This week on Korea Pro, we kick off the discussion with President Yoon Suk-yeol’s controversial youth policy and its implications amid accusations of populism ahead of the parliamentary elections.

The conversation then shifts to the strategic implications of the U.S. and South Korea hastening their defense cost-sharing negotiations, a move influenced by the looming possibility of Donald Trump’s return to the White House.

We also unpack the recent decision allowing nurses to perform certain tasks like CPR amid the country’s ongoing doctors’ strike, highlighting the irony in Yoon’s past veto of a bill that would have clarified nurses’ roles.

Finally, we analyze the trend within South Korea’s main opposition Democratic Party as it faces an exodus of high-profile lawmakers, shedding light on the potential ramifications for the party’s future and the upcoming general elections.

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 March 7, 2024. 

Audio edited by Joe Smith