Submarine setback, NATO ambitions and South Korea’s fake news fight — Ep. 140

On this week’s episode of the Korea Pro Podcast, Jeongmin and John discuss Canada’s decision to name Germany’s TKMS as the preferred bidder for its submarine procurement program, dealing a major blow to South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean after months of intense lobbying. The conversation then turns to President Lee Jae Myung’s push for a “ROK-NATO Partnership 2.0,” including Seoul’s effort to move beyond one-off defense sales and present itself as a partner in joint production, planning and investment with Europe. They also look at Lee’s $100 million Ukraine pledge and whether Seoul can convince NATO partners that it is committed to long-term security cooperation, especially if South Korea eventually seeks to normalize trade ties with Russia. The episode also breaks down the implementation of South Korea’s revised Network Act, widely referred to as the “fake news” law. The team explains how the law targets major online platforms such as Naver, Kakao, Google, Meta, X and TikTok, and why critics worry it could create legal and financial risks for journalists, whistleblowers and smaller media outlets. 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, July 9, 2026. Audio edited by Alannah Hill