This week Jun and Daniel host their first guest interview with Korean American couple Janice and David Jung from the HoneyJam podcast. Listen in as they discuss navigating Korean American identity, their extended stay in Korea for IVF treatment, and David's innovative venture dehydrating Korean food for camping. From exploring the evolution of jeong in modern Korean society to comparing food culture and social norms across countries, the conversation weaves through various aspects of the Korean-American experience and what it means to exist between two cultures.

If you're interested in learning about Korean workplace dynamics from a Korean American perspective, understanding the cultural expectations when living with Korean in-laws, or hearing about the challenges and joys of spending an extended period in Korea as Korean Americans, tune in to hear Daniel, Jun, Janice and David discuss all this and more! This episode also touches on topics like the hierarchy of spoons in Korean households, the differences in customer service culture, and David's upcoming venture to bring dehydrated Korean food to the camping market.

Guest Bios

Janice Jeong co-hosts a podcast with her best friend called the Honey Jam Podcast. Give their podcast a listen as the two share funny and relatable stories about their lives and also hold discussions about their latest Korean drama/food/music obsession. Janice also creates content about her life, whether that be her fun and silly moments or her IVF journey.

IG: @honeyjampod @haitsjanice

TikTok: @haitsjanice 

David is a Korean American content creator focused on food in the outdoors. He makes and preserves his own korean backpacking meals for his trips and regularly joins Janice on her podcast HoneyJam.

@davidsjeong on all platforms

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 discuss COVID-19 and how Korea and America differed in their responses to the pandemic. From the earliest cases in January 2020 through the various waves of restrictions and regulations, our hosts explore how their respective countries handled everything from contact tracing and quarantine rules to vaccination policies and mask mandates. They examine how cultural differences between individualistic and collectivist societies influenced public health measures and compliance, while sharing personal stories about their experiences during this unprecedented time.

If you're interested in understanding the contrasts between Korean and American approaches to COVID-19, comparing mask and vaccination cultures, or learning about quarantine experiences and social distancing measures, tune in to hear Daniel and Jun discuss all this and more! This week they also touch on topics like remote work culture, the lasting impacts of the pandemic on society, and how COVID-19 ultimately led to Daniel moving to Korea and the creation of this podcast.

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 two very interesting and unique guests, Seil and Lera. They talk about their life journeys, with topics ranging from the Korean citizenship test, growing up as a third generation Korean in Russia, playing Division III basketball in the US, country living in Korea, and so much more. What does the current naturalization process look like for becoming a Korean citizen through marriage, and how has it changed in recent years? Why does the island of Sakhalin, currently Russian territory, have a significant Korean population? What is the tragic story of how they got there? What is it like living in the truly rural parts of Korea? What was it like growing up Russian Korean, and then moving to Philadelphia? How does fishing compare in the various parts of Korea, and where is the best fishing spot in the country? What are some of the best food recommendations in Jeollanamdo overall, and Tongyeong in particular, from someone living there? What was the sentiment of Russians towards Asians overall and Koreans in particular in the 90s, after the collapse of the Soviet Union? What brought Seil and Lera from the US back to Korea, and what perfect storm of circumstances have kept them here until now?

If you're interested in any of these questions, tune in to hear Daniel and Jun discuss all this and more! Also in this episode, Daniel espouses his sense of camaraderie with Russian Koreans, Jun’s apartment records some height-related milestones, and both learn a lot about a part of the Korean diaspora that they suspect most people are unaware of, Korean Korean and Korean Americans alike.

Guest Bios
Lera is an ethnic Korean born and raised in Russia, who also lived for 12 years in the US where she graduated from high school, college and grad school. A language teacher by training, she is currently a stay-at-home mom for two of her and Seil's children.

Seil grew up in South Korea and studied in China for two years before moving to the U.S., where he attended high school and college, earning both his bachelor's and master's degrees. As an MBA graduate, he is fluent in English and Korean. Seil has work experience in the real estate and restaurant industries in South Korea. Additionally, he played basketball as a student-athlete in both high school and college in the U.S. Since moving back to South Korea, he has lived in Pangyo, Taean, Tongyeong, and Gangjin.

Links
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakhalin_Koreans

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 discuss major news headlines from December 2024 and January 2025 in both Korea and the United States. They cover four significant events: the martial law declaration in Korea, the Jeju Air crash tragedy, the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, and the Los Angeles wildfires. Our hosts explore these events through cultural lenses, examining how Koreans and Americans react differently to national tragedies, class warfare, and systemic issues.

If you're interested in learning how Korea's democracy handled an unprecedented martial law declaration, how the international community views Korea's political stability, why 40% of young Americans supported the murder of a human being, or how natural disasters reveal cultural differences in disaster response and community support, tune in to hear Daniel and Jun discuss all this and more! Also in this episode, Daniel shares his weekend Costco adventures in Korea, Jun visits the Brooklyn of Seoul, and both hosts reflect on what makes a society truly civilized.

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 into design differences between Korea and America, from social media and advertising to architecture and mobile apps. The hosts explore how and why Korean designs tend to be text-heavy and informative, while American designs focus more on visuals and artistic impact. Topics include YouTube thumbnails, movie posters, advertisements, mobile app UI/UX, building design, and book covers. They discuss how cultural values like collectivism, risk-averseness, and utilitarianism influence Korean design choices, while American designs often prioritize individual interpretation and bold statements.

If you're interested in learning how clickbait, movie posters, mobile apps, and architecture differ between Korea and America, tune in to hear Daniel and Jun discuss all this and more! Also in this episode, Daniel and Jun teach each other English vocabulary, discuss the various brands of different countries, and make fun of Korean apartment naming conventions.

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 discuss Daniel's recent family trip to Taiwan for the holidays. Listen as Daniel shares his observations and experiences visiting Taipei and surrounding areas, while Jun offers his commentary as someone who has visited multiple times before. From weather to food to cultural influences from both Japan and China, our hosts explore what makes Taiwan unique while drawing comparisons to Korea and America. They discuss everything from the prevalence of English to toilets, and bubble tea to building design. What is the de facto travel itinerary for Koreans visiting Taipei and its surrounding suburbs? What does humidity feel like when it isn’t hot?  What animal seems to be trending in popularity in Taiwan? What Korean things were Daniel surprised to find in Taiwan? What unlikely food item seemed to appear unexpectedly throughout the trip? What were some of Daniel’s most memorable meals?

If you're interested in any of these questions, tune in to hear Daniel and Jun discuss all this and more! Also in this episode, Daniel reflects on seeing a familiar face in a totally different context, Jun reveals a surprising personal fact, and both hosts bond over their love for Taiwan's culture, food, and people.

Links
https://namu.wiki/w/%EB%B6%84%EB%A5%98:%EC%98%88%EC%8A%A4%EC%A7%84%EC%A7%80 (예스진지)

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 discuss the much anticipated Squid Game 2, and use it as a way to explore various aspects of Korean culture. Our hosts run through the cast of characters with commentary, discuss each of the Korean games that were played, dive into Korea’s high household debt to GDP ratio, and more. Through discussions of character portrayals, game mechanics, and underlying themes, they touch on topics like Korea's media industry, gender roles, military service culture, what parts of the show Koreans would find most nostalgic.

If you're interested in learning about Korean childhood games, how Netflix seems to be influencing K-drama production, or perspectives on trans representation, tune in to hear Daniel and Jun discuss all this and more! In this episode, our hosts also share their favorite and least favorite characters, and highlight several cultural notes that loyal listeners of the pod may have also picked up on.

Links
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most-watched_Netflix_original_programming (Squid Game 1 is most watched Netflix series of all time)
https://youtu.be/SVxiqGiLMCM?si=U0_bEE1NHJH74GvE&t=71 (그대에게 performance)

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 2005 Korean film "Lady Vengeance", the unofficial final installment in Park Chan-wook's vengeance trilogy. Through their analysis of the film, they explore how revenge is depicted differently in Korean versus American media, discussing themes of collectivism versus individualism, institutional injustice, and the contrast between surface appearances and underlying realities in Korean society.

If you're interested in learning about Korean cultural elements like prison tofu traditions, why revenge plots are so prominent in Korean media, how Korean and American societies view justice differently, or what makes Korean collective revenge distinct from Western individual revenge, tune in to hear Daniel and Jun discuss all this and more! This week they also explore hierarchical power dynamics in Korean society, debate the role of physical appearances, and share their thoughts on harmony versus authenticity in collectivist cultures.

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 reflect on 2024, and look ahead to 2025 in their year-end wrap-up “SSAMary” episode. The hosts examine their podcast's growth over the past year including reaching #1 on the Apple Podcasts Korea charts and 27000% growth in YouTube subscribers. Additionally, our hosts discuss their most and least favorite episodes, dive into stats across various platforms, highlight memorable milestones, and share their personal and podcast hopes and goals (don’t call them resolutions!) for the upcoming year.

If you're interested in hearing about how our hosts did against their goals from a year ago, or want to hear their personal reflections on 2024 (including Daniel's year of not working and Jun's transition to a new job), tune in to hear them discuss all this and more! This episode also touches on topics like finding community, maintaining creative motivation, and whether they feel like they still have room to grow.

This was quite a year for the podcast, full of many unexpected but exciting events. To all of our listeners and supporters– from the bottom of our Korean and American hearts, thank you so so much!

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 discuss all things winter! Prompted by the recent first snow (​​첫눈), which happened to be the biggest November snowfall ever recorded in Korean history, our hosts discuss winter life and traditions in Korea compared to America. What is gimjang (김장) season and what is typically eaten with the first batch of kimchi? What are the distinct differences between Korean and American snowmen, and what do these differences reflect in their respective cultures? What are the most popular winter fruits in Korea? What are some of the most popular winter foods? What is the biggest difference between Christmas in Korea vs America? How do Koreans dress up their trees for the winter? Do any of the traditional Christmas smells in America carry over to Korea?

If you're interested in any of these questions, tune in to hear Daniel and Jun discuss all this and more! Also in this episode, Daniel shares his first experience with jokbal, Jun recounts a college ski trip tradition, and both hosts debate the usage of umbrellas in the snow.

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]