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  1. Economist Podcasts
  2. Quid game: challenges for South Korea’s president
Quid game: challenges for South Korea’s president

Quid game: challenges for South Korea’s president

Economist Podcasts · Jun 12, 2026

South Korea's president navigates an AI boom and political curses, India's youth protest a broken system, and we remember Marjan Satrapi.

'Persepolis' Author Marjan Satrapi Used Simple Comics to Combat Geopolitical Stereotypes

Marjan Satrapi insisted on calling her work 'comic books,' believing drawing to be a universal first language. She used a simple, woodcut-like style not for simplicity's sake, but as a deliberate strategy to humanize Iranians for a Western audience and dismantle stereotypes of them as peasants or terrorists.

Quid game: challenges for South Korea’s president thumbnail

Quid game: challenges for South Korea’s president

Economist Podcasts·2 days ago

Modern Indian Protests Invert Tradition, Lacking Strong Leaders of Past Movements

Historically, Indian political change was driven by powerful street movements led by towering figures like Gandhi or Modi. The new 'Cockroach Party' protest, however, is helmed by a communications consultant who accidentally started it with internet memes. This signals a shift from charismatic, top-down leadership to more decentralized, digitally-born activism.

Quid game: challenges for South Korea’s president thumbnail

Quid game: challenges for South Korea’s president

Economist Podcasts·2 days ago

South Korean President's Popularity Is Inextricably Linked to the Global AI Chip Boom

President Lee Jae Myung's high approval ratings are heavily reliant on the booming South Korean stock market, which has nearly tripled in the past year. This surge is fueled by global demand for AI memory chips produced by Korean companies. His political fortune is now tied to the volatile global AI investment cycle.

Quid game: challenges for South Korea’s president thumbnail

Quid game: challenges for South Korea’s president

Economist Podcasts·2 days ago

South Korean Presidents Face a 'Curse' of Post-Term Imprisonment That Persists Today

A disturbing pattern in South Korean politics sees over half its presidents jailed or impeached after leaving office. Current President Lee Jae Myung, despite his desire to break this 'curse of the Blue House,' has his own legal cases merely paused, not dismissed, indicating this cycle of political retribution remains a significant threat.

Quid game: challenges for South Korea’s president thumbnail

Quid game: challenges for South Korea’s president

Economist Podcasts·2 days ago

South Korea Secured Nuclear Submarine Capabilities by Appeasing President Trump

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung skillfully managed Donald Trump by offering increased defense spending and US investment. In return, he secured Trump's blessing for South Korea to develop its own nuclear-powered submarines and the capacity to enrich nuclear fuel, achieving long-term strategic goals that grant the nation greater military autonomy.

Quid game: challenges for South Korea’s president thumbnail

Quid game: challenges for South Korea’s president

Economist Podcasts·2 days ago

India's Viral 'Cockroach Party' Shows Online Reach Doesn't Translate to Street Power

Initially a joke, India's 'Cockroach People's Party' attracted millions of followers online. However, its first major physical protest was surprisingly small, with only a few thousand attendees. This demonstrates a critical gap between viral social media engagement and the organizational capacity needed for effective, large-scale street movements.

Quid game: challenges for South Korea’s president thumbnail

Quid game: challenges for South Korea’s president

Economist Podcasts·2 days ago