In this episode, John and Joon Ha break down the biggest headlines in South Korean news this week.

First, they discuss the main opposition Democratic Party’s announcement that it plans to launch impeachment proceedings against Acting President Choi Sang-mok, citing Choi’s failure to appoint a Constitutional Court nominee. John and Joon Ha go into how this move could deepen political instability and increase market volatility as the country awaits the Constitutional Court’s ruling on President Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment.

Next, they analyze the U.S. Federal Reserve’s decision to hold rates steady, which has left the Bank of Korea (BOK) with limited policy options as household debt rises and the U.S.-Korea rate gap widens. John explains why the BOK faces a difficult balancing act between supporting domestic demand and preventing capital flight.

Finally, they cover South Korea’s decision to tighten anti-dumping measures on Chinese steel imports following the U.S.’s new tariffs on steel and aluminum. John explains how Beijing’s muted response reflects a strategic wait-and-see approach amid South Korea’s political uncertainty.

John and Joon Ha close by noting that the Constitutional Court will issue its ruling on former Acting President Han Duck-soo’s impeachment on Monday, which means that Yoon’s impeachment ruling may be announced next week.

About the podcast: The Korea Pro Podcast is a weekly 15-minute conversation hosted by Editorial Director Jeongmin Kim (@jeongminnkim) and Editor John Lee (@koreanforeigner), diving deep into the most pressing stories shaping South Korea — and dissecting the most complicated ones for professionals monitoring ROK politics, diplomacy, culture, society and technology. Uploaded every Friday.

This episode was recorded on Thursday, March 20, 2025.

Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson