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Ruling DP passes second media reform bill, sparks PPP filibuster on final media reform bill

2025/08/21 21:36

The ruling party at the National Assembly today passed one of its media reform bills. It then introduced the final bill in the package, prompting the main opposition party to launch a filibuster. Our political correspondent Shin Ha-young has details. The second of three media reform bills aimed at reshaping the governance of public broadcasters has passed the National Assembly. The ruling Democratic Party on Thursday unilaterally pushed through an amendment to the Foundation for Broadcast Culture Act to reduce government influence over public broadcasters by increasing the foundation's board from nine to 13 members. The foundation is the main shareholder of public broadcaster MBC. Of the 171 votes cast, 169 were in favor, one against, and one abstained, amid a boycott by the main opposition People Power Party. The bill passed the Assembly last year, but was then vetoed by the Yoon Suk Yeol administration. It was introduced again by the DP during a plenary session earlier this month, but was not voted on, as the July extraordinary session came to a close following a PPP filibuster. Following Thursday's vote, the DP brought forward a final media reform bill targeting EBS, again triggering a filibuster by the PPP. "The bill aims to ensure the Educational Broadcasting System's independence and political neutrality by expanding its board to include experts and representatives from various fields and by improving transparency in selecting its president." "If we hand over the management and operation of public broadcasting --resources entrusted to us by the people --to those with no mandate, it would betray the trust of the people who gave us authority through representative democracy." Under the National Assembly Act, a filibuster on each bill can be halted after 24 hours if at least three-fifths of the parliament agrees to do so. The final media reform bill is expected to be put to a vote immediately after the filibuster ends. However, no new legislation will be taken up on Friday, as the rival parties agreed not to handle bills on the day of the PPP convention and instead add another session next Monday. The DP had initially planned to hold plenary sessions from Thursday to Sunday to push ahead with contentious bills left unresolved during the July extraordinary session. Next in line are the so-called "Yellow Envelope Bill," an amendment to labor union laws and a revision to the Commercial Act, with the PPP also planning to launch further filibusters, arguing the bills are being pushed forward without bipartisan agreement. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

President Lee says scrapping past deals with Japan "undesirable"

2025/08/21 21:34

President Lee had an interview with a Japanese newspaper ahead of his talks with Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba this weekend. During which, he dismissed the idea of scrapping past deals with Japan on thorny wartime issues. Our senior Presidential Office Correspondent Yoon Jung-min reports. Overturning past agreements with Japan "undesirable." That was according to President Lee Jae Myung in an interview with Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun, released on Thursday, referring to past agreements on wartime issues of Korean sex slaves and forced laborers. Lee says, though the deals finalized under previous conservative governments are difficult to accept, they are commitments made between nations. At the same time, he noted the feelings of the Korean people should be taken into account, adding that what's more important is offering words of consolation in a sincere manner. In 2015, the so-called "comfort women" agreement was reached under the Park Geun-hye administration, and in 2023, the third-party compensation scheme for wartime laborers was agreed under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration. Those agreements sparked some backlash in Korea. Calling Japan "very important," Lee also stressed the importance of the Seoul-Tokyo relationship, ahead of his talks with Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba this weekend in Tokyo, hoping to expand cooperation on the economy, society and culture. The liberal-leaning leader highly appreciated the Kim Dae-jung-Obuchi Declaration signed in 1998 to chart a new path for a "future-oriented" partnership, based upon which he expressed hopes to announce a new joint declaration that goes beyond. "I think we can expect something. A final coordination is needed, so it's hard to tell at the moment." Cooperation with Japan, as well as trilateral cooperation with the U.S., is crucial in more than one way: North Korea. President Lee did mention the North Korea nuclear issue, outlining a three-stage roadmap for the first time that involves freezing, reducing and dismantling the North's nuclear and missile programs. He added that this will be pursued while maintaining a "close coordination" with the U.S. and pursuing "active inter-Korean dialogue." He also pitched multilateral cooperation involving the U.S., Russia, the two Koreas and Japan on the Arctic shipping route project. On China, President Lee said there are aspects of competition and cooperation when it comes to the bilateral relationship, adding it should be managed taking into account "various aspects." When the South Korean leader wraps up his talks with Ishiba this weekend in Tokyo, he'll be flying straight to Washington for his first summit with U.S. President Donald Trump. Yoon Jung-min, Arirang News.

What to expect from President Lee's trips to Japan and the U.S.

2025/08/21 18:43

We start here on the local front where the Presidential Office has shared the president's upcoming agenda in neighboring Japan and over in the U.S. as he embarks on his diplomatic mission this coming Saturday. Arirang's Song Yoo-jin files this report from the top office. Ahead of his upcoming visits to Japan and the United States, this is what President Lee Jae Myung told his top aides on Thursday. "With shifts in the international order and global trade, there are too many pressing issues that need to be resolved. However, I will do my utmost to pursue mutually beneficial diplomacy and security policies, always placing the national interest first." The president's remarks came after the Presidential Office released more details of his trips. President Lee and First Lady Kim Hea Kyung will first depart for Tokyo on Saturday morning. Upon arrival, the first appointment is a luncheon with members of the Korean community in Japan, followed by a summit with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in the afternoon and an official dinner. "Through the summit, the leaders of South Korea and Japan will strengthen the foundations for future-oriented cooperation, enhance trilateral coordination with the U.S., and hold candid discussions on regional and global issues, including peace and stability in the region." Then on Sunday, President Lee will meet with members of Japan's parliament before heading to Washington, D.C. He is expected to arrive in the American capital that afternoon and begin a three-day stay by having dinner with Korean residents in the U.S. The big day will be Monday, when he will have his first face-to-face meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House. "The two leaders will discuss ways to advance peace and denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula. They are also expected to deepen economic cooperation based on the recent trade agreement, particularly in semiconductors, batteries, and shipbuilding." The President is also scheduled to meet figures from business and academic circles. Finally, on Tuesday, President Lee will travel to Philadelphia to tour a shipyard recently acquired by Korea's Hanwha Group. The yard is seen as a symbolic venue for Seoul and Washington's shipbuilding cooperation. The Air Force One jet will take off from the U.S. on Tuesday evening and return to Korea early Thursday. "The Presidential Office says National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac will provide more specifics of these back-to-back trips and the agenda for each summit on Friday. Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News.

Israel calls up 60,000 reservists ahead of planned Gaza City offensive

2025/08/21 18:41

Israel is calling to duty tens of thousands of reservists AHEAD of a full-scale ground offensive into Gaza City which it says serves as Hamas's governing stronghold. Lee Eun-jin has the latest. After Israeli troops clashed with Hamas fighters in the Palestinian enclave on Wednesday, Prime Minister Netanyahu instructed the military to shorten the timeline for taking control of Hamas strongholds and defeating the militant group. Israel Defense Forces spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said Wednesday that the military has begun preliminary action and is already on the outskirts of Gaza City. "We will deepen the damage to the terror infrastructure above and below the ground and sever the population's dependence on Hamas. We are not waiting. We have begun the preliminary operations and the first stages of the attack on Gaza City. IDF forces are already holding the outskirts of Gaza City." The Israeli military called up around 60-thousand reservists on Wednesday ahead of a planned ground offensive aimed at capturing and occupying all of Gaza City, a massive assault with the aim of eliminating Hamas. These reserve soldiers were not expected to report for duty until September, and when Israel's security cabinet first approved the takeover of Gaza City, officials had expected the plan to take up to five months, giving an interval that would allow for mediators to bridge gaps between Hamas and Israel over truce terms. Hamas said it accepted a ceasefire deal on Monday, proposed by mediators Qatar and Egypt for a 60-day truce and the release of around half of the hostages. Israel did not submit a formal response, but insisted it would only accept a comprehensive deal that releases all the hostages. Following Israel's latest offensive on Wednesday, Hamas has accused Netanyahu of disregarding the mediators' ceasefire proposal, calling him the "real obstructionist of any agreement." Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.

Security discussions without Moscow are 'road to nowhere': Russian Foreign Minister

2025/08/21 18:41

Elsewhere Russia claims talks on security guarantees for Ukraine are pointless without its presence. Park Jun-han explains. While the U.S. and NATO have been discussing possible security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a peace deal in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Moscow on Wednesday said security discussions without Moscow are a 'road to nowhere'. "We cannot agree with the fact that it is now proposed to resolve collective security issues without the Russian Federation. And I am sure that in the West and above all in the United States, they understand perfectly well that seriously discussing security issues without the Russian Federation is a utopia, a road to nowhere." This comes as NATO military leaders discussed security guarantees for Ukraine in a post-conflict scenario. Although the specifics were not revealed, it is believed that in-depth talks took place on implementing the European-led security guarantees for Ukraine. Ukraine has strongly disagreed on Russia's involvement in security guarantees since early stages of war back in 2022. U.S. Vice President JD Vance, when asked about negotiations to end the Ukraine war, stated that both Russia and Ukraine should at least come to the table and figure out how things could work out. Vance also made it clear that European nations should take most of the security burden and said the U.S. will not make commitments until it knows what's going to be necessary to stop the war in the first place. "But no matter what happens, no matter what form this takes, the Europeans are going to have to take the lion's share of the burden. It's their continent, it's their security, and the president's been very clear they're going to step up here." Meanwhile, U.S.-based outlet Politico reported on Tuesday that the Hungarian capital Budapest could be the host of a trilateral summit bringing together the three leaders from the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine. However, some media outlets have said that the trilateral summit could now be in doubt as Russia has insisted that it must be given equal footing with other countries such as the U.S., China, the UK, and France when it comes to discussing any security guarantees for Ukraine. Park Jun-han, Arirang News.

Lee calls suicides "social disaster," urges elaborate prevention measures

2025/08/21 18:38

Staying with the Presidential Office. Presiding over a weekly meeting with his aides this afternoon, President Lee Jae Myung called for a paradigm shift with regard to suicides, calling them a "social disaster." Noting that the suicide rate in Korea is among the highest in the OECD, the president said the issue could not be left unaddressed. He instructed officials to come up with "elaborate" mental health policies that involve organizing a pan-governmental body solely dedicated to resolving the problem.

S. Korean President, Bill Gates discuss S. Korea's role in nuclear energy, gloabl development

2025/08/21 18:38

President Lee Jae Myung sat down with Bill Gates chair of the Gates Foundation here in Seoul earlier on this Thursday. On their agenda were issues of universal concern ranging from global health to future technologies. President Lee also took the occasion to applaud Gates' contributions to vaccine development and distribution as well as his commitment to clean energy while making note of Microsoft Windows' role in expanding humanity's "window to the world." Gates meanwhile touched upon South Korea's transition from a recipient of international aid to becoming a significant donor in global development. He further asserted that small modular reactors could address rising energy demand and the president reaffirmed the potential of Korean entities to lead the market in that area.

Ruling DP passes second media reform bill, sparks PPP filibuster on final media reform bill

2025/08/21 18:36

At the parliament on this Thursday. The main opposition party has launched a filibuster in response to efforts by the ruling party to railroad its final media reform bill. Our political correspondent Shin Ha-young has details. The second of three media reform bills aimed at reshaping the governance of public broadcasters has passed the National Assembly. The ruling Democratic Party on Thursday unilaterally pushed through an amendment to the Foundation for Broadcast Culture Act to reduce government influence over public broadcasters by increasing the foundation's board from nine to 13 members. The foundation is the main shareholder of public broadcaster MBC. Of the 171 votes cast, 169 were in favor, one against, and one abstained, amid a boycott by the main opposition People Power Party. The bill passed the Assembly last year, but was then vetoed by the Yoon Suk Yeol administration. It was introduced again by the DP during a plenary session earlier this month, but was not voted on, as the July extraordinary session came to a close following a PPP filibuster. Following Thursday's vote, the DP brought forward a final media reform bill targeting EBS, again triggering a filibuster by the PPP. "The bill aims to ensure the Educational Broadcasting System's independence and political neutrality by expanding its board to include experts and representatives from various fields and by improving transparency in selecting its president." "If we hand over the management and operation of public broadcasting --resources entrusted to us by the people --to those with no mandate, it would betray the trust of the people who gave us authority through representative democracy." Under the National Assembly Act, a filibuster on each bill can be halted after 24 hours if at least three-fifths of the parliament agrees to do so. The final media reform bill is expected to be put to a vote immediately after the filibuster ends. However, no new legislation will be taken up on Friday, as the rival parties agreed not to handle bills on the day of the PPP convention and instead add another session next Monday. The DP had initially planned to hold plenary sessions from Thursday to Sunday to push ahead with contentious bills left unresolved during the July extraordinary session. Next in line are the so-called "Yellow Envelope Bill," an amendment to labor union laws and a revision to the Commercial Act, with the PPP also planning to launch further filibusters, arguing the bills are being pushed forward without bipartisan agreement. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

President Lee says scrapping past deals with Japan "undesirable"

2025/08/21 18:35

In the meantime President Lee Jae Myung has reaffirmed his commitment to a future-oriented partnership with neighboring Japan. The commitment was conveyed during an interview with Japanese daily Yomiuri Shimbun AHEAD of his travel to Tokyo this coming weekend. Our correspondent Yoon Jung-min has more. Overturning past agreements with Japan "undesirable." That was according to President Lee Jae Myung in an interview with Japan's Yomi우리 신문, released on Thursday, referring to past agreements on wartime issues of Korean sex slaves and forced laborers. Lee says, though the deals finalized under previous conservative governments are difficult to accept, they are commitments made between nations. At the same time, he noted the feelings of the Korean people should be taken into account, adding that what's more important is offering words of consolation in a sincere manner. In 2015, the so-called "comfort women" agreement was reached under the Park Geun-hye administration, and in 2023, the third-party compensation scheme for wartime laborers was agreed under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration. Those agreements sparked some backlash in Korea. Calling Japan "very important," Lee also stressed the importance of the Seoul-Tokyo relationship, ahead of his talks with Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba this weekend in Tokyo, hoping to expand cooperation on the economy, society and culture. The liberal-leaning leader highly appreciated the Kim Dae-jung-Obuchi Declaration signed in 1998 to chart a new path for a "future-oriented" partnership, based upon which he expressed hopes to announce a new joint declaration that goes beyond. "I think we can expect something. A final coordination is needed, so it's hard to tell at the moment." Cooperation with Japan, as well as trilateral cooperation with the U.S., is crucial in more than one way: North Korea. President Lee did mention the North Korea nuclear issue, outlining a three-stage roadmap for the first time that involves freezing, reducing and dismantling the North's nuclear and missile programs. He added that this will be pursued while maintaining a "close coordination" with the U.S. and pursuing "active inter-Korean dialogue." He also pitched multilateral cooperation involving the U.S., Russia, the two Koreas and Japan on the Arctic shipping route project. On China, President Lee said there are aspects of competition and cooperation when it comes to the bilateral relationship, adding it should be managed taking into account "various aspects." When the South Korean leader wraps up his talks with Ishiba this weekend in Tokyo, he'll be flying straight to Washington for his first summit with U.S. President Donald Trump. Yoon Jung-min, Arirang News.

President Lee says K-culture's potential is far from exhausted

2025/08/21 16:37

President Lee Jae Myung, who has long highlighted the borderless power of culture, appeared on a special Arirang TV program and vowed more government support and investment in culture. Our top office correspondent Song Yoo-jin reports. Wearing a sky-blue jacket instead of his usual dark suit, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday joined a star-studded panel on Arirang TV's special program, "K-Pop: The Next Chapter." The President was joined by Maggie Kang, writer and director of the Netflix hit "KPop Demon Hunters," girl group TWICE members Jihyo and Jeongyeon, producer R.Tee, and music critic Kim Young-dae to discuss the future of K-pop, and, more broadly, the K-culture industry. Reflecting on the global boom in Korean culture, President Lee emphasized that its potential is far from exhausted. "How far do you think South Korea has come as a cultural heavyweight?" "Korea is on its way to becoming one. What is most Korean can also be the most global. We should have confidence in that." For that to happen, the President underscored the need for a solid support system, pointing out that government investment in culture has been lacking for decades. "The fact that we've seen such great works and artists like these people is extraordinary, almost miraculous. But the government must take the long view, nurturing the cultural industry and investing heavily in its foundations, so that more people can challenge themselves, learn, and discover their talents." At the same time, he also reaffirmed his administration's principle of supporting without interference. "Culture thrives on freedom. It must be individual, creative, and independent. Yet we've seen blacklists, surveillance, or regulation stifling the arts. The government's role is to create a free environment, provide support, and allow competition to develop new frontiers." The hour-long program explored ways to further expand the global reach of Korean culture. Panelists suggested creating arena-style performance venues and more opportunities to showcase not only K-pop, but a wider range of genres. Building on this, the Lee administration aims to position South Korea as one of the world's leading cultural powerhouses. Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News.

Lee says scrapping past deals with Japan on wartime issues "undesirable"

2025/08/21 13:40

President Lee Jae Myung had an interview with a Japanese newspaper ahead of his trip to Tokyo this weekend for talks with Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. For more, our Presidential Office Correspondent Yoon Jung-min on the line. Jung-min, what did the president have to say on Seoul's relationship with Tokyo? Eun-ji. The South Korean leader said it would be "undesirable" to overturn agreements that were reached with Japan on wartime issues of Korean sex slaves and forced laborers. In an interview with Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun, released Thursday morning, President Lee acknowledged that though the deals finalized under previous conservative governments are difficult to accept, they are commitments made between nations. At the same time, he noted the feelings of the South Korean people should be taken into account, adding that what could be more important than compensation is offering words of consolation in a sincere manner. In 2015, the so-called "comfort women" agreement was reached under the Park Geun-hye administration, and in 2023, the third-party compensation scheme for wartime laborers was agreed under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration. Those agreements sparked some backlash in Korea. Lee also stressed the importance of the Seoul-Tokyo relationship ahead of his talks with Japan's Ishiba this weekend, hoping to expand cooperation on the economy, society and culture. He also mentioned regional security. What was his message? He did mention North Korea's nuclear issues, outlining a three-stage roadmap that involves freezing, reducing and dismantling the North's nuclear and missile programs. He added that this will be pursued while maintaining a "close coordination" with the U.S. and pursuing "active inter-Korean dialogue." It's the first time that President Lee unveiled such a solution over North Korea's nuclear issues. I also have to note that he will be flying straight from Tokyo to Washington this weekend for his first summit with U.S. President Donald Trump. That's all from me now. Back to you, Eun-ji.

Pope Leo sets day of fasting and prayers for peace on Friday

2025/08/21 13:38

Pope Leo XIV has designated Friday, August 22, as a day of fasting and prayer for peace in Ukraine, the Middle East, and other war-torn regions. During his weekly audience at the Vatican on Wednesday, he encouraged all the faithful to "live the day of August 22 in fasting and prayer," asking God to grant "peace and justice and to wipe away the tears of those who suffer because of the ongoing armed conflicts." This date coincides with the Catholic commemoration of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which honors Mary as the Queen of Peace.

Russian military drone crashes in eastern Poland, defense minister says

2025/08/21 13:37

Let's begin in Europe, where Poland says a Russian drone has crashed in its territory. Tell us more. Poland's defense minister said that an object that crashed and exploded in eastern Poland was identified as a Russian drone. At a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, Poland's Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that the military drone which crashed earlier that day was a Russian provocation during peace negotiations. At around 2 AM on August 20, a drone crashed and detonated in a cornfield near Osiny in Lublin province. The explosion shattered nearby windows but did not cause any injuries. An area of 8 to 10 meters around the crash site was burned. Poland's defense minister stated that the drone was Russian and likely a variant of the Shahed model equipped with a Chinese engine, which may have been designed to self-destruct mid-air. He called the incident a deliberate provocation by Russia amidst ongoing peace talks regarding Ukraine. Since a stray Ukrainian missile struck a southern Polish village in 2022, killing two people, Poland has been on high alert for objects entering its airspace.

[On-point] What to expect when S. Korea's Lee meets Trump in Washington next week

2025/08/21 13:37

On the diplomatic front. President Lee is set to hold a summit with his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump next Monday in Washington. For more on what to expect from the meeting, we're joined by Robert Kelly, Professor of International Relations at Pusan National University. Professor Kelly, thanks for joining us this morning. 1. This will be President Lee's first trip to the U.S. since taking office in June. Could you tell us more about the significance of this visit? 2. President Lee has previously talked about pursuing 'pragmatic diplomacy.' Do you think we'll see that in action when he meets President Trump next week? 3. North Korea says South Korea can't be its diplomatic partner, even as Seoul tries to ease tensions with Pyongyang. Could the meeting between Presidents Lee Jae Myung and Donald Trump open the door to talks with Kim Jong-un? 4. South Korea and the U.S. kicked off their annual military drills this week. A lot of attention is now on how the Korean government will handle the security issue, especially cost-sharing for American troops stationed here in Korea. How do you see that playing out? Alright, Professor Kelly. Thank you so much for your insight today. We appreciate it.

Special counsel summons ex-first lady Kim for 3rd questioning on Thursday

2025/08/21 13:36

Former first lady Kim Keon Hee, who's accused of violating the Political Funds Act, will once again appear for questioning before a special counsel team on Thursday. Kim is set to appear for questioning at 2 PM, for her third summons since her arrest last week. She was originally scheduled to appear on Wednesday, but requested a one-day delay, citing health issues. Thursday's questioning is expected to center on allegations of her receiving luxury gifts from the Unification Church through a shaman in exchange for business favors. With several issues under investigation, prosecutors have sought and obtained court approval to extend Kim's detention until August 31st.

Israel calls up 60,000 reservists ahead of planned Gaza City offensive

2025/08/21 13:36

Israel says it's calling up around 60-thousand reservists ahead of a planned ground offensive aimed at capturing and occupying all of Gaza City. Meanwhile, an 10 Hamas militants were killed after they attempted to ambush an IDF outpost in southern Gaza. Lee Seung-jae has more. The Israeli military says it is calling up around 60-thousand reservists ahead of a planned ground offensive aimed at capturing and occupying all of Gaza City. The military says it will go ahead with the operation, with the aim of eliminating Hamas. "We will deepen the attack on Hamas in Gaza City, a stronghold of governmental and military terror for the terrorist organization. We will intensify the strikes on the terror infrastructure above and below ground and sever the population's dependence on Hamas." According to Israeli officials, the reservists will begin reporting for duty in September, but most of the forces for the operation will come from active-duty units already on the ground. The move comes as Israel prepares to order hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza City to evacuate south. The government announced its intention to seize the entire Gaza Strip after the ceasefire and hostage talks with Hamas collapsed last month. However, mediators Qatar and Egypt are pushing for a new agreement, a 60-day truce, and the release of about half of the 50 hostages still believed to be in Gaza. While Hamas says it has accepted the proposal, Israel has not issued a formal response and insists it will only accept a comprehensive deal that secures the release of all hostages. Meanwhile, fighting continues on the ground. On Tuesday, around 18 Hamas militants emerged from a tunnel near Khan Yunis and attacked an Israeli Kfir Brigade outpost with rifles and anti-tank grenade launchers. Israeli forces, backed by airstrikes, killed 10 of the attackers, while the rest retreated into the tunnel. Three Israeli soldiers were injured in the ambush, none of them seriously. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Security discussions without Moscow are 'road to nowhere': Russian Foreign Minister

2025/08/21 13:35

Amid efforts to bring an end to the prolonged war in Ukraine, Moscow says it must be part of international talks on Ukraine's security. The comments come as NATO military leaders gathered to discuss security guarantees for Kyiv. Park Jun-han has more. While the U.S. and NATO have been discussing possible security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a peace deal in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Moscow on Wednesday said security discussions without Moscow are a 'road to nowhere'. "We cannot agree with the fact that it is now proposed to resolve collective security issues without the Russian Federation. And I am sure that in the West and above all in the United States, they understand perfectly well that seriously discussing security issues without the Russian Federation is a utopia, a road to nowhere." This comes as NATO military leaders discussed security guarantees for Ukraine in a post-conflict scenario. Although the specifics were not revealed, it is believed that in-depth talks took place on implementing the European-led security guarantees for Ukraine. Ukraine has strongly disagreed on Russia's involvement in security guarantees since early stages of war back in 2022. Prior to Russian Foreign Minister's remark, the U.S.-based outlet Politico reported on Tuesday that a trilateral summit could take place in Budapest, Hungary, bringing together U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, as Russia has insisted that it must be given equal footing with other countries such as the U.S., China, the UK and France when it comes to discussing any security guarantees for Ukraine, some media outlets have raised doubts over whether Putin will attend the peace summit with Zelenskyy. Park Jun-han, Arirang News.

President Lee says K-culture's potential is far from exhausted

2025/08/21 13:34

President Lee Jae Myung, who has long highlighted the borderless power of culture, appeared on a special Arirang TV program and vowed more government support and investment in culture. Our top office correspondent Song Yoo-jin reports. Wearing a sky-blue jacket instead of his usual dark suit, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday joined a star-studded panel on Arirang TV's special program, "K-Pop: The Next Chapter." The President was joined by Maggie Kang, writer and director of the Netflix hit "KPop Demon Hunters," girl group TWICE members Jihyo and Jeongyeon, producer R.Tee, and music critic Kim Young-dae to discuss the future of K-pop, and, more broadly, the K-culture industry. Reflecting on the global boom in Korean culture, President Lee emphasized that its potential is far from exhausted. "How far do you think South Korea has come as a cultural heavyweight?" "Korea is on its way to becoming one. What is most Korean can also be the most global. We should have confidence in that." For that to happen, the President underscored the need for a solid support system, pointing out that government investment in culture has been lacking for decades. "The fact that we've seen such great works and artists like these people is extraordinary, almost miraculous. But the government must take the long view, nurturing the cultural industry and investing heavily in its foundations, so that more people can challenge themselves, learn, and discover their talents." At the same time, he also reaffirmed his administration's principle of supporting without interference. "Culture thrives on freedom. It must be individual, creative, and independent. Yet we've seen blacklists, surveillance, or regulation stifling the arts. The government's role is to create a free environment, provide support, and allow competition to develop new frontiers." The hour-long program explored ways to further expand the global reach of Korean culture. Panelists suggested creating arena-style performance venues and more opportunities to showcase not only K-pop, but a wider range of genres. Building on this, the Lee administration aims to position South Korea as one of the world's leading cultural powerhouses. Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News.

President Lee says K-culture's potential is far from exhausted

2025/08/20 21:47

President Lee Jae Myung, who has long highlighted the borderless power of culture, appeared on a special Arirang TV program today. He joined industry icons to discuss ways to make Korean culture more global. Our Presidential Office correspondent Song Yoo-jin starts us off. Wearing a sky-blue jacket instead of his usual dark suit, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday joined a star-studded panel on Arirang TV's special program, "K-Pop: The Next Chapter." The President was joined by Maggie Kang, writer and director of the Netflix hit "KPop Demon Hunters," girl group TWICE members Jihyo and Jeongyeon, producer R.Tee, and music critic Kim Young-dae to discuss the future of K-pop, and, more broadly, the K-culture industry. Reflecting on the global boom in Korean culture, President Lee emphasized that its potential is far from exhausted. "How far do you think South Korea has come as a cultural heavyweight?" "Korea is on its way to becoming one. What is most Korean can also be the most global. We should have confidence in that." For that to happen, the President underscored the need for a solid support system, pointing out that government investment in culture has been lacking for decades. "The fact that we've seen such great works and artists like these people is extraordinary, almost miraculous. But the government must take the long view, nurturing the cultural industry and investing heavily in its foundations, so that more people can challenge themselves, learn, and discover their talents." At the same time, he also reaffirmed his administration's principle of supporting without interference. "Culture thrives on freedom. It must be individual, creative, and independent. Yet we've seen blacklists, surveillance, or regulation stifling the arts. The government's role is to create a free environment, provide support, and allow competition to develop new frontiers." The hour-long program explored ways to further expand the global reach of Korean culture. Panelists suggested creating arena-style performance venues and more opportunities to showcase not only K-pop, but a wider range of genres. Building on this, the Lee administration aims to position South Korea as one of the world's leading cultural powerhouses. Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News.

[Politics & Diplomacy] Tensions between rival parties escalate ahead of vote on contentious bills

2025/08/20 21:44

Tensions are escalating between the rival parties in South Korea's National Assembly ahead of Thursday's plenary session, where contentious bills are set to be addressed. For more on the key legislation and what lies ahead this week, we turn to our political correspondent Shin Ha-young. Welcome Ha-young. Good evening. Ha-young, there had been a dispute between the rival parties over this week's plenary session schedule, but it has since been adjusted by bipartisan agreement. You're right. Initially, the ruling Democratic Party had planned to hold plenary sessions from Thursday to Sunday to push ahead with contentious bills that were left unresolved during the July extraordinary session. But the rival parties agreed not to bring up bills on Friday, the day of the main opposition People Power Party convention, and instead add another session next Monday. The agreement came after the PPP asked National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik to delay the sessions until after its convention, while the DP wanted to stick to the original schedule. "Return immediately to a politics of dialogue and communication." "Attempts to spoil the opposition's convention will surely be judged by the people." Yesterday, Speaker Woo urged both parties to discuss it further, and they later met with him to finalize the changes. As a result, the contentious bills will be put to a vote during the upcoming plenary sessions, except on Friday, while filibusters will be launched by the PPP against the remaining bills, that it argues are being pushed forward without bipartisan agreement. The schedule has been adjusted, but the rival parties remain at odds over the key bills. So, what's on the table? Well, on Thursday, one of the remaining media reform bills, aimed at changing how the heads of public broadcasters are appointed --this time targeting MBC --will be put to a vote. The bill was introduced by the DP during the previous plenary session but was not voted on, as the July extraordinary session came to a close at midnight, following a PPP filibuster. Following Thursday's vote, the DP plans to immediately introduce another media reform bill targeting EBS, which is expected to trigger another filibuster by the PPP. The bill is expected to be put to a vote on Saturday, while the so-called "Yellow Envelope Bill" and a revision to the Commercial Act are scheduled to be addressed one after another. The Yellow Envelope Bill is essentially an amendment to labor union laws that limits employer actions against striking union members, including retaliatory measures. The PPP has repeatedly emphasized that many businesses, both in Korea and abroad, are concerned about the bill, and the government and ruling party should consider revising it rather than forcing it through. Let's hear what the businesses have to say. "The passage of the Yellow Envelope Act in the National Assembly could affect Korea's reputation as a regional hub for multinational companies." However, the DP hasn't changed its plan to push the bill through, and President Lee Jae Myung also made it clear that it should meet global standards, showing he's determined to see it passed. "Regarding the Yellow Envelope Act, the President said that there are certain aspects that need to be aligned with those of advanced countries, and workers' rights should meet global standards." A revision to the Commercial Act aims to strengthen corporate governance transparency and protect minority shareholders' rights, particularly within large corporations. All these bills are being championed by the DP, while the PPP remains staunchly opposed. Right, so tensions will be running high throughout the upcoming plenary sessions. But is there any chance of bipartisan cooperation? Well, the growing tensions between the ruling and opposition parties are evident even outside the plenary sessions. Recently, the party leaders have met at several events but maintained a tense atmosphere. On Monday, they sat side by side at a memorial service for the late former President Kim Dae-jung , but they neither shook hands nor made eye contact, just staring straight ahead as if the other weren't there. A similar scene was captured during last Friday's Liberation Day ceremony. Amid all this, with confirmation hearings for the education and gender equality ministers still upcoming, tensions between the rival parties are expected to rise. Given the current strain, it may be too early to say whether there will be room for bipartisan cooperation, but it's certainly something to watch as the August sessions unfold. Alright, thank you, Ha-young, for your wrap-up. Thank you.