In this episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, co-hosts Jeongmin and John delve into President Yoon Suk-yeol’s trip to the U.S. where he visited the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii and attended the NATO summit in Washington, D.C. They discuss Yoon’s bilateral meetings with various world leaders.

Next, the hosts analyze the labor ministry’s report on South Korea’s employment numbers reaching a 15-month high. John speculates that a significant portion of the numbers may be attributed to senior citizens seeking part-time employment, as the proportion of South Koreans above 65 years old approaches 19.51%, putting the country on the brink of becoming a super-aged society.

The discussion then shifts to the ongoing backlash faced by Han Dong-hoon, the former interim leader of the People Power Party, as he runs for the party’s leadership. The hosts touch upon reports of Han “ghosting” the first lady’s text messages and his attempts to distance himself from Yoon, which have been used against him by other leadership candidates.

Looking ahead, Jeongmin and John preview the upcoming impeachment hearings against President Yoon Suk-yeol, set to be unilaterally held by the opposition Democratic Party on July 19, coinciding with the first anniversary of a marine’s death that sparked allegations of interference in the investigation by top officials.

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 July 11, 2024 

Audio edited by Joe Smith