KOREA PRO Podcast

Jan 23 2025 66 ep. 19 mins 58

KOREA PRO Podcast artwork

A weekly conversation about the most important news in politics, business, economy and society shaping South Korea right now. A quick, smart and to the point briefing hosted by KOREA PRO’s Jeongmin Kim and John Lee.

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Trump’s return, South Korea’s fiscal debate, and Yoon’s legal troubles — Ep. 59

Jan 23 2025 18 mins

In this episode, Jeongmin, John and Joon Ha discuss three key developments impacting South Korea’s political and economic landscape. First, Donald Trump has officially taken office as the 47th President of the United States. While South Korea was not mentioned in his inaugural address or his executive orders, his remarks about a potential review of the USMCA may hint at how his

Special episode: Rethinking Korea beyond the Washington consensus — Ep. 58

Jan 21 2025 46 mins

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, pr

Yoon’s arrest, Trump’s inauguration and South Korea’s dilemmas — Ep. 57

Jan 16 2025 20 mins

In this episode, Jeongmin and John analyze the arrest of President Yoon Suk-yeol, just 43 days after he declared martial law. They discuss the reported refusal of Presidential Security Service agents to follow orders to protect Yoon from arrest, the arrest of the PSS Acting Chief and Acting President Choi Sang-mok’s role in signaling a potential stand-down. The discussion then t

Trump’s Inauguration, nuclear deals and South Korea’s legal battles — Ep. 56

Jan 09 2025 14 mins

In this episode, the Korea Pro team dives into the currency fluctuations affecting South Korea’s economy and discusses the implications of the recently signed memorandum of understanding on nuclear energy exports. They also analyze the potential reintroduction of the special counsel investigation into Yoon’s martial law declaration and its implications for South Korea’s legal

Institutional rot and crisis: South Korea’s leadership vacuum — Ep. 55

Jan 02 2025 20 mins

In this episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, Jeongmin, John and Joon Ha analyze a turbulent week in South Korean politics. They begin with the appointment of Acting President Choi Sang-mok following Prime Minister Han Duck-soo’s impeachment last Friday, the plane crash at Muan International Airport over the weekend and Choi’s polarizing decisions to appoint only two Constitutional

Han’s impeachment showdown deepens South Korea’s political crisis — Ep. 54

Dec 26 2024 13 mins

In this episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, Jeongmin and John explore the mounting political crisis surrounding Acting President Han Duck-soo. The discussion begins with Han’s decision to delay appointing Constitutional Court justices until bipartisan agreement is reached, drawing sharp criticism from the opposition. The duo then unpacks the main opposition Democratic Party’s (D

Han Duck-soo vetoes bills as Fed rate cut roils South Korea’s economy — Ep. 53

Dec 19 2024 14 mins

In this episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, John and Joon Ha dive into revelations about the scale of South Korea’s Dec. 3 martial law operation. The hosts examine the deployment of over 1,500 troops armed with advanced weaponry, including sniper rifles and anti-drone guns, as well as the implications of over 10,000 rounds of ammunition being prepared. The team discusses public and

Yoon defends martial law as South Korea’s political crisis deepens — Ep. 52

Dec 12 2024 22 mins

In this episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, Jeongmin, John and Joon Ha dissect President Yoon Suk-yeol’s televised address defending his martial law declaration. The discussion begins with a detailed analysis of the president’s key arguments, including his revelations about election system vulnerabilities and accusations that the opposition Democratic Party has paralyzed state fu

South Korea’s martial law crisis and its fallout — Ep. 51

Dec 03 2024 38 mins

In this special joint episode for Korea Pro and NK News, Korea Pro’s editorial director Jeongmin Kim is joined by editor John Lee and junior news reporter Joon Ha Park to dissect South Korea’s unprecedented political turmoil. The team breaks down last night’s dramatic events, including President Yoon Suk-yeol’s martial law declaration, the military’s storming of the Nati

Special episode with Andrew Yeo: Trump 2.0 and alliance challenges — Ep. 50

Dec 02 2024 32 mins

In this special episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, Jeongmin sits down with Andrew Yeo to analyze the implications of a second Trump presidency for the U.S.-South Korea alliance. The discussion examines how South Korean policymakers might be preparing for various scenarios and their impact on regional security dynamics. The conversation delves into potential shifts in the U.S. Force