News

Two S. Koreans among 16 dead in Lisbon funicular crash

2025/09/05 19:37

In Portugal. Two South Korean nationals are among the 16 victims who lost their lives in a crash of a popular funicular railway car in the capital city Lisbon. Cha Yun-kyung has the latest. In the tragic crash of the historic Gloria funicular, 16 people were killed, and more than 20 others injured. On Wednesday, around 6:15 PM local time, Lisbon's 140-year-old funicular train, which is popular with tourists, derailed and crashed into a building. Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Prime Minister Luis Montenegro visited the site of the funicular accident on Thursday evening for a mass in honor of the 16 victims of the crash. Prime Minister Montenegro called the crash "one of the biggest human tragedies" in the country's recent history, and President Rebelo de Sousa told journalists that it was a time to mourn the deceased and to console their family members. "Today is a national day of mourning, it's mourning for Lisbon but also for Portugal. In this hour of mourning, we are waiting for a time when, first and foremost, we must mourn the dead, respect the dead. Believers pray for the dead, non-believers think of the dead." The yellow funicular that carried many tourists up and down a steep hillside in Lisbon was left overturned on the cobblestone street. Of the 16 victims the coroner has so far identified the bodies of five Portuguese, two South Koreans and one Swiss national. "Five Portuguese citizens have been fully identified through scientific methods. Two South Korean citizens ---we have had close collaboration with the South Korean embassy from the outset ---were identified and one Swiss victim through Interpol." According to Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday, the two Koreans are a man and a woman, and there was another injured Korean woman in the accident, who is currently undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit of a local hospital after surgery. Meanwhile, President Lee Jae Myung on Friday extended condolences to the families of the victims of the deadly crash. He posted a message on Facebook saying, "I offer my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and the people of Portugal, who must be in profound sorrow and shock, and I wish a swift recovery for the injured." Lee said the Korean Embassy in Portugal formed a task force immediately after the accident, and the ambassador also checked the situation at the site of the accident. He added that the government will convey condolences to the Portuguese prime minister and request special support for Korean nationals. Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.

PEACE RANKING, ACCELERATED AGING IN THE HEADLINES

2025/09/05 19:34

Welcome to Press Perspective for this Friday September 5th here in Seoul. I'm Min Sunhee. It's that time of the week during which we touch upon a number of intriguing headlines related to the broader society and of course South Korea. For this I have freelance journalist Raphael Rashid. Raphael it's good to have you here. I also have writer Colin Marshall with us. Colin welcome back. Raphael, let's start off with the latest rankings for the most peaceful countries this year. Which are the top countries, where does South Korea stand, and what are your takeaways from the latest findings? Raphael, another intriguing study published in Nature Medicine reportedly shows social inequality and weak democracy accelerates aging. What are your thoughts? Colin, what are your thoughts with regard to the findings related to South Korea from these two studies? Raphael, staying with living trends here in South Korea. We've touched upon this a few times in the past, but it's been highlighted again, this time by the South China Morning Post. So why are foreigners loving but leaving South Korea according to this latest article? And what are your takeaways? Colin, what makes long-term residence in South Korea tough for foreign immigrants? Raphael, moving on to the screens now. Director Park Chan-wook's latest production "No Other Choice" has been the talk of the town at the Venice Film Festival. Do tell us more. Colin, despite the ongoing global popularity of K-entertainment, its big screen productions have been lacking at international festivals. What do you believe is the reason behind this unfortunate reality? Meanwhile Raphael, the New York Times says Korean tattoo artists are garnering much attention here and beyond. What appears to be fueling this interest? Colin, public perception regarding tattoos are also changing here in the country. Do you suppose South Korea's legal framework should reflect this reality? All right. On that note we end this week's EDITIONS of Press Perspective. Thank you for watching.

[Short-form] September 7, International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies

2025/09/05 15:34

Blue skies aren’t optional – they’re our shared responsibility. Join the movement started by Korea and help shape a cleaner, sustainable tomorrow.

South Korea saw significant decline in marriages and births over 30 years

2025/09/03 22:39

South Korea has gone through a dramatic drop in demographics over the past three decades in both the numbers of newlyweds and newborns. Park Jun-han has the details. The number of marriages in South Korea has almost halved over the past 30 years, sounding the alarm on the severity of the population crisis already underway. Statistics Korea released a report on Wednesday, called "Changes in marriage and birth rates in Korea over the past 30 years." According to the data, marriages peaked at 435-thousand in 1996 but fell steadily to a record low of 192-thousand in 2022, before modest rebounds to 194-thousand in 2023 and 222-thousand in 2024. This is an over 44 percent decline from nearly 400-thousand back in 1995. The number of marriages with foreign spouses in South Korea, however, surged some 54 percent, rising from 13-thousand-500 in 1995 to 20-thousand-800 in 2024. As of 2024, marriages with foreign spouses account for 9-point-3 percent of all unions. The average age at first marriage has also sharply climbed. From 28-point-4 years old for men and 25-point-3 years old for women in 1995, the average age at first marriage rose to 33-point-9 for men and 31-point-6 for women in 2024. This is up 5-point-5 and 6-point-2 years respectively. Births over the past 30 years have declined even more sharply. From 715-thousand in 1995 to 238-thousand in 2024, it saw a drop of over 66 percent, after bottoming at 230-thousand in 2023. A senior researcher at the Population Policy Research Center claimed that the continuous decline in South Korea's young population will shrink the country's overall societal structure, leading to crises. "The situation can be summed up in three points: a shrinking young population, an aging society, and rising political conflicts driven by growing disparities. If this continues, more people will inevitably flock to the metropolitan area, while regional areas face not only a population decline but also a drop in the quality of human resources, making recovery extremely difficult. We are now at a critical juncture that calls for decisive political action." Looking at changes in the total fertility rate among OECD countries from 1995 to 2023, South Korea is now the only country where it has fallen by more than 50 percent, sounding a serious alarm for the nation's future sustainability. Park Jun-han, Arirang News.

[K-Correspondent] Feel the K-vibe at the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo's Korea Pavilion

2025/09/03 15:34

Korea and Japan mark 60 years of diplomatic relations this year. Geographically close, the city of Osaka has in particular had active exchanges with Korea. Today, we want to explore the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo, where the Korea Pavilion is drawing significant attention. We connect to today's K-Correspondent Park Young-hwan, Deputy Commissioner General and Pavilion Director, to take us to the present and future of the Korean wave and the convergence of sustainable technology showcased at the pavilion. Hello Director Park / Young-hwan! Q1. Could you please introduce yourself to our viewers first? Q2. Osaka and the Kansai region are known for having a strong base of hallyu fans. Do you feel that on the ground? Also, are there any unique characteristics of the Korean wave in this region compared to other areas? Q3. The Korea Pavilion consists of three exhibition halls. Could you please introduce the main message each space aims to convey and some key points that visitors should look out for? Q4. One of the main themes of the Korea pavilion is the convergence of sustainability and technology. Could you elaborate on that? Q5. The integration of K-pop content and multimedia technology is also an impressive part of the exhibition. In what way is this done? Q6. How has the response towards the Korea pavilion been so far (I heard people are waiting in long lines) and how would you like Korea and the Korean wave be conveyed to Japanese visitors through this exhibition? Q7. Until when can visitors enjoy the Expo and Korea Pavilion and any special programs happening along the way? We wish the best for the Korea Pavilion at the Expo. Thank you very much Director Park / Young-hwan for connecting with us today. Thank you Walter, will see you back next week.

[NEWs GEN] Forever Single? Why young people aren’t dating

2025/09/03 13:33

NEWs GEN] Forever Single? Why young people aren’t dating Z세대의 ‘로맨스 불황’... Z세대 50% 이상 데이트에 돈 안 쓴다

Pope Leo XIV to inaugurate Laudato Si’ Village in Castel Gandolfo

2025/09/03 11:39

The Vatican is bringing Pope Francis' ecological vision into action by inaugurating a 55-acre educational and vocational center at its Castel Gandolfo estate. The Holy See's first on-site vocational school, "Borgo Laudato Si," will formally open on Friday, under the blessing of Pope Leo XIV , who spent his first summer in papal service at the site. At the center of the compound is a solar-powered greenhouse shaped like St. Peter's Square colonnade, accompanied by a 10-room facility for environmental learning. The center operates under zero-waste standards, featuring AI-driven smart irrigation and rainwater harvesting, while completely eliminating the use of plastics.

[NEWs GEN] Collectible Craze: Is fandom culture harming the planet?

2025/09/02 13:33

Collectible Craze: Is fandom culture harming the planet? 포켓몬 카드만 챙기고 버려지는 햄버거... 긋즈 행사마다 버려지는 쓰레기 해결책은?

FROM S. KOREA'S HEALTH CARE SERVICE TO ITS "CAGONGJOK"

2025/08/29 18:34

Hello and welcome. It's Friday August 29th here in Seoul. And you're watching Press Perspective. Today we touch upon a number of social stories related to South Korea in the foreign media. For this I have Kelly Kasulis Cho with The Washington Post. Kelly it's great to have you here. I also have writer Colin Marshall with the pundit's take. Colin welcome back. Kelly, let's begin with a recent article by you for The Washington Post. You covered the burden of U.S. health care costs forcing some Americans to move to countries like South Korea. Do walk us through this story. Colin, as a long-term resident here in Korea who is registered with the country's mandatory health insurance, what can you tell us about this health policy? Kelly, there have been concerns about abuse of Korea's health insurance especially amid its fiscal uncertainty. What are these concerns, and what are your takeaways? Colin, let's now move on to our second topic. South Korea's birth rate has been noting 12 consecutive months of on-year rises, and you, I believe, have done your part to contribute to this rise as a father of twins who were born earlier this month. What have been some of your firsthand experiences with regard to national efforts to boost the birth rate and their results? Kelly, findings for last year show births out of wedlock hit almost 6% of the total number of newborns here in South Korea. Do tell us more about the implications of this finding for the country, and how does it compare with the reality in other countries? Meanwhile Kelly, also this month, making foreign media headlines is the campaign against cafe squatters, if you will, known as "cagongjok" in Korean. Do tell us more. Colin, the BBC links the phenomenon to the competitive academic environment and essentially to a lack of living space. What are your thoughts? Kelly, findings by the Education Ministry here show roughly 60% of citizens over the age of 60 have difficulties in engaging with digital devices. What are some of your takeaways? Colin, simply speaking, why is digital literacy important for our seniors in society, and what can be done to promote it among the elderly? All right.

[NEWs GEN] “Resting” Youths: Why young Koreans are stepping away from work

2025/08/29 12:33

[NEWs GEN] “Resting” Youths: Why young Koreans are stepping away from work 쉬었음' 청년 50만명 시대…좌절의 일상화에 빠진 MZ들

Authorities say Minneapolis school shooter was 'obsessed with killing children'

2025/08/29 11:37

Good morning, I'm Choi Chi-hee, and this is The World Now. Starting in the United States, where investigations into Wednesday's deadly shooting at the Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis revealed evidence indicating the shooter was obsessed with killing children. On Thursday, officials announced that the gunman, identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman, was a former student of the school. Investigators uncovered writings and expressions demonstrating Westman's plan, mental state, and a fascination with previous mass school shooters. The acting U.S. Attorney for Minnesota stated that Westman was "obsessed with the idea of killing children," and authorities noted hate-filled messages targeting almost every community imaginable, including Catholics, Jews, and even President Trump. The shooting is being investigated as both an anti-Catholic hate crime and an act of domestic terrorism. Westman fired 116 rifle rounds and multiple shotgun blasts through locked church windows during a back-to-school Mass. Two children were killed while 18 people were injured. Westman also died from a self-inflicted gun wound.

Two children killed in Minnesota Catholic school shooting

2025/08/28 22:41

Over in the U.S. Two children were killed, and over a dozen others injured, when a gunman opened fire at a Catholic School in Minnesota. Lee Seung-jae reports. Two children were killed and 17 others injured when a shooter opened fire during morning Mass at the Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis on Wednesday local time. Police say the shooter fired dozens of rounds through church windows just before 8:30 AM, targeting children and parishioners sitting in the pews. The victims include 14 children between the ages of six and fifteen, and three parishioners in their eighties. The two children who died were eight and ten years old. Authorities say all of the injured are expected to survive. "At this point, we know we have a total of 19 victims from this tragedy. Two were young children, ages eight and ten, they were sitting in the pews at mass when they were shot and killed. They were pronounced deceased on the scene." Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara added that staff members acted heroically, moving students under pews and helping evacuate them within minutes once it was safe. The FBI identified the shooter as a 23-year-old Robin Westman, who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene. Westman was armed with a rifle, a shotgun, and a pistol, all of which were purchased recently and legally. Court records also show that Westman, who identified as a female, was born Robert Westman. In the wake of the tragedy, Pope Leo the Fourteenth expressed his "profound sorrow." In a message delivered over Telegram to Archbishop Bernard Hebda, the archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the Pope commended the souls of the two children to God and offered prayers for the wounded, first responders, clergy, and loved ones. The shooting took place during a Mass, as the school entered the first week of the new school year. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Two children killed in Minnesota Catholic school shooting

2025/08/28 19:39

Over in the U.S. A tragic shooting killed two children and injured 17 others during Mass to mark the first week of class at a catholic school in Minneapolis. Lee Seung-jae reports. Two children were killed and 17 others injured when a shooter opened fire during morning Mass at the Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis on Wednesday local time. Police say the shooter fired dozens of rounds through church windows just before 8:30 AM, targeting children and parishioners sitting in the pews. The victims include 14 children between the ages of six and fifteen, and three parishioners in their eighties. The two children who died were eight and ten years old. Authorities say all of the injured are expected to survive. "At this point, we know we have a total of 19 victims from this tragedy. Two were young children, ages eight and ten, they were sitting in the pews at mass when they were shot and killed. They were pronounced deceased on the scene." Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara added that staff members acted heroically, moving students under pews and helping evacuate them within minutes once it was safe. The FBI identified the shooter as a 23-year-old Robin Westman, who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene. Westman was armed with a rifle, a shotgun, and a pistol, all of which were purchased recently and legally. Court records also show that Westman, who identified as a female, was born Robert Westman. In the wake of the tragedy, Pope Leo the Fourteenth expressed his "profound sorrow." In a message delivered over Telegram to Archbishop Bernard Hebda, the archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the Pope commended the souls of the two children to God and offered prayers for the wounded, first responders, clergy, and loved ones. The shooting took place during a Mass, as the school entered the first week of the new school year. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Two children killed in Minnesota Catholic school shooting

2025/08/28 11:34

Over in the U.S. Two children were killed, and over a dozen others injured, when a gunman opened fire at a Catholic School in Minnesota. The shooter died from a self-inflicted gunshot, with authorities continuing to question the motives. Lee Seung-jae reports. Two children were killed and 17 others injured when a shooter opened fire during morning Mass at the Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis on Wednesday local time. Police say the shooter fired dozens of rounds through church windows just before 8:30 AM, targeting children and parishioners sitting in the pews. The victims include 14 children between the ages of six and fifteen, and three parishioners in their eighties. The two children who died were eight and ten years old. Authorities say all of the injured are expected to survive. "At this point, we know we have a total of 19 victims from this tragedy. Two were young children, ages eight and ten, they were sitting in the pews at mass when they were shot and killed. They were pronounced deceased on the scene." Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara added that staff members acted heroically, moving students under pews and helping evacuate them within minutes once it was safe. The FBI identified the shooter as a 23-year-old Robin Westman, who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene. Westman was armed with a rifle, a shotgun, and a pistol, all of which were purchased recently and legally. Court records also show that Westman, who identified as a female, was born Robert Westman. In the wake of the tragedy, Pope Leo the Fourteenth expressed his "profound sorrow." In a message delivered over Telegram to Archbishop Bernard Hebda, the archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the Pope commended the souls of the two children to God and offered prayers for the wounded, first responders, clergy, and loved ones. The shooting took place during a Mass, as the school entered the first week of the new school year. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

S. Korea's June births record fastest-ever rise

2025/08/27 22:42

South Korea saw the fastest increase in the number of newborns on record in June. According to Statistics Korea on Wednesday, more than 19-thousand babies were born in June, up 9-point-4 percent year on year. This was the steepest year-on-year increase for any June and the 12th consecutive month of growth. The agency attributed the uptrend to a continued rise in marriages since the first quarter of last year, an increase in the population of women in their 30s wanting children, and a more positive perception of childbirth. Meanwhile, the country's total fertility rate, the average number of children per woman, for June increased zero-point-0-6 from a year earlier to zero-point-7-6.

[NEWs GEN] Sons Vs. Daughters: Why S. Koreans now prefer daughters over sons

2025/08/27 13:33

[NEWs GEN] Sons Vs. Daughters: Why S. Koreans now prefer daughters over sons 아들 선호 사라진 대한민국 ... 딸 선호 세계 1위 왜?

[NEWs GEN] Korea–U.S. Exchange Pt. 2: Inside the education and cultural ties

2025/08/26 12:33

[NEWs GEN] Korea–U.S. Exchange Pt. 2: Inside the education and cultural ties

[NEWs GEN] Looks over Personality: Why Gen Z is putting appearance first in dating

2025/08/22 13:33

[NEWs GEN] Looks over Personality: Why Gen Z is putting appearance first in dating 외모승인제 파티 인기... 능력보다 외모보는 2030 이유는?

FROM SHIFTING ACADEMIC PLANS TO GROWING AI PSYCHOSIS

2025/08/21 18:34

Welcome to Thursday's edition of Press Perspective. It's August 21st here in Seoul. I'm Min Sunhee. Today we touch upon South Korea's efforts to expand its enrollment of foreign scholars AS WELL AS an unsettling phenomenon driven by AI chatbots that is affecting people here and elsewhere. For more I have Thomas Maresca with American news agency UPI. Thomas it's great to have you here. I also have writer Colin Marshall with the pundit's take on the day's topics. Colin welcome back. Thomas, The New York Times has touched upon Korean universities stepping in with relief measures for foreign students in the U.S. whose academic pursuits are being rendered uncertain by Mr. Trump's immigration policy. That being said, let's start with some context behind his administration's crackdown on international students. Colin, how do you explain Asia's enthusiastic efforts to enroll these students from the U.S.? Thomas, according to British analytics firm QS, Seoul has been named the top city for international students in 2026. Do tell us a bit about this finding including your thoughts on what makes Seoul a productive academic environment for foreign scholars. Colin, let's now touch upon another social issue of much concern: the phenomenon of AI-enabled delusion. First then, what is AI psychosis or AI delusion? And how prevalent is this phenomenon as we speak? Thomas, how are chatbot makers, if you will, working to address this phenomenon? And Colin, in the meantime, what has been shared about ways to safely interact with AI chatbots? Thomas, findings by the Education Ministry here show roughly 60% of citizens over the age of 60 have difficulties in engaging with digital devices. What are some of your takeaways? Colin, simply speaking, why is digital literacy important for our seniors in society, and what can be done to promote it among the elderly? All right.

Hallyu People_Need someone to guide you through Seoul city? Look for the Seoul Tour Interpreters

2025/08/21 16:34

They wear red shirts or jackets and a fitting red cowboy hat imprinted with an ‘i’. Not too long ago, CNN took note of them in an article. Can you guess who they are? They are tourist guides, tour interpreters, or “Moving Tourist Info Centers” who speak in English, Chinese, Japanese and other languages to give information to foreign tourists at tourism spots across the capital Seoul. We invite one of them into the studio today. It's Byeon Yeong-eun, a Seoul Tourism Association Tour Interpreter. Welcome, Yeong-eun! Q1) Please introduce yourself to our viewers. Q2) You are currently wearing exactly what I just described in the opening to our segment. Please tell us about your uniform. Q2-1) And I notice that most tourist guides have a bag with them, like you. What’s in there may I ask? Q3) Now please tell us more about your job. How do you help out tourists and to what extent? What kind of information do you provide them with? Q4) How do tourists who need tour information find tour interpreters? Q4-1) So, is it mainly the major tourist spots? Where would be some unexpected places where people can find you? Q5) You currently work at Gwangjang market. Please tell us a bit about that place. How many other guides do you work there with and what are the most frequent questions you get there? Q6) As a tour interpreter, you must have met so many different people from different places. Are there any memorable episodes you want to share? Q7) These days you can easily use apps to search for tourist information. Why would you say we need human tourist guides? 8) How would you like Seoul to be remembered by foreign visitors? Thank you very much for your information today and the information you provide to tourists every day Yeong-eun! Thank you Bella, we'll see you tomorrow.