Record Coupang penalty, local elections fallout and new PM nominee — Ep. 136

This week, John and Joon Ha examine South Korea’s record fines against Coupang over alleged personal data protection violations, including what the penalties could mean for the U.S.-listed e-commerce giant, Seoul-Washington trade tensions and the broader business environment for foreign companies operating in Korea. They also discuss the fallout from ballot shortages during the June 3 local elections and the growing protests targeting the National Election Commission, looking at how conservatives, university students and election fraud activists have converged around demands for greater accountability from the constitutional body. The conversation then turns to President Lee Jae Myung’s summit with European Union leaders in Brussels, breaking down the significance of new agreements on trade, technology and security cooperation, as well as ongoing points of friction over defense procurement and steel exports. Finally, the Korea Pro team looks at President Lee’s nomination of former Naver CEO Han Sung-sook as prime minister, what her selection signals about the administration’s focus on artificial intelligence and economic growth, and the emerging battle for leadership of the Democratic Party ahead of its August convention. 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, June 11, 2026. Audio edited by Alannah Hill