In this episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, co-hosts Jeongmin and John delve into the ongoing fallout from the indictment of Sue Mi Terry, a former CIA analyst and White House official. They discuss how this case has ignited a political firestorm between the ruling People Power Party (PPP) and the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), with both sides trading accusations about their interactions with Terry. The conversation then shifts to a legislative proposal by DP lawmaker Park Sun-won. Park has suggested amending South Korea’s Criminal Act to introduce a law similar to the U.S. Foreign Agent ..read more

In this episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, co-hosts Jeongmin and John discuss the Czech government’s selection of Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power (KHNP) as the preferred negotiation partner for the construction of two new nuclear power plants in the European country. They begin by discussing how the announcement will likely impact South Korea’s nuclear energy sector, its domestic political ramifications and how it might affect the U.S.-ROK alliance in the future due to KHNP’s ongoing legal dispute with Westinghouse Electric Company over intellectual property rights. The conversation then shifts t ..read more

In this episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, co-hosts Jeongmin and John delve into President Yoon Suk-yeol’s trip to the U.S. where he visited the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii and attended the NATO summit in Washington, D.C. They discuss Yoon’s bilateral meetings with various world leaders. Next, the hosts analyze the labor ministry’s report on South Korea’s employment numbers reaching a 15-month high. John speculates that a significant portion of the numbers may be attributed to senior citizens seeking part-time employment, as the proportion of South Koreans above 65 years old approaches ..read more

In this special episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, co-hosts Jeongmin and John are joined by David C. Kang, professor of International Relations and Business at the University of Southern California. The wide-ranging discussion delves into the complexities of the U.S.-South Korea alliance as both countries navigate domestic political shifts and face evolving challenges in the region. Kang shares his insights on South Korea’s considerations surrounding potential domestic nuclear weapons development, the limitations of U.S. security assurances and the missed opportunity of the Hanoi Summit between ..read more

In this episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, co-hosts Jeongmin and John delve into South Korea’s economic outlook and demographic challenges. They begin by examining the impending retirement of second-generation baby boomers and its projected impact on South Korea’s economic growth over the next decade. The hosts also discuss Prime Minister Han Duck-soo’s optimistic economic projections and contrast them with John’s analysis of key indicators that suggest a more vulnerable economy. The discussion covers the won’s performance against the dollar, its impact on exports and the government’s currency ..read more

In this episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, co-hosts Jeongmin and John dive into the latest developments in South Korean politics and a tragic industrial accident. The duo begins by discussing the main opposition Democratic Party’s recent victories in the tug-of-war over committee leadership and the party’s decision to weaken anti-corruption rules in its charter. They also touch on the confirmed frontrunners for the ruling People Power Party’s leadership race and their sudden shift to advocating nuclear armament on the 74th anniversary of the start of the Korean War. Next, Jeongmin and John delv ..read more

In this week’s episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, co-hosts Jeongmin and John delve into recent geopolitical developments affecting the Korean Peninsula. The duo begins by examining the recent 2+2 vice-ministerial talks between South Korea and China, noting the unusual discrepancy in the timing and content of their respective press releases. Next, they analyze Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s visit to North Korea and the signing of a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty. The hosts explore various interpretations of this agreement, from an automatic defense pact to a quasi-alliance, and how ..read more

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 ..read more

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 law ..read more

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 o ..read more