Side Chat News

Episode 17 The Naked Truth: The "tap" to flip and the unspoken deal of scrubbing a stranger’s back.

Welcome back to that space somewhere between California, USA, and Seongsu-dong, Korea—where Sidechat News (깍두기 News) happens! Grab your loofah and maybe some courage, kkakdugi! This week, we’re peeling back the layers—literally—on the legendary Italy Towel (이태리수건). While it’s currently trending as a "luxury spa treatment" in the US for over $170, Gigi and Daamly are here to remind us of its humble (and much more painful) OG roots in the public bathhouses of Korea. Daamly and Gigi dive deep into the cultural evolution of Sae-sin (세신), the professional scrubbing service where you’re treated less like a spa guest and more like a "piece of fish" getting de-scaled by a super-strong ajumma. THE LADIES ALSO DIVE INTO: * The $2 vs. $60 Markup: Why a scrubbing towel that costs a couple of bucks in Korea is being rebranded as a high-end "Italy Towel Deluxe" in America with a 10x markup. * The History of the "Italy" Label: The surprising reason it’s called an "Italy Towel"—hint: it’s all about the original viscose fabric imports from decades ago. * Public Bathhouse Etiquette: A survival guide to being "naked-naked," the unspoken rule of "tapping" to flip over, and the community tradition of scrubbing a stranger’s back so they’ll do yours. * The "Deungmuk" Days: How a lack of indoor plumbing 50 years ago created a culture of deep-cleaning that stuck with generations of Koreans. * "Baby Skin" vs. Skin Barriers: Is the "glowing" look worth the trauma? Daamly explains why Koreans are actually moving away from intense scrubbing while the West is just catching on. If you’ve ever wondered why your mom used to scrub you until you turned red, or if you’re curious about the "luxury" version popping up in LA, this episode is your Kkakdugi field guide to the grit, the glamour, and the "Italy" of it all. #KoreanCulture #SidechatNews #ItalyTowel #KoreanSpa #KBeauty #SaeSin #Kkakdugi

Episode 16 🎂 "I’ll Shoot!" — The Wild World of Korean Birthday Culture & The Great Bill Fight

Welcome back to that space somewhere between California, USA, and Seongsu-dong, Korea—where Sidechat News (깍두기 News) happens! Buckle up, kkakdugi! This week, we’re celebrating a very special occasion—it was Gigi’s birthday! 🥳 But while Gigi was out celebrating with her Korean unnies in San Francisco, she hit a major cultural plot twist at the end of the meal: In Korea, the birthday person is actually the one who pays. Daamly and Gigi dive deep into the "pay culture" shock that leaves Americans confused and Korean cashiers exhausted. From the psychology of the "star of the day" to the high-stakes drama of the restaurant counter, we’re breaking down why your Korean friends are literally wrestling over the check. The ladies also dive into: * "Naega Ssolge!" (내가 쏠게): Why Koreans say they’re going to "shoot" you when they’re actually offering to buy you dinner, and the generous slang behind "Han-teok." * The Age Tax: Why being the "Senior" or the older Unni means your wallet is always the first one out—unless you’re part of the Gen Z "Dutch Pay" revolution. * The Counter Combat: A look at the intense (and slightly embarrassing) physical fights K-Ajummas have at the cashier to prove who is more generous. * Card Roulette: The genius "random card picking" game Koreans play to let fate (and a very stressed cashier) decide who foots the bill. * Birthday Spotlight: Gigi reviews her birthday dinner at Sanhowon—the Michelin-recognized SF spot that’s the perfect "fine-casual" bridge between Seoul and the Bay. If you’ve ever wondered why your Korean friends get "sal-beol" (intense) when the bill arrives, or if you should feel guilty letting your older friend pay for the fifth time in a row, this episode is your "Kkakdugi" field guide to the social etiquette of celebration. #KoreanCulture #KkakdugiNews #SidechatNews #BirthdayCulture #Sanhowon #LivingInTheUS #KoreanEtiquette #Kbeauty

Episode 15 The BTS Breakdown: Underdogs, "Good Boys," and why 18 Million People Snubbed the Oscars

Welcome back to that space somewhere between California, USA, and Seongsu-dong, Korea—where Sidechat News (깍두기 News) happens! Buckle up, kkakdugi! This week, Gigi and Daamly are going back to school—elementary school style—to finally figure out: Dummies for BTS. After realizing they’re basically "young-born fans" in the world of ARMY, the ladies dive into a crash course on the seven members, from RM’s "brain of the group" energy to Jungkook’s status as the "Golden Maknae." Gigi and Daamly also break down their exclusive survey of 100 Americans and 100 Koreans to figure out why the "BTS effect" feels so different depending on where you live. The ladies also dive into: * The "Underdog" Debate: Why Americans love a "started from the bottom" story, while Koreans point out that their producer, Bang Si-hyuk, was already a massive industry legend. * The "Presidential" Treatment: How BTS became the "Presidents of Korea," performing at Gwanghwamun—a spot usually reserved for national events and World Cup watch parties. * The Fandom Rainbow: Why K-pop groups like BTS (Purple), Big Bang (Yellow), and G.O.D (Sky Blue) have official colors, and why Americans are still stuck on Taylor Swift’s friendship bracelets. * The "Good Boy" (Chakhae) Vibe: A look at why fans feel like they’ve "raised" the members through vlog-style transparency and their surprisingly humble, family-oriented personalities. * Netflix vs. The World: Breaking down those mind-blowing stats—like how BTS's live concert viewership of 18.4 million actually crushed the viewership of the Oscars. If you’ve ever wondered why your Korean friends get misty-eyed over "Borahae" or why the US thinks BTS were "underdogs," this episode is your "Kkakdugi" field guide to the biggest group on the planet. #BTS #ARMY #Kpop #SidechatNews #KoreanAmerican #Borahae #RM #Jungkook

Episode 14 Salmon Sperm & Stinging Needles: Our Unfiltered K-Beauty Survival Guide

Welcome back to that space somewhere between California, USA, and Seongsu-dong, Korea—where Sidechat News (깍두기 News) happens! Buckle up, kkakdugi! This week, Gigi and Daamly are getting vulnerable (and very swollen) as they spill the tea on the wild world of K-beauty procedures. Gigi kicks things off by recounting her journey with Rejuran, a treatment she affectionately—and terrifyingly—calls "salmon sperm."  From having her face manually "embossed" with a syringe to crying silent tears while a doctor told her she had a high pain threshold, she shares why she looked like a "monster" for a week just for a glow she's still looking for. The ladies also dive into: * The "Iron Face" Experience: Gigi describes the sensation of Ultherapy and Thermage as being punched with an electric iron that you can feel in your teeth. * The Gangnam Bandage Brigade: Why it’s totally normal to see people shopping for earrings with full-on surgical threads and bandages hanging off their faces in Korea. * "Song-therapy" Drama: A look at actress Song Ji Hyo’s legendary 600-shot Ultherapy swelling that turned her into a viral meme. * The "Baby" Procedures: For the "not-so-strong" women like Daamly who want the lifting without the "I think I’m dying" pain levels of Shurink. * Cloud Serums & Dry Sponges: A shoutout to the brand Dear My Friend (DE:MAF) and the secret to layering serum like you’re hydrating a dry sponge. If you’ve ever wondered if you should let a doctor needle-point your face for the sake of "glass skin," this episode is your much-needed reality check.

Episode 13 Embracing the Layers: Charlie Smith on Black-Korean Identity, Motherhood, and "Jung"

Welcome back to that space somewhere between California, USA, and Seongsu-dong, Korea—where Sidechat News (깍두기 News) happens! In this episode, Gigi and Daamly are joined by a very special guest, Charlie Smith, whose unique and authentic voice has been making waves on Instagram. We’re unpacking what it’s like to grow up being Korean and Black in the United States. From the diverse streets of Flushing, Queens, to the quiet mountains of Utah, we're diving into the struggle of claiming both sides of your heritage when the world tries to make you pick just one. We’re also getting into the heart of Korean "warmth" and the concept of Jung (정). Charlie shares her "healing" process of reclaiming the Korean culture she once pushed away, the hilarious reality of teaching a toddler "toddler-speak" like Kka-kka and Jiji, and why she’s finally ready to head back to Korea to reunite with her Busan-born roots. In This Episode, We Discuss: * The Flushing Melting Pot: Growing up in a Korean American church where the community becomes your "second family". * The "Not Korean Enough" Struggle: Charlie opens up about the pressure from both the Black and Korean communities and the regret of distancing herself from her heritage in her 20s. * Motherhood & Heritage: Why having a son changed everything—from craving kimbap and miyeok-guk during pregnancy to wanting him to experience the same Korean "pride". * Doljabi Dreams: A breakdown of her son’s first birthday ceremony. Did he pick the stethoscope, the microphone, or the classic pile of money?. * K-Beauty & Survival: Charlie’s excitement for her upcoming trip to Korea—not just for the food, but for the personalized beauty treatments Gigi raves about. * Toddler Talk & Deep Feelings: Why words like Saranghae and Nunchi encompass feelings that English just can't quite capture. Do you have a word in your culture that just doesn't translate to English? Or are you currently on your own journey of reclaiming your roots? DM us on Instagram and share your "Kkakdugi" story with us! #MixedHeritage #IdentityJourney #Kculture #Jung #KoreanAmerican