In this episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, co-hosts Jeongmin and John delve into the ongoing controversy surrounding Japan’s Sado mine, which was recently listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They discuss Japan’s rejection of South Korea’s request to acknowledge forced Korean labor at the mine and the potential political fallout for the Yoon administration’s foreign policy toward Japan. The hosts also explore the Democratic Party’s likely continued criticism of the government’s handling of the issue and the potential erosion of South Korean support for U.S.-ROK-Japan trilateral cooperation post-Yoon.

Shifting gears, Jeongmin explains the rare bipartisan push to amend South Korea’s outdated espionage laws, which have remained unchanged since 1953. While lawmakers claim the proposed bills aim to establish a South Korean version of the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act, Jeongmin notes the conspicuous absence of a registration clause and the adoption of broad, vague language that could excessively expand the definition of espionage. They also discuss the potential strain on South Korea’s international relations and a reported incident involving the leak of Hyundai Rotem’s K2 Black Panther tank technology to a rival South Korean company.

Looking ahead, Jeongmin and John highlight the upcoming National Liberation Day on Aug. 15, during which President Yoon Suk-yeol is expected to announce the country’s new reunification roadmap. They also preview the U.S.-South Korea Ulchi Freedom Shield military drill scheduled for the following week, noting that it will reportedly not include a North Korean nuclear attack scenario.

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 Aug. 8, 2024

Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson