In this week’s episode, Jeongmin and Joon Ha analyze the chaotic weekend that led to Kim Moon-soo becoming the People Power Party’s presidential candidate after a dramatic series of reversals. Jeongmin breaks down an overnight decision by the PPP leadership to retract Kim’s candidacy, followed by a party poll that ultimately reinstated him after Han Duck-soo’s withdrawal.

The duo then explores the newly released ten-point policy visions of the three main presidential candidates, with Lee Jae-myung emphasizing post-crisis recovery and state-led technological sector innovation, Kim Moon-soo focusing on pro-business deregulation and stronger national defense, and minor candidate Lee Jun-seok positioning himself as a reformer for younger generations.

The team also unpacks the recent temporary agreement between the U.S. and China to dramatically reduce tariffs for a 90-day window and the South Korean officials’ cautious response amid ongoing global trade uncertainties. They look ahead to the upcoming presidential debates and other election-related schedules throughout the rest of May, building up until 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 (@jeongminnkim), Editor John Lee (@koreanforeigner) and correspondent Joon Ha Park (@joonhawrites), 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 15, 2025.

Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson

In this week’s episode, Jeongmin and Joon Ha dive into the fissure within the ruling People Power Party as presidential nominee Kim Moon-soo files a court injunction to block party efforts to replace him, accusing leaders of coercion to merge his candidacy with former Acting President Han Duck-soo. Kim has threatened to form a surprise “big tent” alliance with unexpected political figures, reportedly including former Justice Party leader Sim Sang-jeung, if dropped.

The duo also unpacks the Seoul High Court’s decision to delay Democratic Party nominee Lee Jae-myung’s retrial, giving him a clear pathway to the presidency. They break down the Czech court’s injunction against Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power’s $18 billion nuclear deal, and the duo look ahead to the Taeguk military exercise, campaign rallies and possible TV debates.

About the podcast: The Korea Pro Podcast is a weekly 15-minute conversation hosted by Korea Risk Group Executive Director Jeongmin Kim (@jeongminnkim), Editor John Lee (@koreanforeigner) and correspondent Joon Ha Park (@joonhawrites), 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 8, 2025.

Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson

At Korea Pro’s April Seoul Circuit dinner, essayist Colin Marshall (No Summarizing Korea) led a wide-ranging discussion on the complexities of South Korean political identity. Drawing from years of observation, Marshall explored how the country’s ideological divisions often defy Western left-right frameworks.

In this episode, we share the moderated portion of the event. The Q&A session has been omitted, as it took place under Chatham House Rule.

About the podcast: The Korea Pro Podcast is a weekly 15-minute conversation hosted by Korea Risk Group Executive 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 Wednesday, April 30, 2025.

Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson

This week’s episode opens with Jeongmin walking us through a rollercoaster week in South Korean politics. Former Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung secured the party’s presidential nomination over former Gyeonggi governor Kim Dong-yeon last week, while the People Power Party (PPP) narrowed its primary field to former party leader Han Dong-hoon and former labor minister Kim Moon-soo.

The team then breaks down the dramatic sequence that followed: a surprise Supreme Court ruling in Lee’s election law case, and — just one hour later — Acting President Han Duck-soo’s resignation and public address, setting the stage for his own presidential run.

They then discuss key implications from the week’s political chaos, including the National Assembly’s surprise bipartisan agreement on a supplementary budget and the potential for the eventual PPP nominee to form an alliance with Han.

John discusses the cyber attack that has struck SK Telecom, affecting 23 to 25 million users whose identities may have been compromised.

Finally, the trio looks ahead to a critical deadline on May 3, when the PPP will decide which of its final two contenders will be its nominee for the presidential election, and previews the fast-approaching May 11 candidate registration deadline.

About the podcast: The Korea Pro Podcast is a weekly 15-minute conversation hosted by Korea Risk Group Executive 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, May 1, 2025.

Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson

In this week’s episode, Jeongmin opens with her analysis of South Korea’s shifting voter blocs, where former Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung’s “centrist” repositioning has expanded his lead ahead of the snap presidential election.

Jeongmin and Joon Ha then break down the legal and political aftershocks of former President Moon Jae-in’s indictment for alleged bribery, and assess the People Power Party’s decision to narrow its primary field to four contenders.

Jeongmin and John follow with a wide-ranging discussion on the region’s changing security landscape — from Japan’s “one theater” concept to China’s new fixed platform in the Yellow Sea, to Washington quietly shifting U.S. Forces Korea’s mission.

Finally, Jeongmin looks ahead to next week’s key developments in the race, including the two main parties’ selection of their respective nominees for the upcoming presidential election.

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, April 24, 2025.

Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson

In this week’s episode, John breaks down the global economic and political turbulence sparked by Donald Trump’s on-again, off-again tariff policies. As Washington wavers between imposing, pausing, withdrawing and threatening new tariffs, several countries — including South Korea — have begun bilateral talks to seek exemptions. John explains how the resulting uncertainty is paralyzing corporate investment and destabilizing markets.

Then, Jeongmin and Joon Ha walk listeners through the latest developments in South Korea’s snap presidential election. The ruling People Power Party has narrowed its candidate pool from 11 to eight, while the Democratic Party faces an uphill battle to present a viable challenge to Lee Jae-myung’s overwhelming lead.

The team also discusses the U.S. Department of Energy’s inclusion of South Korea on its list of sensitive countries, and what the South Korean government might be able to do about it going forward.

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, April 17, 2025.

Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson

In this week’s episode, Jeongmin, John and Joon Ha unpack a dramatic week in South Korea’s economic and political landscape.

They begin with U.S. President Donald Trump’s abrupt reversal on “reciprocal tariffs,” which briefly calmed global markets on Thursday but left South Korea bracing for more uncertainty. John explains how bond yields, stock prices and investor sentiment all flashed warning signs before Trump hit pause.

The trio then turns to South Korea’s fast-moving presidential race, now officially underway after last week’s Constitutional Court decision to uphold former President Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment. With public officials required to resign 30 days before party primaries, major political figures are stepping forward — including Lee Jae-myung, Kim Moon-soo and Ahn Cheol-soo — with more expected to join in the days ahead.

Finally, they preview a key date on the calendar: April 15, when the U.S. Department of Energy will formally designate South Korea as a “sensitive country,” a move that could reshape bilateral energy cooperation and tech export controls.

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, April 10, 2025.

Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson

In this special episode, Jeongmin hosts professors Erik Mobrand and Cho Hee-kyung for a quick-fire Korea Pro briefing analyzing the historic Constitutional Court ruling on Friday that removed President Yoon Suk-yeol from office — making him the second South Korean president impeached and removed by the court.

Jeongmin kicks off with a comprehensive 10-minute summary of the Constitutional Court’s ruling, detailing how the justices unanimously voted to uphold Yoon’s impeachment and explaining the language they used in their decisive verdict. 

Jeongmin summarizes the court’s extensive deliberation process, and outlines how the justices structured their evaluation around five specific grounds for impeachment. She explains how the court comprehensively rejected almost all of Yoon’s defenses, including his claim that the martial law was merely a “warning” or a “plea” with no legal basis in the constitution.

Professor Cho explains the reasons behind the court’s unanimous ruling and the political context behind the decision’s delay. She discusses how the timing may have been influenced by the appellate court’s March decision to acquit main opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung of his election law violation conviction, along with how the justices evaluated contested witness testimony and hearsay evidence differently than in a criminal proceeding.

Professor Mobrand examines the political implications of Yoon’s removal, arguing that the democratic resilience shown by ordinary citizens created a powerful check on executive overreach. He challenges the framing of South Korea’s society as simply “polarized,” suggesting that specific politicians have deliberately exacerbated divisions rather than this reflecting deep societal rifts.

The panel explores why the military largely refused to fully implement Yoon’s martial law orders, institutional weaknesses exposed by this constitutional crisis, and what reforms are most urgently needed — including reducing concentrated power in the presidential office and prosecutorial authority.

Erik Mobrand is a professor of Korean Studies at Seoul National University’s Graduate School of International Studies, an expert on political transformation in Korea with a focus on the interplay of informal power and formal institutions.

Cho Hee-kyung is a professor at Hongik University’s College of Law whose research spans international economic law, intellectual property, human rights and media law.

Editor’s Note: During the discussion, Professor Cho referred to the appellate Seoul High Court that handed down the verdict on opposition leader Lee Jae-myung on March 26 erroneously as the Supreme Court. This clarification has been noted for accuracy.

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 the night of Friday, April 4, 2025.

Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson

In this week’s episode, Jeongmin, John and Joon Ha dive into another turbulent week for South Korea’s politics and economy.

They start with U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest trade policy: a 10% “baseline” tariff on all countries, combined with “reciprocal” tariffs on many trade partners. South Korea was hit particularly hard with a 26% rate, leading to a dip in local markets.

Next, they unpack the results of South Korea’s recent by-elections, where progressive parties came out on top. Despite fierce competition between the main opposition Democratic Party and the minor opposition Rebuilding Korea Party, the ruling People Power Party suffered major losses — a setback partly attributed to Yoon’s impeachment hearing and the government’s response to recent wildfires.

They also discuss the Constitutional Court’s announcement that it will issue its ruling on Yoon’s impeachment on Friday, April 4. The decision comes after a prolonged deliberation period, raising questions about possible divisions among the justices.

Looking ahead, as South Korea braces for social unrest regardless of the ruling, Korea Pro will hold a public webinar just hours after the Constitutional Court’s Friday ruling to break down the verdict and its implications for the country. Listeners can RSVP at events.koreapro.org.

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, April 3, 2025.

Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson

In this week’s episode, Jeongmin, John and Joon Ha break down a dramatic week in South Korean politics, trade and disaster response.

They begin with the Constitutional Court’s decision to reinstate Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, reversing his December impeachment. The ruling found Han’s failure to appoint Constitutional Court justices unconstitutional — but not impeachable.

Next, the trio discusses the Seoul High Court’s acquittal of main opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung on election law charges. With prosecutors appealing the case to the Supreme Court and the presidential race heating up, they assess how the ruling all but secures Lee’s path to the presidency.

Then they unpack U.S. President Donald Trump’s sweeping 25% tariff on all autos and parts, citing national security to sidestep trade deals like the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement. They break down what this means for South Korea’s trade relations with the U.S. and how firms like Hyundai and Korean Air are scrambling to safeguard U.S. market access with massive investment and purchase pledges.

Finally, they turn to the worst wildfire in South Korea’s history. With at least 27 people dead, historical landmarks destroyed and vast farmland scorched, the fire has exposed the nation’s demographic vulnerabilities — including senior firefighters battling relentless flames — and raised urgent questions about the state of rural infrastructure and long-term agricultural recovery.

Looking ahead: South Korea is set to resume short selling on March 31, and the U.S. will unveil its new “reciprocal tariffs” policy on April 2.

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, March 27, 2025.

Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson