News

New deputy ministers for foreign affairs take office

2025/06/11 17:00

Newly appointed deputy foreign ministers began their duty on this Wednesday one day after being tapped by President Lee Jae-myung . The appointments of First Deputy Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo and Second Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Jina come just a few days ahead of the president's attendance at the Group of Seven summit in Canada scheduled to start on Sunday local time. Park previously served as the minister of South Korea's mission to the ASEAN while Kim was a professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. The Lee administration has yet to name a foreign minister a post which UNLIKE the deputy positions REQUIRES parliamentary approval.

245,000 jobs added on-year for S. Korea while service sector employment struggles at COVID-19 levels

2025/06/11 17:00

For the first time in over a year employment expanded by over 200-thousand in May but the expansion was uneven depending on sector with construction and manufacturing noting substantial declines. Our correspondent Kim Do-yeon has the latest. South Korea saw the largest increase in employment in 13 months, rising for a fifth consecutive month in May. According to Statistics Korea on Wednesday, the number of employed people aged 15 or older in May reached 29-point-1-6 million, up 245 thousand compared to the same period last year. Though the trend had been an incline recently, it's also the first time in over a year the figure went past 200-thousand mark. The same sectors continue to lead the incline, with the same sectors also seeing declines. "By industry, employment increased in sectors such as healthcare and social welfare services, professional, scientific and technical services, and finance and insurance. However, it declined year-on-year in sectors including agriculture, forestry and fisheries, construction, and manufacturing." In fact, the manufacturing sector saw a decline of 67-thousand jobs on-year a smaller decline compared to past months, attributing to overall growth. On the other hand, the accommodation and restaurant industry saw for the first time a decline in employment in over a year. The number of employees in the industry dropped by 67-thousand compared to a year ago, marking the first decline in 15 months. The decrease is the largest since November 2021, when COVID-19 was in full swing, with a drop of 86-thousand. However, there's hope as a supplementary budget is expected with the new Lee Jae-myung administration and the ruling Democratic Party holding majority to support President Lee's motivation. Local currencies or universal cash distribution seem to be the options. "Providing payments in the form of local currency can help boost the regional economy, so we could see a temporary increase in spending—particularly in sectors like services, lodging, and dining—which may lead to a slight uptick in employment." In the meantime for the first time ever, South Korea's workforce aged 60 and over has surpassed 7 million. This comes as younger age groups—except those in their 30s—saw employment declines. With more seniors staying in the labor market amid a rapidly aging population, the overall employment rate for those 15 and older rose to 63-point-8 percent, up point-3 percentage points from a year ago. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.

[K-Enter] Jimin and Jungkook finish military service

2025/06/11 14:00

It's time for K-enter news with Walter Lee. Yesterday was all about RM and V's military discharge and today guess what? As we forecasted, the spotlight is on Jungkook and Jimin. Yes, six members down and one more to go. Jungkook and Jimin of BTS completed their mandatory military service at the 5th Infantry Division in Yeoncheon County on Wednesday. As both arrived to greet fans and the media, they were met with bouquets of flowers before saluting in front of the crowd. So let's see what the boys had to say during their first media appearance since their discharge. "ARMY, thank you so much for coming to see us on our discharge day. Today, June 11th, I have been officially discharged from the 5th Division. I hereby report my discharge." "You probably can't hear me, but thank you to the reporters who came from afar to see us, and also to all the fans who showed up. We're truly grateful. First of all, to ARMY, I want to say, from the COVID days to the military service, it's been quite a long time, and I'm so thankful that you waited for us. Now that we've been discharged, I believe it's time for us to continue drawing the picture we've been working on all along. We'll work hard to prepare even greater things and show you an even better version of ourselves." The final BTS member to be discharged is Suga that's going to be on June 21st. There's only a little over a week left before we finally get to see the boys back together again which will be a big moment for ARMY. But for now let's talk about a big moment for "MY", the fans of aespa. Girl group aespa is set to return with their new single "Dirty Work" and also have announced their third world tour. On Tuesday, aespa's official social media channels unveiled the logo poster for their upcoming world tour, "2025 aespa LIVE TOUR -SYNK : aeXIS LINE". The group will kick off the tour with a three-day concert from August 29 to 31 at the KSPO DOME in Seoul's Olympic Park. Following the announcement of their Japan arena tour, which includes 10 shows across 4 cities, aespa has now revealed plans for a world tour, raising anticipation for a year full of activities as they celebrate their 5th anniversary. Meanwhile, "Dirty Work" will be released on June 27 via various music platforms, along with a physical album release on the same day. Thanks for that news Walter and stick around. Now it's time for our AI anchor Ari to deliver her daily dose of K-culture news. Ari take it away.

K-Wave AI News

2025/06/11 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. The Korean government is stepping up efforts to combat rising overseas copyright infringement of K-content. The Culture Ministry held the 2025 Copyright Protection Enforcement International Cooperation Meeting on Tuesday, bringing together content industry leaders and law enforcement officials from Korea and abroad. Participants included investigative officials from the Philippines and Malaysia, Interpol, Naver Webtoon, and Kakao Entertainment. They discussed strategies for blocking illegal websites and strengthening cross-border cooperation for stronger joint copyright enforcement. Public access to the former presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae will be adjusted starting next month in line with the relocation of Korea's top office back to the Blue House. According to the Blue House Foundation, visits to Cheong Wa Dae will be partially restricted from July 16 to 31, and temporarily suspended from August 1 until President Lee Jae-myung's move is complete. This is to allow for security and safety inspections for the new president and his aides. The Blue House was opened to the public in 2022 when former President Yoon Suk-yeol relocated the presidential office to Yongsan. To mark the 75th anniversary of the Korean War, a special exhibition highlighting the voices and dedication of veterans is underway in Seoul. The nonprofit organization 'Project Soldier' is hosting the event titled: "Project Soldier: Searching for Korean War Veterans" at SJ Kunsthalle in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, District through June 25. The exhibit features Korean War veterans' testimonies, photographs, and historical records, delivering the powerful message that "Freedom Is Not Free." Organizers said the event aims to honor the sacrifices made during the war and remind the public of the value of hard-fought freedom. That's all from me. Stay tuned to the Kulture Wave.

K-Correspondent_Korean traditional drinks introduced in Canada

2025/06/11 14:00

The deep taste and aroma of traditional Korean liquor combined with the flavour and beauty of hansik, or Korean food. Today, we introduce a special occasion where all of that came together in perfect harmony, in Ottawa, the capital of Canada. Let's connect to our K-Correspondent there, Timothy Ouellette, CEO of SommWise. Hello Timothy! Q1. Let's start off with a brief introduction of yourself and what you do, Timothy. Q2. Let's hear about that event you recently participated in, which was aimed at promoting traditional Korean alcoholic drinks? Q3. So, which alcoholic beverages (and food) have been introduced at the event? Q4. We've heard that traditional liquors have become very popular in Canada in recent years. How do you perceive that trend? Q5. More and more Korean restaurants and liquor stores that carry Korean alcoholic drinks can be found in Canada, is that right? Q6. While Korean spirits are great on their own, they often shine even brighter when paired with Korean food. Are Canadian consumers familiar with those combinations, such as makgeolli with jeon or soju with samgyeopsal? Q7. Would you have a personal pairing recommendation for Canadians as well as our global viewers? Q6-2. What about the combination of Korean drinks with Canadian food? Thank you very much for connecting with us today, Timothy. Thank you Walter, we'll see you soon.

U.S. State Department "confident" S. Korea-U.S. ties will "thrive" under Lee Jae-myung administration

2025/06/11 10:00

The United States says it's "confident" that relations between Seoul and Washington will continue to "thrive" under the new South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, who took office last week. That's according to Tammy Bruce, spokesperson for the State Department, during a press briefing on Tuesday local time. She said the U.S. congratulates Lee on his election, expressing optimism, in response to a question about the new leader's approach to bilateral ties. Lee has said he will initiate "pragmatic" diplomacy and regards the Seoul-Washington alliance as the foundation of Korea's foreign policy. Following his first phone call with President Donald Trump last week, the two leaders are likely to hold a brief summit on the sidelines of the G7 meeting in Canada starting on June 15.

Heat returns to Seoul, very high UV rays across Korea

2025/06/11 10:00

While the southern regions had more intense heat yesterday, the southern regions had more intense heat yesterday. the Seoul metropolitan area saw some cloud cover that offered comfortable conditions. But with clear skies returning to the capital area, temperatures will be on the rise again. Meanwhile, Gyeongju, where it soared past 34 degrees yesterday, will see temperatures drop slightly to around 30 degrees. The sun will be very strong, with the UV index expected to be "very high" across the country. Except on Jeju Island with cloudy skies in store and a high of 24 degrees, but most cities will be getting up to 29 degrees this afternoon. Meanwhile, a tropical depression formed yesterday over the waters west of the Philippines. It's forecasted to head towards southern China. This system could bring tropical moisture up to Korea, raising the possibility of heavy rain towards the end of the week. Let's keep an eye on that developing rain system. For now, we are looking at nationwide rain on Saturday!

Series of attacks leave at least seven dead in Colombia

2025/06/11 10:00

In Colombia, a coordinated series of bombings and shootings targeting police stations and roads in the southwest of the country left at least seven people dead and dozens injured on Tuesday morning. More than 20 "terrorist attacks" were reported throughout the day, with assailants detonating bombs using cars and motorcycles, while opening fire on police stations in the city of Cali and Cali and nearby towns. Police and military officials have blamed a guerrilla faction of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. President Gustavo Petro said Tuesday's attacks will be investigated for potential connections with a recent attack on a presidential candidate, who remains in intensive care after being shot in the head.

UK, others sanction Israeli ministers for 'inciting violence' against Palestinians

2025/06/11 10:00

The United Kingdom and four other countries announced sanctions against two Israeli cabinet ministers, for inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. The sanctions, announced on Tuesday by the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Norway, include asset freezes and travel bans. They target Israel's national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir and finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, both of whom are both prominent West Bank settlers. A joint statement by the five nations stated that the targeted ministers "have incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights," emphasizing that the measures are personal, and don't affect official ministry functions. Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar condemned the sanctions as "outrageous." And the United States warned the sanctions could hinder efforts toward a Gaza ceasefire and hostage negotiations.

Austria school shooting death toll rises to 11

2025/06/11 10:00

Now, let's take a look at some stories from around the world with our Choi Chi Hee . Good morning, Chi Hee. Good morning, Eunji. In Europe, a mass shooting at a high school in Austria has left eleven dead. Fill us in on this. At least 11 people, including the suspect, have been killed in the shooting and many others were injured. The mass shooting happened shortly after 10 AM local time on Tuesday at a secondary school in the southern Austrian city of Graz. Police confirmed the suspect, a 21-year-old former student of the school, brought both a legally owned pistol and a shotgun into the school building. While no definitive motive has been confirmed, officials are looking into reports that he may have experienced bullying while attending the school. Austria has declared a three-day mourning period, and schools across Graz have been temporarily closed. Chancellor Christian Stocker condemned the violence, calling it a "black day for Austria."

How botanic gardens can be key in solving global environmental challenges

2025/06/11 10:00

Up next, a showcase here in Seoul suggests botanical gardens may be the key to sustainable solutions to some environmental concerns. Our Byeon Ye-young files this report. Environmental issues are a global challenge. But there's one solution that can boost biodiversity and cool the local environment: botanical gardens and arboretums. An event in Seoul is opening a new chapter in exploring their role in tackling environmental issues: The 11th International Congress on Education in Botanic Gardens. "From June 9th to 13th, the COEX Grand Ballroom has been transformed into a global hub for botanical garden education—where ideas take root and grow into solutions for a greener future." The global forum on botanical garden education comes to East Asia for the first time. This year's theme is "Education for Change: Botanic Gardens' Role in Addressing Global Challenges". At the core of the conversations is the importance of working together as a community to mitigate environmental challenges. Keynote speaker Choi Jae-chun posed the idea that the COVID-19 pandemic was the result of imbalances in biodiversity. "If this severe imbalance in biodiversity isn't addressed in some way, we'll continue to face situations like this repeatedly --it's simply a matter of probability." He highlighted the importance of botanical gardens as a means to promote biodiversity and raise interest in environmental conservation. Another keynote speaker Shahbaz Khan discussed the vital role of UNESCO in reversing climate change and highlighted botanical gardens as key tools in building sustainability. "Botanical gardens are important for keeping the cities cool, and they can be an answer to increasing temperatures. They can help us reduce the needs for the air conditioning for example." He pointed to thermal images of a city which showed how places with gardens had cooler temperatures, and underscored the importance of botanical gardens in conserving plant species. Over the course of five days, participants are engaging in workshops, panel discussions, and a field trip to the Korea National Arboretum, as they work toward a greener, more sustainable planet. Botanical artwork brings a colorful, creative layer to the educational experience, while booths showcase various contributions to environmental preservation. Byeon Ye-young, Arirang News.

S. Korea defeats Kuwait 4-0 with World Cup spot already secured

2025/06/11 10:00

The South Korean national football team beat Kuwait four-nil on Tuesday night, to wrap up their World Cup qualifying campaign. Playing in front of a home crowd at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, second half goals from Lee Kang-in, Oh Hyeong-gyu and Lee Jae-sung completed the victory after an own goal from Kuwait in the first half. South Korea went undefeated to top Group B with 22 points from six wins and four draws. The Taegeuk Warriors clinched their World Cup berth last Thursday, with a two-nil win against Iraq.

S. Korea sees largest employment increase in 13 months, but concerns remain

2025/06/11 10:00

South Korea saw the largest increase in employment in 13 months, rising for a fifth consecutive month in May. According to Statistics Korea on Wednesday, the number of employed people aged 15 or older in May reached 29.16 million, up 245 thousand compared to the same period last year. Job additions in healthcare and welfare, as well as scientific and technical services, rose by 233 thousand and 117 thousand, respectively. However, sluggish employment in the construction and manufacturing sectors remains, with 13 and 11 consecutive months of year-on-year decline, respectively.

On-point: Key takeaways from S. Korean President Lee Jae-myung's first week in office

2025/06/11 10:00

A week has passed since President Lee Jae-myung was sworn into office last Wednesday. For more on the key takeaways from Lee's first week in office, we're joined by Professor Lee Hee-eun, Professor of Law at Handong International Law School. Professor Lee, thanks for joining us this morning. 1. It's been a full week since President Lee took office. What's your overall assessment so far? What would you say is the most notable difference compared to the former Yoon administration? 2. The presidential office says it will accept recommendations from the public before appointing key government officials --including those at the ministerial level. Do you think this could help reduce controversies surrounding the appointment process? 3. Plans to dramatically expand the Supreme Court have sparked controversy. What's your take on increasing the number of justices? 4. The Cabinet approved three special prosecution bills on Tuesday, which will include an investigation into former President Yoon's martial law declaration. What are your thoughts on this? 5. President Lee is also facing several trials, but two have been postponed indefinitely, with the court citing Article 84 of the Constitution. Could you briefly explain what Article 84 is, and share your legal analysis on this issue? Alright, Professor Lee thank you so much for your insight today. We appreciate it.

World Bank cuts 2025 global growth forecast to 2.3%, down 0.4%p

2025/06/11 10:00

The World Bank has cut its global growth forecast for this year, citing the impact of escalating trade tensions. It now expects the global economy to grow just 2-point-3 percent, down 0-point-4 percentage points from its January forecasts. The Bank said this would mark the slowest pace since the 2008 financial crisis,.. apart from outright global recessions. By country, the U.S. is projected to grow 1-point-4 percent this year, nearly 1 point lower than earlier forecasts, and half the pace of last year's 2-point-8 percent. China's outlook holds steady at 4-point-5 percent, while the eurozone forecast was trimmed to 0-point-7 percent, down 0-point-3 points.

BTS members Jimin, Jungkook discharged from military

2025/06/11 10:00

It's an exciting week for BTS fans,.. as members Jimin and Jungkook were discharged from the military this Wednesday morning. The two members, who enlisted together on December 12th, 2023, have completed their mandatory military service. BTS will soon be able to resume group activities with all the members, as RM and V were discharged just a day ago and Jin and J-Hope completed their service last year. Suga, the last remaining member still serving in the military, is set to be discharged on June 21st.

Protest against Trump's immigration policy spreads to other cities

2025/06/11 10:00

With the Los Angeles protests in their fifth day, demonstrations against Trump's immigration policy are spreading to other states. Hundreds of Marines arrived in LA to quell the unrest, while the California governor asks a court to block the Trump administration from using troops in immigration raids. Lee Seung-jae has more. The LA protests against U.S. President Donald Trump's immigration policies continued for the fifth day on Tuesday. According to the police, rioting, arson, and violence have somewhat subsided. However, the demonstrations against the crackdown and deportation of illegal immigrants are spreading to other major cities, including San Francisco, San Francisco, New York and Chicago. With concerns lingering over the current state of the Los Angeles area, hundreds of U.S. Marines arrived on Tuesday, under orders from President Trump. Around 700 Marines were seen awaiting deployment to specific locations, however, they do not have the authority to arrest anyone. Instead,.. the troops are said to be deployed to protect federal property and personnel. California Governor Gavin Newsom filed an emergency request at a federal court on Tuesday, to stop the Trump administration from using both the National Guard and the Marines. Along with the recent deployment of Marines, some 4-thousand National Guard members have been sent to LA to control the protests. Trump has also threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act, which would allow him to deploy the military and to federalize the National Guard units of the individual states if he determines the LA street protests to be an insurrection. "If there's an insurrection, I would certainly invoke it. Well, see, but I can tell you last night was terrible. The night before that was terrible. We have, as you've seen, it was on most of your networks, people with big, heavy hammers pounding the concrete and pounding curbs, pounding and breaking up and handing these big chunks of concrete to people." Trump added that the National Guard will leave, once it's deemed that the Los Angeles area is no longer considered dangerous. Meanwhile, progressive groups say that they'll be holding more than 15-hundred "No Kings" protests across the country on Saturday, which is the same day a military parade is set to take place in the U.S. capital, marking the U.S. Army's 250th birthday. The organizers believe that Trump is using the military's birthday to celebrate his own birthday, which is also on June 14th. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

U.S.-China agree on trade framework to implement Geneva Consensus

2025/06/11 10:00

The U.S. and China have reached an agreement on a trade framework after their second high-level talks. If approved, this will allow them to implement terms agreed in the Geneva Consensus last month, and could resolve Beijing's rare earth export restrictions on Washington. Our Lee Soo-jin reports. The United States and China have agreed on a trade framework that would allow them to implement an agreement reached at the trade talks held in Geneva last month. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Wednesday that the U.S. and China have reached a framework to implement the Geneva Consensus, which each negotiating team will present for approval by the leaders of both countries before it is put into effect. This comes after two full days of talks that began on Monday in London. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Lutnick had already expressed optimism about the negotiations. "I have to go back to Washington to testify before Congress tomorrow. We have had two days of productive talks." "I think we're working on all sorts of change, and I think the talks are going really, really well. The high-level talks between the world's largest economies follow discussions held in Geneva on May 10th and 11th, where the U.S. and China agreed to temporarily slash tariffs. But since those talks, sentiment has soured with both sides accusing the other of breaching the agreement. As tensions escalated, U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping held a 90-minute phone call last week, during which they agreed to move forward with a new round of trade talks. The U.S. announced strict export controls on advanced semiconductor chip technology and visa cancellations for Chinese students, while China has been slow to lift blocks on shipments of rare earth minerals, a key focus of this second round of talks. Lutnick expressed hope that the framework will help resolve China's rare earth export restrictions. Wall Street's three major indices closed higher on Tuesday, buoyed by optimism from senior U.S. administration officials. The blue-chip focused Dow ended up zero-point-25 percent, the S&P 500 rose zero-point-55 percent, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained zero-point-63 percent. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.

Lee invites China's Xi Jinping to APEC summit during first talks

2025/06/10 20:00

Good evening. We begin with President Lee Jae-myung's first conversation with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping since taking office. The two leaders agreed to build up Seoul-Beijing relations. Our top office correspondent Yoon Jung-min reports. During his first, half-hour phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, President Lee Jae-myung invited him to South Korea for the upcoming APEC summit in the southeastern city of Gyeongju this November. If he does attend, it'll be Xi's first visit to the country in 11 years. Tuesday's conversation was "friendly and amicable" says Lee's spokesperson, where Xi congratulated Lee on winning the election and the two leaders shared similarities in their political career. Their focus was on building a "new" bilateral relationship, bolstering cooperation in areas that could practically help the lives of the people in both countries. "President Lee expressed hope that South Korea and China will actively promote exchanges and cooperation in various fields, including the economy, security, culture, and people-to-people exchanges, based on the spirit of mutual benefit and equality." Also discussed was North Korea, where Lee asked Xi to play a constructive role for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and Xi responded by saying Beijing will make efforts, saying peace and stability fit into their mutual interests. It's been a week since Lee took office, during which he exchanged greetings and held "get-to-know" sessions with the leaders of some major countries, first with his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump, followed by Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Then came talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. "President Lee, during his the presidential campaign, said that ROK-U.S. alliance is the most top priority and then he also put lots of emphasis on the relationship with Japan. Of course, he mentioned that South Korea-U.S.-Japan, the trilateral cooperation is important. So he's simply implementing what he has pledged." The series of talks comes as the newly inaugurated Korean leader prepares for his debut on the multilateral summit stage next week in Canada, where the G7 leaders are set to meet, where sideline summits are possible with Trump and Ishiba. "All seven countries share the same value that this liberal democratic country and they also have the same goal to balancing against China. To participate this G7 meeting, even though we are not a member of G7, but as the observer, it's can deliver the very significant message to China." The upcoming diplomatic stage is also widely seen as a litmus test of how the new Korean President will navigate diplomacy, both with the U.S. and China in mind, as he puts forth "pragmatic diplomacy." This, as Korea also makes its comeback on the diplomatic stage official after a six-month absence following the impeachment of its former leader. Yoon Jung-min, Arirang News.

[Weather] Back to hot conditions tomorrow, gusty winds until tomorrow morning

2025/06/10 20:00

Cloudy and rainy conditions appeared today in central parts of the country. The daytime temperatures did not rise too much. The temperature in Seoul rose up to only 26 degrees Celsius, which is about 4 degrees lower than yesterday. It will be hotter tomorrow all over the country. Until tomorrow morning, gusty winds will blow around the eastern parts of Gangwon-do Province. There will be places with strong winds of more than 15 meters per second. In addition, Jeju island will receive frequent rain until Saturday. Tomorrow morning will start cool with Seoul and Daejeon at 16 degrees, Gwangju at 17 degrees. Daily highs will move up to 29 degrees in Seoul, Daejeon and Gwangju, 31 degrees in Daegu and Gyeongju. There is rain forecast starting from the Chungcheong-do provinces, and southern regions on Friday and spreading to the whole country on Saturday. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.