FUN FACTS AND FINDINGS THIS FRIDAY

Hello and welcome.

You're watching Press Perspective for this Friday July 18th here in Seoul.

Today we touch upon a number of fun facts from history in society and on style.

For this I have Thomas Maresca with American news agency UPI.

Thomas welcome back.

I also have writer Colin Marshall with the pundit's take on the day's discussion.

Colin it's good to have you here.

Thomas, a while back, we talked about your news agency UPI being the first foreign media to report about the Korean War.

Well, it was also among the first to report Korea's March First Movement.

Do tell us more.

Colin, what are some of your takeaways regarding the foreign media coverage of turbulent events on the peninsula including the March First Movement and the Korean War?

How significant were they in shaping Korea's path to democracy?

Thomas, on the social front, findings as of 2024 show there has been a significant surge in the number of marriages between Korean men and Japanese women over the past decade.

What more can you add?

Colin, what do you believe is the public perception about international marriages here in Korea, and do you suppose the Korean Wave has played a part in boosting their rates?

Thomas, moving forward, one recent article claims there is a visible way of pinpointing Koreans on holiday: they all appear to wear rash guards.

What are your thoughts?

I mean, how does this tendency differ from that in the West?

And Colin, what's your take on this tendency and perhaps, the Korean mentality?

Thomas, also on the local front.

The Blue House is poised to close its doors to the public come August First.

Do tell us a bit about this reality and its implications.

Colin, what has been the meaning of the past opening and the planned closing of the Blue House for South Korea?

All right.