Everything that we see in the U.S. now, we were seeing 10, 15 years ago in South Korea.

So I always see it as being now that kind of cutting-edge postmodern place, where you see the

intersection of culture and technology in the same way that we used to see in Japan years ago.

Hello and welcome to the GZero World Podcasts.

This is where you'll find extended versions of my interviews on public television.

I'm Ian Bremmer, and today we are talking about everyone's favorite K-pop band,

BTS, of course, the only one I know, and the explosive success in South Korean cinema,

not to mention the 10th anniversary of Kim Jong-un's totalitarian rule over the North.

How has South Korea become such a dominant soft power force on the global stage so quickly?

And as this newfound fame angers its neighbors to the North,

will there ever be peace between Pyongyang and Seoul?

I speak to journalist Gene Lee, who led Korea coverage for the Associated Press from 2008-2013.

She even served as their Pyongyang Bureau Chief for a time.

Let's get to it. The G- World podcast is brought to you by our founding sponsor, First Republic.

First Republic, a private bank and wealth management company, places clients' needs first

by providing responsive, relevant, and customized solutions.

Visit firstrepublic.com to learn more.

Jean Lee, thank you so much for joining me on GZER World.

Great to join you.

So much to talk about on Korea.

I want to talk to you not just about Kim Jong-un and nuclear proliferation.

I kind of feel like the bigger story these days is South Korea.

...