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

2025/07/22 19:34

Also here on the local front. Rescue and recovery operations continue in rain-ravaged regions amid the sweltering heat while relief assistance is being provided to those who remain unable to return home. Shin Ha-young has the latest. 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

DEADLY DOWNPOUR IN S.KOREA

2025/07/22 18:34

Hello and welcome to yet another edition of Press Perspective. It's Tuesday July 22nd here in Seoul. I'm Min Sunhee. Weather-related tragic incidents have been making headlines across the globe in recent days and South Korea is not an exception. For more I have freelance journalist Raphael Rashid from the U.K. based here in Seoul. Raphael welcome back. I also have Steven Borowiec with Japanese weekly news magazine Nikkei Asia. Steven it's good to have you here. Raphael, let's begin with the callous consequences of the torrential rain here in South Korea. Steven, I believe the president has stressed the significance of a greater disaster management framework in light of this latest tragedy. What did he say, and what are the prospects of such a prevention plan, do you think? Raphael, how are pundits here explaining the tragic event? Are they connecting it to broader weather patterns like climate change? What have you been hearing? By the way, Steven, are there any challenges faced by the foreign press here when covering such national disasters? Moving on, Raphael, online news magazine The Diplomat recently touched upon the tangible support base that President Lee Jae Myung continues to command from the general public. What's your take on this public sentiment? Meanwhile Steven, on the diplomatic front, the Lee Jae Myung administration and its U.S. as well as Japanese counterparts reaffirmed their commitment to the trilateral partnership during a recent meeting in Osaka. Do tell us more about this meeting and its implications. Raphael, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac departed for the U.S. this past Sunday. What has been shared about his latest agenda there, and I hear, more South Korean officials are planning to fly into the U.S. as well? Steven, Forbes recently published an article about South Korea's efforts to ensure human rights obligations within the corporate arena here in the country. Do tell us a bit about this initiative and its implications. Raphael, if the bill goes into effect, what changes are likely to be witnessed in Korea's corporate arena? All right.

[K-Enter] TWICE reach no. 6 on U.S. 'Billboard 200'

2025/07/22 17:37

Walter, for "once" let's start off with news on "TWICE"! TWICE have achieved another major milestone as their new album entered the Billboard 200 at No. 6 in the chart. According to an article published on Billboard's official website on Sunday, the group's fourth studio album "THIS IS FOR", released on July 11, earned 80,000 equivalent album units, securing the No. 6 spot on the main U.S. album chart. This marks TWICE's seventh consecutive album to enter the top 10 of the Billboard 200, beginning with their 10th mini album "Taste of Love", which also reached No. 6 in June 2021. With this latest entry, TWICE have extended their own record for the most top 10 appearances on the Billboard 200 by a K-pop girl group. The group also kicked off their sixth world tour, "THIS IS FOR", with two shows on July 19 and 20 in Incheon. "THIS IS FOR" is for all TWICE fans out there, from one record-breaking group to a record-breaking soloist who is part of a group though. BTS's Jungkook has broken yet another record on the global music streaming platform Spotify. According to the World Music Awards (WMA), Jungkook has become the first Asian solo artist to surpass 100 million streams with each of his original tracks, to which he has 18 in total on Spotify. The global media outlet Oneily Vibe highlighted Jungkook alongside Billie Eilish and Harry Styles as the only artists on Spotify whose entire original discography has individually topped 100 million streams, an extraordinary accomplishment. Jungkook has also surpassed 9.2 billion cumulative unfiltered streams on Spotify. Lastly, let's talk about an animation directed by a well-known Korean director in the field. Renowned Korean animator and director Park Sung-hoo, celebrated worldwide for his dynamic action direction in titles like The God of High School, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Ninja Kamui, has released his latest project, BULLET/BULLET, now streaming on Disney+ as of July 16. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, BULLET/BULLET follows the unpredictable journey of a junk shop worker named Gear. The series, a passion project developed over ten years, showcases Park's signature style through the thrilling adventure of a bold team of underdogs who rise up against corruption and injustice. Thanks for that news Walter, now let's move onto Ari our AI anchor for more culture-related news. Ari, over to you!

K-wave AI News

2025/07/22 17:36

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. The Hwacheon Tomato Festival, now recognized as one of Korea's signature summer events, is set to return on August 1 in Hwacheon County, Gangwon-do Province. Running through August 3, the festival will unfold across six themed zones, offering over 40 programs. The highlight is the "Golden Ring Hunt," where 22 tons of surplus tomatoes are scattered across a giant pit, inviting participants to dive in and search for the hidden gold rings. The experience zone offers hands-on activities such as tomato face painting, while the performance zone will feature a lineup of live shows. Festivities will kick off with an opening ceremony, featuring special performances and fireworks to mark the start of the three-day summer spectacle. The 2025 World Surf League Siheung Korea Open wrapped up after a successful event at Turtle Island in Siheung, Gyeonggi-do Province, drawing over 20,000 spectators. Marking a world first, the event was the WSL's inaugural QS6000 official competition held in an artificial wave pool. A record-breaking 192 athletes from 16 countries competed in the shortboard and longboard divisions, making it the largest tournament in the event's history. Siheung City is also calling for public interest and participation in the 2025 National Marine Sports Games, scheduled to take place at Turtle Island from August 30 to September 2. Renowned Swiss photographer Markus Klinko has opened his first Korea exhibition with a David Bowie tribute in Seoul. The show features 22 selected works from the past two decades, including iconic portraits and album covers of David Bowie, as well as other global stars like Lady Gaga. Klinko gained international acclaim in 2002 with the cover photo for Bowie's album "Heathen," praised for its striking portrayal of the artist's symbolism and inner world. Calling Korean culture a global phenomenon, Klinko unveiled plans to open a studio in Seoul this fall and to regularly visit Korea for projects related to K-pop, K-dramas, and K-beauty. That's all from me. Stay tuned to the Kulture Wave.

Annual World Korean Educator Conference 2025 kicks off

2025/07/22 17:35

From K-pop to Korean content, as the country's culture spreads, learning Korean has also become a byproduct. As more people seek to learn the language, the efforts of countless Korean educators at home and abroad are becoming crucial. To learn more about this our News Features reporter Ahn Sung-jin went to this year's World Korean Educator Conference. "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.

[Short-form] Seoul City’s Heatwave Response Plan

2025/07/22 17:34

Intense heatwaves have become the new normal in Seoul. Here’s how the city is helping Seoulites stay safe and cool this summer.

[K-Travel] Where to travel in Korea this summer? Part 3: Jeju Island

2025/07/22 17:34

It's time for our K-Travel segment, where we introduce some of the most popular places to visit this summer in Korea. Today we go over to Jeju Island, South Korea's biggest island and one of the top travel destinations in Korea. Jeju has also become a popular place to do a "handalsari", or a place to live in for a month. We are now going to connect to someone who is doing just that. Jesse Lee, a student and Jeju guide. Hello Jesse! Q1. (Jesse, we've had you in the studio before. That's when you were a guide in Seoul.) Please introduce yourself to our viewers who might see you for the first time and what brought you to Jeju? Q2. What was your first impression when you arrived on Jeju Island? (What was the biggest difference you felt compared to other big cities like Seoul or Busan?) Q3. Jeju is a popular travel destination among foreigners. As you've been on the island now for a while, what do you think attracts foreigners to Jeju? Q4. Jeju Island is home to many famous tourism spots, from natural attractions to cultural sites and beaches of course. But what would be your personal must-visit place? Q5. In summer there are also plenty of fun activities to do on the island. Have you tried any of them and what would you recommend? Q6. We can't leave out the food on Jeju. Which food has impressed you so far and which Jeju delicacy would you recommend to foreign friends? Q7. Any final tips for anyone who plans to visit Jeju Island in summer? Thank you very much Jesse for connecting with us today and hope you have an unforgettable summer! Thank you Walter as always. We'll see you back tomorrow.

U.S. more concerned with getting 'high-quality' trade deals than meeting Aug. 1 deadline: Bessent

2025/07/22 12:35

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said the Trump administration is more concerned with getting "high-quality" deals with trading partners than meeting the August 1st trade deadline. Lee Seung-jae has more. The Trump administration is more concerned with getting "high-quality" trade deals rather than meeting the August 1st tariff deadline. This, according to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who stressed Washington will not rush into any deal. During a CNBC interview on Monday, Bessent said that the administration is seeking "high-quality deals," adding that their trading partners were told that the rates could "boomerang back" toward the April 2nd levels. He added that Washington is not going to rush "for the sake of doing deals." The comments come as trading partners such as South Korea, Japan, and others look to make deals before the August 1st deadline, when the Trump administration's steep reciprocal tariffs are set to take effect. On April 2nd,.. U.S. President Donald Trump announced the reciprocal tariffs, which took effect on April 9th. However, he paused them that same day for 90 days to allow for negotiations, and later extended the pause to August 1st. When asked whether the deadline could be extended again, Bessent hinted that even if the tariffs go into effect next month, negotiations could continue. Meanwhile, with the deadline looming, South Korea's National Security Advisor Wi Sung-lac is in the U.S. to engage in high-level trade talks to accelerate tariff negotiations. Wi said earlier that Seoul had proposed a "package deal" encompassing economic and security considerations in the trade negotiations. Also, to advance trade negotiations, Wi said he proposed that President Lee Jae Myung hold a summit with Trump in the near future. Seoul's newly appointed finance and foreign ministers are also expected to visit the U.S. soon to discuss pending issues. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

President Lee visits downpour-devastated southern county

2025/07/22 12:34

President Lee Jae Myung also visited one of the areas hit hard by recent downpours, a southern county in Gyeongsangnam-do Province. He called for a swift designation of flood-hit areas as special disaster zones, to provide residents with financial and recovery support. Our presidential office correspondent Yoon Jung-min reports. Stepping on the ground where a trail of devastation was evident, President Lee Jae Myung met with residents, many of whose homes and farms had been turned into wreckage. He was in Sancheong-gun County in Gyeongsangnam-do Province on Monday, where at least 10 people were killed and four are missing. "Do you need anything?" "The entrance to our cattle shed has been completely blocked." "Do you need a machine to remove the debris?" The President also met rescue workers and was briefed about the situation by the county's deputy mayor. "Why has the town been hit particularly hard?" "We thought the clouds would dissipate, but they didn't and caused downpours." The President expressed his condolences and instructed officials to establish measures to prevent such disasters from happening again. He asked rescue workers to do their best searching for the missing, as he listened to the suffering of the people. "The president asked officials to provide recovery and relief support that people actually need, as he heard from the residents that they are in short supply of shoes and underwear because they had to evacuate abruptly." For that, Lee called for speedy aid, in line with the announcement the previous day to swiftly designate areas hit hard as special disaster zones to help facilitate financial and recovery support, while also mentioning providing special grants. Present at the site was the new interior minister Yun Ho-jung, who was instructed by the President to use all available measures to help support the residents affected. Yoon Jung-min, Arirang News.

[NEWs GEN] Kiosks and QR Codes: What do young people think about unmanned ordering?

2025/07/22 12:33

[NEWs GEN] Kiosks and QR Codes: What do young people think about unmanned ordering?

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

2025/07/22 11:39

At least 19 people have died and 9 are still missing after days of torrential rain caused landslides and flash floods across South Korea. Recovery efforts resumed this morning, with authorities continuing their full-scale operations. Our Shin Ha-young starts us off. With the heavy rain easing, recovery work is picking up speed in South Korea. Emergency repairs have been completed for about 44 percent of the more than 6,700 damaged homes, roads, bridges, and other facilities across the nation. "I've been running this business for 10 years. What is this? My fridge, everything, my house too." Heavy rain began last Wednesday and continued for five days, but despite 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 and 9 remain missing nationwide. In northern Gyeonggi-do Province, the death toll has risen to four after two missing people were confirmed dead on Monday. Four others remain missing. The latest confirmed fatalities include 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 stopped after sunset on Monday, resumed at 7 AM Tuesday. Around 600 personnel, similar to Monday's numbers, are expected to participate, 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. 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. 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

Daeseo, the hottest day of the year today, intense scattered showers in some areas

2025/07/22 11:38

Today marks 'Daeseo,' traditionally known as the hottest day of the year, and it certainly lives up to its name! From early this morning, the air has felt quite muggy. Seoul woke up to its third consecutive tropical night. Gangneung had temperatures close to a super tropical night. Feels like temperatures will be even higher with high humidity. Then we are expecting some strong scattered showers. Most areas can receive 5 to 60 millimeters, but some parts of the central region could see over 80 millimeters of rain, with intense downpours of 10 to 30 millimeters per hour. And this afternoon, Seoul gets up to 31 degrees Celsius, Daegu and Gwangju will make it to 34 degrees with strong UV rays during the day. The heatwave will get even stronger as the week goes on, but that's understandable as it's the end of July take good care of yourself by drinking plenty of water and taking frequent breaks in the shade!

Dead humpback whale found on popular Rio beach during migration season

2025/07/22 11:37

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.

Microsoft server hack hit about 100 organizations, experts say

2025/07/22 11:37

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.

Hegseth, Marcos reaffirm U.S.-Philippines alliance during Pentagon meeting

2025/07/22 11:37

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.

Bangladesh Air Force training jet crashes into Dhaka school, killing at least 20

2025/07/22 11:36

Good morning, I'm Choi Chi-hee, and this is The World Now. In Bangladesh, at least 20 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 afternoon classes at the time. Authorities confirmed the pilot and at least 19 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.

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

2025/07/22 11:36

North Korea will build an additional 5-thousand-ton "Choe Hyon-class" destroyer by October 10th next year. According to the North's Korean Central News Agency on Tuesday, employees at the { {Nampo Shipyard held an event on Monday, to mark the construction of what will be the regime's third five-thousand-ton naval destroyer. October 10th was reportedly chosen as its completion date, as it is the anniversary of the founding of the North Korean Workers' Party. North Korea continues to step up efforts to strengthen its naval power, unveiling its first new-type destroyer in April. A month later, it attempted to launch a second destroyer in the same class, but the ship capsized during the launching ceremony.

Livelihood recovery coupons see high level interest on day one

2025/07/22 11:36

The first round of cash handouts were given on Monday, as those in South Korea started applying for their consumption vouchers aimed at improving people's livelihoods and revitalizing the local economy. Our Moon Ji-young went out to hear people's reactions on the first day of distribution. 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. STANDUP "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 producer price index rises for first time in three months in June

2025/07/22 11:34

South Korea's producer prices went up last month after falling for two months, mainly due to high prices of agricultural and livestock products. According to the Bank of Korea on Tuesday, the producer price index in June rose by point-1 percent compared to the previous month, as agriculture, forestry, and fisheries products saw an increase of point-6 percent. The Bank of Korea says that the heatwave and heavy rain in July have made prices for farm and seafood products less predictable. It added that the higher oil prices from June might affect July's producer prices.

[On-point] How S. Korea is intensifying last-minute efforts to avert U.S. tariffs

2025/07/22 11:34

As we just heard, South Korea's national security advisor is on his second trip to the United States, and the new finance minister is also set to travel to Washington later this week --as Seoul intensifies its last-minute efforts to avert tariffs before the August 1st deadline. For more on this, we're joined by Professor Choi Hyun Jin, Professor at the Department of Political Science at Kyung Hee University. Professor Choi, thanks for joining us this morning. So with the top security advisor now in Washington, can we expect him to finalize an agreement with the U.S.? What factors might hinder an agreement from being reached? Although it remains unclear who Wi will meet in Washington, there's speculation that he could meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. If they do meet, what might be on the agenda? Security is another key issue in negotiations with the U.S., especially as President Trump continues to pressure South Korea to pay more for American troops stationed in Korea. How should South Korea respond to Washington's demands on the burden-sharing issue? Meanwhile, it's still unclear when President Lee and Trump will hold their first summit. If the meeting continues to be pushed back, is there any risk to bilateral relations? It's been six months since President Donald Trump took office for the second time. He is pushing for a more aggressive "America First" policy compared to his first term. In light of the Trump administration's current policy, how should the bilateral relationship be managed moving forward? Alright. Professor Choi, thank you so much for your insight today. We appreciate it.