News

2025 Seoul International Book Fair: Showcasing Korea's new book culture and literary power

2025/06/20 17:00

Seoul is currently hosting its annual book fair which began 71 years ago to offer book writers book makers and book readers a venue to come together. And the enthusiasm for the event this year has been even greater. Our Choi Soo-hyung tells us why. The rich, nostalgic scent of ink and paper fills the venue. Crowds have flooded the hall, reading, touching and experiencing books up close. The 2025 Seoul International Book Fair opened on Wednesday, June 18, and tickets were all sold out even before the event started. "I come every year out of habit, but it really feels like there are more people each year. It's just so nice to see that so many people in Korea truly love books." Under this year's theme The Last Resort, the fair has invited visitors to find their own peaceful "last resort" in books. Beyond books, book-related goods, merchandise, and open-to-all book talks and author lectures are major crowd-pullers, especially attracting young people eager to enjoy book culture. "Although the publishing industry faces challenges, I keep seeing that many people still love books themselves. There's a reason why a book needs to be a book, even with so much digital content out there. We put effort into creating books that people want to buy, own, and read by finding designs that best complement the text." "We wanted to show how book culture extends beyond paper into many content formats, like merchandise. And a new generation is rediscovering the power of books and freely expressing their identity through them. Our goal is to create a space where everyone can enjoy and celebrate that culture." International interest in discovering Korean authors and literary content is heating up as well. "Korean literature is in the global spotlight, thanks to novelist Han Kang's winning the Nobel Prize in Literature. That buzz is fueling a record turnout at this year's Seoul International Book Fair, with around 150,000 visitors expected by this weekend." Over 530 publishers from 17 countries, including Taiwan, France, Germany, and Thailand, are taking part in the event. A German publisher participating in the Fair for more than 20 years says Korean literature stands out for its modern blend of history and pop culture. "We had a new trend worldwide with young adults, fantasy, romance, and Korea is very strong in that. Korea is very strong in contemporary works. Strong fantasy, which goes back into history but also uses elements of all other popular culture, the integration of popular culture into literature, I think it is a phenomenon from Korea." The Seoul International Book Fair runs until Sunday, June 22. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.

K-pop streams soar 470-fold on Spotify, U.S. tops the list

2025/06/20 17:00

Streams of K-pop songs have surged more than 400-fold over the past decade. According to the world's largest streaming service Spotify K-pop plays on its platform have jumped 4-hundred-70 times since 2014. Last year K-pop accounted for over 9-point-7 million streaming hours with artist revenue more than tripling compared to 2019. The U.S. Indonesia and Brazil were among the countries that streamed K-pop the most.

South Korea's monsoon season intensifies, spreading nationwide on Friday

2025/06/20 17:00

The monsoon formally made landfall here in South Korea on this Friday and for those of you in the Greater Seoul region looking to make the evening commute back home do take care on the road. Our Kim Jung-sil covers the weather. The monsoon season has officially begun in South Korea, bringing scattered showers, strong winds, and thunderstorms, with conditions intensifying throughout the day. Heavy rain advisories and warnings are in effect for the capital region, northern Gangwon-do, and parts of Chungcheongnam-do provinces, where rainfall rates could reach as high as 50 millimeters per hour. By the end of the day, the monsoon will gradually spread nationwide, with the authorities warning of heavy rainfall across the country. "The rain currently falling will be recorded as the first monsoon rain of the year, and it will gradually expand nationwide. By tonight, both central and southern regions will officially enter the monsoon season." With rainfall expected to reach up to 50 millimeters per hour, authorities are warning drivers of extremely dangerous conditions. "If rain exceeds 50 millimeters per hour, driving becomes impossible, as the rain hitting the windshield of a fast-moving vehicle can reduce visibility to almost zero, making it extremely difficult to see." The authorities are also warning of localized flooding and heavy downpours, particularly in central and southern regions, as the rainfall intensifies. While the rain is expected to ease in central areas by Saturday afternoon, some parts of Jeju Island and the south may continue to experience rain through Sunday. Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.

South Korean nationals evacuate Iran, Israel as gov't urges those remaining to leave

2025/06/20 17:00

Dozens of South Koreans have been evacuated from Iran and Israel by land on buses and are currently seeking shelter in nations bordering these two foes as their military confrontation escalates. Our foreign affairs correspondent Oh Soo-young reports. 60 South Korean nationals have been safely evacuated from Iran and Israel to surrounding countries, as Seoul authorities urge those staying behind to swiftly leave the conflict-ridden areas. Seoul's Foreign Ministry said Friday that a total of 34 Korean citizens and their family members in Iran have crossed over to Turkmenistan as of Thursday local time. The first group of 18 Koreans and two family members departed Tehran on Tuesday, traveling for around 30 hours, over some 12 hundred kilometers to Iran's eastern border with Turkmenistan, on a bus provided by the Korean government. They entered Turkmenistan on Wednesday, and a second group of ten arrived the next day, followed by four more individuals. Meanwhile, 25 Korean citizens and one Israeli family member were evacuated by bus from Israel to Jordan on Thursday. Embassies in Iran and Israel have provided chartered buses for nationals wishing to evacuate, while rapid response teams dispatched from Seoul's Foreign Ministry arrived in Turkmenistan and Jordan to assist with customs clearance and flight scheduling. Roughly 460 South Korean nationals remain in Israel, and about 90 in Iran. The government stated that it stands ready to provide additional consular support and evacuation assistance upon request. Its travel advisories for Iran and Israel are both at level 3, which recommends Korean nationals to leave the country in question. There have been no Korean casualties so far amid the rapid escalation of the conflict. The Foreign Ministry has said it will continue to monitor the situation, and maintain close communication with overseas missions to ensure the safety of Korean people. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

S. KOREA TO PLAY HOST TO APEC 2025

2025/06/20 17:00

Welcome to Friday's edition of Press Perspective. It's June 20th here in Seoul and I'm Min Sunhee. This year's APEC summit will take place here in South Korea which will be hosting this forum for the second time following its first twenty years ago. Today we touch upon this upcoming event and other social stories in recent headlines. For more I have freelance reporter.. David Lee here in the studio. David it's a pleasure. I also have writer Colin Marshall with the pundit's take on today's topics. Colin welcome back. 1) Colin, curtains went down on this year's G7 summit in Canada this past Tuesday. We had been addressing the agenda there for the most part of this week, and today, as we touch upon a host of different topics, I'd like to start with your thoughts on the significance of such summits for the HOST COUNTRY. 2) David, speaking of summits, South Korea's Gyeongju is set to host this year's APEC later this year. What has been the prospects shared by the foreign media thus far about this planned summit here in Korea? 3) David, this latest APEC summit here in South Korea comes after a number of major domestic events. What are the broader implications of hosting this upcoming multinational summit for Korea? 4) Colin, as I mentioned earlier, Gyeongju will be the host venue of this year's APEC. What are the prerequisites of being picked as a host venue for the APEC, and what does this particular opportunity mean for Gyeongju? 5) David, aside from the main APEC event, what stories might make foreign headlines as we host this economic event? 6) Colin, let's now move on to some other stories. According to British publication The Economist, a growing number of parents worldwide are showing preference for girls over boys. What have you been observing here in Korea? 7) Meanwhile David, in perhaps the latest tangible proof about the power of soft diplomacy, we're seeing BTS fans supporting Korean international adoptees. Do tell us more. 8) Colin, on a solemn note. A recent article by the South China Morning Post highlighted efforts here in Seoul to fight loneliness. Do tell us a bit about this coverage, and your own takeaways. All right.

K-wave AI News

2025/06/20 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism plans to invest 51 trillion won, or roughly 37 billion U.S. dollars, over the next five years to turn Korea into one of the world's top five cultural powerhouses. The initiative, also one of President Lee Jae-myung's key pledges, centers on bolstering the K-content industry, upgrading sports infrastructure to match Korea's status as a major global player, and crafting strategies to position the country as a leading tourism destination. The government also plans to boost the international reach of Korean culture by ramping up support for its overseas expansion. The inaugural 'MyK Festa,' a large-scale Korean Wave festival, was launched to strong public interest. Kicking off with a dazzling K-pop concert on Thursday, the festival offers a wide range of K-culture experiences--from exhibitions and interactive zones to content industry conferences. Around 100 Korean companies across sectors such as drama, webtoons, food, and lifestyle are showcasing their latest content and products. The event will be held through this Sunday at Seoul's Olympic Park. K-pop has seen explosive growth on global music platform Spotify, with streams increasing 470-fold over the past ten years. Spotify says the genre's streaming volume grew significantly from 2014 to 2024, with average annual growth hitting nearly 120% in Southeast Asia and 90% in the United States. Riding this global momentum, revenue earned by Korean artists on Spotify more than tripled last year compared to 2019. That's all from me. Stay tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[Kulture-Issue] K-movie "Hi-Five": The future of Korean superhero movies and visual effects

2025/06/20 14:00

The movie "Hi-Five" continues to rank highly in Korea's box office, and is receiving a positive global response ahead of its fresh release in North America on Friday. The action comedy film is being referred to as the Korean version of "Avengers." So today, we want to talk about the new possibilities of Korean superhero movies like "Hi-Five" as well as the technology involved in such productions. For that, we are joined by Jae Soh, Professor and filmmaker at Seoul Institute of the Arts. Welcome back, Professor Soh! Q1. As of of Friday "Hi-Five" is nearing 1.6 million views in Korea. Q2. The storyline of the film is unique, the characters are one of a kind, but it's not just the fun factor that led to this scale of success. There is more to it, isn't there? Q3. Science fiction or films involving characters with superpowers were not really among the strengths of the Korean film industry, I believe. Q4. Do Korean superhero movies have a different approach for example in terms of reflecting the sentiment of Koreans compared to overseas superhero movies made by Marvel or DC? Q5. Let's talk about technology now. SF movies just like "Hi-Five" are a visual spectacle for the audience. Q6. As such, there are more and more movies where VFX technology will play an important role. Q7. "Hi-Five" is being released in North America on Friday, and is already running in a number of Asian countries. Thank you Professor Soh for your insights, we wish you a great weekend.

[Short-form] 2025 Jamsu Bridge Walking Festival

2025/06/20 14:00

[Short-form] 2025 Jamsu Bridge Walking Festival Spend your Sunday strolling across Jamsu Bridge, where you can enjoy the beauty of the Hangang River in a fresh, new way.

More than 200 overseas Korean teens search for their heritage

2025/06/20 14:00

There is a saying that goes "a people without the knowledge of their past history, origin, and culture is like a tree without roots". Young overseas Koreans have been invited to Korea for a special program that offers them the opportunity to delve into their roots. Our News Features reporter Ahn Sung-jin met them. 7.5 million. That's how many overseas Koreans there are. Gathered here are around 240 next-generation overseas Koreans aged 15 to 18. This teen camp, hosted by the Overseas Korean Agency and organized by the Overseas Koreans Cooperation Center, has participants from 26 countries. "For these students, by visiting their parents' country, they can really feel their Korean heritage. Our ultimate goal is to increase the budget for such programs so we can invite more participants." Especially as 2025 is the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation, these students are delving into learning about their history and roots. "Programs like these offer the opportunity for overseas Koreans to experience Korea's history, culture and society while helping them build connections with young people in the country. For some, the 7-day program starts with a visit to Seodaemun Prison History Hall, which gives them a chance to understand Japan's colonial era and reflect on their background. For 15-year-old Sofiya, this was an opportunity to fulfill her interest and ties with her Korean roots. "My grandmother was born in Korea, but it so happened that they were deported in train cars to Kazakhstan just in the cold they were thrown like that. They started working at coal mines, and life began to improve for them. It's my first time in Korea, but I really like it here, and I will definitely come again in the future and maybe study here." And at the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History, students look back at the country's past to strengthen ties and raise awareness of their Korean identity. "I know one of my great-grandfathers on my mom's side was a war veteran in the Korean military. I feel like this shows courage, which is often shown throughout my family. That's why I wanted to come to Korea." This program for the summer will run until August, not only for teens but also for those aged up to 24 as well to foster overseas Koreans as global leaders who embrace and uphold their Korean heritage. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.

[K-enter] All seven BTS members to reunite as SUGA gets discharged on Saturday

2025/06/20 14:00

Bella, we are going to start off with a story that all BTS fans have been waiting for. To all ARMYs out there, there's just one more day until all seven BTS members reunite! SUGA will be discharged on Saturday after completing his mandatory military service as a social service agent. According to his agency, BigHit Music, SUGA's official discharge date is Saturday, but his last day was Wednesday as he used vacation time for the last few days. The agency said there will be no official event marking his discharge, and urged fans to avoid the undisclosed location in Seoul where he has been serving. The remaining six members of BTS have all completed their military service and have been discharged. So with SUGA's discharge, all seven members of BTS have completed their military service and will now return to their fans as a whole BTS. Fans have been waiting for this day. Please keep us updated with BTS' upcoming activities as well. Our second story for today is on a Korean animation that we talked about several times on our show because it did amazing in North America. "The King of Kings" has confirmed its domestic release for July 16th. The film is a global hit Korean animation that depicts the journey of the outstanding British writer Charles Dickens traveling 2-thousand years into the past to tell the story of Jesus alongside his youngest son, Walter. It was first released in North America and set a record for the highest box office for a Korean movie in North America using pure domestic technology and capital. This means it even beat global hit Korean film "Parasite" as well. "The King of Kings" will be available in two versions in theaters -the North American version with voice acting from Kenneth Branagh, Oscar Isaac, and Uma Thurman, as well as a dubbed version featuring top domestic actors, including Lee Byung-hun, 이병헌, Jin Sun-kyu, 진선규, and Lee Ha-nee. 이하늬. We look forward to seeing how it does in Korea. It looks like the ultimate release date has been moved up by a week, as we earlier were expecting it to be out in the fourth week of July. But, July 16th it is! Now moving from the big screen to the small screen. What's coming up? The Netflix film "Wall to Wall" is set to premiere on July 18th. The new film, starring Kang Ha-neul, Yeom Hye-ran, and Seo Hyun-woo, is an unpredictable thriller about Woo-sung, who has finally achieved the dream of owning his home through extreme financial measures, only to find himself tormented by mysterious noises from other floors. The Korean title "84 Square Meters" (84제곱미터) refers to the most popular apartment size in South Korea, known as the 'national standard,' and symbolizes the reality of the country's real estate market. "Wall to Wall" is the second thriller by director Kim Tae-joon, who received acclaim for his film "Unlocked" in 2023. With the mysterious atmosphere and dense performances by the actors, "Wall to Wall" is eagerly awaited and will be available exclusively on Netflix on July 18th. I can imagine many viewers in Korea to relate to the film, and other countries where noise dispute in apartments is a social concern. And even without, it looks like a thrilling story. Thank you Bella for today's K-enter news. Now time to go over to our AI anchor Ari, for other culture-related news.

Trump to decide whether U.S. will strike Iran ‘within next two weeks’

2025/06/20 10:00

The White House says President Trump will decide whether the U.S. will strike Iran "within the next two weeks." The U.S. leader also reportedly says disabling Iran's nuclear site is necessary because of the risk of weapons being produced in a relatively short period of time. Lee Seung-jae has more. Amid growing speculation over U.S. involvement in the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict, the White House says President Donald Trump will decide "within the next two weeks" whether his country will strike Iran. ''Now, regarding the ongoing situation in Iran, I know there has been a lot of speculation amongst all of you in the media, regarding the president's decision making and whether or not the United States will be directly involved. In light of that news I have a message directly from the president and I quote: 'Based on the fact that there's a substantial chance of negotiations, that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go, within the next two weeks.' That's a quote directly from the president for all of you today.'' The White House spokesperson added that Trump is always interested in a diplomatic solution, calling him " a peacemaker in chief," but noted that the U.S. leader is not afraid to use strength to achieve peace. Meanwhile, according to CBS news, citing multiple sources, President Trump believes it's necessary to destroy the Fordow nuclear site. The report says Trump had been briefed on both the risks and benefits of striking Iran's most secure nuclear site, and found it necessary to disable it, due to risks of weapons being produced in a relatively short period of time. Trump approved attack plans on Iran on Tuesday, but has not yet made the final decision to join the conflict with strikes. According to a Pentagon official, Trump held off on the decision to strike Iran, in case Tehran decides to abandon its nuclear program. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

[Weather] Widespread heavy monsoon rains

2025/06/20 10:00

The monsoon season has begun with torrential downpours across the country. Intense rain clouds are passing over the capital area, and northern Gangwon-do, dropping heavy rain this morning with heavy rain alerts being issued in those areas. Winds will also pick up from this afternoon. Until Saturday, the central region and Jeollabuk-do can expect over 150 millimeters of rain, with Seoul expected to receive up to 120 millimeters mostly today. So, the central regions will receive downpours today, but the southern regions will receive heavy rain mostly tomorrow. Gangneung and Jeonju had a tropical night with overnight temperatures exceeding 25 degrees Celsius; meanwhile, daytime highs in most parts will be nearly 10 degrees lower than yesterday's mid-summer heat. The rain in the central region will mostly let up by Saturday afternoon. However, rain in the southern region and Jeju will continue into early next week. Please stay safe!

Pope Leo urges global cooperation to end wars through wisdom and diplomacy in first media interview

2025/06/20 10:00

Pope Leo XIV conducted his first formal media interview on Thursday with Italy's state broadcaster Rai TG1, with a declaration that "we must always promote peace." He emphasized the crucial role of dialogue and reason in resolving conflicts. Speaking from Vatican City, the pontiff lamented that "countless innocent lives are being lost" across war zones, and urged the international community to seek diplomatic solutions over military confrontation. He reiterated his earlier stance that no nation should threaten another's existence, calling instead for respectful engagement rooted in justice and human dignity.

Google suffers setback at EU court over record US$ 4.9 bil. fine

2025/06/20 10:00

Google has taken a significant hit in its legal fight against the European Union's antitrust penalty over Android's market dominance. On Thursday, the Advocate General at Europe's top court recommended dismissing Google's appeal and upholding the reduced 4.7 billion U.S. dollar fine originally imposed in 2018. Regulators found that Google abused its dominance by forcing device manufacturers to pre-install Google Search and Chrome, and by rewarding them for exclusive installations, suppressing competition, and limiting consumer choice. The original 4.98 billion dollar fine was slightly lowered in 2022 to 4.7 billion by the General Court, which Google then contested.

Thai prime minister's leaked phone call sets off political backlash

2025/06/20 10:00

Thailand's Prime Minister is facing political backlash and calls for her resignation after a leaked phone call with Cambodia's former leader, Hun Sen. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra apologized publicly on Thursday, after enraged nationalist critics accused her of undermining Thailand's sovereignty and sovereignty and military by trying to appease Cambodia. On Sunday, Paetongtarn spoke privately with Cambodia's Senate President Hun Sen about easing border restrictions following border clashes on May 28 that left a Cambodian soldier dead. In the 17-minute call, which was later posted online by Hun Sen after a shorter version was leaked, Paetongtarn referred to him as "uncle" and criticized the Thai army commander overseeing the border, calling him "an opponent." A major coalition party withdrew support from her government, leaving it on the verge of collapse. Protesters gathered outside the Government House in Bangkok on Friday, calling for her resignation.

Mexico begins cleanup after Hurricane Erick hits southern coast

2025/06/20 10:00

Communities along Mexico's southern Pacific coast are working to recover after Hurricane Erick made landfall, battering Oaxaca and Guerrero with heavy rainfall and flooding. Erick reached the southern Mexican coast early Thursday as a Category 3 hurricane with 205 kilometers per hour winds, then weakened as it moved inland. The storm brought torrential rain, reaching up to 41 centimeters in parts of Oaxaca and Guerrero, triggering widespread flash floods and landslides in the mountainous zones. Streets in the tourist town of Puerto Escondido are filled with debris, and power lines are down. Around 2,000 temporary shelters were set up in the states of Chiapas , Guerrero, and Oaxaca for those who have left their homes. President Claudia Sheinbaum had urged people to stay home and advised those living in 저지대 or near rivers to seek shelter. No fatalities or injuries have been reported. While cleanup and restoration are underway, Erick is expected to weaken further and dissipate by late Thursday or early Friday.

Current, fmr. Japanese PMs attend Tokyo event marking 60 years of normalizing S. Korea-Japan relations

2025/06/20 10:00

Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba called on Korea and Japan to take a new step forward to an "even brighter future," as he marked 60 years of normalising bilateral relations. This came at a reception hosted by the Korean Embassy in Tokyo, following a gathering hosted by the Japanese Embassy in Seoul earlier this week. Around a thousand people attended notably, two former Japanese Prime Ministers Yoshihide Suga and Fumio Kishida, and South Korea's Deputy National Assembly Speaker Joo Ho-young. Following his (quote) "very productive discussion" with President Lee Jae-myung this week at the G7 in Canada, Prime Minister Ishiba expressed hope for further development of ties, saying there are many areas for cooperation.

Producer prices fall 0.4% in May as melon, onion prices plunge

2025/06/20 10:00

South Korea's producer prices saw the sharpest drop in a year and a half last month. According to the Bank of Korea on Friday, the Producer Price Index came at 119-point-6-6 in May, down zero-point-4 percent on-month. It marked a second straight month of decline, and the biggest drop since November 2023. By category, prices for agricultural, forestry, and fishery goods dropped 4-point-4 percent, while industrial goods fell zero-point-6 percent. Among the steepest declines, Korean melons were down over 50 percent, onions, down 43, and diesel prices were nearly 6 percent lower. The central bank attributed the fall to improved weather, which boosted supply and drove down producer prices for fruits and vegetables.

President Lee says it's time for gov't to spend: 20.2 trillion KRW supplementary bill explained

2025/06/20 10:00

South Korea has drawn up its first extra budget under the brand new government with the ultimate goal of stimulating economic recovery. The budget also includes cash handouts to all citizens. Our correspondent Kim Do-yeon explains more. The second round of a supplementary budget bill this year, the first of its kind under Lee Jae Myung's presidency, has been drafted and is set to go to the National Assembly next week. President Lee, presiding over a Cabinet meeting on Thursday, took a final look. The size of this supplementary budget is 30.5 trillion Korean won, or a bit more than 22 billion U.S. dollars. 15.2 trillion of that will be going into boosting the economy through stimulus. 5 trillion will be going to stabilizing people's livelihoods. 10.3 will be for revenue adjustment, for the nation's fiscal situation. This means, 20.2 trillion will be for direct spending by the government with 19.8 trillion being debt. Going into the details 15.2 trillion for economic stimulus will consist of 10.3 trillion of that being cash relief to everyone, in a different form of the recipient's choosing. 1 trillion will go into boosting discounts and other needed aspects. 2.7 trillion will go into support for the construction sector as it's currently one of the hardest hit industries with close links to the employment of working-class citizens. President Lee has been pushing for cash relief to everyone for some time now, since his lawmaker days. The conservative government had been saying a universal payout is not right due to the financial pressure on the nation's fiscal status, and selective support is better. This draft did go with a universal payout but for those who need it, the more they will receive. The top 10-percent, approximately 5.12 million people, will receive a one-time payment of 150,000 Korean won, or around a 100 U.S. dollars. And the biggest group of citizens of around 43 million people will receive the first payment of 150,000 Korean won, but will get an additional 100,000 in the second round. The lower levels will receive more in first-time payments, with the social welfare recipients later getting 500,000 in total As for stabilizing livelihoods, money will be spent on debt relief for small businesses as well as boosting employment and taming inflation. Now, the ball is in the National Assembly's court with the government's draft being transferred on the 23rd. Lawmakers will be reviewing the bill, but with the ruling Democratic Party holding the majority on the floor, the bill won't face many obstacles. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.

S. Korea evacuates nationals amid growing military clashes in Iran, Israel

2025/06/20 10:00

South Korean nationals have been evacuated from both Iran and Israel as military clashes between the two countries escalate for a seventh day. Seoul's Foreign Ministry said on Friday that 34 Korean nationals and family members in Iran have crossed over to Turkmenistan as of Thursday. The first group departed Tehran on Tuesday, traveling for around 30 hours, over some 12 hundred kilometers on a bus provided by the Korean government. They entered Turkmenistan on Wednesday, and a second group arrived the next day. Meanwhile, 25 Koreans and one Israeli family member were evacuated from Israel to Jordan on June 19th. Roughly 460 South Korean nationals remain in Israel, and about 90 in Iran.