In this episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, John and Joon Ha dive into revelations about the scale of South Korea’s Dec. 3 martial law operation. The hosts examine the deployment of over 1,500 troops armed with advanced weaponry, including sniper rifles and anti-drone guns, as well as the implications of over 10,000 rounds of ammunition being prepared. The team discusses public and political reactions to these revelations, as well as potential long-term impacts on trust in government and military accountability.

The discussion then shifts to Acting President Han Duck-soo’s veto of six bills, analyzing his constitutional and fiscal concerns and how this will likely impact Han’s relationship with the main opposition party for the next few months.

Finally, the episode explores the U.S. Federal Reserve’s latest interest rate cut and its impact on South Korea’s economy. With the won at a 16-year low and inflationary pressures mounting, the hosts discuss the finance ministry’s response and the difficult policy choices facing the Bank of Korea.

Looking forward, John and Joon Ha discuss the ongoing investigations by prosecutors, the police and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials into Yoon’s martial law declaration, and how it will likely dominate South Korea’s news headlines in the coming 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, Dec. 19, 2024.

Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson