News

Annual World Korean Educator Conference 2025 kicks off

2025/07/21 22:39

From K-pop to Korean content, as the country's culture spreads, learning Korean has also become a byproduct. As more people seek to learn the language, the efforts of countless Korean educators at home and abroad are becoming crucial. Ahn Sung-jin went to this year's World Korean Educator Conference to learn more about this. "Korean meets the world, and educators open the future." Under this theme, hundreds of Korean language educators gathered for the 17th World Korean Educator Conference. Hosted by the Ministry of Culture and organized by the King Sejong Institute, the conference brings together teachers working at the latter's institutes across the globe. This year's event welcomes around 160 Korean-teaching professionals from more than 100 such institutes in 49 countries. The recipient of this year's top teaching award was acknowledged for introducing a unique lesson plan integrating writing courses through social media, and a cultural and language exchange program with Korean students studying abroad. "Rather than exposing Korean just as a language, I hope to teach it as a bridge to communicate with the world." The conference offers a range of programs designed to share the latest teaching methods and strengthen the expertise of Korean instructors, including practical workshops and curriculum discussions, and showcase innovative classroom techniques. "The demand for Korean culture is only going to increase, so we plan on expanding content that can be used in Korean-teaching classes. We are also seeking to establish an online platform and network, to share ideas and communicate, to firmly ground Korean-learning education." The 4-day-long conference will continue through the end of the week with professional development sessions aimed at building global connections and advancing Korean language education worldwide. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.

At least 30 injured as vehicle drives into crowd outside Los Angeles music venue

2025/07/21 13:37

In the United States, 30 people were injured, seven critically, when a vehicle drove into a crowd outside a music venue in East Hollywood, Los Angeles, in the early hours of Saturday. The driver, identified as 29-year-old Fernando Ramirez, was reportedly kicked out of the nightclub minutes before he drove his car into the crowd. Surveillance footage shows him mounting the sidewalk around 2 AM, first hitting a taco stand, then a valet podium, and finally the waiting crowd. Ramirez was dragged from the wrecked vehicle, assaulted, and shot before being hospitalized. Authorities found no evidence indicating that the incident was linked to terrorism or driven by any criminal intentions beyond the driver's intoxicated state. Police are also searching for the man who shot Ramirez and fled the scene.

FUN FACTS AND FINDINGS THIS FRIDAY

2025/07/18 18:34

Hello and welcome. You're watching Press Perspective for this Friday July 18th here in Seoul. Today we touch upon a number of fun facts from history in society and on style. For this I have Thomas Maresca with American news agency UPI. Thomas welcome back. I also have writer Colin Marshall with the pundit's take on the day's discussion. Colin it's good to have you here. Thomas, a while back, we talked about your news agency UPI being the first foreign media to report about the Korean War. Well, it was also among the first to report Korea's March First Movement. Do tell us more. Colin, what are some of your takeaways regarding the foreign media coverage of turbulent events on the peninsula including the March First Movement and the Korean War? How significant were they in shaping Korea's path to democracy? Thomas, on the social front, findings as of 2024 show there has been a significant surge in the number of marriages between Korean men and Japanese women over the past decade. What more can you add? Colin, what do you believe is the public perception about international marriages here in Korea, and do you suppose the Korean Wave has played a part in boosting their rates? Thomas, moving forward, one recent article claims there is a visible way of pinpointing Koreans on holiday: they all appear to wear rash guards. What are your thoughts? I mean, how does this tendency differ from that in the West? And Colin, what's your take on this tendency and perhaps, the Korean mentality? Thomas, also on the local front. The Blue House is poised to close its doors to the public come August First. Do tell us a bit about this reality and its implications. Colin, what has been the meaning of the past opening and the planned closing of the Blue House for South Korea? All right.

[Short-form] Korea’s “Boknal” Explained

2025/07/18 15:33

Curious about what“boknal” is in Korea? It might seem confusing at first, but here’s how the system works and how Koreans use it to beat the heat.

At least 20 killed in crush at aid site in Gaza

2025/07/17 13:38

In the Middle East, at least 20 people have been killed in a fatal crush at an aid distribution site in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a U.S.-and Israeli-endorsed NGO, reported on July 16 that the deaths occurred during food distribution in Khan Younis. GHF officials said that armed people believed to be linked to Hamas deliberately caused unrest by infiltrating the crowd to cause panic. The Hamas-run Gaza Government Media Office blamed the incident on the GHF, while witnesses said security personnel had used pepper spray on the crowd. Palestinian health authorities confirmed 21 deaths by suffocation, asserting many victims were crushed in an overcrowded enclosure.

[NEWs GEN] Stalking Unmasked: How young people are taking on stalking crimes

2025/07/17 13:33

[NEWs GEN] Stalking Unmasked: How young people are taking on stalking crimes [뉴젠] 스토킹피해자 주민번호 열람제한... 스토킹에 대한 MZ와 기성세대의 다른 시각

Lee offers apology to bereaved families of major disasters

2025/07/16 22:40

A dialogue took place today to offer consolation to bereaved families of major social disasters in Korean society. On behalf of the government, President Lee Jae Myung offered an official apology. Presidential Office Correspondent Yoon Jung-min reports. The day after the nation remembered the second anniversary of the disastrous underpass flooding in the city of Osong, a large-scale dialogue took place with people who had lost loved ones in major social disasters in recent years, many of whom's suffering is far from over. To these people, President Lee Jae Myung offered an official apology. "As the chief who's in charge of state affairs, I officially apologize on behalf of the government for not fulfilling its responsibility to protect the lives and safety of the people, which led to the loss of many lives." Invited to the Yeongbingwan Hall at the Blue House on Wednesday were some 200 of them for "consolation and healing." Among them were bereaved families of the Sewol ferry sinking that killed more than 300 people in 2014, many of whom were young people aboard for a school trip, the Itaewon crowd crush in 2022, and the Muan airport crash late last year. Some still called for getting to the bottom of what happened and holding those responsible to account, "We call for an investigation into the cause of the disaster, and for the interior ministry to immediately open an investigation to find out the cause of the flooding." others suffer from secondary victimization. "Since the disaster, we have never been apologized to for the state violence whereby victims have been subject to inspections, and efforts to uncover the truth have been hindered." As the message was clear about what should be done at a national level, the focus was on how the state should function to prevent such disasters from happening again. "The state's No. 1 responsibility is to protect the lives and safety of the people. The state was not there when the people were threatened, when they needed protection. There was a wrong tendency in this society where money comes before life and costs come before safety." Wednesday's meeting was part of President Lee's attempts to bolster direct communication with the people. Another town hall meeting is scheduled on Friday in the southeastern city of Busan. Yoon Jung-min, Arirang News.

Cooling off for less: the cup bingsu boom

2025/07/16 19:40

Meanwhile as many here in the country will agree a cup of Korean bingsoo is the hottest way to cool off this sweltering summer. Our Byeon Ye-young had a taste. This summer, a simple cup of shaved ice is emerging as the hottest item on café menus across South Korea. It's in high demand in cafés across the nation, especially during the hottest hours of the day, when lines form quickly and items sell out fast. "With the weather so hot and humid lately, I wanted something to cool down. I looked for some bingsu I could enjoy alone, but cup bingsu was so popular I had to search all over. I'm just really glad I finally found one." "As you can see, there are several flavors to choose from, from the classic red bean flavor to mango and chocolate. A cup of bingsu costs around 4,000 won, much cheaper than many other summer desserts. This kind of affordable indulgence is exactly what many are looking for in the middle of this scorching summer." Sold in individual portions and priced at around 4,000 to 6,000 won, "cup bingsu" has quickly become a seasonal sensation. In many stores, it sells out every day, causing customers to check several locations or share tips online about where to find it. What was once a dessert associated with sharing is now being tailored to solo consumption, reflecting a wider shift in Korean consumer habits. Behind the boom are three key factors: the rise of people living by themselves, the rising cost of living, and the extreme heat. All three have helped redefine what people look for in a summer treat. "Consumers today prefer cup bingsu from franchise cafés because it's cost-effective and perfectly portioned for one person. These factors together make it a highly attractive choice." The popularity of cup bingsu has also been amplified by social media. Viral posts from café workers joking about the overwhelming number of bingsu orders have turned into memes, driving even more public curiosity. Café staff say demand peaks between noon and mid-afternoon, especially on hotter days. "Our customers truly range across all age groups. Men and women, young and old. After lunchtime, we often get group orders of ten or more at once, and many people come looking for different flavors." As Korea continues to battle scorching temperatures, this single-serving frozen treat is proving that the smallest indulgences can leave the biggest mark. Byeon Ye-young, Arirang News.

[NEWs GEN] Summer Getaways: How Gen Zs are vacationing this summer

2025/07/16 11:33

[NEWs GEN] Summer Getaways: How Gen Zs are vacationing this summer [뉴젠] 가깝고 즉흥적... 달라진 MZ 휴가 트렌드

Seoul starts '9988 project', providing jobs and care services for elders

2025/07/15 20:05

15 years from now one out of three residents here in Seoul will be 65 or older. That being said city officials have set aside a substantial amount of money to better prepare for its super-aged society. Cha Yun-kyung has more. Students are attending a lecture about the dangers of accidental falls and ways to prevent them. The class is a training course for "Safety Instructors," part of a senior job project run by Seoul City. The Seoul Metropolitan Government supports training expenses, so that the students can work in the private or public sector after completing the course. "I had taught for 35 years. After retirement, I was wondering if I could still teach something, and I found this course." In preparation for 2040, when one out of every three citizens becomes 65 or older, the SMG has announced its so-called 9988 Seoul Project. It provides job opportunities, care services, and residences for elderly people by investing 3-point-4 trillion Korean won, for five years starting from 2026. Seoul will increase job opportunities for senior citizens, a vocational education program and job search support. By 2040, 2-hundred-25 more elderly and daycare centers will also be created. "We will make sure that building nursing facilities including daycare is a duty when a new apartment complex with more than 2,000 residents is built." The city is planning to build more residences and leisure facilities for senior citizens, such as cultural complexes and golf courses. Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.

[NEWs GEN] Pets or Pests: The growing debate over pet ettiquette

2025/07/15 15:33

[NEWs GEN] Pets or Pests: The growing debate over pet ettiquette

'Terrible, tragic fire' in Fall River: 9 dead, over 30 injured at assisted living facility

2025/07/15 11:42

Moving over to the United States, a fire at an assisted-living facility in Fall River, Massachusetts, has killed at least nine residents and injured dozens. Late Sunday night, local time, a fire broke out at the Gabriel House Assisted Living Facility, where 70 residents were living. Many of them had mobility issues and used wheelchairs and oxygen tanks. The nine residents who died were in their 60s to 80s, and were likely unable to evacuate without help. At least 30 others, including firefighters, were hospitalized. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey described the scene as "unimaginable," and credited first responders with preventing an even greater loss of life.

N. Korea's Mount Kumgang listed as UNESCO World Heritage site

2025/07/14 22:34

Two historic sites here on the Korean Peninsula have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites over the weekend, one each from the two Koreas: a set of prehistoric rock carvings in South Korea and North Korea's Mount Kumgang. Lee Seung-jae reports. During the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Paris on Sunday, a new addition for both South and North Korea was added to the list. First,.. North Korea's Mount Kumgang, a scenic mountain known for its beauty, was named a UNESCO World Heritage site. Listed officially as "Mount Kumgang-Diamond Mountain from the Sea," the inclusion comes as the International Union for Conservation of Nature, which serve as advisory bodies to the World Heritage Committee, recommended the inclusion in May. According to UNESCO's website, Mountain Kumgang is "a strikingly beautiful mountain with numerous peaks and curious rocks amounting to some 1,200, waterfalls and pools formed by crystal-like clear waters flowing from hundreds of gorges, as well as with the seascape stretched along the coastline." The mountain is North Korea's third World Cultural Heritage site, after the Complex of Koguryo Tombs in 2004 and the Historic Monuments and Sites in Kaesong in 2013. Meanwhile, a set of prehistoric rock carvings located in South Korea's Ulsan has also been added to UNESCO's World Heritage list. "Petroglyphs along the Bangucheon Stream" were officially recognized for their significant cultural value in Paris. Located along the Bangucheon Stream, a tributary of the Taehwa River in Ulsan, some 360 kilometers southeast of Seoul, the petroglyphs are carved into vertical cliffs, depicting prehistoric hunting scenes and animals. According to the committee, the carvings are "masterpieces created through the creativity of prehistoric people." And for South Korea, the inclusion of the prehistoric art spanning some 6-thousand years,.. was a long time coming. "The Korea Heritage Service will do its best to protect the value of the Bangucheon petroglyphs as a common heritage of mankind and to preserve and utilize them well." With the latest addition, the country now has 17 entries on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

S. Korea's birth rate rebounds, but can new government policies sustain it?

2025/07/11 21:35

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus. I'm Kim Mok-yeon. As today marks World Population Day today, all eyes are on South Korea's surprising uptick in birth rates — a nation long synonymous with demographic decline. According to new government data, April births surged past the 20,000 mark — the highest in 34 years — signaling what some are calling a long-overdue rebound. For ten consecutive months now, Korea has recorded year-over-year growth in newborn numbers, prompting cautious optimism in a country where the fertility rate has hovered near rock bottom. For answers to this, we connect to Hwang Myung-jin, Professor of Public Administration at Korea University. Welcome. Also joining us is Hyeyoung Woo, Professor of Sociology and Director of the Institute for Asian Studies at Portland State University. 1. (Hwang) First off — according to data by Statistics Korea on June 25th, the number of newborns in April exceeded 20,000 for the first time in 34 years, marking the sharpest year-on-year increase in decades. What do you see as the main drivers behind this rebound in birth numbers? 2. (Woo) Building on that — we've now seen ten straight months of year-over-year birth increases since July of last year. Prof. Woo, in your view, does this signal a structural shift rather than a temporary uptick? 3. (Hwang) On that note — the Presidential Committee on Low Fertility and Aging Society recently forecast that Korea's total fertility rate could surpass 0.80 this year, a slight but symbolic rebound from last year's record low of 0.72. Prof. Hwang, do you think that's a realistic scenario? 4. (Woo) Looking ahead — Korea has set a national goal of reaching a fertility rate above 1.0 by 2030. One key window of opportunity is the marriage timing of the so-called "echo boomers" — those born between 1991 and 1996. Prof.Woo, what do you think are the most critical actions needed to encourage more marriages? 5. (Woo) Zooming out for a global comparison — the OECD has cited Korea's high private education costs and soaring housing prices as major factors behind the country's particularly low fertility rate among advanced economies. Would you agree with this assessment? 6. (Hwang) Now shifting to the policy structure — some experts point out that Korea lacks a true population policy control tower. The existing Committee on Low Fertility and Aging Society has been criticized for having no budgetary or executive authority. Why is establishing a strong government-led control body so critical at this stage? 7. (Hwang) In that regard — the government plans to launch a Presidential Task Force on Population Planning and is considering a dedicated population agency under the leadership of President Lee. What kind of structure and composition should this new body have to be effective? 8. (Woo) Let's take a global view — among countries seen as leaders in tackling low fertility, are there specific policy tools or approaches that you believe would work well if adapted to Korea's social environment? 9. (Hwang) To wrap up — many argue that consistency in policy is key when addressing demographic challenges. As a population expert, what would be your top priorities or key recommendations for the current administration?

FOOD, FERTILITY AND MORE

2025/07/11 18:34

Welcome to Press Perspective for this Friday. Now today that is July 11th is World Population Day an annual occasion to raise awareness about universal population matters. We touch upon some of those issues in our panel session but first we talk about the growing presence of Korean food overseas. For more I have Celio Fioretti with French daily La Croix. Celio welcome back. I also have writer Colin Marshall with the pundit's take on the day's topics. 1) Celio, American media claim "Korean food seems to be everywhere in the U.S." Would you say this is the trend over in Europe as well? And if so, why? 2) Colin, as recently as a decade ago, Korean cuisine was considered an acquired taste, but in recent times, the global palate for Korean dishes has been growing, if you will. How do you explain this shift in trend? 3) Celio, the UNFPA says "social and economic barriers, not choice," are behind the "fertility crisis" worldwide. First, do tell us a bit about the agency's findings, and second, to what extent, do you agree with them keeping in mind the situation here in South Korea? 4) Colin, the report also shows over four of the ten people in their 50s and above, saying that they did not have as many children as they would have liked. Do you suppose this is also the case here in South Korea? And if so, what are the broader implications of this sentiment? 5) Celio, for the sake of comparison, what can you tell us about the French birth rate and the countermeasures there? 6) And Colin, what has been shared about the Lee Jae Myung administration's population policy? 7) Celio, you recently wrote an article sharing concerns about the use of medication to address weight issues here in Korea. Do fill us in. 8) Also, Colin, you touched upon Korea's interest in physical appearances. How severe is this situation, and what are its broader repercussions? All right.

[Short-form] K-Lunch is redefining school meals!

2025/07/10 16:34

Short-form] K-Lunch is redefining school meals! From grilled lobster to home-style meals, Korean school lunches are winning over young appetites.

[NEWs GEN] Dress Code Dilemma: Which workwear is too hot to handle for the office?

2025/07/09 12:33

[NEWs GEN] Dress Code Dilemma: Which workwear is too hot to handle for the office?

Korea's Hanbok promotes K-culture globally

2025/07/08 13:37

Amid the growing popularity of Korean culture, the country's traditional clothing, hanbok, is gaining more global attention. A Hanbok Culture Creative Space in Jeollanam-do Province now aims to promote hanbok to Southeast Asian countries like Thailand. Cha Yun-kyung reports. The Hanbok Culture Creative Space in Boseong, Jeollanam-do Province, is the fifth Hanbok space to be created in Korea. The center displays various traditional costumes and provides experience programs and education to promote Hanbok. "The Hanbok is outstanding with its beautiful lines and colors. It is so attractive that Europeans, Americans, and even Southeast Asians acknowledge its beauty." Last October, with Hanbok made in Jeollanam-do Province, a fashion show was held in the state of New Jersey, which designated the first Korean Hanbok Day in the U.S. The creative space has signed a business agreement with a Thai cultural organization, planning to hold Hanbok events such as exhibitions and fashion shows. "Thai people love the beauty of Korea's traditional attire. They always want to try on a Hanbok. We hope to promote Hanbok culture in Thailand through this MOU." As the Hanbok is becoming a core content of K-culture, it is also under consideration by UNESCO for designation as a cultural heritage. Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.

[NEWs GEN] Worker Wants: What labor reforms do young employees want?

2025/07/07 12:33

[NEWs GEN] Worker Wants: What labor reforms do young employees want? [뉴젠] 주 4.5일제, 노란봉투법, 정년연장 논의 중인 노동법들... 이에 대한 MZ의 생각은?

[NEWs GEN] Modern Love: Here's what Gen Z dating habits look like

2025/07/04 12:33

[NEWs GEN] Modern Love: Here's what Gen Z dating habits look like