KOREA PRO Podcast

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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.

  1. Japan’s election, Seoul’s security calculus and court reform in Korea — Ep. 119

    5D AGO

    Japan’s election, Seoul’s security calculus and court reform in Korea — Ep. 119

    In this week’s episode, NK News’ Lead Correspondent Shreyas Reddy joins John Lee. They  discuss Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party’s landslide victory, delivering a two-thirds parliamentary supermajority that could pave the way for long-sought constitutional revisions. They delve into how uncertainty surrounding U.S. foreign policy and alliance commitments is influencing both Seoul and Tokyo as they reassess defense self-sufficiency and trilateral cooperation. The episode also covers South Korea’s expanding defense partnership with Saudi Arabia, where a new memorandum of understanding signals a shift from one-off arms sales to longer-term joint research and development. The pair discuss how deeper industrial cooperation aligns with Riyadh’s localization goals under Vision 2030 and Seoul’s ambition to solidify its position in the Middle East, while also considering potential friction with U.S. defense exporters. Shifting to domestic politics, the episode examines contentious judicial reform proposals in South Korea’s National Assembly. Lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Party are advancing plans to expand the Supreme Court and adjust the relationship between the Supreme Court and Constitutional Court.  The episode concludes with a look at the week ahead, including legislative maneuvering before the Lunar New Year holiday, continued developments surrounding U.S. tariff discussions and the unfolding Coupang saga.  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, Feb. 12, 2026. Audio edited by Alannah Hill

    25 min
  2. Meetings in Washington, FORGE alliance and new Fed head nomination — Ep. 118

    FEB 6

    Meetings in Washington, FORGE alliance and new Fed head nomination — Ep. 118

    In this week’s episode, the Korea Pro team unpacks the Washington meeting between ROK Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which they describe as productive on alliance priorities like civil nuclear cooperation, shipbuilding and broader strategic coordination. But they contrast that with far tougher parallel meetings on trade, where South Korean officials reportedly came away with no concrete outcomes and ongoing disagreement over how to implement bilateral commitments. The conversation then shifts to critical minerals and the launch of the Forum on Resource Geostrategic Engagement, or FORGE, which replaces the earlier Mineral Security Partnership framework with a more operational model focused on financing, price stability and enforcement tools such as adjustable tariffs.  On U.S. economic policy, the hosts discuss Kevin Warsh’s nomination to lead the Federal Reserve. They also break down South Korea’s return to the U.S. foreign-exchange monitoring list, emphasizing that this was framed around Korea’s large current-account and bilateral trade surpluses rather than currency manipulation.  The team also previews expected government follow-up measures ahead of the May 9 end of temporary tax relief for multi-home owners and flag major media-industry news: Washington Post layoffs and the closure of its Seoul hub. 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, Feb. 5, 2026. Audio edited by Alannah Hill

    21 min
  3. Tariff pressure from Trump, tech laws and alliance tensions — Ep. 117

    JAN 30

    Tariff pressure from Trump, tech laws and alliance tensions — Ep. 117

    In this week’s episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, Jeongmin, John and Joon Ha unpack a turbulent week dominated by renewed tariff tensions between the U.S. and South Korea. After President Donald Trump threatened to raise tariffs back to 25% over the South Korean National Assembly’s failure to ratify a previously announced agreement, they discuss the fallout in Seoul, confusion within the Blue House and growing friction surrounding South Korea’s proposed digital platform regulation.  The conversation then broadens to questions of sovereignty, legislative authority and political optics, as domestic partisan clashes intensify and the president criticizes parliamentary gridlock. They also delve into international criticism of South Korea’s revised Network Act, often referred to as the “anti-fake news” law, and the implications for press freedom and investigative journalism Shifting gears, the episode covers South Korea’s high-stakes bid for Canada’s next-generation patrol submarines, a deal that could be worth more than $70 billion when lifecycle costs are included. The team explains why Seoul is mounting an all-out government-and-industry push, how Ottawa appears to be linking defense procurement with broader industrial cooperation, and what’s at stake if the bid ultimately goes to Germany instead. The episode wraps up with updates from domestic politics, including developments involving special prosecutors, unpaid severance pay investigations and escalating turmoil within the main opposition People Power Party following the expulsion of former leader Han Dong-hoon.  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. 29, 2026. Audio edited by Alannah Hill

    16 min
  4. Peck Cho on why South Koreans are unhappy despite their success — Ep. 116

    JAN 23

    Peck Cho on why South Koreans are unhappy despite their success — Ep. 116

    At Korea Pro’s first Seoul Circuit dinner of the year this month, Peck Cho joined Managing Editor John Lee for a wide-ranging conversation on South Korea’s “happiness paradox” — why life satisfaction has stagnated despite rising wealth, safety and global influence. The discussion examined how purpose, independence and social trust have eroded amid job precarity, hyper-connectivity and changing family and community structures, and why these pressures are being felt most acutely by younger generations. In this episode, we share the moderated portion of the event. 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, 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 Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. Audio edited by Alannah Hill

    25 min
  5. Death penalty politics, Seoul-Tokyo optics and central bank caution — Ep. 115

    JAN 16

    Death penalty politics, Seoul-Tokyo optics and central bank caution — Ep. 115

    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

    18 min
  6. China diplomacy and alliance uncertainty collide for Seoul this week — Ep. 114

    JAN 9

    China diplomacy and alliance uncertainty collide for Seoul this week — Ep. 114

    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

    22 min
  7. How South Korea enters 2026 across politics, security and trade — Ep. 113

    JAN 2

    How South Korea enters 2026 across politics, security and trade — Ep. 113

    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

    25 min
  8. The Korea Pro Podcast’s end-of-year roundup episode — Ep. 112

    12/26/2025

    The Korea Pro Podcast’s end-of-year roundup episode — Ep. 112

    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

    35 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.4
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    koreapro.org
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Korea Risk Group (NK Consulting Inc.)
  • Show Website
    KOREA PRO Podcast

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