KOREA PRO Podcast

On this week’s episode of the Korea Pro Podcast, Jeongmin, John and Joon Ha discuss President Donald Trump’s surprise decision to substantially reduce the Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercise, forcing South Korea and the U.S. to cut the drills from 11 days to five after preparations were already underway.

They break down what the abrupt change means for alliance readiness and plans to transfer wartime operational control to Seoul, including how reduced training could disrupt assessments of South Korea’s ability to lead future combined operations and complicate the allies’ broader defense timeline.

The episode also looks at Trump’s reasoning for the move, from his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to his criticism of South Korea over the war in Iran, as well as President Lee Jae Myung’s effort to frame the reduced drills as an opportunity to lower tensions and reopen diplomacy with Pyongyang.

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, August 20, 2026.

Audio edited by Alannah Hill

This week, Jeongmin and John discuss South Korea’s latest employment figures, which show the overall employment rate reaching 70.3% even as young Koreans lost another 191,000 jobs. They examine how growth in health and social welfare jobs is masking continued weakness in sectors such as manufacturing and construction.

The team also looks at a Democratic Party lawmaker’s proposal to convert decommissioned buses into housing for young people, why the idea quickly drew ridicule and criticism and what the controversy says about the country’s broader housing challenges.

Later, they discuss the backlash facing actress Ahn Ha Young after internet users discovered that her great-great-grandfather was a pro-Japanese collaborator, raising questions about inherited privilege and whether people should be expected to apologize for the actions of distant ancestors.

The episode also examines a proposed law targeting AI-generated sexually explicit material, including content depicting entirely fictional people. Jeongmin and John break down the difficulty of defining victims, the proposed criminal penalties for creating or possessing such material and the broader legal and ethical questions surrounding AI-generated content.

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, August 13, 2026.

Audio edited by Alannah Hill

This week, Jeongmin and John discuss proposals to overhaul South Korea’s college entrance exam by replacing more multiple-choice questions with written responses and potentially using artificial intelligence to grade them. 

The team also looks at South Korea’s deadly heat wave, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in some regions and thousands seeking treatment for heat-related illnesses.

Later, they discuss controversy over the National Assembly speaker’s suggestion that public opinion could determine whether a constitutional amendment might allow President Lee Jae Myung to seek another term, despite constitutional language barring such changes from benefiting the incumbent. 

The episode also covers a student group’s protest at Osan Air Base over U.S. concerns about plans for a data center at Gwangju Air Base — roughly 200 kilometers away.

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, August 6, 2026.

Audio edited by Alannah Hill

This week, the team discusses the KOSPI’s sharp reversal despite record earnings from SK Hynix and major investment announcements during President Lee Jae Myung’s visit to San Francisco, examining why concerns about future spending and returns continue to weigh on technology stocks.

The conversation also looks at the heavy losses suffered by investors in leveraged single-stock exchange-traded funds and the government’s decision to restrict new listings and advertising just weeks after allowing the products to enter the market.

The team then breaks down South Korea’s latest census, including the growing role of foreign residents in keeping the population stable, the rise of Vietnamese communities and the growing mismatch between smaller households and a housing market still centered on large apartments.

Later, they discuss the arrival of new U.S. Ambassador Michelle Steel and the diplomatic challenges she faces. The episode also covers concerns over frontline military readiness after a South Korean Army corps reportedly removed ammunition belts from machine guns without informing the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

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, July 30, 2026.

Audio edited by Alannah Hill

On this week’s episode of the Korea Pro Podcast, Jeongmin, John and Joon Ha discuss the widening war in the Middle East and what it means for South Korea, from rising oil prices and shipping insurance costs to inflationary pressure on an export-dependent economy.

They also break down Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon’s conviction for violating the Political Funds Act, including why the ruling could damage his political image even as he remains in office while pursuing an appeal.

The episode then turns to South Korea’s ongoing trade and industry talks with Washington, as Seoul looks to deepen shipbuilding cooperation while Coupang continues to complicate the broader U.S.-ROK economic conversation.

They also discuss the latest cyberattack on the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, after officials said the institution had been compromised for months, exposing the personal data of South Korean diplomats and raising questions about possible North Korean or Chinese involvement.

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, July 23, 2026.

Audio edited by Alannah Hill