College exam overhaul, heat-wave response and air base protest — Ep. 144

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