News

PPP's Kim continues targeting capital region with industry-friendly track record while merger still open

2025/05/26 20:00

The conservative party's main contender was also in Gyeonggi-do area, where he touted his economic achievements during his time as governor there. Meanwhile, despite the ballots already being printed, the merger is still on the table for the PPP. Our correspondent Kim Do-yeon has the latest. The capital region is yet again the People Power Party's candidate Kim Moon-soo's focus. The region consisting of half of the nation's population is always a battleground region and Kim could be seeing some hope of winning votes in Gyeonggi-do Province especially as he served two terms as governor with a track record of job-making. "During my eight years as Gyeonggi-do Governor, in total, I created 43-percent of all jobs in the nation. I created the most jobs and hosted Samsung's Pyeongtaek Chip complex, made Pangyo Technovalley, and LCD complexes for LG." He in fact visited the Pyeongtaek Samsung Electronics campus himself. The complex is known to be the largest in the world by land mass. There he spoke of how he supported industries and that it's worrisome for him that Samsung and other big companies recently are leaving for other nations, such as the U.S., because of tariffs. "Meanwhile, as he rallies around the province he's been trying to compare himself to his DP rival Lee Jae-myung, who was governor here more recently." He's been putting the focus on the legal risks that arose from Lee's time as the mayor of a city in the province and a former governor of the province, while Kim has no legal issues from his terms. As for the election landscape, the PPP believes that the DP's lead is narrowing compared to the beginning of the election campaign and in the next eight days, they are trying to make a comeback. One big move, course, is left for the party. The merger with the Reform Party. "I propose that the Reform Party present its conditions for a potential merger. We are prepared to do everything we can to make it happen. And let me be clear — we are fully ready to embrace the Reform Party's policies for the younger generation, especially those in their 20s and 30s." Of course, the ballots are already being printed, and the Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok's name will be on it regardless of the merger who, of course, says it won't happen. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.

Second presidential debate heats up: Candidates clash on social issues

2025/05/26 20:00

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus. I'm Kim Mok-yeon. As the presidential race enters its final stretch, candidates are sharpening their focus on key social policies—issues that strike directly at the everyday lives of voters. The second televised debate on Friday was the last opportunity for candidates to sway public opinion before the pre-election polling blackout. The debate saw sharpened attacks and competing visions on how to address South Korea's most pressing social challenges—from deepening societal divides and pension sustainability to healthcare reform and administrative capital relocation. To help us unpack the key moments and implications, we connect to Choi Hyunsun, Professor of Public Administration at Myongji University. Welcome. Also joining us is Kim Jo-eun, Assistant Professor at the KDI School of Public Policy and Management. Great to see you. 1. (Choi) Let's begin with the tone of the debate itself. On Friday, four presidential candidates held their second TV debate. Compared to the first debate, the negative attacks seemed to intensify. How did you perceive the shift in tone? Since this was the final debate before the ban on polling results, do you think it could influence undecided voters? 2. (Kim) Now to the root causes of division. During the second debate focusing on social issues, progressive candidates cited polarization and low growth as the main causes of societal division, while conservative candidates pointed to corruption, dishonesty, and hate-based framing. In your view, what is the primary cause of division in Korean society? 3. (Choi) Each candidate proposed a different solution for national unity. What were the key differences in their approaches? Do you believe any of the proposed plans could effectively reduce the current societal polarization? 4. (Kim) Moving to pension reform. Lee Jae-myung and Kwon Young-guk emphasized strengthening old-age security, while Kim Moon-soo and Lee Jun-seok focused on easing the burden on younger generations. How do you assess these approaches? What would a realistic pension reform look like? 5. (Choi) Healthcare was another major focus. All candidates emphasized differentiating their healthcare policies from those of the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, including reconsidering the expansion of medical school admissions. Lee Jae-myung and Kwon Young-guk focused on strengthening public healthcare, while Kim Moon-soo and Lee Jun-seok emphasized enhancing medical professionalism. From a social integration perspective, do you find these approaches appropriate to restore the healthcare system? and what factors should be considered in healthcare reform? 6. (Choi) And on long-term care costs, both Lee Jae-myung and Kim Moon-soo pledged to include caregiver costs in long-term care hospital coverage. But estimates suggest it would require an additional 15 trillion Korean won annually from the National Health Insurance Fund. With projected deficits as early as next year, how feasible is this promise? 7. (Kim) Interestingly, one major social pledge where all candidates showed rare unity is the relocation of the administrative capital to Sejong City. Although this pledge resurfaces in every election, what are the practical hurdles to making it a reality? 8. (김) Still, criticism lingers over the pledges. While candidates have rolled out a range of social pledges, including those related to healthcare and elder care, critics argue many are aimed more at attracting votes than at offering viable solutions. In your view, what should be the top priority among these social policy pledges? 9. (Choi) Lastly, a major variable in the race. Whether Kim Moon-soo and Lee Jun-seok merge candidacies remains uncertain. Despite Lee's resistance, the People Power Party continues its push. Based on past examples like Yoon and Ahn in 2022, what impact could this have on the election?

On-board voting for presidential election begins Monday

2025/05/26 17:00

On-board voting is open starting today until Thursday offering some 30-thousand Koreans aboard 4-hundred-54 ships the opportunity to partake in the latest snap election. On-board voting was introduced back in 2012 during the 18th presidential election and during the last presidential election held in 2022 over 95 percent of those registered to vote on board cast their ballots. On-board voting is only available for the presidential and parliamentary elections. Meanwhile early voting is slated to start on Thursday and end on Friday across Korea from six in the morning to six in the evening.

[Weather] Temperatures will rise day by day with high UV rays

2025/05/26 17:00

The season is gradually changing into summer, and from this afternoon, the weather started to feel hot again. The daytime temperature in Seoul rose to 26 degrees Celsius, which is 3 degrees higher than yesterday. Temperatures are expected to rise day by day throughout this week, reaching as high as around 30 degrees in the latter half. Ultraviolet rays were strong in most areas today due to the strong sunshine. In particular, the UV index reached "very high" in the Seoul metropolitan area and Gangwon-do provinces, where there was less cloud cover. It will continue to be very high across the country from tomorrow afternoon. Tomorrow morning, Seoul and Busan will start at 15 degrees Celsius and Jeju at 17 degrees. Daily highs will move up to 26 degrees in Seoul and 28 degrees in Daegu. However, heavy showers are forecast for eastern regions tomorrow and Wednesday. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

How far has the Korean wave, 'hallyu,' come in Japan?

2025/05/26 17:00

Up next we bring you the first installment in our special series of stories to mark 60 years of diplomatic relations between Seoul and Tokyo. Every Monday over the next few weeks we cover the broader impact of culture in advancing bilateral ties. My colleague Ahn Sung-jin reports from Japan. "This year, 2025, marks the 60th anniversary of normalized relations between Korea and Japan. Though historical and social issues remain, 'hallyu,' or the Korean wave, has been a source of soft power. Though none of this is new, just how far have we come? To answer that question, I've spent some time here in Tokyo to see how much Korean culture has been integrated into everyday life." The beginning of the Korean culture boom in Japan started off with the 2003 drama "Winter Sonata," in which Japanese adoration of the main character Bae Yong-joon, also known as "Yonsama," was notable. But starting from the second and third wave of Hallyu, it was mostly driven by K-pop stars sweeping the Tokyo Dome and the hearts of numerous fans. "BTS, Bigbang, Boynext door" "Boynextdoor. First, I liked them for the music, but once I saw the members, I thought they were also very good-looking." With name shedding stars like Girls Generation and Kara in the late 2000s to BTS and Blackpink in the late 2010s, K-pop brought an influx of new lifestyles including beauty, fashion and food to Japan. "So this record shop I'm at in Tokyo is the largest of its kind and as you can see, not only does it have an entire floor dedicated to K-pop, but it's also flooded with fans of different artists." The consistent popularity of K-pop has been apparent for decades, with Japan topping the list of countries in terms of K-pop album export values. The fourth wave of Hallyu was characterized by something else. New content beyond K-pop began to evolve, and with the expansion of OTT platforms came a boom in Korean dramas, 특히 post-COVID-19. As these continued to garner more popularity, interestingly Japan has absorbed it into a unique form of its own kind. "Even though it was only aired on Netflix, everyone knew about the drama, and I think it could even be said to have brought a new boom of Korean dramas. There was no reason not to make this into a musical." Director Mariko was in charge of recreating the popular drama "Crash Landing on You" into a musical, which can only be seen in Japan. Though the main challenge for her was to create a condensed version of a long drama series, she said Korean dramas are fun to stage and is willing to do another if the chance comes along. "Even though the musical is in Korean, the audience will read off the subtitles from the side and still enjoy it." And now, as Tokyo slips into the fifth Hallyu boom, the Japanese public has been attracted to a wider range of cultural elements from Korea. "Here I am at a local bookstore in Roppongi, and in the international literature section, a wide range of Korean books can easily be spotted, including author Han Kang's well-known novel, 'The Vegetarian.'" The influence of Korean culture now extends beyond K-pop and K-dramas, stretching into literature, cuisine, and other various forms of Korean content, marking a broader cultural expansion. And this year's 60th anniversary serves as an opportunity to reflect on the past, and look ahead to the future of the Korea-Japan relationship, considering the changing international landscape and the ongoing challenges. So join me every Monday to explore the realms of Korean culture in Japan. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News, Tokyo.

Trump delays 50% tariffs on EU imports until July 9

2025/05/26 17:00

U.S. President Donald Trump has walked back his threat of a 50 percent tariff on EU imports which he claimed would commence this coming Sunday. Addressing a press pool on Sunday he spoke of quote "a very nice call" with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that led to a delay of the tariff to JULY 9th. Von der Leyen for her part took to her social media platform to reaffirm the "good" conversation adding that Europe is prepared to promote talks quote "swiftly and decisively."

Trump demands list of names of Harvard’s foreign students

2025/05/26 17:00

Harvard University and U.S. President Donald Trump remain locked in a hostile standoff as the latter seeks to exercise control over the former's campus policies. Lee Seung-jae has the latest. U.S. President Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Sunday to demand that Harvard University provide his administration with the names and nationalities of all its international students. In the late-night post, Trump noted that 31 percent of Harvard's students are from "FOREIGN LANDS," some of which are not "friendly to the United States." Trump added that his administration wants to know who those foreign students are, stressing that the demand is "a reasonable request" as the government gives the Ivy League school "BILLIONS OF DOLLARS." Harvard University says there would be over 6-thousand-700 names on the list. According to the New York Times on Sunday, the Trump administration's decision to block international students from enrolling at Harvard is raising concerns among other U.S. universities and colleges. The report notes that while Harvard is the administration's target now, it could spread to other schools in the country. In a Fox News interview last week, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem raised the possibility that other schools,.. including Columbia University, could face a similar fate. The President of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sally Kornbluth, slammed the Trump administration's ban on Harvard's international student enrollment, calling it a "fatal blow to American excellence, openness, and creativity." The Trump administration has been demanding changes to campus policies, citing the need to eradicate anti-Semitism at universities. Harvard has refused to implement those changes, claiming they infringe on academic freedom. A court has temporarily blocked the Trump administration's plan. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Israeli strikes kill children in Gaza amid aid blockade and rising global pressure

2025/05/26 17:00

The painful plight of people in Gaza persists amid the lack of access to basic necessities including food as Israel remains relentless in its retaliation against Hamas. Lee Eun-hee reports. Hamdi Al-Najjar, a Palestinian doctor, is in critical condition following an Israeli airstrike that killed nine of his 10 children. His wife, also a doctor at Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, had to see her burned children in the ruins of their home. "So she (Hamdi's wife) told me her children have died, she went to her house and saw her children burned, may God help her." According to Gaza's Government Media Office, the children killed ranged in age from seven months to 12 years old. The only survivor, an 11-year-old, is severely injured. Israel's military confirmed it carried out the strike on Khan Younis on Friday, saying that it targeted suspected militants operating from a structure near Israeli troops in an area that had been told to evacuate. The IDF added that the "claim regarding harm to uninvolved civilians is under review." Meanwhile, Hamas accused Israel of deliberately targeting medical staff and their families and civilians. On Saturday, a four-year-old child died due to severe malnutrition, raising the hunger-related death toll to over 58 in the besieged enclave over the past 80 days. Also, more than 240 people, mostly children and the elderly, have died from a lack of food and medical care. "My message to the world, besiege the embassies, speak up, break this siege, stop this genocide on the Gaza Strip, on our hungry, besieged people." Amid growing global outrage, Spain hosted a high-level meeting in Madrid on Sunday with over 20 European and Arab countries to pressure Israel for a ceasefire and lift its humanitarian aid blockade into Gaza. The meeting included EU countries that were once considered close allies of Israel, now joining the international call for restraint as Israel expands its military operations in Gaza. The U.S. urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to delay plans for a full-scale ground offensive in Gaza. That's according to the Jerusalem Post on Sunday, which said the request was made in order to allow ceasefire negotiations and a hostage deal "proceed in parallel with military operations." With the ceasefire negotiations deadlocked, Israel has intensified its bombardment and ground invasion in Gaza, with reports saying that its forces now control over 77-percent of the Gaza Strip. Lee Eun-hee, Arirang News.

Russia launches largest aerial assault of three-year war on Ukraine

2025/05/26 17:00

Russia staged a brutal aerial offensive against Ukraine this past weekend that has prompted harsh international condemnation. Our Kim Bo-kyoung has details. At least 12 people were killed and 60 wounded in different regions of Ukraine, after the Kremlin launched a series of air assaults throughout Ukraine late Saturday night. Among those killed were three children from the same family in the Zhytomyr region – west of Kyiv – according to Ukraine's internal affairs minister. "Let the world wake up and see. How long can they bomb children? We go to bed and do not know what awaits us in the morning." Nearly three-hundred attack drones and almost 70 missiles of various types were fired, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on his social media X account, where he said ordinary citizens were subject to deliberate attacks. Zelenskyy condemned America's silence, saying it encouraged Putin, and asked for sanctions that would show the determination of the U.S. and European countries, to stop Russia's brutality. Later on Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump's Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, called Russia's overnight attacks a "clear violation of the 1977 Geneva Peace Protocols designed to protect innocents." The protocol, is an annex to the Geneva Conventions signed in 1949, containing provisions for the protection of victims of international armed conflicts. Europe too, strongly condemned Russia and warned of additional sanctions. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Putin, having no interest in peace, should not be tolerated and that the EU will agree to further sanctions. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas was on the same page, stating the strongest international pressure was needed to make Russia end the war. The assault overnight into Sunday came, despite the largest prisoner swap of the war taking place. Ukraine brought home 303 prisoners of war on Sunday in the final phase of a one-thousand-for-one-thousand prisoner exchange with Russia. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.

Political mudslinging takes over policy talk during 2nd live debate between presidential candidates

2025/05/26 17:00

And just last Friday presidential contenders faced off in a second TV debate this time on matters of social concern and beyond their policy pledges they fiercely locked horns over alleged wrongdoings. Our correspondent Oh Soo-young covers the debate and the dispute. While promising social unity, presidential candidates clashed ferociously over politics and policy in their second televised debate. Focusing on social affairs, Friday's topics were social division, social safety nets, and sustainability. The Democratic Party's Lee Jae-myung said he would overcome social division and inequality with technology such as AI,.. and continue to improve the current national pension system. As the former labor minister, the People Power Party's Kim Moon-soo promised to build wider income safety nets for small businesses, with improved pension schemes. Reform candidate Lee Jun-seok proposed a major pension overhaul, pointing out the two major parties' legislative revision last year, benefits the older generation while adding a 37-thousand-dollar burden on every young Korean. He also called for cuts to unnecessary, high-tech scans that ramp up health insurance premiums. Democratic Labor's Kwon Young-kook suggested doubling the basic pension to over 500 U.S. dollars, and building scores of state-run hospitals. Candidates also clashed over climate and energy policies. Left-leaning candidates continued pushing for renewable energy sources over nuclear power. Kim Moon-soo and Lee Jun-seok argued that nuclear power is much more efficient, affordable, and essential to support future industries like AI. But politics overrode policy throughout the two-hour debate. Lee Jae-myung said Kim Moon-soo was part of the impeached Yoon Suk Yeol administration that declared martial law last year. “The most extreme form of social conflict is an insurrection by martial law. Weren't they trying to completely wipe out the opposition?” Kim Moon-soo accused Lee's party of insurrection, for handing radical left-wing groups seats in parliament, and underscored Lee's five criminal trials. “In corruption cases like Baekhyeon-dong and Daejang-dong, just look at how many people close to him are in prison, or have died under suspicious circumstances? Uprooting lies and corruption is the first step toward national unity.” Lee Jun-seok blasted both the leading parties. He said that while the conservatives are tarnished with Yoon's martial law, the majority Democratic Party is just as guilty of creating a broken society. "You should be ashamed. Those who are jointly responsible for wrecking the country show up in red and blue only different in color fighting over power, in a shameless world." The third and final live debate takes place on Tuesday, focusing on politics. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

Reform Party candidate says People Power Party should force own candidate to resign, not him

2025/05/26 17:00

Also on the campaign trail. Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok has reaffirmed his resolve to remain in the presidential race rejecting the People Power Party's push for a merger. The resolve was shared on Monday with Lee adding that his party is determined to run and win the race and that the PPP should pressure its own candidate to resign not him. The 40-year-old contender recently saw his approval rating reach 10 percent amid growing support from those in their 20s as well as 30s and from moderate voters.

PPP's Kim continues targeting capital region with industry-friendly track record while merger still open

2025/05/26 17:00

AND NOW we turn to the conservative camp whose contender Kim Moon-soo is back in the capital area following his earlier regional rallies. For details I have Kim Do-yeon joining me live. Do-yeon welcome back. So you are currently in southern Gyeonggi-do Province? That's right, Sun-hee. I'm in Gyeonggi-do Province — where Kim served two terms as governor. He's been on a tour across the region and is expected to arrive here in Yongin within the hour. With the capital area home to half the nation's population, Kim is highlighting his record — from job creation to building new cities — to win over voters. First take a listen to what he said earlier this morning. During my eight years as Gyeonggi-do Governor, in total, I created 43-percent of all jobs in the nation. I created the most jobs and hosted Samsung's Pyeongtaek Chip complex, made Pangyo Technovalley, and LCD complexes for LG. This also comes as, after this interview, he visited the Pyeongtaek Samsung Electronics campus himself. The complex is known to be the largest in the world by land. There he spoke on how he supported industries and that it's worrisome for him that Samsung and other big companies recently are leaving for other nations, such as the U.S., because of tariffs. Meanwhile, as he rallies around the province he's been trying to compare himself to his DP rival Lee Jae-myung, who was governor here more recently. He tried to emphasize the legal risks that arose from Lee's time as the mayor of a city in the province and a former governor of the province, while he has no legal issues from his terms. Do-yeon we have roughly a week left to the June third election. How is the conservative camp assessing its prospects of victory? The PPP believes that the DP's lead is narrowing compared to the beginning of the election campaign and in the next eight days, they are trying to make a comeback. One big move, of course, is left for the party. The merger with the Reform Party. PPP says it'll do everything. I propose that the Reform Party present its conditions for a potential merger. We are prepared to do everything we can to make it happen. And let me be clear — we are fully ready to embrace the Reform Party's policies for the younger generation, especially those in their 20s and 30s. Of course, the ballots are already being printed, and the Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok's name will be on it regardless of the merger who, of course, says it won't happen. But, during the last election Ahn Cheol-soo merged with Yoon just before the early voting, so we'll keep a close watch. That's all for now, back to you, Sun-hee. All right Do-yeon thank you for that coverage of the conservative camp.

DP’s Lee promises pragmatic diplomacy, stronger trilateral ties with U.S. and Japan

2025/05/26 17:00

Presidential hopefuls have now ushered in their final week of the official campaign period. Liberal party contender Lee Jae-myung is addressing his supporters in the cities surrounding the capital Seoul today. I have our political correspondent Shin Ha-young standing by live with details. Ha-young it's good to have you on. Do FILL us in. Sunny. I'm currently in the city of Namyangju in Gyeonggi-do Province, where Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung is delivering his speech. During his rallies in the Seoul metropolitan area today, Lee aims to gain voters' support by promising to make southeastern of Gyeonggi-do Province a better place with improved access to education, housing, and transportation. Earlier today, Lee met with college students in Suwon to hear about the challenges they face with school and finding jobs. Lee said it's a serious problem that young people are worried about housing and stressed the need for more public dormitories. Take a listen. "It's a real problem that students have to worry about housing. The government should step up and use unused campus land to build more public dormitories." Lee also pointed out issues including high meal costs, and emphasized the need to expand programs like the one-thousand won meals. Ha-young I hear Lee also shared pledges to advance foreign policy. Do tell us more. Sure, Sunny. Lee Jae-myung today pledged to strengthen South Korea's diplomacy and security to protect national interests amid a rapidly changing international order. He said he would pursue pragmatic diplomacy centered on national interests, based on a strong South Korea-U.S. alliance. Lee added that he would work to rebuild trust in the alliance, which he says was damaged by a declaration of martial law. He also emphasized close trilateral cooperation with the U.S. and Japan, while maintaining a firm stance toward Tokyo when it comes to historical issues. Here's what Lee said about bilateral cooperation with Japan. "We need to take a principled stance on historical and territorial issues. At the same time, areas like security, the economy, society, and culture shouldn't be overly restricted because of the historical and territorial issues. While it's not easy to separate these issues, we should approach other areas in a practical way that looks toward the future." On China, Lee described it as an "important trading partner" and highlighted the need for stable Seoul-Beijing relations. Meanwhile, regarding North Korea, Lee aims to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula and achieve peace through denuclearization. He said Pyongyang's nuclear threats can no longer be ignored and vowed to work closely with the U.S. to resolve the issue. Lee also pledged to improve human rights for the North Korean people. That's all for now. Back to you Sunny. All right Ha-young as always thank you for that coverage of the liberal camp.

K-wave AI News

2025/05/26 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. The Korean government is stepping up efforts for the preservation and transmission of intangible heritage worldwide. The National Heritage Service has signed an agreement with UNESCO to contribute to the organization's Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund. Under the five-year agreement, Korea will provide an annual contribution of one billion won, or more than 734,000 U.S. dollars, for the development of an online platform that shares the world's best practices in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage. Korea currently has 23 cultural elements inscribed on UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, ranking fourth among the 184 convention member states. The '2025 Seoul International Garden Show' has officially opened at Boramae Park, spanning 400,000 square meters. The event showcases 111 gardens, reflecting various themes like ecology, sustainability, and coexistence. New lifestyle programs such as "Garden Weddings" and "Garden Workations" blend leisure and nature, and the newly introduced "Inclusive Garden Tour" offers accessible routes for seniors and people with disabilities, also providing free electric wheelchair rentals. The expo also features pet-friendly zones and educational gardens for children. The largest edition to date will run through October 20. Jeju City announced it will open six popular beaches earlier than usual this year amid forecasts of an early summer heatwave. Hyeopjae, Geumneung, Gwakji, Hamdeok, Iho, and Woljeong (협재, 금능, 곽지, 함덕, 이호, 월정) beaches will open on June 24, welcoming visitors before the usual date. Kimnyeong and Samyang (김녕, 삼양) beaches will open as scheduled on July 1. To ease the burden on visitors, rental fees for beach umbrellas and sunbeds will remain at last year's rates, ensuring affordable and enjoyable beach experiences. Starting this year, the eastern section of Hamdeok Beach has been designated as a pet-friendly area, allowing pet owners and non-pet owners to share the space harmoniously. That's all from me. Stay tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[Short-form] Ramyeon is spicing up the world!

2025/05/26 14:00

Exports hit a record US$ 1 billion in 2024 a sizzling 30% jump in just one year! And Ramyeon just keeps turning up the heat New releases are racing for the hottest spice level! What’s fueling the fiery spice showdown? Korea: the land where every dish gets a fiery kick from red pepper paste and chili powder Meals awash in fiery red everywhere! The history of Koreans’ love for spicy food doesn’t go back that far After the Korean War in the 1950s spicy food became the soul-soothing kick to beat stress SPICINESS = ENDORPHIN BOOST Spicy food triggers endorphins that dull pain They’re 100 times more powerful than morphine! A zesty blast that fires you up with feel-good energy Young people are also turning to spicy food to blow off steam! But too much heat can take a toll on your stomach so spice things up responsibly Ramyeon A fiery escape to turn down stress

[Features reporter] How far has the Korean wave, 'hallyu,' come in Japan?

2025/05/26 14:00

In 'The Kulture Wave', we explore Korean culture taking place here in Korea, but also abroad, when we connect to our K-correspondents overseas. This time, we had our very own News Features reporter Sung-jin, you, flying abroad to show us something new outside of the country for us? Right, so this year marks the 60th anniversary of Korea-Japan normalization of relations, and as this show's name suggests, I wanted to see in what aspects culture was playing a role between the two. I spent a week in Tokyo to have a look at it myself. "This year, 2025, marks the 60th anniversary of normalized relations between Korea and Japan. Though historical and social issues remain, 'hallyu,' or the Korean wave, has been a source of soft power. Though none of this is new, just how far have we come? To answer that question, I've spent some time here in Tokyo to see how much Korean culture has been integrated into everyday life." The beginning of the Korean culture boom in Japan started off with the 2003 drama "Winter Sonata," in which Japanese adoration of the main character Bae Yong-joon, also known as "Yonsama," was notable. But starting from the second and third wave of Hallyu, it was mostly driven by K-pop stars sweeping the Tokyo Dome and the hearts of numerous fans. "BTS, Bigbang, Boynextdoor" "Boynextdoor. First, I liked them for the music, but once I saw the members, I thought they were also very good-looking." With name shedding stars like Girls Generation and Kara in the late 2000s to BTS and Blackpink in the late 2010s, K-pop brought an influx of new lifestyles including beauty, fashion and food to Japan. "So this record shop I'm at in Tokyo is the largest of its kind and as you can see, not only does it have an entire floor dedicated to K-pop, but it's also flooded with fans of different artists." The consistent popularity of K-pop has been apparent for decades, with Japan topping the list of countries in terms of K-pop album export values. The fourth wave of Hallyu was characterized by something else. New content beyond K-pop began to evolve, and with the expansion of OTT platforms came a boom in Korean dramas, especially post-COVID-19. As these continued to garner more popularity, interestingly Japan has absorbed it into a unique form of its own kind. "Even though it was only aired on Netflix, everyone knew about the drama, and I think it could even be said to have brought a new boom of Korean dramas. There was no reason not to make this into a musical." Director Mariko was in charge of recreating the popular drama "Crash Landing on You" into a musical, which can only be seen in Japan. Though the main challenge for her was to create a condensed version of a long drama series, she said Korean dramas are fun to stage and is willing to do another if the chance comes along. "Even though the musical is in Korean, the audience will read off the subtitles from the side and still enjoy it." And now, as Tokyo slips into the fifth Hallyu boom, the Japanese public has been attracted to a wider range of cultural elements from Korea. "Here I am at a local bookstore in Roppongi, and in the international literature section, a wide range of Korean books can easily be spotted, including author Han Kang's well-known novel, 'The Vegetarian.'" The influence of Korean culture now extends beyond K-pop and K-dramas, stretching into literature, cuisine, and other various forms of Korean content, marking a broader cultural expansion. And this year's 60th anniversary serves as an opportunity to reflect on the past, and look ahead to the future of the Korea-Japan relationship, considering the changing international landscape and the ongoing challenges. So join me every Monday to explore the realms of Korean culture in Japan. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News, Tokyo.

[K-Enter] SEVENTEEN celebrates 10 years with fireworks at Jamsu Bridge

2025/05/26 14:00

Time for our daily dose of K-enter news with Walter Lee. Starting off with a celebration for boy group SEVENTEEN. On Sunday, SEVENTEEN turned Seoul’s Jamsu Bridge into a spectacular concert venue. The group performed on a stage spanning the bridge, as vibrant fireworks and laser lights lit up the sky, with over 6,000 fans gathered for the event. The free concert named "B-DAY PARTY: BURST Stage @Jamsu Bridge," marked the group’s 10th anniversary. To accommodate the concert, traffic on Jamsu Bridge was suspended. The group started the show with “Thunder,” a track from their fifth full-length album. Speaking of their fifth full-length album, on Monday, SEVENTEEN are set to release their fifth full-length album, "HAPPY BURSTDAY," kicking off the next chapter in their journey. Good luck to the next chapter in their journey. Now we move on to another celebration, for another boy group. To celebrate their 17th debut anniversary, boy group SHINee dropped the single "Poet | Artist," as well as their B-side track “Starlight,” across major music platforms on Sunday at midnight. The music video for “Poet | Artist” was also released simultaneously via YouTube’s SMTOWN channel. The title track “Poet | Artist” is an electro-pop song with lyrics that urge listeners to break free from convention and co-create something new, applying poetic and artistic expression. The accompanying track “Starlight”는 a bright, medium-tempo dance-pop song that likens the feeling of a first encounter to a star shining in the darkness. SHINee concluded their seventh solo concert, "SHINee WORLD VII : Every Stage Shines Around You," with a spectacular final performance at Seoul Olympic Park on Sunday. Great to see the boys active for so many years and hopefully so many more to come. Next, we have a great achievement for girl group ILLIT. ILLIT’s debut track “Magnetic” has surpassed 600 million streams on Spotify, according to their agency Belift Lab on Sunday. Released in March 2024, the song passed 600 million streams on Friday, setting a new record as the fastest time for a K-pop group’s debut song to hit this milestone. “Magnetic” has a catchy melody that gained widespread popularity, especially on short-form video platforms . ILLIT is scheduled to release their third mini-album, "Bomb", on the 16th of June, with promotions centred around the title track “Borrowed Cat.” (Do the Dance).

On-board voting for presidential election begins Monday

2025/05/26 10:00

We are now 8 days away from the election day. And on-board voting, in fact, begins from Monday to Thursday, allowing some 30-thousand Korean aboard 454 ships to vote. Polling stations are set up on ships under the watch of a designated observer. The ballots will be sent directly via fax to the city or provincial election commission that presides over each voter's registered address. On-board voting was first introduced in 2012, for the 18th presidential election. It's only held for presidential and parliamentary elections. In the last presidential election held in 2022, 95-point-one percent of those registered on board voters cast their ballots. Also this week, early voting booths will open throughout the country on Thursday and Friday, from 6 AM to 6 PM.

[Weather] Warmer days ahead with strong UV rays in the central areas

2025/05/26 10:00

We had such a pleasant day yesterday, along with a gentle breeze and plenty of sunshine. As we kick off the last week of May, summer is truly making its presence known. As we head into the latter half of the week, temperatures in the capital will climb a little higher, ushering in that summer feel. The sun will be quite strong today across the country. The UV index will be "very high" especially in the central region, and ozone concentrations will likely be "unhealthy" in most areas, so make sure you're protecting your skin! Most parts of Korea will see highs jumping to 26 degrees Celsius this afternoon, along with decent air quality. We're looking at mostly clear weather for the next few days in the capital area with warmth, but keep an eye out for passing showers in the eastern regions tomorrow and the day after.

Starbucks to implement first kiosks in S. Korea and Japan

2025/05/26 10:00

Starbucks announced on Monday a plan to implement the coffee franchise's first self-order kiosks in select stores across tourist-heavy areas in South Korea and Japan. The kiosks are aimed at enhancing the customer experience by reducing wait times and streamlining the ordering process. In South Korea, the kiosks will debut at the Starbucks Korea branch in Myeong-dong, one of Seoul's most crowded shopping districts, visited by international tourists. Customers are expected to be able to use the machines as early as next month. Starbucks Japan is also set to implement kiosks at around the same time. Unlike Starbucks' traditional service model that emphasizes human connection, the technology aims to make ordering easier, while also appealing to 최소한의 상호 작용을 선호하는 고객들에게도 어필하는 것을 목표로 합니다.