Bobby Kwak is an entrepreneur, club owner, and pioneer of Koreatown in New York City. Bobby and his business partner Joe Ko opened K-Town's iconic Korean nightclub Circle, and its successor Mission, as well as the New York branch of the popular Korean barbecue Kang Ho Dong Baekjeong. Bobby and Esther discuss the Korean nightclub scene, the practice of "booking," or arranged socializing, at nightclubs, as well as keeping Korean hospitality culture alive in K-Town.

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Bobby Kwak is an entrepreneur, club owner, and pioneer of Koreatown in New York City. Bobby and his business partner Joe Ko opened K-Town's iconic Korean nightclub Circle, and its successor Mission, as well as the New York branch of the popular Korean barbecue Kang Ho Dong Baekjeong. Bobby and Esther discuss the Korean nightclub scene, the practice of "booking," or arranged socializing, at nightclubs, as well as keeping Korean hospitality culture alive in K-Town. Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com">https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com</a>

Through cooking and conversation, chef Esther Choi dives deep into the rich world of Korean-American culture. Esther invites guests to open up as she cooks their favorite Korean dishes, drawing on traditional family recipes she’s refined at her restaurants Mŏkbar and Ms. Yoo. Esther and her guest dive into topics ranging from food to family, from K-pop to K-dramas, and from fashion to sexuality, plastic surgery, adoption and more – all to explore what being Korean in America means today.

Get Down with K-Town

King of K-Town with Bobby Kwak

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/38926327-d4f9-4596-afc9-ae28017408c3/transcript

In his role as an editor for Eater, Matthew Kang chronicles the best eateries in Los Angeles and has toured North America in search of the finest Korean food. Esther talks with Matt about his journey throughout K-Towns in the United States and Canada, the variations in cuisines, and why they both feel that Los Angeles has the best and most authentic traditional Korean food.

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In his role as an editor for Eater, <a href="https://la.eater.com/authors/matthew-kang">Matthew Kang </a>chronicles the best eateries in Los Angeles and has toured North America in search of the finest Korean food. Esther talks with Matt about his journey throughout K-Towns in the United States and Canada, the variations in cuisines, and why they both feel that Los Angeles has the best and most authentic traditional Korean food. Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com">https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com</a>

Taste of K-Town with Matthew Kang

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/1fe2ddb8-e7bb-4d5f-8a04-ae280172c15d/transcript

Esther talks to Heather Kim, the founder of YMG Entertainment, the first Korean-American record label in Atlanta, GA. Heather recounts her childhood in downtown Atlanta, growing up in her parent's truck stop and Korean nightclub, and the twists and turns that led her to start her own K-Pop label. Heather and Esther talk about the process of training K-Pop stars, operating a K-Pop label based in the United States, and the direction K-Pop based in the U.S. might take. 

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Esther talks to Heather Kim, the founder of <a href="http://www.ymgentertainment.com/">YMG Entertainment</a>, the first Korean-American record label in Atlanta, GA. Heather recounts her childhood in downtown Atlanta, growing up in her parent's truck stop and Korean nightclub, and the twists and turns that led her to start her own K-Pop label. Heather and Esther talk about the process of training K-Pop stars, operating a K-Pop label based in the United States, and the direction K-Pop based in the U.S. might take.  Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com">https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com</a>

Building a K-Pop Star with Heather Kim

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/9226729d-eae8-4ed4-892b-ae280172b982/transcript

Kevin and Terrence Kim grew up in New Jersey, and like many second generation Koreans, felt ambivalent about their heritage. In their early 20s, the Kim brothers found themselves trying to start a fashion line in Korea. Broke and with little knowledge of Korean language, they suddenly found themselves on fire with curiosity about everything Korean, from traditional natural dyeing techniques to furniture making and architecture. Esther talks to the brothers about their fashion company, IISE and how they've used it to express their love of their family's culture, and what it's like working with your sibling.




***This episode was recorded in February 2020 during NYC Fashion Week***

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Kevin and Terrence Kim grew up in New Jersey, and like many second generation Koreans, felt ambivalent about their heritage. In their early 20s, the Kim brothers found themselves trying to start a fashion line in Korea. Broke and with little knowledge of Korean language, they suddenly found themselves on fire with curiosity about everything Korean, from traditional natural dyeing techniques to furniture making and architecture. Esther talks to the brothers about their fashion company, <a href="https://iise.co/">IISE</a> and how they've used it to express their love of their family's culture, and what it's like working with your sibling. ***This episode was recorded in February 2020 during NYC Fashion Week*** Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com">https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com</a>

Second Generation Fashion with Kevin and Terrence Kim

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/6df0de37-12ef-4c13-9480-ae280172b9e8/transcript

King of K-Town with Bobby Kwak

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