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2025/08/04 22:44

2025. 8. 4. KOREAN STOCK MARKET KOSPI : 3,147.75 ▲28.34 +0.91% KOSDAQ : 784.06 ▲11.27 +1.46% KOSPI200 : 424.79 ▲4.07 +0.97% ASIAN STOCK MARKET NIKKEI225 : 40,290.70 ▼508.90 -1.25% HANG SENG : 24,733.45 ▲225.64 +0.92% SHANGHAI : 3,583.31 ▲23.35 +0.66% WALL STREET (AUG. 1) DOW JONES : 43,588.58 ▼542.40 -1.23% NASDAQ : 20,650.13 ▼472.31 -2.24% S&P500 : 6,238.01 ▼101.38 -1.60% EXCHANGE RATE USD : 1,385.20 (-16.20) JPY : 937.21 (+6.26) CNY : 192.90 (-1.32) EUR : 1,602.12 (-0.24)

S. Korea begins to remove anti-Pyongyang loudspeakers along border

2025/08/04 22:43

Loudspeakers installed along the border for propaganda broadcasts against North Korea will be taken down within the next few days. The South Korean government decided to do so as part of efforts to alleviate tensions between the two Koreas. Our Kim Bo-kyoung starts us off. South Korea's military decided to remove loudspeakers on Monday that were used for anti-Pyongyang broadcasts. The move, comes amid the Lee Jae Myung administration's attempts to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula. "Our military has begun dismantling the loudspeakers directed toward North Korea starting today. This is a practical measure aimed at easing tensions between the two Koreas, carried out within a scope that does not affect our military readiness." Removing the loudspeakers comes less than two months after President Lee ordered the suspension of broadcasts in early June, an action also followed by North Korea afterwards. Around 20 fixed loudspeakers will be removed within two to three days, as mobile loudspeakers had already been taken away when the broadcasts were suspended. North Korea still has its loudspeakers in position, though they are not being used. Despite Seoul's proactive measure, one expert says Pyongyang is not going to consider that this is a major step towards opening up dialogue as it is just a follow-up measure of "physically" getting rid of loudspeakers after the government promised to suspend broadcasts. However, he did say this was going to help the two Koreas build a bit more trust. "It's hard to say that this directly addresses the fundamental issues that North Korea is demanding. However, by taking actions as the South Korean government had stated, it could help build a bit more trust from Pyongyang toward Seoul." Pyongyang is known to be demanding the end to ROK-U.S. joint military exercises. However, this is unlikely to happen, as the upcoming Ulchi Freedom Shield is expected to go ahead as originally planned as of Monday, according to the defense ministry. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.

[Weather] Rain subsides, heat returns for Tuesday

2025/08/04 22:42

If only we could jump right into the autumn from today's fine summer weather at least here in the capital, we had bearable heat under partly sunny skies. However, a heat advisory was reissued across much of Korea as of this afternoon, and the heat will get stronger tomorrow. Meanwhile, tonight we can expect rain to come and go in most regions, and Gyeongsang-do provinces will see heavy rain of up to 80 millimeters into tomorrow at dawn. Tropical nights will return to most regions tomorrow, Seoul, Gwangju and Busan beginning the day at 26 degrees Celsius. By the afternoon, Seoul and Daejeon will get up to 33 degrees Celsius, Daegu and Gyeongju will be at 35 degrees with a chance of passing showers in some parts. For now, we are looking at heavy downpours to hit the central regions on Wednesday. Then southern provinces will see heavier rain on Thursday. That's Korea for you, here's a look at the international weather conditions.

[Sports Round-up] Son Heung-min plays final match for Spurs in Seoul

2025/08/04 22:42

It's Monday, which means it's time to take a look at what's been happening in the world of sports. For that, we have our sports editor Paul Neat joining us in the studio. Welcome, Paul. Hello. Thank you. Let's start with football and the huge news that broke over the weekend. Son Heung-min is leaving Tottenham Hotspur after 10 years with the club. Yes, that's right. Son announced on Saturday that he has made the decision to leave Spurs. There had been much speculation about his future, with just one year left on his contract. Just before a press conference for the final Coupang Play match with Newcastle United, Son told the media there that he had made his decision. It meant that the match the following day in Seoul was his last for Spurs. He started as captain and was taken off after 65 minutes to a standing ovation and a guard of honor of sorts. Son racked up 173 goals and 101 assists in 454 matches for Spurs across 10 seasons, ranking fifth on the club's all-time scoring list. He leaves as a club and Premier League legend. In May, he captained Spurs to a UEFA Europa League title, the team's first major silverware in 17 years. He is expected to sign a deal with Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC in the coming days. Sticking with football. There were more summer friendly matches, including the K League all-star game. Yes, that's right. Team K League actually beat Premier League club Newcastle United. On Wednesday at Suwon World Cup Stadium, a goal from Jeonbuk midfielder Kim Jin-gyu earned Team K League a 1-0 win. It was only the second win for a K League all-star team against a club from Europe, and the first time keeping a clean sheet. The next day, when FC Seoul hosted Barcelona, fans were given something of a goal-fest to enjoy. The match ended 7-3 to Barcelona --with five goals in each half. Barca aren't done in Korea yet, though. They face Daegu FC tonight in the final match of their Asian tour. Moving on to baseball now. Lee Jung-hoo can now say he has had a four-hit game. Yes, indeed. Something he'd never done before in MLB. But he achieved that feat for the San Francisco Giants on Sunday, helping them beat the New York Mets 12 to 4. His first hit, which came in the third inning, led to him scoring a run to bring the score level at 1-1. In the fourth inning, his hit led to the Giants earning a 6-1 lead. Hit three came in inning number six, then the fourth in the ninth -a double to left field. He's gone 7 for 12 in three matches in August, raising his batting average to point-2-5-8. Against the Mets alone, he has gone 12 for 23 with five doubles. And finally, to the Swimming World Championships. Although Team Korea's achievements weren't as good as last year, there's still reason to be optimistic. Yes, the men's 400-meter medley relay team reached the final for the first time. The team of Lee Ju-ho, Choi Dong-yeol, Kim Young-beom, and Hwang Sun-woo finished in seventh place. with a time of 3-minutes-32-point-3-2 seconds. The same team also finished fifth in the men's four-by-200-meter relay final on Friday. The biggest achievement was Kim Woo-min's 4-hundred-meter bronze in the men's freestyle. The one medal is significantly fewer than last year in Doha, but with Kim's bronze and the relay team showing some promise, there's new hope for the nation's swimmers. Alright, thanks for that, Paul. See you next week. Thank you.

Gyeongju to start "K-Miso City" Campaign ahead of APEC 2025 Korea

2025/08/04 22:40

APEC 2025 Korea in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, is taking place in less than three months from now. In the meantime, the province is busy finding ways to make it easier for foreign visitors to get around. Ahn Sung-jin reports. A taxi driver wearing a shirt, vest, and tie embroidered with the Gyeongju City symbol welcomes a foreign guest. Speaking through a smartphone app, the guest tells the driver his destination. "Please take me to the Bulguk Temple." It is translated automatically on the driver's cell phone. What the driver says to the customer is also translated immediately. This two-way, AI translator has been provided to around a thousand taxi drivers in the Gyeongju area ahead of APEC 2025 Korea. "Since we have the translation application ready, we can communicate with foreign guests and take them to destinations more easily." Gyeongsangbuk-do Province has started its "K-MISO CITY" project, which stands for "My Innovative Smart Open City," for foreign visitors ahead of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in November. The province says it's a "civic movement" with the aim of encouraging people to revisit Korea. Key tasks aim to transform aspects of society to create a smart and open city. The project is also set to improve public transport services, lodging facilities, and traditional markets. With events like "APEC Plogging" and "APEC Clean Day," citizens will clean the streets to make sure the city is as clean as it can be. "We try to set our smiles, kindness, and cleanliness as our standard practice from the service industry to daily life. This will create a smart and safe city for everyone." Since the voluntary participation of citizens is essential for the successful hosting of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, the province plans to promote the campaign through civic education. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.

KPop Demon Hunters' OST climbs to No. 2 on Billboard 200, TXT scores another top 10 hit

2025/08/04 22:39

The official soundtrack for "KPop Demon Hunters" has reached the number two spot on the U.S. Billboard 200. On Sunday local time, the OST of Netflix's original animated film marked its highest record yet, now in its sixth week on the chart. Since debuting at number eight in June, the album has consistently stayed in the top five. Meanwhile, K-pop boy band Tomorrow by Together, known as TXT, has debuted at number three on the same chart with their fourth studio album, "The Name Chapter: Together." This marks the group's seventh time landing a Top 10 spot on the chart.

Hamas releases videos of Israeli hostages

2025/08/04 22:38

Over in the Middle East. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to eliminate Hamas and secure the release of hostages after videos of two visibly emaciated Israelis being held by the militant group were released. Lee Seung-jae has more. Palestinian militant group Hamas has released two videos of two Israeli hostages, Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski. The video released by Hamas on Saturday, showed David saying that he hasn't eaten for days and is digging his own grave. "What I'm doing now is digging the grave, the grave I consider is for myself, because every day that goes by, every day that goes by my body is weakening, getting skinnier and weaker. To me it seems that I'm heading towards my own death." The video of Rom Braslavski was released by Hamas on Thursday, showing the 22-year-old pleading for food, water, and rescue. Both men were abducted from a music festival by Hamas during the October 7, 2023, attacks. In response to the hostage video, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday vowed to destroy Hamas, adding that Israel is determined to free the hostages. " I am filled with even stronger determination to free our kidnapped sons, to eliminate Hamas, and to ensure that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to the State of Israel." Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff met with families of hostages held by Hamas on Saturday. There, he told the families that Washington is working with the Israeli government on a plan that would effectively end the war in Gaza. The envoy also said that the militant group was prepared to disarm in a move to end the war, however, the group has repeatedly said it will not lay down its weapons. Witkoff is currently visiting Israel as the U.S. is facing mounting pressure over the worsening humanitarian conditions in the enclave. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Man killed in Muan as torrential rainfall lashes S. Korea; new normal disaster?

2025/08/04 22:38

Torrential rains swept across the nation over the weekend, killing one person in the southern county of Muan. This recent pattern of extreme rainfall followed by heatwaves, experts say, may be the new normal. Our Park Kun-woo reports. One man died on Sunday evening as heavy rain pounded the southern regions of South Korea. The man in his 60s was killed in Muan after being swept away while trying to redirect floodwaters away from his greenhouse. Over 142 millimeters of rain fell in just one hour in Muan-gun County , in Jeollanam-do Province, making it one of the heaviest hourly rainfalls recorded since related data was first compiled in 1973. Muan, on average, sees annual rain of around 1-thousand-3-hundred millimeters, meaning just over 10 percent of that fell in a single hour. "A massive amount of moisture had already been present near the Korean peninsula, with a high-pressure system expanding from the Pacific after the typhoon passed, along with cold, dry air pushing down. Moisture was funneled through a narrow path, triggering intense downpours." The expert also said Korea's recent pattern of extreme rainfall followed by scorching heat, which in the past only occurred in mountainous areas, should now be seen as the "new normal." He added the importance of being prepared. "Acting quickly when alerts are issued, like securing evacuation spaces in advance and following official guidance without hesitation, is important. Some people still think it won't happen to them, but that mindset can be dangerous." And he also said potential damage from not believing a warning far outweighs the inconvenience of a false alarm. Though heavy rain alerts for areas, including Gwangju, were lifted on Monday morning, more downpours are expected across the country throughout this week. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

Filibuster stalls reform bills on broadcasting, commercial and labor union laws

2025/08/04 22:37

Tensions are running high at South Korea's National Assembly, where rival parties have entered a legislative standoff as the opposition launches a filibuster to block a series of reform bills. Our Moon Hye-ryeon has the details. A filibuster is underway at South Korea's National Assembly, as the opposition People Power Party attempts to stall the ruling Democratic Party's legislative push to pass a series of contentious reform bills. The plenary session convened at 2 PM this afternoon after the PPP vowed to filibuster five high-profile bills tabled by the DP — marking the first time in a year that the legislature has entered a formal filibuster standoff. Under parliamentary rules, each filibuster can run for up to 24 hours, meaning that only one bill is likely to be voted on before the July extraordinary session closes on Tuesday, despite the fact that the DP-led ruling coalition bloc holds the 180-seat supermajority required to unilaterally end a filibuster. Given these time constraints, the DP decided to prioritize passing a contentious set of media reform bills that amend laws governing the country's major public broadcasters, placing them at the top of the agenda. The DP's legislative package also includes amendments to the Commercial Act, as well as the so-called "Yellow Envelope Bill," which seeks to limit the ability of employers to claim damages against striking union members. The ruling party has branded the bill as essential for restoring fairness in labor relations and promoting "industrial peace." "By adjusting the balance in labor-management relations, this will be the first step toward enabling dialogue at sites where subcontractors couldn't even speak to their main contractors — paving the way for voluntary, horizontal cooperation." The PPP, however, is framing the bill as a major threat to the business environment. "The Yellow Envelope Bill could encourage unlimited illegal strikes and has high potential to devastate industrial sites." Before the filibuster began, lawmakers passed a set of non-contentious bills, including revisions to the Grain Management Act, which had been vetoed under the previous administration. Other bills included extending the central government's support for free high school education, redefining AI-based digital textbooks as educational material, and formalizing state support for local gift certificate programs. Any bills not voted on during the current extraordinary session will carry over into the August session, with a plenary session likely to be scheduled towards the end of the month. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

President Lee begins five-day summer vacation

2025/08/04 22:35

President Lee Jae Myung officially began his five-day summer vacation today. According to the Presidential Office, he is staying on Jeodo Island in Geoje City, Gyeongsangnam-do Province, and plans to reflect on national affairs and recharge by reading and watching films. The top office says it has activated an "emergency reporting system," as the President intends to continue monitoring key issues, including those related to people's livelihoods.

Impact of Livelihood Recovery Consumption Coupon starting to show

2025/08/04 22:35

It's been two weeks since the Livelihood Recovery Consumption Coupons have been distributed, and sales at small businesses here have risen by 2-point-2 percent compared to the previous week. This is according to a report by Korea Credit Data on Monday. The data, analyzed from over 380-thousand businesses' card transactions at small businesses between July 21 and 27, shows sales at eyewear stores soaring over 56 percent, followed by fashion and clothing at 28 percent, and noodle shops and sushi restaurants with over 20 percent. The Ministry of Interior says 90 percent of eligible recipients applied for the coupon as of 11 AM July 31.

Naver, Upstage, SK, NC, and LG picked as 5 finalists for bold gov't backing on AI creation

2025/08/04 22:35

The South Korean government has been pushing to make the nation one of the top three global leaders in AI. One of the methods is by creating an AI model from scratch here in Korea with the help of local companies that are as good as the world leaders are at the moment. Our Kim Do-yeon reports. The South Korean government on Monday unveiled five AI creation teams to lead the country's push for AI sovereignty. Naver Cloud, Upstage, SK Telecom, NC AI, and LG Group's AI team will now enter a high-stakes competition to develop the "Proprietary AI Foundation Model Project" worth 200 billion won or approximately 150 million U.S. dollars. "The latest selection evaluated each team's technological capabilities and development experience, the scale of their development goals and strategies, as well as their potential impact and plans to contribute to the broader AI ecosystem." Initially, 15 entered the race with the first round in July cutting down five to have 10 groups give presentations. The final five, while big-name groups, are teamed up with universities and other tech companies to form consortia. These five will now face a survival-style competition, with phased evaluations every six months—ultimately narrowing down to just two final teams by 2027. The goal is to create domestic models that achieve at least 95 percent of the performance of the latest global AI models launched within the past six months. The project also emphasizes "from-scratch" capabilities — including model architecture design and pretraining from the ground up not just adjusting existing foreign models. This initiative is part of President Lee Jae Myung's core pledge to build an "AI for All" society and realize Korea's ambition to become one of the world's top three AI powerhouses. The final five will now receive government backing, including access to high-performance GPUs. First, until mid-2026, private-sector GPUs will be leased using 157-point-6 billion Korean won allotted from a recent supplementary budget. Later, the government will provide up to a thousand GPUs per team from a pool of 10-thousand units purchased by the government. Data support: Each team will also receive 10 billion won annually for data support, with an additional three to five billion won allocated for data construction and processing. "A bold new challenge begins. We believe in the strength of Korea's AI companies and institutions—and the government will stand with them every step of the way." Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.

Gov't thanks companies, vows to minimize impact of U.S. tariffs

2025/08/04 22:34

South Korea's recent trade deal with the U.S. has eased uncertainties for the nation's exporters. This is according to Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan, who reaffirmed on Monday the government's efforts to minimize the impact of U.S. tariffs on local industries, at meetings in Seoul with the chiefs of two major business lobby groups. The minister pledged to devise additional measures to help Korean businesses strengthen their competitiveness, especially in strategic sectors including shipbuilding, automobiles and semiconductors. He expressed his gratitude to the business community for its all-out support, with top executives actively involved in efforts to secure a trade deal.

S. Korea to work with U.S., Japan to manage relations with "somewhat problematic" China: FM

2025/08/04 22:33

South Korea's foreign minister says U.S. troops will stay on the Korean Peninsula, and that Seoul will work with Washington and Tokyo to manage relations with Beijing. In an interview with the Washington Post, Cho Hyun said there's no concern over a reduction in U.S. forces, adding he received assurances from American senators during his trip to D.C. last week. Touching upon the regional order, Cho said China was becoming "somewhat problematic" for its neighbors, citing its maritime actions. He stressed the importance of upholding international law and said cooperation with Japan is key, warning that containment alone won't be effective.

After tariff deal with U.S., S. Korea weighs $350b gamble and its economic fallout

2025/08/04 21:35

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus. I'm Kim Mok-yeon. Last week, South Korea and the United States finalized a landmark tariff agreement, one that reshapes the economic playing field between the two allies. The deal includes a massive $350 billion Korean investment in strategic U.S. sectors, such as shipbuilding, semiconductors, nuclear energy, and biotechnology. While some industries gained favorable terms — like semiconductors retaining Most-Favored-Nation status — others, like the automotive sector, now face a steep 15% tariff. The Lee administration touts it as a strategic compromise, but questions remain about the long-term impacts on Korean industries, and how this fundamentally alters the existing FTA structure. Today, we break down what's at stake, who stands to gain, and what Korea should prepare for next. For this, we connect to Song Soo-young, professor of business and economics at Chung-Ang University. Welcome. Also joining us from Montclair is Lee Sun-hyung, assistant professor of economics at Montclair State University. Good to see you. (Song) Let's begin with Prof.Song, so the Korean government, domestic industries, and even foreign institutional investors are calling the outcome of the recent U.S.-Korea tariff negotiations a "solid result." Professor, we'd also like to hear your evaluation this agreement. (Lee) On that note, when looking at the investment volume South Korea has pledged $350 billion, while Japan and the EU committed $550 billion and $600 billion, respectively. Prof.Lee, given Korea's GDP and overall economic size, is a $350 billion investment reasonable in scale? (Song) Turning to key sectors, the shipbuilding industry is drawing the most attention. Of the total $350 billion in U.S.-bound investment, $150 billion is allocated to this sector. Prof.Song, how do you view the potential and risks of the so-called "MASGA Project" for Korea's shipbuilding industry? (Lee) Speaking of targeted investments, $200 billion is being channeled into semiconductors, nuclear power, secondary batteries, and biotechnology through a "Strategic Industry Investment Fund." The presidential office says it has built in safeguards by restricting participation to industries with real potential for U.S.-Korea collaboration. If Korean firms join as strategic partners, what benefits or ripple effects can we expect Prof.Lee? (Song) Let's address the auto industry too. Tariffs there will jump from 0% to 15%. The Korean government had pushed for 12.5% until the final stages, but stopped short. Prof.Song? What will this 15% tariff mean in real terms for Korea's car manufacturers, and what strategies might help soften the blow? (Lee) On the other hand, semiconductors, one of Korea's most vital exports — will receive Most-Favored-Nation tariff treatment. Semiconductor exports reached a record high for July. Could this momentum have influenced the final tariff deal? What's your forecast Prof.Lee? (Song) Staying on trade sensitivities, both countries agreed not to further open Korea's agricultural and livestock markets, including rice and beef. However, concerns remain that the U.S. could still push for more access. How do you see that risk? (Lee) Looking ahead, reports suggest that additional investment packages from Korean private companies will be announced in the upcoming bilateral summit. If this comes on top of the already-promised $350 billion, what kind of pressure might this place on Seoul's domestic investment capacity and manufacturing ecosystem? Also, what kind of balance should the Korean government aim for? (Song) Finally, some observers say the current tariff structure effectively renders the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement null. In response, what should Korea's top trade strategy be going forward to prepare for this evolving landscape?

World News: Fire at Sochi oil depot after reported Ukrainian drone strikes

2025/08/04 19:41

This is the World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. Ukraine launched a drone strike on Sunday targeting an oil depot near the Russian city of Sochi. The first significant attack on the Black Sea resort city in years resulted in two oil tanks catching fire. Local authorities in the Krasnodar region confirmed that debris from a downed Ukrainian drone struck two fuel tanks, starting a fire. Over 120 firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze, and no casualties were reported. An airport in Sochi, the city that hosted the 2014 Winter Olympics, also briefly suspended operations. According to Russia's Defense Ministry, 93 Ukrainian drones were intercepted over the Krasnodar region and the Black Sea over the weekend. Pope Leo XIV presided over a closing mass for the Jubilee of Youth in Rome on Sunday attended by more than one million young Catholics, marking the largest public event of his papacy. The Mass at Tor Vergata field brought together young people from approximately 150 countries, alongside 7,000 priests and 450 bishops, marking the close of a week of spiritual and cultural programs. Pope Leo urged the gathering to be "the sign that a different world is possible," advocating for peace, fraternity, and resolution through dialogue, rather than violence. He expressed solidarity with young people suffering from the wars in Gaza and Ukraine. The Pope encouraged participants to return home and "spread your enthusiasm and the witness of your faith." He also said that the next destination for the World Youth Day would be Seoul in 2027. The Krasheninnikov volcano on Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula erupted on Sunday, marking its first confirmed eruption in approximately 600 years. The eruption began around 6 AM local time, sending an ash plume up to 6 kilometers into the sky. The event followed a massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake on July 29 and was accompanied by a 7.0-magnitude aftershock, leading many scientists to suggest that seismic triggering had contributed to the eruption. While eruption intensity is decreasing, moderate explosive activity may continue. Scientists traced the last eruption to around 1463, with an estimated margin of error of plus or minus 40 years. Finally, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that launched the Crew-11 mission from NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Friday has successfully docked with the International Space Station, just 15 hours later. A SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule carried an international team of four astronauts from the U.S., Russia, and Japan. Crew-11 will remain aboard the ISS for at least six months, possibly up to eight months, conducting scientific experiments and station maintenance, potentially extending standard rotation durations. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.

First autonomous village bus launched in Seoul

2025/08/04 19:39

Up next we share with you a trial run of the first autonomous "Maeul" bus ride here in Seoul. Cha Yun-kyung reports. The steering wheel of this bus moves automatically even though the driver takes his hands off. The bus stops right after it senses the red light. This is 'Dong-jak A01,' the very first autonomous "Maeul," or "village" bus in the country. The bus identifies traffic and road conditions in real time through 10 sensors and a vision camera located on the windscreen. The bus's route runs from the middle gate of Soongsil University to the back gate of Chung-Ang University, which is about 1-point-6-2 kilometers. Passengers have been impressed with how it navigates narrow lanes. "The autonomous shuttle bus gave me a smooth ride just like when the bus drivers drive. It was comfortable to ride in." The bus also switches to manual mode in certain areas, like child protection zones and four-lane roads for safety. "We operate without human intervention most of the time only except in case of an emergency." This autonomous village bus will continue its trial run until the end of the week. From next week, passengers can get on free of charge until the end of the year. And in the second half of the year, it's scheduled to run in Seoul's Seodaemun-gu and Dongdaemun-gu districts. Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.

KPop Demon Hunters' OST climbs to No.2 on Billboard 200, TXT scores another top 10 hit

2025/08/04 19:39

The official soundtrack for "KPop Demon Hunters" has hit number two on the U.S. Billboard 200. Since debuting at number eight back in June the album has consistently stayed within the top five. Meanwhile K-pop boy band Tomorrow by Together debuted at number three on the same chart with its fourth studio album "The Name Chapter: Together." This marks the group's seventh time landing within the top ten on the chart.

Hamas releases videos of Israeli hostages

2025/08/04 19:39

In the Middle East. Fresh footage of two hostages released by Hamas is fueling more despair about the fate of those kidnapped by the Palestinian militant group on the morning of October 7th 2023. Lee Seung-jae reports. Palestinian militant group Hamas has released two videos of two Israeli hostages, Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski. The video released by Hamas on Saturday, showed David saying that he hasn't eaten for days and is digging his own grave. "What I'm doing now is digging the grave, the grave I consider is for myself, because every day that goes by, every day that goes by my body is weakening, getting skinnier and weaker. To me it seems that I'm heading towards my own death." The video of Rom Braslavski was released by Hamas on Thursday, showing the 22-year-old pleading for food, water, and rescue. Both men were abducted from a music festival by Hamas during the October 7, 2023, attacks. In response to the hostage video, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday vowed to destroy Hamas, adding that Israel is determined to free the hostages. " I am filled with even stronger determination to free our kidnapped sons, to eliminate Hamas, and to ensure that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to the State of Israel." Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff met with families of hostages held by Hamas on Saturday. There, he told the families that Washington is working with the Israeli government on a plan that would effectively end the war in Gaza. The envoy also said that the militant group was prepared to disarm in a move to end the war, however, the group has repeatedly said it will not lay down its weapons. Witkoff is currently visiting Israel as the U.S. is facing mounting pressure over the worsening humanitarian conditions in the enclave. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Man killed in Muan as torrential rainfall lashes S. Korea; new normal disaster?

2025/08/04 19:38

Heavy rain in the southern part of the country starting this past Sunday has taken at least one life. Our Park Kun-woo has details. One man died on Sunday evening as heavy rain pounded the southern regions of South Korea. The man in his 60s was killed in Muan after being swept away while trying to redirect floodwaters away from his greenhouse. Over 142 millimeters of rain fell in just one hour in Muan-gun County , in Jeollanam-do Province, making it one of the heaviest hourly rainfalls recorded since related data was first compiled in 1973. Muan, on average, sees annual rain of around 1-thousand-3-hundred millimeters, meaning just over 10 percent of that fell in a single hour. "A massive amount of moisture had already been present near the Korean peninsula, with a high-pressure system expanding from the Pacific after the typhoon passed, along with cold, dry air pushing down. Moisture was funneled through a narrow path, triggering intense downpours." The expert also said Korea's recent pattern of extreme rainfall followed by scorching heat, which in the past only occurred in mountainous areas, should now be seen as the "new normal." He added the importance of being prepared. "Acting quickly when alerts are issued, like securing evacuation spaces in advance and following official guidance without hesitation, is important. Some people still think it won't happen to them, but that mindset can be dangerous." And he also said potential damage from not believing a warning far outweighs the inconvenience of a false alarm. Though heavy rain alerts for areas, including Gwangju, were lifted on Monday morning, more downpours are expected across the country throughout this week. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.