South Korea is heading to the polls to elect a successor to impeached President Yoon, whose failed attempt to put the country under martial law back in December laid bare the deep divisions and gloom that plague Korean society.

We talk about all this with Eunwoo Lee in Seoul, from where he writes for The Diplomat.

Want more Korea? Join us in Zurich on June 25 for an evening with stellar Korean author Bora Chung. More info and tickets on our website.

A solid analysis of the challenges South Korea faces as it heads to the polls, from Carnegie's Chung Min Lee is here.

More on the exhibition Hallyu! which runs through August 17 at the Rietberg Museum in Zurich.

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STATE OF ASIA is a podcast from Asia Society Switzerland.
Season 8, episode 15 - Published: May 27, 2025
Host/Editor: Remko Tanis, Managing Editor, Asia Society Switzerland

The defining characteristic of the environment in China has been its pace of change. And that has its impact on the latest generation of Chinese entrepreneurs who need to innovate to meet the tough demands of Chinese consumers.

The message is: adapt or get washed away. It's like constantly swimming with piranhas, says Zak Dychtwald, our guest on this episode. The skill to adapt to people's always evolving demands, is increasingly making Chinese companies globally competitive.

Zak is the founder and CEO of Young China Group, a consultancy decoding China's market, workforce, and geopolitical shifts. Fluent in Mandarin and based in Shanghai, he brings over a decade of firsthand experience to his work as the author of Young China and a contributor to Harvard Business Review. A sought-after speaker invited to events on six continents, Zak combines data-driven research with deep cultural insight to help leaders navigate China's future.

Stay up-to-date on all events and activities at Asia Society Switzerland: subscribe to the newsletter and support our work by becoming a member.
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STATE OF ASIA is a podcast from Asia Society Switzerland.
Season 8, episode 14 - Published: May 13, 2025
Hosts: Serena Jung, Nico Luchsinger, Asia Society Switzerland
Editor: Remko Tanis, Managing Editor, Asia Society Switzerland

Bich Tran, a senior fellow at Verve Research, an adjunct fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and a nonresident fellow at We Protect our Seas, discusses Vietnam's strategies at navigating geopolitical turmoil, while the country celebrates fifty years since its 1975 reunification. Why is the country rapidly increasing and intensifying its diplomatic ties around the world? Can it overcome the challenges and cement its place as Asia's next economic powerhouse, as the government is hoping for?

Stay up-to-date on all events and activities at Asia Society Switzerland: subscribe to the newsletter and support our work by becoming a member.
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STATE OF ASIA is a podcast from Asia Society Switzerland.
Season 8, episode 13 - Published: April 29, 2025
Host: Remko Tanis, Asia Society Switzerland
Editor: Remko Tanis, Managing Editor, Asia Society Switzerland