KOREA PRO Podcast koreapro.org

In this week’s episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, co-hosts Jeongmin and John are joined by Korea Pro’s news trainee, Lina, for an engaging discussion on various topics.



First, the trio delves into President Yoon Suk-yeol’s recent visits to Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, where South Korea signed numerous critical minerals and energy agreements. They explore how these deals align with South Korea’s strategy to reduce its dependence on China for critical minerals and how the country has been pursuing similar agreements with other regions.



Next, they examine South Korea’s 11th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand, which revealed a modest increase in the country’s renewable energy target to 21.6% by 2030. The hosts discuss how this target compares to other Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development countries and the potential long-term trade disadvantages for South Korean businesses.



In a bittersweet moment, Lina announces that the following week will be her last as a news trainee at Korea Pro. She reflects on her favorite and most challenging assignments, the valuable lessons she learned during her time with the team and her future plans.



Looking ahead, the hosts discuss the ongoing doctors’ strike in South Korea, with the Korean Medical Association planning a one-day general strike on Tuesday. They also touch on the government’s plan to increase the number of medical professors by 1,000 and the challenges Yoon will face upon his return from Central Asia, including tensions with North Korea. Finally, they mention the upcoming trilateral military exercise, Freedom Edge, between the U.S., South Korea and Japan.



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 June 14, 2024 



Audio edited by Joe Smith

In this week’s episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, co-hosts Jeongmin and John discuss a range of developments in South Korea and beyond.



First, Jeongmin and John delve into President Yoon Suk-yeol’s surprise announcement regarding potentially vast oil and gas reserves off the country’s east coast. They analyze the government-commissioned study by U.S. firm Act-Geo, the many unknowns surrounding the reserves and the potential economic and market implications of the news.



Next, the duo examines the recent election of South Korea’s National Assembly Speaker, Woo Won-sik, and the jockeying among lawmakers to lead various committees in the 22nd National Assembly.



They then turn to the ongoing tensions between South Korea and Japan, discussing the recent agreement to put aside differences over the 2018 radar lock-on dispute and the divergent narratives in South Korean and Japanese media regarding Japan’s withdrawn request for South Korea to accept the use of the “rising sun” flag by the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force.



The conversation shifts to South Korea’s role as chair of the U.N. Security Council for a month, with Jeongmin and John exploring the largely symbolic nature of the position, the potential pressure on South Korea to speak out on global affairs and the likelihood of the country using the opportunity to highlight North Korea’s sanctions violations and human rights abuses.



Finally, the co-hosts wrap up by discussing the recently concluded Korea-Africa summit, the agreements reached on trade, business cooperation and sustainable resource development and the challenges South Korea faces in competing with established players in the African market.



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 June 5, 2024 



Audio edited by Joe Smith

In this week’s episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, co-host John is joined by news trainee Lina to discuss a range of pressing issues in South Korea.



First, John and Lina dive into the latest scandal surrounding President Yoon Suk-yeol. They examine fresh allegations that suggest he may have meddled in the investigation into a marine’s death from last year, and how this will likely spur opposition parties to attempt to call for another special prosecution investigation just two days after they failed in the same bid.



Next, John and Lina examine the conflict between the Seoul City government and organizers of the Seoul Queer Culture Festival, discussing how it reflects broader societal and political attitudes towards LGBTQ events and communities in South Korea and the potential impact on the country’s international reputation.



The duo then tackles the issue of nuclear waste management in South Korea, analyzing the potential economic repercussions and the impact on the country’s trade relations if a permanent disposal solution for high-level radioactive waste is not found soon.



Finally, Lina shares her insights and experiences from her recent interviews regarding the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education’s removal of books from school libraries. She discusses the challenges she faced in gathering information and perspectives, highlights memorable interviews and explores the potential effects of the book removals on the future of sex education and gender equality discussions in South Korea.



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 May 30, 2024. 



Audio edited by Joe Smith

In this week’s episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, co-hosts Jeongmin and John discuss Samsung Electronics’ appointment of Jun Young-hyun as the new head of its semiconductor division. They explore the challenges Jun will face in maintaining Samsung’s leadership position in the global semiconductor sector.



The duo also examines the South Korean presidential office’s decision to maintain the country’s short-selling ban until a “reliable system” is in place and what this might mean for domestic and international investors.



Jeongmin and John then discuss the presidential office’s apology for the confusion caused by the government’s recently announced measures to regulate overseas direct purchases and its subsequent decision to cancel the proposed regulation. These measures would have required a Korea Certification (KC) safety mark for 80 product categories.



The co-hosts also discuss the ongoing tensions between Naver and Line Yahoo, as Line Yahoo has stated that it will not be transferring its operations in Southeast Asia and other markets outside Japan to Naver, threatening Naver’s overseas expansion plans.



Finally, they provide a quick rundown of next week’s summit diplomacy, with South Korea set to hold bilateral summits with the United Arab Emirates and Japan, as well as a trilateral summit with Japan and China.



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 May 23, 2024. 



Audio edited by Joe Smith

In this week’s episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, co-hosts Jeongmin and John discuss the unexpected election of five-term lawmaker Woo Won-shik as the National Assembly speaker and the strategies employed by Woo and his rival, Choo Mi-ae.



The duo also examines the first lady’s recent public appearance amid the ongoing Dior bag scandal, with the latest investigations focusing on the pastor who deliberately gifted her the bag. They analyze President Yoon Suk-yeol’s pledge to support non-union workers and its potential impact on the Democratic Party and unions.



Jeongmin and John explore Naver’s growing concerns over its stake in LY Corp. and how ROK politicians are using the issue to push anti-Japanese narratives. They also discuss the implications of U.S. President Joe Biden’s decision to maintain or raise tariffs on Chinese exports for South Korean businesses.



In the tech sphere, the co-hosts highlight the government’s support for R&D on low-noise hydrogen fuel cell generators and KAIST researchers’ proposal for mass-producing nano-threads for smart fabrics.



Finally, they discuss South Korea’s foreign minister Cho Tae-yul’s visit to Beijing and its significance for the upcoming South Korea-Japan-China trilateral summit and the second round of Special Measures Agreement negotiations between the U.S. and South Korea.



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 May 16, 2024. 



Audio edited by Joe Smith

In this special extended episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, co-hosts Jeongmin and John are joined by Dr. Victor Cha, the senior vice president for Asia and Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS). Dr. Cha discusses the findings of his new report on South Korean elites’ fragile opposition to nuclearization and shares his insights on the current debate surrounding the issue.



The conversation delves into the differences between South Korea’s public and strategic elites’ perceptions of a nuclear South Korea, the factors that could tip the scale in favor of nuclearization and the motivations and limitations of the study. Jeongmin and John also explore the potential impact of Donald Trump’s potential return to the U.S. presidency on the allies’ joint defense and the top risks facing the U.S.-ROK alliance going forward.



Dr. Victor Cha, who has served on the National Security Council and as the U.S. deputy head of delegation at the Six-Party Talks, also shares his thoughts on how unpredictable U.S. politics has become — an added variable for South Korea in navigating security and alliance issues. 



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 May 10, 2024. 



Audio edited by Joe Smith