Grace Jung
is a stand-up comedian, writer, filmmaker, scholar and podcaster. She is the author of K-Drama School with appearances on NPR, The Bechdel Cast, The SteeBeeWeeBee Show, They Call Us Bruce and season 4 of The Joe Schmo Show on TBS.
Her literary works are published in The Offing Magazine, Literary Hub and more. She also hosts K-Drama School podcast.
Read her book K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television.
Praise for K-Drama School…
“...Grace Jung’s K-Drama School is must-read.... It’s a book that’s funny, insightful, and smart in ways that only a media studies PhD-turned-stand-up comic could deliver.” ―Jeff Yang, New York Times bestselling author of The Golden Screen and Rise: A Pop History of Asian America from the Nineties to Now
"Jung's book transcends being merely a chronicle of K-dramas' evolution. Instead, she employs a refreshingly structured storytelling approach to present K-drama characters and their illuminating perspectives, while weaving in her own experiences of abuse, depravity, and growth. In doing so, Jung crafts some of the most beautiful prose I have ever read."―Joe Wong, Late Show with David Letterman, Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Ellen Show, RTCA Dinner
“Grace masterfully shows the intersections and parallels between the world she grew up in and the world she consumed on TV. It is more than a deep dive into Korean television. These are essays that make sense of generational traumas and explore why certain behaviors were embedded in culture while using various TV shows as a guide. Grace elevates the discussion with her biting wit and dark sense of humor. But what shines the brightest in this work is Grace’s willingness to give the reader access inside of HER world.”―Kimberly Clark, Tiffany Haddish Presents: They Ready on Netflix, The Late Late Show with James Corden on CBS, Last Comic Standing on NBC
“Dr. Grace is revolutionary. This book is necessary to us all. You don’t need to know anything about K-dramas to read this book. Dr. Grace introduces each show tastefully. She is super funny in the most sophisticated way.” ―Teruko Nakajima of Lady Dynamite on Netflix, The Millers on CBS, Funny or Die, MTV, and creator of the award-winning show Made in America
“Class is in session! ... Dr. Grace offers a personal and knowing journey through the history, culture and influence of Korean television.”―Phil Yu, creator of Angry Asian Man and co-host of They Call Us Bruce podcast
"Jung's book is both a thoughtful history of Korean television and a powerful memoir about living with intergenerational trauma. Asian American essential reading!" ―MariNaomi, award-winning author and illustrator of I Thought You Loved Me, Kiss & Tell, and Turning Japanese
“Jung’s penetrating commentary showcases the variety of the K-drama format while assisting foreign readers in understanding the cultural context. It’s an essential companion for anyone who has binged Crash Landing on You or Squid Game.”