Korean. American. Podcast (Daniel and Jun)
Explore every episode of Korean. American. Podcast
| Pub. Date | Title | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Jul 2023 | Episode 1: Pilot | 00:07:09 | |
Daniel and Jun discuss their backgrounds, the origin story of how this podcast came to be, and their goals for doing this podcast. We record one episode a week in-person from Seoul, South Korea. We hope you'll listen and follow us on this journey! 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! | |||
| 30 Jul 2023 | Episode 2: Too Sweet or Not Too Sweet (Food) | 00:31:19 | |
Join hosts Daniel and Jun for their first full podcast episode, as they discuss one of the most important topics there is: food. How do flavor profiles differ between Korea and America? How does food compare between the two countries, and does it differ with desserts? Does one's palette adjust, and how long does it take? Do Koreans and Americans even differ in how they drink water, or why they drink diet sodas? How does Doritos compare across the two countries? Is Magnolia's a huge hit in Korea like it is in the US? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 30 Jul 2023 | Episode 3: An Ounce of Prevention (Healthcare) | 00:39:17 | |
Join hosts Daniel and Jun as they discuss the differences in health care between Korea and America. As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Every year, Koreans get a comprehensive preventative health screening. What is it like? Why are Koreans in dramas always hooked up to an IV? Are Koreans still smoking as much as before? What is it like being in a country with universal health care? As an American, are you always Google searching "when am I sick enough to go to the hospital"? What are all exchange students from Korea warned about before going to the US? As broken as the health care system in the US seems to be, what does an American living in Korea miss about it? What do ahjussis and NBA stars have in common? Why do Koreans prefer to "sweat it out" when they have fevers? What do dentists in Korea and the US have in common? Have you ever gotten "scaling" done from the dentist? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 03 Aug 2023 | Episode 4: Do You Even Lift? (Beauty) | 00:29:15 | |
Join hosts Daniel and Jun as they discuss cosmetic surgery. It's well known that Korea is one of most famous places in the world for getting these procedures done. How much does it cost? Do men get it too? How is it perceived, and how has that changed over time? How does being immersed in this culture impact how an American thinks about it? Do Koreans still attach a photo with all of their resumes? What are one's 'specs' and why are Korean's obsessed with them? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 10 Aug 2023 | Episode 5: i do, thank u, next (Weddings) | 00:53:11 | |
Join hosts Daniel and Jun as they discuss one of the biggest and oldest traditions: weddings. Daniel recently attended his very first Korean wedding, and came away with a lot of comparisons to American-style weddings. Meanwhile, Jun has many questions as a native Korean having never attended an American wedding, but seeing them depicted often in shows and movies. What does a typical wedding in Korea look like? Do Koreans still do 폐백 (pyebaek), or is it seen as too old-fashioned? What happens in the months leading up to the wedding? Between the food, cake, gifts, guest list, bridal party, bouquet toss, and favors, how do these compare across the two styles of weddings? What might an American find most appealing about a Korean wedding? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 18 Aug 2023 | Episode 6: Size Matters (Geography) | 00:27:40 | |
Listen this week as Jun and Daniel discuss matters of scale. South Korea is the size of Indiana, with the population of California, Washington, and Oregon combined. How does it’s relatively small geographical size and incredible density impact life and society? You've heard of the movie Train to Busan, but is this actually a thing in Korea? What intra-Korea flight is the most flown in the world? How is public transportation in Korea, and why is it world class? Why is every tropical location other than Jeju island ruined as a vacation destination for Daniel? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 24 Aug 2023 | Episode 7: Won't You Be My Neighbor? (Relationships) | 00:35:24 | |
This week Jun and Daniel explore Jun’s first time meeting his mysterious next-door neighbor, and generally discuss the differences between how Koreans and Americans view human connection. Why is knowing someone’s name a big deal in Korea? What do Koreans think of small talk? How does the size and composition of social circles differ between the two countries? How should you respond if a Korean comes up to you and starts talking to you? How will Koreans respond if you just start talking with them? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 31 Aug 2023 | Episode 8: Everywhere Bagels (Trends) | 00:34:39 | |
This week Jun and Daniel explore the phenomenon of how things become “trending” (viral) in Korea. You may have heard of the honey butter chip craze back in 2015, but what are some more recent food trends that went viral in Korea? You may have heard of screen golf, but what other popular sport has Korea turned into an indoor screen game? What does Daniel believe are the three ingredients for a sport or hobby to go viral in Korea, and does pickleball fit the bill? How do viral trends in Korea and America differ, and why? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 07 Sep 2023 | Episode 9: The 80-Hour School Week (Education) | 00:46:11 | |
This week Jun and Daniel take a first stab at tackling a fairly big topic in Korea: the education system. It wasn’t that long ago that Korean students went to school from morning to midnight, six days a week. While this is technically no longer the case, in practice, not much has changed. Why are Koreans so obsessed with education? How does a day in the life of a Korean and an American high school student compare? How much homework do Korean students get? What is a common stereotype that Koreans have of American schools? How does the college admissions process work? What do planes and police have to do with the Korean SAT? How has the role of public school teachers changed? Why does Daniel love the daycare/preschools in Korea? Who are some of the top earners in Korea? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 14 Sep 2023 | Episode 10: Water Is Self (Daily Life) | 00:58:34 | |
This week Jun and Daniel take a break from the broad, macro-level topics they have been discussing, and dive into some of the more light-hearted minutiae of everyday life here in Korea. Listen in as Daniel recounts stories from his first months after moving to Korea, and what he found surprising then but is now used to. Topics range from Korea’s complicated trash and recycling system, eating out at restaurants, apartment life, driving, and.. doors. Did you know apartment complexes can be on the scale of a small city? What is a wet bathroom and why is it the enemy of socks? What common American bathroom item in America does Daniel now consider a luxury? Learn about Koreans’ love for color coding, why Koreans are finally coming around to dryers, and what Busan drivers are famous for. She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 21 Sep 2023 | Episode 11: I See Old People (Daily Life) | 00:54:11 | |
This week Jun and Daniel continue the theme from last week, but this time, they take it stateside. Listen in as Jun takes Daniel on a journey of the senses to describe some of the more light-hearted minutiae of everyday life in the US. What are the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and feels of America to a Korean? What do Americans take for granted and not realize might feel foreign to others? What is an innocent American gesture that Koreans find rude? Is there actually any science behind how Korean and American people talk? Do Koreans and Americans smile differently? Where does Jun feel most exposed in America? And just how many times can Daniel say “ooh, interesting” in one episode? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 29 Sep 2023 | Episode 12: Don't Go, Mong! (Humor) | 00:35:04 | |
This week Jun and Daniel dive into the world of humor and comedy. If you’ve heard of Danny Cho, Gag Concert (개그콘서트), High Kick! (거침없이 하이킥), Infinite Challenge (무한도전), or 1 Night 2 Days (1박2일), listen in as Jun does his best to give Daniel an overview of the history of comedy in Korea, from its Japanese and American roots to a recent stand-up show he attended. Did humor exist at all in Korea before this current generation? What was Daniel’s experience with Asian American comedians growing up? What American thing is one of the most popular Korean YouTube channels making fun of? What is a robot’s favorite food? Where do astronauts go to drink? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 06 Oct 2023 | Episode 13: Nerd Beauty (Culture) | 00:29:18 | |
This week Jun and Daniel explore a conversation Daniel had with his co-worker shortly after moving to Korea that will forever be ingrained into his memory, and was somewhat of a precursor to this podcast: being nerdy. Does this concept exist in Korea, and if so, how does it differ from in America? Is being smart in Korea the same as being cool in America? Who gets bullied in Korea? Does wearing glasses have the same stigma in Korea? What constitutes socioeconomic status in each country? What is the modern equivalent of Korean royalty? How do Koreans feel about being Korean? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 12 Oct 2023 | Episode 14: Don't Press My Buttons (Culture) | 00:39:41 | |
This week Jun and Daniel finally get around to exploring a question that was teased in the pilot for this podcast: Why don’t people hold the door open for each other? Listen in as our hosts discuss varying topics related to manners and common courtesy between the two countries. How do Koreans react when you hold the door open for them? What is common practice with regards to dental hygiene in Korea, that most Americans would find odd and borderline disgusting? What is a common thing done in America that is seared into Jun’s memory? Why would Koreans much rather invade personal space, then ask someone to do something for them? Is commenting on physical appearances, especially weight, really not negative? Has Daniel become comfortable with silence after a sneeze? Which country has the more casual office culture? How can one tip in Korea without offending anyone? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 19 Oct 2023 | Episode 15: Blue Blooded (Work) | 00:32:32 | |
This week Jun and Daniel scratch the surface of a big important topic: working life. Employment in Korea is generally considered for life, and it is nearly impossible to be fired. How does this impact work culture? What are the top companies that new grads in Korea want to work for? What is NaKaLaCouBaeDangTo? Why isn’t Samsung considered a tech giant in Korea? What is the process like for getting hired at Samsung, and why isn’t Samsung considered a tech company in Korea? What is a “CC”? What is an “alba”? What’s an exception in Korea, that is the norm in the US? What extreme tactic do Korean companies use to prevent paying employees overtime? How do you get a government job in Korea? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 26 Oct 2023 | Episode 16: The Parasol Grid (Travel) | 00:52:31 | |
This week Jun and Daniel talk about all things travel. Listen in as Jun and Daniel detail recent trips they’ve made, as well as popular travel destinations for Koreans and Americans. Between Japan and Korea, which is more friendly for English speakers? What are the most popular travel destinations for Koreans? What country is far easier for Koreans to travel to compared to Americans? What is the furthest possible travel destination from Korea? What do Americans travel to, and does it differ by coast? What are the best beaches in Korea? What are the famous mudflats (갯벌) and water valleys (계곡) in Korea? What province in Korea is known for their food? What common travel tradition do college students in Korea and America share? What do Koreans love to buy from the duty-free? What makes the rest stops in Korea so awesome? What is a ‘hocance’? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 02 Nov 2023 | Episode 17: Hold The Onions (Culture) | 00:44:55 | |
This week Jun and Daniel talk about something in Korean culture that Daniel still really struggles to understand, which is their commitment to obeying the letter of the law with no regard to the spirit of the law. Also, why restaurants rarely offer any ability to customize their menu options, and why Koreans are so inflexible and unwilling to make exceptions in general. Listen in as Daniel recounts various stories from his time in Korea that make him shake his American head. Will Jun’s explanations of the Korean perspective result in Daniel nodding his head in agreement? What staples of Costco and Ikea are not a thing in Korea? How do Koreans respond when they are forced to make many individualized choices? Why does everything in Korea have so many rules? And what food ingredient is so decisive that Koreans will accept your request to hold it? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 09 Nov 2023 | Episode 18: The One With All The 90s References (Media) | 00:56:28 | |
This week Jun and Daniel wax nostalgic and take a walk down memory lane as they recount various TV shows from their respective childhoods in the 80s, 90s, and 2000s. From children’s cartoons to daytime soaps, Daniel discovers that Korean and American youth had quite a great deal of overlap. What is AFKN, and how did it enable Korean youth to get access to even more American TV shows than some American kids? What was the Sunday morning ritual for kids in Korea growing up in the 80s and 90s? What were the popular Korean cartoons from that time? What K-pop group was the origin of modern day idol culture and fandom? What US shows found outsized success in Korea? What TV shows and other forms of entertainment in Korea were inspired by shows in the US, and vice versa? And for the 90s kid who grew up in America, we know you’ll enjoy the nostalgia that comes from hearing the letters T.G.I.F. She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 16 Nov 2023 | Episode 19: The Devil Wears Kodak (Fashion) | 00:48:31 | |
This week Jun and Daniel take on a topic neither is quite comfortable with: fashion. Daniel has had a growing list of fashion-related questions that he finally gets to discuss. Winter has come in Korea, and with it, another change in the clothing you see people wearing. What are some of the latest fashion trends in Korea? While yoga pants are rarely seen on the streets, who is wearing athleisure wear on the regular? What is the Korean term for luxury goods, and is Korea really that obsessed with them? What started off as an anti-brand, that has now become its own brand? What famous global brand is now owned by Korea? Why are certain brands much more popular in Korea, than the US? What American brands that have no relation to clothing become very popular clothing brands in Korea, and why? How has Burberry forever left its mark on the Korean fashion world? Are matching couple outfits still a thing, or have they evolved? Who is one of the most influential figures in fashion today? And what do pandas and killer whales have in common? 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 reveals his most precious clothing item from high school, while Jun shares something personal about himself that leaves Daniel both shocked and inspired. She Leads with CAREShe Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 23 Nov 2023 | Episode 20: There’s A Korean App For That (Technology) | 01:00:06 | |
This week Jun and Daniel explore the various websites and applications used in Korea compared to America. What are the popular websites and apps across the two countries? Which are the same, and which are different? How did the internet and internet culture evolve in Korea, and how did it differ from America? Is the iMessage blue check mark a thing in the land of Samsung? How did Korea come to have its world class internet infrastructure? Why doesn’t Google Maps work in Korea? What are mom cafes? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 30 Nov 2023 | Episode 21: Korean.Americano. (Culture) | 00:34:40 | |
This week Jun and Daniel explore the cafe culture that exists in Korea. Rather than invite people into each other’s homes, in Korea it’s much more common to meet at a cafe instead. What are some of the driving forces behind this? What is the expectation when hosting people in your home? What is the expectation as a guest when you are invited to someone else’s home? What are some of the interesting types of cafes? Do Koreans still drink instant coffee after meals? What is the most popular coffee order in Korea? How do cafes in Korea differ from the US? What are kid cafes and why are they such a revelation? 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, Jun flexes his coffee knowledge and vents about a recent cafe trend he doesn’t like, while Daniel makes excuses for his poor guest behavior previously. She Leads with CAREShe Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 07 Dec 2023 | Episode 22: Korean Pizza (Food) | 00:46:29 | |
This week Jun and Daniel explore the world of chain restaurants. Listen as Daniel recounts his first experience eating a Korean pizza, and the various toppings that he found shocking, while Jun applauds the effort to experiment and localize. What American chains have been successful in Korea, and which haven’t? How do they differ? Have any Korean chains been successful in America? Did Red Mango and Pinkberry start in America, or Korea? What global drink brand did Korea take over? What Korean chain did Daniel’s co-worker take great offense to? What key signature item do Korean 7-11’s not have? What chain in Korea has a Gone With The Wind flavor? What American thing are Korean convenience stores most similar to? What Canadian franchise is coming to Korea? What US franchise does Daniel think would do well in Korea, and vice-versa for Jun? What food trends are already dying down? Does Psy have his own burger, and who is Papa Jones? 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 cringingly attempts a French accent, Jun gets flustered by having to customize his order, and both our hosts share their favorite ice cream flavors. She Leads with CAREShe Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 14 Dec 2023 | Episode 23: A Drinking Occasion (Food and Drinks) | 01:15:57 | |
This week Jun and Daniel dive into the soju, beer, and all things drinking culture. Listen as our hosts recount some of their experiences with alcohol in Korea. Do Koreans really drink as frequently and as heavily as is portrayed in Korean dramas and movies? What is a pojangmacha (포장마차), where is one of the more popular areas for them in Seoul, and what is the closest equivalent in America? What’s the difference between anju (안주) and banju (반주)? How strong is soju, and how expensive is it? What are other types of popular alcoholic drinks that Koreans consume? Do Koreans or Americans drink more alcohol? What do Koreans think of the legal drinking age in America being 21 years old? What are some interesting makgeolli (막걸리) flavors? What is the proper hierarchy-based drinking etiquette? Is alcoholism discussed amongst Koreans? What do Baskin Robbins 31 and Titanic have to do with drinking alcohol? What do Americans commonly do after drinking that Koreans find shocking? What are the most famous food/alcohol pairings in Korea? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 21 Dec 2023 | Episode 24: Dork With Strengths (Language) | 00:34:26 | |
This week Jun and Daniel take a journey into millennial slang of their respective countries. Listen in on this light-hearted conversation as our hosts attempt to guess the meaning of modern slang words in Korea and America. Can you guess what 폼미쳤다, 너뭐돼, and many other Korean phrases mean? Can Daniel succeed in guessing a single one? Can Jun figure out what on fleek, ghosting, and other American millennial slang words mean? Are there any slang words that have equivalent versions between Korean and English? And what English word has crossed over into Korean? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 28 Dec 2023 | Episode 25: 2023 Year End Wrap Up “SSAMary” (Podcast) | 00:44:02 | |
This week Jun and Daniel wrap (“ssam”) up the year with thoughts and reflections from their first year of doing this podcast. Despite the focus on talking about the podcast itself, our hosts still touch briefly on how the holiday season looks like in South Korea. Listen in as our hosts go over their stat card for the podcast (and other social channels on other platforms), share their favorite and least favorite episodes, lessons learned, highlights, lowlights, plans for 2024, and more. Daniel and Jun also reveal their favorite seasons, and what they think of the Christmas decor in Korea. She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 04 Jan 2024 | Episode 26: Of Plums and Peach Trees (Holidays) | 01:05:57 | |
This week Jun and Daniel kick off 2024 with a discussion about how Koreans celebrate the New Year. Listen in as our hosts compare new year’s traditions in Korea and America. Do Koreans celebrate January 1st differently than Lunar New Year? Do Koreans make New Year’s resolutions? Who usually plays hosts in Korea for family gatherings? When do you make the transition from receiving money to giving money for New Year’s? What are some of the lesser known traditional games and activities Koreans do on Lunar New Year? What bird is the symbol for Lunar New Year? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 11 Jan 2024 | Episode 27: Did You Eat? (Language) | 00:31:51 | |
This week Jun and Daniel discuss the Korean language in all of its beautiful and confusing glory. Specifically, Daniel brings up the topic of how it is very indirect and how he struggles with that as an American. What are some confusing American phrases for Koreans to learn? What is a high-context vs low-context society, and what impact does this have on language in Korea compared to America? What are some regional differences within Korea when it comes to language and directness? What are some phrases that Daniel has had to get used to? How has being in Korea for close to 2.5 years now changed Daniel’s Korean drama viewing experience? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 18 Jan 2024 | Episode 28: Extreme Decision (Culture) | 00:41:36 | |
This week Jun and Daniel discuss the very heavy topic of suicide. While Daniel has known for a while that Korean society has a problem with suicide, with the highest rest of suicides within the OECD nations, famous actor Lee Sun-kyun’s recent high-profile suicide has brought this issue to the forefront of everyday conversation. What are the factors that caused Lee Sun-kyun to end his own life? Do these causes resonate with Daniel as universal, or do they seem particular to Korea? How do every day Koreans think about suicide? Why do Koreans have such a high rate of suicide, compared to America and other developed nations? Do things seem to be getting better, or worse? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 25 Jan 2024 | Episode 29: Reply 1975 (Culture) | 00:45:40 | |
This week Jun and Daniel discuss how Daniel’s understanding of Korean culture growing up has changed significantly compared to modern day Korea. Topics range from language, to the fear of North Korea invading, to subway etiquette, but the theme of this episode is comparing the Korea Daniel’s parents left in the 70s to the Korea Daniel and Jun are living in today. What words did Daniel use growing up are no longer used, and even laughed at? Are Koreans afraid of being invaded by the North? Who is more strict as parents, Americans or Koreans? Which society is more fast-paced? How did the so-called Miracle of the Han River impact Korea's modern values? What is the Korean version of “OK boomer”? What does Jun miss from the Korea he remembers in his childhood? What are the pros and cons of Korea’s one-track, collectivist mindset? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 01 Feb 2024 | Episode 30: Petiquette (Pets) | 00:42:20 | |
This week Jun and Daniel discuss our favorite furry friends, and explore the differences between pet culture in Korea and America. Our hosts discuss their experience with having or interacting with pets in Korea, and how pet culture mirrors society at large. Like many things in Korea, there are stark differences across generational lines. How were pets treated in past generations, and how has that evolved in modern Korea? What are some of the most popular breeds for dogs in Korea? What are the native Korean breeds of dogs? Is the rise in pet ownership somehow related to the declining birth rate in Korea? What is a common interaction with dogs in America that Daniel really misses? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 08 Feb 2024 | Episode 31: Gyeongseong Creature Episode 1 (Media) | 01:09:04 | |
This week Jun and Daniel discuss Korean culture through a recently trending popular K-drama on Netflix: Gyeongseong Creature Episode 1, which takes place in 1945 with Korea still under Japanese occupation. Our hosts use this drama episode as a vehicle to discuss differences in how a Korean American might view and receive the show, compared to a Korean Korean. How is Asian representation in the media perceived in Korea? Why is the show’s title clever? What similarities are there between the Holocaust and the Japanese occupation of Korea? What symbols and words in Korea carry the same weight as a Nazi swastika or the n-word? What nuances, from a style of glasses to subtle language cues, would a Korean viewer pick up that are lost on Western audiences? How distracting are bad accents to a Korean viewer? 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 love for Korean media and how deeply Asian representation in media matters to him, while Jun nerds out architecture, which he has a graduate degree in (from a college in Boston). NOTE: While this is not an episode review per se, as we focus more on cultural aspects depicted in the drama rather than the plot and characters of the drama itself, this episode still may contain spoilers. If you have not watched Gyeongseong Creature Episode 1 and do not want anything spoiled, consider yourself warned! She Leads with CAREShe Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 15 Feb 2024 | Episode 32: Manual Automatic Sliding Doors (Daily Life) | 01:01:49 | |
This week Jun and Daniel discuss what they find convenient about living in Korea compared to America, as well as the things that make Daniel long for the land of large and available parking spots. Our hosts take turns bringing up everyday things that make living in Korea or America awesome. What is the most convenient thing for Daniel, that has to do with raising his young children? What is especially challenging for foreigners in Korea, that even natives find annoying? What are the pros and cons of your cell phone number essentially becoming your identification? Why is parking both amazing and terrible? What did Jun find surprisingly slow in America? What is one of Daniel’s least favorite things about America, especially in contrast to the US? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 22 Feb 2024 | Episode 33: Noonchi (Concepts) | 00:35:57 | |
This week Jun and Daniel discuss the concept of noonchi in Korean culture. Noonchi is commonly translated as “emotional intelligence” or one’s ability to “read the room”, but after hearing it used in many other ways, Daniel dives deeper into some of the nuances and alternative meanings of this term. How can you give noonchi to someone, and how does it compare to general passive-aggressive behavior? Is it something that you’re born with, or something that you can develop? Is life more difficult if you have it, or if you don’t? Is it possible to have too much of it? How would noonchi change for Koreans when they leave Korea? Can you have it without an understanding of Korean culture itself? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 29 Feb 2024 | Episode 34: N-Po Generation (Culture) | 00:39:57 | |
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? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 07 Mar 2024 | Episode 35: Jeong (Concepts) | 00:36:33 | |
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? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 14 Mar 2024 | Episode 36: Black-Haired Foreigner (Daily Life) | 01:10:03 | |
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? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 21 Mar 2024 | Episode 37: How About Them Apples.. At Night (Culture) | 01:02:11 | |
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? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 28 Mar 2024 | Episode 38: When You Wish Upon A Dragon Ball (Culture) | 00:36:18 | |
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? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 04 Apr 2024 | Episode 39: The Cleaning Towel of Italy (Hygiene) | 00:49:42 | |
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? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 11 Apr 2024 | Episode 40: Dreams of Food Court Kids' Meals (Japan) | 01:13:16 | |
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? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 18 Apr 2024 | Episode 41: Korea Exit Interview #1 (iyagi) | 01:10:11 | |
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! Links She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 25 Apr 2024 | Episode 42: Call Me, Maybe? (Language) | 01:17:51 | |
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? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 02 May 2024 | Episode 43: Min Hee-Jin Press Conference, Korean Soccer Failure (News) | 00:33:54 | |
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? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 09 May 2024 | Episode 44: Judgments Unclouded (Milestones) | 00:58:43 | |
This week Jun and Daniel discuss the topic of milestones and celebrations. As Daniel recently passed a significant birthday, our hosts take this opportunity to compare what are the big life events in Korea and America, as well as what is typically done to celebrate. What does your average children’s birthday party look like in Korea, and what is one surprising difference from America? Are birthday parties themselves as big of a deal in Korea as they are in America? What surprised Daniel about how a child’s first birthday (doljanchi) is celebrated in Korea? What is someone’s 60th or 70th birthday called in Korea, and what is typically done to commemorate the milestone? What are the traditional Confucian beliefs about various birthday milestones? How do weddings and the associated events compare across the two countries? What are some other cultural celebrations Daniel got to experience in America, due to its broader diversity? Which country parties harder, and does either country take celebrating too far? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 16 May 2024 | Episode 45: Korea Visitor Interview #1 (iyagi) | 01:15:49 | |
This week Jun and Daniel have another guest interview with their friend and former co-worker, Alex, who is a frequent visitor to Korea. This time, Alex is visiting Korea to celebrate his daughter’s first birthday. What is something that the cities of Ilsan and Bundang share? What was the first food Alex and his wife sought out upon landing? What are some ways that Koreans are innovative, food-wise? What are some things Alex thought was Korean growing up, but is actually Japanese? What does Alex look forward to while he is in Korea? Why are Koreans hesitant to help strangers in public? What is a fear that Alex has as a visitor, that seems to be more commonly held by Korean Americans than Korean Koreans? Do Koreans have a plan in case of an emergency attack from the North? Where has Korea tried to relocate their capital city to, and why? What are some uncomfortable questions one should be prepared to have when meeting with extended family in Korea? What’s one bit of Korean culture Alex would export to America if he could? What stops him from moving to Korea permanently? How can Koreans tell Korean Americans apart from Korean Koreans? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 23 May 2024 | Episode 46: Wait, What Did You Jeonse? (Housing) | 01:08:47 | |
This week Jun and Daniel discuss the housing payment system of jeonse (전세), or key money deposit, that is unique to South Korea amongst all OECD countries. Roughly 50% of renters in Korea are living with a jeonse, and in 2022 the average jeonse price in Seoul was $500,000. For the first few months after moving to Korea, Daniel had to ask almost every Korean person he met about the jeonse system, because of how foreign and unsustainable it seemed. What is a jeonse, and how does it work? What are some other aspects of the Korean real estate ecosystem that work together with jeonse? How do Koreans and Americans think differently about real estate, at a very fundamental level? How do Koreans manage to get such a high deposit amount? What is appealing about this system to Koreans? What are the other options available to renters besides jeonse? What does the day of look like when Koreans move into a jeonse? What role do real estate agents play in Korea? Is there an equivalent to the escrow system that exists in America? What is an important factor in real estate investing that isn’t important in the US? What are the cracks that are beginning to appear in the jeonse system in particular, and the overall Korean real estate ecosystem more broadly? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 30 May 2024 | Episode 47: Having A Korean Field Day (Culture) | 00:44:11 | |
This week Jun and Daniel discuss Daniel’s recent experience attending an event at his 4-year-old’s preschool– sports day! Sports day (운동회) in Korea is a classic elementary school tradition that would evoke very fond memories to most anyone who grew up there. For Americans, imagine field day, but even bigger, more official, and standardized across all schools. What were the classic events that all Koreans would know? How were children typically divided up? What is humorous about how the score is kept? How competitive is it? How similar was Daniel’s experience to what Jun recalls from his childhood? What was traditionally the most important and memorable part of sports day that Daniel found surprising? How would this work differently had it been done in America? What about sports day is reflective of Korean society at large? And what remnants continue to be seen in modern Korean corporations and Korean American church communities alike? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 06 Jun 2024 | Episode 48: Korean News Headlines - May 2024 (News) | 01:08:38 | |
This week Jun and Daniel discuss a few of the biggest headlines in Korean news during the month of May 2024: Min Hee Jin’s ongoing legal battle with HYBE, Naver being asked by the Japanese government to give up control of LINE, famous celebrities Psick Univ and Kang Hyung-wook getting canceled, and the Korean government’s attempted ban on overseas direct purchasing. Why does there appear to be such a stark contrast between how Koreans are reacting to Min Hee Jin, compared to non-Koreans? What are some common criticisms that Westerners have of Min Hee Jin, and do they resonate with Koreans? What is LINE, and why is the Japanese government pushing for Naver to give up control over the product they built? Do our hosts agree on the fairness of such a move? How does this compare to the US threatening to ban TikTok unless it’s parent company ByteDance gives up control? Or is it more similar to another decision the Korean government has made regarding a foreign digital service? How are geopolitics playing into this? What exactly is overseas direct purchasing, and why is the Korean government banning it for certain products? What is underlying this decision by the Korean government? What is a customs number, and why is it such a foreign concept for most Americans? What is Psick Univ and what caused their recent backlash? Who is Kang Hyung-wook, and what is the allegation against him? Why is cancel culture in general seemingly much stronger in Korea? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 13 Jun 2024 | Episode 49: White Truck Of Doom (Media) | 01:22:12 | |
This week Jun and Daniel discuss a topic that is very near and dear to our American host’s heart: Korean dramas, or K-dramas for short. Daniel has been a casual viewer since his early 20s, long before Squid Game put them on the global stage, but his K-drama watching ramped up while in Covid lockdown and hasn’t slowed down since. Like many Westerners, much of his perception and understanding of Korean culture has come from watching K-dramas. How true to life are K-dramas? How do Koreans watch them differently than Americans? What is the classic K-drama template? What is one reason why K-drama plots seem to lack continuity? What are the origins of product placement in K-dramas? What are our hosts’ all-time favorite K-dramas? Why aren’t there multiple seasons to popular K-dramas, at least historically before the Netflixization of them? Is Korea a harder place to live than other countries? Why are the foreign actors in K-dramas always so bad at acting? What can we learn about Korean society from the many K-drama tropes that appear in drama after drama? Which tropes actually reflect reality, and which are equally unbelievable to Korean viewers? What is the perilla leaf controversy (깻잎논쟁) and what does it say about Korea’s level of jealousy and standard boundaries when in a dating relationship? Listen in as our hosts have a truly meandering conversation about everything K-drama related, big and small. She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 20 Jun 2024 | Episode 50: Korea? North or South? (Stereotypes) | 01:21:27 | |
This week Jun and Daniel discuss common stereotypes Koreans and Americans might have of each other and to what extent they agree with them. While all stereotypes are neither accurate nor fair, there is no denying they exist and shape our perceptions, interactions, and cultures in meaningful ways. As always, as our hosts engage in light-hearted conversation around a variety of topics, they hope to foster deeper understanding and empathy of each other’s cultures. What is a common misconception Koreans have of Korean Americans, and what fuels it? What is a challenge Korean Americans have that might be foreign for Koreans who have never lived outside of Korea? What is a common frustration that both Koreans and Korean Americans share? Do Americans live in constant fear of getting shot? Are all Koreans good at math? How bad does Korean food smell? How bad do Americans smell? Do Americans really hook-up as much as Western media depicts? Do Koreans still eat dog meat? Are all Koreans good at computer games? Is America perfect? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 27 Jun 2024 | Episode 51: Lovely Runner Episode 1 (Media) | 01:39:29 | |
This week Jun and Daniel discuss Korean culture through a recently trending popular K-drama: Lovely Runner (Episode 1). This time slip, romantic comedy drama series bounces between modern day and 2008 Korea. Our hosts watch the first episode and exchange notes of various cultural nuances and differences that stood out to them. What’s interesting about the title that a Korean might note? Is it right that American media titles get transliterated to Korean, whereas Korean media gets translations? What does fish food have to do with drama viewing culture in Korea? What are some cameos by very famous Koreans that go completely over Daniel’s head? What is a misconception Daniel had about sasaeng fans (사생팬) from a previous episode? What are some other common things in Korean fandom culture that Daniel finds shocking? Why is email not used in Korea, like it is in America? How is mental health thought about in Korea? How is the accessibility of Korea for people in wheelchairs, compared to America? Why do Koreans wear umbrellas when it's snowing? What are some similarities and differences between classroom environments in Korea and America? Why do Koreans frequently not communicate in a straightforward fashion? How are conceptions of living situations different? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 04 Jul 2024 | Episode 52: One Year Of Korean. American. Podcast (Reflections) | 01:20:57 | |
This week Jun and Daniel celebrate reaching the one-year anniversary of the podcast, and successfully releasing “1 Korean. 1 American. 1 Topic Weekly.” for the entire duration. Our hosts each reflect on their most recent trips to the US and how the podcast has impacted their experience and understanding of both American and Korean society and culture. How has the mission and vision for the podcast changed since launch? What is driving some of their relative success? How do Americans use their national flag in a way that is different from Koreans? Who does Jun find to be oddly happy in America? What is one small tidbit about America did Jun notice, due to it being discussed on the podcast? What is jarring about the American music Daniel hears in Korea? What is Daniel saying “mission accomplished” to, regarding his time in Korea? How long does it take for a new country to feel like “home”? What is one piece of American culture that Jun still cannot accept? What about Daniel with regards to Korean culture? What are the core root causes of differences between Korean and American society that keep coming up over the course of the podcast? What is one notable missing reason, one that a typical outsider might find surprising? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 11 Jul 2024 | Episode 53: Han (Concepts) | 01:05:03 | |
This week Jun and Daniel take on another so-called pillar of Korean culture and society: han. How does Jun define han, and what issue does he take with the definition from its Wikipedia page? What was behind Jun’s initial reluctance to dedicate an episode to this topic? What are some of our hosts’ personal examples of han? What does it mean to have han at a national level? What are some other countries or people groups that share something in common with Korea that may result in similar han-like sentiments? What makes Korea uniquely suited to embody han? What does arirang have to do with han? What is the Korean word for ferment, and how is it beautifully connected to the concept of han? How does Daniel believe his experience of han compares to that of his parents or the older Korean population? What is something about the Korean language that Jun believes contributes to the feeling of han? What classic Korean film from 1993 was all about han, and was the first movie to surpass 1 million viewers 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, Jun and Daniel nearly reveal their MBTIs, and dedicate more time than usual to the nuances of various English words. Links https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_(cultural) (Han Wikipedia article) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-n3W8OXaY8 (서편제 Movie) She Leads with CAREShe Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 18 Jul 2024 | Episode 54: Listener Comments - Read and Response #1 (Media) | 01:55:11 | |
This week Jun and Daniel experiment with a new format in which they read and respond to various channels of fan and follower engagement. For the inaugural episode, our hosts look at comments left on their Instagram Reels and YouTube media. After reading and discussing some of the most popular comments, our hosts then give each a rating from mild, to spicy, to incendiary, and discuss. How can our Korean American host have such poor Korean language skills, and is this common for so-called gyopos? What has driven the podcast’s growth, and how do our hosts feel about it? What are our hosts’ actual experiences with not only wearing shoes inside the house, but on the bed? For some of our listeners who lived abroad, who do our hosts remind them of? What is a surprising but apt comparison made between washing dishes and taking a bath? What do all Koreans know about various ramen brands? What mentality in Korean can be applied across a wide swath of events, ranging from weddings to birthday parties? What does one person see in Korean American men’s facial expressions that our American host finds surprising? What unhealthy food in America doesn’t have the same reputation in Korea? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 25 Jul 2024 | Episode 55: E-sports and Gaming (Culture) | 01:53:56 | |
This week Jun and Daniel discuss E-sports and gaming culture with a friend of the show and professional gaming coach, Wizard Hyeong. Korea is famously known as the birthplace of Esports, where the Korean e-Sports Association (KeSPA), an arm of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, was founded in 2000 to promote and regulate esports in the country. From PC Bangs to TV channels dedicated to showing games such as Starcraft, gaming culture has been and continues to be a deeply integral part of Korean society. Who are some of the most popular professional gamers in Korea, that even grandmothers would know? What does a professional gaming coach do? How much can professional gamers make? How long do most professional gamers’ careers last, and what do they do after retiring? How does professional gaming culture differ between America and Korea? What role does PC Bangs play in Korean society? As a professional coach, what are the three swamps that gamers fall into, and how can they get out of them? How does Korea’s obsession with fairness play out in the gaming world? What does the future of Esports hold, from the perspective of an insider in the industry? How do Esports in Korea compare to regular athletic sports in America? How does Korea’s approach to practice and improvement differ from 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 the highlight of his own gaming career, Jun plays the role of a casual non-gamer, and both are surprised by how many parallels can be drawn from gaming culture to Korea’s overall culture and life in general. Guest Bios Links She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 01 Aug 2024 | Episode 56: Keeping Up With The Kimses (Parenting) | 02:04:01 | |
This week Jun and Daniel are joined by special guests Young and Grace to discuss parenting in Korea vs. America. How does the Korean postpartum care system differ from the U.S.? What level of independence do Korean parents give their children compared to American parents? How do discipline styles vary between the cultures? What is the hagwon system and why is it so prevalent in Korea? How do definitions of success for children differ? If you're interested in any of these questions, tune in to hear Daniel, Jun, Young and Grace discuss all this and more! Young and Grace share their experiences raising kids in Korea as Korean Americans, aiming to blend the best of both cultures. The group also touches on topics like the pressure of Korea's competitive education system, cultural expectations around academics, and defining success beyond just finances. Guest Bios Grace is a Korean-American mom of three living in Korea and shares her experience on her podcast “Motherhood in the Motherland”. With a background in psychology and counseling, she loves talking all things parenting, education and culture. Links She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 08 Aug 2024 | Episode 57: US Trip Recap (Reflections) | 01:28:06 | |
This week Daniel shares his reflections after spending a month back in the United States with his family. Listen in as Daniel and Jun discuss the stark differences between life in Korea versus America, from diverse communities to driving habits to portion sizes. What aspects of American life did Daniel miss most while living in Korea? How did his perspective on the US change after living abroad? What cultural adjustments did he have to make going back? The hosts also touch on some major US news events from July 2024, talk about the amazing-ness of Italian ice, and discuss why Southern California might be the best place to live in. If you're interested in hearing a Korean American's evolving views on American culture after living in Korea, tune in for Daniel and Jun's entertaining and insightful conversation! This episode also includes updates on the podcast's growth, fan support, and chart rankings. She Leads with CAREShe Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 15 Aug 2024 | Episode 58: Korean News Headlines - July 2024 (News) | 01:34:33 | |
This week Jun and Daniel discuss some notable news headlines from July 2024. What led to the scandal surrounding popular mukbang YouTuber Tzuyang, and what does it reveal about Korea's entertainment industry and cyber bullying culture? How significant is the recent Supreme Court ruling recognizing same-sex couples' rights, and what might it signal for LGBTQ+ progress in Korea? Are Gen Z workers really more outspoken about workplace issues, and how does this reflect changing work culture across generations? What are "cyber wreckers," and how do they impact Korean online culture? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 22 Aug 2024 | Episode 59: Exhuma Movie Review and Shamanism (Media) | 01:23:38 | |
This week Jun and Daniel discuss Korean shamanism and occult practices through a review of the popular Korean movie "Exhuma" (or "파묘" in Korean). How integrated is shamanism in modern Korean society? What are some common superstitions and spiritual practices in Korea? How does the movie portray traditional Korean beliefs and anti-Japanese sentiment? What aspects of the film might be lost on non-Korean viewers? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 29 Aug 2024 | Episode 60: 2024 Paris Olympics (Sports) | 01:27:58 | |
This week Jun and Daniel discuss the 2024 Paris Olympics. They cover highlights from Korea's performance, memorable moments, and reflect on famous Korean Olympians throughout history. The hosts also explore cultural differences in how Korea and America approach the Olympics, from medal counting methods to how athletes are celebrated. She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 05 Sep 2024 | Episode 61: Lucky Vicky (Trends) | 01:32:29 | |
This week Jun and Daniel dive into the latest trends sweeping across Korea. From viral language catchphrases to K-pop sensations, luxury athleisure wear to running crews, and electric vehicles to trendy desserts, our hosts explore what's hot in various aspects of Korean society. They discuss the origins of these trends, debate their staying power, and share personal experiences with some of the popular phenomena. If you're interested in learning why "Lucky Vicky" is suddenly everywhere, how a New Jeans performance captivated Japan, what's driving the electric vehicle debate in Korea, or why everyone's talking about "Dubai chocolate," tune in to hear Daniel and Jun discuss all this and more! Also in this episode, the hosts conduct a live taste test of trending snacks, debate the merits of various fads, and ponder the rapid pace of trend cycles in Korea. She Leads with CAREShe Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 12 Sep 2024 | Episode 62: Density of Water (Daily Life) | 01:15:31 | |
This week Jun and Daniel dedicate another episode to run through Daniel’s constantly growing and evolving list of notes on daily life in Korea. Our hosts tackle a 짬뽕 (hodgepodge) of topics ranging from apartment community life to driving habits and hierarchy-based social expectations. What does Daniel find depressing about his apartment living situation? Which part of the metric system is Daniel getting used to, and which part can’t he really transition over? What are some eating hacks Daniel’s learned over the years that most Koreans have known their whole lives? Why does Daniel struggle with the air conditioning in his apartment? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 19 Sep 2024 | Episode 63: Kim Family Matters (Names) | 01:38:24 | |
This week Jun and Daniel dive into the world of Korean names and family genealogy. Listen as our hosts explore the cultural significance, history, and trends around names in Korea compared to America. What are the most common Korean last names and how did they originate? How do Koreans choose names for their children and what do the characters mean? What are some generational trends in Korean names? How do nicknames differ between Korea and the US? What is a jokbo (족보) and why is it romanticized by Korean Americans? How do Koreans view changing their names? From clan names to middle names to naming pets, our hosts cover a wide range of naming customs and traditions. She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 26 Sep 2024 | Episode 64: Small Talk feat. Connecting (Culture) | 02:00:10 | |
This week Jun and Daniel explore the world of small talk through conversations with random strangers on the Connecting app. Our hosts discuss cultural differences in social interactions between Korea and America, practice their own small talk skills, and gather interesting perspectives from their chat partners. Topics range from stereotypes Koreans and Americans have of each other, to experiences as Korean. Americans, to views on Korea's beauty and fashion culture. Along the way, Jun and Daniel reflect on the value of casual conversation, their own comfort levels with small talk, and how it differs between the two countries. #connecting #커넥팅 #korean #american #koreanamerican #podcast #koreanculture She Leads with CAREShe Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 03 Oct 2024 | Episode 65: Culinary Class Wars Review (Media) | 01:07:48 | |
This week Jun and Daniel review the popular Korean Netflix cooking competition show "Culinary Class Wars" (흑백요리사). They discuss the show's format, cultural aspects, and why it has become such a sensation in Korea. Our hosts compare fine dining experiences in Korea vs the US, debate the merits of peelers vs knives in the kitchen, and explore concepts of teamwork and hierarchy as depicted on the show. She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 10 Oct 2024 | Episode 66: Korean News Headlines - August/September 2024 (News) | 01:03:23 | |
This week Jun and Daniel discuss some major news headlines from August and September 2024 in Korea. They cover topics including a pilot program bringing Filipino nannies to Korea, the ongoing doctor strike, and a deepfake porn scandal. The hosts explore the cultural context and public reactions to these issues, touching on themes of immigration, online privacy, and healthcare policy. They also discuss Korean Air's decision to stop serving instant ramen on flights. She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 17 Oct 2024 | Episode 67: MBTI (Culture) | 01:49:50 | |
This week Jun and Daniel dive into the world of MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) and its popularity in Korea. They explore why MBTI has become such a cultural phenomenon in Korea, from its use in social settings to its integration into various aspects of daily life. The conversation then expands to include the Enneagram personality system, which Daniel is particularly passionate about. In continuing the theme of getting to know our hosts more personally, Jun and Daniel also answer questions from their listeners in a recent AMA (Ask Me Anything) poll. She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 24 Oct 2024 | Episode 68: Jjik or Treat! (Food) | 01:19:34 | |
This week Jun and Daniel dive into famous food debates and preferences that divide both Korean and American society. Starting from whether you dip (jjik) or boo (pour) the sauce with sweet and sour pork (tangsuyuk), our hosts explore the many famous food debates that Koreans have, including kimchi jiggae versus doenjang jjigae, mul naengmyun vs bibimnaengmyun, and many more. They then shift to some American ones, such as when the milk should go into cereal or how you cut a sandwich, and discuss the equivalencies between the two countries. The discussion also touches lightly on regional differences in cooking. Listen in as our hosts arrive at a very interesting conclusion about how Koreans lean more towards framing food preferences between commonly competing dishes as part of their personal identity, while Americans lean towards debating the "correct" way to prepare a single dish. She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 31 Oct 2024 | Episode 69: Listener Comments - Read and Response #2-1 (Media) | 01:47:07 | |
This week Jun and Daniel dedicate an episode to reading and responding to comments from their social media channels over the past few months. From inverter AC technology to birthing experiences to racism and cultural differences, our hosts dive deep into various topics that sparked discussion among their listeners. They explore Korean and American perspectives on everything from technical knowledge and education to small talk and societal values, while addressing misconceptions and clarifying their intentions behind certain statements. If you're interested in hearing thoughtful responses to viewer feedback on topics like Korea's relationship with knowledge and education, different cultural approaches to small talk, perspectives on racism across cultures, or how living in Korea has shifted Daniel's viewpoint when reading comments, tune in to hear Daniel and Jun discuss all this and more! Also in this episode, the hosts share insights about the challenges of engaging with social media comments, debate the nuances of cultural sensitivity, and openly discuss their evolving understanding of complex societal issues. She Leads with CAREShe Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 07 Nov 2024 | Episode 70: Listener Comments - Read and Response #2-2 (Media) | 01:05:18 | |
This week Jun and Daniel continue their discussion of listener comments and reactions from social media, blogs, and other platforms. They explore the complex topic of Korean American identity, diving into experiences of discrimination, dual cultural belonging, and what it means to be a "third culture kid." The hosts also tackle comments about Korean driving habits, luxury goods consumption, and reactions to seeing their faces for the first time. Through these discussions, they reflect on deeper cultural nuances between Korea and America, from optimization mindsets to social status signaling. She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 14 Nov 2024 | Episode 71: Your Political View Here (Politics) | 01:42:11 | |
This week Jun and Daniel risk it all by using the charged 2024 US presidential election as a reason to compare and discuss the political systems and landscape in Korea and America. Our hosts attempt to discuss politics while remaining as neutral as possible, covering topics like the two-party system, campaign financing, big tech's political leanings, and the unique characteristics of conservative and progressive parties in both countries. They also explore the complex relationship between the US and Korea, from military presence to economic dependencies. She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 21 Nov 2024 | Episode 72: For The Love Of The Cheering (Sports) | 01:44:42 | |
This week Jun and Daniel discuss sports culture in Korea and America, prompted by their recent experience attending a KBO (Korean Baseball Organization) playoff game together. Through comparing stadium experiences, fan behavior, player salaries, and cultural attitudes towards athletics, our hosts explore deeper societal differences between the two countries - from how Koreans view sports more as entertainment versus Americans' intense competitive spirit, to contrasting approaches to women's sports and mixed-gender athletics. What does wildcard, semi-playoffs, and playoffs mean in the context of Korean baseball? What is the topic of many of Daniel’s conversations with more Americanized Korean Koreans? Is there a difference between ‘hwaiting’ (화이팅) and ‘paiting’ (파이팅)? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 28 Nov 2024 | Episode 73: Korean News Headlines - October/November 2024 (News) | 01:44:37 | |
This week Jun and Daniel discuss major news headlines from October and November 2024. From cultural controversies surrounding Dongduk Women's University and the 4B movement, to Korea's surging soft power with Blackpink’s Rosé topping the music charts and Han Kang winning the Nobel Prize for Literature, our hosts explore how these events reflect and impact Korean society. They examine the nuances of how feminism is accepted by society differently in Korea than America, discuss Korea’s passing obsession with bitcoin, and discuss how Korean culture is being exported globally through music, literature and more. She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 05 Dec 2024 | Episode 74: Red Days (Holidays) | 01:44:42 | |
This week Jun and Daniel explore the annual calendar of holidays and events in both Korea and America. Through a quiz format and month-by-month discussion, our hosts compare how each country celebrates its major holidays, from Lunar New Year and Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) in Korea to Thanksgiving (American Mid-Autumn Festival) and Independence Day in America. They also explore deeper cultural differences revealed through these celebrations, like Korea's declining adherence to traditional customs versus America's enthusiastic embrace of holiday traditions. She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 12 Dec 2024 | Episode 75: Korea Eyes (Fashion) | 01:31:07 | |
This week Jun and Daniel dive into fashion trends and cultural differences between Korea and America. From men’s hairstyles to women’s modesty norms, our hosts explore how fashion intersects with cultural values, generational divides, and societal expectations. They discuss topics like Korea's recent trend toward athleisure wear, the popularity of certain global brands, and how beauty standards influence fashion choices. The conversation also touches on the rise of Korean fashion brands globally, the influence of K-pop on fashion trends, and the differences in shopping behaviors between the two countries. She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 19 Dec 2024 | Episode 76: Snow Day? No Way! (Daily Life) | 01:41:13 | |
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? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 26 Dec 2024 | Episode 77: 2024 Year End Wrap Up (Podcast) | 01:43:49 | |
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! She Leads with CAREShe Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 02 Jan 2025 | Episode 78: Lady Vengeance (Media) | 01:40:18 | |
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. She Leads with CAREShe Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 09 Jan 2025 | Episode 79: Squid Game 2 Review (Media) | 01:38:57 | |
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 She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 16 Jan 2025 | Episode 80: Yes, Uh, Jin, Jee (Taiwan) | 01:29:32 | |
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? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 23 Jan 2025 | Episode 81: A Picture's Worth A Thousand Korean Words (Design) | 01:50:01 | |
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. She Leads with CAREShe Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 30 Jan 2025 | Episode 82: News Headlines - Dec ~ Jan 2025 (News) | 02:02:45 | |
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. She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 06 Feb 2025 | Episode 83: Korean Citizenship Prep, Growing Up Russian Korean, Jeollanamdo Living, and Fishing feat. Seil and Lera (iyagi) | 02:10:36 | |
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? She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 13 Feb 2025 | Episode 84: A Tale Of Two COVIDs (History) | 01:54:40 | |
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. She Leads with CAREShe Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 20 Feb 2025 | Episode 85: Office Drama, Daddy Spoons, In-Laws World, and Salty Toothpaste ft. HoneyJam (iyagi) | 01:55:27 | |
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 She Leads with CAREShe Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 27 Feb 2025 | Episode 86: Chill Guy Ping (Trends) | 01:42:46 | |
This week Daniel and Jun dive into the latest trends in Korea, as well as looking into predictions for 2025. They explore what's currently popular across the categories of food, fashion, technology, language, culture, and finance. Food trends include the massive popularity of the Netflix show "Culinary Class Wars," blood sugar monitoring, and protein drinks. In fashion, they discuss the term "demure," the popularity of UGGs, and the trend of customizing personal items called “kku" (-꾸). They also analyze trends from the annual "Trend Korea 2025" book, which predicts shifts toward valuing ordinary experiences ("aboha"), making small incremental improvements ("one-point-up"), and prioritizing real-world experiences over digital ones. If you're interested in keeping up with the latest changes in Korea, this episode is for you! Daniel and Jun discuss why reading culture in Korea is so different from the US, and debate whether any of the 2025 predictions will come true. Also in this episode, Daniel amazes Jun with his knowledge of Korean children’s cartoons, while Jun once again demonstrates his superior knowledge of scholars and philosophers. This episode contains a paid sponsorship for KimlyParc, which is 90s Korean instant coffee, reimagined and reinvented. KimlyParc is the premiere instant coffee brand with amazing flavors and the highest quality ingredients. If you’re in the US, head to kimlyparc.com and use the code “KAP” at checkout to get 20% off your order today. If you’re in Korea, search “ 킴리팍” on Naver. She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 06 Mar 2025 | Episode 87: Listener Comments - Read and Response (Media) | 01:36:52 | |
This week Jun and Daniel respond to comments from their Instagram Reels, YouTube channel, and emails in their second "Read and Response" episode. From discussing American strawberries tasting like "vegetables you put in soup" to deeper conversations about Korean American identity, our hosts thoughtfully address both supportive feedback and critical comments. They explore topics like Korean snowmen versus American snowmen, the concept of Jeong (정) in Korean society, Korean parents' decisions about teaching their children Korean, and how modern Korea approaches its past. Throughout the episode, they aim to foster greater cross-cultural understanding while responding to misunderstandings with empathy and nuance. She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 13 Mar 2025 | Episode 88: Finding Heaven On Earth And Being A Bridge ft. Nelson aka @sochourner (iyagi) | 02:09:11 | |
This week Jun and Daniel interview Nelson, a third-culture kid who was born and raised in Brazil before attending college in the US and eventually settling in Korea. They explore his unique journey navigating multiple cultural identities, from experiencing racism as an Asian in Brazil to voluntarily serving in the Korean Marines during a college gap year. Nelson shares how being an "outsider" everywhere ultimately became his superpower, allowing him to bridge different cultural groups. They discuss a wide range of topics including what life was like in a Brazilian international school, cultural differences in dating, gift-giving customs, military service, and Nelson's unexpected rise to social media fame in Korea. If you're interested in hearing a fresh perspective on Korean culture from someone who approaches it with a "bridge-builder" mindset, or learning about the rich complexity of Korean diaspora experiences beyond Korean Americans, tune in to hear Daniel, Jun and Nelson discuss all this and more! Also in this episode, Daniel shares his struggles with maintaining a fresh perspective on familiar surroundings, Jun explains why Koreans might be hesitant to greet strangers, and Nelson reveals his theory about how societal environments shape our behavior more than we'd like to admit. Guest Bio Nelson is a third culture kid trying to build bridges. You can find him on: She Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 20 Mar 2025 | Episode 89: Communities, Social Circles, and Third Places (Culture) | 01:55:54 | |
This week Jun and Daniel dive into a deep exploration of social circles in Korea compared to America. Daniel shares his recent experience joining a church community group after five years, which sparks the main discussion about how social connections form differently across cultures. The hosts debate whether Korean social groups are more like "cliques" while American groups function as broader "communities," examining why Koreans tend to form smaller, deeper, and more exclusive social circles compared to the more open, expansive networks common in America. They explore the role of group harmony, hierarchy, and Korea's competitive society in shaping these differences, and discuss the concept of "third places" - neutral social environments outside of home and work - which Daniel feels are notably missing in modern Korean society. If you're interested in understanding why Korean social groups often require multiple commonalities while American groups might form around just one shared interest, how utilitarian values factor into relationship-building in Korean society, or how much things have changed from the previous generation, tune in to hear Daniel and Jun discuss all this and more! Daniel also shares his personal struggles adapting to the Korean social landscape despite living in the country for well over three years. She Leads with CAREShe Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 27 Mar 2025 | Episode 90: I Am Solo Season 24 Review (Media) | 02:39:14 | |
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. She Leads with CAREShe Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 03 Apr 2025 | Episode 91: Canadian Multiculturalism, Maknae Life, Hell Joseon and Kimchi Poutines ft. Byeong (iyagi) | 01:51:21 | |
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. She Leads with CAREShe Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||
| 10 Apr 2025 | Episode 92: The Great Wall of Individualism ft. Jeong (Concepts) | 01:43:31 | |
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. She Leads with CAREShe Leads with CARE is a limited podcast series hosted by actor and producer Bellamy... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify 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! | |||