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K-wave AI News

2025/08/06 15:34

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. Daejeon's iconic summer event, the Daejeon Zero O'Clock Festival kicks off this Friday. This year's event features a time-travel theme linking the city's past, present, and future, with each zone offering programs tailored to its unique character. More than 5,900 artists from across the country are set to perform, with grand parades and mass sing-alongs in store for visitors. To ensure public safety, the city plans to deploy an average of 250 security personnel per day and implement traffic control measures around the venue. A section of the Geomunoreum lava flow path will be temporarily opened for guided tours this month. The Geomunoreum Lava Tube System is a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site formed from eruptions that occurred some 300,000 years ago. From August 14 to 18, visitors will be able to walk a 3.5-hour course tracing the historic lava route. Meanwhile, access to the summit section of the Gwaneumsa Trail on Jeju's Hallasan Mountain will be restricted from September 15 to October 31 due to maintenance work. Three of Korea's leading low-voiced opera singers, bass Youn Kwang-chul, bass-baritone Samuel Youn, and baritone Kim Ki-hoon, will join forces for a special concert titled "Sing Low and Soft." The performances will take place at the Seoul Arts Center on August 23 and the Cheongju Arts Center the following day. At a press conference, the singers expressed hope that their collaboration would encourage more bold and creative ventures in Korea's classical music scene, saying their project could serve as a "model case" for the industry. The program will feature iconic arias from classic operas, including Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro," and Verdi's Don Carlos. That's all from me. Stay tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[NEWs GEN] Lifelike Baby Dolls: Why reborn dolls have sparked viral craze

2025/08/06 13:33

[NEWs GEN] Lifelike Baby Dolls: Why reborn dolls have sparked viral craze

Trump says S. Korea has opened its market, touting trade deal

2025/08/06 11:40

U.S. President Donald Trump touted Washington's recent trade deal with Seoul, saying that the deal would open South Korea's market. Trump also announced that the United States will raise pharmaceutical tariffs significantly. Lee Seung-jae starts us off. U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday touted the recent trade deal made between Washington and Seoul, saying that the agreement will significantly boost American automobile exports. In a CNBC interview,.. Trump said South Korea was a "closed country" but the trade deal opened the market, referring to it as "tremendous business." The U.S. leader said the U.S. will be able to sell cars, trucks and SUVs to South Korea. While South Korea has long imported American cars, the U.S. has repeatedly criticized Korea's automobile safety and environmental regulations, viewing them as non-tariff barriers. Meanwhile, during the same interview, Trump also said that his administration will raise levies on imported pharmaceuticals to 150 percent in a year. He added that the tariffs will then be raised to 250 percent later, as he unveiled a plan to announce more sector-specific tariffs "within the next week or so." And Trump's push to reduce America's trade deficit through tariffs seems to be working according to latest data. According to the Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis, the U.S. trade deficit narrowed significantly in June, while the trade gap with China fell to its lowest level in over 21 years. The overall trade deficit fell by 16 percent in June to 60-point-2 billion U.S. dollars, while the goods trade deficit dropped 10-point-8 percent, reaching its lowest point since September 2023. However, beyond the trade figures, the U.S. economy is showing signs of strain, as a key measure of activity in the U.S. service sector stalled in July, with businesses citing rising costs and growing uncertainty due to the influx of new import taxes. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Rain brings heat relief, heavy rain in central regions

2025/08/06 11:39

We're forecasting more significant rain across the country. Until tomorrow, parts of capital area and Gangwon-do could see over 150 millimeters of rain, with Jeolla-do provinces getting 120 millimeters. The capital area could also see 30 to 100 millimeters of rain during the day. A heavy rain advisory has been issued in parts of Gyeonggi-do and Gangwon-do provinces and could spread to more central regions. Meanwhile, rain will give us a break from the intense heat, with heat alerts being lifted in the central parts of Korea. Morning temperatures and highs will be similar in the capital area topping out at 28 degrees in Seoul, Daejeon at 30 degrees, but Daegu will reach 33 degrees as the rain arrives in the mid-afternoon. After the rain passes, the heat will return. But mornings and evenings could get a bit more bearable with Thursday marking Ipchu the the start of autumn. However, Jeju is forecast to see rain from Friday into next Monday.

Ozzy Osbourne died of heart attack, death certificate reveals

2025/08/06 11:39

Heavy metal legend Ozzy Osbourne died of a heart attack, coronary artery disease and Parkinson's disease. That's according to the his death certificate which was obtained by The New York Times on Tuesday. The former Black Sabbath frontman died on July 22 at the age of 76 and was best known for his unique heavy metal voice, outrageous acts and his absurd MTV series "The Osbournes." Osbourne's funeral was held in the city of Birmingham, England on July 30.

Wildfires sweep Spain amid intense heatwave

2025/08/06 11:38

Wildfires swept through parts of Spain on Tuesday as the country endured its second heatwave of the summer, with temperatures soaring to 40 degrees Celsius in several regions. In Spain's Galicia region, firefighters battled a wildfire near residential areas in the town of Ponteceso, and the nearby village of Corme Aldea was evacuated. In southern Spain, a blaze in the town of Tarifa spread rapidly through nearby mountains, forcing the evacuation of hotels and campsites in the area. Efforts to contain both wildfires were hindered by strong winds.

U.S. Coast Guard blames Titan sub's design for deadly implosion

2025/08/06 11:38

A U.S. Coast Guard investigative board has found that the Titan submersible that imploded in 2023 had an "inadequate design." OceanGate's Titan submersible was on a tourist expedition to the wreckage of the Titanic when it imploded, killing the five people on board including OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush. According to a 300-page report released on Tuesday after a two-year investigation, the implosion was deemed preventable. The U.S. Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation emphasised the need for stronger oversight and clearer regulatory pathways for operators pursuing innovative designs outside current standards.

Official condemns hostage-taking, warns against IDF expansion in Gaza at UNSC on Tues.

2025/08/06 11:38

Good morning, I'm Walter Lee filling in for Choi Chi-hee, and this is the World Now. The UN Security Council assembled on Tuesday for a meeting called by Israel, to address the situation of hostages still held in Gaza, following Hamas' release of videos of emaciated Israeli hostages. At the meeting United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia, and the Americas, Miroslav Jenča , condemned footage of the visibly malnourished hostages, Evyatar David and Rom Braslavsky who were taken hostage by Hamas on October 7, 2023. He also emphasized that hostage taking is a violation of international law and constitutes a war crime. Jenča addressed reports that Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking to expand military operations in Gaza, calling the plan "deeply alarming" and a risk to the lives of remaining hostages. Ilay David, the brother of hostage Evyatar David, also spoke at the meeting via video link up and described the deteriorating condition of his sibling.

S. Korean football icon departs for Los Angeles on Tuesday ahead of expected move to LAFC

2025/08/06 11:37

South Korean football icon Son Heung-min departed from Incheon on Tuesday evening, and headed to Los Angeles. Reports already are stating that Son will break the Major League Soccer transfer fee record with move to LAFC. Our Kim Bo-kyoung reports. After bidding farewell to Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend, South Korean football icon Son Heung-min departed for Los Angeles on Tuesday evening. He signed autographs for hundreds of fans who had gathered to get a glimpse of him at Incheon International Airport, before boarding an LA-bound flight. Several reports, have said that Son is expected to join Major League Soccer team Los Angeles FC, with only the final details of the transfer, completing paperwork and doing a medical check, remaining. Son could officially announce his contract with LAFC as early as Wednesday local time. When it comes to his transfer fee, Both BBC and ESPN said Son was moving for a fee of around 26 million U.S. dollars, which is around 36 billion Korean won. If the number is correct, the figure would break the MLS record 22 million U.S. dollars Atlanta United spent to have Emmanuel Latte Lath from Middlesbrough. This would make his move to LAFC the highest transfer fee in MLS history. Son's new chapter in the U.S. comes after he ended a decade-long journey with Tottenham with a farewell game: Tottenham's preseason match against Newcastle United at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Sunday. "One of the toughest decisions of my football career." This is how he described his feelings, as he announced that he is no longer going to be a Premier League player. Since joining the Tottenham in 2015, Son is fifth on the all-time scoring list for the team with 173 goals in all competitions. He won the Premier League Golden Boot as the league's joint top scorer in the 2021-2022 season, and captained the team to the UEFA Europa League title in May, which was the club's first major trophy in 17 years. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.

From heat waves to downpours and back: Why S. Korea is experiencing extreme summer

2025/08/06 11:36

South Korea is facing a summer of extremes, with scorching heat waves followed by intense downpours. Experts say there's a reason behind this. Park Hyo-been has the details. This July was one of the hottest months on record in South Korea. But it was also one of the most devastating in terms of rainfall. According to a Korea Meteorological Administration report on Tuesday, the country's average temperature last month was 27.1 degrees Celsius, the second highest since precise records began in 1973. There were 14.5 days categorized as "heat wave days" with temperatures exceeding 33 degrees, the third highest on record. The extreme heat triggered a surge in heat-related illnesses. The emergency authorities responded to over 2,400 emergency calls related to heatstroke and other conditions in July, up more than 140 percent from the same time last year. Heavy rain has also battered parts of the country. Mid-July saw rainfall double the seasonal average, with over 240 millimeters falling nationwide, the fourth heaviest on record for that period. This extreme mix of heat and rain forced the government to activate both its heat wave and heavy rain Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters for the second year in a row. Since the task force was established in 2019, this is only the second time both systems have run simultaneously. Experts say there's a reason behind these extreme weather patterns. "This summer, a strong North Pacific high brought in hot, humid air, while another high from Tibet expanded overhead, trapping heat over the Korean Peninsula. At the same time, cold air from the north clashed with this heat, creating intense rain clouds and heavy downpours lately." The impact is already being felt. Last Sunday, over 140 millimeters of rain fell in an hour in Muan-gun County, Jeollanam-do Province, leaving one person dead and causing widespread flooding. And on Tuesday, most of the country still remains under heat advisories or warnings. Experts recommend staying hydrated and limiting outdoor activity during peak daytime heat. "To stay safe during heat waves, drink plenty of water regularly and avoid going outside during the hottest hours. It's better to go out in the early morning or evening." With up to 120 millimeters of rain forecast for central regions on Wednesday, authorities are urging residents to stay alert and take precautions. Park Hyo-been, Arirang News.

[On-point] What's on the agenda when S. Korea's Lee meets Trump this month?

2025/08/06 11:35

With a summit between the leaders of South Korea and the United States expected to take place in Washington this month, it is set to be a major test for President Lee's foreign policy. For more on this, we're joined by Professor Andrew Millard, Assistant Professor of International Relations at Changwon National University. Professor Millard, thanks for joining us this morning. Security issues are expected to top the agenda when Presidents Lee Jae Myung and Donald Trump meet, right? The two countries' defense chiefs recently talked about a "modernized alliance" in a phone call. What does this mean for the two countries' security cooperation? Another major security issue is burden-sharing for U.S. Forces Korea, as Trump has repeatedly said South Korea needs to pay more for defense costs. What do you think South Korea must secure at a minimum in the negotiations, given Trump's unpredictability? There's also been a report that the two sides may discuss South Korea's role in case of a Chinese attack on Taiwan. Could the Taiwan issue also be on the agenda when the two leaders meet? North Korea has said the personal relationship between Kim Jong-un and Trump are 'not bad' but it's not giving up its nuclear weapons. What's your take on a possible meeting between Kim and Trump? Do you think they'll be able to meet again? Alright Professor Millard. Thank you so much for your insight today. We appreciate it.

Pentagon policy chief calls S. Korea 'role model' for N. Korea deterrence, defense spending

2025/08/06 11:35

A senior Pentagon official praised South Korea as a "role model" for its proactive role in defense and increased military spending. According to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby on his social media post on Thursday, Seoul continues to be a "role model in its willingness to take more of the lead in a strong defense" against North Korea, as well as its spending on defense. He also stressed the importance of modernizing the ROK-U.S. alliance to be able to meet emerging security challenges in the region. Colby vowed the U.S. will work closely with South Korea to ensure a strategically sustainable alliance that's "ready to defend against shared threats." The comments follow a phone call between the defense chiefs of the two countries last week.

S. Korea's ruling party passes media reform bill after 24-hour filibuster

2025/08/06 11:34

At the National Assembly, a filibuster by the opposition People Power Party came to a close ending efforts to delay a contentious media reform bill pushed by the ruling Democratic Party. Our political correspondent Moon Hye-ryeon has this report. A 24-hour-long filibuster launched by the opposition People Power Party came to an end Tuesday afternoon, after the ruling Democratic Party passed a motion to close debate. The PPP initiated the filibuster in an attempt to stall the passage of a contentious media reform bill, which the ruling party introduced at Monday's plenary session. Under National Assembly rules, a filibuster can be forcibly ended only after 24 hours have passed and at least three-fifths of sitting lawmakers — 180 members — vote in favor of doing so. The threshold was met and the DP immediately followed up by passing the media reform bill, where 178 lawmakers voted in favor and two against of the 180 votes cast. The PPP did not participate in the vote. The media reform bill is one of three controversial legislative proposals aimed at overhauling governance structures at South Korea's public broadcasters. The DP claims the reform would reduce political influence over broadcaster leadership, while the PPP warns it could undermine press freedom. "To boost press freedom and independence, the bill makes CEO appointments more transparent and democratic." "The three broadcasting control bills can be seen as a prelude to the dictatorship of the Lee Jae Myung administration. Before long, they will take control of the general programming cable channels in the same way, even though those are not included for now" The remaining four bills on the agenda — including two other media reform bills, the so-called "Yellow Envelope Bill" aimed at protecting unionized workers, and a revision of the Commercial Act — will carry over into the August session, with a plenary vote likely scheduled for later in the month. The PPP has vowed to continue its resistance by launching filibusters against each of the remaining bills. Despite continued resistance, the ruling party is pressing ahead, signaling more legislative standoffs in the weeks to come. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

Fmr. first lady appears before special counsel for questioning over allegations

2025/08/06 11:33

On the local front. Former First Lady Kim Keon Hee is being questioned today by a special counsel over multiple allegations against her. The wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol was summoned to appear at the special counsel's office at 10 AM. Allegations include involvement in a stock price manipulation case and election interference. Kim's representative have said she will fully cooperate and answer all questions. This marks the first time in South Korea's constitutional history that a current or former first lady has appeared publicly as a suspect in an investigation.

STOCK&FX

2025/08/05 22:43

2025. 8. 5. KOREAN STOCK MARKET KOSPI : 3,198.00 ▲50.25 +1.60% KOSDAQ : 798.60 ▲14.54 +1.85% KOSPI200 : 431.25 ▲6.46 +1.52% ASIAN STOCK MARKET NIKKEI225 : 40,549.54 ▲258.84 +0.64% HANG SENG : 24,902.53 ▲169.08 +0.68% SHANGHAI : 3,617.60 ▲34.28 +0.96% WALL STREET (AUG. 4) DOW JONES : 44,173.64 ▲585.06 +1.34% NASDAQ : 21,053.58 ▲403.44 +1.95% S&P500 : 6,329.94 ▲91.93 +1.47% EXCHANGE RATE USD : 1,388.30 (+3.10) JPY : 943.88 (+6.67) CNY : 193.23 (+0.33) EUR : 1,604.32 (+2.20)

S. Korea's ruling party passes media reform bill after 24-hour filibuster

2025/08/05 22:42

Tensions are escalating at the National Assembly as a filibuster by the opposition comes to a close — only for another to begin. At the heart of the standoff is a media reform bill pushed by the ruling party. Our Moon Hye-ryeon has our top story. A 24-hour-long filibuster launched by the opposition People Power Party came to an end Tuesday afternoon, after the ruling Democratic Party passed a motion to close debate. The PPP initiated the filibuster in an attempt to stall the passage of a contentious media reform bill, which the ruling party introduced at Monday's plenary session. Under National Assembly rules, a filibuster can be forcibly ended only after 24 hours have passed and at least three-fifths of sitting lawmakers — 180 members — vote in favor of doing so. The threshold was met and the DP immediately followed up by passing the media reform bill, where 178 lawmakers voted in favor and two against of the 180 votes cast. The PPP did not participate in the vote. The media reform bill is one of three controversial legislative proposals aimed at overhauling governance structures at South Korea's public broadcasters. The DP claims the reform would reduce political influence over broadcaster leadership, while the PPP warns it could undermine press freedom. "To boost press freedom and independence, the bill makes CEO appointments more transparent and democratic." "The three broadcasting control bills can be seen as a prelude to the dictatorship of the Lee Jae Myung administration. Before long, they will take control of the general programming cable channels in the same way, even though those are not included for now" The remaining four bills on the agenda — including two other media reform bills, the so-called "Yellow Envelope Bill" aimed at protecting unionized workers, and a revision of the Commercial Act — will carry over into the August session, with a plenary vote likely scheduled for later in the month. The PPP has vowed to continue its resistance by launching filibusters against each of the remaining bills, with a second filibuster already underway as of Tuesday evening, after the next media reform bill was introduced. Despite continued resistance, the ruling party is pressing ahead, signaling more legislative standoffs in the weeks to come. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

[Weather] Heavy rain all over the country tomorrow with heat wave everywhere

2025/08/05 22:41

It was hot today with heat wave warnings across the country. The daytime temperature rose to 33 degrees Celsius in Seoul and 35 degrees in Daegu. Tomorrow, it will rise up to 28 degrees in Seoul with rain during the day. Heavy rain is expected tomorrow, especially in the central regions. More than 120 millimeters of rain is expected in Gyeonggi-do and Gangwon-do Provinces, more than 100 millimeters in the Chungcheong-do provinces, and 30 to 80 millimeters in the Seoul metropolitan areas. Please take extra precautions. Morning will start warm tomorrow at 27 degrees in Seoul and Busan, 24 degrees in Chuncheon. Daily highs will move up to 28 degrees in Seoul and Chuncheon, 34 degrees in Gyeongju. This rain will mostly stop on Thursday morning and tropical nights will cool down from Friday. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

Hamas demands 250 relief trucks per day

2025/08/05 22:40

Palestinian militant group Hamas is demanding at least 250 humanitarian aid trucks per day into Gaza, as a precondition for returning to negotiations with Israel. However, Israeli Prime Minister says he will convene his security cabinet this week to discuss how to instruct the military to proceed in the enclave to meet all of his "war goals." Lee Seung-jae has more. Palestinian militant group Hamas is open to restarting peace talks with Israel. However, the precondition to returning to negotiations is the entry of at least 250 humanitarian aid trucks per day into the Gaza Strip. According to Al Jazeera, Gaza officials report that over 22-thousand aid trucks are currently waiting outside the enclave, while an average of just 84 trucks have been allowed in daily since Israel eased restrictions on July 27th. Humanitarian organizations have warned that at least 600 trucks per day are required to meet basic needs. Gaza's Health Ministry said Monday that six more people, including a child, had died from starvation in the previous 24 hours, bringing the total number of starvation-related deaths since the start of the conflict to 181, including 94 children. However,.. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that he would convene his security cabinet this week, in order to discuss how his military will proceed in Gaza, and meet all his war goals. "We must continue to stand together and fight together to achieve all our war objectives: the defeat of the enemy, the release of our hostages, and the assurance that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel. Later this week, I will convene the cabinet to instruct the IDF on how to achieve these three objectives—all of them, without exception." Meanwhile, according to a report by Axios on Monday, more than a dozen House Democrats have signed a letter calling on the Trump administration to formally recognize a Palestinian state. The latest push signals a renewed effort among some U.S. lawmakers to support Palestinian statehood, with at least one Democrat planning to introduce a pro-statehood resolution in Congress. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Russia says it will no longer be bound under Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty

2025/08/05 22:39

Russia says it will no longer follow a missile ban agreed with the U.S. during the Soviet era. Meanwhile, NATO has announced new weapons support for Ukraine. Our Choi Soo-hyung reports. Russia says it will no longer be bound by a treaty on the deployment of intermediate-range missiles. On Monday local time, the Russian Foreign Ministry claimed the U.S. has been deploying intermediate-range missiles in Europe and Asia. Moscow said the move is a response to new threats. The INF Treaty, signed in 1987 between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, banned the production, testing, and deployment of ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges of 500 to 5-thousand-500 kilometers. In 2019, during U.S. President Donald Trump's first term, Washington pulled out of the agreement arguing Moscow had long been violating the treaty. Russia denied accusations of violations, continuing to hold back on developing missiles banned under the Treaty. Moscow's statement on Monday followed President Trump's order, issued three days before, to reposition two U.S. nuclear submarines in response to the deputy head of Russia's powerful Security Council Dmitri Medvedev's remarks about the risk of war between Washington and Moscow. Medvedev also warned on X to "expect further steps," tying the foreign ministry's announcement to what he called NATO countries' "anti-Russia policy." NATO is stepping up its support for Ukraine, starting with the Netherlands. The alliance plans to purchase U.S.-made weapons systems. Valued at around 579 million U.S. dollars, the aid package will include missiles for the Patriot air defense system. "The Dutch are just the first of many. You're going to see a series of announcements in the coming weeks. You know, when we announced this facility that allowed our NATO allies to buy U.S. equipment and provide that to Ukraine for their defense, you know, we had a lot of our allies raise their hand and line up." Ukraine has also continued its offensive, striking five Russian fighter jets in Russian-occupied Crimea. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed Ukrainian forces are also facing mercenaries from China, Pakistan, and Africa. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.

Trump pressures India over Russian oil in bid to sway Moscow

2025/08/05 22:39

U.S. President Donald Trump is ramping up pressure on India over its oil trade with Russia. As Washington pushes for a ceasefire in Ukraine, tariff threats are emerging as part of a broader strategy to tighten the screws on Moscow. Byeon Ye-young has more. U.S. President Donald Trump is turning up the pressure on India, just days before a 25% "reciprocal" tariff is set to take effect on August 7 and the U.S.-set ceasefire deadline between Russia and Ukraine of August 8. In a post on social media, Trump accused India of making huge profits from buying and reselling Russian oil while turning a blind eye to how many people are dying in Ukraine, saying he will be substantially raising the tariffs paid by India to the U.S. The move is widely viewed as part of a dual strategy, pressuring India while indirectly targeting Russia by going after one of its key oil customers. "So what he said very clearly is that it is not acceptable for India to continue financing this war by purchasing the oil from Russia." In an official statement, Indian spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the "targeting of India" was "unfair and unreasonable," explaining that India had turned to Russian oil only after traditional suppliers redirected shipments to Europe following the Ukraine conflict. He also pointed out that the U.S. still imports chemicals and minerals from Russia for its nuclear and EV industries, and that India will take all necessary steps to safeguard its national interest and economic security. Russia, for its part, dismissed the moves. In a statement, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said no tariff wars or sanctions "can halt the natural course of history," adding that Russia will deepen ties with the global south and resist the "unlawful unilateral sanctions." Meanwhile, U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff is scheduled to visit Moscow on August 6th, possibly to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, a move seen as an attempt to push for progress on a ceasefire. Byeon Ye-young, Arirang News.