News

President Lee withdraws nomination for Lee Jin-sook as Education Minister

2025/07/21 19:36

In other news. The president's first Cabinet is taking tangible shape with a number of his nominees confirmed but one name withdrawn over the weekend. Our Presidential Office Correspondent Song Yoo-jin has the latest. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is building his first Cabinet, but not without a few bumps along the way. On Sunday, President Lee withdrew his nomination of Lee Jin-sook, the former president of Chungnam National University, as Education Minister. "President Lee has been carefully weighing up his decision, listening to a wide range of opinions. On Saturday, he met with Kim Byung-kee, floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party, and Song Eon-seog, interim leader and floor leader of the main opposition People Power Party, to hear their views as well." The nominee had come under fire following allegations of plagiarism in her academic work and controversy over sending her daughter abroad alone to study while still a middle school student, which is illegal under Korean law. Woo added that the government will search for a new candidate to lead the Education Ministry. However, the President is standing by his pick for the Minister of Gender Equality and Family, Democratic Party lawmaker Kang Sun-woo, who's also facing backlash over allegedly mistreating her aides. "After thoroughly reviewing the issues raised, Kang's explanation, and opinions shared through various channels, the President has made his final decision." President Lee has filled seven of the 19 minister posts in his first Cabinet so far: six new faces and one holdover, retaining Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryung. More appointments could follow this week, as confirmation hearings have been completed for all but the Culture and Land ministries. In South Korea, minister nominees must go through parliamentary confirmation hearings, though it's the President who makes the final decision. Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News.

Livelihood recovery coupons see high level interest on day one

2025/07/21 19:36

And in light of that optimistic outlook by the government our correspondent Moon Ji-young was out on the streets of Seoul to gauge the public response to efforts to encourage consumption. Do take a listen. Immense public interest was evident on the first day of applications for the livelihood recovery consumption coupons. Older members of society were seen lining up in front of community centers to apply, while the widespread enthusiasm also led to some credit card website servers crashing. "I am here at a local market in southern Seoul. The coupons can be used at small businesses like these." Many have said that they'll be using the coupons to pay for daily necessities. "Once I get this cash handout, I can definitely cut down on what I spend on food. So, I think it'll really lighten the load, at least for a bit." "You see, I've got three kids. And honestly, their academy fees cost more than I thought they would. Since it isn't exactly cheap, I really want to put this towards my kids' education expenses." On the small business front, owners are holding onto the hope that the consumption coupons will give the economy at least a temporary lift. "I think it'll be easier for people who might've eaten less meat because it's pricey now. We expect this to create a virtuous cycle for the entire livestock industry. And if our sales increase significantly, allowing us to pay more in taxes, I believe that would be beneficial for everyone." "I guess with these livelihood coupons, consumer spending will pick up for a little while. But it won't last long, so the market will probably only be active for a bit. And once these coupons are all used up, I'm worried the economy might drop again." Experts expect the coupons to boost consumption. However, they also point out that they are a stimulus measure rather than an economic growth strategy. "When looking at different income levels, for high-income earners and upper-middle-income earners, the issuance of these consumption coupons is more likely to result in an increase in excess savings rather than driving additional consumption. Conversely, for lower-middle-income earners and below, we believe these consumption coupons will clearly and directly translate into consumption." Meanwhile, the government pledged to meticulously work with local governments to ensure that not a single citizen misses out on receiving them. Moon Ji-young, Arirang News.

S. Korea's livelihood recovery consumption coupon applications begin

2025/07/21 19:34

Also on the local front. Applications for the so-called "consumption coupons" kicked off on this Monday. All Korean citizens are eligible for these coupons as are some non-Korean residents here in the country. Park Jun-han reports. Registrations for the livelihood recovery consumption coupon, the first major economic stimulus under the Lee Jae Myung administration, started from 9 AM Monday. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced that the applications will be open for approximately eight weeks, until 6 PM on September 12. The coupon program provides 150-thousand Korean won, roughly 1-hundred-8 U.S. dollars, per recipient, with higher amounts for certain groups. 300-thousand won will be given to low-income households and single-parent families, and 400-thousand won for recipients of the Basic Livelihood Subsidy. Residents from areas outside of Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi-do Province will receive an additional 30-thousand won, while those living in one of the 84 designated rural areas at risk of depopulation will get an extra 50-thousand won. People will receive coupons the day after application and the coupons are valid until November 30. The ministry says no coupons will be issued after the September 12 deadline, and those who don't apply will not receive any benefits. People can apply online through their bank or credit card sites or through local payment apps such as Seoul Pay Plus. They can also apply offline at their local government neighborhood office. Online registrations are available through either mobile devices or computers. To prevent system overload and congestion, the first week from Monday through Friday will follow a day-of-the-week system based on the last digit of the applicant's birth year: 1 or 6 on Monday, 2 or 7 on Tuesday and so on. Weekend applications are only available online. Applicants can choose to receive coupons as credit/debit cards, prepaid cards, or a community-based gift certificate which can only be used at registered merchants in the applicant's municipality. Coupons can only be used at small businesses with annual sales of 3 billion won or less. They are not valid at places such as large supermarkets, department stores, duty-free shops, and online malls. Foreign residents who fall under certain categories can also receive the coupons. The eligible groups are permanent residents, marriage migrants, recognized refugees those who are listed on a resident registration document that includes at least one Korean citizen. To be eligible, they must be enrolled in the national health insurance system, either as a subscriber, dependent or recipient. The government says the livelihood coupon should stimulate consumption and boost the local economy. Park Jun-han, Arirang News.

S. Korea deploys 2,500 troops to help recovery in regions hit hard by rain

2025/07/21 19:33

The South Korean Army has deployed its ground forces and equipment to assist recovery efforts in rain-ravaged regions. More than a thousand troops and over 20 pieces of heavy equipment were mobilized in Gwangju Metropolitan City, Chungcheongnam-do Province and Gyeongsangnam-do Province on this Monday. Starting last Thursday a total of 2-thousand-5-hundred soldiers have been deployed areas hit hard by the torrential rain. Their current work involves clearing debris from roads and homes and organizing essential supplies.

[Features reporter] Meet K-pop rookie group 1VERSE featuring N. Korean defectors

2025/07/21 17:38

Kun-woo, you've been introducing us to many of the freshest K-pop acts while meeting them face-to-face along the way. This time, I hear you've sat down with yet another new boy band. Tell us more. Yes, this brand-new boy group is called 1VERSE. What really caught my attention and why I decided to feature them is their diversity. That's because all of the members come from outside South Korea, including North Korea. But before I dive into the story, here's a look at my meeting with the boys. Alone, they're just individuals with different verses, but together, they create a story, a song, and a universe. That's how you could describe this brand-new five-piece K-pop group 1VERSE, which has two members who are North Korean defectors. It's extremely rare to see North Korean-born "idol" stars debut on the K-pop scene, which makes you wonder how they first got into K-pop. "I came across F(x)'s 'LA chA TA' music video when I was young and heard K-pop songs through USBs passed around secretly." Coming to South Korea at a young age was already a dangerous journey, but their struggle didn't end there. "My beloved family were still in the North, and while coming here allowed me to finally dream, I still felt like the loneliest of the lonely. The biggest battle was with myself, a fight I kept losing. But just having our members by my side filled that emptiness and gave me strength." Even language was a hurdle, especially for rap. "I naturally speak in a North Korean dialect, but when I rap, I train myself to turn it off. As for English, I started with the ABCs and kept practicing until it finally started to feel natural." Other members -Asian-Americans "KENNY" and "NATHAN," and Japanese "AITO" -also faced their own challenges. "The hardest part about like training was the barrier of cultural barrier. There's a lot of getting used to that and also sentence structures. So I had to learn how to shape my mind into a Korean person." "I've never been away from family for the past twenty-three years in my life. There was a lot of adjustment to do. However, with the guys now and the staff and everyone, they're like my second family." Despite their different backgrounds, they found common ground in pursuing their dreams through music. "With diversity being a factor in our group, we learned that hey, everyone's story is important, everyone matters, and everyone deserves to be heard and deserves to be respected, despite wherever they come from." They hope to be of comfort to others, and that very hope is what's guiding them toward their own dreams. "I had a time when I didn't even look up at the sky. Those hard times live in my lyrics now. To anyone watching us, even from the North, I want to say: dream." Five different dreams in one universe(1VERSE). 1VERSE is showing that K-pop no longer solely belongs to South Korea, but to those with dreams and passion, regardless of where they are from. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

[K-Enter] "The King of Kings" beats "F1" to take the number one podium

2025/07/21 17:37

Time for K-enter news, let's start with a K-animation that recently made its much anticipated debut in KOREA! The Korean animated film "The King of Kings," which made waves in the North American box office, has now claimed the top spot in Korea surpassing Brad Pitt's American sports drama film "F1". According to the Korean Film integrated ticketing system on Monday morning, "The King of Kings" drew 127,984 viewers on Sunday, the first Sunday since opening, officially landing at No. 1 at the domestic box office. Over its opening weekend , the film attracted more than 300,000 moviegoers. The film also ranked No. 1 in both seat occupancy and sales rate. The movie premiered in the U.S. during the Easter season in April, where it earned over $60 million US dollars in theatres, surpassing Bong Joon-ho's "Parasite" to become the most successful Korean film ever released in Hollywood. You and I talked back stage about whether this is going to be a success domestically just like in North America, but it looks like the film is off to a successful start. And from one success to another, BLACKPINK. BLACKPINK have claimed the No. 1 spot on Spotify's weekly chart for the second time with their latest single "Jump." According to YG Entertainment, "Jump" topped the "Spotify Weekly Top Songs Global chart" released last Thursday. This marks BLACKPINK's second No. 1 on Spotify's weekly chart, following the success of their second album's title track, "Shut Down." So far, BLACKPINK are the only K-pop group to have reached No. 1 on the chart twice. Released on July 11, "Jump" racked up approximately 44 million streams on Spotify in just one week. The song also dominated the "Spotify Daily Top Songs Global chart", holding the No. 1 spot for six consecutive days from July 12 to 17. In addition to its Spotify success, "Jump" reached No. 1 on the iTunes Top Songs chart in 61 countries. Its music video has also maintained the top position on YouTube's Global Daily Trending Music Videos chart for seven straight days. BLACKPINK are currently on their "DEADLINE" world tour with Toronto Canada being their next stop. Last but not least let's talk about RIIZE. RIIZE have expanded their first world tour with additional stops. The "2025 RIIZE CONCERT TOUR " will now include eight cities across North America including Rosemont, New York, Washington D.C. and more. For specific dates and venues you can check out their social media platforms. RIIZE has been impressing their fans with the genre of 'Emotional pop' not to mention their diverse stage performances. It's no wonder the extra dates were added. The tour kicked off in Seoul in early July and spans many cities around Asia and North America, eventually reaching 22 cities worldwide by February 2025. Thank you for that news Walter. Now we move onto our AI anchor Ari for more culture news. Ari take it away.

K-wave AI News

2025/07/21 17:35

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. Record-breaking downpours across Korea have caused widespread damage to national heritage sites. According to the Korea Heritage Service, eight cases have been confirmed so far, involving national treasures, state-registered cultural properties, and others. In Sancheong, Gyeongsangnam-do Province, a pavilion at Yulgoksa Temple, believed to have been founded in 930 during the Silla Dynasty, was severely damaged. In Suncheon, Jeollanam-do Province, a partial landslide blocked access to a scenic site surrounding Songgwangsa and Seonamsa Temples on Mount Jogye. Although not included in the official tally, the Bangudae Petroglyphs, recently inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, were submerged just one week after their listing. Authorities have launched emergency response efforts to prevent further damage and carry out full-scale restoration. You Hong-jun, one of Korea's most prominent experts in the field of cultural heritage, has been named the new Director General of the National Museum of Korea. You previously headed the Cultural Heritage Administration, now known as the Korea Heritage Service. He is also well known for his book detailing his cultural heritage explorations, which became the first million-seller in the humanities category in the early 1990s. Describing the National Museum as the pride of Korea's cultural heritage and a beloved space for all Koreans, You pledged to promote worldwide that the roots of K-art are deeply connected to Korea's cultural heritage. The popular event 'Seoul Light DDP,' traditionally held only in autumn and winter, will be held this summer for the first time. From July 31 to August 10, daily media art displays will begin at 8 p.m. under the theme "Timescape." Drawing on the historic significance of Seoul's "Hanyang" Fortress and the "Igan" Water Gate, the exhibition explores the passage of time and the emotions it carries through light reflected on water. A newly created water feature in the DDP park area offers visitors a refreshing space to cool off during summer nights while enjoying immersive media art and interactive exhibits centered around the theme of water. That's all from me. Stay tuned to the Kulture Wave.

Kulture Issue_Taking a look back at the development of hallyu ahead of APEC summit

2025/07/21 17:34

Gyeongju is hosting this year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. The APEC summit takes place in late October to early November this year. As a city that can best showcase South Korea's unique identity, Gyeongju may be seen as the root of hallyu. With that in mind, today we want to take a look back at the history of the Korean Wave from the period Korea joined APEC in 1989 until today. We're going to do that with Professor David Tizzard at Seoul Women's University and Hanyang University, who is now connected with us. Hello Professor Tizzard! Korea joined APEC in 1989. Back then, no one really spoke about the "Korean Wave", like we do today. (There may have been a few Korean songs that had become known overseas after the 1988 Seoul Olympics ) So, could you first give us an overall assessment of Korean culture before and after the late 1980s? In the late 1990s, the Korean Wave began to take off. Why did it take off around this time? Now let's travel to year 2005. South Korea hosted its first APEC summit in Busan back then. And it's also around this time that the Korean Wave really started to get going. What triggered this? So, which Korean content was popular around that time? And two decades later, that's this year, 2025, Gyeongju will host another APEC summit in the fall. Gyeongju was the capital of the Kingdom of Silla and is often referred to as a "museum without walls". How would you describe the city of Gyeongju? Professor Tizzard, please tell us about your own experience in Gyeongju. (Any differences you felt between your first and most recent visit?) What are some must-visit places or attractions there? Comparing Korea's culture from when the first APEC summit took place in 2005 to now in 2025, how has it evolved and how much has Korea's status on the international stage changed? (I'm also curious about whether the increase in tourists due to hallyu has impacted big cities in terms of infrastructure, new attractions, renovations, etc.) Do international events like APEC have an impact on the rising popularity of hallyu? Thank you Professor Tizzard for your insights. Have a great rest of the day. Thank you Walter, see you back tomorrow.

[NEWs GEN] North Korean Defectors’ Day: How the younger generation is reaching S. Korea

2025/07/21 14:33

[NEWs GEN] North Korean Defectors’ Day: How the younger generation is reaching S. Korea 탈북민 절반 이상이 MZ 세대… 남북 평화로 가는 길은?

18 killed, 9 missing in heavy rains, landslides

2025/07/21 13:39

Over a dozen people have been killed and 9 others are missing following heavy rain and landslides across the country. President Lee Jae Myung has called on the government to find ways to swiftly designate areas hit hard as special disaster zones. Lee Seung-jae has more. 18 people have been killed and 9 others are missing after heavy rain across South Korea, beginning last week, and subsequent flooding and landslides. The latest figures were announced by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the National Fire Agency on Monday, with the southern county of Sancheong seeing the largest number of victims with 10 dead and 4 missing. Firefighting officials say rescue operations are still underway there. Torrential downpours have slammed the country since Wednesday, with Sancheong receiving an accumulated 793-point-5 millimeters of rain as of 5 PM Sunday. The other deaths occurred in Osan and Gapyeong in Gyeonggi-do Province, Seosan and Dangjin, Chungcheongnam-do Province, and the southwestern city of Gwangju. Since last week, authorities have reported 1-thousand-999 cases of flooded roads, soil loss and destroyed public facilities, with 2-thousand-238 other cases of damage to private property. Over 14 thousand people have been taken to shelters across 15 major cities and provinces, while 62 flights were cancelled. In response to the nationwide damage,.. President Lee Jae Myung on Sunday, instructed the government to find ways to swiftly designate the areas that were hit hardest as special disaster zones. Areas designated as special disaster zones are entitled to government support for damage recovery and victim relief. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

High temperatures and localized showers expected

2025/07/21 13:38

We saw an incredible amount of rain nationwide last week. But with the rain wrapping up yesterday, it's all about getting prepared for the heat this week! Heatwave advisories are in place across some parts of the country, and we expect these advisories to expand even further. With plenty of moisture in the air, strong, sudden, heavy rain could fall at any time. Specifically, today, expect heavy rain of 30 to 50 millimeters per hour, especially in the southern regions. By afternoon, Seoul is expected to reach 31 degrees Celsius, Daejeon to 32 degrees, and Gwangju to 34 degrees. Feels like temperatures will be higher with the high humidity. We're looking at tropical nights as the heat builds up, and daytime highs will soar as high as 34 degrees by Thursday with a chance of passing rain. Stay hydrated and take care.

Tsunami threat is over after several large quakes off Russia's Pacific coast

2025/07/21 13:38

On Sunday, a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck 144 kilometers east of Russia's Petro-PAV-lovsk-Kam-CHAT-sky city. The tremors triggered tsunami alerts, which were later lifted. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center and U.S. National Tsunami Center issued coastal warnings for Kamchatka, Hawaii, Guam, and American Samoa. Roughly two hours later, all alerts were officially downgraded and lifted. There have been no reports of casualties or structural damage, and seismic activity has subsided. Authorities warn that the Kamchatka Peninsula remains a high-risk seismic zone.

At least 30 injured as vehicle drives into crowd outside Los Angeles music venue

2025/07/21 13:37

In the United States, 30 people were injured, seven critically, when a vehicle drove into a crowd outside a music venue in East Hollywood, Los Angeles, in the early hours of Saturday. The driver, identified as 29-year-old Fernando Ramirez, was reportedly kicked out of the nightclub minutes before he drove his car into the crowd. Surveillance footage shows him mounting the sidewalk around 2 AM, first hitting a taco stand, then a valet podium, and finally the waiting crowd. Ramirez was dragged from the wrecked vehicle, assaulted, and shot before being hospitalized. Authorities found no evidence indicating that the incident was linked to terrorism or driven by any criminal intentions beyond the driver's intoxicated state. Police are also searching for the man who shot Ramirez and fled the scene.

Vietnam's Halong Bay boat capsize death toll rises to 38

2025/07/21 13:37

Good morning, I'm Choi Chi-hee, and this is The World Now. Starting in Vietnam a tourist boat capsized in Ha Long Bay on Saturday leading to at least 38 deaths. The Wonder Sea, carrying 53 people, mostly Vietnamese families from Hanoi, capsized around 2 PM local time after encountering sudden fierce winds, heavy rain, and lightning. Ten people were rescued, including a 14-year-old boy who was pulled out from the hull four hours after the capsize. Five people are still missing and search and rescue efforts are still underway. The storm came on so quickly that passengers had little time to react, even though life vests were available.

Meet K-pop rookie group 1VERSE featuring N. Korean defectors

2025/07/21 13:37

In K-pop news. A fresh new boy band. Truly one of a kind, with all of its members coming from outside of South Korea, including North Korea. Park Kun-woo has 's story. Alone, they're just individuals with different verses, but together, they create a story, a song, and a universe. That's how you could describe this brand-new five-piece K-pop group 1VERSE, which has two members who are North Korean defectors. It's extremely rare to see North Korean-born "idol" stars debut on the K-pop scene, which makes you wonder how they first got into K-pop. "I came across F(x)'s 'LA chA TA' music video when I was young and heard K-pop songs through USBs passed around secretly." Coming to South Korea at a young age was already a dangerous journey, but their struggle didn't end there. "My beloved family were still in the North, and while coming here allowed me to finally dream, I still felt like the loneliest of the lonely. The biggest battle was with myself, a fight I kept losing. But just having our members by my side filled that emptiness and gave me strength." Even language was a hurdle, especially for rap. "I naturally speak in a North Korean dialect, but when I rap, I train myself to turn it off. As for English, I started with the ABCs and kept practicing until it finally started to feel natural." Other members -Asian-Americans "KENNY" and "NATHAN," and Japanese "AITO" -also faced their own challenges. "The hardest part about like training was the barrier of cultural barrier. There's a lot of getting used to that and also sentence structures. So I had to learn how to shape my mind into a Korean person." "I've never been away from family for the past twenty-three years in my life. There was a lot of adjustment to do. However, with the guys now and the staff and everyone, they're like my second family." Despite their different backgrounds, they found common ground in pursuing their dreams through music. "With diversity being a factor in our group, we learned that hey, everyone's story is important, everyone matters, and everyone deserves to be heard and deserves to be respected, despite wherever they come from." They hope to be of comfort to others, and that very hope is what's guiding them toward their own dreams. "I had a time when I didn't even look up at the sky. Those hard times live in my lyrics now. To anyone watching us, even from the North, I want to say: dream." Five different dreams in one universe(1VERSE). 1VERSE is showing that K-pop no longer solely belongs to South Korea, but to those with dreams and passion, regardless of where they are from. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

[On-point] How will Ichiba's upper house loss affect Japan's foreign policy?

2025/07/21 13:35

Now, with those results in for Japan's upper house election. Let's discuss what this means for Japan going forward as well as for Seoul-Tokyo relations. For more on this we have Professor Lim Eun-jung of Kongju National University with us this morning. Thank you for joining us, Professor. 1. What were the central issues that drove voter behavior in this election, and how did the candidates frame their positions on those concerns? 2. What does the outcome of this election suggest about the direction Japan is heading, both politically and economically, in the coming months? 3. How might this election result influence Japan's relationship with South Korea, especially amid ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation? 4. Based on the results, what kind of leadership and policy tone should we expect from Tokyo going forward, more nationalist and pragmatic, especially when it comes to the tariff issues with the U.S.?

Japan's ruling party loses upper house control

2025/07/21 13:35

Japan's ruling party coalition is certain to fail to maintain its majority in the upper house election held on Sunday. That's according to NHK on Monday, which said that the Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner Komeito are predicted to win 46 to 49 seats in the election, falling short of the 50 seats needed to maintain a majority. The Asahi Shimbun also reported that the ruling party coalition is certain to fail to maintain a majority. NHK also projected that the main opposition party, the liberal Constitutional Democratic Party would win 21 seats.

President Lee withdraws Education Minister nominee Lee Jin-sook

2025/07/21 13:35

President Lee Jae Myung has withdrawn his nomination of Lee Jin-sook, the former president of Chungnam National University, as South Korea's Education Minister. Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Woo Sang-ho told reporters on Sunday that the decision was made after "carefully listening to various opinions," including those shared during President Lee's meeting with the floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party and the main opposition People Power Party on Saturday. The nominee had come under fire after allegations of plagiarism in her academic work and controversy over sending her daughter abroad alone to study while still a middle school student, which is illegal under Korean law. Woo added that the government will search for a new candidate to lead the Education Ministry.

S. Korea's livelihood recovery consumption coupon applications begin

2025/07/21 13:34

From today, people in South Korea started applying for their livelihood recovery consumption coupons. The coupons are being provided to all Korean citizens and some 350-thousand non-Korean residents. They can generally only be spent at small local businesses and are aimed at reviving consumer spending and boosting the sluggish domestic economy. For more about the application procedures and amount provided, Park Jun-han has the details. From 9 AM Monday, people can apply to receive the livelihood recovery consumption coupon, the first major economic stimulus under the Lee Jae Myung administration. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced that the applications will be open for approximately eight weeks, from 9 AM today until 6 PM on September 12, through both online and offline channels. The coupon program provides 150-thousand Korean won, roughly 1-hundred-8 U.S. dollars, per recipient, with higher amounts for certain groups. 300-thousand won will be given to low-income households and single-parent families, and 400-thousand won for recipients of the Basic Livelihood Subsidy. Residents from areas outside of Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi-do Province will receive an additional 30-thousand won, while those living in one of the 84 designated rural areas at risk of depopulation will get an extra 50-thousand won. People will receive coupons the day after application and the coupons are valid until November 30. The ministry says no coupons will be issued after the September 12 deadline, and those who don't apply will not receive any benefits. To prevent system overload and congestion, the first week from Monday through Friday will follow a day-of-the-week system based on the last digit of the applicant's birth year: 1 or 6 on Monday, 2 or 7 on Tuesday, 3 or 8 on Wednesday, 4 or 9 on Thursday, and 5 or 0 on Friday. Weekend applications are only available through online registration. Applicants can choose to receive coupons as credit/debit cards, prepaid cards, or a community-based gift certificate which can only be used at registered merchants in the applicant's municipality. Coupons can only be used at small businesses with annual sales of 3 billion won or less. They are not valid at large marts, corporate supermarkets, department stores, duty-free shops, online malls, delivery apps, entertainment, gambling, or cash-equivalent businesses. Foreign residents who fall under certain categories can also receive the coupons. The eligible groups are permanent residents, marriage migrants, recognized refugees those who are listed on a resident registration document that includes at least one Korean citizen, and those who were formerly on a Korean family registry document. To be eligible, they must be enrolled in the national health insurance system, either as a subscriber, dependent or recipient. The government says the livelihood coupon should stimulate consumption and boost the local economy. Another, smaller coupon will be distributed later this year. Park Jun-han, Arirang News.

[Weekly Focus] K-beauty’s beautiful growth: Yet another record-breaking export

2025/07/19 12:35

South Korea's cosmetics have once again broken records in the first half of this year. They've also become a must-buy item for foreign tourists when visiting the country. For more on this, we have our business correspondent Park Jun-han, here in the studio to tell us about the K-beauty industry's remarkable growth and the reasons why people from all over the world like it. Welcome, Jun-han. Thanks for having me, Do-yeon. 1. Jun-han, Korean beauty products have been popular for quite some time. But how popular are they really? Right Do-yeon. Just two days ago, I went to Myeongdong, one of the most popular areas for foreign visitors. There, I could spot people from all over the world shopping for Korean beauty products. They told me that K-beauty products are well-known in their countries, and they're happy to buy them at a lower price than they would at home. Let's take a listen to what tourists had to say about their K-beauty shopping experience in Korea. "I heard about it through social media in France. We have a lot of channels in France that talk about it, so every French person wants to try it because it works — so yeah. It's my first time; I've never tried it, so I'll try and see." "We found out through TV. I think it's well known that Korean beauty products are very good. Also, friends and family asked us, 'Are you going to Korea? Can you bring me this or that?' because they know Korean products are very famous for that." 2. I see, Jun-han. Now we know that Korean beauty products are famous all over the world, what makes them stand out compared to products from other countries? What makes them so special? You actually made a great point there, Do-yeon. When asked about what makes Korean cosmetics so special, one of the industry experts told me that for their price, they are technologically advanced, and that Korean beauty firms are creative when developing new products. Let's take a listen. "Cosmetics companies in South Korea are so technologically advanced and cost-effective that last year we became the third-largest exporter in the world. They're incredibly creative and great at coming up with new products, which is why they're receiving this kind of attention around the world." Another claim made by the same industry expert is that cultural exposure and influence — such as through K-pop and K-drama figures — are attracting potential consumers to buy K-beauty products. "As K-dramas and K-pop have become more popular, people around the world are seeing more of Korean people's skin. I think that has contributed to a perception that Koreans have great skin because they use Korean cosmetics. Most of the products are now vegan, and there are also many functional patents behind them." 3. No wonder that K-beauty exports hit a new record in the first half of this year. Jun-han, can you walk us through the latest figures? Sure Do-yeon. The growth of South Korea's beauty product exports is surging at a dramatic pace, backed by record figures. According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, South Korea exported cosmetics to 176 countries in the first half of 2025, reaching a total of 5.51 billion U.S. dollars — a 14.8 percent increase from the same period last year. By country, China, the United States and Japan were the top three importers, accounting for 48.1 percent of total exports. Although China saw an over 10 percent year-on-year decrease in export value, it still ranked as the number one importer. The United States and Japan, however, saw remarkable increases of over 17 percent and 15 percent, respectively. From 2012 to 2024, South Korea's cosmetics exports surged by over 850%, showing a strong annual growth trend. And if the current pace continues, 2025 could mark yet another historic high, hopefully surpassing the 11 billion dollar mark. 4. K-beauty is doing remarkably well, but I'm sure there's still room for improvement and even concerns within the industry about future challenges. Tell us. That's right, Do-yeon. Although Korea's cosmetics industry is performing very well, there are some concerns that remain, such as regulatory challenges and a possible increase in prices due to the 25% U.S. "reciprocal" tariffs. Now, let's take a listen to what a professor of the beauty industry had to say. "The government's R&D expenditure is too small compared to the increasing sales and exports of the cosmetics industry. All industries in Korea face difficulties without government support, and I think the industry can grow much more if it is supported. Also, another industry expert raised concerns about factors that might increase product prices. "Concerns over tariffs essentially come down to pricing. Since each individual ingredient must undergo safety testing, the overall cost naturally increases. As a result, cosmetic prices inevitably rise. Rather than simply easing regulations, I believe we need to explore ways to simplify the safety assessment process while still ensuring product safety." With rising demand from all over the world, K-beauty is now not just a trend — it's a new culture. Alright, Jun-han, Thanks for sharing your thoughtful insights today. Thank you, Do-yeon, I hope to see you again soon.