KOREA PRO Podcast

In this episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, Jeongmin and John cover three key topics surrounding the upcoming South Korean general elections.

First, they delve into the record number of overseas South Koreans who participated in early voting. John shares his experiences with this demographic from his younger days and discusses how the group may have changed over the years.

Next, the hosts address the People Power Party’s challenges, as its interim leader, Han Dong-hoon, pleads with voters during campaign rallies amid low approval rates and calls from within for the president to resign from the party, which have impacted the PPP’s electoral prospects.

Then, Jeongmin examines the controversy surrounding Democratic Party candidate Kim Jun-hyeok, running for parliament in Gyeonggi Province’s Suwon D district. In Aug. 2022, Kim made controversial remarks on a YouTube channel about Kim Hwal-lan, the first president of Ewha Womans University, alleging her involvement in sending “comfort women” to Japan during wartime and forcing Ewha students to provide sexual favors to U.S. military officers during the U.S. military’s rule of the southern half of the Korean Peninsula from 1945 to 1948.

Finally, the team delves into the different video strategies that the three main political parties have adopted to rally their voters, even if all of them are centered around their party leaders to one degree or another.

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 3, 2024. 

Audio edited by Joe Smith

In this special extended episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, Jeongmin and John are joined by special guest Jumin Lee, a Los Angeles-based attorney and Korea Pro contributor. The trio delves into three critical topics surrounding the upcoming South Korean general elections.

First, they examine the decrease in the number of female candidates running for office, a stark contrast to the increased female representation in the 2020 general election. They also discuss the ambiguous definition of a “youth politician” in South Korean politics.

Next, the conversation shifts to the deteriorating political culture in South Korea. The rise of the Rebuilding Korea Party, led by former justice minister Cho Kuk, showcases how a party with no political infrastructure can challenge mainstream parties. The hosts also address the conservative audience’s reaction to the stabbing of Lee Jae-myung at the start of the year and explore the factors contributing to the current state of South Korea’s political culture.

Finally, the discussion focuses on potential post-election legislation, including the potential revival of the anti-discrimination bill, Cho Kuk’s plans to reform the Prosecutors' Office, upcoming defense cost negotiations with the U.S., and the possibility of tax credits for large businesses.

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 March 28, 2024. 

Audio edited by Joe Smith

On this week’s episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, we start by discussing the Seoul city bus drivers’ strike, which began just hours before our recording and ended just hours after we finished recording. The drivers demanded higher wages, and the strike marked the first in 12 years.

Next, we explore People Power Party interim leader Han Dong-hoon’s pledge to relocate the National Assembly from Seoul to Sejong City, the latest development in the government’s long-running “move-out-of-Seoul” campaign.

We then examine President Yoon Suk-yeol’s decision to temporarily halt his People’s Livelihood Debates until after the general elections to avoid accusations of election interference.

Next, we discuss South Korea’s ambassador to Australia Lee Jong-sup’s extended return to South Korea just days after being appointed to his post. He faces allegations of interfering with investigations into the death of a South Korean marine in July 2023. A day after we finished recording, Lee offered to resign to “strongly respond to [investigative] procedures.”

On the international front, we discuss the upcoming meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, which is expected to result in an upgrade to their mutual alliance. We consider the potential implications for South Korea, especially if Donald Trump is re-elected in Nov. 2024.

Finally, we cover the Korean Medical Association’s election of Lim Hyun-taek, a fierce critic of the Yoon administration’s decision to increase medical school admissions.

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 March 28, 2024. 

Audio edited by Joe Smith

This week on The Korea Pro Podcast, we begin by examining the evolving relationship between President Yoon Suk-yeol and People Power Party interim leader Han Dong-hoon. Their alternating displays of political partnership and discord, particularly over the controversial nomination of former defense minister Lee Jong-sup as ambassador to Australia and a presidential aide’s inappropriate sense of humor, have created an atmosphere of uncertainty and tension in their alliance.

On the progressive front, we discuss how Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung appears to have been caught off guard by the sudden rise in popularity of former justice minister Cho Kuk, potentially complicating their alliance and respective presidential aspirations.

Next, we shift our focus to Youngdeungpo, a district in Seoul often compared to Brooklyn, which has unexpectedly become a battleground in the upcoming general elections. We analyze President Yoon’s ambitious but possibly unrealistic urban renewal proposal for the district and whether or not it might have an impact on the race.

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 March 21, 2024. 

Audio edited by Joe Smith

This week on Korea Pro Podcast, we start by examining the case of a South Korean missionary charged with espionage in Russia and the potential fate that awaits him.

Next, we delve into the controversial nomination of a scandal-ridden former South Korean defense minister, Lee Jong-sup, currently under investigation for abuse of power, to serve as the country’s ambassador to Australia.

We then discuss South Korea’s role in hosting the upcoming Summit for Democracy and the potential reason the country was chosen to host the event despite democracy’s retreat in the country under the Yoon administration.

Shifting the focus to the upcoming general election, we explore the parties’ nomination processes and the official start of campaigning on March 28. We also shed light on some of South Korea’s more unusual campaign practices and problematic candidates, including a conservative who has expressed disdain for the country’s 1980s democratization movement, another conservative with no qualms about orgies and a progressive candidate who was snubbed despite primary voters’ support due to his status as a conscientious objector.

Finally, Jeongmin introduces her new analytical series: “Korea Insider” and “Election Watch.” This week, she profiles former justice minister Han Dong-hoon’s rise to political celebrity and analyzes the rise of former justice minister Cho Kuk’s new political party for her two series, respectively.

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 March 14, 2024. 

Audio edited by Joe Smith

This week on Korea Pro, we kick off the discussion with President Yoon Suk-yeol’s controversial youth policy and its implications amid accusations of populism ahead of the parliamentary elections.

The conversation then shifts to the strategic implications of the U.S. and South Korea hastening their defense cost-sharing negotiations, a move influenced by the looming possibility of Donald Trump’s return to the White House.

We also unpack the recent decision allowing nurses to perform certain tasks like CPR amid the country’s ongoing doctors’ strike, highlighting the irony in Yoon’s past veto of a bill that would have clarified nurses’ roles.

Finally, we analyze the trend within South Korea’s main opposition Democratic Party as it faces an exodus of high-profile lawmakers, shedding light on the potential ramifications for the party’s future and the upcoming general elections.

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 March 7, 2024. 

Audio edited by Joe Smith

This week, the Korea Pro team tackles a range of pressing issues. We start by examining the ongoing doctors’ strike and New Futures Party leader Lee Nak-yon’s strategic move toward the political center.

The episode also sheds light on what appears to be behind-the-scenes efforts for a compromise between the South Korean government and the Korean Medical Association. We delve into Lee Nak-yon’s efforts to position himself as a political centrist, spanning both domestic and international policy arenas.

Further, we discuss the Democratic Party’s internal conflicts and their potential impact on the party’s performance in the upcoming general elections. Lastly, we preview President Yoon Suk-yeol’s anticipated March 1 address and its possible implications.

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.

Stay informed, stay ahead and never miss a beat on Korean affairs that matter. Uploaded every Friday.

This episode was recorded on Feb. 28, 2024. 

Audio edited by Joe Smith

This week, the Korea Pro team delves into the disintegration of the New Reform Party, a previously promising political merger between key figures from the left and right, collapsing over leadership strife in just 11 days.

The episode then explores the repercussions of a nationwide doctors’ strike against government plans to increase medical student admissions, as well as a controversial incident at a recent graduation ceremony at KAIST, the “South Korean version of MIT,” where a progressive-party-affiliated student’s dissenting voice was forcibly silenced by presidential security staffers who gagged and dragged him out.

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.

Stay informed, stay ahead and never miss a beat on Korean affairs that matter. Uploaded every Friday.

This episode was recorded on Feb. 21, 2024. 

Audio edited by Joe Smith

In this week's episode, the Korea Pro team examines a significant political merger led by former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok and former prime minister and Democratic Party member Lee Nak-yon, aimed at reshaping South Korea's political landscape by targeting centrists and swing voters, as well as those tired of divisive politics.

The conversation then shifts to South Koreans' views on marriage, childbirth and egg freezing amid the country's record-low birthrate. Joined by Korea Pro news trainees Lina Park and Joon Ha Park, host Jeongmin Kim delves into how economic challenges, evolving societal norms and personal ambitions are prompting a reevaluation of traditional family concepts and the exploration of new paths to parenthood.

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.

Stay informed, stay ahead and never miss a beat on Korean affairs that matter. Uploaded every Friday.

This episode was recorded on Feb. 15, 2024.

Audio edited by Joe Smith

In this week’s episode on the Korea Pro Podcast, the Korea Pro team discusses the implications of South Korea’s sale of medium-altitude surface-to-air missiles (M-SAM) to Saudi Arabia, such as the deepening relations between the two countries and the potential use of the interceptors in the region's conflicts.

South Korean authorities also discovered that Indonesian engineers involved in the KF-21 joint fighter jet program attempted to steal classified information, exposing South Korea's security breaches.

Audio edited by Joe Smith