KOREA PRO Podcast

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

In this episode, John and Joon Ha break down the biggest headlines in South Korean news this week.

First, they discuss the main opposition Democratic Party’s announcement that it plans to launch impeachment proceedings against Acting President Choi Sang-mok, citing Choi’s failure to appoint a Constitutional Court nominee. John and Joon Ha go into how this move could deepen political instability and increase market volatility as the country awaits the Constitutional Court’s ruling on President Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment.

Next, they analyze the U.S. Federal Reserve’s decision to hold rates steady, which has left the Bank of Korea (BOK) with limited policy options as household debt rises and the U.S.-Korea rate gap widens. John explains why the BOK faces a difficult balancing act between supporting domestic demand and preventing capital flight.

Finally, they cover South Korea’s decision to tighten anti-dumping measures on Chinese steel imports following the U.S.’s new tariffs on steel and aluminum. John explains how Beijing’s muted response reflects a strategic wait-and-see approach amid South Korea’s political uncertainty.

John and Joon Ha close by noting that the Constitutional Court will issue its ruling on former Acting President Han Duck-soo’s impeachment on Monday, which means that Yoon’s impeachment ruling may be announced next week.

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 20, 2025.

Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson

In this episode, John and Joon Ha break down the latest developments in South Korea.

First, they discuss reports that the U.S. is considering designating South Korea as a “sensitive country,” which could limit high-tech exports and tighten U.S. security controls on key industries. John explores how this move could disrupt South Korea’s semiconductor, AI and defense sectors and posits this move could be a trade negotiations tactic.

Next, they discuss U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest round of tariffs on steel and aluminum, which have hit South Korea hard. John explains how some in Seoul are downplaying these tariffs, which apply to every steel exporter, but that these tariffs may make South Korean exports less competitive than U.S. steel.

Then, Joon Ha analyzes the Constitutional Court’s decision to reject the impeachment of Board of Audit and Inspection Chair Choe Jae-hae and three prosecutors involved in the investigation of first lady Kim Keon-hee. He then explains how President Yoon Suk-yeol’s release from custody has galvanized protesters on both sides of the aisle as the Constitutional Court is expected to rule on Yoon’s impeachment in the coming days.

In the week ahead, John notes that all eyes will be on the Constitutional Court as Yoon and the rest of the country await his judgment.

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 13, 2025.

Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson

In this episode, Jeongmin hosts a joint Korea Pro-NK Pro briefing with Andrei Lankov and Jumin Lee to analyze the political and security implications of President Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment.

Andrei discusses how North Korea, now economically buoyed by Chinese and Russian support, views South Korean politics with growing indifference — unless Donald Trump revives sanctions relief talks. He explains why Pyongyang sees South Korea as a “broken ATM” and why North Korea is more focused on military and strategic gains from Russia than engaging with Seoul.

Jumin examines how a potential Lee Jae-myung presidency could reshape South Korea’s domestic and foreign policy. He argues that Lee is more politically pragmatic than his progressive predecessors, likely focusing on consolidating power at home while managing a complex relationship with both the U.S. and China.

The panel also explores how Trump’s second administration could change the U.S.-ROK alliance, the likelihood of renewed nuclear talks with North Korea and whether South Korea might pursue a more independent foreign policy in response to growing tensions with China and Russia.

Andrei Lankov is a Director at NK News and writes exclusively for the site as one of the world’s leading authorities on North Korea. A graduate of Leningrad State University, he attended Pyongyang's Kim Il Sung University from 1984 to 1985. In addition to his writing, he is also a Professor at Kookmin University.

Jumin Lee is a Korean trial attorney and former ROK Air Force officer. He is the author of a book that argues why South Korea needs an anti-discrimination law. He is based in Los Angeles.

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 Wednesday, March 5, 2025.

Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson

In this episode, Jeongmin, John and Joon Ha break down the latest developments shaping South Korea’s economy, defense, and diplomacy.

First, they discuss U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest trade salvo, where he falsely claimed that South Korea imposes tariffs on U.S. goods four times higher than vice versa. With Seoul issuing a strongly worded response, John discusses the ROK’s trade concerns with the U.S.

Next, Joon Ha analyzes the botched military exercise in Pocheon, where a South Korean KF-16 mistakenly dropped eight MK-82 bombs outside a designated training zone, injuring 15 civilians and damaging multiple buildings.

Finally, the team examines South Korea’s latest inflation figures, which show the Consumer Price Index slowing to 2.0% in February, yet the Life Cost Index rising to 2.6% — suggesting that everyday expenses still feel high for consumers.

In the week ahead, Jeongmin mentions that the Constitutional Court may issue its ruling on President Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment.

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 6, 2025.

Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson