Currents - Episode 3: President Lee Jae-myung and South Korean Foreign Policy in a time of uncertainty

Currents - Episode 3: President Lee Jae-myung and South Korean Foreign Policy in a time of uncertainty

Author: Centre for Geopolitics October 3, 2025 Duration: 42:55

John Nilsson-Wright talks to Professor Chungin Moon of Yonsei University about the foreign policy of South Korea’s President Lee Jae-myung, and how Seoul is handling its ties with both Tokyo and Washington. The discussion explores tensions between South Korea and the US over tariffs, growing uncertainty regarding the US commitment to the security of the Korean peninsula, how best to manage relations with North Korea, and the increasingly cooperative partnership with Japan in the midst of a new leadership election for the presidency of Japan’s governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

This podcast is part of a larger Centre for Geopolitics project, Alliances in Alignment, supported by the Korea Foundation, examining the future of trilateral cooperation between the US, South Korea and Japan.

 


Stepping beyond the headlines and soundbites, On Geopolitics offers a deeper, more considered look at the forces shaping our world. Produced by the Centre for Geopolitics, this podcast is now guided by two distinct academic voices. Professor John Nilsson-Wright leads "Currents," a series of timely conversations that bring together experts from government, business, science, and journalism to dissect the most pressing international events as they unfold. In parallel, Professor William Hurst curates "Explorations," dedicating extended episodes to foundational ideas and historical patterns that underpin global affairs, providing crucial context for today's complexities. Together, these formats create a rich dialogue that connects immediate crises to their deeper roots. Tuning into this podcast means moving past superficial analysis to engage with nuanced perspectives on power, history, and strategy, all grounded in rigorous thought and diverse expertise. It’s for anyone who feels that understanding the world requires more than a daily news update, seeking instead a sustained inquiry into how nations interact, compete, and coexist. Each episode, whether focused on a breaking development or a perennial theme, is built to inform and challenge, making sense of a disordered global landscape through thoughtful discussion.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 85

On Geopolitics
Podcast Episodes
Berlin, Brussels and Brexit, with Nicolai von Ondarza [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:34
Philipp Hirsch and Nicolai von Ondarza from the German Institute for International and Security Affairs discuss the role and importance of Europe for German politics as well as German perspectives on Brexit.Germany and t…
European and British views on the German elections, with Tony Barber [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:09
Philipp Hirsch talks with Tony Barber, European Affairs Commentator at the Financial Times, about European and British views on German politics and what expectations there might be outside of Berlin about Merkel’s succes…
Financing the Tilt to the Indo-Pacific, with James Crabtree [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:35
Hugo Bromley speaks with James Crabtree, the incoming executive director of the International Institute for Strategic Studies Asia, about the role of financial services in supporting the ‘tilt to the Indo-Pacific’ outlin…
Hateful Extremism, with Sara Khan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:47
Suzanne Raine speaks with Sara Khan, the U.K. Prime Minister’s Independent Adviser for Social Cohesion and Resilience and author of the recent report Home Office report "operating with impunity" to discuss counter-extrem…