KOREA PRO Podcast

In this week’s episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, co-hosts Jeongmin and John discuss a range of developments in South Korea and beyond.

First, Jeongmin and John delve into President Yoon Suk-yeol’s surprise announcement regarding potentially vast oil and gas reserves off the country’s east coast. They analyze the government-commissioned study by U.S. firm Act-Geo, the many unknowns surrounding the reserves and the potential economic and market implications of the news.

Next, the duo examines the recent election of South Korea’s National Assembly Speaker, Woo Won-sik, and the jockeying among lawmakers to lead various committees in the 22nd National Assembly.

They then turn to the ongoing tensions between South Korea and Japan, discussing the recent agreement to put aside differences over the 2018 radar lock-on dispute and the divergent narratives in South Korean and Japanese media regarding Japan’s withdrawn request for South Korea to accept the use of the “rising sun” flag by the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force.

The conversation shifts to South Korea’s role as chair of the U.N. Security Council for a month, with Jeongmin and John exploring the largely symbolic nature of the position, the potential pressure on South Korea to speak out on global affairs and the likelihood of the country using the opportunity to highlight North Korea’s sanctions violations and human rights abuses.

Finally, the co-hosts wrap up by discussing the recently concluded Korea-Africa summit, the agreements reached on trade, business cooperation and sustainable resource development and the challenges South Korea faces in competing with established players in the African market.

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 June 5, 2024 

Audio edited by Joe Smith

In this week’s episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, co-host John is joined by news trainee Lina to discuss a range of pressing issues in South Korea.

First, John and Lina dive into the latest scandal surrounding President Yoon Suk-yeol. They examine fresh allegations that suggest he may have meddled in the investigation into a marine’s death from last year, and how this will likely spur opposition parties to attempt to call for another special prosecution investigation just two days after they failed in the same bid.

Next, John and Lina examine the conflict between the Seoul City government and organizers of the Seoul Queer Culture Festival, discussing how it reflects broader societal and political attitudes towards LGBTQ events and communities in South Korea and the potential impact on the country’s international reputation.

The duo then tackles the issue of nuclear waste management in South Korea, analyzing the potential economic repercussions and the impact on the country’s trade relations if a permanent disposal solution for high-level radioactive waste is not found soon.

Finally, Lina shares her insights and experiences from her recent interviews regarding the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education’s removal of books from school libraries. She discusses the challenges she faced in gathering information and perspectives, highlights memorable interviews and explores the potential effects of the book removals on the future of sex education and gender equality discussions in South Korea.

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 May 30, 2024. 

Audio edited by Joe Smith

In this week’s episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, co-hosts Jeongmin and John discuss Samsung Electronics’ appointment of Jun Young-hyun as the new head of its semiconductor division. They explore the challenges Jun will face in maintaining Samsung’s leadership position in the global semiconductor sector.

The duo also examines the South Korean presidential office’s decision to maintain the country’s short-selling ban until a “reliable system” is in place and what this might mean for domestic and international investors.

Jeongmin and John then discuss the presidential office’s apology for the confusion caused by the government’s recently announced measures to regulate overseas direct purchases and its subsequent decision to cancel the proposed regulation. These measures would have required a Korea Certification (KC) safety mark for 80 product categories.

The co-hosts also discuss the ongoing tensions between Naver and Line Yahoo, as Line Yahoo has stated that it will not be transferring its operations in Southeast Asia and other markets outside Japan to Naver, threatening Naver’s overseas expansion plans.

Finally, they provide a quick rundown of next week’s summit diplomacy, with South Korea set to hold bilateral summits with the United Arab Emirates and Japan, as well as a trilateral summit with Japan and China.

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 May 23, 2024. 

Audio edited by Joe Smith

In this week’s episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, co-hosts Jeongmin and John discuss the unexpected election of five-term lawmaker Woo Won-shik as the National Assembly speaker and the strategies employed by Woo and his rival, Choo Mi-ae.

The duo also examines the first lady’s recent public appearance amid the ongoing Dior bag scandal, with the latest investigations focusing on the pastor who deliberately gifted her the bag. They analyze President Yoon Suk-yeol’s pledge to support non-union workers and its potential impact on the Democratic Party and unions.

Jeongmin and John explore Naver’s growing concerns over its stake in LY Corp. and how ROK politicians are using the issue to push anti-Japanese narratives. They also discuss the implications of U.S. President Joe Biden’s decision to maintain or raise tariffs on Chinese exports for South Korean businesses.

In the tech sphere, the co-hosts highlight the government’s support for R&D on low-noise hydrogen fuel cell generators and KAIST researchers’ proposal for mass-producing nano-threads for smart fabrics.

Finally, they discuss South Korea’s foreign minister Cho Tae-yul’s visit to Beijing and its significance for the upcoming South Korea-Japan-China trilateral summit and the second round of Special Measures Agreement negotiations between the U.S. and South Korea.

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 May 16, 2024. 

Audio edited by Joe Smith

In this special extended episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, co-hosts Jeongmin and John are joined by Dr. Victor Cha, the senior vice president for Asia and Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS). Dr. Cha discusses the findings of his new report on South Korean elites’ fragile opposition to nuclearization and shares his insights on the current debate surrounding the issue.

The conversation delves into the differences between South Korea’s public and strategic elites’ perceptions of a nuclear South Korea, the factors that could tip the scale in favor of nuclearization and the motivations and limitations of the study. Jeongmin and John also explore the potential impact of Donald Trump’s potential return to the U.S. presidency on the allies’ joint defense and the top risks facing the U.S.-ROK alliance going forward.

Dr. Victor Cha, who has served on the National Security Council and as the U.S. deputy head of delegation at the Six-Party Talks, also shares his thoughts on how unpredictable U.S. politics has become — an added variable for South Korea in navigating security and alliance issues. 

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 May 10, 2024. 

Audio edited by Joe Smith

In this week’s episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, co-hosts Jeongmin and John discuss recent developments in South Korea-Japan relations, focusing on the tech leak that compromised hundreds of thousands of Japanese personal data. They also discuss Japan’s push to force out Naver, a South Korean tech portal company, from its partnership with Japan’s SoftBank in the wake of the incident.

The duo also explores the challenges South Korea faces in potentially joining AUKUS Pillar 2, which focuses on developing advanced capabilities and sharing technology among member nations. Jeongmin and John analyze Seoul’s task of demonstrating its capacity and commitment to improving information security, a key factor in being considered for collaboration under Pillar 2.

Additionally, the co-hosts delve into the key takeaways from South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol’s first press briefing in 21 months. They examine Yoon’s conditional willingness to support a special investigation into the death of a South Korean marine last year and his firm stance against reopening the investigation into the first lady’s alleged stock manipulation.

Jeongmin and John also discuss Yoon’s diplomatic sidestep when asked about the potential return of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency, as well as his plans to tackle the country’s low birth rate through a new ministry and his push for controversial tax reforms, which are expected to face fierce opposition.

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 May 9, 2024. 

Audio edited by Joe Smith

In the latest episode of the Korea Pro Podcast, Jeongmin, Lina and Joon Ha discuss the much-anticipated first formal meeting between opposition leader Lee Jae-myung and President Yoon Suk-yeol since Yoon's inauguration. The episode highlights how Lee’s surprise speech to the press allowed the opposition to dominate the optics. However, the outcome remained ambiguous, with both sides presenting differing narratives of the discussion and leaving several high-profile issues unresolved.

The episode also delves into upcoming political events, including Choo Mi-ae, the frontrunner for speaker of the National Assembly, nominations for the next ruling and opposition floor leaders, a plenary session to pass the revised Itaewon probe bill, a contentious bill for a special investigation into the death of a marine last year, and updates on the doctors' strikes.

Lastly, the Korea Pro team discusses socio-economic issues, such as the controversy over universal cash vouchers and the financial pressures faced by small and medium-sized business owners. They also explore the recent rise of unmanned shops and the associated social challenges.

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 May 1, 2024. 

Audio edited by Joe Smith

In this week's episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, co-hosts Jeongmin and John delve into the upcoming meeting between President Yoon Suk-yeol and Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung. They discuss Lee’s proposal to provide $180 to every South Korean citizen, which would cost around $9 billion, and analyze the potential impact and motivations behind this plan.

The duo also examines South Korea’s recent arms exports to Romania. They also explore the potential for expanded nuclear energy cooperation between South Korea and Romania while considering the implications of Westinghouse Electric Corporation’s dismissed case against South Korea over the APR1400 reactor design.

Finally, the co-hosts discuss the political fate of Cho Kuk, whose Rebuilding Korea Party failed to secure the 20 seats necessary to form a negotiation group in the National Assembly.

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 April 25, 2024. 

Audio edited by Joe Smith

In this week’s episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, Jeongmin is on vacation, so John is joined by news trainees Joon Ha Park and Lina Park. The trio discusses the aftermath of President Yoon Suk-yeol’s senior staff resignations following the ruling People Power Party’s defeat in the previous week’s general elections.

The team examines potential candidates for the prime minister and chief of staff positions. They also delve into Yoon’s meeting with Daegu City Mayor Hong Joon-pyo and the president’s remark about being open to meeting with Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, a significant development given Yoon’s lack of engagement with Lee since his inauguration.

The episode also covers the controversy surrounding the Sewol documentary, which was originally planned to air on KBS on April 18 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the ferry sinking. The team discusses KBS’ decision to postpone the documentary’s air date to June, citing concerns about influencing the general elections and their desire to reframe the documentary to focus on PTSD in general rather than solely on the Sewol tragedy.

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 April 18, 2024. 

Audio edited by Joe Smith

In this slightly extended episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, Jeongmin and John delve into the aftermath of South Korea’s general elections, which saw the ruling People Power Party (PPP) suffer another landslide defeat while the Democratic Party (DP) and the Rebuilding Korea Party (RKP) emerged victorious.

The hosts discuss the string of resignations that followed the election, including PPP interim leader Han Dong-hoon, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and the president's chief of staff. They also explore the question of who will become the PPP’s new leader and whether President Yoon Suk-yeol will finally meet with DP leader Lee Jae-myung.

Jeongmin and John then delve into the potential for cooperation between the DP and the RKP, as well as which new parties have entered the National Assembly and which ones have lost their seats. Finally, they discuss what the election results could mean for some of the president’s long-term policies and his overall agenda.

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 April 11, 2024. 

Audio edited by Joe Smith

Editor’s note: The hosts stated that the Liberty Unification Party won a National Assembly seat. However, the party received less than the required 3% of total votes and remains unrepresented in the National Assembly.