LAist returns to KCON in LA! HowTo LA host Brian De Los Santos caught up with K-pop Dreaming host Vivian Yoon to tour this year's KCON LA. 

Guests: Peter Sohn, director of Pixar's Elemental; Vivian Yoon, host of LAist's K-pop Dreaming; & Steve Chung, CEO of CJ ENM America.

Music in this episode composed by: ATEEZ, BTS, Floating Points, Lamp, Masayoshi Takanaka, Maston, modarchive.org, Moon Mullins

Listen to How To LA at laist.com/podcasts/how-to-la

LAist returns to KCON in LA! How To LA host Brian De Los Santos caught up with K-pop Dreaming host Vivian Yoon to tour this year's KCON LA. 
Guests: Peter Sohn, director of Pixar's Elemental; Vivian Yoon, host of LAist's K-pop Dreaming; &amp; Steve Chung, CEO of CJ ENM America.
Music in this episode composed by: ATEEZ, BTS, Floating Points, Lamp, Masayoshi Takanaka, Maston, modarchive.org, Moon Mullins
Listen to How To LA at laist.com/podcasts/how-to-la

California Love is a blend of memoir, pop culture analysis and oral history. The newest season, K-Pop Dreaming, is about the rise and history of K-pop in the United States, as told from the point-of-view of the Korean diaspora in Los Angeles. Host Vivian Yoon takes listeners on a journey from K-pop’s origins in Korean trot music and American presence in post-war South Korea to the 1992 LA Uprising and the booming global popularity of K-pop in the present day, all juxtaposed against Yoon’s own coming-of-age as a second generation immigrant in Los Angeles, struggling to fit in and come to terms with her own identity.

In the first season Walter Thompson-Hernández was inspired by Tupac and Dr. Dre's "California Love"- a love letter and anthem for a generation. Walter invites listeners to join him in his family home, on horseback through the streets of Compton, and up into the sky to examine belonging.

California Love is a blend of memoir, pop culture analysis and oral history. The newest season, K-Pop Dreaming, is about the rise and history of K-pop in the United States, as told from the point-of-view of the Korean diaspora in Los Angeles. Host Vivian Yoon takes listeners on a journey from K-pop’s origins in Korean trot music and American presence in post-war South Korea to the 1992 LA Uprising and the booming global popularity of K-pop in the present day, all juxtaposed against Yoon’s own coming-of-age as a second generation immigrant in Los Angeles, struggling to fit in and come to terms with her own identity.
In the first season Walter Thompson-Hernández was inspired by Tupac and Dr. Dre's "California Love"- a love letter and anthem for a generation. Walter invites listeners to join him in his family home, on horseback through the streets of Compton, and up into the sky to examine belonging.

K-pop Dreaming

K-Pop Dreaming, is about the rise and history of K-pop in the United States, as told from the point-of-view of the Korean diaspora in Los Angeles. Host Vivian Yoon takes listeners on a journey from K-pop’s origins in Korean trot music and American presence in post-war South Korea to the 1992 LA Uprising and the booming global popularity of K-pop in the present day, all juxtaposed against Yoon’s own coming-of-age as a second generation immigrant in Los Angeles, struggling to fit in and come to terms with her own identity.

K-Pop Dreaming, is about the rise and history of K-pop in the United States, as told from the point-of-view of the Korean diaspora in Los Angeles. Host Vivian Yoon takes listeners on a journey from K-pop’s origins in Korean trot music and American presence in post-war South Korea to the 1992 LA Uprising and the booming global popularity of K-pop in the present day, all juxtaposed against Yoon’s own coming-of-age as a second generation immigrant in Los Angeles, struggling to fit in and come to terms with her own identity.

K-Pop Dreaming For NPR One

California Love&nbsp;is a blend of memoir, pop culture analysis and oral history. The newest season,&nbsp;K-Pop Dreaming, is about the rise and history of K-pop in the United States, as told from the point-of-view of the Korean diaspora in Los Angeles. Host Vivian Yoon takes listeners on a journey from K-pop&rsquo;s origins in Korean trot music and American presence in post-war South Korea to the 1992 LA Uprising and the booming global popularity of K-pop in the present day, all juxtaposed against Yoon&rsquo;s own coming-of-age as a second generation immigrant in Los Angeles, struggling to fit in and come to terms with her own identity.
In the first season Walter Thompson-Hern&aacute;ndez was inspired by Tupac and Dr. Dre's "California Love"- a love letter and anthem for a generation. Walter invites listeners to join him in his family home, on horseback through the streets of Compton, and up into the sky to examine belonging.

California Love

K-Pop Dreaming

Special Feature: 'How To LA' at KCON

The popularity of Korean beauty products has spread globally, just like K-Pop.And we thought you might enjoy this conversation on the origins and rise of K-Beauty -- not only as an industry, but as a new beauty standard. 

The conversation was part of a live event tied to the launch of the new book, "Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital," between the book’s author Elise Hu and NPR’s All Things Considered host Ailsa Chang. You can also watch this conversation here: https://laist.com/events/elise-hu-flawless

To buy Elise Hu's book, visit https://northfigbookshop.com/

((originally published June 9, 2023))

To view and attend future LAist events, visit: https://laist.com/events/

The popularity of Korean beauty products has spread globally, just like K-Pop. And we thought you might enjoy this conversation on the origins and rise of K-Beauty -- not only as an industry, but as a new beauty standard. 
The conversation was part of a live event tied to the launch of the new book, "Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital," between the book’s author Elise Hu and NPR’s All Things Considered host Ailsa Chang. You can also watch this conversation here: <a href="https://laist.com/events/elise-hu-flawless">https://laist.com/events/elise-hu-flawless</a> 
To buy Elise Hu's book, visit <a href="https://northfigbookshop.com/">https://northfigbookshop.com/</a>
((originally published June 9, 2023))
To view and attend future LAist events, visit: <a href="https://laist.com/events/">https://laist.com/events/</a>

K-Pop Dreaming - Bonus #4: K-Beauty

This week, the K-Pop Dreaming team is bringing you a special episode from our friends at, “Shoes Off: A Sexy Asian Podcast” from the public radio station, WBEZ. It's a podcast that celebrates badass Asians who are making a mark on pop culture and entertainment.

In this episode stand-up comic, Atsuko Okatsuka, is taking the world by storm with her first HBO special, The Intruder, and her viral Drop Challenge on TikTok. She talks about how she learned English by watching Scooby-Doo, what it means to be named Margaret Cho’s comedy heir, and how she took her mom and grandma everywhere — including to her honeymoon.

This week, the K-Pop Dreaming team is bringing you a special episode from our friends at, “Shoes Off: A Sexy Asian Podcast” from the public radio station, WBEZ. It's a podcast that celebrates badass Asians who are making a mark on pop culture and entertainment.
In this episode stand-up comic, Atsuko Okatsuka, is taking the world by storm with her first HBO special, The Intruder, and her viral Drop Challenge on TikTok. She talks about how she learned English by watching Scooby-Doo, what it means to be named Margaret Cho’s comedy heir, and how she took her mom and grandma everywhere — including to her honeymoon.

Shoes Off: Atsuko Okatsuka Wants Everyone To Feel Sexy

In a special live event in partnership between LAist Studios and GYOPO, Vivian delves into the origins of K-Pop with Michello Cho, a professor at University of Toronto, and Jheanelle Brown, a California Institute of the Arts faculty member. The conversation goes deep on the influence of hip hop on K-Pop's sound and dance, the impact of American imperialism on the music, and more.
(originally published April 27, 2023)

This episode features clips from these videos:

Korean Kittens - What'd I Say:The Korean Kittens What'd I Say
Girls’ Generation - Genie:Girls' Generation 소녀시대 '소원을 말해봐 (Genie)' MV (Start at 00:35)
BTS - Intro Performance Trailer:BTS (방탄소년단) 가요대제전 Intro performance Trailer
Seo Taiji & Boys - Anyhow Song: 서태지와 아이들(Seotaiji and Boys) - 하여가(Anyhow Song) M/V
Yoon Mirae - Black Happiness: [MV] Yoonmirae(윤미래) _ Black Happiness(검은 행복) - 



Support K-pop Dreaming and other LAist Studios podcasts by donating now at LAist.com/join



This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Save 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/Dreaming

This episode is brought to you by your local Kia dealers. Visit kia.com to discover movement that inspires.

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

In a special live event in partnership between LAist Studios and GYOPO, Vivian delves into the origins of K-Pop with Michello Cho, a professor at University of Toronto, and Jheanelle Brown, a California Institute of the Arts faculty member. The conversation goes deep on the influence of hip hop on K-Pop's sound and dance, the impact of American imperialism on the music, and more. (originally published April 27, 2023) This episode features clips from these videos: Korean Kittens - What'd I Say: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9A66z3oiow">The Korean Kittens What'd I Say</a> Girls’ Generation - Genie: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SwiSpudKWI.">Girls' Generation 소녀시대 '소원을 말해봐 (Genie)' MV </a>(Start at 00:35) BTS - Intro Performance Trailer: <a href="https://youtu.be/S1Up-ZzHmuw?t=11">BTS (방탄소년단) 가요대제전 Intro performance Trailer</a> Seo Taiji &amp; Boys - Anyhow Song: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-AxO7EPU8c&amp;ab_channel=seotaiji">서태지와 아이들(Seotaiji and Boys) - 하여가(Anyhow Song) M/V</a> Yoon Mirae - Black Happiness: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DK-MPh7vKk">[MV] Yoonmirae(윤미래) _ Black Happiness(검은 행복)</a> - 
 
Support K-pop Dreaming and other LAist Studios podcasts by donating now at <a href="http://laist.com/join">LAist.com/join</a>
 
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Save 10% off your first month at <a href="http://betterhelp.com/Dreaming">BetterHelp.com/Dreaming</a>
This episode is brought to you by your local Kia dealers. Visit <a href="http://kia.com/">kia.com</a> to discover movement that inspires.
This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

Special Feature: 'How To LA' at KCON

K-Pop Dreaming For NPR One

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