KOREA PRO Podcast

In this episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, John and Joon Ha explore recent developments in South Korea’s economic and industrial landscape.

The discussion begins with an analysis of the intensifying takeover battle for Korea Zinc as Young Poong and MBK Partners increase their bid to $1.7 billion. The team examines the potential implications for the company’s future projects and the broader impact on workers and supply chains.

Next, they turn their attention to South Korea’s $7.5 billion AI manufacturing initiative. John and Joon Ha compare this investment to those of regional competitors and discuss the challenges South Korean companies may face in the global AI race.

The conversation then shifts to South Korea’s projected tax revenue shortfall for 2024. The team delves into the causes of this shortfall, the government’s approach to addressing it and the potential economic implications.

Additionally, they explore the significance of the resumed South Korea-Japan talks on continental shelf development, marking the first such discussion in nearly four decades.

Looking ahead, John and Joon Ha touch on the upcoming visit of Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico and its potential impact on bilateral relations.

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 Sept. 26, 2024

Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson

In this episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, co-hosts Jeongmin and John are joined by Korea Pro’s junior correspondent Joon Ha to explore recent developments in South Korea’s economic, diplomatic and educational sectors.

The discussion begins with an analysis of the Federal Reserve’s decision to cut its benchmark interest rate by half a percentage point, marking the first reduction in four and a half years. The team examines the potential implications of this move for South Korea’s economy.

Next, they turn their attention to President Yoon Suk-yeol’s state visit to the Czech Republic. The team delves into Yoon’s efforts to encourage Prague to finalize its decision to collaborate with Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power in constructing the European country’s nuclear power plant.

Joon Ha then presents insights from his recent analysis for Korea Pro, focusing on the Bank of Korea’s proposal to reform the country’s university admissions system, which aims to address economic inequality stemming from South Korea’s highly competitive academic culture.

Looking ahead, Jeongmin notes that South Koreans have returned to work following the Chuseok holidays, including the National Assembly. She highlights two significant developments: the renewed push for a special prosecutorial investigation into the first lady and the main opposition party’s unilateral passage of a bill mandating state support for regional gift vouchers.

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 Sept. 19, 2024

Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson

In this episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, co-hosts Jeongmin and John explore recent developments in South Korea’s defense, business and economic sectors.

The discussion begins with a review of the REAIM Summit Declaration, which emphasizes the importance of maintaining human control over AI in military applications. The hosts analyze the summit itself and its implications for future conflicts and arms races.

Next, they delve into a new enforcement decree that allows South Korean companies to collect necessary personal information without explicit user consent. Jeongmin and John examine the potential impacts on business operations and consumer privacy.

The conversation then shifts to economic matters, starting with the South Korean government’s decision to freeze national health insurance premiums for the second consecutive year. They also explore the financial watchdog’s decision to tighten regulations on illegal money lenders, considering both the protective measures for vulnerable populations and the potential consequences for those with limited borrowing options.

Looking ahead, Jeongmin and John preview next week’s upcoming events, including the U.S. Federal Reserve’s meeting and its potential impact on South Korea’s monetary policy, the critical shortage of emergency room doctors and Iraq’s expected purchase of South Korea’s Cheongung-II missile defense system.

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 Sept. 12, 2024

Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson

In this episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, John is joined by junior news reporter Joon Ha to discuss the latest developments in South Korean politics, defense, trade, and society.

The two begin by discussing a surprising statement from South Korea’s Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo, who suggested that the U.S. nuclear umbrella might weaken if Donald Trump is reelected. John and Joon Ha analyze the implications of this unusually frank comment about U.S. elections from a high-ranking South Korean official.

The discussion then moves to South Korea’s defense industry, focusing on Hanwha Ocean’s recent memorandum of understanding with Polish defense firm WB Group for submarine cooperation. They explore the challenges South Korea faces in naval exports compared to its success in land-based military equipment sales to Poland.

On the trade front, John and Joon Ha examine South Korea’s agreement with Western Australia on clean energy and key minerals, particularly lithium. They discuss the strategic importance of this deal in diversifying supply chains away from China and the potential challenges involved.

The conversation shifts to South Korea’s nuclear power ambitions, with a focus on the recent selection of South Korea as the preferred bidder for a Czech nuclear power plant project. John and Joon Ha delve into the legal challenges posed by U.S. and French competitors and their potential impact on Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Company’s export plans.

In societal news, the duo discusses the ongoing investigation into Telegram’s role in deepfake sex crimes following Telegram CEO Pavel Durov’s arrest in France. They also touch on Telegram’s recent compliance with content removal requests and its apology for its handling of digital sex crimes.

Finally, John gives a preview of upcoming events, including Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s final visit to South Korea before stepping down and next week’s Responsible AI in the Military Domain (REAIM) conference co-hosted by South Korea, the Netherlands, and Singapore.

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 Sept. 5, 2024

Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson

In this episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, co-hosts Jeongmin and John dive into South Korea’s latest policy challenges and social issues.

The discussion begins with an analysis of the recently approved 2025 budget proposal. Our hosts break down the winners and losers, highlighting increased support for high-tech sectors, healthcare and defense, while noting reduced allocations for public housing, infrastructure and regional spending.

The conversation then shifts to President Yoon Suk-yeol’s pension reform plans, aimed at addressing generational imbalances and ensuring the pension fund’s long-term sustainability. Jeongmin and John examine the proposed tiered premium rates designed to ease the burden on younger workers and the political context surrounding these reforms.

The hosts also touch on the recent passage of the bipartisan Nursing Act, which Yoon had previously vetoed, and its connection to the ongoing doctors’ strike over increased medical school admission quotas.

Lastly, Jeongmin and John discuss a deepfake pornography scandal that has rocked the nation, involving scores of men generating illicit images of women they know and using encrypted messaging apps to share such images.

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 Aug. 29, 2024

Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson

In this episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, co-hosts Jeongmin and John begin by discussing the Bank of Korea’s decision to maintain its interest rate for the 13th consecutive time, the longest streak to date, amid record-high household debt of $1.4 trillion. The hosts explore the paradox of increasing real estate investments despite personal debt levels, touching on practices like gap investment and the misuse of the government’s housing lottery system.

The conversation then shifts to the resurgence of COVID-19 cases in the country, noting that even prominent figures like main opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung have been affected. Jeongmin and John analyze the government’s response, including the expectation of a peak by month’s end and the challenges posed by a shortage of treatment drugs. They discuss the focus on treating vulnerable populations in the absence of previous pandemic mandates.

Lastly, the hosts delve into the changing hiring practices of South Korean conglomerates in response to the country’s aging population. They examine the shift from traditional mass exam-style open recruitment to hiring older, more experienced workers, and consider the implications for costs and innovation, especially in high-tech companies.

Looking ahead, Jeongmin and John preview several upcoming events, including a potential visit by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to South Korea in September, the National Assembly plenary session focusing on non-controversial public welfare issues, the postponement of Lee Jae-myung’s meeting with Han Dong-hoon, and the continuation of the Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercise.

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 Aug. 22, 2024

Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson

In this episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, co-hosts Jeongmin and John discuss President Yoon Suk-yeol’s recent defense reshuffle, which saw the appointment of Kim Yong-hyun as the new defense minister, Shin Won-sik as the new national security adviser and Chang Ho-jin as the new special advisor for diplomatic security. The hosts analyze the significance of these appointments and their timing and what they reveal about Yoon’s foreign policy priorities.

The conversation then shifts to the voluntary disclosure of electric vehicle (EV) battery information by South Korean and foreign automakers. With 35% of South Korean EVs using Chinese batteries, the hosts explore the potential implications of this disclosure, including supply chain disruption issues and the growing media attention on the use of Chinese batteries.

Looking ahead, Jeongmin and John delve into the recent corruption scandals at Woori Bank, where executives and employees were found to have bypassed standard screening processes and provided the bank’s previous chairman and his family with millions of dollars in inappropriate loans.

They also touch upon the upcoming Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) military drill, which reportedly will not include a North Korean nuclear attack scenario and Yoon’s National Liberation Day speech on Aug. 15. Finally, the hosts preview the upcoming National Assembly plenary session on Aug. 28, which is expected to focus on non-contentious public livelihood bills, such as the special law on rental fraud.

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 Aug. 14, 2024

Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson

In this episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, co-hosts Jeongmin and John delve into the ongoing controversy surrounding Japan’s Sado mine, which was recently listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They discuss Japan’s rejection of South Korea’s request to acknowledge forced Korean labor at the mine and the potential political fallout for the Yoon administration’s foreign policy toward Japan. The hosts also explore the Democratic Party’s likely continued criticism of the government’s handling of the issue and the potential erosion of South Korean support for U.S.-ROK-Japan trilateral cooperation post-Yoon.

Shifting gears, Jeongmin explains the rare bipartisan push to amend South Korea’s outdated espionage laws, which have remained unchanged since 1953. While lawmakers claim the proposed bills aim to establish a South Korean version of the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act, Jeongmin notes the conspicuous absence of a registration clause and the adoption of broad, vague language that could excessively expand the definition of espionage. They also discuss the potential strain on South Korea’s international relations and a reported incident involving the leak of Hyundai Rotem’s K2 Black Panther tank technology to a rival South Korean company.

Looking ahead, Jeongmin and John highlight the upcoming National Liberation Day on Aug. 15, during which President Yoon Suk-yeol is expected to announce the country’s new reunification roadmap. They also preview the U.S.-South Korea Ulchi Freedom Shield military drill scheduled for the following week, noting that it will reportedly not include a North Korean nuclear attack scenario.

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 Aug. 8, 2024

Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson

In this episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, co-hosts Jeongmin and John delve into South Korea’s economic challenges as it finds itself caught between the U.S. Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan’s divergent monetary policies. They discuss the potential impact on the South Korean won and the Bank of Korea’s dilemma in balancing concerns about inflation and stimulating growth, amid contrasting data points such as increased exports in July and a contraction in GDP in the second quarter.

The conversation then shifts to the recent agreement between the U.S., South Korea and Japan to institutionalize their trilateral cooperation, with a commitment to maintaining peace in the Korean Peninsula, the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. Jeongmin and John explore the implications of this declaration and the South Korean defense ministry’s reluctance to provide further details.

Next, the hosts discuss Japan’s Sado Gold Mine being listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and South Korea’s decision to end its opposition, citing Tokyo’s commitment to acknowledge the history of forced Korean labor at the site.

Finally, Jeongmin and John preview the week ahead, including South Korea’s appointment of a new ambassador to Australia and the Yoon administration’s review of structural changes that will reintroduce the first lady’s office.

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 Aug. 1, 2024 

Audio edited by Joe Smith

In this episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, co-hosts Jeongmin and John delve into the ongoing fallout from the indictment of Sue Mi Terry, a former CIA analyst and White House official. They discuss how this case has ignited a political firestorm between the ruling People Power Party (PPP) and the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), with both sides trading accusations about their interactions with Terry.

The conversation then shifts to a legislative proposal by DP lawmaker Park Sun-won. Park has suggested amending South Korea’s Criminal Act to introduce a law similar to the U.S. Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA). This proposed amendment aims to broaden the scope of the current law, which only addresses espionage related to “enemy states” (specifically North Korea), to include friendly nations and quasi-enemy states.

Jeongmin and John provide an in-depth analysis of the potential implications of this proposed law. They explore how such legislation could impact various sectors, including universities, think tanks, and businesses. The hosts weigh the pros and cons of implementing a FARA-like law in South Korea, considering the country’s geopolitical position and its relationships with various international actors.

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 July 26, 2024 

Audio edited by Joe Smith