This special episode of The Korea Pro Podcast features a live recording from our latest Seoul Circuit event, held on Jan. 16, 2025. Unlike our usual 15-minute studio podcasts, this 45-minute discussion was moderated by Jeongmin, Korea Pro’s editorial director, over dinner and drinks.  

The event’s speakers included Chad O’Carroll, CEO of Korea Risk Group, and Mason Richey, professor of international politics at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, president of the Korea International Studies Association and editor-in-chief of The Journal of East Asian Affairs.  

Together, they explored the limitations of conventional Washington-centric perspectives — often referred to as “the Washington blob” — in analyzing Korean Peninsula issues. They discussed how geographical distance, institutional biases and regional complexities influence and sometimes distort global perceptions of South and North Korea.  

Tune in to this special episode for an engaging and nuanced conversation that challenges conventional wisdom about the Korean Peninsula.

While this episode features the moderated discussion, the Q&A session that followed was conducted under the Chatham House Rule and is not included here. For exclusive insights and the chance to engage directly with stakeholders in Seoul, consider joining our next Seoul Circuit event.

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 Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025.

Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson