KOREA PRO Podcast

In this week’s episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, Jeongmin, John and Joon Ha begin with South Korean prosecutors’ request for the death sentence for former President Yoon Suk Yeol over his Dec. 2024 martial law decree. The hosts assess why, despite the severity of the charge, the likelihood of an actual death penalty ruling remains low and what the case signals about prosecutorial strategy, judicial precedent and political risk management ahead of a February verdict. The discussion then turns to President Lee Jae Myung’s summit with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The team examines the substance of their agreement on North Korean denuclearization and supply-chain cooperation at a time of deteriorating Japan-China relations, as well as the unexpectedly warm personal dynamics between the two leaders — a sharp contrast to initial expectations. Attention next moves to the Bank of Korea’s (BOK) decision to hold interest rates at 2.5% for a fifth consecutive meeting. John explains how won volatility and rising real estate prices in Seoul are constraining the central bank’s policy flexibility, limiting its ability to ease without triggering further capital outflows or asset-price pressures. The episode also unpacks why BOK Governor Rhee Chang-yong signed an open letter backing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and the Fed’s independence, and what that signal reveals about global concerns over political pressure on monetary authorities. The conversation concludes with a look ahead to the coming week, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s upcoming visit to South Korea — the first by an Italian leader in nearly two decades — and continued uncertainty surrounding the U.S. Supreme Court’s pending ruling on the constitutionality of President Donald Trump’s “reciprocal” tariffs, a decision with direct implications for South Korea and other U.S. trade partners. About the podcast: The Korea Pro Podcast is a weekly conversation hosted by Korea Risk Group Executive Director Jeongmin Kim, Managing Editor John Lee and correspondent Joon Ha Park, delivering deep, clear analysis of South Korean politics, diplomacy, security, society and technology for professionals who need more than headlines. Uploaded every Friday. This episode was recorded on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson

In this week’s episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, John and Joon Ha open with a breakdown of the Lee-Xi summit in Beijing. The hosts assess Lee’s request for China to act as a mediator in stalled inter-Korean nuclear talks, the different narratives that have emerged about the summit and examine Seoul’s claim that Beijing agreed to remove a controversial steel structure from the Yellow Sea. The conversation then turns to South Korea’s domestic political response to the U.S. military operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of President Nicolas Maduro. John and Joon Ha explore how calls for de-escalation from Seoul, along with public condemnation from some Democratic Party lawmakers and Rebuilding Korea Party leader Cho Kuk, reflect unease over opaque U.S. executive action taken without congressional approval or allied consultation. The episode also revisits Joon Ha’s recent analysis on Thailand’s use of a South Korean trainer jet to strike targets in Cambodia. The hosts compare Seoul’s restrained response with past cases involving the Philippines, Saudi Arabia and Ukraine, and discuss the diplomatic, legal and reputational risks for South Korea. The discussion concludes with a look ahead to the coming week, including Lee’s expected meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, signals sent by Lee’s historical messaging while in China and key domestic political developments such as the Democratic Party’s upcoming floor leader election and a likely National Assembly plenary session. About the podcast: The Korea Pro Podcast is a weekly conversation hosted by Korea Risk Group Executive Director Jeongmin Kim, Managing Editor John Lee and correspondent Joon Ha Park, delivering deep, clear analysis of South Korean politics, diplomacy, security, society and technology for professionals who need more than headlines. Uploaded every Friday. This episode was recorded on Friday, Jan. 8, 2026. Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson

In this week’s episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, Jeongmin, John and Joon Ha examine how leadership changes, security signaling and headline economic data are reshaping South Korea’s policy narrative at the start of 2026. The episode opens with an internal milestone at Korea Pro, as Jeongmin announces John’s promotion to managing editor. John invites listeners to submit new pitch ideas as Korea Pro broadens its analytical coverage. The discussion then turns to President Lee Jae Myung’s New Year address. Joon Ha unpacks the national security dimensions of the speech, while John focuses on Lee’s emphasis on industrial accidents, workplace safety and the political implications of framing economic growth through risk prevention. From there, the hosts assess developments in alliance management, revisiting last year’s postponement of parts of the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises and the decision by Washington and Seoul to complete the full slate of drills before the end of 2025. The conversation shifts to trade data, where South Korea’s record $709 billion export figure for 2025 is put under scrutiny. John challenges the government narrative by highlighting the gap between export value growth and weak export volume expansion. The episode also examines the political fallout from President Lee’s appointment of Lee Hye-hoon as the inaugural minister of the new Ministry of Planning and Budget, tracing her cross-camp political history and explaining why her nomination has drawn criticism from both the ruling Democratic Party and the main opposition People Power Party. The episode concludes with a rapid-fire domestic political update, including the Democratic Party exit of Kang Sun-woo amid bribery allegations, the resignation of former floor leader Kim Byung-kee over abuse-of-power claims, and a look ahead to President Lee’s upcoming visit to Beijing for talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. About the podcast: The Korea Pro Podcast is a weekly conversation hosted by Korea Risk Group Executive Director Jeongmin Kim, Managing Editor John Lee and correspondent Joon Ha Park, delivering deep, clear analysis of South Korean politics, diplomacy, security, society and technology for professionals who need more than headlines. Uploaded every Friday. This episode was recorded on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson

In this year-end episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, Jeongmin, John and Joon Ha reflect on how political volatility, external trade pressure and strategic industrial cooperation shaped South Korea’s risk environment in 2025. They begin with the Jan. 18 storming of a Seoul court by pro-Yoon protesters, discussing why the episode marked a rare breach of assumptions around judicial security and highlighted growing stress on democratic institutions. The conversation then turns to South Korea’s succession of acting presidents, examining how prolonged caretaker leadership has diluted authority, slowed decision-making and complicated policy coordination. The hosts also assess the expanding use of tariffs as political tools rather than economic instruments and U.S.-ROK shipbuilding cooperation. About the podcast: The Korea Pro Podcast is a weekly conversation hosted by Korea Risk Group Executive Director Jeongmin Kim, Editor John Lee and correspondent Joon Ha Park, delivering deep, clear analysis of South Korean politics, diplomacy, security, society and technology for professionals who need more than headlines. Uploaded every Friday. This episode was recorded on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025. Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson

In this week’s episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, Jeongmin, John and Joon Ha examine how economic security, domestic politics and supply-chain strategy are increasingly colliding for South Korea. They begin with the special counsel investigation into former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law preparations, discussing why prosecutors concluded the episode was the result of prolonged institutional erosion rather than an isolated abuse of power. The conversation then turns to economic security. The hosts assess the launch of the U.S.-led Pax Silica initiative and Korea Zinc’s $7.5 billion U.S. smelter project, focusing on how allied coordination is shifting geopolitical compliance costs onto private firms. They also discuss South Korea’s record ICT exports and third-quarter corporate data, unpacking how surging semiconductor shipments to China and rising chaebol profitability are masking deepening stress among small and medium-sized enterprises. The episode concludes with a look ahead to an upcoming ban on the free provision of disposable plastic cups at various business establishments, including cafes, under a comprehensive “de-plastics” policy. About the podcast: The Korea Pro Podcast is a weekly conversation hosted by Korea Risk Group Executive Director Jeongmin Kim, Editor John Lee and correspondent Joon Ha Park, delivering deep, clear analysis of South Korean politics, diplomacy, security, society and technology for professionals who need more than headlines. Uploaded every Friday. This episode was recorded on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson

In this week’s episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, John and Joon Ha begin by discussing South Korea’s deepening domestic downturn, beginning with South Korea’s job-to-applicant ratio collapsing to the lowest level since the 1998 Asian Financial Crisis. They assess how the labor freeze intersects with the chaebol capital strike, as nearly 60% of major firms halt 2026 investment plans amid tax, labor and decarbonization pressures. They then discuss Mexico’s 35% tariff wall targeting Asian supply chains — a move that directly threatens the logistics model used by Korean automotive and electronics firms for decades. They then discuss the Federal Reserve’s quarter-point rate cut, evaluating what impact it may have on South Korea. Turning to defense and security, the hosts review Peru’s agreement to purchase 54 K2 tanks and 141 K808 armored vehicles, a deal marking South Korea’s largest ground-systems export to Latin America. They also discuss the fallout from the Unification Church scandal, culminating in the resignation of the oceans minister. The episode closes with a look ahead to next week’s developments: Laotian President Thongloun Sisoulith’s visit to Seoul for a summit focused on economic and security cooperation, and National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac’s trip to Washington for high-stakes consultations on nuclear-powered submarines, enrichment capabilities and South Korea’s defense spending commitments under the new U.S.-ROK strategic framework. About the podcast: The Korea Pro Podcast is a weekly conversation hosted by Korea Risk Group Executive Director Jeongmin Kim, Editor John Lee and correspondent Joon Ha Park, delivering deep, clear analysis of South Korean politics, diplomacy, security, society and technology for professionals who need more than headlines. Uploaded every Friday. This episode was recorded on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson

In this episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, John and Joon Ha reflect on South Korea’s political and social landscape one year after the failed martial law declaration, tracking how public anger, institutional distrust and competing protest movements continue to shape the country’s trajectory. The hosts recount Korea Pro’s on-the-ground reporting at both anti-Yoon and pro-Yoon demonstrations, exploring how diverging narratives around legitimacy, accountability and national security continue to harden. They analyze President Lee Jae Myung’s latest National Assembly address and the People Power Party’s internal disarray, assessing what Lee’s agenda signals for governance, fiscal priorities and his relationship with a weakened conservative opposition. The episode breaks down the passage of the 2026 budget — the first on-time budget since 2020 — highlighting the debut of the National Growth Fund, shifts in defense spending and the political calculus behind a deal struck under extreme polarization. John and Joon Ha then examine Coupang’s spiraling data disaster, parsing what is known, what remains unclear and how the incident exposes systemic cyber vulnerabilities that now sit squarely within South Korea’s regulatory, political and corporate crosshairs. The episode concludes with a look ahead to the Dec. 14 deadline for the the Special Counsel investigating the martial law incident About the podcast: The Korea Pro Podcast is a weekly conversation hosted by Korea Risk Group Executive Director Jeongmin Kim, Editor John Lee and correspondent Joon Ha Park, delivering deep, clear analysis of South Korean politics, diplomacy, security, society and technology for professionals who need more than headlines. Uploaded every Friday. This episode was recorded on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson

In this episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, John and Joon Ha assess South Korea’s strategic leap in space technology after the successful early-morning launch of the Nuri rocket, exploring the implications for sovereign satellite capability, dual-use defense competitiveness and regional positioning against Japan’s H3 program. The hosts analyze Poland’s decision to choose Sweden’s Saab over Hanwha Ocean for the Orka submarine project, examining what the loss signals for South Korea’s ambitions to move up the defense-export value chain from land systems to complex naval platforms. They break down the Bank of Korea’s decision to hold the base rate at 2.5% while upgrading the growth outlook, focusing on currency volatility, household-sector fragility and constrained policy space as markets price geopolitical risk into 2026. The episode also reviews President Lee Jae-myung’s performance in Turkey, separating symbolic diplomacy from measurable outcomes and assessing whether outreach to Ankara reflects a broader multipolar strategy. The episode concludes with a look ahead to next week’s protest marking one year since former President Yoon Suk-yeol’s failed martial law declaration, where Korea Pro’s Joon Ha Park and Lina Park will report from the National Assembly. About the podcast: The Korea Pro Podcast is a weekly conversation hosted by Korea Risk Group Executive Director Jeongmin Kim, Editor John Lee and correspondent Joon Ha Park, delivering deep, clear analysis of South Korean politics, diplomacy, security, society and technology for professionals who need more than headlines. Uploaded every Friday. This episode was recorded on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson

In this episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, John and Joon Ha unpack the sweeping implications of the U.S.-ROK joint fact sheet released after the Security Consultative Meeting — including Seoul’s $33 billion commitment to support U.S. Forces Korea, $25 billion in U.S. weapons purchases and the formalization of approval for South Korean nuclear-powered attack submarines. The hosts analyze Washington’s evolving hierarchy of access for advanced AI chips after the U.S. approved Nvidia Blackwell exports to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, raising long-term competitive and compliance pressures for South Korea despite short-term stability. They then examine the annulment of the Lone Star arbitration ruling, exploring why South Korea’s celebrated legal win does not resolve deeper risks tied to regulatory uncertainty and future investor-state disputes. The episode concludes with a look ahead to President Lee Jae-myung’s trip to the G20 in Johannesburg and Turkey, as well as next week’s Nuriho 4 launch at Goheung. About the podcast: The Korea Pro Podcast is a weekly conversation hosted by Korea Risk Group Executive Director Jeongmin Kim, Editor John Lee and correspondent Joon Ha Park, delivering deep, clear analysis of South Korean politics, diplomacy, security, society and technology for professionals who need more than headlines. Uploaded every Friday. This episode was recorded on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson

In this episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, Jeongmin and Joon Ha examine Seoul's defense industry push with Ottawa, as Hanwha Ocean and Hyundai Heavy Industries signed deals with Canadian firms related to next-generation submarine project, amid Seoul’s ongoing pursuit to become the world's fourth-largest defense exporter by 2030. The hosts then analyze President Lee Jae-myung’s directive to abolish criminal prosecution for fact-based defamation, a 1953 law criticized by U.N. and other human rights agencies — while unpacking the Democratic Party’s controversial “Fake News Eradication Act” that critics warn could create new chilling effects on speech. Later, the team breaks down Seoul’s new 2035 carbon emissions target of 53-61% reduction from 2018 baselines, which sparked immediate pushback from major business associations citing competitiveness risks. About the podcast: The Korea Pro Podcast is a weekly conversation hosted by Korea Risk Group Executive Director Jeongmin Kim, Editor John Lee and correspondent Joon Ha Park, delivering deep, clear analysis of South Korean politics, diplomacy, security, society and technology for professionals who need more than headlines. Uploaded every Friday. This episode was recorded on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025. Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson

In this episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, Jeongmin and Joon Ha unpack the political and market fallout from Donald Trump’s remarks on restricting Nvidia’s most-advanced chips for U.S. use, and what it means for Seoul’s 260,000-GPU Blackwell deal with Hyundai, Samsung, SK and Naver — including implications for autonomous driving and the KOSPI’s sharp response. The hosts then turn to South Korea’s nuclear-powered submarine ambitions, after Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back publicly pushed for domestic construction over a U.S. shipyard, highlighting technical, industrial and political friction points.  Later, the team breaks down Seoul’s successful launch of its fourth and fifth military reconnaissance satellite, completing Project 425 and advancing independent reconnaissance for kill-chain readiness, while unpacking remaining gaps for the goal of transferring wartime operational control discussed from this week’s top U.S.-ROK military meetings.  Looking ahead, Jeongmin and Joon Ha preview budget season turbulence, presidential office audits, ongoing trials against the previous administration stakeholders regarding the Dec. 2024 martial law and the Bank of Korea’s expected rate-cut decision. About the podcast: The Korea Pro Podcast is a weekly conversation hosted by Korea Risk Group Executive Director Jeongmin Kim, Editor John Lee and correspondent Joon Ha Park, delivering deep, clear analysis of South Korean politics, diplomacy, security, society and technology for professionals who need more than headlines. Uploaded every Friday. This episode was recorded on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson.

In this episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, Jeongmin and Joon Ha return to Seoul after covering APEC in Gyeongju, where President Lee Jae-myung and Donald Trump finalized a U.S.-ROK tariff deal following months-long negotiations. The team explains new details on the $350 billion investment package, tariff reductions and how the agreement was received at home. They then unpack Lee’s request for U.S. approval of nuclear-powered submarines — Seoul’s proposal to Trump during the summit. The hosts also examine expert views on related challenges and defense implications, as well as reactions from China’s foreign ministry and the South Korean public. Next, they discuss Lee’s summits with Xi Jinping and Japan’s Sanae Takaichi, and detail Nvidia's pledge to supply over 260,000 of its advanced AI chips to the ROK government and conglomerates after CEO Jensen Huang’s meetings with Samsung and Hyundai leaders. The episode closes with an explanation of Pete Hegseth’s visit to Seoul and Lee’s upcoming budget address at the National Assembly. About the podcast: The Korea Pro Podcast is a weekly conversation hosted by Korea Risk Group Executive Director Jeongmin Kim, Editor John Lee and correspondent Joon Ha Park, 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 Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson

In this episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, Jeongmin, John and Joon Ha break down how South Korea is tightening monetary and strategic discipline ahead of next week’s high-stakes APEC meetings. They begin with the Bank of Korea’s decision to keep interest rates at 2.5% — a move to anchor the won and curb housing risks while signaling fiscal restraint before President Donald Trump’s visit and final trade talks with Washington. Next, they turn to Seoul’s expanding defense diplomacy at ADEX 2025, including Estonia’s move toward the K239 Chunmoo and Poland’s submarine project, and the launch of the KSS-III Batch-II submarine that underscores Seoul’s maturing deterrence posture. The team then examines Foreign Minister Cho Hyun’s push to revise the U.S.-ROK 123 Agreement, granting Seoul more flexibility in nuclear-fuel processing and deepening its quest for energy sovereignty. Finally, they preview the APEC week in Gyeongju — from Trump’s one-night stop and Xi Jinping’s industrial diplomacy to the APEC CEO Summit where Nvidia’s Jensen Huang joins Korea’s chaebol leaders — as Seoul braces for a defining moment in global diplomacy. About the podcast: The Korea Pro Podcast is a weekly conversation hosted by Korea Risk Group Executive Director Jeongmin Kim, Editor John Lee and correspondent Joon Ha Park, 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, Oct. 23, 2025. Audio edited by Lina Park

In this episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, Jeongmin, John and Joon Ha examine how South Korea is being pulled deeper into the U.S.-China confrontation just as it prepares to host both Donald Trump and Xi Jinping at the Gyeongju APEC summit. They begin with Beijing’s unprecedented sanctions on five U.S.-linked Hanwha Ocean affiliates — a signal that China’s Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law is now targeting South Korean firms for cooperating with Washington. Next, they turn to Seoul’s crisis diplomacy in Cambodia and Samsung Electronics’ record-breaking third-quarter profit, discussing how the company’s AI-driven recovery exposes the limits of South Korea’s industrial autonomy under U.S. export rules and Chinese controls. Finally, the team looks ahead to next week’s key events — the Seoul ADEX defense expo, parliamentary audits of the military, judiciary and environmental agencies, and the anticipated state visits by Trump and Xi that could redefine Seoul’s room for maneuver in a divided world. About the podcast: The Korea Pro Podcast is a weekly conversation hosted by Korea Risk Group Executive Director Jeongmin Kim, Editor John Lee and correspondent Joon Ha Park, 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, Oct. 16, 2025. Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson

In this episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, Jeongmin, John and Joon Ha examine how global policy shifts are closing South Korea’s room for neutrality. They begin with China’s Orders 61 and 62, sweeping export-control measures that extend Beijing’s authority to overseas manufacturers and leave South Korean firms trapped between competing U.S. and Chinese trade laws. Next, they turn to Japan, where Sanae Takaichi’s victory in the Liberal Democratic Party leadership race sets the stage for her likely confirmation as prime minister on Oct. 15, testing the stability of Seoul-Tokyo relations just as cooperation had solidified. Finally, the team analyzes Europe’s proposed steel quota cuts and 50% tariffs, which mirror Washington’s protectionism and squeeze Korean mills out of major Western markets amid China’s export glut. They close by previewing next week’s developments — Japan’s prime ministerial election and the resumption of South Korea’s parliamentary audits following the Chuseok holidays. About the podcast: The Korea Pro Podcast is a weekly conversation hosted by Korea Risk Group Executive Director Jeongmin Kim, Editor John Lee and correspondent Joon Ha Park, 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, Oct. 9, 2025. Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson

In this episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, Jeongmin, John and Joon Ha dissect a week dominated by U.S. volatility and South Korea’s response. They start with Washington’s first government shutdown since 2019, examining its implications for trade negotiations, U.S. Forces Korea operations and the Bank of Korea’s policy outlook. The team then unpacks the Trump administration’s proposed semiconductor-content tariffs, a measure that could upend Seoul’s $350 billion investment-for-tariff deal and strike at the heart of South Korea’s export economy. They also discuss the U.S. decision to clear Seoul of currency manipulation, and why it offers only fleeting relief. Turning to domestic policy, the hosts analyze President Lee Jae-myung’s new “self-reliant defense” doctrine and the ruling party’s abolition of the breach of trust crime, a landmark shift in corporate law. They close with the government data hub fire that has paralyzed ministries weeks before the APEC summit, exposing vulnerabilities in South Korea’s digital infrastructure. About the podcast: The Korea Pro Podcast is a weekly conversation hosted by Korea Risk Group Executive Director Jeongmin Kim, Editor John Lee and correspondent Joon Ha Park, 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, Oct. 2, 2025. Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson

In this episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, Jeongmin, John and Joon Ha break down a consequential week for South Korea’s diplomacy and markets. They start with President Lee Jae-myung’s high-profile trip to the United Nations, where he unveiled his END (Exchange, Normalization, Denuclearization) peace plan, presided over a Security Council debate on AI and held talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Polish President Karol Nawrocki and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The team then examines Foreign Minister Cho Hyun’s trilateral meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi, and Lee’s own sharp remarks about “submissive attitudes” toward the U.S. alliance. Finally, they turn to the domestic economy: the IMF’s downbeat growth forecast and the government’s proposed crackdown on opaque share buybacks, which signal a broader effort to tighten corporate governance and reassure foreign investors. About the podcast: The Korea Pro Podcast is a weekly 15-minute conversation hosted by Korea Risk Group Executive Director Jeongmin Kim, Editor John Lee and correspondent Joon Ha Park, 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, Sept. 25, 2025. Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson

In this episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, Jeongmin, John and Joon Ha unpack a fast-moving week for South Korea’s economy and diplomacy. They begin with the U.S. Federal Reserve’s quarter-point rate cut — the first since Dec. 2024 — and analyze how the move could influence the Bank of Korea’s next steps, capital flows and the won. The team then dissects the Trump administration’s warning that South Korea will face higher tariffs unless it accepts the same trade terms as Japan, noting Seoul officials’ unusually blunt remarks that the U.S. is no longer the free-trade partner it once was. They also explore Mexico’s plan to impose 50% tariffs on vehicles from countries without a free-trade agreement, a policy that could squeeze South Korean automakers and limit Seoul’s trade flexibility. Next, Jeongmin and Joon Ha turn to President Lee Jae-myung’s newly announced 123 key policy tasks, outlining the administration’s broad domestic and economic agenda. In particular, they look at Seoul’s security and foreign policy agenda, including the administration’s ambition to complete OPCON transfer and reorganize the Marine Corps into a fourth quasi branch of the ROK Armed Forces.They discuss how these priorities are likely to shape both near-term governance and South Korea’s longer-term growth strategy. Finally, the hosts look ahead to upcoming developments on Lee’s expected keynote address at the United Nations on Sept. 23and other key events shaping the weeks ahead. About the podcast: The Korea Pro Podcast is a weekly 15-minute conversation hosted by Korea Risk Group Executive Director Jeongmin Kim, Editor John Lee and correspondent Joon Ha Park, 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, Sept. 18, 2025. Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson

In this episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, Jeongmin, John and Joon Ha examine a turbulent stretch for U.S.-ROK relations and President Lee Jae-myung 100-day-old administration. They start with the dramatic ICE raid on Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution’s battery-plant project in Georgia, where more than 300 South Korean engineers were detained before a chartered flight carried them home. The team traces the raid’s origins, the swift diplomatic response from Seoul and the broader questions it raises about U.S. visa policy and the investment climate for Korean firms. Next, they break down Lee Jae-myung’s 100-day press conference, highlighting his criticism of the U.S. raid, his call for national unity and his policy priorities on economic recovery and renewable energy. The hosts assess how Lee’s direct style and focus on communication are shaping perceptions at home and abroad. Finally, they look ahead to Freedom Edge trilateral military drills between the U.S., South Korea and Japan, and to the intensifying race within Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party to replace Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. About the podcast: The Korea Pro Podcast is a weekly 15-minute conversation hosted by Korea Risk Group Executive Director Jeongmin Kim, Editor John Lee and correspondent Joon Ha Park, 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, Sept. 11, 2025. Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson

In this episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, John and Lina examine a turbulent week for South Korea’s trade, defense and domestic agenda. They discuss how a U.S. appeals court ruling against Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs threatens to upend Washington’s negotiations with trade partners, including Seoul. They also weigh South Korea’s official decision to join the CPTPP, considering the domestic backlash it faces from farmers and the politically sensitive issue of lifting Japanese seafood restrictions. The hosts then turn to defense and foreign policy, noting President Lee Jae-myung’s absence from China’s military parade while National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik shook hands with Kim Jong Un, and previewing Lee’s upcoming UNGA speech that will highlight AI and global security rather than North Korea. Finally, they look ahead to Lee’s first 100-day press conference under the banner of “recovery and growth for the future.” About the podcast: The Korea Pro Podcast is a weekly 15-minute conversation hosted by Korea Risk Group Executive Director Jeongmin Kim, Editor John Lee and correspondent Joon Ha Park, 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, Sept. 4, 2025. Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson