News

[K-Correspondent] Jongmyo Jeryeak exhibition showcases Korea's tradition in Indonesia

2025/07/02 16:34

A UNESCO intangible cultural heritage, Korea's Jongmyo Jeryeak, the traditional music and dance performed at ceremonies to honor the spirits of the kings and queens of the Joseon Dynasty, has been brought to life at an event in Indonesia's capital Jakarta. Let's connect to Jakarta to hear about this perhaps unfamiliar, yet deeply resonant experience that's unfolding there. We are now connected to Kyla Minerva Angelia at the Korean Cultural Center in Indonesia. Hello Kyla! Q1. Please introduce us to the Jongmyo Jeryeak exhibition that's currently running in Jakarta. Q2. So what kind of events and programs are being offered for visitors? How could they take part in those and what were locals impressed about the most? (Ex: the music, rites, costumes, etc.) Q3. When preparing for the exhibition, was there anything you paid special attention to so that it works well with the local culture? Q4. In a few days on July 8th, the exhibition will come to a close. How has the response been by local media or on social media so far? Q5 Apart from the popularity of K-pop and K-dramas, how much interest is there in Korea's traditional culture in Indonesia? Q6. Do you feel any similarities between traditional Korean and Indonesian culture? Q7. Finally, is there any important message you hope to convey through this exhibition? (Ex: the importance of raising awareness of cultural heritage like the jongmyo jeryeak, or a message to the Indonesian visitors, etc. ) Thank you Kyla for introducing us to this exhibition and for spreading Korean culture in Indonesia. Thank you Walter as always. See you next time.

[NEWs GEN] Lunch Hour Getaways: How Gen Zs are spending their lunch breaks

2025/07/02 12:33

[NEWs GEN] Lunch Hour Getaways: How Gen Zs are spending their lunch breaks

What the South Korean President's 'Pragmatic Diplomacy' entails 1 month after taking office

2025/07/02 11:39

It's been one month since President Lee Jae Myung took office. It's still early days, but we zoom in on the course of his foreign affairs and security policies, which he has defined as "pragmatic diplomacy." Our foreign affairs correspondent Oh Soo-young explains. Lee Jae Myung's pragmatic diplomacy blends continuity and change --based on a deliberate calculation of national interest. His diplomatic debut came at the G7 Summit in June, where he held ten bilateral meetings with world leaders. After a six-month leadership vacuum caused by former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law crisis, Lee's presence aimed to renew South Korea's standing as a vibrant democratic partner. Lee Jae Myung has also reaffirmed the Seoul-Washington alliance and future-oriented relations with Tokyo. His first phone calls were with Donald Trump and Shigeru Ishiba, followed by China's Xi Jinping, breaking the tradition of progressive leaders prioritizing Beijing over Tokyo. Lee's foreign policy also shows signs of recalibration. While maintaining key partnerships with democratic countries, the administration is diversifying cooperation and avoiding value-based alignment --seeking to engage with China and Russia where possible. On North Korea, Lee's approach has been focused on reducing tensions. In his first month, he suspended loudspeaker broadcasts and cracked down on cross-border leaflet campaigns --signaling a break from the tit-for-tat escalation seen in recent years. His Cabinet nominations reflect this push for peace, over alliance-based deterrence. Foreign Minister nominee Cho Hyun last week called for moving beyond the (quote) "stereotype that diplomacy begins and ends with the United States," while stressing U.S.–North Korea dialogue and building peace on the peninsula as core priorities. Unification Minister nominee Chung Dong-young could return to a role he held under the Roh Moo-hyun government. He helped organize the 2007 inter-Korean summit. Defense Minister nominee Ahn Gyu-back --set to become the first civilian to hold the post in more than 60 years --has stressed the need to build peace along the border. North Korea, along with trade and security, will likely top the agenda when Lee meets Donald Trump later this month. Their meeting will mark the first test of Lee's ability to navigate the alliance while asserting South Korea's national interest. The U.S. will likely push for Seoul to cover more costs related to defence and possibly the deployment of U.S. strategic assets in South Korea. Lee and Trump were originally expected to meet during the G7, but the meeting fell through as Trump left early amid conflict between Israel and Iran. Officials from both sides say a summit is being arranged in Washington --likely the week of July 21st. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

Persistent heatwave grips much of Korea

2025/07/02 11:38

Following yesterday's significant temperatures, today is expected to be equally, if not more, intense in terms of heat across Korea. Heatwave advisories are active in most parts, and warnings have been issued for most of the southern regions. We are seeing tropical nights as the temperatures stay above 25 degrees Celsius overnight. Gangneung is enduring super tropical nights. If you are visiting Korea around this time, make sure to have an umbrella that can keep you safe from rain and sunshine. This time of year, it can rain all of a sudden, before sunny skies quickly return, and you can easily get one from a convenience store. AND there is a chance of sudden afternoon rain in the capital area and Gangwon-do. This afternoon, Seoul gets up to 32 degrees, Daegu and Gyeongju both hitting 36 degrees under sunnier skies. Hot and muggy conditions are here to stay, with no significant monsoon rain in store, take good care of yourself!

Dubai aims to beat the traffic with 2026 Joby air taxi liftoff

2025/07/02 11:38

Dubai hosted the first piloted test flight of Joby Aviation's fully-electric air taxi on Monday, ahead of its official commercial launch in 2026. It's the first in-market series of flight tests following initial trials in California earlier this year and included vertical takeoff and precise landing sequences. The California-based company says its flagship aerial taxi can carry one pilot and four passengers, reach speeds up to 320 kilometers per hour, and fly approximately 160 kilometers per charge. This could reduce the trip from Dubai International Airport to Palm Jumeirah to 12 minutes, down from a 45-minute drive by car.

USAID program closes doors after six decades study finds 14 million people could die

2025/07/02 11:38

The U.S. Agency for International Development, USA-I-D, officially ceased independent operations on Tuesday, July 1, after 64 years. Over 80% of its programs folded into the State Department under an "America First" reorganization plan. Meanwhile, a new study projects that these funding cuts could result in more than 14 million avoidable deaths globally by 2030, including children under five. Between 2001 and 2021, USAID-funded efforts prevented about 91 million deaths from diseases like HIV and malaria. While former Presidents Obama and Bush denounced the closure, Secretary of State Rubio said, "Inefficiency has officially come to an end."

At least 36 killed in India after explosion at pharmaceutical factory

2025/07/02 11:37

In India, the death toll from an explosion at a pharmaceutical factory has risen to at least 36. The blast on Monday at Sigachi Industries' factory in Telangana State occurred at the spray-dryer unit of the plant, causing the structure to collapse while over 140 workers were inside. Rescue teams have retrieved 34 bodies from the rubble, and two others died later in hospital. More than 30 people suffered injuries and are being treated for burns. Officials said additional casualties cannot be ruled out until debris from the collapsed building is fully cleared.

Court suspends Thailand's PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra to investigate leaked phone call

2025/07/02 11:37

Good morning, I'm Choi Chi-hee, and this is the World Now. Thailand's Constitutional Court has suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office following a petition from 36 senators amid controversy over a leaked phone call. On Tuesday, Thailand's Constitutional Court voted 7 to 2 to suspend Paetongtarn pending a 15-day investigation into allegations of dishonesty and ethical misconduct related to a leaked June 15 call with Cambodian politician Hun Sen. In the conversation, Paetongtarn referred to Hun Sen as "uncle," and criticized a Thai military commander as "an opponent." The Bhum-jai-thai Party, Paetongtarn's key coalition partner, withdrew support after the leak, prompting renewed public protests demanding her resignation. The Deputy Prime Minister has been appointed as the acting Prime Minister. While Paetongtarn transfers to the culture ministry from July 3, she is barred from exercising executive power during the proceedings. The National Anti-Corruption Commission is conducting a parallel investigation that could escalate to a Supreme Court case, potentially leading to a political ban if she's found guilty.

BTS to make full-group comeback next spring

2025/07/02 11:36

K-pop group BTS will return with a new album featuring all seven members, and begin a world tour next spring. The supergroup announced the news during a live broadcast on the K-pop fan community platform Weverse on Tuesday, adding that they'll start planning their comeback this month. BTS says the new album will be released next spring, along with a world tour to mark the group's return. All seven members of the group have now completed their mandatory military service, and have been discharged as of last month.

[On-point] A week into Israel-Iran peace agreement --will ceasefire hold?

2025/07/02 11:36

It's been a week since the conflict between Israel and Iran ended with a ceasefire brokered by the United States. For more, we're joined by Paik Seunghoon, Researcher at the Institute of Middle East Studies. Thanks for joining us this morning. 1. Will the peace agreement between Israel and Iran continue to hold and forever end the conflict between the two countries? 2. Trump says U.S. strikes obliterated Iran's nuclear sites, but it's still unclear how effective they were. What's your assessment on this? How far has Iran's nuclear program been set back? 3. U.S. government agencies are warning of increased Iranian cyber threats. Could Iran carry out further retaliation in response to the latest U.S. strikes? 4. Trump is set to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House next Monday. What is likely to be discussed, and will the U.S. pressure Israel to reach a deal on Gaza? 5. Has the ceasefire between Israel and Iran opened the door to ending the war in Gaza? Alright, thank you so much for your insight. We appreciate it.

President Lee urges Cabinet members to respect National Assembly

2025/07/02 11:36

President Lee Jae Myung presided over a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. He urged officials to respect members of the National Assembly who've been elected by citizens, while also addressing issues related to people's livelihoods. Top Office Correspondent Yoon Jung-min reports. "The National Assembly is an institution directly entrusted with power by the people, so I ask our Cabinet members to have a sense of respect for them when you go there. It's about the basic order of the state." President Lee Jae Myung began Tuesday's Cabinet meeting by noting that all power comes from the people, and officials elected by the people come before those who were appointed. He pointed out that there seems to be a "misunderstanding" with parliament, and urged the Cabinet to respect the Assembly. Present at the meeting were some of the Cabinet members from the former Yoon Suk Yeol administration. He went on to pay attention to the livelihoods of the people, particularly the vulnerable, with the nation in the middle of the summer rainy season. "During extreme heat, people living in small rooms, the elderly, and the vulnerable suffer crises. Please pay extra attention and take good care of them." Lee also turned to another matter affecting the lives of Koreans: real estate. He said the stock and financial markets have been recently "normalized," and began to serve as investment options other than the property market, pointing to a tendency in Korea where speculation in real estate often leads to housing market instability. Last week, the nation's financial watchdog announced strict measures to tighten household lending to curb soaring home prices in the capital. Discussions on Tuesday included how to use some of the land left fallow in the border area of Gyeonggi-do Province following the relocation of the U.S. military sites to Pyeongtaek. "President Lee instructed the Defense Ministry to proactively review and report measures to deal with the issues regarding the land returned by the U.S. Forces Korea in northern Gyeonggi-do Province." Among the items endorsed at the Cabinet meeting was an agreement to establish a free trade zone between South Korea and Ecuador, aimed at expanding bilateral trade and investment. Yoon Jung-min, Arirang News.

Dangerous heat wave continues to sweep through Europe

2025/07/02 11:35

Europe is seeing dangerous temperatures amid a historic heat wave sweeping the region. Some areas have already reported the hottest June average temperatures, while experts say the heat wave could lead to an excess death of 45-hundred in a four-day span. Lee Seung-jae has more. It's only early July,.. but Europe is suffering from a record-breaking heat wave. A strong high-pressure system is trapping hot air from northern Africa, while higher temperatures on the Mediterranean Sea are reinforcing temperatures over land areas. Countries seeing the worst of the heat wave, include France, Italy, and Spain, with temperatures surpassing 40 degrees Celsius. Central France reported temperatures as high as 41 degrees, while Spain's southwest region saw mercury readings reach 46 degrees on Saturday. The Portuguese city of Mora rose to 46.6 degrees on Sunday, marking the highest June temperature on record. Amid the heat wave in Europe, the World Health Organization issued a stern warning on Monday, calling for urgent action to prevent "tens of thousands of unnecessary and preventable deaths." According to Marisol Iglesias Gonzalez,.. the technical advisor on climate change and health at the WHO, it's no longer a question of whether there will be a heat wave, but rather,.. how many there will be this year, and how long they'll last. Statistician Pierre Masselot, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, also warned that between June 30th and July 3rd, the heat wave could cause more than 45-hundred excess deaths. He warned that countries likely to record the highest rates of excess deaths are Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, and Luxembourg, adding that the worst days will likely be Tuesday and Wednesday. And according to the World Meteorological Organization, intense heat waves may become the norm for Europe. "The frequency and intensity of extreme heat events is increasing in Europe and by 2050 about half the European population may be exposed to high or very high risk of heat stress during summer." The heat wave is also raising concerns that the Eiffel Tower may experience deformation of around 20 centimeters. According to French daily Le Parisien on Monday, the steel structure bends slightly from various angles throughout the day due to the movement of the sun. It added that while the intense heat wave may lead to a wider angle of deformation, the tower returns to shape when temperatures cool during nighttime. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Processed food leads steepest inflation rate climb in 5 months

2025/07/02 11:34

Consumer prices in South Korea climbed back to the two percent range in June marking the fastest pace in five months. According to the data released by Statistics Korea, consumer prices in June increased by 2-point-2 percent year-on-year. This was led by processed food prices jumping four-point-six percent for the sharpest increase since late 2023. Bread, coffee, and ham led the gains while the price of ramyeon surged nearly seven percent. Seafood prices also saw a notable climb up seven-point-four percent with officials pointing to global warming and unstable marine conditions. Meanwhile, oil prices edged up zero-point-three percent reflecting geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

Trump rules out tariff suspension period extension

2025/07/02 11:34

As the clock ticks down on a critical U.S. trade deadline, U.S. President Donald Trump is taking a hard stance, refusing to grant more time for countries under temporary tariff relief. Our Moon Hye-ryeon has the details. With the suspension period on tariffs set to expire soon, U.S. President Donald Trump signaled that he has no plans to extend the deadline, and that new trade penalties for some countries may soon take effect. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Tuesday, he singled out Japan after taking to social media the day before to criticize Tokyo for refusing to import American rice despite facing a domestic shortage. "So what I'm going to do is I'll write them a letter and say, 'we thank you very much and we know you can't do the kind of things that we need and therefore you pay a 30%, 35% or whatever the numbers that we determine,' because we also have a very big trade deficit with Japan " On the other hand, he said a deal to reduce the 26 percent tariff rate for India to "much less" is on the table, after Indian officials extended a visit to the White House last week. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News prior to this statement that the two countries are close to making a deal that lowers levies for both parties. India is one of 57 named countries targeted by country-specific mutual tariffs announced back in April, before they were pushed back for a 90-day negotiation period. During that period, Washington has pushed for talks focused on tariff rates, trade imbalances, and non-tariff barriers. Only the UK has been able to negotiate a limited trade deal with the Trump administration so far, accepting a 10 percent U.S. tariff on certain items in exchange for special access to aircraft engines and British beef. Going forward, the Trump administration is reportedly planning meetings with its trade team to set tariff rates for individual countries as the July 9th deadline approaches. The U.S. Director of the National Economic Council revealed on Monday that the U.S. President will review tariff plans for each country, while Bessent warned that tariffs could remain high for countries that do not cooperate. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

Stock

2025/07/01 22:40

2025. 7. 1. KOREAN STOCK MARKET KOSPI : 3,089.65 ▲17.95 +0.58% KOSDAQ : 783.67 ▲2.17 +0.28% KOSPI200 : 416.26 ▲1.66 +0.40% ASIAN STOCK MARKET NIKKEI225 : 39,986.33 ▼501.06 -1.24% HANG SENG : CLOSED SHANGHAI : 3,457.75 ▲13.32 +0.39% WALL STREET (June 30) DOW JONES : 44,094.77 ▲275.50 +0.63% NASDAQ : 20,369.73 ▲96.27 +0.47% S&P500 : 6,204.95 ▲31.88 +0.52% EXCHANGE RATE USD : 1,355.90 (+5.90) JPY : 943.96 (+5.84) CNY : 189.33 (+0.77) EUR : 1,597.52 (+13.97)

S. Korea posts highest exports for June in history

2025/07/01 22:40

South Korea's exports made a rebound last month, in fact, posting the highest figures for any June in history, thanks to brisk chip and car shipments. Our Park Jun-han leads us off tonight. Exports in June reached an all-time high of 59-point-8 billion U.S. dollars, up 4-point-3 percent from a year earlier, according to data released on Tuesday by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Imports rose 3-point-3 percent to 50-point-72 billion dollars, resulting in a trade surplus of 9-point-08 billion dollars. Among the country's 15 major export items, six showed growth. Notably, semiconductors fueled this, marking a historic 15 billion dollars in June — up 11-point-6 percent — and continuing a four-month upward trend. This helped overseas shipments of semiconductors reach 73-point-3 billion dollars for the first half of 2025, the highest-ever performance over that period. "Previously, market demand for semiconductors was driven by mobile devices, but it has now shifted to AI and data centers. Strong memory sales — particularly high-bandwidth memory — and a surge in AI data center investment are the fundamental drivers behind the recent growth in semiconductor exports." Automobile shipments also hit an all-time high for June at 6-point-3 billion dollars, marking a 2-point-3 percent increase from a year earlier. Robust deliveries were driven by high EU demand for electric vehicles, and a whopping 67-point-9 percent surge in used car exports to 670 million dollars. By region, June exports saw growth in seven of its nine major trading regions, excluding the United States and China. Although exports to the United States and China saw a slight decrease of point-5 percent and 2-point-7 percent , respectively, exports to regions such as the European Union and the Middle East saw a significant increase of over at least 14 percent. The economic expert stated that the drop in exports to the United States and China reflects a shift in the global trading order. "The drop in exports after Trump's tariff hikes is a major setback, especially since exports were expected to rise. South Korea exports intermediate goods to China, which China then ships as final products to the U.S., so tariffs on China hit us too. As existing markets shrink, we naturally look for new ones — leading to a shift in the trading order, with more exports heading outside the U.S. and China." In the meantime, Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun said the government plans to respond proactively to the immediate challenges in the Korea-U.S. negotiations and will soon prepare export support measures — such as trade financing and the identification of alternative markets — to minimize the negative impact on industries. Park Jun-han, Arirang News.

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

2025/07/01 22:39

Seoul has recorded two consecutive tropical nights now. It felt as hot as 32 degrees Celsius during the day today. Not only in Seoul, heat wave warnings and advisories were issued in most parts of the country. The daytime temperature in Samcheok and Gyeongju rose up to 36 degrees during the day. This heat wave will continue tomorrow. In addition, we need to prepare for strong UV rays. High levels of ultraviolet rays will cover the skies around the country. Around the eastern and southern parts of the country, very high levels of UV rays will continue tomorrow afternoon. Tomorrow morning will be even hotter than today at around 24 to 26 degrees. Highs will move up to 32 degrees in Daejeon, 35 degrees in Daegu and Gyeongju. No rain is expected for the time being. Please take good care of your health. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

At least 74 killed in Gaza after Israeli forces strike, Netanyahu to visit White House

2025/07/01 22:38

After mediating the Israel-Iran ceasefire, U.S. President Donald Trump is now looking to put pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the Gaza war by inviting him to the White House next week. Byeon Ye-young has the details. U.S. President Donald Trump is set to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House next Monday, as Washington ramps up efforts to end the war in Gaza. Unnamed U.S. officials confirmed the visit, which comes amid a renewed push to broker a ceasefire. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, during a briefing on Monday, reaffirmed the administration's commitment to ending the conflict. "I also know that this administration is in constant communication with Israeli leadership, and the president himself speaks frequently, as you know, to Prime Minister Netanyahu. But this has been a priority for the president since he took office, to end this brutal war in Gaza." Netanyahu's upcoming visit comes as the U.S., after striking Iranian nuclear sites and brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, shifts focus to ending the Israel-Hamas conflict. On the same day, according to AP News, Israeli forces left at least 74 people dead in Gaza. The deadliest attack targeted a beachfront café crowded with women and children. It was one of the few remaining places during the war where civilians could charge their phones and access the Internet. "An F-16 missile, a war missile, military aircraft, not a drone or a bomb or a shell from a boat. The F-16 shook the place, it struck this place as you can see, pools of blood, piles of martyrs. I mean, if you had seen the scene from the beginning, there were piles of martyrs." Fares Awad, a Gaza health ministry official, said at least 30 were killed and dozens injured in the café strike. Local medical officials reported 15 more deaths on a Gaza City street, six in a separate building strike, 11 civilians shot while searching for food, and 10 killed at a UN aid warehouse. While Israel maintains it only targets militants, Gaza's Health Ministry reports that more than 56-thousand Palestinians, many of them civilians, have been killed since the war began. Byeon Ye-young, Arirang News.

Seoul sees second straight 'tropical night,' as it continues to battle heat waves

2025/07/01 22:37

It's rainy season, but with heavy monsoon downpours taking a break, sweltering heat is on the rise. Seoul has seen its second straight tropical night of the season, while a heat wave advisory remains in effect. Shin Ha-young reports. South Korea continues to face heat waves and tropical nights. As of Tuesday, most parts of the country, including Seoul, were under heat advisories. The capital saw the season's first heat wave advisory being issued on Monday, just a day after it experienced its first tropical night of the summer. Monday night's temperature stayed above 25 degrees Celsius, marking the second consecutive tropical night. A heat advisory is issued when the day's highest perceived temperature is expected to stay at 33 degrees Celsius or above for two or more days. However, Seoul's heat wave advisory came 11 days later than last year. Still, the sweltering heat is expected to remain not just in Seoul, but nationwide. "As the hot and humid North Pacific high-pressure area covers our country, a large amount of hot and humid water vapor is flowing in along its edge." The Korea Meteorological Administration raised the advisories to heat warnings on Tuesday, in regions including parts of Gangwon-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and Jeollanam-do provinces. A heat wave warning is issued when the highest perceived temperature is expected to reach 35 degrees or higher for two or more consecutive days, or when major damage is expected from the heat. The sweltering heat is hitting the entire country, breaking June temperature records in many areas. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration on Tuesday, Busan recorded an average daily temperature of 26-point-2 degrees Celsius on Monday, the hottest day in June since records began in April 1904. Daegu also saw its hottest June day on record, with an average daily temperature of 30-point-7 degrees Celsius the highest since records began in January 1907. The intense heat also led to the death of a woman in her 60s, who had been working in a field in Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do Province. She was found unresponsive on Sunday afternoon, with police saying they believe she died of heatstroke. The KMA advises vulnerable groups, including the elderly and children, to take extra care to stay hydrated and limit outdoor activities. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

[Politics & Diplomacy] Lee Jae Myung's 1st month of 'Pragmatic Diplomacy': Progress & challenges ahead

2025/07/01 22:36

It's been one month since President Lee Jae Myung took office. It's still early days, but we zoom in on the course of his foreign affairs and security policies, which he has defined as "pragmatic diplomacy." For this, we have our Oh Soo-young in the studio. 1. First, how would you summarise the first month of Lee's pragmatic diplomacy? From my perspective, there has been an interesting mix of both continuity and change from the previous administration. In being pragmatic, the Lee government has clearly kept Seoul's global diplomacy intact at its first multilateral summit at the G7. Holding at least ten individual summits with world leaders,.. his focus there was reinforcing South Korea's position in the international community as a vibrant democratic partner, after six months of a leadership vacuum following President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law crisis last year. There's continuity in South Korea's strategic relationships, too. His first phone calls with world leaders were made in order of: the U.S., Japan, and then China. That mirrors the previous Yoon administration's priorities, emphasising the South Korea–U.S. alliance and a future-oriented partnership with Tokyo. That's been surprising given how past progressive leaders have shown more affinity towards China than Japan, emphasising historical disputes with the latter. Now, where there's been some recalibration is when it comes to values. The former Yoon administration endorsed liberal democratic values as the basis for cooperation but the new Lee administration has indicated it will focus on what serves Korean interests, not necessarily values. That includes diversifying its cooperation and working with China and Russia, avoiding bloc-based alignment. On North Korea, Lee's strategy is clearly geared towards lowering tensions. Even in the first month of his presidency, he decided to withhold psychological warfare tactics like loudspeaker broadcasts, and crack down on South Korean groups sending anti-North Korea flyers over the border. It's a sharp contrast to the tit-for-tat escalation under the previous administration. Q2. And his top policymakers will initiate his pragmatic diplomacy. Let's turn to his ministerial nominees for key diplomatic and security positions. What does his selection of ministers indicate? The President's selections for the ministers of foreign affairs, unification, and defense represent a decisive pivot toward institutional experience and peace, rather than deterrence, towards North Korea. Foreign Minister nominee Cho Hyun is a career diplomat with decades of experience in multilateral diplomacy. He emphasized the importance of diversifying Korea's diplomatic interests. Speaking during an interview, Cho said it was time to move beyond what he called "the stereotype that diplomacy begins and ends with the United States." At the same time, he acknowledged America's centrality in building peace with North Korea, saying achieving U.S.–North Korea dialogue and establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula is one of the Administration's top priorities. The nominee for Unification Minister, Chung Dong-young, is also no stranger to the inter-Korean agenda. He held the same position under President Roh Moo-hyun and played a central role in organizing the 2007 inter-Korean summit. He said he supports U.S.–North Korea talks, noting that "they help ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula and contribute to peace and stability." He's made headlines by suggesting that the very name "Ministry of Unification" may be outdated and the ministry should shift its emphasis away from symbolic unification rhetoric and instead focus on concrete goals like humanitarian cooperation and sustainable coexistence. Now, a particularly significant appointment is Ahn Gyu-back as Defense Ministerthe first civilian to hold the post in more than six decades. His nomination represents democratic oversight of the military, particularly after the martial law crisis last year, as well as reform to better support armed forces amid sharp technological and geopolitical changes. He's also emphasised the need for a peaceful overture between the South and North to create the mood for military tensions to be eased. Q3. Is the Korea–U.S. summit still expected in late July — and what are the stakes? Yes, officials from both governments confirm that a summit in Washington is being arranged most likely for the week of July 21st. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is widely expected to stop by earlier in July to finalise the grounds. These three issues are likely to dominate their talks: America's tariffs on South Korea's foremost industrial goods especially with Washington ending its grace period next Wednesday. Also, defence spending, as the U.S. calls on allies to pay more towards their security, and even cover areas outside their cost-sharing agreement, such as the deployment of U.S. tactical assets. Another issue could possibly be North Korea, as Lee moves to lower tensions and Trump signals interest in resuming engagement with the North. Lee and Trump were originally expected to meet during the G7 Summit in Canada last month, but that meeting did not take place as Trump left early amid the Israel-Iran conflict. The upcoming summit will be a major test of how the Lee administration balances alliance management with national interest. So the first high-stakes meeting for Lee's pragmatic diplomacy. Let's see what happens later this month. Thanks Soo-young for coming in today.