In this week’s episode, the Korea Pro team reviews President Lee Jae-myung’s appearance at the G7 summit, including his meetings with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Notably absent was a sit-down with U.S. President Donald Trump, who left early amid the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.



The war’s impact on global energy prices is already being felt in South Korea, raising concerns about inflation just as Lee faces mounting pressure to revive a slowing economy. The team also examines the U.S. Federal Reserve’s rate freeze and what it means for the Bank of Korea’s already limited policy space.



The trio also discusses the parliamentary hearing for National Intelligence Service nominee Lee Jong-seok, where his past comments on North Korea drew scrutiny.



Looking ahead, the team previews next week’s NATO summit in The Hague, the parliamentary hearing for Prime Minister nominee Kim Min-seok and South Korea’s upcoming commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Korean War.



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, June 19, 2025. 



Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson