Sarah and Grace had a lovely time chatting through what makes K-dramas special in this short primer geared toward new and curious potential viewers. We discuss what a K-drama is, the genres that K-dramas do well, and give a brief overview of K-drama history. We also give recommendations for viewers who are just starting out, as well as those who have already dipped their toes in the water and are wondering where to head next. Dramas mentioned: Hospital Playlist (Netflix) Residents Playbook (Netf...
Jul 15, 2025•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 55
Sarah is joined by fellow Patreon guests Katie & Charlotte for a deep dive of the 2025 drama, The Art of Negotiation . This drama stars Lee Jehoon and was a bit of of a niche drama for Western audiences - but we think it needs much greater love. It's available on Viki. All three of us love this director, Ahn Pan Seok - who also directed Something in the Rain, One Spring Night and Secret Love Affair. This corporate drama doesn't feature a romance but has much of what we love about this Direct...
Jul 01, 2025•2 hr 11 min•Ep. 54
We were delighted to chat about Culinary Class Wars with returning guest Lisa. We discussed what made the 2024 Netflix food competition so entertaining and unique, who our favorites were among the chefs battling it out to make their names known, what foods we most wanted to eat, and how we would like to refine the next season (hopefully it's not derailed by Chef Paik's ongoing business and legal troubles!). We also talked about various Korean and Chinese food words in our language section. You c...
Jun 11, 2025•1 hr 35 min•Ep. 53
We discuss the 2024 Korean Drama The Atypical Family with guest Lindsay. All three of us love this quirky fantasy drama and enjoyed deep diving what made it such a compelling watch for us. Listen to find out why we receommend this drama, discuss how we think it handled time travel and what stood out for us. To listen to Lindsay's first episode with us check out our Learning Korean with Lindsay episode...
May 31, 2025•1 hr 43 min•Ep. 52
Grace had a wonderful time chatting with friend and guest Robert about their respective trips to South Korea earlier this year. They discussed highlights and let downs, yummy and interesting food and drinks they tried, and the virtues and pitfalls of intensive planning versus flying by the seat of your pants. They reflected on the changes they have noticed over several visits to South Korea and talked about hopes and plans for future trips there. They also recommended helpful apps and websites, ...
May 08, 2025•1 hr 54 min•Ep. 51
Introducing our first Chinese Drama Deep Dive on Afternoona Asks, wher we cover the 2025 romance drama The First Frost. Sarah is delighted to be joined by Afternoona Delight Patreon guests Tania and Kortney to discuss this popular drama. We give a spoiler-free intro to the drama so if you're interested in hearing what we liked and recommend about The First Frost check this section out. After a short Chinese langauge section we get into the nitty-gritty of what we liked and didn't like so much ab...
May 01, 2025•1 hr 47 min•Ep. 50
Join Sarah and special Patreon guests Erin and Cate as they discuss the drama year so far in 2025. What Korean and Chinese dramas have they been watching and which dramas have they enjoyed, which have been dropped and who have had the standout performances so far? We do touch on spoilers for some of the dramas that we discuss, so please see below for the timestamps of each drama so you can skip ahead if you don't wish to be spoiled: 34.44 The First Frost 36.40 When Life Gives you Tangerines 40.0...
Apr 22, 2025•1 hr 41 min•Ep. 49
We're back with part two of our Introduction to Korean Food! Sarah, Grace, and guest Susan continue to discuss favorite foods, including what we want to eat when we go to Korea, what we like to make at home, non-spicy options, and favorite ramyeons. We also discuss Korean food creators we enjoy and make recommendations about possible easy points of entry for listeners who want to try their own hands at making Korean food. In the language section, we discuss food-related Korean phrases. Korean fo...
Apr 09, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 48
Sarah and Grace were thrilled to have fellow Afternoona Delight Patreon member Susan on as a guest to discuss a favorite topic: Korean food. We chat about how we were each introduced to Korean food, what it consists of and its signature characteristics, how we have seen its popularity and influence grow, for better or worse, and how accurately it is portrayed in Korean dramas. This ended up being an extended conversation--what with tangents about memorable foods eaten on trips to Korea, all time...
Apr 03, 2025•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 47
Sarah and Grace had fun discussing the Confucian elements found in Mr. Plankton, Grace's favorite Kdrama of 2024. We talked about the symbolism of traditional Korean wedding clothes, the importance of bloodlines in Confucianism, and why there is a stigma attached to being an orphan. Grace goes through the different meanings/word play found in the characters' names in the language section.
Mar 11, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 46
Sarah and Grace had a fascinating conversation with Professor Charles Kim about the history and culture of South Korean protest. We touched on ancient and modern stories of Korean resistance viewed as precursors to South Korean protest, the student protests that ousted the first South Korean president in 1960, the evolution of mass protest in South Korea over the 1970s and 1980s, and characteristics of its present-day culture of protest. We also discussed the way language changed in South Korea ...
Feb 17, 2025•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 45
We asked and the Patreon replied - who won our Afternoona Awards for 2024. Join our sister podcast co-hosts Sarah and Grace from Afternoona Asks as they run through the categories and the winners of our Year End poll. Sarah and Grace also discuss what Lunar New Year means for them and other Korean and Chinese people. Find out who was the outstanding performance of 2024, who were the best couple, an underrated show you might have missed amongst other questions. Who ultimately won the drama of the...
Feb 03, 2025•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 44
Sarah and Grace discuss the cultural context and nuances of Love Next Door in this episode, as part of our ongoing Confucian series. We first mark some milestones in our podcasting journey and reflect on how much hallyu has continued to sweep the globe. We talk about Confucian familial expectations and pressures, how age-based hierarchy has influenced our relationships with our parents, and the kinds of dreams Asian immigrant families have for their children. In the language section, Grace talks...
Jan 29, 2025•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 43
Sarah and Grace had a lovely time chatting with special guest and fellow Afternoona Delight Patreon member, Krista, for Part 2 of their Year End Review. Krista and Grace each discuss how 2024 was for drama-viewing overall, their picks for best performances, underrated dramas, and top dramas of the year, as well as special awards and dream dramas for 2025. Other podcast episodes mentioned: Year End Review 2024 Part 1 with Claudia CDramas 2024 Review with Liliana Afternoona Delight Tomorrow Deep D...
Dec 31, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 42
Sarah and Grace are excited to close out the year with a two-part Year End Review. For part one, Sarah and special guest Claudia, a fellow member of the Afternoona Delight Patreon, chat through their 2024 drama year. Claudia and Sarah each discuss how 2024 was for drama-viewing overall, their picks for best performances, their favorite underrated dramas, and their top dramas of the year. They also give out special awards of their own choice and manifest their dream dramas for 2025. Other Podcast...
Dec 26, 2024•1 hr 45 min•Ep. 41
Sarah is delighted to be joined by Liliana from Tea and Soju Podcase to review the year in Chinese Dramas. Join us as we discuss what CDramas Sarah has watched this year, what were Liliana's faves for the year and hear some more of her recommendations. We also briefly discuss what's coming up in CDrama-land in 2025. Links for Liliana's: Tea and Soju Podcast and Instagram To listen to Liliana’s previous 2023 podcast with us check out the episode Love Next Door Deep Dive – Tea and Soju Podcast Nir...
Dec 15, 2024•1 hr 46 min•Ep. 40
Sarah and Grace are excited to welcome fellow Afternoona Delight Patreon member Jasmine on the pod to talk fan events for Korean actors. We discuss the different kinds of events K-stars put on for their fans, how difficult it is to get into the events, and what features of the events may differ actor-to-actor. We also talk a bit more in depth about events put on by one of Sarah's and Jasmine's faves, Lee Jehoon. Find more information from Jasmine on Lee Jehoon's fan events in this blog post: htt...
Dec 04, 2024•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 39
Grace welcomes guest Ryan Estrada, co-author of the critically acclaimed graphic novel Banned Book Club to the show. We discuss Ryan's work and the history and culture of protest in South Korea. We also get a sneak peek behind the scenes of a Kdrama on which Ryan was an extra. And, in the language section, we talk about how easy it is (for some) to learn the Korean alphabet. Find Ryan online at: www.ryanestrada.com @ryanestrada.com on Bluesky @ryanestradadotcom on Instagram @ryanestrada on X Dra...
Nov 12, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 38
Sarah, Grace, and guests Megan (from Afternoona Delight podcast) and Kalena (from AD Patreon) chat about the Fallen for Seo In Guk fan meetings in Los Angeles and Washington DC. We discuss Seo In Guk's filmography and fandom, his beautiful live singing, and the hilarious and endearing games and fan service prepared for the event. We also talk about the perks and pitfalls of VIP tickets and the amazing vibes among fan meet attendees. Show Notes: Sarah and Megan's deep dive of Death's Game for Aft...
Oct 22, 2024•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 37
Grace welcomes fellow Korean American, Lisa, as a guest this episode to talk about Park Chan-wook's 2000 film Joint Security Area and compare notes on our personal experiences of Hallyu. We discuss the standing of the film as an early Hallyu success, its moving and humanizing portrayal of soldiers from both sides of the armistice line, the impact of Korea's division on the psyche of its people both at home and abroad, and the tension and longing that characterize relations between each side of t...
Sep 30, 2024•1 hr 34 min•Ep. 36
We are delighed to be joined by Dr Seo Hyojin, who is a gender and labour market sociologist and an international and interdisciplinary scholar. Hyojin currently work as Post-doctoral Researcher for a Horizon Europe project EqualHouse at the Department of Sociology, Tilburg University (NL). She joins us to chat about women in the South Korean workforce and which Korean Dramas portray different elements. We also go on to talk about how much women's inquality in the workplace impact the low birth ...
Sep 15, 2024•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 35
We had so much fun diving deep into one of Grace's top comfort dramas, the 2010 sageuk Sungkyunkwan Scandal. We were excited to have Gavin join us again to discuss the historical backdrop, queer-coded characters, and surprisingly liberal version of Confucianism we find in this "Joseon Coffee Prince." Join us to discuss this gender swap historical drama, in Park Min Young's breakout role. We start with a spoiler free section so you can listen to see if this might be a drama for you! Note - Sarah ...
Aug 31, 2024•1 hr 37 min•Ep. 34
We're back with another episode to discuss travelling to Seoul - Sarah was lucky to return for another work trip this summer! This time she had some time to go for some experiences: a hair spa, a facial and some kimchi making. She also tried soy marinated crab and met 2 Korean Instagram influencers! Check out the episode to hear about more things to do in Seoul. Show Notes: Hair spa : Sarah went to ParkJun Beauty Lab Cheongdam branch. For more details and to book go to their Instagram page Massa...
Aug 03, 2024•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 33
We are delighted to be joined this episode by Emma from EmmaB Videos, a fan video editor and fellow Asian drama fangirl. We get to know Emma and her tastes in drama - both Asian and Western - and we speak to her about where she gets her inspiration from for her fab video edits. Check out our show and then enjoy Emma's amazing video edits via her socials below. Please check out the shownotes below for links to EmmaB's social media pages as well as other content mentioned in the podcast. Follow Em...
Jul 17, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 32
We had so much fun speaking with fellow Patreon member Lindsay about learning Korean. We share our language learning experiences, our favorite resources and strategies for learning, as well as our Korean learning goals and dreams of all the different ways we'll be able to use Korean as we improve. See how well you follow along with our snippets of Korean conversation and relate to the struggles and joy of diving into a new language or brushing up on an old one. Korean Language Learning Resources...
Jun 30, 2024•1 hr 43 min•Ep. 31
We are delighted to be joined by actor and fellow Patreon member Katherine Bourne Taylor. We have a great chat with Katherine as she gives her views on KDramas from an actors lens and what the differences she sees are between how KDramas are acted, produced and shot versus Western media. We also manifest a KDrama for Katherine to star in and discuss what might be some upcoming trends for co-produced Korean and American shows. Tune in, it's a super interesting chat! Notes: Wondering where can you...
Jun 13, 2024•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 30
We invited Erin & Gavin from previous podcast episodes to come and chat 2024 as a KDrama year for us so far. We cover what we've enjoyed, what we've dropped and what we're watching now. We also throw forward to dramas we're looking forward to. Come join us to find out if you agree with us, vehemently disagree or find some dramas that might tickle your interest. Notes: If you'd like to hear more about Gavin's KDrama tastes, we talked this through with him and about Costuming on an earlier pod...
May 22, 2024•1 hr 41 min•Ep. 29
We're back with another Afternoona Asks ND episode. We recorded this episode during Autism Awareness month in April so thought it would be a good chance to revisit some of our favourite KDramas to guide us on how to be a good ally for Neurodivergency. Join us as we give insight into why autistic people often find Autism Awareness month difficult and the ways you could support them - all year around! Notes from the show: Previous episodes covered in this show: Extraordinary Attorney Woo Part 1 (w...
May 15, 2024•1 hr 44 min•Ep. 28
Today we're talking Chinese! But what is "Chinese" language? Discover the basics of Chinese language, its regional variations, its writing system and pronounciation. Grace and Sarah talk about similarities between Korean and Cantonese and we all learn some basic Chinese phrases. Show notes: Word that is used to describe passing a test or being accepted into a program: 합격하다 hab-gyeok hada - the infinitive form, to pass or, more literally, to do pass. The word discussed was just the first part, 합격...
Apr 30, 2024•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 27
Finally we're back, with the long awaited part two of our deep dive into Autistic Lan Wangji. "It has been 16 Years....", Well, two months, but we know you've all been at the edge of your seats. We’re finishing our discussion of The Untamed, starring Wang Yibo (王一博) and Xiao Zhan (肖战). It’s one of the most watched series in Asian television history with 10 billion views domestically in China as of 2022 in China on one service alone, never mind the huge international success and acclaim it garner...
Apr 15, 2024•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 26
