News

Pres. Lee to visit Japan for summit from Aug. 23 in potential resumption of regular high-level meetings

2025/08/14 11:40

We begin with a summit between Seoul and Tokyo. President Lee Jae Myung is set to make his first visit to Japan next weekend since taking office, for talks with his Japanese counterpart, Shigeru Ishiba. Our Park Kun-woo starts us off. A Korea-Japan summit will take place next week. The Presidential Office officially announced on Wednesday that President Lee plans to head to Japan for two days from August 23rd to meet his Japanese counterpart Prime Minister Ishiba. This means his visit will take place right ahead of Lee's scheduled meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on August 25th. "We hope Lee's visit strengthens the personal relationship and trust between the two leaders. They are expected to explore ways for future-oriented cooperation between the two countries along with their trilateral cooperation with the U.S." The upcoming Lee-Ishiba summit comes after the two leaders agreed to immediately resume regular high-level meetings during the G7 summit held in Canada's Kananaskis in June. The Presidential Office added regional issues regarding peace and stability, along with other global issues may be discussed. While the exact agenda has yet to be decided on, the office added issues regarding import regulations for fisheries imports could be on the table, with the government raising potential health issues that could affect Koreans. With less than two weeks left until the meeting, eyes are on whether this signals a resumption of regular summits between the two countries. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

Downpours in the capital area and Gangwon-do, heatwave in the south

2025/08/14 11:39

A powerful rain system continues to drench the central area this morning, with intense rainfall lashing down 10 to 30 millimeters per hour. BUT the capital area could see extreme downpours of up to 70 millimeters per hour until this morning with up to 150 millimeters in the forecast, Gangwon-do Province getting up to 120 millimeters. This band of rain will gradually let up this afternoon before returning again tomorrow. For now, heavy rain alerts remain in place for most of the capital areas and Gangwon-do and parts of Chungcheongnam-do provinces. Meanwhile, the southern parts of Korea are under a heatwave advisory, so let's take a closer look. Daegu and Gwangju will get up to 34 degrees this afternoon, with a chance of passing rain further south, including Busan and Jeju will be under sunny skies all day with strong heat. More rain is in store for the central regions tomorrow, then heat and tropical nights are forecast to come back this weekend. Stay safe and take care!

Beyoncé wins her first Emmy for 'Beyoncé Bowl' halftime show

2025/08/14 11:39

American singer and actress Beyoncé Knowles-Carter has won her first Emmy Award. Beyoncé won the award for Outstanding Costumes for Variety, Nonfiction, or Reality Programming for her Netflix special "Beyoncé Bowl," a Christmas Day NFL halftime show featuring songs from her Cowboy Carter album. She shared the honor with five collaborators, including lead designer Shiona Turini. Beyoncé had previously received 10 Emmy nominations without a win.

Evacuations in Alaska after glacial melt raises fears of record flooding

2025/08/14 11:39

In the U.S. state of Alaska, an outburst of water from a glacial lake led to urgent evacuations on Wednesday. Authorities have warned residents in the state capital, Juneau, that water from a basin has burst through and flooded the Mendenhall River to record levels, peaking at over 5 meters, exceeding last year's high-water mark. The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning and urged residents in the high-risk inundation zone to evacuate immediately. Glacial lake outbursts occur when a lake formed by the melting of snow, ice, and rain drains rapidly, much like pulling a plug from a full bathtub. Flooding has been a recurring concern in the area since 2011, and in just one year last year, hundreds of homes were damaged.

Israel discussing "voluntary migration" of displaced Palestinians

2025/08/14 11:38

Israel is reportedly discussing the resettlement of Palestinians and is making diplomatic progress with Indonesia. According to Israel's N12 television, citing sources on Wednesday, Israel has approached Indonesia, Somaliland, Uganda, South Sudan, and Libya to gauge willingness to accept displaced Palestinians from Gaza under plans described by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as "voluntary migration." Though no firm agreements have been signed, some progress has reportedly been made with Indonesia and Somaliland. Indonesia previously made a humanitarian offer, including treating up to 2,000 wounded Palestinians earlier this month and temporarily accepting around 1,000 war refugees in April. South Sudan, however, has denied involvement. Its Foreign Ministry labeled earlier reports of resettlement talks with Israel as "baseless" and "not reflective of its official policy."

Trump holds call with Zelenskyy and EU leaders ahead of Putin summit

2025/08/14 11:38

Good morning, I'm Choi Chi-hee, and this is The World Now. U.S. President Donald Trump held an online summit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and key European leaders, ahead of his upcoming face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Hosted from Berlin on Wednesday, the online meeting brought together President Zelenskyy, European leaders, including German Chancellor Merz, French President Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and NATO's Secretary-General Mark Rutte, alongside President Trump and Vice President JD Vance. The attendees shared thoughts that any peace must include Ukraine's voice, reject territorial concessions, and proceed with firm security guarantees. Zelenskyy warned that Putin's pledge to pause aggression was a bluff, aimed at stronger leverage on the battlefield. President Trump later described the call as a "very good conversation" and warned that Russia would face "very severe consequences" if Putin didn't agree to end the war after their summit on Friday.

South Korea to export K-9 howitzers to Vietnam

2025/08/14 11:37

A deal has been signed to export South Korea's domestically produced K-9 self-propelled howitzers to Vietnam. According to defense industry sources on Thursday, a government-to-government contract was signed late last month to supply 20 of the artillery weapons produced by Hanwha Aerospace to Vietnam for 250 million U.S. dollars. This marks the first time for South Korean-made howitzers to enter the Southeast Asian market. The deal with Vietnam also marks the first time South Korea has exported its weapons to a communist country.

U.S. says it looks forward to working with S. Korea to advance 'ironclad' alliance

2025/08/14 11:37

Over in the U.S. Washington's top diplomat has said it looks forward to collaborating with the Lee administration to advance an 'ironclad' alliance between South Korea and the United States. In a statement on Wednesday local time, the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio congratulated South Korea on the 80th anniversary of its liberation from Japan's colonial rule this Friday. Calling South Korea an "indispensable ally," Rubio said Washington will continue to expand prosperity and confront the most pressing global security challenges by working together with Seoul.

[On-point] What will be on agenda when leaders of S. Korea, Japan meet next week?

2025/08/14 11:37

As we just heard, President Lee is expected to sit down for talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba before heading to Washington to meet with Trump. For more on the bilateral relations between Seoul and Tokyo, we're joined by Professor Daniel Connolly, Associate Professor of International Relations at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. Professor Connolly, thanks for joining us this morning. It's unusual for a South Korean president to meet the Japanese leader before meeting the U.S. president, right? How would this reflect the Lee administration's approach toward Japan? What issues do you expect to be on the agenda when Lee and Ishiba meet in Tokyo? Historical issues such as wartime forced labor and 'comfort women,' or wartime sexual slavery --remain as thorns in bilateral relations. President Lee previously said he would take a "two-track" policy, separating historical disputes from bilateral cooperation. What's your take on this? How does this approach differ from the previous administration's policy? Tomorrow marks the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japan's colonial rule. In your view, what's the key to improving relations between Seoul and Tokyo?

Three killed in heavy rain in South Korea's capital region

2025/08/14 11:36

Three people lost their lives in the capital region as heavy rain continued to pound the central regions of South Korea where more rain is expected throughout Thursday. Lee Seung-jae reports. Three people died in South Korea's capital area on Wednesday amid heavy rain in the region. Over in Gimpo, west of Seoul, an elderly man was found dead in the back seat of a car after it plunged into a river. In Incheon, a man in his 40s was killed when his car skidded off the road and into a lake, while a woman in her 70s died as the car she was in crashed into a traffic light on a slippery road. The torrential rain triggered heavy rain alerts in Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi-do, Gangwon-do, and Chungcheongnam-do Provinces, as the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters raised its emergency response to level two. Evacuation orders were also issued for areas near rivers at risk of flooding in Seoul and parts of Gyeonggi-do Province. The heavy rains also led to train service on the Gyeongui–Jungang Line between Ilsan and Susaek Stations to be temporarily suspended on Wednesday, with delays on other sections. For safety, trains on the Gyeongui Line between Uijeongbu and Daegok Stations were also halted for the entire day. The Korea Meteorological Administration says 30 to 50 millimeters of rain per hour could continue through Thursday morning in the central region. Total rainfall through Thursday is expected to reach 50 to 150 millimeters in the capital area and up to 200 millimeters in Incheon and northern Gyeonggi-do regions. Gangwon could see as much as 150 millimeters, and parts of Chungcheong up to 100 millimeters. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Policy blueprint unveiled for Lee Jae Myung administration

2025/08/14 11:35

On the local front a five-year policy road map has been unveiled for the new Lee Jae Myung administration. Focus is on forging an AI ecosystem to seek new growth engines as well as upgrading South Korea's defense system. Our top office correspondent Yoon Jung-min has this report. Exactly 70 days after the new administration set sail following the snap election, a comprehensive policy road map has been unveiled for the next five years. "I will make a country where the people are treated as owners, the real Republic of Korea, where everyone is happy, together. Beyond conflict and confrontation, I will open a path towards integration through politics that unite the people." In line with this goal, three principles were set: unity, fairness and pragmatism. President Lee Jae Myung was speaking at an event in Seoul on Wednesday where a set of blueprints was made public by the State Affairs Planning Committee, which now concludes its two-month-long job as a de facto transition team. Included were 123 tasks in five areas, including politics, the economy and foreign affairs. "The Republic of Korea is mired in low growth. We need a new framework in line with the changing environment." Focus is on creating an AI ecosystem, centered around AI chips, as a future growth engine. On top of that, the new government aims to usher in the "KOSPI 5,000 era" through forging an environment that is more investment-friendly. When it comes to foreign affairs and security "We will upgrade the three-axis defense system to secure deterrence of our own against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats." The "three-axis" system refers to a three-pronged system consisting of the Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation, the Kill Chain preemptive strike platform, and the Korea Air and Missile Defense system. Seoul also plans to retake wartime operational control from Washington during Lee's term. On top of that, the defense system will be bolstered to match the changing security environment, while seeking to improve inter-Korean relations. Other goals include elevating South Korea as a global cultural powerhouse, with the aim of nurturing the K-culture market worth 300-trillion won, roughly 216-billion U.S. dollars. Also announced were Constitutional reform to "better embody the principle of people's sovereignty," as well as prosecutorial reform to reduce the power that's often been too heavy on prosecutors. To carry out those policy tasks, a total of 210-trillion won is needed along the way, according to the committee, which will be secured through taxes and belt-tightening. What was unveiled on Wednesday will be under review by the Cabinet before confirmed. Yoon Jung-min, Arirang News.

N. Korean leader's sister denies loudspeaker removal, rejects Seoul's outreach

2025/08/14 11:34

Shifting gears. North Korea's Kim Yo-jong, the sister of the North's leader, has slammed Seoul's latest peace gestures. She denies claims that the North has removed its loudspeakers and she vows to keep a hard line against both South Korea and the United States. Byeon Ye-young has the details. Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, has rejected Seoul's conciliatory measures and reaffirmed Pyongyang's intent to maintain its hostile stance. In a statement released through the North's state-run Korean Central News Agency on Thursday, Kim dismissed recent measures by the Lee Jae Myung administration, which took office in June pledging to mend strained ties with North Korea. Lee's government has halted anti-Pyongyang loudspeaker broadcasts, moved to ban leaflet balloon launches, and repatriated North Koreans who had drifted south in wooden boats. Responding to Lee's remarks on Tuesday that the North has also removed some loudspeakers, Kim called it "groundless speculation and a manipulation of public opinion," insisting North Korea has not dismantled the loudspeakers deployed along the border, and doesn't intend to dismantle them. Kim also criticized adjustments to the upcoming U.S.-Korean Ulchi Freedom Shield joint military drills starting on August 18th, dismissing them as "worthless and futile." She added that Pyongyang has "no intention of improving relations with a loyal servant and faithful ally of the United States". She also accused Seoul of trying to score political points by reversing measures from the previous Yoon Suk Yeol government, calling such efforts an empty dream that would not draw Pyongyang's attention. Kim Yo-jong further brushed off speculation that the summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, scheduled for Friday, could revive U.S.-North Korea dialogue, saying there was no reason for North Korea to sit down with the U.S. She warned that if Washington clings to what she called "outdated" thinking, any meeting would remain merely a U.S. hope and that North Korea had no interest in talks that dwell on an irreversible past. Byeon Ye-young, Arirang News.

STOCK&FX

2025/08/13 22:43

2025. 8. 13. KOREAN STOCK MARKET KOSPI : 3,224.37 ▲34.46 +1.08% KOSDAQ : 814.10 ▲6.91 +0.86% KOSPI200 : 436.92 ▲5.29 +1.23% ASIAN STOCK MARKET NIKKEI225 : 43,274.67 ▲556.50 +1.30% HANG SENG : 25,613.67 ▲643.99 +2.58% SHANGHAI : 3,683.47 ▲17.54 +0.48% WALL STREET (AUG. 12) DOW JONES : 44,458.61 ▲483.52 +1.10% NASDAQ : 21,681.90 ▲296.50 +1.39% S&P500 : 6,445.76 ▲72.31 +1.13% EXCHANGE RATE USD : 1,381.70 (-8.20) JPY : 934.53 (-2.72) CNY : 192.38 (-0.78) EUR : 1,614.38 (+0.57)

Policy blueprint unveiled for Lee Jae Myung administration

2025/08/13 22:43

Good evening, and thank you for joining us on this Wednesday evening. I'm Song Yoo-jin, filling in for Kim Dami. Our top story tonight begins at the Presidential Office. A five-year policy road map was unveiled today for the new Lee Jae Myung administration. Focus is on forging an AI ecosystem to seek new growth engines as well as upgrading South Korea's three-axis defense system. Yoon Jung-min starts us off. Exactly 70 days after the new administration set sail following the snap election, a comprehensive policy road map has been unveiled for the next five years. "I will make a country where the people are treated as owners, the real Republic of Korea, where everyone is happy, together. Beyond conflict and confrontation, I will open a path towards integration through politics that unite the people." In line with this goal, three principles were set: unity, fairness and pragmatism. President Lee Jae Myung was speaking at an event in Seoul on Wednesday where a set of blueprints was made public by the State Affairs Planning Committee, which now concludes its two-month-long job as a de facto transition team. Included were 123 tasks in five areas, including politics, the economy and foreign affairs. "The Republic of Korea is mired in low growth. We need a new framework in line with the changing environment." Focus is on creating an AI ecosystem, centered around AI chips, as a future growth engine. On top of that, the new government aims to usher in the "KOSPI 5,000 era" through forging an environment that is more investment-friendly. When it comes to foreign affairs and security "We will upgrade the three-axis defense system to secure deterrence of our own against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats." The "three-axis" system refers to a three-pronged system consisting of the Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation, the Kill Chain preemptive strike platform, and the Korea Air and Missile Defense system. Seoul also plans to retake wartime operational control from Washington during Lee's term. On top of that, the defense system will be bolstered to match the changing security environment, while seeking to improve inter-Korean relations. Other goals include elevating South Korea as a global cultural powerhouse, with the aim of nurturing the K-culture market worth 300-trillion won, roughly 216-billion U.S. dollars. Also announced were Constitutional reform to "better embody the principle of people's sovereignty," as well as prosecutorial reform to reduce the power that's often been too heavy on prosecutors. To carry out those policy tasks, a total of 210-trillion won is needed along the way, according to the committee, which will be secured through taxes and belt-tightening. What was unveiled on Wednesday will be under review by the Cabinet before confirmed. Yoon Jung-min, Arirang News.

[Weather] Heavy rain until tomorrow morning in Seoul metropolitan area

2025/08/13 22:41

Rain has been falling everywhere today. Due to a slow-moving front that affected the south yesterday, rain is now concentrated mainly in the Seoul metropolitan area and Gangwon-do Province today. Therefore, heavy rain warnings and advisories have been issued in those areas. By tomorrow, there will be up to 200 millimeters of rain in northern parts of Gyeonggi-do Province, up to 150 in the Seoul metropolitan area, central and northern parts of Gangwon-do Province, and up to 100 millimeters in southern parts of Gangwon-do Province and northern parts of the Chungcheong-do provinces. Seoul and Busan will start warm at 26 degrees Celsius tomorrow morning, Jeju at 27 degrees. Daily highs will move up to 29 degrees in Seoul and Chuncheon, 34 degrees in Daegu. Rain in the central parts of the country will mostly stop on Friday morning. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

From final brushstrokes to burnt Taegeukgi: Illuminating Korea’s resistance heritage

2025/08/13 22:41

With two days until the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule, tonight, we trace the country's journey of resistance through a special exhibition highlighting independence fighters and their belongings. Park Hyo-been gives us a look inside "The Radiant Heritage of Independence." Korea's darkest days , and the courage of those who refused to bow, now gathered in one place. To mark the 80th anniversary of Korea's Liberation from Japanese colonial rule, a special exhibition at Deoksugung Palace brings together over 110 artifacts from the late 19th century to the day the nation reclaimed its freedom. "For the first time, Korean independence hero Ahn Jung-geun's calligraphy is being showcased to the public. These two letters, meaning 'green bamboo,' show his strong opposition to Japanese rule." His final brushstrokes, made in a cold Lushun prison cell before his execution, capture not only defiance against Japan, but also a longing for peace in Asia and respect for human dignity. From here, the story turns to lesser-known independence fighters. Min Young-hwan took his own life in protest after Japan's illegal Eulsa Treaty stripped Korea of its sovereignty, writing, "If our freedom and independence are restored, I shall gladly smile even in the afterlife." Manifestos and letters from Korea's civilian militias, known as the righteous armies, also bear the weight of defiance, with some returning to Korea only last year after decades in Japan. The spirit of defiance is also preserved in the national flag , a Taegeukgi found at Jingwansa Temple, riddled with holes and burn marks. Believed to have been made during the March 1st Independence Movement in 1919, it bears the Korean flag's taegeuk symbol and trigrams painted in black ink over the Japanese flag, amplifying the message of resistance. "This Taegeukgi, national flag of Korea, found at Jingwansa Temple, is even more meaningful as it shows just how fiercely our independence fighters carried out their work in secrecy." Bringing these treasures together is what makes this exhibition truly historic. "While marking the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation, this exhibition is most meaningful for bringing together authentic resistance heritage from both institutions and individuals in one place." Liberation was never given. It was earned, with blood, sweat, and hope. Eighty years on, their courage still lights the path toward the freedom they dreamed of. Park Hyo-been, Arirang News.

Do Kwon pleads guilty to U.S. fraud charges in US$ 40 bil. crypto collapse

2025/08/13 22:40

Disgraced cryptocurrency mogul Do Kwon has pleaded guilty in the United States to two fraud charges. With a plea deal, Kwon is expected to face no more than 12 years in prison, with half of his sentence potentially behind bars in South Korea. Lee Seung-jae has more. Disgraced South Korean cryptocurrency mogul Do Kwon on Tuesday, pleaded guilty in the United States to two fraud charges, connected to the 40 billion U.S. dollar collapse of Terraform Labs' digital currency ecosystem. The 33-year-old entered the plea at a Manhattan federal court, where under the deal with prosecutors, Kwon will face no more than 12 years in prison if he abides by the agreement. This is despite nine charges he was facing under the indictment and sentencing guidelines calling for roughly 25 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for December 11th. Also, as part of the plea deal, Kwon admitted to conspiring to commit commodities, securities, and wire fraud. He will also forfeit over 19 million dollars, proceeds authorities say were illegally gained. Kwon will also relinquish his stake in Terraform and its cryptocurrencies. Meanwhile,.. if Kwon serves half his sentence and meets all conditions of the plea bargain, the U.S. Justice Department will support his request to transfer to South Korea under the International Prisoner Transfer Program. Kwon has long requested that he be extradited to his home country, to serve prison time in South Korea. However, he also faces separate criminal charges in South Korea. Kwon co-founded Terraform Labs in 2018, developing the so-called stablecoin TerraUSD, pegged to the U.S. dollar to avoid price swings. But in 2022, the token's value collapsed, wiping out about 40 billion dollars from TerraUSD and its sister coin Luna, leaving investors around the world with major losses. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Information, communication technology exports hit record high for July

2025/08/13 22:39

On the economic front, South Korea's tech sector posted strong export numbers last month, despite ongoing uncertainties sparked by the Trump administration's tariff policies. The driving force? Semiconductors. Park Jun-han breaks down the numbers. South Korea's information and communication technology exports saw a record-breaking performance in July. Exports of ICT products for the month reached 22-point-19 billion U.S. dollars, a 14-point-5 percent increase from the same period last year, according to data released by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on Wednesday. Despite uncertainties stemming from U.S. tariff policies, this marks the highest July export figure ever recorded for the sector, producing a trade surplus of 8-point-87 billion dollars. The driver behind the surge was semiconductors. Semiconductor exports posted an over 31 percent increase in July to 14-point-7 billion dollars, driven by rising prices for memory semiconductors and strong demand for high-value-added chips such as high bandwidth memory (HBM) and double data rate 5 (DDR5.) This marks the fourth consecutive month of year-on-year record-breaking semiconductor exports. "With the growth of the AI industry, sales of HBM memory semiconductors for AI systems are rising, and as HBM is a high-value product, it is positively impacting South Korea's tech exports." However, not all sectors showed as strong a performance. Display exports fell almost 9 percent due to uncertain demand in forward industries, while mobile phone exports dropped almost 22 percent, though strong finished product sales partially offset declines in components. Exports of computers and peripherals declined by about 17 percent, affected by the high baseline set by last year's surge in solid state drive (SSD) shipments, and a temporary slowdown in demand. The strength in exports once again underscored South Korea's resilience in the global ICT market, particularly in semiconductors, despite ongoing trade uncertainties. Park Jun-han, Arirang News.

Kim Keon Hee arrested on corruption charges

2025/08/13 22:38

Now to the latest on the investigations involving former President Yoon Suk Yeol and former first lady Kim Keon Hee. Following her arrest on corruption charges, the special counsel leading the probe says Kim will appear for questioning tomorrow morning. This marks the first time in South Korea's history that a former presidential couple has been detained at the same time. Byeon Ye-young reports on the developments. Kim Keon Hee, the wife of impeached former President Yoon Suk Yeol, was arrested late on Tuesday on charges of stock manipulation, interference in party nominations, and political influence-peddling. A special counsel team set up to investigate Kim has summoned the former first lady to appear for questioning at 10 AM on Thursday. Meanwhile, the special counsel team has launched a raid on the People Power Party to investigate allegations that large numbers of Unification Church members joined the party. On Wednesday morning, investigators were dispatched to the PPP's central headquarters in Yeouido to secure electronic data needed for the probe. They presented a search and seizure warrant and received the necessary materials through voluntary submission. Kim is accused of taking part as a "funding source" in the Deutsche Motors stock-rigging scheme from 2009 to 2012, meddling in People Power Party candidate selections in recent elections, and accepting an illicit lobbying request from a "broker" from the Unification Church in 2022. The Seoul Central District Court cited "concerns over destruction of evidence" as the main reason for issuing the arrest warrant. Kim was moved to the Seoul Southern Detention Center, where she waited in a holding room for detainees before she was transferred to a housing unit. Her arrest means all privileges as a former first lady were revoked, and her security detail was fully withdrawn. However, like her husband, she will be assigned a dedicated correctional officer and kept separate from other inmates during exercise and bathing. Kim first appeared for questioning in front of the special counsel team last week, where she made a public apology. "I am truly sorry that a nobody like myself has caused concern for the people. I will faithfully undergo the questioning." Her husband, Yoon Suk Yeol, is behind bars on insurrection charges. While several other former South Korean presidents have previously served prison terms, this is the first time in the nation's history that both a former president and their spouse have been jailed at the same time. Byeon Ye-young, Arirang News.

As torrential downpours continue, landslide and flood advisories issued nationwide

2025/08/13 22:36

It seems like this summer's relentless rain isn't over yet, with heavy downpours pounding South Korea's capital region throughout the day on Wednesday. Authorities are bracing for further impact, warning the rain, set to continue through tomorrow, could trigger landslides and flooding. Cha Yun-kyung has the details. South Korea continues to see heavy rain throughout the central region, including Gyeonggi-do Province, on Wednesday. Deokjeok-do Island of Ongjin-gun County, Incheon saw extreme rainfall of nearly 150 millimeters in just one hour. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, from 8:14 AM till 9:14 AM on Wednesday morning, around 149 millimeters of rain poured in the area, marking a near record figure of rainfall. Even areas that didn't cross the 100 millimeter per hour threshold still saw significant rainfall well above typical downpour levels, being classified as "heavy" rainfall. Around 29 streams in Seoul have been closed off, including Cheonggyecheon and Anyangcheon streams. A heavy rain advisory had been issued in the morning in the northern parts of the city and was later raised to a heavy rain warning in the southwestern areas. Seoul and Gyeonggi-do Province have activated Level Two of their emergency response measures, while the country's Forestry Service issued landslide warnings for some cities and counties, including Pocheon, Gapyeong, and Yangju. Advisories have been placed in nearby regions, as authorities order evacuations in other affected areas as a precaution. The KMA notes that this comes from North Pacific high-pressure air expanding into the Peninsula alongside hot and humid air caused by the typhoon "Budle". This air, combined with the dry air coming down from the north, created a narrow rain cloud band. More specifically, fast winds blowing from the lower atmosphere at an altitude of 1-point-5-kilometers, known as lower jets, have been adding to a large amount of water vapor and torrential rain. As the Interior and Safety Ministry activated level 2 of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters response measures, authorities are calling on strict management and preemptive closure of flood-prone areas to prevent further damage. Though heavy rain is expected to continue throughout Wednesday, it will ease off nationwide by Thursday afternoon, and related agencies will be closely monitoring conditions. Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.