In this episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, co-hosts Jeongmin and John delve into the ongoing fallout from the indictment of Sue Mi Terry, a former CIA analyst and White House official. They discuss how this case has ignited a political firestorm between the ruling People Power Party (PPP) and the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), with both sides trading accusations about their interactions with Terry.

The conversation then shifts to a legislative proposal by DP lawmaker Park Sun-won. Park has suggested amending South Korea’s Criminal Act to introduce a law similar to the U.S. Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA). This proposed amendment aims to broaden the scope of the current law, which only addresses espionage related to “enemy states” (specifically North Korea), to include friendly nations and quasi-enemy states.

Jeongmin and John provide an in-depth analysis of the potential implications of this proposed law. They explore how such legislation could impact various sectors, including universities, think tanks, and businesses. The hosts weigh the pros and cons of implementing a FARA-like law in South Korea, considering the country’s geopolitical position and its relationships with various international actors.

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 26, 2024 

Audio edited by Joe Smith