In this episode, John and Joon Ha discuss former U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum, which — unlike in 2018 — do not exempt South Korea in exchange for import quotas. The duo analyzes potential ripple effects on South Korea’s steel industry and the broader economy, particularly if Trump follows through on additional tariffs targeting semiconductors and EV batteries.

On the foreign policy front, John and Joon Ha unpack South Korea’s ongoing diplomatic challenges. With the first U.S.-Japan summit of the new Trump administration already held, South Korean officials risk playing catch-up in trilateral and bilateral negotiations. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul is set to meet U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi in Munich, ahead of a tentative ROK-Japan-China trilateral meeting in late March. The discussion also touches on U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s remarks that Ukraine’s security must not fall under NATO’s Article 5 commitments — a shift that could push European countries to boost defense spending, creating new export opportunities for South Korean arms firms.

Domestically, the Constitutional Court may soon wrap up witness testimonies in President Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment trial, setting the stage for a ruling by late February or early March — unless ongoing disputes over judicial appointments delay the process. The duo also breaks down new allegations of election meddling, as all six opposition parties push for a special counsel investigation into Yoon’s alleged involvement in the 2022 and 2023 elections. Meanwhile, new polling data suggests Yoon’s impeachment remains deeply polarizing, though nearly 70% of centrist voters now support his removal.

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, Feb. 13, 2025.

Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson

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