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Pres. Lee Jae Myung opens month of summit diplomacy with Vietnam talks; U.S. and Japan next

2025/08/11 21:35

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus. I'm Kim Mok-yeon. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has opened a month of high-stakes summit diplomacy. It began today in Seoul with Vietnam's top political leader, Communist Party General Secretary To Lam, the first Vietnamese head of state visiting in 11 years. The two leaders pledged to deepen their "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," aiming for 150 billion U.S. dollars in trade by 2030 and boosting cooperation in energy, technology, and security. Later this month, Lee meets U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss modernizing the alliance, tariff negotiations, and defense cost-sharing. A Korea–Japan summit is also under discussion, with speculation it could happen first, potentially shaping talks with Washington. For an overall discussion on how the array of talks could shape Seoul's regional strategy, we're joined by Evans Revere, Former Acting Assistant Secretary of State and Non-resident Senior Fellow in the Foreign Policy Program at Brookings. Welcome. Also joining us is Hannah Kim, Associate Professor at Sogang University GSIS. Good to see you. (Revere) To start with the big picture, today in Seoul, President Lee Jae Myung met with Vietnam's top political leader, Communist Party General Secretary To Lam. With this summit kicking off a month of intensive diplomacy, including planned talks with U.S. and Japan, what do you see as the top priorities of the Lee administration's diplomatic strategy? (Kim) So General Secretary To Lam's visit carries a lot of significance. Why do you think the Lee administration invited Vietnam's top leader as its first state guest? (Kim) Looking at the results of the meeting, the two sides adopted a joint statement to deepen the "Korea–Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" with future-oriented cooperation. They set a goal to expand bilateral trade to 150 billion dollars by 2030, and signed over 10 MOUs on various industries. How could this partnership bolster Korea's "global middle power diplomacy" strategy? (Revere) Turning to the U.S. summit ahead, at the end of this month, a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump is also scheduled. The key agenda item, "modernizing the Korea–U.S. alliance," covers a broad scope, including adjustments to the role of U.S. Forces Korea. Mr.Revere, what is the core of alliance modernization? And what diplomatic approach should Korea take in preparation? (Kim) Related to that, if Korea accepts the U.S. request for "expanded strategic flexibility," how could that affect the Korean Peninsula's security structure and relations with neighboring countries, particularly China? (Revere) On the defense cost issue, foreign media outlets have reported that the Trump administration is considering asking Korea to raise its defense spending to 3.8% of GDP and to increase its share of defense cost contributions during tariff negotiations. Would such demands be realistically acceptable? (Kim) Staying with the tariff talks, this Korea–U.S. summit is also expected to discuss specifics of those negotiations, including a 350 billion dollar investment fund for the U.S. What strategic approach would be necessary for Korea to gain an advantage in these talks? (Revere) Shifting to Korea–Japan relations, Japanese media outlets report that a summit is being coordinated for the 23rd, though the presidential office has yet to confirm. If the Korea–Japan summit were to take place first, what would be its symbolism and diplomatic message? (Kim) On the possible sequencing, analysts say President Lee's consideration of "Japan first, U.S. later" reflects a strategy to boost negotiating leverage with the U.S. by pre-coordinating on key issues like tariffs and security with Japan. Could this approach have a positive impact for Korea at the negotiating table with Washington? (Revere) Finally, looking at the trilateral picture, with both Korea–U.S. and Korea–Japan summits on the horizon, trilateral cooperation among Korea, the U.S., and Japan seems likely to strengthen. On issues like countering China and dealing with North Korea, what diplomatic balance should the Lee Jae-myung administration seek?

[Weather] Heavy and strong rain is expected in the south until tomorrow

2025/08/11 19:43

Strong and heavy rain has been falling around the south coast today. A heavy rain advisory has been issued for Jeju Island as well. Rain clouds will gradually spread to the southern parts of the Chungcheong-do provinces. Looking at the expected precipitation up to tomorrow, as much as 100 millimeters of rain is expected to fall on the south coast, 20 to 80 millimeters in Gyeongsangnam-do Province, 10 to 60 millimeters in Jeollanam-do Province and Jeju Island, 5 to 40 millimeters in Jeollabuk-do and southern Gyeongbuk-do Provinces, and 5 millimeters in other areas. Tomorrow morning, Seoul will start off at 24 degrees Celsius, Daejeon and Gwangju at 22 degrees. Daily highs will move up to 33 degrees in Seoul and Chuncheon, 30 degrees in Jeju. For the time being, it will rain frequently in the central parts of the country this week. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

World News: Trump says homeless people in Washington, D.C. 'have to move out IMMEDIATELY'

2025/08/11 19:42

This is the World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. In the United States, President Donald Trump has announced sweeping measures to "clean up" Washington, D.C. He has ordered the immediate removal of homeless people from the city and pledged to crack down on violent crime. Trump said on Truth Social on Saturday that homeless individuals will be "moved out, IMMEDIATELY" to facilities "FAR from the Capital." Trump also said he would unveil on Monday his initiative to address the city's violent crime. The President threatened to "take Federal control" of Washington, D.C., on August 5, saying that "Crime in Washington, D.C., is totally out of control." The city's mayor Muriel Bowser responded on Sunday that Trump's move is legally questionable and noted that violent crime in the city is down 26% this year, with overall crime down 7%, and that 2024 had the lowest violent crime rate in three decades. The mayor said what the city needs instead are more federal prosecutors, judges, and funding for repairs to parks and buildings. The leaders of Australia and New Zealand agreed to strengthen military cooperation in the face of heightened regional tensions, including a Chinese live-fire naval drill earlier this year. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met on Saturday in New Zealand, where they highlighted the need for improved interoperability between their armed forces. Luxon called Australia New Zealand's "only ally" and called for a unified Anzac force, referring to the Australian New Zealand Army Corps, operating across the region. Albanese reaffirmed their shared commitment to regional stability. The summit comes after Chinese naval vessels conducted a live-fire exercise in the Tasman Sea in February without prior notification, an action that disrupted commercial flights and prompted Canberra and Wellington to seek deeper defense alignment. Four crew members of NASA's Crew-10 mission have safely returned to Earth after a five-month stay aboard the International Space Station. The SpaceX Crew Dragon Endurance capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California on Saturday at 11:33 AM. The returning astronauts include NASA's Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan's Takuya Onishi, and Russia's Kirill Peskov. Their mission involved conducting over 200 scientific experiments, performing spacewalks, and maintaining the station during their 146 days aboard. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the 10th International Waterfall Jumping Competition took place in Jajce on Saturday. The contest drew 16 divers from across the globe to leap from the 20-meter-high Pliva Waterfall into the deep pool below in a unique traditional event. Competitors executed the "Lasta" or "Swallow" style jumps, diving styles in which the arms extend outward and the diver enters the water head first. The competition, supported by local and federal authorities, and held annually, continues to grow as a tourism highlight. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.

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

2025/08/11 19:41

A former White House official and renowned scholar specializing in Korean affairs believes the first summit between President Lee Jae Myung and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump may offer the two leaders the opportunity to adjust their alliance to allow for a stronger security posture. Our Kim Jung-sil reached out to him. 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.

Netanyahu reiterates goal of ending Gaza war

2025/08/11 19:40

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the expansion of military operations in Gaza seeks to end NOT prolong the war against Hamas. Addressing members of the media the Israeli leader stressed that Israel has no desire to occupy Gaza but wishes to "liberate" it. He further noted that he ordered the military to accelerate the seizing of Gaza from Hamas control to end the war swiftly. Back last week he reaffirmed the five goals of Israeli operation in Gaza including the disarmament of Hamas, the return of all hostages, the demilitarization of Gaza, Israeli security control over the territory and the establishment of an alternative civilian government not linked to Hamas or the Palestinian Authority.

Vance says U.S. working to set up Trump-Putin-Zelenskyy face-to-face talks

2025/08/11 19:39

In other news. The U.S. is reportedly seeking to set up a trilateral summit among the U.S. Ukraine and Russia to end the Kremlin's war. Intentions to this end come amid a planned bilateral meeting between the leaders of the U.S. and Russia in Alaska this coming Friday. Lee Seung-jae has details. U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Sunday that Washington is working to arrange talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. "We're at a point now where we're now trying to figure out, frankly, scheduling and things like that around when these three leaders could sit down and discuss an end to this conflict." Speaking to Fox News, Vance also noted that a meeting between the leaders of Russia and Ukraine would be more productive after Putin first sits down with U.S. President Donald Trump. The U.S. vice president added that the Trump administration hopes to secure a negotiated settlement to the war in Ukraine, though he warned that "both sides will probably be unhappy with the outcome." "We're gonna try to find some negotiated settlement that the Ukrainians and the Russians can live with, where they can live in relative peace, where the killing stops. It's not gonna make anybody super happy." Meanwhile, according to a senior U.S. official and three people briefed on internal discussions, the White House is considering inviting Zelenskyy to Alaska, where Trump is scheduled to meet Putin next week. However, the sources said no visit has been finalized and it remains unclear whether Zelenskyy will attend. When asked about the formal invitation, the senior official said that Trump remains open to a trilateral summit, but added that the White House is focusing on planning the bilateral summit requested by Putin. While Kyiv has yet to comment on the matter, European allies of Ukraine have reiterated that any peace talks with Russia must include Ukraine. In a joint statement on Saturday, the leaders of the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Poland, Finland, and the European Commission underscored that position ahead of Friday's Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska. The European leaders also expressed their support for Trump's efforts to end the war in Ukraine, but stressed that "only an approach that combines "diplomacy, support to Ukraine, and pressure on the Russian Federation to end their illegal war can succeed." Zelenskyy has previously said any agreements reached without Kyiv's involvement would amount to "dead decisions." Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

USFK Commander Gen. Brunson hints at possible "strategic flexibility"

2025/08/11 19:38

The commander of U.S. Forces Korea stressed the importance of defense skill over troop size when asked to define the term "alliance modernization". Remarks to this end were shared with the South Korean press corps at a U.S. military base here. Our defense correspondent Kim Bo-kyoung was there. Capabilities over size. That is what General Xavier Brunson, the commander of the United States Forces Korea emphasized when asked to define "alliance modernization." This follows concerns in Seoul over a possible reduction of U.S. troops on the Korean peninsula for "strategic flexibility." The general did not directly mention any troop reduction, but he did highlight the need for Seoul to acknowledge strategic flexibility as well, citing the example of Patriot batteries that have been temporarily moved to the Middle East but that are expected to return with upgrades. "Whenever things of strategic flexibility happen — I think that the onus is on this command, read me, to ensure that our allies understand what I'm doing. But there's nothing that says that we can't move to where we need to be in support of allied nations and our own objectives." The general underlined that the ROK-U.S. alliance is not just dealing with North Korea, which he called the closest alligator to the boat, but also with Russia and China which both have strong links with Pyongyang. "What's being asked of Korea is to be stronger against DPRK—that we might have the flexibility as we modernize our alliance so that we could go do other things." Against such a backdrop, the issue of transferring wartime operational control the OPCON transfer was brought up as well. General Brunson said rushing things would hurt readiness, and that conditions need to be bilaterally agreed upon. "Now, if we choose to take shortcuts, that could endanger the readiness of the force here on the Peninsula. So I think that our approach has to be one that is, again, bilaterally managed, bilaterally considered, and bilaterally assessed in order to get to that point." The allies are slated to go ahead with the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield starting next week. Some outdoor exercises have been adjusted, but the general says he is comfortable with the decision and as the allies will still exercise fully. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.

N. Korea warns of 'self-defense' against ROK-U.S. drills

2025/08/11 19:37

While denouncing an upcoming annual defense drill between Seoul and Washington in a statement carried on its state-run media on this Monday North Korea also began dismantling its loudspeakers directed toward South Korea this past weekend. Moon Ji-young has more. North Korea's defense chief has denounced a planned large-scale joint military exercise between South Korea and the U.S. According to the North's state-run Korean Central News Agency on Monday, Defense Minister No Kwang-chol warned that Pyongyang would exercise its "self-defense" right against any provocation. He delivered the warning a week before Seoul and Washington are set to commence their annual summertime Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise scheduled from August 18th to 28th. Defense Minister No asserted that the joint exercise, conducted under a simulated nuclear war scenario, constitutes a direct military provocation against the North. In response to Pyeongyang's denunciation, Seoul's Ministry of National Defense said: "The ROK-U.S. combined exercises are annual, defensive drills conducted to maintain a robust combined defense posture. They have significantly contributed to peace and stability, not only on the Korean Peninsula, but also in the wider region. The defense authorities of both South Korea and the U.S. are closely coordinating the execution of these combined exercises." North Korea's stern warning comes despite recent signs of a potential de-escalation from the reclusive state. Last Saturday, Pyongyang began dismantling some loudspeakers installed along its border, which were previously used for noise campaigns against South Korea. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed that North Korean military activities to remove loudspeakers were detected in parts of the front-line area as of Saturday morning. In response to these developments, Seoul's Ministry of Unification said: "Regarding North Korea's dismantling of propaganda loudspeakers along the border, our government assesses positively Pyongyang's swift action in removing its own loudspeakers following our removal of anti-Pyongyang loudspeakers." The move by the North comes just days after Seoul completed removing border loudspeakers aimed at reducing inter-Korean tensions last Tuesday. Moon Ji-young. Arirang News.

Ministry of Trade raises concerns with U.S. over polysilicon, derivatives tariffs

2025/08/11 19:36

The Trade Ministry here has urged the U.S. for "special consideration" with regard to import restrictions such as tariffs on "polysilicon and its derivatives", which are crucial in the production of solar cells and semiconductors. The request follows news that the Trump administration is exploring the possibility of imposing tariffs on polysilicon imports into the American market under Section 2-hundred-32 of the Trade Expansion Act citing national security. The South Korean government and relevant companies here for their parts have shared concerns that broad tariffs may disrupt supply chains critical to both nations' economies and hinder South Korean investments in the U.S. potentially affecting operations at Hanwha Qcells' Georgia solar cell facility and OCI's Texas plant.

Gov't and ruling party agree to support vulnerable industries likely affected by Korea-U.S. trade deal

2025/08/11 19:35

Also on the political front. A high-level meeting took place between the government and the ruling party with a new head at the helm to address details of the trade deal between South Korea and the U.S. amid preparations for a bilateral summit this month. Our correspondent Shin Ha-young reports. South Korea's government and ruling party agreed to provide support to industries and businesses expected to be most affected by the new U.S. tariffs. This comes after the two sides on Sunday reviewed follow-up measures to the recent trade agreement between South Korea and the United States. During the meeting, Democratic Party leader Jung Chung-rae said the party and government will evaluate the impact of the recent trade deal on the economy and industries, and devise response measures. "We will work to ensure the outcome of the trade talks directly benefits the national interest, and quickly introduce the necessary bills and policies in the National Assembly to carry out follow-up measures without delay." The two sides agreed to deliberate on the Lee Jae Myung administration's recent proposal to tighten capital gains tax rules by lowering the threshold for major shareholders, a move that sparked strong backlash from retail investors. Currently, only those holding 5 billion won roughly 3-point-6 million U.S. dollars or more in a single listed stock are taxed. Under the new plan, that threshold would be reduced to 1 billion won, or just under 720 thousand dollars. "We closely consulted and decided to deliberate on the issue while monitoring developments." Sunday's meeting was the first high-level consultation between government officials and the ruling party since four-term lawmaker Jung was elected party leader. Prime Minister Kim Min-seok congratulated him on his election and emphasized that the party, government, and presidential office need to work as one. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

President Lee grants special pardon to fmr. minor party leader Cho Kuk

2025/08/11 19:35

And President Lee Jae Myung has granted special Liberation Day pardons to 2-thousand-1-hundred-88 individuals including Cho Kuk the former head of the minor Rebuilding Korea Party. The decision was made at an extraordinary Cabinet meeting held on this Monday afternoon. 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 unlawful interference with a government-led corruption inspection. Pardoned with restoration of rights Cho can run for public office again. The first round of presidential pardons under the new administration will take effect this coming Friday.

S. Korea, Vietnam agree to bolster strategic partnership

2025/08/11 19:34

We start with the summit between President Lee Jae Myung and his Vietnamese counterpart To Lam earlier on this Friday morning that was followed by a joint press conference at noon. Arirang's Yoon Jung-min starts us off from the top office. The summit began on a friendly note, with a handshake and a gun salute to welcome Vietnam's top political leader. "You are the first state guest since the launch of the new government of the Republic of Korea. It shows that we highly value Vietnam." The sentiment was mirrored by Vietnam's Communist Party leader, To Lam, as he invited President Lee and the first lady to Vietnam in the near future. "I'm honored to be invited. I congratulate President Lee Jae Myung for being elected as the 21st President of the Republic of Korea." Monday's summit talks yielded deliverables to further deepen the South Korea-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. "Marking the 10th anniversary of the bilateral FTA this year, the two countries will bolster efforts to achieve the goal of increasing bilateral trade to US$ 150 billion by 2030." Last year, bilateral trade reached nearly 87-billion dollars, with Vietnam being South Korea's third-largest trading partner. There are other areas of cooperation. "We agreed to focus on developing strategic infrastructure, such as infrastructure related to transportation, energy, digital and climate change." South Korea hopes to take part in large-scale infrastructure projects in Vietnam, including its nuclear power plant project and North-South express railway project. Focus was also on strengthening cooperation on AI, renewable energy, critical minerals and copyright, for which an array of MOUs were signed. And the meeting was crucial in more ways than one. The new South Korean leader shared his vision for peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula, as Lam welcomed the South Korean government's efforts to resume dialogue with North Korea. The Vietnamese leader, for his part, noted the importance of peace and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. On the diplomatic front, the two leaders agreed upon cooperation on multilateral forums, as South Korea and Vietnam serve as hosting countries of the APEC summit in 2025 and 2027, respectively. Also, exchanges will be expanded at parliamentary and municipal levels. And as a clear reflection of the importance of people-to-people and cultural exchanges, first lady Kim Hea Kyung hosted the spouse of Vietnam's top leader, Ngo Phuong Ly at the National Museum of Korea in Seoul. To Lam's visit to Korea the first of its kind in 11 years involves a dinner hosted by the South Korean President with heads of major South Korean businesses, including SK and Hyundai Motor groups. Seoul's top office says Monday's summit signals the start of Lee's "pragmatic diplomacy" in earnest. This comes at a time when the global trade environment is becoming increasingly unstable. Yoon Jung-min, Arirang News.

PRES. LEE HOSTS HIS VIETNAMESE COUNTERPART TO LAM

2025/08/11 18:34

Hello and welcome to Press Perspective for this Monday August 11th here in Seoul. I'm Min Sunhee. The leaders of South Korea and Vietnam sat down for their first summit earlier this morning and for details on that meeting I have Steven Borowiec with Japanese weekly news magazine Nikkei Asia. Steven hope you had a good weekend. I also have freelance journalist Michael Tatarski based in Vietnam live on the line. Michael it's a pleasure. Steven, let's begin with details of what has been disclosed about the discussions during the summit between President Lee Jae Myung and his Vietnamese counterpart To Lam. Steven, the Vietnamese leader's agenda here in South Korea also includes active interaction with corporate leaders. What's the latest on that front? And Michael, what can you share with us about the response there in Vietnam with regard to this state trip to South Korea by its leader? Steven, in an interview with Vietnamese state-run news agency VNA, President Lee Jae Myung, among other aspects, highlighted the bilateral partnership on the trade front. For the sake of context, do tell us a bit about the economic cooperation between the two countries. Michael, staying with that interview, what would you choose to highlight as some of the other key takeaways from the comments shared by President Lee Jae Myung? Steven, President Lee says "people-to-people exchanges between the two countries form the bedrock of deeper ties." Do tell us more. Michael, simply speaking, what are the diplomatic implications of this state trip for the Vietnamese leader keeping in mind the current state of geopolitics and trade amid Mr. Trump's approach to ties with America's partners? And Steven, what is the significance of this first summit on the home ground for President Lee? Michael, Vietnam is poised to host the annual APEC forum in 2027. What do you suppose will it seek to take away from South Korea's hosting of the event later this year? Steven, what factors, do you believe, look to determine the success of this multilateral economic gathering for South Korea? All right.

[Hallyu People] Descendants of independence activists visit Korea for hands-on experience of their motherland

2025/08/11 17:34

This year, Korea commemorates the 80th anniversary since its liberation from Japan. Marking this special occasion, young overseas Koreans have visited Korea to experience the history and culture of their motherland and with that, grow their pride and identity as people of Korean descent. We have invited two young overseas Koreans into the studio today, Park Geon-young and Choi Song-yi, who are not just participants of this special visit program, but who are also descendants of Korean independence activists. Hello, welcome! 1-1) Please introduce yourself to our viewers, one by one. Let's start with Geon-young ! 1-2) And next Song-yi ! 2) Both of you are here as part of the 2025 OKFriends Homecoming Teens & Youth Camp. Could you please explain what this camp is about, Geon-young? 3) I heard there is also a session on Korea’s history within the program. How do overseas Koreans usually learn about Korean history? (Do they?) 4) Both of you are descendants of Korean independence movement activists. , tell us about your ancestor please. 5) And Song-yi, what about your ancestor? 6) Korea’s Liberation Day must also be a meaningful day for Koreans living overseas, especially for the two of you. Song-yi, I heard your mother is a teacher at London Korean School and the school holds various events on important days like Liberation Day and the March 1st Movement? Tell us more about those. 7-1) We today are able to celebrate the 80th anniversary of liberation thanks to your and our Korean ancestors who fought for independence. What does it mean for you to live as descendants of independence activists and how would you like them to be remembered? Geon-young? 7-2) And Song-yi? A) How did you get to participate in the “2025 OKFriends Homecoming Youth Camp”? B) I heard you just came back from the closing ceremony of the event. What was the most memorable part of the camp? C) How is the perception of Korea around you in Canada and the UK? D) Do your friends know about you being descendants of independence activists? A big thank you to both of you for sharing your and your ancestors' stories with us Park Geon-young,. and Choi Song-yi. We appreciate it.

[K-Enter] Celebrating SM's 30th Anniversary in grand style.

2025/08/11 15:37

And, we are going to start off with a huge concert that was held on the weekend, from SM Entertainment! SM Entertainment has successfully held its "SMTOWN LIVE 2025" concerts at the Tokyo Dome, celebrating the company's 30th anniversary with a complete sell-out. Held on Saturday and Sunday, the concerts in Japan were part of SM's 30th anniversary global tour, which kicked off in Seoul this January before making stops in Mexico City, Los Angeles, and London. Across the two days, the concerts drew roughly 95,000 fans. The lineup featured the likes of Super Junior, Girls' Generation's Hyoyeon , SHINee's Key and Minho, some members of EXO, some members of Red Velvet, along with NCT 127, NCT DREAM, aespa, RIIZE, Hearts2Hearts, the list goes on and on. Together, they delivered more than four hours of performances. SMTOWN has grown so big over the years. Now moving on to a girl group that is taking the world by storm, KATSEYE. HYBE's Korean-American joint girl group KATSEYE have surpassed 1 billion streams on Spotify. Spotify announced on Friday local time, that the group's 13 songs released since their debut have collectively racked up over 1 billion streams. The milestone comes just one year and one month after their debut on June 28 last year. According to HYBE, the surge was driven by the success of their second mini album "Beautiful Chaos". From that album, "Gabriela" became their fastest track to hit 100 million streams, reaching the mark in just 38 days. "Gnarly" and "Touch" followed, taking 52 and 82 days respectively to achieve the same milestone. KATSEYE will next appear at "Summer Sonic 2025" and "Summer Sonic Extra" in Japan from August 16 to 18. Finally, movie news, we talked about it on Friday with Professor Soh, it's about "My Daughter is a Zombie" or "Zombie Ddal" and it looks like our predictions came true? "My Daughter Is a Zombie" , starring Jo Jung-suk , has set a new record as the fastest film of the year to draw over 3 million moviegoers domestically. According to the Korean Film Council on Sunday, the film attracted approximately 3,026,000 viewers as of that day, surpassing the 3 million mark just 11 days after its July 30 release. This year, only five films have reached the 3 million milestone "My Daughter is a Zombie" , "Mission: Impossible -The Final Reckoning", "Yadang: The Snitch", "Mickey 17" and "F1: The Movie". "My Daughter is a Zombie" has also been invited to the "SITGES -International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia", a well-known festival that specialises in fantasy, horror and cult films. The festival will run from October 9 to 19. Let's hope it receives positive response there as well. Thanks for that Walter. Now we move over to our AI anchor Ari for more culture related news. Ari!

K-wave AI News

2025/08/11 15:35

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. The Seoul ASEAN Hall has opened in central Seoul, aiming to boost Korea-ASEAN cooperation in culture, tourism, and beyond. The venue will serve as a multipurpose space for permanent and special exhibitions, as well as various ASEAN-related events. To mark its opening, an inaugural fruit-themed exhibition was held last Friday, attended by some 100 dignitaries, including Foreign Ministry officials, ambassadors from ten ASEAN nations, and representatives from the cultural, arts, and business sectors. The number of foreign tourists visiting Busan has increased by more than 20% compared to last year. According to the Busan Tourism Organization, nearly 1.4 million foreign visitors came to the city between January and May this year, up about 24% from a year earlier. The annual tally topped one million in April, posting the fastest pace since records began. The southern port city is aiming to attract three million international tourists this year by enhancing tour programs and convenience for visitors. The musical "The Great Gatsby," portraying the rise and fall of dreamers through dazzling visuals and lyrical melodies, officially opened last Friday at Seoul's GS Arts Center. Adapted from F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel, the original production is led by Shin Chun-soo, CEO of OD Company, who made history as the first Asian to serve as a lead producer on Broadway. Following its successful Broadway and West End run, the show is now making its original production debut in Korea. Shin says he enjoys the creative journey with staff from the U.S., UK, as well as Korea, and will continue bringing quality productions to audiences worldwide. The musical runs through November 9. That's all from me. Stay tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[K-wave] How to become a K-pop demon hunter: Trainees from around the world at K-pop camp

2025/08/11 15:34

The popularity of K-pop these days goes so far, that aspiring K-pop idols from all around the world audition to get K-pop training. What does that mean? A K-pop camp is currently taking place here in Korea ahead of the opening of an actual K-pop school. Our culture correspondent Park Kun-woo takes us to the scene. "Letícia IN YOUR AREA!" 21-year-old Letícia from Brazil traveled halfway across the globe to Korea with one goal --to succeed in K-pop. Not even the scorching summer heat can stop her from practicing hard every day. "Most exciting part is to feel like such a great team and to learn from people like in another different country. In K-pop, they mix up a lot of styles and you need to really know the basics to really do well and that's really hard because you need to be focused." "I REALLY want to get into this K-pop school if it opens." "Participants from around the world have gathered here in Jeonju, drawn by their passion for K-pop and chasing one big dream: to become part of the K-pop scene. Let's see how hard they've been working to make that dream come true." For two weeks, about 20 girls from 10 different countries, including India and Kazakhstan, have been training for hours daily, perfecting K-pop songs and choreography, as part of a pilot program before the launch of an official K-pop school. For every move and facial expression, practice, practice, and more practice. During the day, Korean vocal practice also echoes around the practice room, with voices blending into one harmonious sound, despite the different nationalities. And though Korean isn't their mother tongue, they keep practicing tirelessly to improve. But it's not always easy, as sometimes they struggle after facing challenges. "It's a lot of pressure. I think there's the desire to be constantly perfect. I'm hoping that I can meet the standards of both myself and the people that I want to perform for. It's been hard and I'm not used to dancing like eight hours a day it's something that I still want to pursue and continue." When the pressure builds, teachers are there with them. Detailed feedback follows each performance, and the trainees work hard to apply it, boosting their skills and confidence. "Lots of them didn't even know how to sing at first, but their love for K-pop makes them absorb everything so quickly. If they get systematic training, I'm sure they'll be good enough to achieve their dreams." After beating 28-to-1 odds to get here, these aspiring K-pop demon hunters are now preparing for their debut showcase next week --the moment they'll fight to secure the "honmoon." Park Kun-woo, Arirang News, Jeonju.

[Short-form] Perfect Nature Getaways in Korea

2025/08/11 15:33

Ready to take your K-hiking experience to the next level? Click to discover Korea’s ultimate forest retreats!

S. KOREA-VIETNAM SUMMIT JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE

2025/08/11 14:34

Hello and welcome to our special live coverage of the joint press conference on the summit between President Lee Jae Myung and the chief of Vietnam's Communist Party, To Lam. President Lee hosted the Vietnamese leader as his first state guest since taking office on June 4th, as Seoul looks to strengthen cooperation with the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia. The two leaders are expected to have addressed a wide range of bilateral issues including politics, national security, trade and investment as well as ways to develop Vietnam's public infrastructure, particularly in nuclear energy and high-speed rail. This marks the first visit by the general secretary of Vietnam's Communist Party to South Korea since 2014. Lam, who arrived in Seoul on Sunday for a four-day trip, is expected to attend a state dinner hosted by President Lee where he will meet with heads of major businesses, including Hyundai Motors, SK, and LG. A number of major South Korean companies including Samsung Electronics have used Vietnam as an export hub, benefiting from lower labor costs and generous tax incentives. The presidential office said the rare visit by the Vietnamese leader is expected to contribute to favorable conditions for Korean businesses to invest in infrastructure and nuclear energy projects planned in Vietnam. We see President Lee Jae Myung entering the press conference room. It appears the press conference is about to start, we'll come back right afterwards.

[NEWs GEN] KPop Demon Hunters: Bringing Korean medicine and bathhouses into the spotlight

2025/08/11 13:33

KPop Demon Hunters: Bringing Korean medicine and bathhouses into the spotlight 찜찔방부터 한의원까지... 케데헌 열풍 어디까지?