate culture between Korea and America. They discuss why having roommates is more common in the US compared to Korea, where most unmarried adults either live alone or with their parents. From college dorm experiences to adult living arrangements, our hosts examine how factors like geography, finances, cultural expectations, and the jeonse housing system influence these different approaches to shared living. They also share their personal experiences with living at home, alone, or with roommates throughout their lives.

If you’re interested in learning about Korean college dorm living, why 30-40% of young American adults have roommates but only 5% of Koreans do, how apartment sizes and financial factors affect living arrangements, or why Daniel believes communal living creates more meaningful experiences, tune in to hear Daniel and Jun discuss all this and more! This episode also explores the stigma of living with parents across both cultures, as well as the hosts’ shared ideal living situation.

Support the show

As a reminder, we record one episode a week in-person 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 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: [email protected]

This week Jun and Daniel dive deeper into the concept of "jeong”, building on past discussions about social circles and neighbors. They stand-up a working definition of jeong as the “blurring of boundaries between individuals”– in a sense, the ultimate form of collectivism– and explore how it can help explain key cultural differences between Korea and the US, from friendships to the workplace. Our hosts discuss how modern Korean society is transitioning from traditional collectivist values to include more Western individualist ideals, and the challenges therein. Through personal anecdotes, they examine how jeong works in various contexts including family relationships, peer groups, and professional settings, while debating the merits and downsides of boundary-free relationships.

If you're interested in understanding why Koreans might feel betrayed by seemingly friendly American interactions, why Korean social circles tend to be smaller but deeper, and how hierarchy can complicate jeong-based relationships, tune in to hear Daniel and Jun discuss all this and more! This episode also features a fun unboxing segment of Minnesota goodies from a podcast listener, a thoughtful exploration of whether individualism is "cold" or "healthy” depending on the cultural context, and insights into spaces where Korean society seems to be evolving to incorporate clear boundary setting.

Support the show

As a reminder, we record one episode a week in-person 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 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: [email protected]

This week Jun and Daniel welcome their guest Byeong, a Korean Canadian who shares his unique cultural journey growing up in Toronto, working in Hong Kong, and now living in Korea. Through exploring Byeong's experiences as a "third culture kid," our hosts dive into fascinating discussions about Canadian multiculturalism, the concept of being a "freeloader" younger sibling with fewer parental expectations, and the privilege of being able to opt in or out of Korean culture as needed. The conversation touches on topics like Hong Kong's changing identity, the evolution of the "Hell Joseon" mentality in Korea, and how different immigrant communities form their identities abroad.

If you're interested in understanding the nuances of Korean Canadian identity compared to Korean American, exploring how Canada's multicultural foundation differs from America's melting pot, or hearing thoughtful perspectives on navigating between cultures, tune in to hear Daniel, Jun, and Byeong discuss all this and more! This episode also features discussions about beautiful travel destinations in Canada, the origins of the term "Hell Joseon," and Jun's revelation about his parents' surprisingly relaxed expectations of him as a second child.

Support the show

As a reminder, we record one episode a week in-person 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 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: [email protected]

This week Jun and Daniel review the popular Korean reality dating show "Na Neun Solo" (I Am Solo). They explore the format of the show where six men and six women live together for five days in hopes of finding love, using pseudonyms throughout their stay until revealing their real names during the final confession. From analyzing the various character "types" assigned to contestants, to discussing the show's portrayal of Korean dating culture, our hosts examine what makes this series both entertaining and culturally revealing. Topics include Korean beauty standards, flirting techniques, the concept of "pretending" in relational societies, and the contrast between Korean and American approaches to dating and courtship.

If you're interested in understanding Korean reality TV dynamics, learning about how dating shows reflect cultural values, or simply enjoying Jun and Daniel's reactions to some of the more cringe-worthy moments of Season 24, tune in to hear them discuss all this and more! This episode also features Daniel's careful notes from watching the entire season, Jun's explanations of Korean concepts like "cat-style" faces versus "dog-style" faces, and both hosts' analysis of which pseudonymous character they would be if they appeared on the show themselves.

Support the show

As a reminder, we record one episode a week in-person 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 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: [email protected]