In this episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, Jeongmin, John and Joon Ha analyze a turbulent week in South Korean politics. They begin with the appointment of Acting President Choi Sang-mok following Prime Minister Han Duck-soo’s impeachment last Friday, the plane crash at Muan International Airport over the weekend and Choi’s polarizing decisions to appoint only two Constitutional Court justices while vetoing special counsel bills.

The team delves into the unprecedented warrant issued by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials for President Yoon Suk-yeol’s arrest and the escalating standoff between law enforcement and the Presidential Security Service outside Yoon’s residence. They discuss the legal and military chain-of-command uncertainties, as pro-Yoon protesters continue to rally and the warrant’s expiration looms.

The episode concludes with an exploration of the broader implications for South Korea’s institutional integrity, alliance with the U.S. and defense operations, as well as key events to watch in the coming week, including a likely request to extend the arrest warrant for Yoon.

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 Thursday and Friday, Jan. 2 and 3, 2025.

Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:05 — 19.2MB) | Embed

Subscribe: RSS