News

Nat'l Assembly passes motion to confirm Kim Min-seok as new PM amid PPP boycott

2025/07/04 11:35

The parliament approved Kim Min-seok as the new prime minister, with the ruling party unilaterally pushing through the motion amid a boycott by the main opposition. Our political correspondent Shin Ha-young reports. Four-term lawmaker Kim Min-seok has finally been given the green light to take the post of prime minister, 29 days after being nominated by President Lee Jae Myung. "I'll respect the will of the people, put the president's vision into action, and bring together the wisdom of lawmakers across party lines in managing state affairs. My top priority is overcoming the economic crisis caused by the forces of tyranny." This comes after the National Assembly approved his appointment, on Thursday, to the only Cabinet post in South Korea that requires parliamentary approval. Of the 179 votes cast, 173 lawmakers voted in favor, three voted against, and three ballots were invalid. The ruling Democratic Party, which holds a majority in the 22nd National Assembly, pushed the motion through unilaterally amid a boycott by the main opposition People Power Party. "Given the current crisis, it's a shame that the PPP continues to obstruct the process. If the confirmation of the prime minister, who is supposed to lead the Cabinet, is delayed any further, the public won't stand for it." Ahead of the plenary session, the PPP demanded Kim's withdrawal, calling him an unqualified nominee, citing his failure to submit key documents, particularly those related to his wealth. "There hasn't been a prime minister nominee with this many issues before. Once again, we urge President Lee Jae Myung --it's not too late. Withdraw Kim Min-seok's nomination." The Presidential Office welcomed the approval, saying that it paves the way for Prime Minister Kim to work closely with President Lee and help him run state affairs smoothly. Meanwhile, despite the standoff over Kim's appointment, the parliament passed a revision of the Commercial Act during Thursday's plenary session, following an agreement reached the previous day. Among 272 lawmakers present, 220 voted in favor, 29 voted against, and 23 abstained. This was one of the contentious bills the two sides had been clashing over. The DP had pushed a revision to the act back in March, but it was vetoed by the previous administration. The revision aims to add the word "shareholders" to the director's duties from just "company." It also introduces the so-called "Three Percent Rule," which caps the voting rights of the largest shareholder and related parties at 3 percent when appointing audit committee members at listed companies. The rule is intended to prevent undue influence and abuse of control by majority shareholders. This marks the first passage of a bill related to the people's livelihoods and the first time the rival parties have reached a bipartisan agreement on legislation since President Lee took office. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

N. Korean crosses land border, taken into custody by S. Korean military: JCS

2025/07/04 11:34

The South Korean military has taken into custody a North Korean who crossed the Military Demarcation Line, the inter-Korean land border, late on Thursday night. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the individual crossed the line in the western part of the central front of the border and was then tracked and secured. Relevant authorities are to investigate the details of the individual's defection. No other abnormal activities have been detected in North Korea.

K-Food+ sets record export high in first half of 2025

2025/07/04 11:34

Agricultural and food products exported from South Korea came to a record high in the first half of the year, led by growing popularity of Korean food like ramyeon and hot sauces like gochujang and ssamjang. Our economic correspondent Park Jun-han has the details. South Korea's "K-Food+" exports, which combine agricultural products and agro-industrial goods, reached an all-time high in the first half of 2025, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. The total export value hit 6-point-67 billion U.S. dollars , which is around 9 trillion won, a notable increase of 7-point-1 percent from the same period last year, driven by strong global demand for Korean food products. By region, North America was a standout market, with exports reaching 1.03 billion dollars — a 24.3 percent increase from a year earlier. The European Union and the UK followed closely, with exports to these countries rising 23-point-9 percent to 420 million dollars. Exports to the Commonwealth of Independent States, including Mongolia, climbed 9 percent to 240 million dollars, while shipments to Gulf Cooperation Council countries rose 17-point-8 percent to 180 million dollars. Although the first quarter outperformed the second, overall, key markets such as the U.S., China and Japan saw stronger growth in the second quarter — with shipments to the U.S. standing out. Among processed foods, ramyeon was a major export driver, reaching 730 million dollars in sales. Spicy ramyeon and new product launches resonated with global consumers, especially in markets like the Commonwealth of Independent States, China and the U.S. Sauce exports grew 18 percent, totaling 220 million dollars in gochujang, ssamjang and other sauces, reflecting the rising global awareness of Korean foods. The agriculture ministry said its plan is to reach 14 billion dollars worth of overseas shipments by the end of the year. "We must expand the export base by promoting product development at the corporate level and creating new agricultural products. It's also crucial to identify and address challenges Korean exporters face in the U.S. and other alternative markets through coordinated government efforts." Amid global trade uncertainties, the ministry added that it will actively support exporters through overseas online and offline promotions, consulting on tariffs and non-tariff barriers, and responding to export risks such as currency fluctuations and logistical issues. Park Jun-han, Arirang News.

Stock

2025/07/03 22:41

2025. 7. 3. KOREAN STOCK MARKET KOSPI : 3,116.27 ▲41.21 +1.34% KOSDAQ : 793.33 ▲11.16 +1.43% KOSPI200 : 420.94 ▲6.51 +1.57% ASIAN STOCK MARKET NIKKEI225 : 39,785.90 ▲23.42 +0.06% HANG SENG : 24,069.94 ▼151.47 -0.63% SHANGHAI : 3,461.15 ▲6.35 +0.18% WALL STREET (July 2) DOW JONES : 44,484.42 ▼10.52 -0.02% NASDAQ : 20,393.13 ▲190.24 +0.94% S&P500 : 6,227.42 ▲29.41 +0.47% EXCHANGE RATE USD : 1,359.40 (+0.70) JPY : 944.72 (-0.73) CNY : 189.81 (-0.18) EUR : 1,603.68 (+2.32)

President Lee calls tariff talks with U.S. "not easy"

2025/07/03 22:41

President Lee Jae Myung held a press conference today, marking one month in office. Topics covered were a wide range of issues, including the economy, North Korea, and foreign policy. When it comes to trade talks with the U.S., the President said it's "not easy" though he says he's making utmost efforts. On foreign policy, our senior presidential office correspondent Yoon Jung-min takes a closer look. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung was mindful of trade negotiations with the U.S. during Thursday's press conference marking 30 days in office. When asked, he said one thing that he could say for sure was that it's "not easy." "I'm not sure if I can say it could be done by July 8. I'm doing my best. We need to yield results that are mutually reciprocal that help both sides, but it is still not clear what exactly both sides want." This, as the deadline for talks to cut the 25-percent reciprocal tariffs imposed by the Trump administration is less than a week away. He went on to say that his government is looking for "topics in many different fields," as he revisited his principle of "pragmatic diplomacy for national interests." On North Korea, the Commander-in-Chief vowed to improve relations with Pyongyang based on the South Korea-U.S. alliance as well as the three-way cooperation with Japan, urging the importance of "dialogue and communication." "It's foolish to completely cut off dialogue. We should listen to them even if we hate them. We should negotiate and talk. When it comes to politics and diplomacy, emotions should be left out." He added that North Korea's response was quick and better than he had expected to South Korea halting loudspeaker broadcasts, one week after Lee took office in June. On South Korea's relationship with Japan, "There are conflicting factors, but I don't think there's a need to mix the two. Those are separate issues. As I said, diplomacy and dialogue continue even amid a war. We cooperate on what we can cooperate on." He was referring to long-standing controversies between the two neighbors stemming from Japan's colonization of the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945 as well as territorial issues. Still, he says he sees a lot of areas to work together with Tokyo, including tackling North Korea's nuclear and missile programs on top of the economic cooperation. President Lee, who's just one month in office, did not forget to mention his recent visit to the G7 Summit, which he called an official announcement that signalled Korea's return to global summit diplomacy. Yoon Jung-min, Arirang News.

[Weather] Tropical nights at night, heat waves during the day

2025/07/03 22:40

A "Super-tropical night" phenomenon, in which night temperatures do not fall below 30 degree Celsius, has appeared for the second consecutive night in Gangneung last night. There are many areas where tropical nights appear all night around the east coast and inland areas. With heat wave warnings and advisories in place in most parts of the country, the temperature in Seoul rose up to 32 degrees and it reached 37 degrees in Miryang during the day today. This heat wave will continue for more than a week. It will get hotter with Seoul rising up to 34 degrees in the middle of next week. Tomorrow morning will start warm across the country at around 25 degrees. Daily highs will move up to 31 degrees in Seoul, 33 degrees in Gwangju and Busan. Tomorrow, about 5 to 20 millimeters of rain is forecast in Incheon, northern parts of Gyeonggi-do Province, and western parts of Gangwon-do Province. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

K-Food+ sets record export high in first half of 2025

2025/07/03 22:39

Agricultural and food products exported from South Korea came to a record high in the first half of the year, thanks to growing popularity of Korean food like ramyeon and hot sauces like gochujang and ssamjang. Our economic correspondent Park Jun-han has the details. South Korea's "K-Food+" exports, which combine agricultural products and agro-industrial goods, reached an all-time high in the first half of 2025, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. The total export value hit 6-point-67 billion U.S. dollars , which is around 9 trillion won, a notable increase of 7-point-1 percent from the same period last year, driven by strong global demand for Korean food products. By region, North America was a standout market, with exports reaching 1.03 billion dollars — a 24.3 percent increase from a year earlier. The European Union and the UK followed closely, with exports to these countries rising 23-point-9 percent to 420 million dollars. Exports to the Commonwealth of Independent States, including Mongolia, climbed 9 percent to 240 million dollars, while shipments to Gulf Cooperation Council countries rose 17-point-8 percent to 180 million dollars. Although the first quarter outperformed the second, overall, key markets such as the U.S., China and Japan saw stronger growth in the second quarter — with shipments to the U.S. standing out. Among processed foods, ramyeon was a major export driver, reaching 730 million dollars in sales. Spicy ramyeon and new product launches resonated with global consumers, especially in markets like the Commonwealth of Independent States, China and the U.S. Sauce exports grew 18 percent, totaling 220 million dollars in gochujang, ssamjang and other sauces, reflecting the rising global awareness of Korean foods. The agriculture ministry said its plan is to reach 14 billion dollars worth of overseas shipments by the end of the year. "We must expand the export base by promoting product development at the corporate level and creating new agricultural products. It's also crucial to identify and address challenges Korean exporters face in the U.S. and other alternative markets through coordinated government efforts." Amid global trade uncertainties, the ministry added that it will actively support exporters through overseas online and offline promotions, consulting on tariffs and non-tariff barriers, and responding to export risks such as currency fluctuations and logistical issues. Park Jun-han, Arirang News.

Though rainy season comes to an end in some areas, heat wave to continue throughout next week

2025/07/03 22:38

The entire nation continues to be trapped in extreme heat this week, with the summer's monsoon season being a rather dry one. In fact, the rainy season is already over down on Jeju Island and in the southern regions. Ahn Sung-jin has more. South Korea remains in the grip of a heat wave. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, heat wave advisories were issued across the country on Thursday, with morning lows ranging from 23 to 28 degrees and the daytime high reaching up to 37 degrees in some areas. As hot and humid conditions persist, the feel-like temperatures are expected to hover above 33 degrees in most parts of the country. With temperatures remaining over 25 degrees throughout the night as well, the capital Seoul has continued to see tropical nights since the first one of the year on June 29th. As the country continues to suffer, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency stated that the number of those reported with heat-related illnesses reached 5-hundred-24 from May 15th till the first of July. The figure is 1-point-3-4 times more than the same period from last year. Health authorities are urging the public to take precautions by making sure to rest in cool environments and limit outdoor activities. Meanwhile, the rainy season has come to an early end. The KMA has announced that the monsoon season has officially ended on Jeju Island and in the southern regions, marking one of the earliest on record. As the North Pacific high air pressure system pushed the monsoon stationary front northwest, Jeju left the effective range on June 26th, and southern regions have been out of the area of monsoon influence since Tuesday. For Jeju, it has been the earliest monsoon season ending since nationwide weather monitoring began in 1973, while for southern areas it marked the second earliest. In terms of the monsoon period, both Jeju and the southern regions were the second-shortest on record, lasting 15 and 13 days consecutively. However, the KMA said it's still too early to declare the end of the monsoon season in other regions, as a weakened stationary front near North Korea may temporarily affect the area. Rain is forecast for this week, though precipitation is expected to remain light. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.

First month of Lee's presidency: economic policy and achievements

2025/07/03 22:37

Rebooting the country's economy and restoring people's livelihoods have been the South Korean president's No.1 tasks during his first month in office. We look back on the Lee administration's economic policies and what to look forward to in the months to come, with our economics correspondent Moon Ji-young. Welcome, Ji-young. Ji-young, President Lee couldn't stress enough how crucial reviving the country's economy is during the two-hour conference, could he? As you mentioned, President Lee has described the current state of people's livelihoods as having "collapsed." Lee,.. in his first administrative order, launched an emergency economic task force, aimed at making economic recovery the top priority. To understand why such an emphasis is put on livelihood recovery,.. we can first look at key economic indicators, starting with inflation. In June, consumer prices rose more than 2 percent year-on-year. Notably, the primary drivers were increases in fuel and food prices, directly impacting the daily lives of ordinary citizens. Secondly, the economic outlook.. paints a challenging picture. For this, let's hear directly from an expert. "Well, the growth rate this year is only expected to be 0.8% by the Bank of Korea, and a lot of international investment banks are predicting that it'll actually be worse. Some are predicting that the growth rate will only be 0.3%. The two main pillars of the Korean economy are exports and domestic consumption, and both seem to be down very much this year." Household debt remains a substantial concern as well. The scale of household loan growth, especially mortgage loans,.. is expanding. This is intertwined with the real estate market situation, especially in the Seoul area, which recently saw huge price increases. In response, the government announced new loan regulations, primarily targeting the Seoul area where all local lenders will be forced to sharply lower their household lending. We also need to talk about the Lee government's supplementary budget, which is designed to reboot the local economy from consumption to investment. Lee has repeatedly stated that the supplementary budget will create a multiplier effect in the economy. The government is aiming to distribute financial support quickly to stimulate consumption and investment. According to economic experts, this approach has specific goals and expectations: "The government is hoping that the supplementary budget, which uh, originally plan to distribute about 20 trillion won, would pull the economy up by 0.2% points. Uh, that is perhaps not as efficient as government spending on SOC investment or direct government purchases. But right now, the government feels that that's the fastest way that we can pick up consumption and investment in the economy." What was also echoed during today's press conference was President Lee's commitment to realizing the KOSPI 5000 era. Tell us more. President Lee aims to transform the "Korea Discount" into a "Korea Premium," setting a target for KOSPI at 5,000. He envisions an investment-friendly environment where market funds flow into productive sectors, fostering a virtuous economic cycle and increasing national wealth. The policy is expected to create a more robust capital market, driving industry growth and overall economic prosperity. President Lee pledged to invest in future-oriented industries. Tell us why these investments are so crucial now. Lee is committed to investing in advanced tech industries, including semiconductors and AI. These are sectors already garnering significant attention as core components for cutting-edge products and emerging industries even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, a chip shortage halted car production, and since then, many nations have focused on fostering chips for economic security and supply chain stability. This crisis profoundly underscored the strategic importance of semiconductors. Let's listen to what an expert says. "As many countries aggressively pursue semiconductor development, competitive investment is surging. If we don't continue our investment, we risk falling behind, especially since nations like the U.S. and Japan are attracting foreign companies with direct subsidies." Moreover, AI technology has emerged as a new innovation set. to completely transform our lives. With South Korea yet to secure leading technologies in this field, it's crucial for the country to focus on it to avoid falling behind. And Ji-young. Our colleague Jung-min reported earlier, President Lee himself is well aware that tariff negotiations with the U.S. are hard to predict, didn't he? Regarding tariffs, Lee said the government has made utmost efforts on tariff negotiations, but he can't say whether the talks could be concluded by July 8th, the deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump. With these ongoing tariff talks, uncertainties surrounding the Korean economy still persist and will require close monitoring. Indeed. Let us keep an eye out for if there'll be any last-minute tariff deal with the U.S. Thanks for the wrap-up.

Nat'l Assembly passes motion to confirm Kim Min-seok as new PM amid PPP boycott

2025/07/03 22:35

Also today, parliament approved Kim Min-seok as the new prime minister, with the ruling party unilaterally pushing through the motion amid a boycott by the main opposition. Our political correspondent Shin Ha-young reports. Four-term lawmaker Kim Min-seok has finally been given the green light to take the post of prime minister, 29 days after being nominated by President Lee Jae Myung. "I'll respect the will of the people, put the president's vision into action, and bring together the wisdom of lawmakers across party lines in managing state affairs. My top priority is overcoming the economic crisis caused by the forces of tyranny." This comes after the National Assembly approved his appointment, on Thursday, to the only Cabinet post in South Korea that requires parliamentary approval. Of the 179 votes cast, 173 lawmakers voted in favor, three voted against, and three ballots were invalid. The ruling Democratic Party, which holds a majority in the 22nd National Assembly, pushed the motion through unilaterally amid a boycott by the main opposition People Power Party. "Given the current crisis, it's a shame that the PPP continues to obstruct the process. If the confirmation of the prime minister, who is supposed to lead the Cabinet, is delayed any further, the public won't stand for it." Ahead of the plenary session, the PPP demanded Kim's withdrawal, calling him an unqualified nominee, citing his failure to submit key documents, particularly those related to his wealth. "There hasn't been a prime minister nominee with this many issues before. Once again, we urge President Lee Jae Myung it's not too late. Withdraw Kim Min-seok's nomination." The Presidential Office welcomed the approval, saying that it paves the way for Prime Minister Kim to work closely with President Lee and help him run state affairs smoothly. Meanwhile, despite the standoff over Kim's appointment, the parliament passed a revision of the Commercial Act during Thursday's plenary session, following an agreement reached the previous day. Among 272 lawmakers present, 220 voted in favor, 29 voted against, and 23 abstained. This was one of the contentious bills the two sides had been clashing over. The DP had pushed a revision to the act back in March, but it was vetoed by the previous administration. The revision aims to add the word "shareholders" to the director's duties from just "company." It also introduces the so-called "Three Percent Rule," which caps the voting rights of the largest shareholder and related parties at 3 percent when appointing audit committee members at listed companies. The rule is intended to prevent undue influence and abuse of control by majority shareholders. This marks the first passage of a bill related to the people's livelihoods and the first time the rival parties have reached a bipartisan agreement on legislation since President Lee took office. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

S. Korea, NATO agree to bolster defense industry cooperation

2025/07/03 22:34

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has held his first phone call with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, during which they agreed to bolster cooperation in the defense industry. That's according to his spokesperson Kang Yu-jung on Thursday, who said their discussion included deepening Seoul's partnership with NATO. Rutte congratulated Lee on his inauguration, and thanked him for showing South Korea's willingness to cooperate with NATO via the attendance of Lee's national security adviser at the NATO Summit last week, though he said he had hoped to have seen him in person. National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac attended the summit in the Hague on behalf of the president. President Lee reportedly vowed to continue strengthening Korea's partnership with NATO amid "multilayered" global crises.

President Lee says reviving people's livelihoods is his "top priority"

2025/07/03 22:34

During today's press conference, President Lee Jae Myung also laid out his vision for major domestic issues, focusing on improving livelihoods and improving unity. Our Presidential Office correspondent Song Yoo-jin reports. Helping people get back on their feet will continue to be South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's number one priority. Even on day one, President Lee issued his first executive order to establish an emergency economic task force. The supplementary budget proposal worth 30-point-5-trillion won, or roughly 22-point-4-billion U.S. dollars, is also part of those efforts. When asked about the impact of the universal cash handouts, President Lee said they'll act as a priming pump for the economy. "It will help boost consumption while also supporting incomes. Ordinary people are really struggling to make ends meet. For someone worried about putting food on the table, 150,000 or even 500,000 won is enormous. I believe the impact will be greater than many expect." Another area of focus was balanced development between the capital region and the rest of the country, which the President says is essential to Korea's long-term growth. "I gave instructions at the Cabinet meeting to create a kind of weighting table by region when the government makes policy decisions or allocates budgets, for example, factoring in the distance from the capital area or major cities." Other growth drivers highlighted by the President included investment in AI, semiconductors, and renewable energy. He also pledged to pave the way for the KOSPI to reach 5-thousand by making the capital market fairer and more reliable. On housing, following the recent tightening of housing loan regulations, he signaled that additional real estate measures are on the way, combining expanded supply with demand controls to stabilize prices. Communication and unity were also recurring themes, especially across political lines. President Lee described differing views as an "uncomfortable but necessary source of synergy." "As the president representing the entire nation, I must pursue policies that bring our people together. Only appointing those who share the same views or political colors is risky." That comment appears to address criticism surrounding his decision to retain Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryung and appoint another prosecutor-turned Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs, who'll lead the prosecution reform. Regarding cooperation with the opposition, the President said he's open to meeting frequently and as needed. Thursday's press conference itself, held under the themes of "closer, broader, anew," reflected Lee's commitment to engagement. It invited not only the presidential press corps and foreign correspondents, but also grassroots media outlets. Reporters sat close to the President without a podium. "President Lee didn't forget the public, promising they'll remain at the center of policy making. He said he'll listen to their voices through direct channels, including the recently launched 'People's Mailbox' and town hall-style gatherings, such as the one in Gwangju last week. Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News."

President Lee’s first press conference underscores fast-moving diplomacy

2025/07/03 21:34

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus. I'm Kim Mok-yeon. Today marks President Lee Jae Myung's 30th day in office—and he didn't let it pass quietly. Breaking from the recent practice of waiting 100 days, he held a live, town hall-style press conference, signaling a shift toward direct, high-speed governance. He underscored Korea's military strength while laying out a North Korea strategy rooted in deterrence, diplomacy, and practical cooperation. In the past four weeks, he's also met global leaders, de-escalated tensions on the Peninsula, and tapped his first foreign policy team—anchored by career diplomats. In our third installment marking one month of the Lee Jae Myung presidency, we focus on his emerging foreign policy—where he's positioning Korea on the global stage, and how alliances and diplomacy may evolve. To help us break things down, we're joined by Dr. Youngshik Bong, Visiting Professor at Yonsei University. Welcome. Also joining us from Washington is Andrew Yeo, Senior Fellow and SK-Korea Foundation Chair at Brookings Institution's Center for East Asia Policy Studies. (BONG) 1. Let's start with Dr. Bong. President Lee held his first press conference just 30 days in, using a town hall format—much earlier and more casual than usual. What did you make of the timing and style? (YEO) 2. On that note, there were several questions on diplomacy and national security. What stood out most to you from those exchanges? (BONG) 3. Looking at his early moves, President Lee spoke with President Trump, Japan's PM, and China's President all within his first week. How do those early contacts shape Korea's diplomatic posture? (YEO) 4. And just two weeks in, he was at the G7, meeting leaders, including Japan's PM. What does this tell us about the reset in Korea-Japan ties and the return to shuttle diplomacy? (BONG) 5. And on the U.S. front, President Lee admitted today that the ongoing tariff negotiations with Washington are "not easy" and may not wrap up by August. How should we interpret his tone? How should President Lee approach this diplomatically? (YEO) 6. On the China front, Beijing's invited President Lee to the Victory Day parade this fall. How should Korea weigh that, given the current U.S.-China tension? (BONG) 7. On inter-Korean relations, President Lee emphasized today that dialogue should never be off the table, even calling a total shutdown "foolish." He also cited North Korea's quick response to South Korea halting loudspeaker broadcasts and leaflets as "beyond expectations." What do you make of this trust-building start—and how far can it go? (YEO) 8. On his appointments, President Lee placed diplomats like Wi Sung-lac and Cho Hyun in top security roles. What does that signal about his foreign policy approach? (BONG) 9. And this is historic— for the first time in 64 years, a civilian—Ahn Gyu-back—is tapped for Defense Minister. What's the significance of that, especially for military reform? (YEO) 10. Looking ahead— with pressure from the U.S., outreach from China, and uncertainty with the North, what should be the administration's top foreign policy focus right now?

PRES. LEE HOLDS PRESS CONFERENCE TO MARK FIRST MONTH

2025/07/03 19:42

Welcome to Thursday's edition of Press Perspective. It's July 3rd here in Seoul. I'm Min Sunhee. The Lee Jae Myung administration has marked its first full month at the top office and in our panel session today we touch upon this reality and more. For this I have Celio Fioretti with French daily La Croix. Celio welcome. I also have freelance journalist Yang Chien-Hao with us. Chien-Hao it's good to have you here. Celio, let's begin with a few words about President Lee Jae Myung's public address to mark his first month at the top office. What was the gist of his message? Chien-Hao, what was your takeaway from the president's Q&A session with members of the media? Chien-Hao, how is the president's leadership style being perceived by the public here, do you think? And Celio, how is the international media framing the president's handling of state affairs thus far? I mean, is there a general tone of optimism? Or caution? Or skepticism? Chien-Hao, what public pledge that he has put into action immediately after taking office do you care to highlight and why? Celio, what about you? What do you believe has been quite notable during his first 30 days at the top office? And Chien-Hao, what's the latest with regard to the formation of his Cabinet, and what do his nominations tell you about his policies for South Korea? Celio, on the diplomatic front, the key phrase with regard to the Lee Jae Myung administration is "strategic patience" as it seeks to put on track a pragmatic foreign policy. How feasible is such a strategy keeping in mind the Trump factor, if you will? And Chien-Hao, moving forward, what are some of the next decisions that may shape the trajectory of the Lee administration as we speak? All right.

President Lee Jae Myung holds 1st press conference marking 30 days in office

2025/07/03 19:41

We start here on the national front with a press conference held by the president to mark his first full month at the top office earlier on this Thursday. On the agenda were issues of much interest ranging from the economy to security to diplomacy. Our top office correspondent Yoon Jung-min is standing by live with details. Jung-min it's good to have you on. Do start us off. Sunny. A host of issues were covered during the 2-hour long press conference at the Yeongbingwan Hall at the Blue House, under the title of "asked by the press, answers to the public." First, take a listen to what President Lee had to say marking his 30th day in office: "The past 30 days were a time when I was dashing every day, bearing in mind the desperate desires of our people who have been crossing the waves of a national crisis. Above all, I'm making every effort to recover the people's livelihoods that have been devastated." For the remaining four years and 11 months, the new South Korean President vowed to make full efforts to stabilize the people's livelihoods and the cost of living. He promised to spare no effort in investing in AI, chips, renewable energy, and the culture industry for future growth. And Jung-min what did he have to say with regard to his foreign policy? The President was mindful of trade negotiations with the U.S., as the Trump administration's deadline for tariff talks is less than a week away. He said one thing that he could say for sure was that it's "not easy." "I'm not sure if I can say it could be done by July 8. I'm doing my best. We need to yield results that are mutually reciprocal that help both sides, but it is still not clear what exactly both sides want." He went on to say that his government is looking for "topics in many different fields." On North Korea, the Commander-in-Chief vowed to improve relations with Pyongyang based on the South Korea-U.S. alliance as well as the three-way cooperation with Japan, urging the importance of "dialogue and communication." "It's foolish to completely cut off dialogue. We should listen to them even if we hate them. We should negotiate and talk. When it comes to politics and diplomacy, emotions should be left out." The town hall-style presser took place under the theme of "closer, broader and anew," bringing the seats of the reporters closer to the president's desk, without a podium. I should also note that the press conference took place unusually fast, just 30 days since President Lee Jae Myung took office, breaking a long tradition of South Korean presidents holding their pressers around the 100-day milestone. Back to you, Sunny. All right Jung-min thank you for the latest from the president's first press conference held earlier this morning to mark one month at the top office.

[Weather] Consecutive tropical nights, heat wave continues

2025/07/03 19:40

The heat is causing sleepless nights. There are many areas which have suffered from tropical nights, especially around the east coast and inland areas. Miryang reached 38-point-3 degrees Celsius yesterday, recording the highest temperature this year. And Gangneung has had two super-tropical nights in a row already with nighttime temperatures above 30 degrees. Under heat wave warnings and advisories in most parts of the country, temperatures in Seoul soared up to 32 degrees and 37 degrees in Miryang during the day today. It will get hotter with Seoul rising up to 34 degrees in the middle of next week. Tomorrow morning will start warm across the country at around 25 degrees. Daily highs will move up to 31 degrees in Seoul, 32 degrees in Chuncheon and Jeju. About 5 to 20 millimeters of rain is expected in Incheon, northern parts of Gyeonggi-do Province, and western parts of Gangwon-do Province tomorrow. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

World News: Sean 'Diddy' Combs cleared of major charges, convicted on lesser offenses

2025/07/03 19:39

This is the World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. In the United States, in the trial of music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs, the judge has upheld his convictions on lesser prostitution charges, while clearing him of charges on racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges that could have put the hip-hop figure behind bars for life. A Manhattan federal court jury found Combs guilty on two counts under the Mann Act, transporting individuals for prostitution. This comes after a seven-week trial involving testimony from former partners Cassie Ventura, known as "Cassie," and "Jane," as well as other witnesses. However, Combs was acquitted on the three most serious charges, including racketeering conspiracy and two counts of sex trafficking, removing the threat of a potential life sentence. Combs bowed his head in the courtroom and said, "I'll be home soon," as supporters celebrated the partial verdict. However, he was denied bail ahead of sentencing, with the judge citing evidence of violence in personal relationships. Sentencing will take place later this year, but Combs likely faces several years behind bars. Exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has announced during his 90th birthday week that there will indeed be a successor after his death, directly challenging Beijing's claim that only it can control the process. Speaking in Dha-ram-shala, India, on Wednesday, the Dalai Lama affirmed that "the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue" and that the Caden Phodrang Trust, alongside senior Tibetan Buddhist leaders, will hold sole authority to identify his reincarnation. He emphasized that his successor will likely be born outside China, underscoring his rejection of any candidate chosen under Beijing's system. The decision resolves long-standing uncertainty and safeguards against China's claims of authority over Tibetan spiritual succession. He outlined that the Trust, founded in 2011 and governed by Tibetan exiles, will consult senior monks and follow traditional procedures, possibly even nominating a "living" successor during his lifetime. However, China asserts its own legal right to oversee the Dalai Lama's reincarnation and asserts that it would need to be approved by Beijing. Tech giant Microsoft announced on Wednesday that it will cut nearly 4 percent of its workforce, approximately 9,000 jobs, as part of a strategic shift to accelerate investments in artificial intelligence infrastructure. In a statement to investors, the company confirmed the layoffs would span multiple divisions, including global sales and marketing teams. This is Microsoft's third major round of cuts this year, following approximately 6,000 layoffs in May and additional reductions in June, which have brought the total job losses for 2025 to more than 15,000. Microsoft plans an 80 billion U.S. dollar capital expenditure for the fiscal year in support of its AI ambitions. In the U.S. state of Arizona, members of the Tohono O'odham Nation have begun their annual sacred saguaro fruit harvest, known as "bahidaj," marking the start of the New Year. The ritual takes place over several weeks in late June to early July, when the ruby-red fruit ripens atop the towering saguaro cactus that can reach 12 meters tall. The fruits, once harvested, are boiled into syrup, and some are fermented into wine, which is used for a rain ceremony. These ceremonies affirm ancestral bonds, the relationship with natural resources, and the resilience of the Native Americans' identity. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.

Visitor figures soar at National Museum of Korea amid Korean wave boom

2025/07/03 19:38

The National Museum of Korea welcomed more than 2-point-7 million visitors during the first half of this year its largest figure in two decades. It's also an on-year surge of over 64 percent. The number of foreign visitors also hit an all-time high during this period at almost 100-thousand. The museum is linking this trend to rising global interest in Korean culture fueled by Korean content such as K-pop and K-dramas.

KBO draws record 7 million fans in first half of 2025 season

2025/07/03 19:38

The Korea Baseball Organization has set a historic milestone. Over seven million spectators made their way to stadiums in the first half of the baseball season for the first time since the organization's inception back in 1982. Also almost half of the matches were sold out. The average per game attendance this season currently stands at over 17-thousand UP 17 percent on year. Should this trend continue the organization is on track to exceed 10 million spectators this season for the second straight year.

Though rainy season comes to an end in some areas, heat wave to continue throughout next week

2025/07/03 19:38

Quite a number of people made their way to emergency rooms nationwide on Wednesday amid the blistering heat wave here in Korea that continues today. Ahn Sung-jin covers the scorching temperatures here. South Korea remains in the grip of a heat wave. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, heat wave advisories were issued across the country on Thursday, with morning lows ranging from 23 to 28 degrees and the daytime high reaching up to 37 degrees in some areas. As hot and humid conditions persist, the feel-like temperatures are expected to hover above 33 degrees in most parts of the country. With temperatures remaining over 25 degrees throughout the night as well, the capital Seoul has continued to see tropical nights since the first one of the year on June 29th. As the country continues to suffer, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency stated that the number of those reported with heat-related illnesses reached 5-hundred-24 from May 15th till the first of July. The figure is 1-point-3-4 times more than the same period from last year. Health authorities are urging the public to take precautions by making sure to rest in cool environments and limit outdoor activities. Meanwhile, the rainy season has come to an early end. The KMA has announced that the monsoon season has officially ended on Jeju Island and in the southern regions, marking one of the earliest on record. As the North Pacific high air pressure system pushed the monsoon stationary front northwest, Jeju left the effective range on June 26th, and southern regions have been out of the area of monsoon influence since Tuesday. For Jeju, it has been the earliest monsoon season ending since nationwide weather monitoring began in 1973, while for southern areas it marked the second earliest. In terms of the monsoon period, both Jeju and the southern regions were the second-shortest on record, lasting 15 and 13 days consecutively. However, the KMA said it's still too early to declare the end of the monsoon season in other regions, as a weakened stationary front near North Korea may temporarily affect the area. Rain is forecast for this week, though precipitation is expected to remain light. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.