News

[Weather] Heat wave warnings across the country with high UV rays

2025/07/22 22:41

Today is Daeseo on the traditional calendar, which means the hottest day of the year. Heat wave advisories and warnings have been issued in most parts of the country. Some areas in the west and the east coast of Gangwon-do province and the Gyeongsang-do provinces have been upgraded to a higher level with heat wave warnings. It will feel above 33 degrees Celsius in most regions tomorrow. In addition, the UV index will be high throughout the country. Very high levels of UV rays will affect the southern parts of the country in the morning and the whole country in the afternoon. Please be prepared when you go outside. Tomorrow morning will start warm at around 23 to 25 degrees nationwide. It will move up to 33 degrees in Seoul and Daejeon, 32 degrees in Chuncheon and Busan. The heat wave with tropical nights will continue for the time being. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

[THE INTERVIEW] Meet Korean bobsleigh legend now racing for IOC seat

2025/07/22 22:40

Korea's Won Yunjong -Asia's first-ever bobsleigh Olympic medalist - is now aiming to make history once again. This time, he's running for a seat on the International Olympic Committee's Athletes' Commission to represent athletes from around the world. Park Kun-woo tells us more. Legendary Korean bobsleigher Won Yunjong appeared confident and full of anticipation after being named one of the final 11 candidates for membership of the IOC Athletes' Commission last month. "Those candidates are role models in their own sports and have significant influence. So it's truly meaningful to be named among them." If elected in the athletes' vote at the 2026 Winter Games, Won would become Korea's first winter sports athlete to hold a seat on the IOC Athletes' Commission. Then he'd be able to act as a bridge between the IOC and athletes -to listen to them and make sure they're represented -throughout his 8-year term. Won says his own experience as an athlete has shaped how he hopes to serve. "If elected, I want to connect with athletes everywhere and speak with them freely. I've seen athletes struggling when transitioning after retirement. I want to support them through that phase, and help address mental health concerns, too. I also want to eradicate doping and protect clean athletes." With climate change threatening the future of winter sports, Won says environmental advocacy should also be part of the job. "Athletes have a big influence on the public. If they take the lead in environmental campaigns, it can raise awareness and help preserve both the planet and winter sports." But the road won't be easy. Won says he's ready to walk thousands of steps, literally, to meet athletes during the Olympics, with sincerity. For the legendary bobsleigh athlete, challenge is nothing new, as it's been the driving force behind every milestone in his journey. "What does challenge mean to you on a personal level, and as a person Won Yunjong, what are your personal goals?" "Challenge means growth and change to me. When I tried to become a bobsleigh athlete, it was a challenge and I made it. I tried to get the medal and it was a huge challenge for me, all my life, but yeah I did it. I think there are lots of challenges if I want to get good outcomes. So I believe that I can be a better person through challenges." 'No brake until the end.' With that mindset, Won says he'll keep racing forward -just like on the bobsleigh track -toward what could be a new milestone for Korean sports diplomacy. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News, Pyeongchang.

"Like JENNIE" chosen as best K-pop song of 2025 so far by Billboard critics

2025/07/22 22:39

On the entertainment front, BLACKPINK Jennie's single "Like JENNIE" has been selected as the Best K-pop Song of 2025 by Billboard critics. According to the Billboard website on Monday, "Like JENNIE" ranked first out of the 25 standout singles from this year so far. Billboard praised the artist's ability to "flip all expectations of what constitutes a K-pop hit today," and highlighted the song's blend of Korean into a mostly English record.

Air force jet crashes into school in Bangladesh, at least 27 dead

2025/07/22 22:39

Over in Bangladesh. A tragic aviation accident in the country's capital has led to at least 27 deaths. A military jet crashed into a school during a routine training session. Byeon Ye-young reports. A Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crashed into a school in the nation's capital on Monday at around 1 PM local time, killing at least 27 people. According to officials, most of the victims were students. "I was there just ten minutes ago. After I moved, moments later, the plane crashed into the building." The crash caused a major fire that injured over 170 people, leaving many students with burns. Helicopters, ambulances, and motorized rickshaws were used in the rescue operation. Some students were carried out in the arms of firefighters and by family members. "When we came out, we saw many students who had been charred. On the staircases, many were rolling on the floor trying to extinguish the flames." According to a military statement, the F-7 BGI jet experienced a technical issue shortly after takeoff during a routine training flight. The military said the pilot, who also died in the crash, tried to divert the plane to a less populated area before it ultimately struck the campus. An investigation is underway. The government has declared a national day of mourning, with flags at half-mast and special prayers held at all places of worship. In a video address, Muhammad Yunus, the head of Bangladesh's interim government, extended condolences to the families of the victims. "What a tremendous tragedy this is. We are with you. The entire nation stands with you." The incident comes just over a month after an Air India plane crashed into a medical college hostel in neighboring India's Ahmedabad, killing 241 of the 242 people on board and 19 on the ground, the world's worst aviation disaster in a decade. Byeon Ye-young, Arirang News.

Millions apply for consumption coupons; Gov't eyes further stimulus

2025/07/22 22:38

South Korea's much-anticipated livelihood recovery consumption coupons have seen an overwhelming response, drawing millions of applicants on the first day of availability. Moon Ji-young tells us more. On the first day of applications for South Korea's livelihood recovery consumption coupons, nearly 7 million people — representing roughly 14 percent of the total eligible recipients — applied for them. According to the Ministry of Interior and Safety, the total amount disbursed on the first day exceeded 1-point-2-7 trillion won. Credit and debit card applications were the most popular ways of receiving money, accounting for 77 percent of the total. Among community-based gift certificates, mobile applications were the most frequent, with nearly one million applicants, followed by prepaid cards and then paper gift certificates. Some local governments have faced a shortage of paper-based community-based gift certificates, which are crucial for the elderly who often find the digital application process for card-type coupons challenging. "For me, living alone, I believe it will certainly help with my meals." The significant uptake highlights the public's immediate interest in the government's stimulus initiative. At a cabinet meeting held on Tuesday, President Lee Jae Myung highlighted the government's commitment to ensuring the coupons do not exacerbate economic burdens. "Though these coupons offer income support, the primary objective, fundamentally, is to boost consumption and drive economic recovery. With this in mind, I ask each ministry to prepare additional consumption promotion programs. Of course, there might be inflationary pressure as a result, but even when consumption coupons are not issued, prices often rise to an unacceptable degree under various pretexts. Therefore, I ask that you promptly and rigorously manage prices." The livelihood recovery consumption coupons provide at least 150-thousand Korean won, or roughly 1 hundred 8 U.S. dollars, per recipient. To prevent system congestion, the first week from Monday through Friday follows a day-of-the-week system based on the last digit of the applicant's birth year. Weekend applications are only available online. President Lee urged local governments to ensure that no eligible individuals are inadvertently missed, emphasizing the importance of minimizing any blind spots in distribution. Additionally, to tighten oversight on secondhand coupon trades, the presidential office ordered local governments on Tuesday to strengthen monitoring of any second-hand transactions, while also appealing to the public for their active cooperation in the proper use of the consumption coupons. Moon Ji-young, Arirang News.

Leaders of S. Korea, Qatar to work toward deepening bilateral cooperation

2025/07/22 22:37

The leaders of South Korea and Qatar will work toward deepening cooperation following the launch of the new administration in Seoul. This was the focus of President Lee Jae Myung's first phone call with Qatar's Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Tuesday evening. According to presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung, the two leaders shared their mutual interest in expanding cooperation across investment, artificial intelligence, defense, and sports. President Lee also asked for the emir's support for Korean companies doing business in Qatar. The two agreed to meet in person at a convenient time to further advance bilateral ties.

President Lee urges no efforts be spared helping victims of flooding

2025/07/22 22:36

President Lee Jae Myung has once again urged officials to spare no effort in helping people affected by the recent downpours and designated six cities or counties as special disaster zones this evening. Our presidential office correspondent Yoon Jung-min reports. The day after returning to his office from a flood-hit area in the south, the President began Tuesday's Cabinet meeting by noting the suffering of the people from days of heavy rains and extreme heat. "The faces of people there were void as they thought of their destroyed homes and lost family members. As the president in charge of state affairs, I will try to be more sensitive to the pain of each and every person." He once again urged his Cabinet to spare no effort in helping those affected and searching for the missing, while speeding up the designation of special disaster zones. The first to be designated for state funding were six cities or counties, including Gapyeong in Gyeonggi-do Province, Damyang in Jeollanam-do, and Sancheong in Gyeongsangnam-do. Special grants of 5-and-a-half billion won, worth nearly 4-million U.S. dollars, will be used to help several regions recover, including Gwangju and Gyeongsangnam-do Province. President Lee Jae Myung went on to urge his Cabinet to look for new approaches, which could involve leveraging technologies such as AI. "I realized this time that existing methods, facilities, equipment, and countermeasures are no longer enough. I hope you newly reorganize fundamental measures." This, as nine new Cabinet members attended the meeting, including ministers in charge of finance, labor, and safety, signaling the start of a full-fledged new government. "Our economy faces very tough conditions. In the short term, we need to revive the livelihoods of the people and respond to tariff negotiations with the U.S. In the longer term, we should build the "real" Republic of Korea, "real" growth." Another focus was on minimizing industrial accidents, for which the Cabinet approved a revised law to disclose the builders if any such accidents occur at construction sites. In clear reflection of daunting tasks ahead, the President asked his new Cabinet to be mindful of the work they do, calling them a "touchstone" for the future that greatly affects the lives of every person in the country. Yoon Jung-min, Arirang News.

At least 19 dead, 9 still missing after heavy rain as of 6 AM Tuesday; search efforts continue

2025/07/22 22:35

South Korea is racing against time to recover from last week's torrential rains that left at least 19 people dead. Search and recovery operations are in full swing. Our Shin Ha-young has this report. Heavy rain that began last Wednesday continued for five days, but despite current drier conditions, casualties are still being reported. According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, as of 6 AM Tuesday, at least 19 people have been confirmed dead, while 9 remain missing nationwide. In Gyeonggi-do Province, the death toll has risen to five after two missing people were confirmed dead on Monday. Four others remain missing. The latest confirmed fatalities were a man in his 70s who went missing in a landslide in Gapyeong-gun County and a man in his 50s who was swept away by a fast-moving stream in Pocheon City. Search efforts in Gapyeong, which were halted after sunset on Monday, resumed at 7 AM on Tuesday. Approximately 250 personnel are participating, with equipment, including helicopters and drones, being deployed. The situation on site remains difficult, with many roads closed due to flooding or damage. Several areas are also without electricity, water, or communication, making search efforts challenging. "I've lived over 70 years, but I've never seen floods like these. I don't even know who to talk to about it. I just feel like breaking down in tears. I really hope someone can help us." In Sancheong-gun County in Gyeongsangnam-do Province, search operations for the missing have entered their fourth day after heavy rain caused serious damage. Authorities continued search efforts until 7 PM the previous day and resumed them at 6:40 AM Tuesday. As of 6 AM, 10 people in the region have been confirmed dead, and 4 remain missing. The adverse weather also caused the deaths of 3 people in Chungcheongnam-do Province and 1 person in Gwangju City. In a separate case, a man in his 70s in Suncheon City, Jeollanam-do Province, was found dead on Tuesday, three days after he was reported missing. Officials said the case is not counted as a disaster-related casualty, as he had crossed a restricted area and approached the river on his own. Meanwhile, emergency repairs have been completed for about 44 percent of the more than 6,700 damaged homes, roads, bridges, and other facilities across the country. More than 14-thousand people nationwide were forced to leave their homes due to the heavy rain, and about 2-thousand-500 of them have yet to return. Relief supplies, including emergency kits, blankets, temporary shelters, and essential items, are being provided to those affected. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News

S. Korea's prime minister reaffirms economic ties with U.S. at AMCHAM forum

2025/07/22 22:34

In the meantime, a solid economic alliance between Seoul and Washington was once again underscored by South Korea's Prime Minister Kim Min-seok on Tuesday, who stressed the importance of a mutually beneficial partnership between the two countries. Park Jun-han reports. Prime Minister Kim Min-seok gave a speech on Tuesday at a special forum, "Meet the New Prime Minister," organized by the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea, in which he outlined the country's economic policy direction for the next five years. The event reflected growing interest from the U.S. business community in Seoul's economic agenda. When making the speech, Prime Minister Kim started off reframing the Trump administration's slogan, "Make America Great Again" to "Make Korea and U.S. Great Again." Kim's slogan adjustment emphasized cooperation, highlighting that South Korea and the U.S. can grow stronger together. "The United States will grow stronger when it works with South Korea — effectively, and through a forward-looking partnership that fits today, not the past. I believe that with a broader vision and greater imagination, we will move beyond 'Make America Great Again' — toward 'Make Korea and the U.S. Great.' 'Make the U.S. and Korea Great.'" During the event, Joseph Yun , Chargé d'Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, emphasized the United States' concerns over its own trade and budget deficits. Yun, however, said the tariff talks between South Korea and the U.S. are going well and said the two sides will have good results very soon. "I'm really grateful that the new South Korean government has worked so amicably, so cooperatively with us on trying to close these gaps, and I have no doubt we'll have good results very soon again." James Kim, chairman and CEO of AMCHAM Korea, stated that the organization was working to bridge any gaps between South Korea and the U.S. so that the two countries' economic affairs can be conducted smoothly. "We launched the AMCHAM Buy America campaign in partnership with our member companies to enhance the visibility and accessibility of U.S. products, with the 2025 APEC Summit just around the corner." With the governments of South Korea and the United States actively negotiating on the 25% "reciprocal" tariffs, set to take effect in ten days, Prime Minister Kim and the U.S. side reaffirmed their strong commitment to maintaining a business-friendly environment and deepening economic cooperation between Seoul and Washington. Park Jun-han, Arirang News.

With clock winding down, new Finance Minister heads to Washington for tariff meeting on Friday

2025/07/22 19:42

South Korea's ministers of economy and trade are scheduled to sit down for TWO-PLUS-TWO trade talks with their American counterparts in the U.S. on Friday. Our correspondent Kim Do-yeon starts us off. South Korea and the United States will hold 2-plus-2 high-level talks on tariffs this Friday in the U.S., ahead of the August 1st deadline with 25-percent tariffs set to start. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol confirmed the meeting on Tuesday, following a meeting of external economic ministers behind closed doors. "With the August 1st deadline fast approaching, all relevant ministries are operating as one team — crafting a meticulous strategy and mounting a full-scale response to protect national interests." This will be the first meeting between the two sides' top finance chiefs with Koo having just been appointed to the position last week as Seoul seeks to lower the announced tariff rate. And at the request of the U.S., South Korea's trade minister not its industry minister will attend the talks alongside the Deputy Prime Minister for this session, confirming the counterparts will be Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. For Minister of Trade Yeo Han-koo, this is his third trip to Washington since his tenure began. Leaving first on Tuesday afternoon, the Trade Minister stressed that the nation is currently in a very "grave period," adding, "All scenarios — both best-and worst-case — remain on the table, so we will do our utmost to reflect our sensitive interests and maximize national interests." Meanwhile, Seoul's Industry and Foreign Ministers are also seeking separate meetings in the U.S. with their American counterparts. The meeting and the announcement came just hours after U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, in an interview with CNBC, stressed that Washington will not rush into any deal. He said , "The important thing here is the quality of the deal, not the timing of the deals," and added that their trading partners were told that the rates could "boomerang back" toward the April 2nd levels. When asked whether the deadline could be extended again, Bessent hinted that even if the tariffs go into effect next month, negotiations could continue. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.

[Weather] Heat waves and high UV rays across the country

2025/07/22 19:41

Today is Daeseo, which means the hottest day of the year on the traditional calendar. Heat wave advisories and warnings have been issued in most regions. Some areas in the west and the east coast of Gangwon-do province and Gyeongsang-do provinces have been upgraded to a higher level with heat wave warnings. The temperatures will feel above 33 degrees Celsius in most regions tomorrow as well. With heat waves everywhere, the UV index will be high across the country. From the morning, very high levels of UV rays will cover the skies in the southern parts of the country. The whole country will see very high UV levels in the afternoon. Please be prepared when you are outside. Tomorrow morning will start warm at around 23 to 25 degrees nationwide. It will move up to 33 degrees in Seoul and Daejeon, 35 degrees in Daegu. Even though sunny days will continue this week, there will be frequent showers in some areas. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

World News: Bangladesh Air Force training jet crashes into Dhaka school, killing at least 25

2025/07/22 19:41

This is the World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. In Bangladesh, at least 25 people, mostly students, have been killed after an Air Force training jet crashed into a school in the capital, Dhaka. At around 1 PM local time on Monday, an F-7 BGI fighter jet suffered a mechanical failure shortly after takeoff from Kurmitola Air Force Base and crashed into a building at the Milestone School and College campus. Students were attending classes at the time. Authorities confirmed the pilot and at least 24 people on the ground were killed. A major fire broke out due to the crash and more than 170 people, mainly children, were transported to hospitals with serious burns and injuries. The country's interim leader Muhammad Yunus ordered a full investigation and pledged support for the victims' families. A national day of mourning has been declared for Tuesday. In the United States, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hosted Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the Pentagon on Monday. They reaffirmed that the Mutual Defense Treaty applies to all Pacific waters, reaffirming their bilateral cooperation. Speaking after their closed-door meeting, Secretary Hegseth called the alliance "storied" and "essential," highlighting that treaty obligations extend to armed attacks on Philippine forces, public vessels, aircraft, or Coast Guard in any part of the Pacific, including the South China Sea. The two shared aligned views on Chinese assertiveness in the contested South China Sea. President Marcos mentioned the earlier March visit by Hegseth to Manila, saying it sent "a very clear message" of continued cooperation and strengthened partnership under the Mutual Defense Treaty. Microsoft released an emergency fix on Sunday for a vulnerability in its SharePoint Server that allowed hackers to carry out attacks on around 100 organizations over the weekend. Government agencies from the U.S. and Germany, banks, healthcare providers, and industrial companies were affected by the "zero-day" security flaw. Microsoft issued an alert on Saturday regarding ongoing attacks on its SharePoint servers, which are commonly used for document sharing and internal collaboration. Cybersecurity firms Eye Security and Shadowserver Foundation uncovered the breach on Friday and warned that the actual number of infected servers could exceed 9,000. The FBI and Britain's National Cyber Security Center have launched investigations into the campaign. In Brazil's São Conrado beach in Rio de Janeiro, the remains of a dead humpback whale were discovered on Monday. The whale was in an advanced state of decomposition, and authorities cordoned off the area, as people gathered to witness the unusual scene. According to biologists and fishermen, the remains are those of a calf that may have been separated from its mother during migration, as dozens of humpback whales pass along the Brazilian coast around this time of year. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.

BLACKPINK's new song 'JUMP' tops Billboard Global chart

2025/07/22 19:40

BLACKPINK's new song "JUMP" has topped the Billboard Global chart. According to its agency this marks the group's fourth time to rule the chart. What's more BLACKPINK hit number one on the Billboard Global 200 chart for the third time. These latest rankings make the team the first K-pop girl group to have the most top-ranking songs on both charts. Meanwhile TWICE's fourth full-length album called "This Is For" ranked 6th on the Billboard 200 chart. Since 2021 TWICE has seen two albums and five EPs enter the Billboard 200's Top 10.

World's biggest bat organoid model built to combat emerging infectious diseases

2025/07/22 19:39

On the medical front. Korean researchers have developed the world's largest bat organoid platform that is expected to enhance the study of zoonotic viruses. Lee Eun-jin explains. International outbreaks of viral infections in recent history have mostly originated from viruses transmitted from bats to humans. Mostly recently, there was the COVID-19 global pandemic, and before that, outbreaks like MERS, SARS and Ebola. As most zoonotic viruses reside in bats, these nocturnal creatures are often referred to as "virus reservoirs." Despite bats playing a crucial role in virus research, there has been a severe lack of experimental models based on bats. But a Korean research team has now developed a collection of bat organoid models spanning five species and four organ types. Organoids mimic the complexity of organs in a laboratory setting, and the Korean research team created organoids that replicate the lungs, kidneys, airways, and small intestines of bats, which are the key organs involved in viral infection and transmission. This model will help researchers comprehensively explore host-pathogen interactions. To build these organoids, they used five bat species commonly found in Korea and Northeast Asia, including the Myotis macrodactylus and Rhinolophus ferrumequinum. While bat intestinal organoids have been replicated previously, this marks the first time that 20 organoids—four for each of the five bat species—have been successfully created, making it the world's largest biological model. "The significance of this work lies in the fact that we created organoids from a variety of native bat species. This can be effectively used not only for studying new viruses but also for developing new treatments." The team took the research a step further by developing a drug screening system using these bat organoids. When tested with treatments like COVID-19 therapeutics, this new system demonstrated faster and more accurate assessments of drug efficacy compared to conventional methods. This breakthrough is expected to accelerate research into the infection mechanisms and treatment development for future emerging and mutating viruses. The research findings were published in the prestigious scientific journal Science. Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.

MMCA to present history of Korean contemporary art

2025/07/22 19:38

On the cultural front. Exhibitions showcasing Korea's modern works of art are taking place at two branches of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. Our Cha Yun-kyung has a glimpse. The Seoul branch of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, located in Jong-no District, is presenting famous works of Korean contemporary artists from the 1960s to the 2010s, utilising the museum's own collection. Starting with the renowned Kim Whan Ki's work, "Echo of Mountain," audiences can also find "Samramansang," a giant installation by Kang Ik-joong, and also "Floor" by Suh Do-ho. "As lots of Korean artists donated their works, as well as some from the Lee Kun-hee art collection, the quality of the museum's collection has been improved." World-famous artist Paik Nam-june's "Junk," which was shown at his personal exhibition at the Wolfsburg Art Museum in 1995, and Kim Soo-ja's "Bottari" from 2007 are being shown in public for the first time ever. The Gwacheon branch of MMCA, located in Gwacheon district, also presents works created in the first half of the 20th century, which encompass the Korean Empire to the Korean War, exploring how artists wrestled with the changes and challenges of their times. Famous art that came out after the Korean War is also scheduled to be shown from the end of June, which will offer viewers a multilayered introduction to current trends in Korean contemporary art through various eras. Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.

Annual World Korean Educator Conference 2025 kicks off

2025/07/22 19:38

Seoul is currently hosting an annual forum that has brought Korean-language teachers here and those overseas together to share their thoughts and techniques on enhancing the education of the country's native tongue. Ahn Sung-jin was there. "Korean meets the world, and educators open the future." Under this theme, hundreds of Korean language educators gathered for the 17th World Korean Educator Conference. Hosted by the Ministry of Culture and organized by the King Sejong Institute, the conference brings together teachers working at the latter's institutes across the globe. This year's event welcomes around 160 Korean-teaching professionals from more than 100 such institutes in 49 countries. The recipient of this year's top teaching award was acknowledged for introducing a unique lesson plan integrating writing courses through social media, and a cultural and language exchange program with Korean students studying abroad. "Rather than exposing Korean just as a language, I hope to teach it as a bridge to communicate with the world." The conference offers a range of programs designed to share the latest teaching methods and strengthen the expertise of Korean instructors, including practical workshops and curriculum discussions, and showcase innovative classroom techniques. "The demand for Korean culture is only going to increase, so we plan on expanding content that can be used in Korean-teaching classes. We are also seeking to establish an online platform and network, to share ideas and communicate, to firmly ground Korean-learning education." The 4-day-long conference will continue through the end of the week with professional development sessions aimed at building global connections and advancing Korean language education worldwide. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.

Additional 5,000-ton new destroyer to be built by Oct. 2026: N. Korea

2025/07/22 19:37

North Korea will build a THIRD five-thousand-ton destroyer by October next year. The regime's state media on Tuesday covered an event at Nampo Shipyard this past Monday to mark the start of the warship's construction. October 10th has reportedly been chosen as the completion date as it is the anniversary of the founding of the North Korean Workers' Party. Back in April North Korea unveiled its first five-thousand-ton destroyer and a second destroyer of the same class was launched in June following a botched attempt in May.

S. Korea's producer price index rises for first time in three months in June

2025/07/22 19:37

Producer prices rebounded in June after retreating for two straight months in response to higher costs of agricultural and livestock products. According to the Bank of Korea on this Tuesday last month's producer price index rose by 0-point-1 percent on month as agriculture forestry and fisheries products gained 0-point-6 percent. Bank officials add the heatwave and heavy rain this July have also rendered prices for farm and seafood products less predictable. They also believe June's higher oil prices might affect this month's producer prices.

Millions apply for consumption coupons; Gov't eyes further stimulus

2025/07/22 19:36

In other news. This past Monday close to seven million people applied for the consumption coupons that are being offered by the government to boost domestic spending. Moon Ji-young has details. On the first day of applications for South Korea's livelihood recovery consumption coupons, nearly 7 million people — representing roughly 14 percent of the total eligible recipients — applied for them. According to the Ministry of Interior and Safety, the total amount disbursed on the first day exceeded 1-point-2-7 trillion won. Credit and debit card applications were the most popular ways of receiving money, accounting for 77 percent of the total. Among community-based gift certificates, mobile applications were the most frequent, with nearly one million applicants, followed by prepaid cards and then paper gift certificates. Some local governments have faced a shortage of paper-based community-based gift certificates, which are crucial for the elderly who often find the digital application process for card-type coupons challenging. "For me, living alone, I believe it will certainly help with my meals." The significant uptake highlights the public's immediate interest in the government's stimulus initiative. At a cabinet meeting held on Tuesday, President Lee Jae Myung highlighted the government's commitment to ensuring the coupons do not exacerbate economic burdens. "Though these coupons offer income support, the primary objective, fundamentally, is to boost consumption and drive economic recovery. With this in mind, I ask each ministry to prepare additional consumption promotion programs. Of course, there might be inflationary pressure as a result, but even when consumption coupons are not issued, prices often rise to an unacceptable degree under various pretexts. Therefore, I ask that you promptly and rigorously manage prices." The livelihood recovery consumption coupons provide at least 150-thousand Korean won, or roughly 1 hundred 8 U.S. dollars, per recipient. People can apply online through their bank or credit card sites or through local payment apps. They can also apply offline at their local government neighborhood office. Online registrations are available through either mobile devices or computers. To prevent system congestion, the first week from Monday through Friday follows a day-of-the-week system based on the last digit of the applicant's birth year. Weekend applications are only available online. President Lee urged local governments to ensure that no eligible individuals are inadvertently missed, emphasizing the importance of minimizing any blind spots in distribution. Moon Ji-young, Arirang News.

President Lee urges no efforts be spared helping victims of flooding

2025/07/22 19:35

President Lee Jae Myung has highlighted yet again the importance of tangible support for victims of the latest torrential rain and for those who lost their loved ones amid the deadly downpour. Our top office correspondent Yoon Jung-min reports. The day after returning to his office from a flood-hit area in the south, the President began Tuesday's Cabinet meeting by noting the suffering of the people from days of heavy rains and extreme heat. "The faces of people there were void as they thought of their destroyed homes and lost family members. As the president in charge of state affairs, I will try to be more sensitive to the pain of each and every person." He once again urged his Cabinet to spare no effort in helping those affected and searching for the missing, while speeding up the designation of special disaster zones. Special grants of 5-and-a-half billion won, worth nearly 4-million U.S. dollars, will be used to help several regions recover, including Gwangju and Gyeongsangnam-do Province. President Lee Jae Myung went on to urge his Cabinet to look for new approaches, which could involve leveraging technologies such as AI. "I realized this time that existing methods, facilities, equipment, and countermeasures are no longer enough. I hope you newly reorganize fundamental measures." This, as nine new Cabinet members attended the meeting, including ministers in charge of finance, labor, and safety, signaling the start of a full-fledged new government. "Our economy faces very tough conditions. In the short term, we need to revive the livelihoods of the people and respond to tariff negotiations with the U.S. In the longer term, we should build the "real" Republic of Korea, "real" growth." Another focus was on minimizing industrial accidents, for which the Cabinet approved a revised law to disclose the builders if any such accidents occur at construction sites. In clear reflection of daunting tasks ahead, the President asked his new Cabinet to be mindful of the work they do, calling them a "touchstone" for the future that greatly affects the lives of every person in the country. Yoon Jung-min, Arirang News.