Talkbokki: Learn Casual Korean through Natural Conversations

Think temple stays are only about peaceful meditation? Think again! Sunyoung just returned from another temple stay—I think we can safely say she's officially addicted at this point! This week, she recaps her trip to a temple famous for 선무도 ( Sunmudo ), a traditional Korean martial art. We break down the unique daily schedule, temple uniforms, and what it’s really like practising martial arts with monks. Meanwhile, Lucy has picked up a surprising, high-energy new hobby of her own... Tune in to hear all about our latest adventures! If you have any feedback or suggestions, drop us a line at thetalkbokki@gmail.com If you enjoy the show, consider joining our Patreon to support what we do and get access to bonus content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever heard the Korean slang term 시월드 ( Si-world )? This week, Lucy is fresh off a trip travelling with her parents-in-law, leading us into a fun breakdown of the joys, quirks, and subtle challenges of vacationing with relatives! Plus, Sunyoung reflects on her own experiences navigating her boyfriend's family dynamics. Is travelling with in-laws a disaster or a bonding experience? Tune in to find out! If you have any feedback or suggestions, drop us a line at thetalkbokki@gmail.com If you enjoy the show, consider joining our Patreon to support what we do and get access to bonus content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sometimes a simple room rearrangement is all you need to breathe new life into a familiar space! Sunyoung recently reshuffled her furniture, leading us into a fascinating chat about 풍수 ( pung-su / Feng Shui) and apartment hunting. What do Koreans look for when choosing a home that Westerners completely overlook? From natural lighting to the direction of your head when you're sleeping, we break down the unspoken rules of finding a great place to live. Tune in for all the apartment-hunting insights! If you have any feedback or suggestions, drop us a line at thetalkbokki@gmail.com If you enjoy the show, consider joining our Patreon to support what we do and get access to bonus content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Achoo! 🤧 This week, Sunyoung is recovering from a nasty bout of the flu ( 독감 ) and walking us through what it's really like getting tested and treated at a clinic in Korea. For Lucy, who hasn't been to the doctor for a cold in nearly a decade, the process was an eye-opener! Plus, we dive into how we handle boredom ( 심심함 ) and Lucy shares a useful hack she recently discovered for overcoming boredom at work. Tune in to find out what it is! If you have any feedback or suggestions, drop us a line at thetalkbokki@gmail.com If you enjoy the show, consider joining our Patreon to support what we do and get access to bonus content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lucy tackled the notorious Fujiyoshida Half Marathon, running straight up the slopes of Mount Fuji! But the intense incline wasn't the only surprise waiting for her on the course. Tune in as we compare race vibes across borders, unpack the Mount Fuji climb, and count down to the Hangeul Run we’re taking on together next month! If you have any feedback or suggestions, drop us a line at thetalkbokki@gmail.com If you enjoy the show, consider joining our Patreon to support what we do and get access to bonus content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a few weeks apart, Sunyoung is back from travelling all across Korea with her boyfriend, including a temple stay experience! Did you know there are temple stays for almost every interest, including surfing?! But that wasn't the biggest surprise. Sunyoung breaks down what really goes on behind the scenes. Is a temple stay actually the ultimate Korea travel hack? Tune in to find out! If you have any feedback or suggestions, drop us a line at thetalkbokki@gmail.com If you enjoy the show, consider joining our Patreon to support what we do and get access to bonus content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What do driver's licenses, houseplants, and water testing have in common? Absolutely nothing, but we’re talking about all three this week! Lucy walks us through the exhausting 5-hour process of transferring her driver’s license in Japan, while Sunyoung shares her latest mission to keep her indoor plants alive. Plus, a surprise revelation from Sunyoung’s recent home tap water test! Listen in as we catch up on life, bureaucracy, and everything in between. If you have any feedback or suggestions, drop us a line at thetalkbokki@gmail.com If you enjoy the show, consider joining our Patreon to support what we do and get access to bonus content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you know the Korean term 입추 ( ip-chu ); the official "start of autumn"? The calendar says fall is here, but with this crazy wet weather in Korea and Japan, we're definitely not ready for summer to end! This week, Lucy and Sunyoung chat about our rainy summer adventures, from Sunyoung’s trip to Jeju and Summer Sonic to the Chiba flooding that threw Lucy’s commute into chaos. Tune in as we share our late-summer plans and refuse to let the rain spoil the fun! If you have any feedback or suggestions, drop us a line at thetalkbokki@gmail.com If you enjoy the show, consider joining our Patreon to support what we do and get access to bonus content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you feel when you see an uphill climb on your run? This week, Lucy and Sunyoung break down how we're both preparing for our upcoming races! We dive into our training plans, what we listen to while running, and how much heat and incline can completely change a workout. Do you enjoy running or another form of exercise? Tune in and share your routine with us in the comments! If you have any feedback or suggestions, drop us a line at thetalkbokki@gmail.com If you enjoy the show, consider joining our Patreon to support what we do and get access to bonus content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back and catching up after a few weeks apart! Lucy is back from her trip to Kagoshima, and Sunyoung has been busy training for the Hangeul Run. This week, we check in on the recent earthquake in Japan and discuss how we’re (barely) surviving this intense summer heat. Is it scorching hot where you live right now? Tune in and let us know in the comments! If you have any feedback or suggestions, drop us a line at thetalkbokki@gmail.com If you enjoy the show, consider joining our Patreon to support what we do and get access to bonus content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What do you do when you go all the way to Gangneung for the beach and the sea gets closed due to endless rain? You head straight for food and the sauna! This week, Lucy and Sunyoung share their hilarious rained-out getaway, featuring famous local noodles, soft tofu ice cream, old-school typewriters, and all the juicy local tea overhead at the sauna. If you have any feedback or suggestions, drop us a line at thetalkbokki@gmail.com If you enjoy the show, consider joining our Patreon to support what we do and get access to bonus content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sunyoung is still in Japan visiting Lucy, so we took a day trip to the beautiful island of Enoshima! In this episode, we share our adventure visiting famous landmarks like the iconic Slam Dunk crossing photo spot and the gorgeous Sea Candle (which you might recognise from the Korean drama Can This Love Be Translated? ). Have you ever been to Enoshima? Tune in for our favourite highlights, hilarious travel stories, and some must-know travel tips for your next trip! If you have any feedback or suggestions, drop us a line at thetalkbokki@gmail.com If you enjoy the show, consider joining our Patreon to support what we do and get access to bonus content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Did you know your blood type could dictate your personality? (At least, according to Korean culture!) Since Lucy recently found out her blood type, we’re diving deep into the fascinating world of Korean blood type stereotypes. Do you know yours? Does your personality actually match up with the classic traits, and do ours? Tune in to find out if these stereotypes actually hold up! If you have any feedback or suggestions, drop us a line at thetalkbokki@gmail.com If you enjoy the show, consider joining our Patreon to support what we do and get access to bonus content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you love starting conversations with strangers, or do you spend your day actively trying to avoid them? This week, Lucy and Sunyoung discover they are on complete opposite ends of the small talk spectrum! Tune in as we debate the pros and cons of casual chatting—and discuss whether making small talk gets even scarier when you're doing it in a foreign language. Which side do you fall on? Let us know in the comments! If you have any feedback or suggestions, drop us a line at thetalkbokki@gmail.com If you enjoy the show, consider joining our Patreon to support what we do and get access to bonus content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever worry your texts in a foreign language are giving off the wrong vibe? This week, Lucy and Sunyoung share their own messaging fails! From an English text that accidentally sounded passive-aggressive to a Korean phrase that sounded totally uninterested, we’re breaking down how easily things get lost in translation. Tune in to fix these common text traps and start messaging like a native! If you have any feedback or suggestions, drop us a line at thetalkbokki@gmail.com If you enjoy the show, consider joining our Patreon to support what we do and get access to bonus content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you have a personal goal you’re working toward right now? This week, we’re checking in on our own passion projects. Lucy shares how her half-marathon training is shaping up, while Sunyoung celebrates one year of amazing progress in belly dancing. Tune in as we discuss our personal tips, tricks, and how we stay motivated to keep growing! Want to learn Korean with Sunyoung? Book a 25min trial lesson ! Love the show? Support us on Patreon so we can keep the show going!! Any feedback? Drop us a line at thetalkbokki@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you heard about the morning trends taking over Korea right now? From 8:00 AM raves to coffee-shop debates, people are redefining what it means to be an early bird. Sunyoung has been diving right into the trend and is here to tell us all about it. Could you handle an early morning dance party? Tune in to find out! Want to learn Korean with Sunyoung? Book a 25min trial lesson ! Love the show? Support us on Patreon so we can keep the show going!! Any feedback? Drop us a line at thetalkbokki@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Lucy had a dentist appointment and walked out with some highly unexpected advice. As it turns out, sometimes our bodies send us warning signs in the places we least expect. Tune in to hear the full story! Want to learn Korean with Sunyoung? Book a 25min trial lesson ! Love the show? Support us on Patreon so we can keep the show going!! Any feedback? Drop us a line at thetalkbokki@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever been to a 한의원 (Korean traditional medicine clinic)? This week, Sunyoung shares her recent and very interesting experience visiting one. Will she be able to convince Lucy to brave the acupuncture needles on her next trip to Korea? Tune in to find out! Want to learn Korean with Sunyoung? Book a 25min trial lesson ! Love the show? Support us on Patreon so we can keep the show going!! Any feedback? Drop us a line at thetalkbokki@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever heard of "snap sajin" (스냅사진)? Korea has a completely unique wedding and couple photoshoot culture and this week we share our personal experiences stepping in front of the camera. Tune in to hear how it differs from Western wedding photography, what to expect with pricing, preparations, location, and what the experience is actually like behind the scenes! If you have any feedback or suggestions, drop us a line at thetalkbokki@gmail.com If you enjoy the show, consider joining our Patreon to support what we do and get access to bonus content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.