Korean. American. Podcast

This week, Jun and Daniel sit down for a very special, albeit bittersweet, episode disguised as a fake media review of the movie Decision to Leave. After five beautiful and transformative years of living in South Korea, Daniel makes the official announcement: his family is packing up and moving back to the United States this summer.
The hosts spend the episode reflecting on Daniel’s incredible five-year journey from a temporary visitor to a seasoned local. They discuss the logical factors driving the move (specifically, navigating the education system as their kids approach middle school), Daniel’s evolution from being terrified of the Korean bus system to finding peace in the culture, and why maintaining a "temporary visitor mentality" for five years remains his biggest regret. Daniel also shares his most cherished memory of experiencing true, spontaneous neighborhood Jeong over convenience store ice cream.
If you’re interested in why Jun's lack of an "American fantasy" makes him feel more Korean than his peers, what Daniel's retirement plans in Busan might look like, or the ultimate fate of the Korean American Podcast once Daniel crosses the Pacific, this episode is a must-listen. Finally, the guys announce their plan to donate all their accumulated Patreon and YouTube earnings to a good cause, and they need your help deciding where it should go!
As a reminder, we publish our episodes bi-weekly 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 the show
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]

Member of the iyagi media network (www.iyagimedia.com)

This week, Jun and Daniel ditch the "News and Trends" segments for a massive, all-encompassing "Daily Life" episode. Daniel shares his recent family trip to Gyeongju, reviewing the underwhelming scale of the Cheomseongdae observatory and the endless street food options on Hwangridan-gil, before showing off his incredibly lucky $3 denim jacket find at a Korean Goodwill. Daniel also recounts a rare, magical streak of spontaneous social interactions—from hosting their kids' tutor for a homemade taco night to a five-hour, impromptu neighborhood playground hangout that gave him a heartwarming preview of what community life in America might look like.
If you're interested in the traumatic, old-school Korean school gate "hair checks", why Jun desperately avoids making eye contact with the older men at his 7:30 AM gym sessions, or why Daniel no longer feels the urge to offer help to the growing number of foreigners in Pangyo, this episode is for you. The hosts also dive into a deep culinary debate about American vs. Korean snack profiles, explaining why US Doritos and gum pack a much heavier punch, and analyzing the cultural divide between Korean sweet potatoes (Goguma) baked into pizzas and cakes versus American yams smothered in marshmallows.
As a reminder, we publish our episodes bi-weekly 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!

Sponsorship Note: 
This episode contains a paid sponsorship for KimlyParc. KimlyParc is the premiere instant coffee brand with amazing flavors and the highest quality ingredients. This week, we are so excited to highlight their brand new Sweet Potato Latte! Made with real Korean sweet potato (Goguma) extract and naturally sweetened with allulose, it's a rich, caffeine-free treat that tastes amazing both hot and iced. If you’re in the US, head to kimlyparc.com and use the code “KAP20” at checkout to get 20% off your order today. If you’re in Korea, search “킴리팍” on Naver.
US: https://kimlyparc.com/discount/KAP20 
Korea: https://smartstore.naver.com/kimlyparc
Support the show
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]

Member of the iyagi media network (www.iyagimedia.com)

This week, Jun and Daniel catch up on their busy lives. Jun rants about his tech startup's obsession with AI efficiency over actual value, sparking a deep dive into why the Korean mindset fixates on perfecting "methodology" and process rather than focusing on the big picture. Meanwhile, Daniel navigates his first Korean elementary school Iphaksik (entrance ceremony), observing everything from a surprisingly sobering speech by the principal to the painstakingly meticulous cultural requirement of labeling every single colored pencil with a name sticker.
If you're interested in why Daniel's midnight comfort food has evolved into a bizarre "Spam Dubu Kimchi" hybrid, the game-theory brilliance behind Korea's shared traffic accident liability rules (where it's rarely 100-to-0), or why K-Pop idols are ironically wearing retro floral "Kimjang vests," this episode has it all. We also review BTS's massive, city-stopping comeback performance at Gwanghwamun Palace, marvel at Apple's genius Korean pun for their new M5 chip, and unpack a listener's email that leads to Daniel's realization that Pangyo might be the absolute worst place in Korea to experience true community and "Jeong."
As a reminder, we publish our episodes bi-weekly 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 the show
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]

Member of the iyagi media network (www.iyagimedia.com)

This week, Jun and Daniel sit down for a dedicated media review of Park Chan-wook's newly released dark comedy thriller, No Other Choice (어쩔수가없다). Starring heavyweights like Lee Byung-hun and Son Ye-jin, the film follows a desperate man who loses his corporate job and resorts to lethal measures against his competitors to win it back. The hosts break down the film's stark social commentary on the "American Dream" in a Korean setting, the brilliant subversion of the corporate rat race, and the terrifying reality of an AI-driven dystopian future.
If you’re interested in why Koreans historically associate eel and "Bokbunja" (raspberry wine) with male stamina, the quirky 1980s history behind naming dry cleaners "Computer Cleaning," or why giving shoes as a romantic gift in Korea is a terrible idea, this episode is for you. We also discuss the shifting symbols of luxury cars—from the classic 90s Hyundai "Gak-Grandeur" to the Cadillac Escalade—the Korean cultural stigma surrounding layoffs compared to the US, and why the idiom "an aching tooth falling out" perfectly captures the film's chaotic climax.
As a reminder, we publish our episodes bi-weekly 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 the show
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]

Member of the iyagi media network (www.iyagimedia.com)

Disclaimer: Everything shared in this conversation represents the guest's own personal experiences and perspectives — not advice, instruction, or advocacy of any kind.
This week, Jun and Daniel welcome a very special guest, Claire, who bridges the gap between the corporate world and the spiritual realm. As a global business development manager by day and a practicing psychic and tarot reader by night, Claire shares her fascinating journey of navigating her dual identities. She opens up about her transition from practicing Western "Wiccan" magic to dealing with the realities of Korean Mu-ism (shamanism), including her intense experience with "Shin-byeong" (spirit sickness) and undergoing a "Nu-reum-gut" ritual to suppress her spiritual calling.
If you’re interested in learning the fundamental differences between Western magic and Korean shamanism, this episode is for you. The trio dives deep into the surprising parallels between shamanic visions and Christian prophecies and Claire's unique take on how Korean, Japanese, and American ghosts differ based on her own supernatural encounters. We also feature a live tarot reading session where Claire predicts the future of the podcast, advises Jun on his housing dilemmas, and reveals why Jun's cat Gorong feels "poor" despite living a highly privileged life.
As a reminder, we publish our episodes bi-weekly 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!
Guest bio:
A TCK based in Korea, Claire balances a career in Business Development with a deep practice as a Tarot reader. Her identity is defined by the spaces in between: the cultural bridge between Korea and the U.S., and the spiritual bridge between the mundane and the magical. After years as an eclectic witch, her journey has led her toward the ancestral roots of Korean Mu-ism, where she continues to explore life at the crossroads. 
Claire’s teacher’s socials for people in spiritual trouble: 
- https://www.instagram.com/youngsan409 
- https://www.threads.com/@dodong_7981
Support the show
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]

Member of the iyagi media network (www.iyagimedia.com)