In this week’s episode, Jeongmin and Joon Ha analyze the first presidential TV debate that was supposed to focus on economic pledges but quickly veered into attacks over foreign policy positions and scandals. They also examine differences in economic pledges, including dueling 100-trillion-won AI investment plans and contrasting approaches to the proposed 4.5-day work week.

The duo then explores the competing constitutional reform proposals released by the leading candidates. Lee Jae-myung advocates for consecutive four-year presidential terms with guardrails, including parliamentary nomination of the prime minister and strengthening the Board of Audit and Inspection, while Kim Moon-soo supports non-consecutive four-year terms to prevent a “Putin-style power entrenchment.” 

The team also unpacks revelations about SK Telecom’s three-year-old cybersecurity breach, with reports suggesting the attacks may have been state-backed, although the ROK government is neither confirming nor denying such a possibility. They look ahead to the rest of the planned televised debates next week as the campaign builds toward the June 3 snap election.

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, May 22, 2025. 

Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson