News

Korean musical "Maybe Happy Ending" sweeps Tony Awards 2025

2025/06/09 20:00

The Korean musical "Maybe Happy Ending" took home 6 honors at the 78th Tony Awards. This is the first time an original musical that was created AND premiered in Korea has won such recognition. Our Park Kun-woo has more. "The Tony award goes to 'Maybe Happy Ending'." A round of applause and a standing ovation --a truly happy ending for the first Korean musical developed locally to win such a prestigious honor. "We are so honored to receive this award for this magical, melodical, beautiful, heartfelt, humane musical that has been thrilling audiences at the Belasco Theater since last Fall." At the 87th Tony Awards held in New York on Sunday, "Maybe Happy Ending" took home six awards out of ten nominations, including the coveted Best Musical, Best Book, and Best Performance by an actor in a leading role. It was the most-awarded musical of the night, followed by "Buena Vista Social Club" with four wins, and "Sunset Boulevard" and "Stranger Things: The First Shadow" with three each. Co-created by Korean writer Park Chun-hue and composer Will Aronson, "Maybe Happy Ending" tells a futuristic story of robot aides discovering love in Korea. The musical premiered in 2016 at a 300-seat theater in Seoul, before making its English version debut last November at the Belasco Theatre. "Maybe Happy Ending" is seen as groundbreaking for being entirely created and first-staged in Korea, and it will continue its open-ended run with no scheduled closing date. On Monday, President Lee Jae-myung also vowed to strengthen support for the arts field, celebrating Sunday's win and expressing hope that more Korean creators can shine on the international stage. And with more and more Korean content winning the hearts of global audiences, expectations are rising for many more "happy endings" to come. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

U.S. National Guard faces off with protestors as LA erupts over immigration raids

2025/06/09 20:00

In the U.S. now. Tensions are higher than ever in LA with the deployment of National Guard troops to tame immigration protests. Our Choi Soo-hyung has the details. Violent clashes continue as cars burn in downtown Los Angeles. Tear gas is fired at the protestors, covering the street with smoke. The protests were sparked when Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and the FBI raided downtown shops last Friday, detaining around 44 people, mostly Hispanic immigrants. "It is a beautiful day of resistance because Trump, the administration, Border Patrol, ICE, they know, now they know they cannot go anywhere in this country where our people are and try to kidnap our workers, our people." On Sunday local time, for a second day, protests erupted in several areas including Paramount and Paramount and Santa Barbara over surprise immigrant arrests. "It's disappointing. It's heartbreaking to know that our community is going through this. But it's also beautiful to see everybody come out together and stand against it and we're going to continue doing that." U.S. President Donald Trump deployed 2,000 National Guard troops. He described protesters as rioters and looters, and banned them from wearing masks. It is the first time since 1965 that a U.S. president has deployed the National Guard without a governor's request. And it's also the first time in 33 years that they've been deployed to control protestors the previous time being the 1992 LA riots. California's Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom condemned President Trump's decision. No Koreans are known to be among those detained in the recent mass arrests. However, under the Trump administration's tougher immigration policy, there have been individual cases of Korean nationals being arrested and detained in LA. The Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in LA said there have been about four to five cases involving issues such as missing visa documents. President Trump had pledged during last year's election to deport over one million undocumented immigrants every year. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.

Seoul High Court postpones President Lee's retrial for election law violation indefinitely

2025/06/09 20:00

President Lee Jae-myung's retrial for alleged election law violation has been postponed indefinitely. The Seoul High Court announced the postponement earlier on this Monday citing the constitutional protection granted to a sitting president. Article 84 of the Constitution stipulates that the president shall not be subject to criminal prosecution while in office with the exception of insurrection or treason.

S. Korean leader holds 1st phone call with Japanese PM, marking 2nd phone conversation with world leader after Trump

2025/06/09 20:00

President Lee also held his first phone call with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba since taking office. According to the Presidential Office, the two leaders agreed to work together toward building a strong and stable Korea-Japan relationship. Oh Soo-young reports. Agreeing on continued cooperation bilaterally and trilaterally with the United States, the leaders of South Korea and Japan held their first phone call since the Lee Jae-myung administration took office last week. According to Seoul's top office, President Lee Jae-myung and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba spoke on the phone for around 25 minutes on Monday, marking Lee's second phone call with a foreign leader following his conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump. Given the importance of Korea-Japan relations amid the current strategic environment, the leaders agreed on the need to build a "strong and mature" bilateral relationship, based on a responsible approach. Lee conveyed his hope that the two neighbours will seek ways to cooperate on future challenges in a mutually beneficial manner, grounded in their respective national interests. The two leaders further agreed to strengthen efforts to respond to various geopolitical challenges through the framework of trilateral cooperation with the United States. When asked by reporters whether historical issues related to Japan's colonisation of Korea and its wartime atrocities were raised during the conversation, a presidential official said that the leaders' dialogue remained within the bounds of customary diplomatic protocol. Throughout his campaign and since taking office, the President has consistently emphasised a "two-track" strategy of addressing historical issues based on principles, while promoting practical cooperation in economic and security matters. The Japanese PM's office noted that Ishiba expressed his intent to work closely together in responding to North Korea, including the issue of Pyongyang's abductions of Japanese citizens. In light of the 60th anniversary of the normalisation of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the two leaders also discussed the importance of enhancing communication between their governments and promoting active people-to-people exchanges. The two leaders plan to meet in person in the future for in-depth discussions on bilateral ties and other issues of mutual interest. Observers believe the face-to-face occasion could come as early as this weekend on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Canada. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

Post-Election: Can President Lee Jae-myung bridge S. Korea's political divide?

2025/06/09 20:00

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues into focus. I'm Kim Mok-yeon. South Korea has entered a new political era. On June 4th, President Lee Jae-myung was inaugurated after an emergency snap election—triggered under the exceptional circumstances of martial law declared last December. The vote, while constitutionally sound, exposed deep divisions across the country. Electoral data shows a nation split sharply by region, gender, and generation. The most striking trend: a generational gender divide, with young men and women voting in opposite directions, prompting global headlines about a democracy being reshaped by identity politics. With a legislative majority, the Lee administration now has the momentum to act decisively. But the broader question looms—how will it govern a polarized public? For a deeper discussion on this, we are joined in the studio by Hans Schattle, Professor of Political Science at Yonsei University And to my right is Soo Jin (Suzie) Kim, Professor of Political Theory at Kyung Hee University. Thank you for coming on. 1. (Schattle) President Lee took office on June 4th after an unprecedented snap election triggered by the martial law declaration. What does this unusual transition say about the current state of Korean democracy? 2. (Kim) Looking at the results of the 21st presidential election, the vote showed sharp divides by region, age, and gender. Why is Korea's political polarization getting so extreme? 3. (Schattle) A particularly notable trend was the gender divide. Young voters, especially Gen Z, were split sharply by gender. Some say this divide is reshaping Korean politics. Do you agree—and what's behind it? 4. (Kim) This deep political polarization and public division are widely considered the greatest challenge facing the Lee Jae-myung administration. In fact, President Lee stressed unity in his Memorial Day speech. What should be the top priority if he wants real social and political integration? 5. (Schattle) President Lee has consistently highlighted the need for constitutional reform, including a four-year, two-term presidency, to ease gridlock. Do you think that could help reduce polarization? 6. (Kim) This snap election has resulted in a new power dynamic—ruling party majority, opposition minority. With this, Lee can move fast—but that raises concerns about overreach. How can he push for reforms while keeping democratic balance? 7. (Schattle) At the same time, generational and gender-based conflicts have emerged as major social fault lines. With regards to gender and generational tensions—what kind of neutral, fair approach should the government take? 8. (Schattle) Political polarization is not unique to Korea—it is also observed in countries like the U.S. and across Europe. Are there any unity strategies from the U.S. or Europe that Korea could apply? 9. (Kim) Looking ahead—what kind of leadership and political culture are essential for the Lee Jae-myung administration to reach long-term social cohesion?

Lee calls for measures to curb inflation, orders supplementary budget in speedy manner

2025/06/09 17:00

Welcome to The Daily Report. We start here on the local front with the latest from the second economic task force meeting presided over by the president during which he shared grave concerns about the cost of groceries. Our top office correspondent Yoon Jung-min reports. Noting higher prices cause too much pain to the people, this is how President Lee Jae-myung began the second emergency economic task force meeting: "I heard that prices have gone up sharply recently. Is it true that ramyeon costs 2,000 won each?" The President urged his team to seek out measures to tamp down inflation before they meet again next time. Present at Monday's meeting in Yongsan were newly appointed aides, including Chief of Policy Kim Yong-beom and Senior Secretary for Economic Growth Ha Joon-kyung as well as relevant government officials. "I hope you regard an hour we spend as worth 52-million hours. The impact is that great." The agenda behind closed doors outlined an additional supplementary budget, signaling a shift towards an expansionary fiscal approach at a time when the country is facing a low growth rate for this year, expected to hover around 1-percent, as well as sluggish demand at home. "The President ordered an extra budget to be organized in a speedy manner to revive the economy and boost consumption. Secondly, he urged for priority to be given to the vulnerable and small business owners for support." The National Assembly passed a 13-point-8 trillion-won extra budget bill in May, worth some 10-billion U.S. dollars, and the second batch is expected to be at least 20-trillion won. Details, including the size of the extra budget, have not been disclosed. The newly inaugurated South Korean leader ordered the launch of the emergency economic task force as his first executive order, as soon as he took office last week. Yoon Jung-min, Arirang News.

[Weather] Hot weather across the country with high humidity

2025/06/09 17:00

The weather clock is moving towards summer. The daytime temperature rose to around 30 degrees Celsius across the country. Seoul felt as hot as 30 degrees, Daejeon and Jeonju 31, Gumi 32 degrees today. It feels even hotter than the actual readings with high humidity. This summer heat is expected to continue throughout this week. In addition, the ultraviolet index is also strong from the morning. It soars up to very high levels all over the country in the afternoon. In particular, Jindo in Jeollanam-do Province, where UV rays are as high as "dangerous" levels between noon and 3 in the afternoon. Tomorrow morning will start warm nationwide at around 18 to 20 degrees. Daily highs will move up to 28 degrees in Seoul, 30 degrees in Daejeon and Gwangju. Starting tomorrow, there's rain for the time being on Jeju Island. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

World News: Colombia presidential hopeful shot in head at rally, fighting for life

2025/06/09 17:00

This is the World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. Colombian senator Miguel Uribe Turbay remains in critical condition after he was shot twice in the head during a campaign rally. The 39-year-old right-wing politician, from the country's largest opposition party, has entered "the critical hours" of recovery after surgery. Uribe, who had expressed his intention to run in next year's presidential election, was addressing supporters in a park on Saturday when he was shot, allegedly by a 15-year-old boy carrying a pistol. Uribe was airlifted to hospital, which said on Sunday morning that surgical procedures have been completed and he remains in intensive care. The suspect was arrested at the scene, and authorities are investigating whether others are involved. Colombian President Gustavo Petro condemned the attack, calling it a threat to "democracy and freedom in Colombia." A major prisoner swap between Ukraine and Russia has been delayed, with conflicting claims from both sides. On Saturday, Vladimir Medinsky, the head of Russia's delegation for peace talks, said that Ukraine had indefinitely postponed the agreed exchange of the largest number of prisoners, involving both wounded and seriously ill, as well as the bodies of fallen soldiers. Medinsky accused Ukraine of failing to show up at the exchange site. However, Ukraine rejected Russia's claims, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy calling them a "dirty political game" and reaffirming Kyiv's commitment to the swaps. Zelenskyy also said Russia did not provide a complete list of prisoners to be released under agreements made earlier in peace talks held in Istanbul. Ukraine's military intelligence chief said that the exchange would proceed as scheduled next week and described Russia's accusations of delays as misinformation. Pope Leo XIV , marking a month since his formal inauguration, condemned a formal surge in nationalist politics during his Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square. Addressing tens of thousands of people, he said we must "break down walls, dispel hatred," denouncing exclusionary ideologies without mentioning specific nations or leaders. Echoing the words of the late Pope Francis, the pontiff highlighted the irony of growing societal isolation amid increasing digital connection. Pope Leo also called for a just peace in Ukraine and Gaza, and prayed for reconciliation wherever conflict persists. Berlin is in festive mode as the annual Carnival of Cultures kicked off its 27th event on Friday under the theme "Join in -and give courage." The Carnival of Cultures began in 1996, showcasing the different cultures of Berlin's residents and visitors. The festival aims to provide an opportunity for multicultural communities to showcase their vibrant and diverse cultural roots through various performances. The event also offers food trucks and open-air concerts. Traffic is closed during the period along the parade route for security purposes. The festival comes to a close on Monday. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.

Unused public underpasses and buildings reborn as smart farms

2025/06/09 17:00

Officials at Gyeonggi-do Province have put into practice a sustainable solution to addressing abandoned properties and unused underpasses by converting them into smart farms. Cha Yun-kyung takes a look at their blueprint. The dormitory of a bag factory in Yongin, Gyeonggi-do Province, has been neglected for more than 20 years after the factory closed down. Gyeonggi-do Province has started a project to transform it into a smart farm and a community space for local residents. The first floor will become an urban plant factory while the second floor will change into a complex for various experience programs and education. "There will be a vegetable garden outside of the building. Experimental greenhouses will also be constructed here in the future. I think the new place will provide lots of fun experiences." This is Baekseok pedestrian underpass in the city of Goyang. It was in danger of becoming a blind spot for crime, with no one passing through but will also be turned into a smart farm. "We will transform the underpass into an experience space where anyone can come and taste a lot of delicious strawberries." "I believe we are constructing a socially innovative smart farm in Gyeonggi-do Province, which can solve some societal problems through agriculture." Gyeonggi-do Province is planning to develop the business of constructing smart farms by using unused spaces in inner city areas, which has become a model to solve urban problems and revitalize local communities. Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.

Korean Temple Food Festival returns after 10 years drawing crowds seeking tasty cultural experiences

2025/06/09 17:00

Korea's temple food as pundits claim has its "roots in history but speaks to modern tastes" and a recent festival here sought to share this reality with the broader public. Our Park Jun-han was there. From traditional steamed tofu to yuzu-flavored sweet rice, and shiitake mushroom stew. These foods are not just tasty vegetarian dishes — they also embody core Buddhist values. Temple food, known for creating mental and physical energy during training, respects life and avoids the use of the 'five pungent vegetables, namely, onions, garlic, chives, green onions, and leeks, which are believed to hinder spiritual clarity and inner peace. "I am currently at the Korean Temple Food Festival. Come along as I dive into the unique flavors and the timeless value of temple food." People from assorted backgrounds and a variety of countries gathered here in Seoul to celebrate and experience the excellence of temple food. They sampled dishes and even tried making some themselves. Some 20 thousand people took part in the event, over two days from Saturday to Sunday, with the majority of attendees in their 20s and 30s. With its health-forward approach and mild flavors, temple food has become a popular alternative for those avoiding strong flavors. "There's a recent trend like the slow aging diet and low-sodium diet. People these days want to live a healthy life, so I think these are the parts of what makes temple food so appealing." Of course, temple food is not just healthy, it is tasty and flavorful. "I was actually surprised because I've never tried temple food before. So I thought it would be like very bland, but it actually was very flavorful." Now that Korean temple food gained recognition as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage in May, efforts are underway to expand its reach globally. "Korean temple food, now recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage, is ready to inspire people around the world with its universal appeal, transcending religious boundaries, which is why we are actively promoting it overseas." Aiming for UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage recognition, the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism is strengthening its global presence through cultural exchanges, Templestay programs, and academic initiatives, while championing core Buddhist values. Park Jun-han, Arirang News.

SEVENTEEN bursts back on billboard with fifth album "HAPPY BURSTDAY"

2025/06/09 17:00

Also on the entertainment front. K-pop boyband SEVENTEEN is standing high on the Billboard 200 chart. According to Billboard's chart preview this past weekend the group's fifth full length album "HAPPY BURSTDAY" released to celebrate its 10th anniversary debuted at second place. This marks the seventh time SEVENTEEN has ranked within the chart's top ten.

Meredith: Cinematic opera brings to life an epic scene from Korean War

2025/06/09 17:00

Staying with theatrical productions but moving to the stage here in the country. A beautiful opera based on an actual event that took place during the Korean War captivated audiences here this past weekend. Our Park Hyo-been has highlights. When history weeps, art remembers. Last Friday, in time for Memorial Day on June 6th, a new opera brought to life one of the most extraordinary humanitarian rescues ever recorded. "Meredith", South Korea's first cinematic opera, tells the story of the SS Meredith Victory, a U.S. cargo ship that saved more than 14,000 Korean refugees during the Hungnam evacuation in December 1950. "They must have felt such despair, not knowing what would happen to them." "I imagined it like escaping a burning building or clinging to a sinking ship." Designed to carry just 60 people, the ship took aboard desperate civilians fleeing war, leaving behind weapons and supplies to make room for more lives. There were no casualties — and remarkably, five babies were born during the three-day journey that ended on Christmas Day. The operation was later recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest evacuation by a single ship. "While saving lives seems like the obvious choice, the captain would have faced fear. Fears of disobeying orders and facing consequences. The fact that he put all that aside to help strangers from another country is incredibly brave." But "Meredith" is no conventional opera. Blending cinematic elements with classical opera, it offered a distinctive experience that set it apart from traditional productions. "We thought about how to capture the fear and the will to survive. That's why we used a lot of cinematic techniques and videos. It became what we call a 'cinematic opera.'" As Korea marks Memorial Month in June, "Meredith" offers more than a retelling of history. "Without history, we have no present. It's only through understanding our past that we can compare, reflect, and move forward." "I hope 'Meredith' helps audiences not only reflect on the tragedy of war, but also feel the power of humanity and community — and that it inspires a warmer society." In the coldest chapters of our past, it was courage and compassion that lit the way. And in remembering, we find not just sorrow, but the strength to hope again. Park Hyo-been, Arirang News.

Korean original musical 'Maybe Happy Ending' wins 6 awards at the 78th Tonys

2025/06/09 17:00

A Korean theatrical production has won this year's Tony Award for Best Musical. "Maybe Happy Ending" received ten nominations and is bringing home six of them also including Best Direction Best Performance by Lead Actor Best Book Best Original Score and Best Scenic Design. This South Korean show premiered here in Seoul in 2016 before making its English-language debut at Atlanta's Alliance Theatre in 2020. It took to the Broadway stage last November and raked in over one million U.S. dollars in revenue by the end of December. Set in a future Seoul the story follows Oliver and Claire two helper robots who assist humans as they learn about love.

Israel, U.S. agree to end UNIFIL mission in southern Lebanon

2025/06/09 17:00

In the Middle East. A UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon set up almost 50 years ago looks to be shuttered amid U.S. intentions to oppose renewing its mandate. Lee Eun-jin explains. Israeli media reported on Sunday that the United States and Israel agreed that the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, should cease its operations in southern Lebanon. According to the Israel Hayom newspaper, U.S. President Donald Trump's administration decided not to renew the UNIFIL mandate, citing cost reduction as the reason, and Israel reportedly "did not try to convince them otherwise." Reports say that Israel considers the presence of the Lebanese Armed Forces to be much more effective in beating back the threat of Hezbollah, and that many of UNIFIL's operations in the region were redundant. UNIFIL's mandate is renewed annually through a UN Security Council resolution in August. As a permanent member of the Security Council, the U.S. could simply veto the next resolution, which would bring an end to UNIFIL's operations for the first time in 47 years since its establishment in 1978. However, Israel Hayom noted that another permanent member of the Security Council, France, is a long-time supporter of the UNIFIL. If France opposes the plan to cease operations, there may be a compromise to gradually scale down the mission rather than abruptly halting it. UNIFIL was deployed along the Israel-Lebanon border in 1978 to maintain peace after Israel first invaded Lebanon during clashes with Palestinian armed groups. Currently, about 11,000 troops and civilians from 48 countries are stationed there. According to the Jerusalem Post, no officials from the United States, Israel, or the UN have addressed the announcement. Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.

U.S. National Guard faces off with protestors as LA erupts over immigration raids

2025/06/09 17:00

Over in the U.S. Concerns are mounting over the deployment of National Guard troops to LA to quell public protests against raids by ICE agents this past weekend. Our Choi Soo-hyung reports. Violent clashes continue as cars burn in downtown Los Angeles. Tear gas is fired at the protestors, covering the street with smoke. The protests were sparked when Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and the FBI raided downtown shops last Friday, detaining around 44 people, mostly Hispanic immigrants. "It is a beautiful day of resistance because Trump, the administration, Border Patrol, ICE, they know, now they know they cannot go anywhere in this country where our people are and try to kidnap our workers, our people." On Sunday local time, for a second day, protests erupted in several areas including Paramount and Paramount and Santa Barbara over surprise immigrant arrests. "It's disappointing. It's heartbreaking to know that our community is going through this. But it's also beautiful to see everybody come out together and stand against it and we're going to continue doing that." U.S. President Donald Trump deployed 2,000 National Guard troops. He described protesters as rioters and looters, and banned them from wearing masks. It is the first time since 1965 that a U.S. president has deployed the National Guard without a governor's request. And it's also the first time in 33 years that they've been been deployed to control protestors the previous time being the 1992 LA riots. California's Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom condemned President Trump's decision. No Koreans are known to be among those detained in the recent mass arrests. However, under the Trump administration's tougher immigration policy, there have been individual cases of Korean nationals being arrested and detained in LA. The Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in LA said there have been about four to five cases involving issues such as missing visa documents. President Trump had pledged during last year's election to deport over one million undocumented immigrants every year. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.

Seoul High Court postpones President Lee's retrial for election law violation indefinitely

2025/06/09 17:00

President Lee Jae-myung's retrial for alleged election law violation has been postponed indefinitely. The Seoul High Court announced the postponement earlier on this Monday citing the constitutional protection granted to a sitting president. Article 84 of the Constitution stipulates that the president shall not be subject to criminal prosecution while in office with the exception of insurrection or treason.

Pres. Lee, Japan's PM Ishiba agree to tackle geopolitical crises in trilateral cooperation with U.S.

2025/06/09 17:00

On the diplomatic front. President Lee Jae-myung and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba have agreed to address geopolitical challenges within their trilateral framework with the U.S. This is according to Presidential Spokesperson Kang Yu-jung following the two leaders' first phone call earlier on this Monday. The 25-minute interaction also touched upon the importance of active communication between their governments and on plans to meet in person to discuss the direction of future bilateral ties as the two countries celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations this year.

PRES. LEE TO MAKE DIPLOMATIC DEBUT AT G7 IN CANADA

2025/06/09 17:00

Hope your workweek is off to a good start. It's Monday June 9th here in Seoul. I'm Min Sunhee. It's been less than a week since President Lee Jae-myung has entered the top office and already plans are in the works for his debut on the international stage at the G7 gathering over in Canada this coming Sunday. For more I have Fabian Kretschmer with the German news agency dpa. Fabian welcome back. I also have Steven Borowiec with Japanese weekly news magazine Nikkei Asia. Steven as always it's good to have you here. 1) Now Fabian, before we touch upon his diplomatic debut, let's begin with the president's victory of the snap election. 2) Steven, we spoke on the show on the eve of election day, and we are now talking about the DP's triumph. 3) Fabian, the annual NATO summit takes place later this month in the Netherlands. 4) Steven, despite the uncertainty with regard to South Korea's participation in the NATO summit in late June, President Lee Jae-myung is poised to partake in the G7 summit in Canada early next week . 5) Steven, President Lee Jae-myung is also likely to sit down with his Japanese counterpart Shigeru Ishiba on the sidelines of the G7 summit. 6) Fabian, also at the G7 gathering, there are plans for a separate bilateral exchange between President Lee Jae-myung and his American counterpart Donald Trump. 7) Steven, speaking at the annual Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore slightly more than a week ago, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned against the pursuit of security with the U.S. and trade with China. 8) Fabian, with regard to tensions here on the Korean peninsula, do you envision a tangible de-escalation in the conflict between Seoul and Pyongyang under the Lee Jae-myung administration? All right.

[Kulture-Issue] A look into the global popularity of mystery K-dramas "Nine Puzzles", "Dear Hongrang"

2025/06/09 14:00

For today’s “Kulture Issue“ we want to analyze two Korean mystery series “Nine Puzzles“ and “Dear Hongrang“ that are currently the center of attention in the K-drama world. Let’s go deeper into the mystery genre and look into the factors behind the two dramas’ global popularity, with our culture critic, Professor Chie Hye-won at Kyung Hee University. Welcome Professor Chie! Professor Chie, before we get into today’s topic, there is something to celebrate that just came in earlier this Monday, or Sunday New York time, that you want to mention, which Walter also reported on in K-Enter. Q1. Let's now get into our main topic of mystery K-dramas "Nine Puzzles" has become the most watched Korean series on Disney+ this year. Please tell us a bit about this drama. Q2. What do you think is the strongest factor that draws viewers to the series and is there anything about it that makes it different from previous Korean mystery dramas? Q3. Let’s now go on to “Dear Hongrang“ or “Tangeum“ in Korean. This mystery melodrama is a Netflix series that continues to be in the top 10 of non-English shows. Q4. “Dear Hongrang“ is a historical drama, what’s called “sageuk“ in Korean. So, it might have been quite unfamiliar to the international audience, but yet we see this popularity. How do you explain that? Q5. So, what are the strengths of Korean mystery productions? Q6. Mystery or crime thrillers can be both engaging and at the same time exhausting for viewers. What do you think is the key to striking the balance between those factors? Q7. Are we expecting mystery productions to continue to emerge in the second half of the year? Anything we should look out for? Thank you Professor Chie as always, have a great start to the new week. Thank you Walter, we'll see you back tomorrow.

[K-Enter] K-Musical "Maybe Happy Ending" wins BIG at the Tony Awards

2025/06/09 14:00

Time for K-Enter with Walter Lee. Time to celebrate! Starting off with that K-musical news we've been eager to report on! Park Chun-hue and Will Aronson's K-musical "Maybe Happy Ending", a love story between humanoid robots set in the near future, has won six Tony Awards. It won the awards for "Best Musical", "Best Direction of a Musical", "Best Book of a Musical", "Best Original Score", "Best Scenic Design" and Darren Criss, who was best known for his role as "Blaine Anderson" in the American comedy-drama television series "Glee," won "Best Leading Actor in a Musical". The Tony Awards is considered the most prestigious award ceremony when it comes to musical theatre. "Maybe Happy Ending" has been wowing audiences since the show first premiered in South Korea in 2016 and made its official Broadway debut last November at the Belasco Theatre in New York. "Maybe Happy Ending" was nominated in 10 categories altogether, including Best Costume Design. With its six wins, Park Chun-hue became the first Korean creator ever to win a Tony Award, marking a historic moment for Korean theatre on the global stage. The "Best Musical" award is the final award presented at the ceremony it was exciting to follow the awards while getting ready for the show. Congratulations to everyone involved in the production! Moving onto some K-pop news now. According to a chart preview released on Sunday, SEVENTEEN's fifth studio album, "HAPPY BURSTDAY", made its debut at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, the main U.S. album chart. This marks SEVENTEEN's seventh entry into the Billboard 200's top 10. Beginning with their fourth full-length album, "Face the Sun", all seven of their most recent albums have consecutively reached the top 10. During the latest tracking week, "HAPPY BURSTDAY" earned 48,500 album units. Of those, 46,000 came from physical album sales, making it No. 1 on the Top Album Sales chart. Here is to the next ten years for SEVENTEEN. Lastly, another star who is still shining bright is Jennie. What news do you have on her? BLACKPINK's Jennie is the ONLY K-pop artist to be featured on Rolling Stone's list of "The Best Albums of 2025 So Far" with her first solo album, "RUBY". In a list published last Thursday on Rolling Stone's official website, "RUBY" was included alongside high-profile albums like Lady Gaga's "Mayhem." The magazine praised "RUBY" for its "fascinating reinterpretation of the R&B-driven pop sound that defined the 2000s and 2010s." Jennie produced the album herself, which includes songs like "JENNIE", "Mantra", "Love Hangover", and "ExtraL". All bangers, might I say! Wow, with so many K-pop albums out there it just goes to show you how strong Jennie's influence is. Thanks for the news Walter, stick around as we now move onto more culture news with our AI anchor Ari. Ari, take it away.