In this week’s episode, Jeongmin, John and Joon Ha break down a dramatic week in South Korean politics, trade and disaster response.

They begin with the Constitutional Court’s decision to reinstate Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, reversing his December impeachment. The ruling found Han’s failure to appoint Constitutional Court justices unconstitutional — but not impeachable.

Next, the trio discusses the Seoul High Court’s acquittal of main opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung on election law charges. With prosecutors appealing the case to the Supreme Court and the presidential race heating up, they assess how the ruling all but secures Lee’s path to the presidency.

Then they unpack U.S. President Donald Trump’s sweeping 25% tariff on all autos and parts, citing national security to sidestep trade deals like the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement. They break down what this means for South Korea’s trade relations with the U.S. and how firms like Hyundai and Korean Air are scrambling to safeguard U.S. market access with massive investment and purchase pledges.

Finally, they turn to the worst wildfire in South Korea’s history. With at least 27 people dead, historical landmarks destroyed and vast farmland scorched, the fire has exposed the nation’s demographic vulnerabilities — including senior firefighters battling relentless flames — and raised urgent questions about the state of rural infrastructure and long-term agricultural recovery.

Looking ahead: South Korea is set to resume short selling on March 31, and the U.S. will unveil its new “reciprocal tariffs” policy on April 2.

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 27, 2025.

Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson