News

Closer North Korea-China-Russia ties; Pyongyang’s strategic moves amid rising tensions

2025/05/14 20:00

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus, I'm Kim Mok-yeon. As the world watches new fault lines emerge between global powers, the Korean Peninsula is no longer just reacting to regional tensions—it's actively reshaping them. From North Korea's open military support for Russia in Ukraine to the first diplomatic appearance of Kim Jong-un's daughter Ju-ae, Pyongyang is sending deliberate signals about its strategic intent and succession. At the same time, Russia and China are aligning more openly with North Korea—politically, militarily, and diplomatically—challenging Western pressure and sanctions. And all of this comes just weeks before South Korea decides on its next leadership, under the shadow of a rapidly shifting security order. For a closer look into the moving dynamics, we are joined in the studio by Go Myong-hyun, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for National Security Strategy. Welcome Also joining us is Frank Jannuzi, President & CEO of The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation. Great to see you. 1. (GO) Now Dr. Go, on Russia's Victory Day, Chairman Kim Jong-un paid a visit to the Russian Embassy in North Korea and declared that "if Ukraine is left unattended, Seoul's military might also grow recklessly brave." 2. (GO) Building on that justification, Kim Jong-un also underscored that their troop deployment fulfills obligations under the "Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" with Russia, reinforcing the image of a formal alliance. Why do you think he chose to spotlight this treaty now? 3. (JANNUZI) Beyond strategic rhetoric, the optics of the visit also stood out—Kim was accompanied by his daughter, Ju-ae, marking her first appearance at an official diplomatic event. Mr.Jannuzi, does this signal a stronger establishment of her role as his successor? And again, why do you think Pyongyang chose this moment, in front of the Russian diplomatic corps, for her debut? 4. (GO) Meanwhile, Kim's recent flurry of on-site inspections—three visits in one week—to observe its super-large multiple rocket launchers has drawn attention, especially as these systems could resemble nuclear capability. Dr. Go, could these developments be aimed at Russia as part of arms cooperation? How far do you see North Korea–Russia military collaboration expanding? 5. (JANNUZI) That growing cooperation seems increasingly visible. After months of denial, Russia has now begun publicly showcasing footage of North Korean troops engaged in military operations. Mr. Jannuzi, what's driving this sudden openness and promotion of bilateral military ties? 6. (GO) On the heels of that publicity, new satellite analysis indicates major upgrades underway at North Korea's Chongjin Port. 7. (JANNUZI) This military assertiveness is also being backed diplomatically. On May 8th, Presidents Putin and Xi issued a joint statement urging an end to sanctions and pressure on North Korea. Considering China's previously more restrained stance, what explains this recent diplomatic alignment, Mr. Jannuzi? 8. (JANNUZI) Taken together, these coordinated moves—from military drills to diplomatic declarations—suggest a tightening triangle between North Korea, China, and Russia. What broader message do you think this united front sends to the U.S. and its allies? 9. (GO) Finally, Dr. Go, South Korea's presidential election is now less than three weeks away, and amid these shifting regional dynamics, what should the next administration prioritize first in shaping its foreign and security policy on the Korean Peninsula?

A new chapter for Korean Opera: World premiere of "The Rising World: Spirit of Water"

2025/05/14 17:00

On the cultural front. An opera entirely in English planned and produced by the state-run Seoul Arts Center will premiere on May 25th that is NEXT Sunday to offer the audience here a performance that beautifully blends Korean and Western elements. Our Lee Eun-hee has more. This May, SAC will debut its first-ever original opera, "The Rising World: Spirit of Water." Blending traditional Korean themes with a modern twist, the English-language production marks a major milestone, created entirely in-house, from story to music. The opera tells the story of a princess captivated by a water spirit and a female artisan who builds a water clock to save a kingdom plagued by constant water disasters. The cast features internationally acclaimed opera singers, including South Korean soprano Hwang Su-mi, as the princess and mezzo-soprano Kim Jung-mi as the artisan. "I would say that the work portrays a human being, regardless of gender, who engages with nature, particularly through the element we call 'water.' It explores the relationship between humanity and nature." The element of water is expressed in many ways throughout the music. The opera's composer, Australian Mary Finsterer, explains that while you might hear it through electroacoustic sounds or a special instrument called a waterphone, the feeling of water mostly comes through the orchestra's instrumentation and the flowing ornamentation in the vocal lines. The show will have its world premiere at the Seoul Arts Center's Opera House on May 25, followed by performances on May 29 and 31. The creative team boasts international talent, including conductor Steven Osgood, praised for his work at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, leading the Korean National Symphony Orchestra. "It's our window into the imagination of the composer and librettist. I get pages, hundreds of pages of music. But what it is on the page is dots of ink." Those pages, filled with countless notes, are a world the conductor steps into. He waters it and breathes life into it so the music can finally reach our ears. Now, it's the audience's turn to step into that imagined world, and fully experience an opera like a powerful fairytale, one that flows with a message we can all feel. Lee Eun-hee, Arirang News.

Washington's envisioned 2025 NDS may explore "greater flexibility" of USFK: Schriver

2025/05/14 17:00

A former senior Pentagon official believes the Trump administration's national defense strategy may seek greater quote "strategic flexibility" of U.S. Forces Korea to keep China in check. Randall Schriver former assistant secretary of defense for the Indo-Pacific region claimed the plan may explore a broader partnership between Seoul and Washington to address competition with Beijing rather than simply respond to provocations by Pyongyang. Remarks to this end were shared during a press session hosted by the Institute for Indo-Pacific Security in Washington on Tuesday.

Trump lifts sanctions on Syria, warns Iran of nuclear weapons but signals openness to deals

2025/05/14 17:00

U.S. President Donald Trump says sanctions on Syria will be lifted adding that the removal comes at the request of Saudi Arabia. Park Kun-woo has details. The more than a decade-long U.S. sanctions on Syria to pressure the country's former dictatorship are set to be lifted. That was announced by U.S. President Donald Trump in a speech made at an investment forum held in Riyadh during his four-day visit to the Gulf, Trump's first international trip since his return to the Oval Office. "I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness." Trump said he made the move at the request of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, while saying U.S. measures against Syria had now fulfilled their purpose. Syria had been urging the U.S. to lift sanctions since last December, following the ousting of its former dictator. Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani called Trump's decision a "pivotal turning point" as Syria enters a phase of "reconstruction" after years of war. Trump is expected to meet with Syria's interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa on Wednesday, while U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will hold talks with Syria's Foreign Minister in Türkiye later this week. On Tuesday, Trump called Iran the "most destructive force" in the Middle East, vowing it would never be allowed to have nuclear weapons. Trump also said he remains open to diplomacy with Tehran, saying he is not just condemning Iran's previous choices. "I want to make a deal with Iran. But if Iran's leadership rejects this olive branch and continues to attack their neighbors, then we will have no choice but to inflict massive maximum pressure, drive Iranian oil exports to zero, like I did before." Also on Tuesday at the U.S.-Saudi investment forum, Saudi Arabia announced an investment of 600 billion U.S. dollars in the United States. The agreement includes an arms deal -worth nearly 142 billion dollars -which the White House called the "largest defense cooperation deal Washington has ever done" as well as other technology partnerships. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

Samsung acquires German HVAC giant for US$ 1.7 bil.

2025/05/14 17:00

Samsung Electronics has sealed a deal to acquire Germany's FläktGroup for some 1-point-7 billion U.S. dollars. Founded in 1918 FläktGroup is a leading heating and cooling solutions provider. The acquisition comes amid growing calls for energy-efficient approaches to addressing indoor air temperature and quality in light of the global push for greener solutions. This is Samsung's biggest acquisition since its 8 billion dollar purchase of Harman International in 2017.

S. Korea adds jobs for 4th straight month in April but losses in manufacturing, construction continue

2025/05/14 17:00

Meanwhile the local labor market saw employment expand in April but the expansion remains uneven between age groups as well as by industry. Our correspondent Lee Soo-jin reports. South Korea's job market continued to grow in April, with job additions posting growth for a fourth consecutive month, but employment of young people and certain sectors continue to face challenges. Data from Statistics Korea on Wednesday showed that the number of employed people aged 15 or older stood at 28-point-9 million last month, up 194-thousand from a year earlier. This marks a gain in the 100-thousand range starting from January , after employment figures showed a decline in December. The growth in April was led by job additions in healthcare and social welfare, as well as scientific and technical services. But employment in manufacturing, a key pillar of South Korea's job market, continued to face headwinds. The sector saw job additions drop by more than 120-thousand , the biggest drop since February 2019, also extending a negative growth for 10 straight months. "Manufacturing employment is weakening further amid sluggish domestic demand and growing external uncertainties." And construction employment also remained sluggish, falling by 150-thousand, marking a twelfth consecutive month of declines since May last year. By age,.. employment growth was seen only in those aged 60 and above and 30 and above. And all other age groups saw declines, with those in their 20s posting the sharpest drop. "To address the sharp decline in the employment of young people, stronger fiscal support through a supplementary budget is needed, along with labor reforms to spur corporate investment." He added that he believes that the risk of job losses remains due to sluggish domestic demand and declining exports. The government, in a ministerial economic meeting headed by the country's Acting Finance Minister on Wednesday, acknowledged ongoing job declines in key industries amid tariff-related uncertainties. and pledged to swiftly execute a supplementary budget. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.

Tech exports rise 10.8% in April, SME shipments up for fifth straight quarter

2025/05/14 17:00

Korea's ICT exports as well as exports by its small and mid-sized businesses are staying strong. Findings show overseas shipments of information and communication technology products jumped close to 11 percent on year last month to amount to almost 19 billion U.S. dollars. Notably semiconductor shipments surged over 17 percent to some 12 billion U.S. dollars marking an all-time high for April. Similarly shipments by small businesses during the FIRST QUARTER of this year totaled 27 billion U.S. dollars UP 0-point-7 percent on year. By product exports of cosmetics raked in one-point-8 billion dollars and exports of used cars one-point-7 billion U.S. dollars.

Reform Party candidate takes campaign trail to Busan, promising new airport, baseball stadium

2025/05/14 17:00

Staying on the campaign trail. Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok is in the southern port city of Busan today. There he pledged to push ahead with the construction of a new international airport on Gadeok-do Island as well as a new baseball stadium. He also made his way to Pusan National University for lunch continuing his campus cafeteria outreach to college students that began at Kyungpook National University in Daegu on Tuesday.

PPP's Kim pledges on R&D as he tours Gyeongsang-do region for 3rd straight day

2025/05/14 17:00

Up next we turn to the conservative camp whose contender remains in the southeastern part of the country as well. For more I have my colleague Kim Do-yeon joining me live. Do-yeon welcome. So Kim Moon-soo has spoken about support for science? That's right, Sun-hee, as you said Kim is currently in Gyeongsangnam-do Province meaning he's been in the southeast region for the third day in a row. The cities that he's visited all have their own specialized industries with a focus on science and technology. And one key message from him earlier today came when he was at Korea AeroSpace Administration in Sacheon saying that he will promote the position of the minister of science and technology to deputy prime minister. Take a listen. "Why do we need a deputy prime minister for science? It's because it shows the nation's will, which means budget and power, and this is the only way to yield results. Anything said other than this doesn't matter." During a visit to Doosan Enerbility, Kim praised the company's resilience through Korea's nuclear phase-out and pledged full support if elected president—especially in advancing SMR technology and leaving politics out of industries. Of course, Doosan is the company for the Czech Republic's Dukovany power plant project. Kim Moon-soo says without science and technology, there is no future—adding that while it may not bring in votes, any leader who cares about Korea's long-term growth must invest heavily in the field. He also revealed his pledge on science and research earlier today which included measures to support research and development in general but one aspect that stood out was his pledge to send a man to the moon in 2032 and have a Mars rover project by 2045. Right some ambitious pledges for the next frontier. Before you go Do-yeon do tell us a bit more about his campaign trail. Right, Sun-hee So take a look at this map Kim started off in Seoul as well then went southward, stopping by Daejeon and ending up in Daegu on the first day. He's gone farther south since then and as we spoke about, he hit small cities today the darker purple lines. Now, as we have been talking about these areas are typically known as a conservative stronghold. To give you a reference, throughout the Gyeongsang-do region, there are 65 congressional districts and during last year's general election, only six parliamentary seats were won by the liberal party. That said, a lot has happened since the general election, and Kim could be trying to solidify his supporter base first, then heading to other regions. All right Do-yeon thank you for that coverage from the conservative camp.

KOREAN WAVE, STRONG OR WEAK?

2025/05/14 17:00

Welcome to Wednesday's edition of Press Perspective. It's May 14th here in Seoul. I'm Min Sun-hee. Today we take a gauge of the Korean Wave in recent times and some of the tasks ahead. For more I have freelance journalist David Lee here in the studio. David it's a pleasure. I also have Marianna Baroli with Italian news magazine Panorama. Marianna it's great to have you on. 1) David, let's start with an article you recently wrote about the power play between K-pop artists and their agencies and its broader impact on the industry as a whole. 2) Marianna, despite the growing presence of K-pop on the international stage, album sales fell for the first time in a decade last year. 3) David, beyond K-pop, K-screen productions have failed to make it onto the list of this year's Cannes Film Festival, which kicked off this past Tuesday. 4) Marianna, some believe the presence of streaming platforms like Netflix has shifted the movie industry's focus to more commercial productions rather than artistic pursuits. 5) David, U.S. President Donald Trump recently spoke about "100% tariffs on movies not made in the U.S." 6) Marianna, K-pop group NCT WISH was recently unable to partake in the SMTOWN LIVE 2025 event in LA owing to visa issues. 7) David, K-pop and K-dramas continue to make headlines, and yet some critics claim the Korean Wave may soon hit a snag. 8) And Marianna, what are your thoughts regarding the concern here about the future of the Korean Wave? All right.

DP's Lee visits Busan on third day of campaign; pledges to move oceans ministry there

2025/05/14 17:00

We are now counting down twenty days to the June third snap election and the liberal party contender began a busy schedule in Busan today. For details I have our political correspondent Shin Ha-young standing by live. Ha-young, it's good to have you on. So Lee Jae-myung addressed voters in the southern port city of Busan? You're right Sunny. Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung began his Wednesday campaign in Busan. To boost Busan's local economy, Lee pledged to move the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the country's largest shipping carrier to Busan. Take a listen. "I don't make impossible promises. I will move the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Busan. I'll also make sure HMM, the largest shipping company in Korea, moves here." Lee's visit to Busan follows his campaign through southern regions, which are traditionally seen as conservative strongholds. After Busan, he visited Changwon and is now holding a rally in Tongyeong. And Ha-young, what's on his agenda ahead? Sure, Sunny. After finishing his rally in Tongyeong, Lee will visit Geoje, a major hub of the shipbuilding industry. Ahead of the visit, Lee announced his shipbuilding policy, pledging to strengthen South Korea's position as a maritime powerhouse through what he called "K-Shipbuilding." In a social media post, Lee said he aims to make Korea lead the global market for smart and eco-friendly ships, while also developing special ships and ship maintenance as new growth engines. He pledged to support the development of eco-friendly fuel-powered ships and container vessels, and to digitize the entire shipbuilding process. He also promised support for developing green fuel-powered ships and digitalizing the entire shipbuilding process. Tomorrow, Lee will continue his campaign in Jeollanam-do Province, visiting Gwangyang, Yeosu and Suncheon. That's all for this hour, Sunny. All right Ha-young, thank you for that coverage from the liberal camp.

[Weather] Morning rain to bring slight heat relief on Thursday

2025/05/14 17:00

It was another day where short sleeves felt just right for many this afternoon under sunny skies. For tomorrow, we'll see a change as rain is expected across the country, which should bring a break from the recent summer-like heat. About the rain, the capital area and Gangwon-do Province can expect 5 to 20 millimeters, the rest of the country could see 5 to 10 millimeters from dawn through the afternoon. Checking on tomorrow's temperatures now, most parts begin the day in the mid-teens in most parts with 16 degrees Celsius in the capital, and Daegu. Afternoon highs will be 2 to 7 degrees lower tomorrow, getting up to 19 degrees in the capital, 23 degrees in Daegu, and Gwangju. Then, we are looking at another chance of rain for the southern regions and Jeju Island on Friday. That's Korea for you, here's a look at the international weather conditions.

World News: China, Brazil agree to defend free trade as leaders meet in Beijing

2025/05/14 17:00

This is the World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. In Beijing Chinese President Xi Jinping met his Brazilian counterpart on Tuesday, pledging to defend free trade and multilateralism amid global trade tensions. During President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's four-day state visit to China, the two nations signed 20 bilateral agreements to enhance cooperation in agriculture, technology, finance and other sectors. President Xi emphasized the importance of opposing unilateralism and protectionism, stating that such actions, which he described as "acts of bullying," lead to isolation. President Lula highlighted the necessity of China-Brazil relations and said both countries are "determined to unite their voices against unilateralism and protectionism." Also on Tuesday, President Lula attended a three-yearly ministerial forum between China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States where President Xi pledged to enhance China's trade and investment in the region. In India's Kashmir region, the Indian Army has eliminated three militants. The encounter comes a few days after the recent ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan on Saturday. On Tuesday, local time, Indian Army units launched "Operation Keller" in the Shopian district, as part of efforts to combat terrorism in the region. The operation targeted three Pakistani militants, whom the army called "hardcore terrorists." It follows the events of April 22 in Kashmir's Pahalgam, where 26 tourists, mostly Indian, were killed. That attack has been attributed to Pakistani militants. Meanwhile, in a move signaling a return to normal, schools and colleges in non-border districts of Kashmir reopened on Tuesday. Uruguay's former President Jose "Pepe" Mujica died on Tuesday aged 89, following a battle with cancer. Known globally for his humble lifestyle and progressive policies, Mujica served as Uruguay's president from 2010 to 2015. A former guerrilla with the Tupamaros movement, Mujica spent nearly 15 years in prison during Uruguay's military dictatorship in the 1970s and 80s. After release, when democracy was restored in the country, he returned to politics, eventually leading the country and implementing significant reforms such as the legalization of abortion, same-sex marriage, and the recreational use of marijuana. Finally, in London, the Court of Appeal nullified the 1987 murder conviction of Peter Sullivan on Tuesday. Sullivan, aged 68, spent 38 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Sullivan was convicted for the rape and murder of a 21-year-old victim; however, recent DNA testing revealed that biological evidence from the crime scene did not match him. The Criminal Cases Review Commission, an institute investigating potential miscarriages of justice, reopened the case in 2021. After the court overturned the conviction, Sullivan wept but expressed no bitterness, saying, "The truth shall set you free." The case is considered the longest-known miscarriage of justice in British history. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.

261 years later, Korea's peace mission docks in Osaka

2025/05/14 17:00

A Korean diplomatic mission has docked at a Japanese seaport for the first time in over 2-hundred-60 years. The re-enactment comes amid celebrations to mark 60 years of diplomatic relations this year. Our culture correspondent Song Yoo-jin files this report from the neighboring country. It's a landmark voyage brought back to life more than two centuries later. The reconstructed Joseon Tongsinsa ship, once used to carry Korean envoys to Japan from the 17th to 19th centuries, has now reached its final destination: Osaka. While the recreated vessel also sailed to Japan in recent years, this is the first time it has anchored in Osaka since the 11th Tongsinsa mission from 1763 to 64. This year's arrival is all the more symbolic, as it coincides with the 60th anniversary of normalized diplomatic ties between South Korea and Japan. "Korea and Japan can't move away from each other. We're very close geographically and historically. This ship isn't just a symbolic restoration. Just as it opened a sailing route, I hope it also opens a path for both nations to grow together in the future." "The Tongsinsa mission has been a symbol of mutual respect and cultural exchange beyond borders. Recreating that history today will play an important role in helping Korea and Japan learn from their friendly past and build a future-focused relationship." This journey wouldn't have been possible without this team, who designed, built, and sailed the vessel, modeled after the original Tongsinsa blueprints. "We began planning this reconstruction back in 2015, and now, nearly a decade later, we've reached Osaka. We're deeply grateful to everyone who helped make it happen. Our institute will continue restoring and sailing traditional Korean vessels to preserve this legacy on the water." But the celebration didn't end at the port. "As Tuesday, May 13th, marked Korea Day of Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai, the reenacted Joseon Tongsinsa prepared something special here." The envoy procession marched through the expo grounds, just as the original envoys did when they set foot in Japan. Drawing large crowds, the parade echoed across the venue, spotlighting the centuries-old message of peacebuilding and cultural diplomacy. As for the Tongsinsa ship, now docked in Osaka, it will offer an onboard exhibition on the goodwill mission, before its journey back home. Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News, Osaka.

K-wave AI News

2025/05/14 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. The Cannes Film Festival opened on Tuesday in the iconic southern French city. 21 films have been invited to compete for the prestigious Palme d'Or this year. Winners will be announced during the awards ceremony at the festival's closing event on May 24. No Korean feature films were invited for the official selection this year, for the first time since 2013. But director Joung Yu-mi's animated short "Glasses" was selected for the Critics' Week short film competition, while Huh Ga-young's "First Summer" will be shown in the La Cinef student selection. Choi Jeong of SSG has etched his name into KBO League history as the first player to hit 500 career home runs. The veteran slugger reached the milestone on Tuesday with a two-run shot in the bottom of the sixth inning during a home game against NC at SSG Landers Field in Incheon. A one-club player, Choi was selected as the number one overall pick by then SK, now SSG, in the 2005 draft and has spent his entire 20-season career with the franchise. His decorated career includes 19 consecutive seasons with double-digit home runs, 3 home run titles, and a Korean Series championship. Korea University is hosting a special exhibition marking its 120th anniversary, showcasing rare artifacts collected by the school's museum and libraries over the decades. The exhibition features 120 items, including National Treasures, iconic paintings by renowned Joseon-era artists, and rare documents with great historical significance. Also on display is KARV-1, Korea's first autonomous vehicle, developed and successfully test-driven by Professor Han Min-hong in the 1990s. The exhibition runs through December 20 at Korea University Museum. That's all from me. Stay tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[K-Correspondent] K-pop dance, vocal competition in Sweden to excite K-pop fans across the Nordics

2025/05/14 14:00

The hallyu craze is seeing significant growth across Europe, including Northern Europe, fueled by the popularity in K-pop, K-dramas and other K-culture content. Even a K-pop cover singing and dancing competition is taking place in Sweden’s capital Stockholm, the “K-POP Nordics Festival”, bringing together competitors from Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Iceland. The “K-Correspondents” we connect with today are Vilma Andersson and Julia West, members of a team called “RCHAOS” that have made it through the preliminary round and are getting ready for the main competition. Hello! Q1. First off, please introduce yourself and your team to ‘The Kulture Wave’ viewers and how you feel about being in the main competition for the 2025 K-POP Nordics Festival. Let's start with Vilma! And Julia, would you like to introduce yourself please? Q2-1. What made you participate in this contest? Q2-2. What was your strategy in the preliminaries? Which songs did you perform to and why? (Could you show us a few moves on the spot?) Q3. As dancers, what are some of the characteristics of Korean K-pop dance that you find unique? What are the biggest differences between K-pop dance and other dance genres? Q4. This question goes to both of you. Julia, how did your interest in K-pop begin and who are your favorite K-pop artists? (Also, who are the most popular K-pop stars in Sweden currently?) And Vilma, what about you? Q5. The popularity of K-pop and hallyu in general is on the rise in Sweden and other Nordic countries. How big is it really from your perspective? Q6. So when are you going to be on stage for the main event or final competition? What are your team’s strengths? Q7. Last but not least, any words of encouragement to your team? Vilma? Julia, you want to add anything to that? Thank you very much Julia and Vilma,.. we wish you and your other team members from RCHAOS good luck in the contest and hope you continue to have lots of fun with K-pop! Thank you Walter as always, we'll see you next time.

[K-enter] IU to return to singing Cha Eun-woo to make special appearance

2025/05/14 14:00

Time for our daily dose of K-enter news with Walter Lee. Starting off with news on IU! Superstar IU has announced her return to her main profession, music. On Monday, IU's agency, EDAM Entertainment, stated, "IU is preparing to make a comeback with a new album aimed for release in May", but that's not the only surprise as the agency went onto say, "Cha Eun-woo will be making a special cameo appearance in the music video for her new song." The two previously worked together on a jewellery brand photoshoot, which sparked a connection between them. This upcoming album will be IU's first release in about a year and three months, following her 6th mini-album "The Winning", which came out in February last year. IU recently received much praise for her role in the Netflix series "When Life Gives You Tangerines." Well, as a fan I can't wait for her music and I am sure we will cover it here on the Kulture Wave. Next up we have more K-pop news, what do you have for us? Dates for NCT DREAM's fourth tour in 2025 have been officially announced. On Tuesday, a tour poster was unveiled through NCT DREAM's official social media channels, revealing when you can see the boys next for their "The Dream Show 4: Dream the Future" tour. The group will kick off the tour with three concerts from July 10 to 12 at Seoul's Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. The tour will then travel to seven cities: Bangkok, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Singapore, Taipei, and Kuala Lumpur. Last year, NCT DREAM successfully completed their third world tour, THE DREAM SHOW 3, which spanned 37 shows in 25 cities across North America, Europe, and Asia. The group is also set to return this July with a brand-new full-length album. Lastly moving onto some K-movie news. Director Hwang Byung-guk's crime thriller "Yadang: The Snitch" has overtaken Bong Joon-ho's Hollywood production "Mickey 17" to become the highest-grossing film of the year domestically. Not only that, on Monday, Yadang became the first R-rated Korean film, or film rated for adults only, to surpass 3 million viewers since "The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil" in 2019. On Tuesday, distributor Plus M Entertainment reported that "Yadang" had drawn approximately 3.015 million viewers in total. This figure edges past "Mickey 17's" final audience count of around 3.013 million, which had previously held the top spot. This is a great accomplishment for "Yadang" which has held its lead despite competition from major titles such as "Minecraft: The Movie", "Thunderbolts*" and "Holy Night: Demon Hunters". Thanks for the K-enter news as always Walter. Stick around as we move on to Ari our AI anchor for more culture news.

[Features-reporter] A new chapter for Korean Opera: World premiere of "The Rising World: Spirit of Water"

2025/05/14 14:00

Eun-Hee I heard you went to the press conference for the new opera, "The Rising World: Spirit of Water." What happens when a Korean princess, a mystical water spirit, and a visionary artisan meet on an opera stage? That’s right, Soa. Doesn't it sound interesting? This English production is Seoul Arts Center’s first-ever original opera and is aiming to captivate the Korean and global audience. It's set to make its world premiere in May, so that's very soon. Let's take a closer look. Something new is coming to the Seoul Arts Center in South Korea. This May, SAC will debut its first-ever original opera, "The Rising World: Spirit of Water." Blending traditional Korean themes with a modern twist, the English-language production marks a major milestone, created entirely in-house, from story to music. Blending Eastern and Western cultures, the opera tells the story of a princess captivated by a water spirit and a female artisan who builds a water clock to save a kingdom plagued by constant water disasters. The cast features internationally acclaimed opera singers, including South Korean soprano Hwang Su-mi, as the princess and mezzo-soprano Kim Jung-mi as the artisan. "I would say that the work portrays a human being, regardless of gender, who engages with nature, particularly through the element we call 'water.' It explores the relationship between humanity and nature." The element of water is expressed in many ways throughout the music. The opera's composer, Australian Mary Finsterer, explains that while you might hear it through electroacoustic sounds or a special instrument called a waterphone, the feeling of water mostly comes through the orchestra’s instrumentation and the flowing ornamentation in the vocal lines. The show will have its world premiere at the Seoul Arts Center's Opera House on May 25, followed by performances on May 29 and 31. The creative team boasts international talent, including conductor Steven Osgood, praised for his work at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, leading the Korean National Symphony Orchestra. "It's our window into the imagination of the composer and librettist. I get pages, hundreds of pages of music. But what it is on the page is dots of ink. And what Mary has done is sit in her studio and imagine a sound world that nobody has heard yet." Those pages, filled with countless notes, are a world the conductor steps into. He waters it and breathes life into it so the music can finally reach our ears. Now, it’s the audience’s turn to step into that imagined world, and fully experience an opera like a powerful fairytale, one that flows with a message we can all feel. It sounds like a fairytale, but with a much deeper message. Could you dive a little deeper for us? Definitely. The opera integrates some elements of Korean culture, though the production team approached this with care, keeping in mind that it's not their own culture. Through their research, they discovered Korea's rich mythology, including how closely attached ghosts and the symbolic power of water are to Korean culture. That led them to settling on water ghost, but they said rather than representing one tradition, they focused on building a universal story, one that explores humanity’s connection with nature and our shared responsibility to protect it. It really sounds like a remarkable production and a bold new chapter for Korean theater. Creating an original opera from scratch is no small feat, especially when everything from the story to the score is built entirely in-house. Are there plans to take it to international audiences as well? Yes, global expansion is very much part of the plan. Representatives from international venues including Taiwan’s National Taichung Theatre, the Sydney Opera House, and Tokyo’s New National Theatre are expected to attend the premiere. Of those, discussions with the Taiwan have already made notable progress and they are aiming for 2027. That's exciting to hear. If the international venues are already showing interest, it really speaks to the production’s potential beyond Korea. Thank you Eun-hee for sharing. Yes thank you Eun-hee for the story. Thank you, it was my pleasure.

Bessent says Seoul presented 'very good' proposals in trade talks before election

2025/05/14 10:00

Washington has reacted positively to proposals put forward by Seoul during bilateral trade talks before South Korea's presidential election. According to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Tuesday during a Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum in Riyadh, Seoul came with "very good" proposals despite going into the process of a change of government. However, he did not elaborate what the proposals were. South Korean officials say the two sides discussed ideas for economic and industrial cooperation, especially in the shipbuilding industry.

[Weather] Early summer warmth this afternoon under sunny skies, rain tomorrow

2025/05/14 10:00

We're in for another day with a warm-up, feeling like early summer by the afternoon. Strong sunshine continues to shine down nationwide with the UV index hitting very high levels. Because of this intense sunlight, ozone concentrations across the nation could climb to the 'unhealthy' level for a time, so take precautions if you have to spend extended time outdoors. Seoul will get up to 26 degrees this afternoon, Daejeon at 28 degrees. Much more comfortable in Busan at 21 degrees. Then the skies will start to cloud over from tonight, and tomorrow will bring rain to most of the country. It will begin in the central regions, Jeolla-do and Jeju around dawn. Most of it should clear out around the evening commute with up to 20 millimeters in the forecast for the central area. The early warmth will take a bit of a break with tomorrow's rain. It has certainly been a week of fluctuating temperatures, so please take good care of your health.