Korean Politics Debrief

w/ Prof. Song Se-ryun (Kyunghee University)This week, Jang-Ho starts by looking back at President Lee Jae Myung's first month, including a press conference marking 30 days in office, signature achievements in passing a supplementary budget and real estate policies. But then he discusses with Professor Song the uncertain future that the People Power Party and conservative politics in Korea faces after Yoon's impeachment and the election loss. Does the PPP and conservatism in its current form in Korea have a future?For questions, suggestions and feedback, please email koreanpoliticsdebrief@gmail.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ggJUSgR5hEVzmP906gnoS?si=6ftr7PNpTb6_1HJ2lt0QwQ⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/korean-politics-debrief/id1798237919⁠YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KoreanPoliticsDebrief⁠#koreanpolitics #koreanpoliticsdebrief

w/ Prof. Song Se-ryun, Kyunghee UniversityPresident Lee Jae Myung won the election by an eight-point margin, but uncertainty remains over what his presidency will bring.In this first podcast since the 21st presidential election, we reflect on Lee's “comfortable” yet weaker-than-expected victory. We also examine his first weeks in office, particularly the legal and judicial developments that have already sparked early controversy.00:00 - Intro00:38 - Election result breakdown05:40 - President Lee's first days in office12:11 - Interview with Prof. Song Se-ryun14:54 - What do you think of Korean politics?28:01 - Election result reaction39:47 - Assessment of Lee's first two weeks in office44:40 - Controversy over Supreme Court reforms49:32 - Controversy over court delays for Lee's trials55:30 - Controversy over possible amendment to election law61:15 - Controversy over three special prosecutor investigations68:33 - OutroFor questions, suggestions and feedback, please email koreanpoliticsdebrief@gmail.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ggJUSgR5hEVzmP906gnoS?si=6ftr7PNpTb6_1HJ2lt0QwQ⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/korean-politics-debrief/id1798237919⁠YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KoreanPoliticsDebrief⁠#koreanpolitics #koreanpoliticsdebrief

0:00 - Intro0:38 - No October Surprise1:20 - TV debate 1 - Slow start2:02 - TV debate 2 - Lee Jae-myung's wobble2:50 - TV debate 3 - Lee Jun-seok sullies debates3:38 - Dirtiest debates ever?5:06 - Kwon Young-gook's unexpected highlight6:17 - Lee Jun-seok's merger rejection7:18 - What to look out for on election day: Turnout?8:37 - Will Lee Jae-myung pass 50%?10:30 - Will Kim Moon-soo be within 10% of Lee?11:04 - Will Lee Jun-seok pass 10%?11:45 - Will Kwon Young-gook 3%?12:10 - When will the election be called?12: 43 - OutroFor questions, suggestions and feedback, please email koreanpoliticsdebrief@gmail.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ggJUSgR5hEVzmP906gnoS?si=6ftr7PNpTb6_1HJ2lt0QwQ⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/korean-politics-debrief/id1798237919⁠YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KoreanPoliticsDebrief⁠#koreanpolitics #koreanpoliticsdebrief

Jang-Ho looks back at an extraordinary few days in Korean politics, led by the People Power Party's attempt forcibly install former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo as the presidential candidate, despite former Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo winning the party primary. The saga involved public negotiations in front of the press, searching for loophole clauses in the party rules, a one-hour candidate registration window at 3AM, and a surprise party member poll.We also cover Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung's reprieve from legal risks and New Reform Party Lee Jun-seok's dilemma.For questions, suggestions and feedback, please email koreanpoliticsdebrief@gmail.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ggJUSgR5hEVzmP906gnoS?si=6ftr7PNpTb6_1HJ2lt0QwQ⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/korean-politics-debrief/id1798237919⁠YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KoreanPoliticsDebrief⁠#koreanpolitics #koreanpoliticsdebrief

w/ Jack GreenbergSubstack: https://ggachi.substack.com/BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/jackwgreenberg.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackwgreenberg/May 1st was one of the craziest days in recent Korean political history. The Supreme Court overturned a lower court’s ruling in Lee Jae-myung’s election law violation case, Acting President Han Duck-soo resigned ahead of his presidential bid, and Acting Acting President Choi Sang-mok resigned after the DP tried to impeach him. This has now left Education Minister Lee Ju-ho as the Acting (x3) President. We start by unpacking the latest developments, before the interview with writer and researcher Jack Greenberg. We talk about his personal story and how he developed his interest in Korean history and politics. He then gives us his assessment of the current political situation. We finally talk about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, its achievements and shortcomings, as well as what lies ahead. 0:00:00 - Introduction: A Crazy Day In Korean Politics0:01:55 - Supreme Court Overturns Lee Verdict0:06:25 - Article 84 of the Constitution0:09:14 - DP Attempts to Impeach Choi Sang-mok0:11:10 - PPP Primary: Kim vs. Han0:11:50 - Han Duck-soo’s Presidential Bid0:16:10 - Jack Greenberg Interview0:25:11 - Looking back at Yoon’s Presidency0:31:03 - PPP Primary: Kim Moon-soo0:35:33 - PPP Primary: Han Dong-hoon0:37:47 - Han Duck-soo Wild Card0:41:57 - President Lee Jae-myung?0:49:25 - Truth and Reconciliation Commission0:53:20 - TRC: Success or Failure?0:56:26 - TRC's Uncertain Future1:02:50 - Sabuk Incident1:08:25 - OutroFor questions, suggestions and feedback, please email koreanpoliticsdebrief@gmail.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ggJUSgR5hEVzmP906gnoS?si=6ftr7PNpTb6_1HJ2lt0QwQ⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/korean-politics-debrief/id1798237919⁠YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KoreanPoliticsDebrief⁠#koreanpolitics #koreanpoliticsdebrief

w/ Michael BreenFounder and CEO of Insight CommunicationsAuthor of 'The New Koreans: The Story of a Nation' Fmr. Korea Correspondent for The Guardian, Washington TimesFmr. President of Seoul Foreign Correspondents Club Honorary Citizen of SeoulFirst, Jang-Ho catches up on the latest in the presidential primaries, including the machinations to try and place Acting President Han Duck-soo as the conservative bloc candidate.Then Jang-Ho talks to Michael Breen, looking back on his 40+ years in Korea. He shares with us stories about life as a foreign journalist in the 80's, his observations how Korea has changed, and how he views the recent political crisis. For questions, suggestions and feedback, please email koreanpoliticsdebrief@gmail.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ggJUSgR5hEVzmP906gnoS?si=6ftr7PNpTb6_1HJ2lt0QwQ⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/korean-politics-debrief/id1798237919⁠YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KoreanPoliticsDebrief⁠#koreanpolitics #koreanpoliticsdebrief

w/ Jeongmin Kim (Korea Pro)https://x.com/jeongminnkimhttps://koreapro.org/The nation has moved swiftly on from Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment and is now in election-mode. But for this week's podcast, we look back at the historic day with Jeongmin Kim, who was at the Constitutional Court. We discuss the decisive nature of the verdict, why there was no violent backlash from the Pro-Yoon supporters, and what comes next. If you want to ask a question for the Listeners’ Questions section, please email koreanpoliticsdebrief@gmail.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ggJUSgR5hEVzmP906gnoS?si=6ftr7PNpTb6_1HJ2lt0QwQ⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/korean-politics-debrief/id1798237919⁠YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KoreanPoliticsDebrief⁠#koreanpolitics #koreanpoliticsdebrief

No interview this week, but a preview of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's impeachment ruling, and Jang-Ho's take on the latest developments.00:00 - Intro01:23 - Will the Constitutional Court uphold Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's impeachment?06:57 - Will Acting-President Choi Sang-mok be impeached?10:26 - When will President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment verdict be announced?12:35 - Previewing Lee Jae-myung's appeals trial ruling15:29 - Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's bad week19:44 - Bipartisan Agreement on Pension ReformIf you want to ask a question for the Listeners’ Questions section, please email koreanpoliticsdebrief@gmail.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ggJUSgR5hEVzmP906gnoS?si=6ftr7PNpTb6_1HJ2lt0QwQ⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/korean-politics-debrief/id1798237919⁠YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KoreanPoliticsDebrief⁠#koreanpolitics #koreanpoliticsdebrief

w/ Raphael Rashidhttps://bsky.app/profile/koryodynasty.bsky.socialhttps://x.com/koryodynastyThis week, as we continue to wait for the Constitutional Court's verdict on President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment, I am joined by freelance journalist Raphael Rashid, who has been reporting the martial law crisis extensively, interviewing people close to Yoon, and his supporters at the protests. If you want to ask a question for the Listeners’ Questions section, please email koreanpoliticsdebrief@gmail.com Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0ggJUSgR5hEVzmP906gnoS?si=6ftr7PNpTb6_1HJ2lt0QwQ⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/korean-politics-debrief/id1798237919⁠YouTube:⁠https://www.youtube.com/@KoreanPoliticsDebrief⁠#koreanpolitics #koreanpoliticsdebrief

*pending President Yoon's impeachmentw/ Subin KimAuthor of Korea Kontext newsletter https://koreakontext.com/Managing Editor of PadoKorea Correspondent for Reporters Without BordersFormer Journalist of BBC World Service KoreaThe South Korean political scene has been left in a tailspin following President Yoon Suk Yeol's unexpected release from detention. But the impeachment trial verdict is still expected to come within days, and President Yoon is still expected to be impeached.With that in mind, in this episode we look ahead to the potential presidential election, the key contenders in the race, and see where the parties stand before the starting pistol is fired, and chaos of the race begins. If you want to ask a question for the Listeners’ Questions section, please email koreanpoliticsdebrief@gmail.com Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0ggJUSgR5hEVzmP906gnoS?si=6ftr7PNpTb6_1HJ2lt0QwQ⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/korean-politics-debrief/id1798237919⁠YouTube:⁠https://www.youtube.com/@KoreanPoliticsDebrief⁠#koreanpoliticsdebrief

w./ Prof. Benjamin Engel (Dankook University)https://bsky.app/profile/benjaminaengel.bsky.socialThe Constitutional Court has wrapped up its hearings in President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment trial, and a ruling is expected in mid-March. As the nation holds its breath, we take another look back at President Yoon’s incredible decision to declare martial law, how it fits into the context of modern Korean history and what comes next. If you want to ask a question for the Listeners’ Questions section, please email koreanpoliticsdebrief@gmail.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ggJUSgR5hEVzmP906gnoS?si=6ftr7PNpTb6_1HJ2lt0QwQApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/korean-politics-debrief/id1798237919YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@KoreanPoliticsDebrief#koreanpoliticsdebrief

w/ Prof. Cho Hee-kyoung (Hongik Uni.)South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached by the National Assembly on December 14 for his ill-fated attempt to declare martial law 11 days earlier. He now faces the Constitutional Court's ruling on whether to uphold or reject the impeachment. In this episode we look at:- What will the constitutional court justices be making their ruling on? - Will they be fair? - Will President Yoon be impeached?

Welcome to Korean Politics Digest! Join me, Kwon Jang-Ho, as I delve into the dynamic world of Korean politics, unpacking the latest developments, with insightful guests.