In this week’s episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, co-hosts Jeongmin and John discuss recent developments in South Korea-Japan relations, focusing on the tech leak that compromised hundreds of thousands of Japanese personal data. They also discuss Japan’s push to force out Naver, a South Korean tech portal company, from its partnership with Japan’s SoftBank in the wake of the incident.

The duo also explores the challenges South Korea faces in potentially joining AUKUS Pillar 2, which focuses on developing advanced capabilities and sharing technology among member nations. Jeongmin and John analyze Seoul’s task of demonstrating its capacity and commitment to improving information security, a key factor in being considered for collaboration under Pillar 2.

Additionally, the co-hosts delve into the key takeaways from South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol’s first press briefing in 21 months. They examine Yoon’s conditional willingness to support a special investigation into the death of a South Korean marine last year and his firm stance against reopening the investigation into the first lady’s alleged stock manipulation.

Jeongmin and John also discuss Yoon’s diplomatic sidestep when asked about the potential return of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency, as well as his plans to tackle the country’s low birth rate through a new ministry and his push for controversial tax reforms, which are expected to face fierce opposition.

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 May 9, 2024. 

Audio edited by Joe Smith