This week Jun and Daniel discuss a couple major trending news headlines in Korea. First, Min Hee-Jin (CEO of ADOR, HYBE’s sub-label for the K-pop girl group NewJeans) held a press conference to address her dispute with HYBE (Korean entertainment company behind BTS and other K-pop groups) which went viral for its authenticity and candor about the industry. Despite neither of our hosts being big K-pop fans, they do their best to break down the story for the audience. Why exactly did the press conference go so viral in Korea? What is some important context about Korean society and culture that can help people understand the country’s reaction to this press conference? What else is going viral as a result of the press conference? How is this all going to conclude? Second, Korea’s beloved soccer team failed to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics. What are the most popular events for Koreans during the Olympics? What is the overlap with the most popular events in America?

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 what he’s most looking forward to watching in the upcoming Olympics, and Jun explains what Koreans mean when they call something “hip hop”.

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This week Jun-nim and Daniel-nim have a conversation around various topics related to titles in Korea and the hierarchy they create. Our hosts discuss what language Koreans use to refer to each other within family, workplace, and general societal relationships, and the expectations that follow. What is something challenging for Jun when translating the English subtitles into Korean? How are the Korean words for uncle, cousin, and other family members related? How can Koreans communicate without knowing each other’s names? What was King Sejong the Great’s real name? What is a professional ‘announcer’? What other profession has recently ascended to the level of being used as an official title, along with lawyer, doctor, and teacher? What are some shocking ways in which teachers will refer to their students? What are the titles related to birth order, and the corresponding stigmas associated with them? 

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 and Jun bond over their common birth order and how appreciative they both are of it in hindsight.

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This week Jun and Daniel interview their former coworkers who have been living in Korea but are moving back to America. This episode is the first in our “iyagi” (“story” or “conversation” in Korean) series, in which we interview guests about their time living in Korea. Today, our conversations cover such questions as: What brought them to Korea in the first place? What are the first foods that they crave after landing in Korea and America? How do our guests define ‘home’, and where does it feel most like it? What are the top things our guests have come to appreciate about Korea? Does our American feel comfortable leaving their laptop while going to the bathroom at Starbucks? What are some misconceptions that people have about Korea and America? What is something our guests miss most about America after living in Korea for some time? What would it take for our guests to consider settling down in Korea long-term? What gifts do our guests bring with them when they visit Korea or America? What was the first bit of “culture shock” our guests faced in Korea? What bit of Korean culture would our guests like to bring back to America? What was their most memorable experience while in Korea? How does gym culture differ between Korea and America? How does parenting culture differ between the two countries?

If you're interested in any of these questions, tune in to hear Daniel, Jun, Rae, and E discuss all this and more!

Guest Bio
E: Born and raised in the USA. East Asian heritage, but not Korean. Together with his wife, tried life abroad. Ended up in Korea for 2 years. Works in software.

Rae: Rae was born and raised in Korea but always felt that “just being a Korean” doesn’t do justice to her identity. She ended up living 3 different continents and learning 4 different languages in her 20s and is currently located in South Korea with her Korean American husband and son after 10 years of hiatus in the US. Inspired by her personal background, she works as a qualitative researcher helping product builders understand their users. She is planning to move back to the US this summer. 

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

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This week Jun and Daniel discuss all things Japan! Given Jun mentions Japan at least once in seemingly every episode, Daniel’s recent family vacation to Kyoto and Osaka presented a golden opportunity to finally dedicate an entire episode to Korea’s easterly neighbor. Did you know that more Koreans visit Japan as tourists than from any other country, and vice versa? What makes Japan such a popular tourist destination for Koreans? What’s changed the most for Koreans visiting Japan, when compared to 20 years ago? What is the go-to snack for Koreans to bring back from Japan as a gift? How family friendly did Daniel find Japan? What stood out in Japan, after living in Korea? What are some things that Daniel only just now realized originated in Japan? What was the worst experience from Daniel’s trip that unfortunately reminded him of life in the US? How do Jun and Daniel’s perceptions of Japan differ, growing up in Korea compared to America? What are some things that Americans would attribute to Japan, that Koreans would not? How are relations currently between Korea and Japan?

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 one way in which he feels more Korean now when traveling abroad, and Jun gets philosophical with regards to beauty.

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This week Jun and Daniel discuss hygiene standards and expectations across Korea and the US. By the end of the episode, our hosts reach consensus on what the root differentiating factor is in hygiene standards between the two countries. What are some things that Americans think are fine, that Koreans would find gross, and vice versa? How strict are Koreans about this concept of “outdoor” vs “indoor” clothes and not mixing the two? What is a very surprising requirement for exercising in a gym in Korea? Which country has dustier homes? While Koreans prefer having wet bathrooms for hygiene purposes, what are some unhygienic consequences of this? What are some common home appliances in Korea that aren’t found in American homes? Are there any differences in food hygiene? What are our hosts' feelings towards public bathrooms in Korea? How about sneezing or blowing your nose in public? Are there differences in oral hygiene standards between the two countries? What is with Korea’s obsession with UV light cleaners? What is a common misunderstanding that Koreans have of Western hygiene standards? What is an “italy” towel? Do our hosts have different feelings towards public baths? 

If you're interested in any of these questions, tune in to hear Daniel and Jun discuss all this and more! Listen as our hosts get vulnerable and reveal their personal hygiene habits that they will most definitely be judged for. Also in this episode, Daniel shares something gross his father does on the regular, while Jun shares something he frequently got in trouble for when he was living with his brother.

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This week Jun and Daniel discuss their experiences with Japanese comic books (manga) and shows (anime). Prompted by the sudden and sad death of legendary anime creator Akira Toriyama, our hosts share how Dragon Ball impacted their lives in very different but still meaningful ways. What role did Dragon Ball play in Korean culture in the 80s and 90s? How does Dragon Ball in English differ from Korean? How big of an influence did Japanese manga and anime have in Korea? What are the perceptions of lovers of Japanese culture in Korea vs America? What is the basis of many popular Korean dramas that most Americans would never have heard of? What are some things about American comic books that a Korean person would find surprising?

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 and Jun share their favorite Dragon Ball characters and moments.

NOTE: This episode contains light spoilers for Dragon Ball Z.

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This week Jun and Daniel discuss myths, superstitions, and everything in between. While some people may have heard of “fan death”, there are many other Korean beliefs that are not as well known to Western audiences. What things did Jun believe growing up in Korea that were not necessarily true? Do Koreans today still believe in fan death? What are the Korean equivalents to things like walking under a ladder, or a lucky rabbit’s foot? Are you aware of the giant metal rods that were left behind by the Japanese? Is there only a certain time that you should be eating apples? How do Korean dragons fly without wings? What is a very unlucky number in Korea, to the extent that Koreans used to skip it on building floors and even building numbers? What is good luck in Korea? What common action takes on much more meaning in Korea, compared to America and Japan? Are Koreans generally more susceptible to myths and superstitions than Americans? How is skepticism connected to optimism?

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 presents myths as scientific facts, while Jun comes to a sobering realization.

Links
https://www.san-shin.org/Spikes-controversy.html

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This week Jun and Daniel discuss their experiences when they were living as foreigners in each other’s respective home countries: Daniel in Korea (going on 2.5+ years), and Jun in America (4 years for graduate school). Daniel shares a bit of a broader reflection on their move to Korea: how he and his family first decided to move to Korea, some things about living in Korea that differed from his expectations, what he’s looking forward to in his upcoming trip to the States. Daniel also contrasts his family’s move from America to Korea, to his parents' move from Korea to America 50 years ago. How is it for Daniel, living with one foot in Korea and one foot in America? How was Jun’s time as a graduate student in America? Did he ever feel targeted or discriminated against? What does he miss about living in the US? Has Jun ever considered emigrating from Korea? What is Jun’s overall level of interaction and perception of foreigners/expats? What race does Daniel sometimes get mistaken for? Where do Koreans in America go for Korean culture? Is there anywhere for Americans in Korea? What does Jun think of Koreatowns in the US? And while you’ve heard of Korean Jesus, have you heard of Baby Korean Jesus? How do Korean angels differ from Western angels? Between Korea and America, which society is more transient overall? What role do Korean churches play in the US that it doesn’t in 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 some items on his Korea bucket list, and Jun shares how he might have been just like Daniel in a parallel life. Our hosts also recount an experience on the subway where they felt targeted for speaking English.

Links:
https://m.catholictimes.org/mobile/article_view.php?aid=141297 (Actual Korean Jesus)

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This week Jun and Daniel discuss what is often considered one of the pillars of Korean culture: jeong. It’s a term that Daniel had never heard of until his 20s, but one which instantly resonated with him. What is Jun’s understanding of jeong, as a native Korean? Is jeong really something that is unique to Korea? What is the origin of jeong? Is jeong simply humanity, or nationalism? How does jeong exist and manifest in Korea today, or has it simply gone away completely?

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 makes a wrong assumption, while Jun shares a heart warming anecdote about his parents.

Links:
https://www.knowingkorea.org/contents/view/204/The-uniquely-Korean-concept-of-Jeong

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This week Jun and Daniel start by sharing some typical holiday traditions, but quickly transition into exploring why Koreans seem to be quickly losing their sense of traditions completely. Listen in as our hosts make some huge connections (and bold claims!) between major themes they’ve discussed previously. What is the root cause of this drift away from traditions? What is replacing traditions in Korea? How are the classic games of Monopoly and Yutnori microcosms of their respective cultural values and ideals? What do some Koreans wish an AI could do for them? What is the N-Po generation, and what traditional life goals have they given up on? Is happiness even thought of as an ideal in 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 channels his inner Thomas Jefferson, and Jun continues his own personal tradition of mentioning a certain non-Korea, non-America country in every episode.

N-Po Generation (namu wiki): https://namu.wiki/w/N%ED%8F%AC%EC%84%B8%EB%8C%80 

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