Almost Korean Podcast

About Almost Korean Podcast

Almost Korean Podcast is hosted by two Korean American men in their early 40s living in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, near a U.S. Army base. We talk about life in Korea as Korean Americans—where culture, identity, and expectations don’t always line up. From living near a U.S. military base to raising a family in Korea, appearing on Korean TV, creating content, and navigating marriage, fatherhood, social issues, and Korean pop culture, we share honest conversations from the in-between. Real talk. Lived experience. Almost Korean.

Publisher

Almost Korean Podcast

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

29 Jan 2026

Latest episode

8 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

23 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   8 Oct 2026

   What It's Really Like Growing Up Korean American: 1.5 Generation Stories | Almost Korean Ep. 23

   What does it mean to be a 1.5 generation Korean American? In Almost Korean Podcast Ep. 23, Tae and Gibson talk about growing up between Korea and America, moving countries as children, learning English, culture shock, fitting in, school experiences, immigrant parents, and how those experiences shaped who they are today. They share personal stories about leaving Korea, adjusting to American schools, ESL, being one of the few Asian kids in school, Korean American identity, and the sacrifices their first-generation parents made to build a better life. 🇰🇷 In This Episode - What “1.5 generation” really means - Growing up between Korea and America - Moving to Korea and back to the U.S. as kids - Korean childhood memories & leaving Korea - Culture shock and learning English - Adjusting to American schools - ESL, language barriers & feeling isolated - Trying to fit in as a Korean American kid - Korean vs. American school culture - Immigrant parents & their sacrifices - Growing up quickly and becoming independent - 1.5 generation identity and perspective - Raising our own kids between two cultures ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 What Does “1.5 Generation” Mean? 01:43 The Unique Experience of 1.5 Generation Immigrants 04:23 Tae’s Childhood in Korea 05:44 Moving Back to America at 15 08:15 Saying Goodbye to Korea 09:09 Adjusting to American School 10:26 The Pressure to Learn English 11:08 Tae’s Last Day in Korea 12:36 Arriving in America 14:10 Korean Immigrant Businesses & Family Life 16:26 Culture Shock: Korea vs. America 17:47 Wanting to Fit In18:00 Embracing Our Korean Childhood 19:34 American TV & Learning English 20:32 Growing Up as One of Few Korean Kids 21:56 Korean vs. American School Systems 22:59 ESL & Feeling Isolated 24:00 Learning English & Finally Fitting In 25:00 Being Called a “FOB” 25:32 Immigrant Parents & Growing Up Fast 27:22 1.5 Gen Kids vs. First Gen Parents 28:10 First Day of American High School 28:23 Racism & Being Asian in America 29:51 Korean vs. American High School 31:24 Cliques, ESL & Finding Your People 32:20 Does Growing Up in Korea Help? 33:13 Language, Accents & Coming Back to Korea 34:18 Learning English as an Immigrant 35:36 Looking at Our Kids Differently 36:05 Raising Kids Between Two Cultures 37:25 A Message to Other 1.5 Generation Immigrants 이번 Almost Korean Podcast Ep. 23에서는 한국과 미국 사이에서 성장한 1.5세대 한국계 미국인으로서의 경험에 대해 이야기합니다. 어린 시절 한국과 미국을 오가며 겪었던 문화 충격, 영어와 언어의 장벽, 미국 학교생활, ESL, 친구 관계, 한국계 미국인 정체성, 그리고 이민 1세대 부모님들의 희생에 대해 솔직하게 이야기합니다. - 이번 에피소드에서는 - 1.5세대란 무엇인가? - 한국과 미국 사이에서 자란 경험 - 어린 시절 한국에서의 기억 - 미국으로 이민하면서 겪은 문화 충격 - 영어를 배우며 겪은 어려움- 미국 학교와 한국 학교의 차이 - ESL과 언어 장벽 - 한국계 미국인으로서 소속감을 찾는 과정 - 이민 1세대 부모님의 희생 - 1.5세대만이 가질 수 있는 독특한 관점 - 두 문화를 경험하며 아이들을 키우는 이야기 Almost Korean Podcast is hosted by Tae and Gibson, two Korean American guys living in Korea and talking about Korean culture, American culture, food, family, identity, relationships, entertainment, and what it's like living between two worlds. Subscribe to Almost Korean for more conversations about Korean American life, Korea, culture, identity, food, family, and everything in between. 🌐 Follow Us Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostkoreanpodcast Tae's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/appasdiary Gibson's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barbellandprotein #AlmostKoreanPodcast #KoreanAmerican #1.5Generation #KoreanAmericanIdentity #ImmigrantStories #한국계미국인 #1.5세대 #한미문화 #KoreanAmerican #growingup #KoreanAmericanstories

2. 

   24 Sept 2026

   Korean Food Culture: Things Americans Don't Understand | Korean Restaurants, Delivery & More | Ep 22

   What are the little things about Korean food and restaurant culture that Americans might not understand? In Almost Korean Ep. 22, Tae and Gibson continue their food conversation and dive into the everyday details of eating in Korea—from childhood Korean foods and picky kids to restaurant etiquette, self-service side dishes, robot servers, Korean food delivery, and the things that make eating in Korea different from America. They talk about raising kids with Korean food, the evolution of Korean food in American culture, fusion dishes, Korean fried chicken, Korean-Chinese food, delivery traditions, and even why Korean restaurants have such tiny cups and napkins. 😂 🍜 In This Episode 👨👩👧👦 Korean foods we want our kids to eat 🍙 Kimbap, seaweed & childhood food 🌿 Korean kids and traditional foods 🍝 Korean fusion food & adapting cuisines 🏫 Korean food in American schools 🌶️ Kimchi & how foreigners experience Korean food 🍅 Why do Korean restaurants give you so little ketchup? 🥢 Self-service side dishes & utensil drawers 🔔 Restaurant call buttons & table tablets 🤖 Korean robot servers 😅 Korean eating sounds, slurping & table manners 🦷 Toothpicks and Korean restaurant etiquette ☕ Free Korean restaurant coffee 🥤 Tiny Korean cups & tiny napkins 📱 Korean food delivery culture 🥟 Free food, dumplings & drinks with delivery 👶 Koreans interacting with kids at restaurants 🍗 Korean fried chicken & chicken chains 🥩 Korean food vs. international food near U.S. bases 🍜 Korean-Chinese food & jajangmyeon 🛵 Old-school Korean food delivery ♻️ Korean restaurants, Costco & cleaning up after yourself 이번 Almost Korean Podcast Ep. 22에서는 지난 에피소드에 이어 한국 음식과 한국의 식당 문화에 대해 더 깊이 이야기합니다. 어린 시절 먹었던 밥과 김, 아이들에게 한국 음식을 먹이는 이야기부터 한국 식당의 셀프서비스, 반찬, 수저통, 테이블 호출 버튼, 태블릿 주문, 로봇 서빙까지 미국과는 다른 한국의 식당 문화를 살펴봅니다. 또한 한국 음식 배달 문화, 배달 음식에 함께 오는 서비스 음식, 한국식 치킨, 한국식 중국 음식, 그리고 한국 식당에서 경험할 수 있는 재미있는 문화 차이까지 이야기합니다. 🇰🇷 이번 에피소드에서는 아이들에게 물려주고 싶은 한국 음식 김밥, 김과 어린 시절 음식외국인 아이들이 한국 음식을 먹는 모습 한국 음식과 퓨전 음식 미국 학교에서 먹는 한국 음식 외국인이 경험하는 김치 한국 식당의 셀프서비스 문화 반찬과 수저통 테이블 호출 버튼과 태블릿 주문 한국 식당의 로봇 서빙 한국의 식사 예절과 음식 소리 식당에서 사용하는 이쑤시개와 치실 한국 식당의 무료 커피 작은 물컵과 작은 냅킨 한국의 편리한 배달 문화 배달 음식과 서비스 음식 한국식 치킨과 다양한 치킨 브랜드 미군기지 주변의 다양한 국제 음식 한국식 중국 음식과 짜장면 과거 한국의 배달 문화 한국 식당과 Costco의 분리수거 문화 Almost Korean Podcast는 한국계 미국인 Tae와 Gibson이 한국 생활, 한국 문화, 미국 문화, 음식, 가족, 정체성, 인간관계, 엔터테인먼트 등 두 문화 사이에서 살아가는 이야기를 나누는 팟캐스트입니다. 🌐 Follow Us Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostkoreanpodcast Tae's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/appasdiary Gibson's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barbellandprotein Subscribe to Almost Korean for more conversations about Korean American life, Korea, culture, identity, food, family, and everything in between. #AlmostKoreanPodcast #KoreanFood #KoreanFoodCulture #KoreanAmerican #KoreanChicken #KoreanCulture #한국음식 #한국문화

3. 

   10 Sept 2026

   Ep. 21 - K-Food For Thought (Part 1)

   🎙️ Almost Korean Podcast | Episode 21: K-Food For Thought (Part 1) Welcome back to Almost Korean Podcast! 🇰🇷🇺🇸 In Episode 21, Gibson and Tae sit down for a food-filled conversation about Korean food, American food, childhood memories, and the foods that shaped who they are today. With Chipotle officially making its way to Korea, we couldn't help but talk about what it means when American food brands enter the Korean market — and whether the Korean version can live up to what we remember from the U.S. 🌯 From childhood meals and favorite foods to nostalgic memories around the dinner table, this episode is a trip down memory lane through the foods we grew up eating and the foods we still crave today. 👇 In this episode you’ll hear: • The big Chipotle opening in Korea 🌯🇰🇷 • How Korean food and American food compare • Childhood food memories growing up in the U.S. 🇺🇸 • The foods Gibson and Tae loved growing up • Our favorite foods and what we still crave today 🍜🥩🍣 • How food connects to memories, family, and culture • The nostalgia of eating foods from childhood • Funny food stories, hot takes, and plenty of K-Food For Thought Food is more than just something we eat — it connects us to our childhood, our families, our culture, and the places we've called home. As Korean Americans living in Korea, Gibson and Tae have a unique perspective on both sides of the food conversation. Whether you're a Korean food lover, Chipotle fan, Korean American, foodie, or just someone who has strong opinions about your favorite food — this episode will definitely give you something to think about. 🌯🍚 📌 Subscribe for new episodes every week! 👍 Like the video, 💬 tell us your favorite childhood food or your thoughts on Chipotle coming to Korea, and 🔔 turn on notifications so you don't miss an episode! 🌐 Follow UsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostkoreanpodcastTae's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/appasdiaryGibson's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barbellandprotein #AlmostKoreanPodcast #KFoodForThought #KoreanFood #ChipotleKorea #Chipotle #KoreanAmerican #FoodMemories #Foodie #LifeInKorea #Korea #KoreanCulture #Podcast #거의한국인 #팟캐스트

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.