Tariff pressure from Trump, tech laws and alliance tensions — Ep. 117

In this week’s episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, Jeongmin, John and Joon Ha unpack a turbulent week dominated by renewed tariff tensions between the U.S. and South Korea. After President Donald Trump threatened to raise tariffs back to 25% over the South Korean National Assembly’s failure to ratify a previously announced agreement, they discuss the fallout in Seoul, confusion within the Blue House and growing friction surrounding South Korea’s proposed digital platform regulation.  The conversation then broadens to questions of sovereignty, legislative authority and political optics, as domestic partisan clashes intensify and the president criticizes parliamentary gridlock. They also delve into international criticism of South Korea’s revised Network Act, often referred to as the “anti-fake news” law, and the implications for press freedom and investigative journalism Shifting gears, the episode covers South Korea’s high-stakes bid for Canada’s next-generation patrol submarines, a deal that could be worth more than $70 billion when lifecycle costs are included. The team explains why Seoul is mounting an all-out government-and-industry push, how Ottawa appears to be linking defense procurement with broader industrial cooperation, and what’s at stake if the bid ultimately goes to Germany instead. The episode wraps up with updates from domestic politics, including developments involving special prosecutors, unpaid severance pay investigations and escalating turmoil within the main opposition People Power Party following the expulsion of former leader Han Dong-hoon.  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, Jan. 29, 2026. Audio edited by Alannah Hill