w/ Prof. Song Se-ryun (Kyunghee University)

This week, Jang-Ho starts by looking back at President Lee Jae Myung's first month, including a press conference marking 30 days in office, signature achievements in passing a supplementary budget and real estate policies.

But then he discusses with Professor Song the uncertain future that the People Power Party and conservative politics in Korea faces after Yoon's impeachment and the election loss. Does the PPP and conservatism in its current form in Korea have a future?

For questions, suggestions and feedback, please email [email protected] 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ggJUSgR5hEVzmP906gnoS?si=6ftr7PNpTb6_1HJ2lt0QwQ⁠

Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/korean-politics-debrief/id1798237919⁠

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KoreanPoliticsDebrief⁠

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w/ Prof. Song Se-ryun, Kyunghee University

President Lee Jae Myung won the election by an eight-point margin, but uncertainty remains over what his presidency will bring.

In this first podcast since the 21st presidential election, we reflect on Lee's “comfortable” yet weaker-than-expected victory. We also examine his first weeks in office, particularly the legal and judicial developments that have already sparked early controversy.

00:00 - Intro

00:38 - Election result breakdown

05:40 - President Lee's first days in office

12:11 - Interview with Prof. Song Se-ryun

14:54 - What do you think of Korean politics?

28:01 - Election result reaction

39:47 - Assessment of Lee's first two weeks in office

44:40 - Controversy over Supreme Court reforms

49:32 - Controversy over court delays for Lee's trials

55:30 - Controversy over possible amendment to election law

61:15 - Controversy over three special prosecutor investigations

68:33 - Outro

For questions, suggestions and feedback, please email [email protected] 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ggJUSgR5hEVzmP906gnoS?si=6ftr7PNpTb6_1HJ2lt0QwQ⁠

Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/korean-politics-debrief/id1798237919⁠

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KoreanPoliticsDebrief⁠

#koreanpolitics #koreanpoliticsdebrief

0:00 - Intro

0:38 - No October Surprise

1:20 - TV debate 1 - Slow start

2:02 - TV debate 2 - Lee Jae-myung's wobble

2:50 - TV debate 3 - Lee Jun-seok sullies debates

3:38 - Dirtiest debates ever?

5:06 - Kwon Young-gook's unexpected highlight

6:17 - Lee Jun-seok's merger rejection

7:18 - What to look out for on election day: Turnout?

8:37 - Will Lee Jae-myung pass 50%?

10:30 - Will Kim Moon-soo be within 10% of Lee?

11:04 - Will Lee Jun-seok pass 10%?

11:45 - Will Kwon Young-gook 3%?

12:10 - When will the election be called?

12: 43 - Outro

For questions, suggestions and feedback, please email [email protected] 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ggJUSgR5hEVzmP906gnoS?si=6ftr7PNpTb6_1HJ2lt0QwQ⁠

Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/korean-politics-debrief/id1798237919⁠

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KoreanPoliticsDebrief⁠

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Jang-Ho looks back at an extraordinary few days in Korean politics, led by the People Power Party's attempt forcibly install former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo as the presidential candidate, despite former Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo winning the party primary. The saga involved public negotiations in front of the press, searching for loophole clauses in the party rules, a one-hour candidate registration window at 3AM, and a surprise party member poll.

We also cover Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung's reprieve from legal risks and New Reform Party Lee Jun-seok's dilemma.

For questions, suggestions and feedback, please email [email protected] 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ggJUSgR5hEVzmP906gnoS?si=6ftr7PNpTb6_1HJ2lt0QwQ⁠

Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/korean-politics-debrief/id1798237919⁠

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KoreanPoliticsDebrief⁠

#koreanpolitics #koreanpoliticsdebrief

w/ Jack Greenberg

Substack: https://ggachi.substack.com/

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/jackwgreenberg.bsky.social

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackwgreenberg/

May 1st was one of the craziest days in recent Korean political history. The Supreme Court overturned a lower court’s ruling in Lee Jae-myung’s election law violation case, Acting President Han Duck-soo resigned ahead of his presidential bid, and Acting Acting President Choi Sang-mok resigned after the DP tried to impeach him. This has now left Education Minister Lee Ju-ho as the Acting (x3) President. 

We start by unpacking the latest developments, before the interview with writer and researcher Jack Greenberg. We talk about his personal story and how he developed his interest in Korean history and politics. He then gives us his assessment of the current political situation. We finally talk about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, its achievements and shortcomings, as well as what lies ahead.

0:00:00 - Introduction: A Crazy Day In Korean Politics

0:01:55 - Supreme Court Overturns Lee Verdict

0:06:25 - Article 84 of the Constitution

0:09:14 - DP Attempts to Impeach Choi Sang-mok

0:11:10 - PPP Primary: Kim vs. Han

0:11:50 - Han Duck-soo’s Presidential Bid

0:16:10 - Jack Greenberg Interview

0:25:11 - Looking back at Yoon’s Presidency

0:31:03 - PPP Primary: Kim Moon-soo

0:35:33 - PPP Primary: Han Dong-hoon

0:37:47 - Han Duck-soo Wild Card

0:41:57 - President Lee Jae-myung?

0:49:25 - Truth and Reconciliation Commission

0:53:20 - TRC: Success or Failure?

0:56:26 - TRC's Uncertain Future

1:02:50 - Sabuk Incident

1:08:25 - Outro

For questions, suggestions and feedback, please email [email protected] 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ggJUSgR5hEVzmP906gnoS?si=6ftr7PNpTb6_1HJ2lt0QwQ⁠

Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/korean-politics-debrief/id1798237919⁠

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KoreanPoliticsDebrief⁠

#koreanpolitics #koreanpoliticsdebrief

w/ Michael Breen

Founder and CEO of Insight Communications

Author of 'The New Koreans: The Story of a Nation'

Fmr. Korea Correspondent for The Guardian, Washington Times

Fmr. President of Seoul Foreign Correspondents Club

Honorary Citizen of Seoul

First, Jang-Ho catches up on the latest in the presidential primaries, including the machinations to try and place Acting President Han Duck-soo as the conservative bloc candidate.

Then Jang-Ho talks to Michael Breen, looking back on his 40+ years in Korea. He shares with us stories about life as a foreign journalist in the 80's, his observations how Korea has changed, and how he views the recent political crisis.

For questions, suggestions and feedback, please email [email protected] 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ggJUSgR5hEVzmP906gnoS?si=6ftr7PNpTb6_1HJ2lt0QwQ⁠

Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/korean-politics-debrief/id1798237919⁠

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KoreanPoliticsDebrief⁠

#koreanpolitics #koreanpoliticsdebrief

w/ Jeongmin Kim (Korea Pro)

https://x.com/jeongminnkim

https://koreapro.org/

The nation has moved swiftly on from Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment and is now in election-mode. But for this week's podcast, we look back at the historic day with Jeongmin Kim, who was at the Constitutional Court. We discuss the decisive nature of the verdict, why there was no violent backlash from the Pro-Yoon supporters, and what comes next.

If you want to ask a question for the Listeners’ Questions section, please email [email protected] 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ggJUSgR5hEVzmP906gnoS?si=6ftr7PNpTb6_1HJ2lt0QwQ⁠

Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/korean-politics-debrief/id1798237919⁠

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KoreanPoliticsDebrief⁠

#koreanpolitics #koreanpoliticsdebrief

No interview this week, but a preview of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's impeachment ruling, and Jang-Ho's take on the latest developments.

00:00 - Intro

01:23 - Will the Constitutional Court uphold Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's impeachment?

06:57 - Will Acting-President Choi Sang-mok be impeached?

10:26 - When will President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment verdict be announced?

12:35 - Previewing Lee Jae-myung's appeals trial ruling

15:29 - Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's bad week

19:44 - Bipartisan Agreement on Pension Reform

If you want to ask a question for the Listeners’ Questions section, please email [email protected] 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ggJUSgR5hEVzmP906gnoS?si=6ftr7PNpTb6_1HJ2lt0QwQ⁠

Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/korean-politics-debrief/id1798237919⁠

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KoreanPoliticsDebrief⁠

#koreanpolitics #koreanpoliticsdebrief

w/ Raphael Rashid

https://bsky.app/profile/koryodynasty.bsky.social

https://x.com/koryodynasty

This week, as we continue to wait for the Constitutional Court's verdict on President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment, I am joined by freelance journalist Raphael Rashid, who has been reporting the martial law crisis extensively, interviewing people close to Yoon, and his supporters at the protests.

If you want to ask a question for the Listeners’ Questions section, please email [email protected] 

Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0ggJUSgR5hEVzmP906gnoS?si=6ftr7PNpTb6_1HJ2lt0QwQ⁠

Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/korean-politics-debrief/id1798237919⁠

YouTube:

⁠https://www.youtube.com/@KoreanPoliticsDebrief⁠

#koreanpolitics #koreanpoliticsdebrief

*pending President Yoon's impeachment

w/ Subin Kim

Author of Korea Kontext newsletter https://koreakontext.com/

Managing Editor of Pado

Korea Correspondent for Reporters Without Borders

Former Journalist of BBC World Service Korea

The South Korean political scene has been left in a tailspin following President Yoon Suk Yeol's unexpected release from detention. But the impeachment trial verdict is still expected to come within days, and President Yoon is still expected to be impeached.

With that in mind, in this episode we look ahead to the potential presidential election, the key contenders in the race, and see where the parties stand before the starting pistol is fired, and chaos of the race begins.

If you want to ask a question for the Listeners’ Questions section, please email [email protected] 

Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0ggJUSgR5hEVzmP906gnoS?si=6ftr7PNpTb6_1HJ2lt0QwQ⁠

Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/korean-politics-debrief/id1798237919⁠

YouTube:

⁠https://www.youtube.com/@KoreanPoliticsDebrief⁠

#koreanpoliticsdebrief