In this episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, Jeongmin, John and Joon Ha unpack a fast-moving week for South Korea’s economy and diplomacy.

They begin with the U.S. Federal Reserve’s quarter-point rate cut — the first since Dec. 2024 — and analyze how the move could influence the Bank of Korea’s next steps, capital flows and the won.

The team then dissects the Trump administration’s warning that South Korea will face higher tariffs unless it accepts the same trade terms as Japan, noting Seoul officials’ unusually blunt remarks that the U.S. is no longer the free-trade partner it once was. They also explore Mexico’s plan to impose 50% tariffs on vehicles from countries without a free-trade agreement, a policy that could squeeze South Korean automakers and limit Seoul’s trade flexibility.

Next, Jeongmin and Joon Ha turn to President Lee Jae-myung’s newly announced 123 key policy tasks, outlining the administration’s broad domestic and economic agenda. In particular, they look at Seoul’s security and foreign policy agenda, including the administration’s ambition to complete OPCON transfer and reorganize the Marine Corps into a fourth quasi branch of the ROK Armed Forces.They discuss how these priorities are likely to shape both near-term governance and South Korea’s longer-term growth strategy.

Finally, the hosts look ahead to upcoming developments on Lee’s expected keynote address at the United Nations on Sept. 23and other key events shaping the weeks ahead.

About the podcast: The Korea Pro Podcast is a weekly 15-minute conversation hosted by Korea Risk Group Executive Director Jeongmin Kim, Editor John Lee and correspondent Joon Ha Park, 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, Sept. 18, 2025.

Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson