News

S. Korea's first couple hosts Vietnam's top leader, spouse at Cheong Wa Dae

2025/08/12 19:35

President Lee Jae Myung and First Lady Kim Hea Kyung invited Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam and his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly to the Sangchunjae reception hall at Cheong Wa Dae on this Tuesday. According to the top office they were treated to music performances featuring traditional instruments of their two countries. Also over tea and a stroll in Nokjiwon garden the two leaders reportedly reaffirmed their commitment to advancing bilateral cooperation. The Presidential Office also made note of the fact that this reception was the first formal event at Sangchunjae under the Lee Jae Myung administration in honor of a state guest.

Gov't, biz officials from Seoul and Hanoi meet to enhance economic ties

2025/08/12 19:34

Also on the local front. A forum to boost economic ventures between South Korea and Vietnam took place here in Seoul earlier on this Tuesday. Our correspondent Moon Ji-young has details. To mark the first visit in 11 years by Vietnam's top party leader, the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosted a business forum on Tuesday, aiming to bolster economic cooperation between the two nations. The forum was attended by Vietnam's Party General Secretary To Lam, 5-hundred officials from both governments and the business community, and South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok. "Since establishing diplomatic ties in 1992, Korea and Vietnam have mutually become among each other's top-three trading partners. Korea is also Vietnam's largest investor, with nearly 10,000 companies operating there, making them essential economic partners across diverse sectors like textiles, electronics, chemicals, and shipbuilding." Prime Minister Kim further emphasized expanding cooperation beyond manufacturing into new industrial sectors such as high-tech, culture, and digital, and also underscored comprehensive supply chain collaboration, particularly in energy. Vietnam's finance minister highlighted mutually beneficial cooperation. "The Vietnamese government welcomes Korean businesses to jointly enter Vietnam and third markets, and we are prepared for mutually beneficial cooperation. We will particularly work closely with Korea in new energy, semiconductors, AI, and the e-digital economy, and we will spare no support for large-scale cooperation projects." The forum notably spurred significant collaboration, culminating in the signing of 52 Memoranda of Understanding across diverse sectors such as industrial cooperation, energy, and food and tourism. Specifically, 47 Korean companies and organizations, along with 37 Vietnamese counterparts, committed to strengthening cooperation in a wide array of fields, from energy, shipbuilding, and aviation to cutting-edge areas like AI, advanced materials, and drones. Moon Ji-young. Arirang News.

President Lee calls fatal industrial accidents "societal murder"

2025/08/12 19:33

President Lee Jae Myung has called yet again for tangible efforts to ensure workplace safety in response to a number of tragic industrial accidents this year. Remarks to this end were shared at a Cabinet meeting on this Tuesday during which he stressed the need to move away from what he described as a "regressive republic of industrial accidents." Do take a listen. "When preventable accidents are left unprevented, especially when cutting costs to save money takes someone's life, that, as I've said before, is the same as murder by willful negligence, a form of societal murder." Earlier on Saturday the president had ordered the Labor Ministry to share potential strategies against such accidents at today's meeting.

PRES. LEE TO MEET WITH TRUMP AUG. 25 AT WHITE HOUSE

2025/08/12 18:34

Welcome to Press Perspective for this Tuesday August 12th here in South Korea. I'm Min Sunhee. Following his hosting of the Vietnamese leader here in Seoul this week President Lee Jae Myung is poised to depart for the U.S. for talks with his American counterpart Donald Trump AMID speculation about a possible summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba EITHER before or after the much anticipated meeting at the White House. For more I have freelance journalist Raphael Rashid here in the studio. Raphael welcome. I also have Professor Choi Hyun Jin at Kyung Hee University. Professor Choi it's good to have you with us. Raphael, President Lee Jae Myung will sit down with his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump on August 25th at the White House. This was announced by the top office here. What else has been shared about the agenda ahead? Raphael, there is also talk about President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba meeting within this month, either before or after the summit between President Lee and his American counterpart. What do we know as of now? Professor Choi, what would be the diplomatic implications of a summit visit to Japan by the South Korean leader PRIOR to a similar trip to the U.S., IF the scheduling does indeed turn out this way? Raphael, the Washington Post this past weekend published an extensive report that touched upon Mr. Trump's use of tariffs to promote America's security interests, and it appears his demands on South Korea are forthcoming. Do tell us more. And against this backdrop, Professor Choi, what are your prospects with regard to talks on defense cost-sharing between South Korea and the U.S.? Raphael, a new U.S. National Defense Strategy is expected to be disclosed as early as this month. First, for the sake of our viewers who may not be familiar with this document, do tell us what is it, and the potential impact of the new strategy on the ROK-U.S. alliance keeping in mind Trump's calls for increased burden-sharing with allies and attempts to deter China. Professor Choi, how should South Korea seek to advance its alliance with the U.S. while maintaining a practical diplomatic approach to ties with China and North Korea? Meanwhile, Raphael, Seoul has delayed a decision on Google's request for permission to export map data. Again, do give us some context and the respective stances of the two sides. Professor Choi, do the roadblocks faced by Google Maps in South Korea look to affect the course of trade and defense talks between Seoul and Washington? All right.

[K-Enter] "Golden" from Kpop Demon Hunters tops Billboard 100"Golden" from Kpop Demon Hunters tops Billboard 100

2025/08/12 15:38

We are starting off with news on the original soundtrack from "Kpop Demon Hunters." "Golden" from the Netflix animated film "Kpop Demon Hunters" has finally topped the Billboard 100 after climbing up, up, up from second place from last week. It is the first K-pop song performed entirely by female vocalists to reach No. 1, and it is also the first to top both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard UK Official Singles Chart. "Golden" is a song by Huntr/x, a fictional K-pop girl group featured in "Kpop Demon Hunters". It was written and performed by EJAE , a former SM Entertainment trainee and the singing voice for the character Rumi; Audrey Nuna, the singing voice behind the character Mira; and Rei Ami, the singing voice for Zoey. What an achievement for the women behind the scenes of this major movie. Now, going from one hunter to another? SHINee member Key has dropped his third studio album "Hunter", marking his first full-length release since "Gasoline" in 2022. The album takes on a unique "urban legend" concept, with Key portraying what it might be like to face an "alternate self" through its tracks. It features 10 songs, including the title track "Hunter," "Trap," "Strange," and "Lavender Love." Notably, linking our first two stories together Soa, animators of "Kpop Demon Hunters" recently mentioned SHINee as one of the K-pop artists they referenced for the project and now, coincidentally sharing the title "Hunter" with Key's latest album and lead single. According to Key, it wasn't intentional as he didn't even know the movie was coming out until he had already started on his project. Key will also embark on a solo tour starting in September in Seoul and moving to Taipei and Tokyo, so check out his social media for the dates and details. Even though it's a coincidence that the movie and album sound similar, it might even be "key" to receiving more attention. Finally, some very spooky visitors came to Korea, who were they? Yes, to mark the launch of Season 2 of the Netflix series "Wednesday", director Tim Burton and the cast members including the star of the show Jenna Ortega made promotional appearances on Sunday and Monday night in Seoul. You may know the name "Tim Burton", renowned for iconic films like "Beetlejuice", "Edward Scissorhands", and "Batman", just some of the biggest dark comedies and films in history. Well, Burton in 2022 took on the iconic dark comedy family "The Addams Family" specifically the character "Wednesday" to create the very popular Netflix TV series. Season 1 became Netflix's most-watched English-language show of all time, and the first part of the hotly anticipated Season 2 was released on August 6. Part 2 of Wednesday Season 2 is set to be released on the 3rd of September. Thanks for the news Walter, stick around. Now let's move onto our AI anchor Ari for more on the culture front. Ari, take it away!

K-wave AI News

2025/08/12 15:36

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. Korea and Vietnam held a cultural dialogue in Seoul on Monday to explore strategies to strengthen bilateral exchanges. Culture Minister Chae Hwi-young met with Vietnam's visiting Foreign and Culture Ministers, vowing to bolster cultural ties with the Southeast Asian nation. Calling Vietnam Korea's 'comprehensive strategic partner,' Chae emphasized that now is the time to elevate cultural exchange and cooperation between the two countries to the next level. The meeting came as part of the ongoing state visit by Vietnam's leader, To Lam. The hit Korean original musical "Maybe Happy Ending" is set to return this fall for a special tenth anniversary run. The musical has captivated audiences worldwide, sweeping major Broadway honors including the Drama League, Outer Critics Circle, and Drama Desk Awards, and making history with six wins at the prestigious Tony Awards. Set in Seoul in the late 21st century, the musical tells the story of two retired helper robots who discover love, the most human of emotions. The tenth anniversary production opens on October 30 and runs through January 25, next year, at Doosan Art Center in central Seoul. The 2025 Gangneung Cultural Heritage Night Tour will be held from this Thursday to Saturday across the Gangneung Daedohobu Government Office, Seobu Market, and the Myeongju-dong area. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the tour will feature an expanded lineup of immersive programs and locally themed content, offering a richer nighttime cultural experience. The event will showcase 42 programs under eight themes, including nightscapes, storytelling, and heritage walks. Highlights include a grand parade, 'hanbok' fashion show, drone light show, and various performances of Korea's intangible cultural heritage. That's all from me. Stay tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[K-wave] Art galleries, museums become popular during summer vacation season

2025/08/12 15:35

무더위엔 '문화 피서', 미술관•박물관 인기 Art galleries and museums are getting popular during the summer vacation season as they offer special experiences for the mind as well as a perfect retreat from the heat. If you are on vacation or if you're planning one to Jeju Island, you might want to put some special exhibitions on your itinerary. Cha Yun-kyung takes us around. "Dreams of a Butterfly on Jeju," a special exhibition on Seok Joo-myung in celebration of the 80th Anniversary of Korea’s Liberation from Japan, is currently being held by Jeju National Museum. Seok was a lepidopterist who made significant contributions to the taxonomy of around 250 butterfly species in Korea. At the exhibition, visitors can find paintings of butterflies by Nam Gye-u, a painter of the Joseon Dynasty whose works were praised by Seok. There is also Seok's legacy reflecting the nature and life on Jeju Island, such as his research notes on his drawings. The exhibition will be held until October 19th at the Special Exhibition Gallery of Jeju National Museum. "It is too hot outside. So, we came into the exhibition hall. There are some species that we never knew before. It is great content to show our children." Meanwhile, an exhibition of artwork by Marc Chagall is also being held at Jeju Museum of Art. His engraved print series, "Daphnis and Chloe," is being shown in Korea for the first time. Visitors can spend a lot of time at the gallery perusing the wonderful colors and storytelling behind his work. The exhibition will also be held until October 19th. "It feels so great when we get into the museum and artworks also purify our minds." Spending a summer vacation at art galleries and museums is becoming a trend since people can get some rest while enjoying artistic culture. Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.

[Hallyu People] A singing K League football star? Meet Suwon FC striker and singer Pablo Sabbag

2025/08/12 15:34

Do you have a "bukae"? In recent years, it’s become a trend to have an "alternate character" or "side character" (if you'd directly translate the Korean word) especially in the entertainment industry. So that’s comedians becoming singers, actors becoming chefs, or athletes becoming entertainers. Today, we invite a football player into the studio, whose "bukae" is a singer. It’s Pablo David Sabbag Daccarett or well-known as Pablo Sabbag, from the K League's Suwon FC. Welcome Pablo/Mr. Sabbag! 1) Thank you for taking your time out of your busy schedule, right in the middle of the K League season. Please, say hello to our viewers out there and tell us what you have been up to lately. 2) You were born in Colombia, and started your football career there, but also play for the Syria national team, (as you are of Syrian descent) and now you’re in Korea! Tell as bit about your football journey and how your career brought you to Korea. Also, are you happy with your life and work in Korea right now? 3) Okay, now let’s shift gears from your main job to your “bukae”, or alternate character as a singer. You recently released a song titled “SEOUL”, inspired by K-pop music ? Please tell us about it. 3-1) Could you teach us the main part of the chorus a little bit? 4) The song evolves around Seoul and the music video was taken in places of the city. Was there any memorable episode you want to share while making the song and the music video? 5) Apart from “SEOUL” you also released a number of other songs. How did it all start? And how does it feel when you hear your own songs being played in the football stadium at times? 6) You are from Colombia and of Syrian descent as far as I know. How much is K-pop known in those countries? 7) Do you have a role model in the world of K-pop or a favorite K-pop singer or group? 8) Finally, what are your goals as professional footballer and your goals as singer? A) Some fans say why did you sing about Seoul not Suwon? Could we anticipate a Suwon song too? B) What was your childhood dream? When did your interest for football and singing begin? C) Are there any other fields of interest that you would love to try out? D) Any final words to your fans? Thank you very much for sharing your story with us Pablo and we wish you a successful and happy career in Korea. Thank you Walter, we'll see you back soon. Thank YOU for spending the past half an hour with us on "the Kulture Wave", for your daily dose of K-culture issues.

[NEWs GEN] Going Solo: How young people are doing everything alone

2025/08/12 14:33

Going Solo: How young people are doing everything alone “나 혼자 산다”... 혼밥, 혼취미까지 확산하는 ‘혼라이프’ 트렌드

Trump says he'll pursue Russia-Ukraine summit ahead of Putin talks

2025/08/12 11:41

We begin in the United States, where President Donald Trump has said he'll hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week in Alaska. The U.S. leader also said that following the talks, he would pursue a trilateral summit with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Lee Seung-jae reports. U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed on Monday that he would be holding a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday in Alaska. Trump also raised the possibility of a trilateral summit involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after his one-on-one talks with Putin. However, he said while he would be available if needed, he'd prefer a bilateral meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy. While leaving open the possibility of a trilateral summit, President Trump stated that he would first hear Putin's thoughts and, potentially, share the details of the meeting with President Zelenskyy, the EU, and NATO leaders. "I'm gonna meet with President Putin and we're going to see what he has in mind. And if it's a fair deal, I'll reveal it to the European Union leaders and to the NATO leaders, and also to President Zelensky. I think out of respect, I will call him first and then I'll call them after." Meanwhile, during a press conference at the White House on Monday, Trump said he'll try to get some territory back for Ukraine during his meeting with Putin on Friday. Trump stressed that Russia has occupied a "big portion of Ukraine." The U.S. leader raised the possibility that both Russia and Ukraine would need to make some territorial concessions in order to work out a peace deal, saying that there could be "some swapping, changes in land." However, Zelenskyy on Saturday shot down any chance of Ukraine giving up territory captured by Russia in the ongoing war. In a video posted on X, Zelenskyy said that "Ukrainians will not gift their land to the occupier," adding that his country will not "reward Russia for what it has perpetrated." Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

South stays cool with rain, central areas get hotter

2025/08/12 11:40

Those in southern regions need to brace for more rain today. A strong band of rain clouds is moving over the south coast and areas of the Gyeongsang-do provinces, with a heavy rain advisory issued in parts of the Jeollanam-do provinces. Most of the southern provinces will see 5 to 40 millimeters of rainfall, Chungcheong-do provinces will get 5 to 20 millimeters through tonight. A breeze in the morning and evening, these days is definitely unusual for this time of the year, even the afternoons were quite bearable. However, those of us in the northern region of South Korea will have highs soaring to the low thirties again. Seoul and Chuncheon both get up to 33 degrees Celsius, Daegu and Gwangju at 28 degrees. As for tomorrow, the central regions will see downpours. Seoul and Gangwon-do Province could receive up to 100 millimeters of heavy rain tomorrow. The rain looks like it will continue in the capital area through Liberation Day morning. The heat looks to get strong again this weekend.

Robot band to debut at World Humanoid Robot Games

2025/08/12 11:39

Finally, in China, a robot band comprised of five autonomous humanoid robot musicians will debut at the opening ceremony of the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing on Thursday. The ensemble, engineered by Hefei Panshi Technology, will include a keyboardist, lead guitarist, drummer, bassist, and rhythm guitarist, and will use a shared computing system that processes musical scores in real-time to coordinate movements. Engineers have upgraded pneumatic joints with faster motor-driven ones to handle quicker rhythms during their performance, which will feature traditional folk songs.

Australia to recognise Palestinian state at United Nations in September

2025/08/12 11:39

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Monday that Australia will formally recognize a Palestinian state at the upcoming UN General Assembly in September, aligning with similar commitments from France, the UK, and Canada. The decision is conditional on key assurances from the Palestinian Authority, including excluding Hamas from any governing role, demilitarizing Gaza, and holding democratic elections. Meanwhile, New Zealand's Foreign Minister said his country was also considering recognizing Palestinian statehood and would make a formal decision in September.

UN condemns targeted Israeli attack that killed five Al Jazeera journalists

2025/08/12 11:38

The United Nations has strongly condemned a targeted Israeli airstrike that killed five Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza on Sunday, calling it a serious breach of international law. UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, condemned the killing and demanded an "independent and impartial" investigation into the incident, according to his spokesperson on Monday. Al Jazeera labeled the attack a "blatant and premeditated assault on press freedom," asserting that it aimed to silence those documenting the impending occupation of Gaza. The U.S.-based Committee to Protect Journalists urged accountability and denounced Israel's repeated claims of Hamas affiliation as justification for targeting journalists. According to reports, at least 242 journalists have been killed in Gaza since the war began.

Trump deploys National Guard to Washington, D.C. and pledges crime crackdown

2025/08/12 11:38

Good morning, I'm Choi Chi-hee, and this is The World Now. Starting in the United States, President Donald Trump has declared a "public safety emergency" in Washington, D.C., placing the city's police under direct federal control. At a White House press conference on Monday, President Trump also announced the deployment of 800 National Guard troops. Trump stated the move was to "re-establish law, order, and public safety" in the capital. He referenced the emergency powers granted by the D.C. Home Rule Act, which allow him to federalize the Metropolitan Police Department, bypassing elected city leaders. Attorney General Pam Bondi was appointed to oversee the federalized police force. National Guard troops are expected to arrive by the end of the week, with between 100 and 200 deployed at any given time to assist the police. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser described the President's actions as "unsettling and unprecedented," asserting that the city is not experiencing a crime surge and that violent crime is at a 30-year low.

Fmr. First Lady Kim Keon Hee faces arrest hearing on corruption allegations

2025/08/12 11:37

A Seoul court is holding a hearing today on whether to arrest former First Lady Kim Keon Hee, the wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol. She faces allegations of stock manipulation, interference in party nominations, and influence-peddling , which she denies. Prosecutors argue that there's a high risk she will destroy evidence. A decision could come as early as tonight , and if granted, it would mark the first time in the country's history that a former president and first lady are detained at the same time.

Lee–Trump summit could reshape S. Korea-U.S. security alliance: Victor Cha

2025/08/12 11:37

With a tariff deal now behind them, the leaders of South Korea and the U.S. are looking ahead to what could be their first-ever summit within this month, which would reshape the two countries' security alliance, says Victor Cha, the Korea chair at the Center for Strategic & International Studies. Kim Jung-sil reports. The tariff deal announced late last month may have dominated headlines, but for veteran Korea watcher Victor Cha, its biggest impact is on the agenda it clears the way for. "Now that this is kind of been at least in a framework agreement stage that really opens up space for the two leaders to talk about all the other things that are important in the alliance. they can get back to talking about the issues that matter on security: military, defense and deterrence." That, he says, could set the stage for adjustments, not just in policy, but in the alliance itself. "I think they will there will be some changes coming to the alliance. We've already seen them on the economic side but there could also be some coming on the security side." "Could you give us an example on what changes could come if you can just predict?" "We know very clearly that President Trump wants Korea to pay more for the stationing of U.S. forces in Korea. On the Korean side, the Lee government, progressive governments in general, have been very focused on trying to return OPCON transition So that's something that could certainly come up. And President Trump has made no secret of his desire to reduce the U.S. military footprint in Korea and in including the number of ground troops that are in Korea. So those are three big areas where we could see a potential change." Dr. Cha says any troop drawdown could be part of a broader alliance modernization , paring fewer ground forces with more air and naval power, and stronger South Korean intelligence and surveillance. "If that's all packaged together as part of a dual effort to modernize the alliance then I think you don't have any problems. Then I don't think you hurt deterrence, you strengthen the alliance." But he warns that acting without consultation could have the opposite effect. "But if the United States just starts doing this unilaterally just starts pulling forces unilaterally without much consultation that can weaken the alliance and can also create miscalculation or misperception by the North Koreans and the Chinese that the alliance is weakening." Still, he says the trade deal opens the door for talks on key security issues and their first meeting could determine whether the allies move toward a stronger, more modern security partnership. Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.

[On-point] Will Samsung, SK hynix be exempt from Trump's semiconductor tariffs?

2025/08/12 11:36

As we just heard, the world's two largest economies are expected to extend their truce on tariffs while the Trump administration is also planning to impose 100 percent tariffs on foreign-made semiconductors. For more on how this may affect Korean businesses and the economy, we're joined by Kim Hwa-gyun, Professor of Banking and Finance at Texas A&M University, Mays Business School. Professor Kim, thanks for joining us this morning. 1. The tariff truce between the United States and China was initially set to expire on Tuesday, but it's now been extended. How is this expected to impact the global economy? 2. Eyes are now on whether Korean chipmakers will be impacted by the Trump administration's new tariff on semiconductors. Will Samsung Electronics and SK hynix be exempt from them, as they're building plants in the U.S.? And what do the tariffs mean for the prices of electronic devices like smartphones and computers? 3. It was recently unveiled that Samsung Electronics will supply chips to Tesla and Apple from its new Texas facility. What drove these tech giants to select the Korean chipmaker? And how might these deals help Samsung regain ground against its biggest competitor, TSMC? 4. Trump said he will initially impose a "small tariff" on pharmaceuticals, but said it could eventually reach up to 250%. How must Korean companies prepare for this measure? Alright Professor Kim, thank you so much for your insight today. We appreciate it.

Who's on President Lee Jae Myung's first pardons list?

2025/08/12 11:35

On the local front. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has issued his Liberation Day special pardons. The clemency list spans high-profile politicians, business leaders, and members of the public. Our top office correspondent Song Yoo-jin has the details. With South Korea's National Liberation Day on Friday, the customary presidential pardons have been announced. At an extraordinary Cabinet meeting on Monday, clemency was granted to 2-thousand-1-hundred-88 people. "This round of pardons is aimed at responding to the call for national unity, creating an opportunity to overcome division and conflict, and revitalizing the struggling economy amid global uncertainty." At the center of attention is Cho Kuk, former head of the minor Rebuilding Korea Party. Cho, who served as Justice Minister and senior presidential aide to former President Moon Jae-in, has been serving a two-year prison term since last December for academic fraud involving his children and unlawfully interfering with a government-led corruption inspection. "The Rebuilding Korea Party is an opposition party, and Cho Kuk is not a close associate of President Lee. In fact, he is among those whose pardons were widely requested by figures from various political and religious circles." Pardoned with a restoration of rights, Cho can run for public office again, with speculation that he may enter the 2026 local elections. Also among the 27 pardoned politicians is former lawmaker Yoon Mee-hyang, convicted of embezzling funds from a civic group supporting Korean wartime sex slaves, known as "comfort women." The main opposition People Power Party blasted the pardons as a "reward for regime change." The pardons this time also aim to boost people's livelihoods. "We expect pardons for key business leaders to help create jobs and drive dynamic growth, while clemency for small business owners and self-employed workers will support stability and recovery in the local economy." Notable names include former SK Networks chairman and CEO Choi Shin-won. Others include those who were sent to labor facilities for failing to pay court-imposed fines, as well as taxi and bus drivers. The first round of pardons under the new administration will take effect this Friday. Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News.

'Golden' from 'KPop Demon Hunters' tops Billboard Hot 100

2025/08/12 11:34

A song from an American animated film about Korean pop stars is now topping the U.S. charts. According to Billboard on Monday, 'Golden' from Netflix's 'KPop Demon Hunters,' hit number one on its Hot 100 making it the ninth song associated with Korean pop to top the chart, and the first by female lead vocalists. During the first week of August, the song garnered more than 31 million streams, representing a nine percent increase from the previous week, while radio play surged 71 percent. The Hot 100 ranks the most popular songs across all genres in the U.S., based on streaming, radio airplay, and sales. The song also topped the British Official Singles Top 100 earlier this month.