Political talk show pits sharp minds, sharp tongues

New season of
New season of "Ssulzun," starring (from left) Rep. Park Beom-kye of Democratic Party, Kim Gu-ra and lawyer Jeon Won-chaek (JTBC)

The acclaimed Korean political talk show "Ssulzun" made a return to television Wednesday night after a six-year lull, resurfacing amid a volatile political climate.

Launched in 2013 on JTBC, "Ssulzun" is regarded as one of South Korea’s most influential current affairs programs. The show gained a devoted following for its sharp-tongued panelists and incisive political commentary, dissecting complex topics across politics, economics and society.

After it ended in 2019, a spin-off series, "Ssulzun Live," aired in 2021. Unlike the original, the live-format iteration adopted a weekday news style, overseen by the network’s newsroom. "Ssulzun Live" ended in October 2022 after a brief run of 16 months.

The revived "Ssulzun," newly titled "Special: Ssulzun," returned to its original format, featuring pre-recorded moderator-led panel discussions. Wednesday’s debut episode reunited viewers with veteran host Kim Gu-ra and introduced right-wing attorney Jeon Won-chaek, a frequent guest in the past, alongside Democratic Party lawmaker Park Beom-kye. The pair sparred over the controversial martial law declaration, offering sharply contrasting viewpoints.

Jeon argued, "I am not aligned with President Yoon, but the crux of the insurrection charges hinges on whether there was violence employed to subvert constitutional order. Without such intent, labeling it insurrection is problematic."

Countering Jeon, Park contended, "It’s insurrection because most basic constitutional procedures were disregarded. Had martial law actually succeeded, bloodshed could have followed. The evidence demanding Yoon’s immediate dismissal is as overwhelming as a flood."

The second segment, titled "Night of the Ruling and Opposition Parties," spotlighted voices of South Korea’s four major parties: Kim Han-gyu of the Democratic Party, Cho Jung-hoon of the People Power Party, Shin Jang-sik of the Rebuilding Korea Party and Lee Jun-seok of the Reform Party. The lawmakers reflected on their nascent parliamentary careers and debated the paradox of the People Power Party’s rising approval ratings despite President Yoon’s plummeting popularity. Among the speculations was that voter fatigue with the opposition’s aggressive tactics may be buoying support for the ruling party.

During the second part of the show, a breaking news alert interrupted the broadcast at around 10 p.m., announcing Yoon’s transfer to the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province. Programming resumed approximately 20 minutes later.

JTBC has not confirmed whether the new season of "Ssulzun" will return as a regular series. For now, the network said it plans to air four to six episodes, with the next installment scheduled to air at 8:50 p.m., Jan. 22. The guest lineup remains under wraps.