ZenKimchi Korean Food & Travel

The ZenKimchi Korea Food & Travel Podcast goes beyond the usual travel lists to explore the food, neighborhoods, history, people, and peculiarities that make Korea worth knowing.

Host Joe McPherson, founder of ZenKimchi, has lived in Korea for more than twenty years, writing about its food and culture and creating travel experiences for visitors. Each episode offers practical advice, deeper context, and occasionally inconvenient opinions about Korean food and travel.

Whether you’re planning a trip or simply curious about life beyond the postcards, this is Korea from someone who has watched it change.

Contributors

Host

Joe McPherson

Joe McPherson has been living in Korea and writing about Korean food since 2004. He has been featured in and a consultant for Parts Unknown with Anthony Bourdain, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Nat Geo Channel, The Travell Channel, The Lonely Planet Guide, and more.

He founded ZenKimchi Experiences in Korea in 2013, which specializes in immersive activities for guests visiting or living inside Korea. This includes The Dark Side of Seoul Ghost Walk and The Authentic Korean BBQ Experience.

In 2026, McPherson and Duk Young Lim launched ZenKimchi Concierge, which helps visitors book tickets and make their travels in Korea run more smoothly.

https://zenkimchi.com