KOREA PRO Podcast

This week’s episode begins with the economic and political ripple effects of escalating conflict in the Middle East. For South Korea, which imports nearly all of its energy, the spike has triggered emergency discussions in Seoul with President Lee Jae Myung proposing temporary price ceilings on energy to shield consumers, though the policy could shift costs onto industry. 

The hosts also examine security implications tied to the Middle East conflict. Reports suggest some U.S. missile defense assets stationed in South Korea — including Patriot interceptors and possibly THAAD components — may be redeployed to support operations elsewhere. 

Another major topic is Washington’s move to launch trade investigations under Section 301 after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling limited the Trump administration’s tariff powers. The new investigations will examine whether trade practices among major U.S. partners — including South Korea — disadvantage American companies. 

Finally, the podcast looks ahead to South Korea’s June local elections, widely seen as the first major political test for the Lee administration.

About the podcast: The Korea Pro Podcast is a weekly conversation hosted by Korea Risk Group Executive Director Jeongmin Kim, Managing Editor John Lee and correspondent Joon Ha Park, delivering deep, clear analysis of South Korean politics, diplomacy, security, society and technology for professionals who need more than headlines. Uploaded every Friday.

This episode was recorded on Thursday, March 12th, 2026.

Audio edited by Alannah Hill

On this week’s episode, the team unpacks how the sudden escalation in the Middle East is reverberating in Seoul. They break down the U.S. and Israel’s strikes on Iran and the ensuing missile and drone attacks across the Gulf, then turn to the immediate questions for South Korea: energy security, shipping risk and market volatility tied to the Strait of Hormuz. 

They also discuss President Lee Jae Myung’s emergency response, including a 100 trillion won market-stabilization package, possible steps to curb fuel-price gouging and efforts to shore up oil and gas supplies, while weighing how long South Korea’s reserves might last if disruption drags on.

The episode then shifts to key developments at home: the government’s long-delayed decision to allow Google to export high-definition map data under conditions shaped by security concerns and U.S. trade pressure, and renewed friction in the alliance after a contentious U.S. aerial drill near sensitive airspace and conflicting accounts over whether an apology was issued. 

About the podcast: The Korea Pro Podcast is a weekly conversation hosted by Korea Risk Group Executive Director Jeongmin Kim, Managing Editor John Lee and correspondent Joon Ha Park, delivering deep, clear analysis of South Korean politics, diplomacy, security, society and technology for professionals who need more than headlines. Uploaded every Friday.

This episode was recorded on Thursday, March 5th, 2026.

Audio edited by Alannah Hill

NK News Data Correspondent Anton Sokolin joins this week’s episode to discuss the recent controversy around the Russian Embassy in Seoul displaying a large “Victory will be Ours” banner as the fourth anniversary of the Ukraine war approached. 

The episode then pivots to a bigger question: how much Russia actually cares about South Korea. Anton explains how Korea has long held importance in Russian foreign policy, even if the current moment is skewed toward Pyongyang due to the Russia–North Korea strategic partnership and wartime alignment. 

John and Anton also dig into the practical side of “hedging” in Seoul’s Russia policy: South Korea’s sanctions alignment with the West alongside continued trade in non-sanctioned areas and companies’ attempts to keep options open for a postwar return. 

A major forward-looking thread is the Northern Sea Route. Anton explains the appeal for South Korea of shipping containers via the Arctic to cut transit time to European ports like Rotterdam, and why Russia’s nuclear-powered icebreaker fleet is central to the route. 

About the podcast: The Korea Pro Podcast is a weekly conversation hosted by Korea Risk Group Executive Director Jeongmin Kim, Managing Editor John Lee and correspondent Joon Ha Park, delivering deep, clear analysis of South Korean politics, diplomacy, security, society and technology for professionals who need more than headlines. Uploaded every Friday.

This episode was recorded on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026.

Audio edited by Alannah Hill

In this week’s episode, the team unpacks the landmark court ruling that sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to life in prison for his role in the Dec. 2024 martial law decree. They also examine the broader political implications, reactions from the ruling Democratic Party and the main opposition People Power Party and what risks may lie ahead for South Korea’s conservative bloc.

The conversation then shifts to trade with South Korea slipping from fourth to ninth place in U.S. import rankings in 2025, largely due to tariffs and weaker performance in sectors such as automobiles and steel, even as soaring semiconductor prices have buoyed overall trade figures. 

Jeongmin also shares insights from the Munich Security Conference, where she attended as the only Korean participant. She reflects on South Korea’s limited official presence, the growing importance of supply chain and security discussions among global stakeholders and the opportunities Seoul may be missing in high-level diplomatic and industry forums.

Looking ahead, the team previews Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s upcoming visit to Seoul, potential areas of cooperation including trade and supply chains, as well as the People Power Party’s reported plans to rebrand.

About the podcast: The Korea Pro Podcast is a weekly conversation hosted by Korea Risk Group Executive Director Jeongmin Kim, Managing Editor John Lee and correspondent Joon Ha Park, delivering deep, clear analysis of South Korean politics, diplomacy, security, society and technology for professionals who need more than headlines. Uploaded every Friday.

This episode was recorded on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026.

Audio edited by Alannah Hill

In this week’s episode, NK News’ Lead Correspondent Shreyas Reddy joins John Lee. They  discuss Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party’s landslide victory, delivering a two-thirds parliamentary supermajority that could pave the way for long-sought constitutional revisions. They delve into how uncertainty surrounding U.S. foreign policy and alliance commitments is influencing both Seoul and Tokyo as they reassess defense self-sufficiency and trilateral cooperation.

The episode also covers South Korea’s expanding defense partnership with Saudi Arabia, where a new memorandum of understanding signals a shift from one-off arms sales to longer-term joint research and development. The pair discuss how deeper industrial cooperation aligns with Riyadh’s localization goals under Vision 2030 and Seoul’s ambition to solidify its position in the Middle East, while also considering potential friction with U.S. defense exporters.

Shifting to domestic politics, the episode examines contentious judicial reform proposals in South Korea’s National Assembly. Lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Party are advancing plans to expand the Supreme Court and adjust the relationship between the Supreme Court and Constitutional Court. 

The episode concludes with a look at the week ahead, including legislative maneuvering before the Lunar New Year holiday, continued developments surrounding U.S. tariff discussions and the unfolding Coupang saga. 

About the podcast: The Korea Pro Podcast is a weekly conversation hosted by Korea Risk Group Executive Director Jeongmin Kim, Managing Editor John Lee and correspondent Joon Ha Park, delivering deep, clear analysis of South Korean politics, diplomacy, security, society and technology for professionals who need more than headlines. Uploaded every Friday.

This episode was recorded on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.

Audio edited by Alannah Hill

In this week’s episode, the Korea Pro team unpacks the Washington meeting between ROK Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which they describe as productive on alliance priorities like civil nuclear cooperation, shipbuilding and broader strategic coordination. But they contrast that with far tougher parallel meetings on trade, where South Korean officials reportedly came away with no concrete outcomes and ongoing disagreement over how to implement bilateral commitments.

The conversation then shifts to critical minerals and the launch of the Forum on Resource Geostrategic Engagement, or FORGE, which replaces the earlier Mineral Security Partnership framework with a more operational model focused on financing, price stability and enforcement tools such as adjustable tariffs. 

On U.S. economic policy, the hosts discuss Kevin Warsh’s nomination to lead the Federal Reserve. They also break down South Korea’s return to the U.S. foreign-exchange monitoring list, emphasizing that this was framed around Korea’s large current-account and bilateral trade surpluses rather than currency manipulation. 

The team also previews expected government follow-up measures ahead of the May 9 end of temporary tax relief for multi-home owners and flag major media-industry news: Washington Post layoffs and the closure of its Seoul hub.

About the podcast: The Korea Pro Podcast is a weekly conversation hosted by Korea Risk Group Executive Director Jeongmin Kim, Managing Editor John Lee and correspondent Joon Ha Park, delivering deep, clear analysis of South Korean politics, diplomacy, security, society and technology for professionals who need more than headlines. Uploaded every Friday.

This episode was recorded on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026.

Audio edited by Alannah Hill

In this week’s episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, Jeongmin, John and Joon Ha unpack a turbulent week dominated by renewed tariff tensions between the U.S. and South Korea. After President Donald Trump threatened to raise tariffs back to 25% over the South Korean National Assembly’s failure to ratify a previously announced agreement, they discuss the fallout in Seoul, confusion within the Blue House and growing friction surrounding South Korea’s proposed digital platform regulation. 

The conversation then broadens to questions of sovereignty, legislative authority and political optics, as domestic partisan clashes intensify and the president criticizes parliamentary gridlock. They also delve into international criticism of South Korea’s revised Network Act, often referred to as the “anti-fake news” law, and the implications for press freedom and investigative journalism

Shifting gears, the episode covers South Korea’s high-stakes bid for Canada’s next-generation patrol submarines, a deal that could be worth more than $70 billion when lifecycle costs are included. The team explains why Seoul is mounting an all-out government-and-industry push, how Ottawa appears to be linking defense procurement with broader industrial cooperation, and what’s at stake if the bid ultimately goes to Germany instead.

The episode wraps up with updates from domestic politics, including developments involving special prosecutors, unpaid severance pay investigations and escalating turmoil within the main opposition People Power Party following the expulsion of former leader Han Dong-hoon. 

About the podcast: The Korea Pro Podcast is a weekly conversation hosted by Korea Risk Group Executive Director Jeongmin Kim, Managing Editor John Lee and correspondent Joon Ha Park, delivering deep, clear analysis of South Korean politics, diplomacy, security, society and technology for professionals who need more than headlines. Uploaded every Friday.

This episode was recorded on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026.

Audio edited by Alannah Hill

At Korea Pro’s first Seoul Circuit dinner of the year this month, Peck Cho joined Managing Editor John Lee for a wide-ranging conversation on South Korea’s “happiness paradox” — why life satisfaction has stagnated despite rising wealth, safety and global influence.

The discussion examined how purpose, independence and social trust have eroded amid job precarity, hyper-connectivity and changing family and community structures, and why these pressures are being felt most acutely by younger generations.

In this episode, we share the moderated portion of the event.

About the podcast: The Korea Pro Podcast is a weekly conversation hosted by Korea Risk Group Executive Director Jeongmin Kim, Managing Editor John Lee and correspondent Joon Ha Park, 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 Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026.

Audio edited by Alannah Hill

In this week’s episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, Jeongmin, John and Joon Ha begin with South Korean prosecutors’ request for the death sentence for former President Yoon Suk Yeol over his Dec. 2024 martial law decree. The hosts assess why, despite the severity of the charge, the likelihood of an actual death penalty ruling remains low and what the case signals about prosecutorial strategy, judicial precedent and political risk management ahead of a February verdict.

The discussion then turns to President Lee Jae Myung’s summit with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The team examines the substance of their agreement on North Korean denuclearization and supply-chain cooperation at a time of deteriorating Japan-China relations, as well as the unexpectedly warm personal dynamics between the two leaders — a sharp contrast to initial expectations.

Attention next moves to the Bank of Korea’s (BOK) decision to hold interest rates at 2.5% for a fifth consecutive meeting. John explains how won volatility and rising real estate prices in Seoul are constraining the central bank’s policy flexibility, limiting its ability to ease without triggering further capital outflows or asset-price pressures.

The episode also unpacks why BOK Governor Rhee Chang-yong signed an open letter backing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and the Fed’s independence, and what that signal reveals about global concerns over political pressure on monetary authorities.

The conversation concludes with a look ahead to the coming week, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s upcoming visit to South Korea — the first by an Italian leader in nearly two decades — and continued uncertainty surrounding the U.S. Supreme Court’s pending ruling on the constitutionality of President Donald Trump’s “reciprocal” tariffs, a decision with direct implications for South Korea and other U.S. trade partners.

About the podcast: The Korea Pro Podcast is a weekly conversation hosted by Korea Risk Group Executive Director Jeongmin Kim, Managing Editor John Lee and correspondent Joon Ha Park, delivering deep, clear analysis of South Korean politics, diplomacy, security, society and technology for professionals who need more than headlines. Uploaded every Friday.

This episode was recorded on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026.

Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson

In this week’s episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, John and Joon Ha open with a breakdown of the Lee-Xi summit in Beijing. The hosts assess Lee’s request for China to act as a mediator in stalled inter-Korean nuclear talks, the different narratives that have emerged about the summit and examine Seoul’s claim that Beijing agreed to remove a controversial steel structure from the Yellow Sea.

The conversation then turns to South Korea’s domestic political response to the U.S. military operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of President Nicolas Maduro. John and Joon Ha explore how calls for de-escalation from Seoul, along with public condemnation from some Democratic Party lawmakers and Rebuilding Korea Party leader Cho Kuk, reflect unease over opaque U.S. executive action taken without congressional approval or allied consultation.

The episode also revisits Joon Ha’s recent analysis on Thailand’s use of a South Korean trainer jet to strike targets in Cambodia. The hosts compare Seoul’s restrained response with past cases involving the Philippines, Saudi Arabia and Ukraine, and discuss the diplomatic, legal and reputational risks for South Korea.

The discussion concludes with a look ahead to the coming week, including Lee’s expected meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, signals sent by Lee’s historical messaging while in China and key domestic political developments such as the Democratic Party’s upcoming floor leader election and a likely National Assembly plenary session.

About the podcast: The Korea Pro Podcast is a weekly conversation hosted by Korea Risk Group Executive Director Jeongmin Kim, Managing Editor John Lee and correspondent Joon Ha Park, delivering deep, clear analysis of South Korean politics, diplomacy, security, society and technology for professionals who need more than headlines. Uploaded every Friday.

This episode was recorded on Friday, Jan. 8, 2026.

Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson