In this week's episode, the Korea Pro team delves into the political dynamics behind Lee Jun-seok’s pledge to mandate female military conscription for those seeking public civil service careers. This proposal, highly unfeasible and politically motivated, aims primarily at eroding Lee Jun-seok’s former party’s support base by wooing young male voters. The discussion then turns to President Yoon Suk-yeol's decision to veto a bill passed by the opposition party for a “special investigation” into the 2022 Itaewon crowd crush disaster. Described by the administration as potentially “unconstitutional,” the bill sought to create a committee with extensive powers. The president’s critics pointed to the lack of accountability among high-level officials for the disaster. The episode also addresses U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s comments on U.S. relations with South Korea and Japan, which he described as a “vision for the world,” which the Korea Pro team describes as fragile. This week’s episode features the following members of the Korea Pro team: Editorial Director Jeongmin Kim (@jeongminnkim) Editor John Lee (@koreanforeigner) About the podcast: The KOREA PRO Podcast is a weekly 15-minute conversation hosted by Jeongmin Kim and John Lee, diving deep into the most pressing stories shaping South Korea — and dissecting the most complicated ones for professionals monitoring South Korean politics, diplomacy, culture, society and technology. Stay informed, stay ahead, and never miss a beat on Korean affairs that matter. Uploaded every Friday. This episode was recorded on Feb. 1, 2024. Audio edited by Joe Smith

This week, a scandal involving South Korea's first lady, Kim Kun-hee, who reportedly received a $2,200 Dior purse from a Korean-American pastor known for his views advocating engagement with North Korea, escalated into a major rift between President Yoon Suk-yeol and People Power Party interim leader Han Dong-hoon, one of Yoon’s closest confidants. Reports that this political bromance has apparently ended because of a Dior purse have captured international media attention, making headlines in the Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine and others. The Korea Pro team dissects the complex cultural and political context behind the incident and its implications going forward. Another significant topic this week is the looming possibility of Donald Trump’s return to the White House following his win in the New Hampshire Republican primaries, fortifying his status as the GOP frontrunner. The episode delves into news reports of the U.S. and the ROK governments agreeing to expedite their joint defense cost-sharing negotiations, underscoring Seoul’s silent anxiety about Trump’s potential return. This week’s episode features the following members of the Korea Pro team: Editorial Director Jeongmin Kim (@jeongminnkim) Editor John Lee (@koreanforeigner) About the podcast: The KOREA PRO Podcast is a weekly 15-minute conversation hosted by Jeongmin Kim and John Lee, diving deep into the most pressing stories shaping South Korea — and dissecting the most complicated ones for professionals monitoring South Korean politics, diplomacy, culture, society and technology. Stay informed, stay ahead, and never miss a beat on Korean affairs that matter. Uploaded every Friday. This episode was recorded on Jan. 25, 2024. Audio edited by Joe Smith and Lina Park

South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense announced that it is considering its options in joining U.S.-led coalition strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen, and some South Korean media outlets have expressed interesting opinions about Taiwan’s recent elections. The Korea Pro team discusses why South Korea is thinking of joining the U.S.-led coalition strike against Houthi rebels and what South Korea’s participation might look like, Taiwan’s election results and why the Taiwanese ruling party’s victory — despite its pro-U.S. stance — unnerves some pro-U.S. South Koreans. This week’s episode features the following members of the Korea Pro team: Editorial Director Jeongmin Kim (@jeongminnkim) Editor John Lee (@koreanforeigner) About the podcast: The KOREA PRO Podcast is a weekly 15-minute conversation hosted by Jeongmin Kim and John Lee, diving deep into the most pressing stories shaping South Korea — and dissecting the most complicated ones for professionals monitoring South Korean politics, diplomacy, culture, society and technology.  Stay informed, stay ahead, and never miss a beat on Korean affairs that matter. Uploaded every Friday.  Audio edited by Lina Park

This week's conversation addresses the challenges faced by South Korea’s film industry, amid globally shifting entertainment preferences. The Korea Pro team discusses the impact of digital streaming services and changing consumer habits on South Korea's movie industry, and how the entertainment industry could adapt to such changes. The episode also discusses the aftermath of the assassination attempt on Lee Jae-myung, the opposition Democratic Party leader, especially focusing on the controversy surrounding the legal ambiguity in whether to disclose certain criminals’ identities and other personal information — such as suspects’ faces and their party affiliation. This week’s episode features the following members of the Korea Pro team: Editorial Director Jeongmin Kim (@jeongminnkim) Editor John Lee (@koreanforeigner) About the podcast: The KOREA PRO Podcast is a weekly 15-minute conversation hosted by Jeongmin Kim and John Lee, diving deep into the most pressing stories shaping South Korea — and dissecting the most complicated ones for professionals monitoring South Korean politics, diplomacy, culture, society and technology. Stay informed, stay ahead, and never miss a beat on Korean affairs that matter. Uploaded every Friday. This episode was recorded on Jan. 11, 2024. Audio edited by Lina Park

Marking a tumultuous start of the new year in South Korean politics, the Korea Pro team discusses the assassination attempt against opposition leader Lee Jae-myung. A man surnamed Kim, who used an 8-inch blade and disguised himself as a supporter, admitted that he intended to kill Lee. President Yoon Suk-yeol issues a rare nonpartisan statement wishing Lee well and condemning acts of terrorism as the “enemy” of democracy. The Korea Pro team explores the broader context of political violence in South Korea reflecting on the current state of political discourse in South Korea, where extreme rhetoric and polarization are becoming increasingly common. This week’s episode features the following members of the Korea Pro team: Editorial Director Jeongmin Kim (@jeongminnkim) Editor John Lee (@koreanforeigner) About the podcast: The KOREA PRO Podcast is a weekly 15-minute conversation hosted by Jeongmin Kim and John Lee, diving deep into the most pressing stories shaping South Korea — and dissecting the most complicated ones for professionals monitoring South Korean politics, diplomacy, culture, society and technology. Stay informed, stay ahead, and never miss a beat on Korean affairs that matter. Uploaded every Friday. This episode was recorded on Jan. 4, 2024. Audio edited by Lina Park

Former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok formally left the party after months bickering with his former party members who sought to take him down. His departure comes months ahead of the country’s April 2024 parliamentary elections as former justice minister Han Dong-hoon ascends to party leadership. The Korea Pro team also discusses South Korea's recent decision to expand its export restrictions to Russia and Moscow’s warning of countermeasures such as economic retaliation amid its ongoing invasion of Ukraine. This week’s episode features the following members of the Korea Pro team: Editorial Director Jeongmin Kim (@jeongminnkim) Editor John Lee (@koreanforeigner) About the podcast: The KOREA PRO Podcast is a weekly 15-minute conversation hosted by Jeongmin Kim and John Lee, diving deep into the most pressing stories shaping South Korea — and dissecting the most complicated ones for professionals monitoring South Korean politics, diplomacy, culture, society and technology. Stay informed, stay ahead, and never miss a beat on Korean affairs that matter. Uploaded every Friday. This episode was recorded on Dec. 28, 2023. Audio edited by Lina Park

In a significant development, justice minister Han Dong-hoon — one of President Yoon Suk-yeol’s closest aides — resigned to become the ruling People Power Party’s interim leader. The episode examines the challenges and potential repercussions of Han’s new role and the quickly shifting dynamics within the two major political parties. Additionally, the discussion touches upon the peculiarities of South Korean confirmation hearings, which offers a glimpse into the country's unique political culture of scrutinizing the morality of the candidates and their family members over policy capabilities. This week’s episode features the following members of the Korea Pro team: Editorial Director Jeongmin Kim (@jeongminnkim) Editor John Lee (@koreanforeigner) About the podcast: The KOREA PRO Podcast is a weekly 15-minute conversation hosted by Jeongmin Kim and John Lee, diving deep into the most pressing stories shaping South Korea — and dissecting the most complicated ones for professionals monitoring South Korean politics, diplomacy, culture, society and technology. Stay informed, stay ahead, and never miss a beat on Korean affairs that matter. Uploaded every Friday. This episode was recorded on Dec. 21, 2023. Audio edited by Lina Park

The Korea Pro team delves into South Korea's complex immigration laws and their impact on Southeast Asian communities, including a recent controversy that resulted when South Korean immigration officials refused to grant permission to a Thai national to enter the country, which ignited debates and viral online protests. The discussion extends to leadership changes in South Korean political parties and the implications of President Yoon Suk-yeol's state visit to the Netherlands, particularly in the context of a proposed semiconductor alliance. This week’s episode features the following members of the Korea Pro team: Editor John Lee (@koreanforeigner) News Trainee Lina Park (@linaprk) Editorial Intern Joon Ha Park (@joonhawrites) About the podcast: The KOREA PRO Podcast is a weekly 15-minute conversation hosted by Jeongmin Kim and John Lee, diving deep into the most pressing stories shaping South Korea — and dissecting the most complicated ones for professionals monitoring South Korean politics, diplomacy, culture, society and technology. Stay informed, stay ahead, and never miss a beat on Korean affairs that matter. Uploaded every Friday. This episode was recorded on Dec. 14, 2023. Audio edited by Lina Park

In a significant stride for national security and technological prowess, South Korea successfully launched its first indigenous military reconnaissance satellite on a SpaceX Falcon rocket, marking a new era of satellite-based intelligence and surveillance. The ROK government aims to launch many more in the coming year, but there are challenges ahead. Amid a spike in regional tensions and the space race with North Korea, the Korea Pro team discusses the potential military and civilian applications of these satellites. The conversation also turns to South Korea's internal political dynamics such as the implications of the Cabinet reshuffle on South Korea's economic and diplomatic strategies, as well as the impact of China's export control of urea. This week’s episode features the following members of the Korea Pro team: Editorial Director Jeongmin Kim (@jeongminnkim) Editor John Lee (@koreanforeigner) About the podcast: The KOREA PRO Podcast is a weekly 15-minute conversation hosted by Jeongmin Kim and John Lee, diving deep into the most pressing stories shaping South Korea — and dissecting the most complicated ones for professionals monitoring South Korean politics, diplomacy, culture, society and technology. Stay informed, stay ahead, and never miss a beat on Korean affairs that matter. Uploaded every Friday. This episode was recorded on Dec. 7, 2023. Audio edited by Lina Park

South Korea suffered a landslide defeat in the bid to host the World Expo 2030, securing only 29 votes against Saudi Arabia's 119. This result sparked widespread criticism of the ROK government for its failed bid while also highlighting concerns about implications for South Korean diplomacy, domestic politics and cultural export strategy. The episode unpacks the Korea Pro team’s observations from the night of South Korea’s final presentation and the vote count to the reactions of government officials and the general public and a rare apology speech from President Yoon Suk-yeol. This week’s episode features the following members of the Korea Pro team: * Editorial Director Jeongmin Kim (@jeongminnkim) * Editor John Lee (@koreanforeigner) About the podcast: The KOREA PRO Podcast is a weekly 15-minute conversation hosted by Jeongmin Kim and John Lee, diving deep into the most pressing stories shaping South Korea — and dissecting the most complicated ones for professionals monitoring South Korean politics, diplomacy, culture, society and technology. Stay informed, stay ahead, and never miss a beat on Korean affairs that matter. Uploaded every Friday. This episode was recorded on Nov. 30, 2023. Audio edited by Lina Park