South Korean President Lee Jae-myung will meet President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday for their first summit, a high-stakes encounter following last month’s trade agreement that eased U.S. tariff pressures on Seoul. The meeting comes at a critical moment, as Seoul seeks to reaffirm its alliance with Washington while navigating domestic political pressures, shifting trade dynamics, and the challenges of an unpredictable American president. How will President Lee balance strengthening economic ties, avoiding confrontation over U.S. troop costs, and maintaining flexibility in dealing with North Korea and China? And can this pragmatic approach reshape the U.S.–Korea relationship for the years ahead?

In this episode, Paul Saunders speaks with Dr. Jae Ku, Senior Fellow for U.S.-Korea Relations at the Center for the National Interest. From 2007-2018, he served as the Director of the U.S.-Korea Institute at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, a research institute he co-founded. He was also the director of Freedom House’s Human Rights in North Korea Project, a Congressionally mandated international campaign under the North Korea Human Rights Act of 2004.

Music by Sonican from Pixabay.