In this episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, co-hosts Jeongmin and John dive into South Korea’s latest policy challenges and social issues.

The discussion begins with an analysis of the recently approved 2025 budget proposal. Our hosts break down the winners and losers, highlighting increased support for high-tech sectors, healthcare and defense, while noting reduced allocations for public housing, infrastructure and regional spending.

The conversation then shifts to President Yoon Suk-yeol’s pension reform plans, aimed at addressing generational imbalances and ensuring the pension fund’s long-term sustainability. Jeongmin and John examine the proposed tiered premium rates designed to ease the burden on younger workers and the political context surrounding these reforms.

The hosts also touch on the recent passage of the bipartisan Nursing Act, which Yoon had previously vetoed, and its connection to the ongoing doctors’ strike over increased medical school admission quotas.

Lastly, Jeongmin and John discuss a deepfake pornography scandal that has rocked the nation, involving scores of men generating illicit images of women they know and using encrypted messaging apps to share such images.

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. 29, 2024

Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson