In this episode, Jeongmin, John and Joon Ha break down the latest twists in South Korea’s political and diplomatic landscape.

First, they analyze President Yoon Suk-yeol’s final defense in his impeachment trial, where he justified his martial law declaration as a “communication tool” to alert the public about national crises. The team examines whether this argument holds weight and what it signals about Yoon’s political strategy.

Next, they discuss growing tensions between South Korea and China after Beijing’s ambassador publicly warned against rising anti-China rhetoric in Seoul. With Yoon repeatedly accusing China of election interference, Beijing may be signaling its displeasure.

Finally, the team dissects former PPP leader Han Dong-hoon’s new memoir on Yoon’s martial law declaration. Han appears to be distancing himself from Yoon as a calculated move to reenter politics.

Plus, a look ahead at the Constitutional Court’s latest ruling on Acting President Choi Sang-mok’s justice appointments and what it means for South Korea’s political landscape.

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, Feb. 27, 2025.

Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson