Korean Englishman: Josh and Ollie, Korean Food Culture, Celebrities
Who is Korean Englishman? British duo Josh and Ollie filming Korean food culture with 6.2M subscribers. Videos, facts verified Sep 2026.
Key takeaways
- Korean Englishman (@koreanenglishman) is British duo Josh Carrott + Ollie Kendal — Brits/celebs trying Korean food and culture — about 6.2M subscribers in September 2026.
- Joined June 2013; ~916–976 videos and ~2.59–2.69B views; second channel JOLLY (@jolly, ~5.3M) goes global.
- Start with the Avengers Korean-food reaction (32M), Spider-Man chimek special and Son Heung-min BBQ with Spurs.
- English + Korean with bilingual subs, weekly Wednesday uploads; 2020 quarantine incident resolved (suspended indictment, apologies).
Quick facts
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Creator | Josh Carrott + Ollie Kendal (Korean Englishman; JOLLY) |
| YouTube channel | Korean Englishman — @koreanenglishman |
| Country / origin | British (UK + Korea operation; London-presented) |
| Language | English narration, Korean + English subtitles |
| Content type | Korean food/culture reactions, celebrity food interviews |
| Subscribers | ~6.2M, ~916–976 videos, ~2.59–2.69B views (2026) — figures change daily |
| Main destinations | Seoul (BBQ, Myeongdong), Korean boot camp, UK reverse episodes |
| Channel start | Joined YouTube Jun 7, 2013 (first video Aug 2013) |
| Official site | koreanenglishman.com (bio, contact, merch) |
Who is Korean Englishman?
Korean Englishman is Josh Carrott and Ollie Kendal — SOAS London friends: Josh (Korean language/culture major, Korea University year abroad, Qingdao childhood among Korean classmates — “as much Korean as English” in his words; married to Korean chef Gabie Kook, daughter 2024) and Ollie (video/photography/design, MA Biblical Studies path; married Lizzie, daughter 2018) — incorporated as Kendal & Carrott Ltd in 2013 and turned “British people try Korea” into the gold standard for niche cultural content (Think with Google, 2026).
JOLLY (@jolly, ~5.3M) is the second channel — the “playground for friendship”: global food, memes, travel personalities. Main channel stays Korea; JOLLY goes world.
Their YouTube journey
1. Fire noodles (2013–2017). Joined 7 June 2013; first video August 2013. Fire Noodle Challenge origin (2014, friends + Josh’s father) seeded the format.
2. Celebrity era (2018–2021). Avengers react to Korean food (2018, 32M); Spider-Man chimek (2019); British Highschoolers franchise; 2020 quarantine incident and resolved hiatus.
3. Stadium era (2022–2026). Son/Spurs BBQ, Wolves street food, BLACKPINK palace dinner (2023); boot-camp series; SCMP/Newsweek features; JOLLY scaling past 5M. September 2026: ~6.2M subscribers, ~2.69B views.
What kind of travel content does Korean Englishman make?
Based on actually published videos, not slogans:
- Celebrity food reactions. Avengers kimbap, Spider-Man chimek, Son BBQ, Wolves street food, BLACKPINK palace dinner.
- Brits-try-Korea franchises. Highschoolers (BBQ, street food, toast, combos, boot camp), soldiers, cabbies.
- Reverse episodes. Brits survive Korean boot camp; Brits in Korea arcs (plus JOLLY’s Brits-try-world).
- Bilingual packaging. English voice, Korean + English subs, Wednesday uploads.
- Food as diplomacy. SCMP’s line: “sharing Korean culture through its most universal language: food.”
What they do not publish: no itineraries, no silent walks, no compilations. Their value is the reaction — Korea tasted by famous outsiders.
Countries and destinations covered by Korean Englishman
Representative destinations with context. For exact video dates, check the official channel. Core is Korea; JOLLY adds the world.
Korea focus
- Seoul (Myeongdong, BBQ houses), boot camps, convenience stores.
Korean Englishman videos to discover
A selection, not a list of “best” without criteria. All links are official YouTube where available.
1. Avengers react to Korean food
- Subject: Cumberbatch kimbap, pom pear, Holland banana milk (2018, ~32M views)
- Why watch: The landmark — celebrity format perfected
- Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKWNnKhGjWA
2. Spider-Man chimek special
- Subject: Batalon chicken+beer, tteokbokki, fire chicken (2019, 11.7M)
- Why watch: The fan-favorite pairing episode
- Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUVMHjZNOYw
3. Son introduces Korean BBQ to Spurs
- Subject: Son + Dier, Højbjerg, Lloris (2023, ~20M views)
- Why watch: Football meets BBQ at full scale
- Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvFxQIvUHms
If a link is dead, search the exact title on @koreanenglishman.
Korean Englishman travel style
Observable facts vs editorial reading:
- Narration: English hosts, Korean guests, both subtitled.
- Rhythm and editing: Weekly Wednesday; challenge arcs.
- Camera: Duo-shot; celebrities and schoolkids co-star.
- Interactions: Guests taste, hosts translate culture.
- Culture: Food as the meeting point.
- Food: The entire subject, always shared.
- Transport and stay: Not covered.
- Storytelling: Reaction formats with hospitality payoffs.
Difference from Global Silent Walks: Josh and Ollie narrate every bite bilingually; a Silent Walk lets you experience Seoul and London without commentary, in real time and natural sound.
Who is the Korean Englishman channel for?
- K-food viewers: BBQ to boot camp in English packaging.
- Celebrity-format fans: Avengers to Spurs tasting Korea.
- Culture-bridge audiences: Bilingual by design.
- Not recommended as a planning tool alone: Reactions, not guides; verify independently. Quarantine history is resolved — report as resolved.
- Sensitive viewers: Military-service and nationality threads handled lightly.
No score or ranking — just fit.
Destinations inspired by Korean Englishman on Global Silent Walks
After watching the duo feed Spurs BBQ in Seoul, you can walk Seoul and London calmly on foot, no commentary, 4K natural sound:
- After the Korea episodes: Seoul Silent Walk.
- After the London base: London Silent Walk.
- For calmer urban backdrops around the world, start from World Destinations.
Korean Englishman does not recommend, sponsor or use Global Silent Walks unless officially stated. These are independent editorial bridges.
Explore the destination differently
Josh and Ollie’s videos answer “what does Korea taste like to outsiders?” with bilingual joy. A Global Silent Walks Silent Walk answers “what does the place itself feel like?” with patience: raw sound, real time, no cuts, no opinions. Watch the duo for the taste, then use a Silent Walk to hear Seoul plainly.
Start with World Destinations, France Guide and Paris Guide.
Official socials
Only official accounts. Counts from third-party trackers, September 2026, change daily:
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@koreanenglishman — ~6.2M (2026)
- Second: https://www.youtube.com/@jolly — ~5.3–5.4M
- Instagram: main ~563K; Ollie ~543–546K
- TikTok: @jolly — ~834–850K
- Site: https://www.koreanenglishman.com
No verified official X found. JOLLY IG @jolly_brits exists, count unverified.
In pictures: Korean Englishman
FAQ
Who is Korean Englishman?
British duo Josh Carrott + Ollie Kendal (SOAS friends) — Korea food/culture reactions since 2013, plus JOLLY second channel.
How many subscribers do they have?
About 6.14–6.2 million main-channel subscribers, ~916–976 videos, ~2.59–2.69B views (2026); JOLLY ~5.3–5.4M. Check live channels for today.
What is their most famous video?
Avengers react to Korean food (~32M, 2018) leads; Fire Noodle origins and Son BBQ follow.
Where to start?
Watch Avengers for the landmark, Spider-Man for pairing joy, Son/Spurs for scale.
What was the 2020 incident?
Quarantine-package optics → investigation → suspended indictment, charges dropped, apologies + hiatus. Resolved; report as resolved.
Is JOLLY the same?
Same duo, different brief: JOLLY goes global, main stays Korea. Do not conflate.
Sources
- Official YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@koreanenglishman
- Wikipedia (Jan 2026): duo + Moffatt-free background (Carrott/Kendal bios)
- Korea Times + Korea Herald (Jan 2019), SCMP (2026): profiles
- HypeAuditor (Aug 2026), crawls (Sep 2026): stat snapshots
- Think with Google UK (Mar 2026): niche-content feature
Data verified September 29, 2026. Subscribers and views change daily. Recent videos to check on the official channel.
Last verification: September 29, 2026.
