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[NEWs GEN] Voluntary Retirement: Why are companies asking young people to leave?

2025/09/05 13:33

[NEWs GEN] Voluntary Retirement: Why are companies asking young people to leave?

Kim and Xi reaffirm unwavering friendship and signals restorations of close ties

2025/09/05 11:34

We begin in Beijing.. where North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks last night, reaffirming friendship, and discussing a variety of issues. Our Kim Bo-kyoung starts us off. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Chinese President Xi Jinping's meeting signaled the restoration of close ties that had grown distant due to the recent North Korea–Russia rapprochement. The two met at the Great Hall of the People on Thursday, marking the first such meeting since 2019, with Kim visiting China in January of that year, while Xi visited Pyongyang in June. During the meeting, the two leaders shared the pleasure of seeing each other yet again, and agreed to work together to safeguard their common interests, as part of what was described as a community of shared destiny. "In the face of a turbulent international landscape, China stands ready to strengthen strategic communication, enhance exchanges and cooperation, and deepen exchanges of experience in governance with the DPRK, so as to effectively advance our respective socialist cause and jointly promote regional peace, stability, development, and prosperity." "The past six years have seen earthshaking changes and development in China, which impressed me greatly. What touched me even more is the unwavering and profound friendship between our two peoples. Despite the ever-changing world, this friendship will never change." While touting the development Beijing achieved, Kim stressed the regime's readiness to deepen economic and trade cooperation to achieve greater results. When it comes to the tension on the Korean Peninsula, Kim did mention how he appreciated China's "fair stance" regarding the issues, to which Xi responded that China will continue to strengthen coordination with the North to safeguard peace and stability in the region. However, the joint statement released by China after the meeting did not include any mention of the "denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." Kim arrived at Beijing Station at 9:50 PM, departing on his special train 15 minutes later. He is expected to arrive in Pyongyang on Friday afternoon, if he heads straight back. His fifth visit to China was his longest one on record, lasting four days and five nights. His stay in Beijing was also his longest, at around 54 hours. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.

[Econ & Biz] Yellow Envelope Act opened: the name, reason, concerns, and future of labor and businesses

2025/09/05 00:35

It's widely known as the "Yellow Envelope Act" here in South Korea. The new law, signed on Tuesday, expands labor union rights, but has displeased businesses. With a six-month grace period before it takes effect, what are the key points of discussion? We have our reporter Kim Do-yeon in the studio. Do-yeon, President Lee Jae-myung's administration was adamant about passing this law. That's right Dami, first it was passed as means by the government to tackle labor inequality. There is a gap in treatment in the nation's labor scene between full-time employees and contract workers. This law was vetoed by the former administration twice and now it's one of the first laws to be signed by President Lee. Take a listen to the President first about this. Now, to give you a bit more detail. The so-called "Yellow Envelope Act," refers to revisions to labor unit laws which expand the definition of an 'employer' to include principal contractors and allow non-employees to join trade unions. Furthermore, it broadens the scope of lawful industrial action while limiting a company's ability to seek damages from unions for strike-related losses. Now, the Yellow Envelope Act will come into effect in six months. Before we get into the discussions, why is it called the Yellow Envelope Act? The name 'Yellow Envelope Act' originates from the 2009 Ssangyong Motors strike. After the 77-day strike, a court ordered workers to pay a staggering 4.7 billion won, or about 3.4 million U.S. dollars, in damages. In response to their hardship, a citizen sent a 47,000-won donation a symbolic 1/100,000th of the total debt inside a yellow envelope to a local newspaper with a letter showing empathy to their cause. That single act sparked a nationwide grassroots movement, which became known as the Yellow Envelope Campaign, as the public sent donations to support the workers. The law, parts of which are designed to protect unions from such crippling damage claims, was ultimately named in honor of that campaign. Despite the heartwarming story, this is fiercely fought against by businesses. The expansion of the definition of the word 'employer' seems to be a key point. That is the central issue. In essence, it means employees of a subcontracting firm can now negotiate their working conditions directly with the principal corporation that hired their company. For these large corporations, this could create a significant new burden, as they may now be responsible for the employees of hundreds of different contractors, amounting to thousands of workers. However, experts argue this legal change was an inevitable reflection of the current economic structure. Contracting has become prevalent over the last few decades, and courts have already been setting precedents for this type of responsibility. To put the scale into perspective, data from the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade shows that in the manufacturing sector alone, over half—50.6 percent—of all small and medium-sized enterprises operate as subcontractors. "Subcontracting firms are often very small, and their employees' wages are inevitably determined by the contract value set by the principal contractor. That is why subcontracted workers have consistently wanted to negotiate directly with the principal contractor. In that sense, this was an unavoidable legal measure." Another key part of this bill is the limitation on filing for damages from strikes. It sounds like that could result in more strikes that could halt business operations. That's a crucial point, and it's important to understand the context. But, of course we saw from the story behind the name of Yellow Envelope Act it's been put into question whether companies were retaliating against strikes when filing for damages. Take a listen to an expert. "The scope of what constitutes an 'illegal strike' in South Korea is very broad compared to Western countries. It's very easy for a strike to be deemed illegal here." This legislation aims to shield unions from what they see as punitive damages that could dismantle a union entirely. Will there be riot-like strikes by the union now that no damages can be claimed by the company? The texts will have to be clarified, and that's what the government is aiming to do going forward. "Many people are concerned about this. So, if the law cannot be abolished, then the enforcement decree must be drafted with great detail and care." Businesses have voiced strong concerns, including worries that this could drive foreign investment away. Is there validity to that argument? That is certainly a major concern for business lobbies. They fear rising labor costs and increased disputes could make South Korea a less attractive market, but take a listen to an expert. "However this seems to have somewhat limited on the U.S. investment because labor cost to U.S. is higher than in Korea. Passing such bills does not seem to critically increase labor cost in Korea to that in U.S." But, he added if things add up, at one point the scale could be tipped. Right Do-yeon. Thanks for the comprehensive coverage tonight. We appreciate it.

Eyes on ongoing N. Korea-China talks; what would Kim, Xi talk about?

2025/09/04 23:40

We begin in China tonight. After the country's grand military parade, Chinese leader Xi Jinping continues to mingle with other like-minded world leaders. That includes a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. We connect with our Kim Bo-kyoung for details. Bo-kyoung, the two are now in their meeting, aren't they? Dami, there hasn't been any detailed report yet on the meeting, but the meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un did start, according to the Xinhua news agency. Kim's motorcade was spotted by the media moving toward the Great Hall of the People at around 6PM local time. The summit between Kim and Xi, is the first such meeting in around six years, since Xi's visit to North Korea in June 2019. Having received the highest level of courtesy from Chinese President Xi Jinping during the Victory Day military parade, all eyes today were on whether North Korean leader Kim Jong-un would have a summit with Xi. In fact, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun, during the regular media briefing on Thursday, had said the two leaders will hold talks to exchange in-depth views on China-North Korea relations and issues of mutual interest. Guo further added that China wishes to strengthen strategic communication with Pyongyang. "China stands ready to strengthen strategic communication and enhance cooperation with the DPRK, deepen the sharing of governance experience, and advance the respective socialist causes." Pundits say the the agenda would likely to focus on economic cooperation, as Kim is pursuing a strategy dubbed "Security with Russia, Economy with China." Strengthening trilateral ties among Pyongyang, Beijing and Moscow is also expected to be part of agenda. There's also plenty of attention on the rest of Kim's itinerary, such as any visits to Chinese industrial or high-tech development sites or any appearances by his daughter Kim Ju-ae. Kim, who stood shoulder to shoulder with Xi and Putin at a military parade on Wednesday, had shown a sense of unity against the West especially the U.S. And, following the military parade, Kim held a bilateral summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin where they reportedly discussed long-term plan for bilateral cooperation. Meanwhile, a formal trilateral summit between Kim, Xi, and Putin did not take place, with Putin having headed to Vladivostok on Thursday, according to the Kremlin. That is all I have for now, back to you. Thanks Bo-kyoung for the coverage.

[Weather] Heat wave continues and rain until the weekend

2025/09/04 23:39

Rain had been falling in the central parts and showers in the southern parts of the country today. Some areas had strong rain of around 30 millimeters per hour. It is expected to rain in most parts of the country this coming weekend as well. Especially in the west where heavy rain is forecast from Saturday night. Heat wave warnings are in place in the southern parts of the country and Jeju Island. With the rain, the daytime temperature in Seoul only rose to 29 degrees Celsius today, but it was still hot in the southern regions such as Gwangju and Daegu, with the temperatures rising to around 33 degrees. It will move back up to 33 degrees in Seoul tomorrow. Tomorrow, Seoul and Daegu will start off at 24 degrees, Jeju at 27 degrees. Highs will top out at 33 degrees in Seoul, Daejeon and Daegu, 31 degrees in Busan. It will continue to be hot next week all over the country. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

At least 17 killed, 21 injured in Gloria Funicular crash in Lisbon

2025/09/04 23:39

A funicular railway carriage popular with tourists derailed in Lisbon, killing at least 15 people and injuring more than 20. One of the injured is believed to be a Korean woman. Shin Ha-young has this report. In Lisbon, Portugal, at least 17 people have died and more than 20 were injured after a carriage on the Gloria Funicular cable railway derailed. The incident occurred around 6 PM local time on Wednesday. Local authorities said a cable snapped, sending the tram down a steep hill before it crashed into a building and overturned. Aerial and bystander footage showed the yellow vehicle crushed against the building. "It fell about a meter and a half and made a huge crash — it was packed. We stayed to help. But just as we were going to assist, we saw another tram coming downhill." According to Seoul's Foreign Ministry and local media in Portugal, one of the injured is a Korean woman. She was taken to a hospital, but her current condition has not been reported. "We arrived at the scene in 3 minutes, getting there very quickly. The causes of the accident will have to be analyzed by the competent authorities." The line has served residents and tourists since 1885 and carries about 3 million passengers annually. Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas described the crash as a "tragic moment for the city." After the incident, the city launched emergency safety checks on other funicular cable cars. The Portuguese government has declared Thursday as a day of national mourning, while the Lisbon city hall announced three days of mourning in the city. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa offered his condolences and called for a swift investigation by the prosecutor general's office. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

South Korea sees hottest summer on record

2025/09/04 23:38

This summer has gone down as the hottest on record here in South Korea. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration on Thursday, the nationwide average temperature from June to August was 25.7 degrees Celsius. That's two degrees above the average for the period 1973 to 2024 and it is 0.1 degrees higher than the previous record, set last year. The country saw repeated heat waves and heavy rain, with some regions hit by floods while others faced drought.

Is Korean content past its peak? Culture minister answers

2025/09/04 23:37

South Korea's culture minister spoke up about the need for more cultural infrastructure support as Korean content continues to dominate the world. He said this during his first media roundtable held today, where he shared his cultural policy aims down the road. Our culture correspondent Park Kun-woo was there. We might be in a golden era of Korean content with an ongoing global boom, but this may already be past its peak. That was said by Culture Minister Chae Hwi-young at his first official media roundtable in Seoul on Thursday. He said commentary coming from the sector is dire, citing the film industry as a representative example, where this year's domestic cinema audience is expected to shrink by around a half year-on-year. "The number of movies with production costs over 3 billion won is less than 20 this year, compared to about 100 in the past, due to dried-up investment. The ecosystem is collapsing." He added that even star directors now turn to overseas streaming platforms for funding, as government support alone is insufficient. Projects branded "Made with Korea" are also stalling due to tight budgets, despite strong global interest in collaborative works. Chae also stressed the need for more K-pop infrastructure. "Japan has 34 large-scale concert venues with more than 10-thousand seats. We have only 8. It isn't good for the home country of K-pop to have such limited infrastructure." In order to create a better environment, he said making efforts to increase budgets was crucial. Noting that next year's cultural budget will jump by around 9 percent, he said that still puts Korea in the mid-to-low ranking among OECD countries in terms of cultural spending. While vowing to do his best to further increase the budget in the near future, he said there's hope thanks to strong Korean content. "There may always be crises, but aren't we the people who always find an opportunity in these situations, and achieve our goal. Stray Kids has made history on the Billboard charts with its seventh consecutive No. 1 album. The movie "No Other Choice" might even win big this weekend in Venice, where it received a 9-minute standing ovation. We're flooded by this kind of news every day." The minister added he will do his best to seize this "golden opportunity" to establish Korea as a leading cultural powerhouse. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

Industrial AI EXPO showcases uses of AI to develop industry

2025/09/04 23:36

An inaugural exhibition to share the application of AI technologies in industrial settings is underway here in Seoul. Our business correspondent Park Jun-han tells us more. Under the phrase “The Convergence of AI and Industry: A New Industrial Revolution,” the first industrial AI EXPO opened in Seoul on Wednesday. Hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and organized by the Korea Industry Intelligentization Association, some hundred companies and thousands of exhibitors were present to experience and learn how AI could be used to benefit the country's industries. “The current Lee Jae Myung administration places a strong emphasis on using AI to drive industrial innovation, and here you can see technologies ranging from autonomous systems and AI-driven manufacturing to humanoid robots. Right now, AI robots like this one can do simple tasks such as folding your laundry, but with more AI training, they could have a wide range of industrial uses. The CEO of Large Language Model stated that with repeated training, AI technologies are now ready for real-world use. “I believe most AI technologies can already be implemented for real-world use. Unlike traditional technologies built for a clear purpose, generative AI prepares the tools even before the goal is fully defined.” Once considered a futuristic concept, AI is now part of our daily lives, effectively connecting people and industries. “AI helps predict what people want to buy in e-commerce and provides personalized healthcare recommendations. It also optimizes factory automation, enhances education, and improves energy management by using collected data to make smarter decisions and deliver better services.” From physical robots to personalized agents, AI is already part of our daily lives. In fact, AI still holds tremendous potential to be used anywhere and everywhere to help people around the world. Park Jun-han, Arirang News.

Overseas Korean politicians gather to share and discuss experiences and challenges

2025/09/04 23:35

There are more than 7 million overseas Koreans who make up a diaspora, and some of these, now citizens of their respective countries but of Korean descent, are representative figures in the political realm. Ahn Sung-jin talked to a couple of them to understand what it means to have a Korean heritage and background. Understanding global leadership through K-Spirit. That's what this year's 11th Global Korean Politicians Forum aims to promote. Hosted by the Global Korean Politicians Council and supported by the Overseas Korean Cooperation Center, the event brings together more than 50 incumbent overseas politicians of Korean descent to share their diverse experiences and promote mutual exchange. These figures now represent different countries and regions, but as New Zealand's first Korean-born member of Parliament, who is in her 6th term, Melissa Lee says most of them maintain their Korean values and culture, and even the language for some. "I am a Korean-born New Zealander who is a member of Parliament, and my thoughts and behavior and the way I am is shaped by my culture and my parents. These are the things that have shaped me, and I can't deny that; I cannot move away from it." Some of the topics discussed included the role of Asian-Americans and Goryeo saram or ethnic Koreans of the former Soviet Union, as politicians in shaping policies or supporting the Korean diaspora abroad. "Koreans in Russia are scattered across the territory, so I set a goal to unite the Korean diaspora in my city. We have already done a lot of work together with the Korean Cultural Center to hold events to unite Koreans who live in Russia." The event also invited overseas Korean scholarship students to discuss leadership in a global age, despite challenges or discrimination. With their Korean heritage, though these overseas Koreans may be advocating for a greater good and representing a wider audience, they say that deep down they will always be shaped by their roots as Koreans. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.

Trump feels slighted by China, signals global troop redeployment

2025/09/04 23:34

Meanwhile, in the U.S., President Donald Trump felt his country's role in Japan's defeat was overlooked at China's World War II ceremony, pointing out America "should've been mentioned." Our Moon Ji-young reports. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he felt China slighted the U.S. by not sufficiently acknowledging its role in winning World War Two during a parade held to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the war's end. "I thought it was a beautiful ceremony. I thought it was very, very impressive I was very surprised. I watched the speech last night. The president is Xi, is a friend of mine. But I thought that the United States should have been mentioned last night during that speech because we helped China very, very much." This comes as Trump himself emphasized the immense help the U.S. provided to China in achieving its freedom. Meanwhile, during a summit with Polish President Karol Nawrocki on the same day, President Trump praised Poland for exceeding its defense spending commitments among NATO allies, while clarifying that U.S. soldiers stationed there would remain. "If anything, we'll put more there if they want. But they've long wanted to have a larger presence. We have some countries that have more, not too many. But, no, they'll be staying in Poland." However, he did state he would consider troop redeployments in other nations. A remark that further served as a reaffirmation of his broader plan for global U.S. troop reallocation. This comes amid lingering concerns that his administration might be considering a troop reduction in the roughly 28-thousand-5-hundred-strong U.S. Forces Korea as it seeks to shift the role, mission and operational scope of the command to focus more on deterring China. It remains to be seen whether the USFK will be subject to such a redeployment. During last week's summit with Korean President Lee Jae Myung, President Trump did not make specific remarks regarding a troop reduction, simply stating that he did not wish to speak on it at the moment, 'because they are friends.' Moon Ji-young, Arirang News.

S. Korea's National Assembly Speaker meets with China's top legislator to boost ties

2025/09/04 23:33

National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik met with China's top legislator, Zhao Leji, in Beijing on Thursday to discuss strengthening diplomatic ties. Speaker Woo emphasized South Korea's commitment to improving relations by his participation in the recent Victory Day ceremony, and urged President Xi Jinping to attend the APEC Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju. He also addressed the sensitive issue of China's installations in the disputed Yellow Sea areas, calling for a careful handling of the matter. Woo concluded by requesting a more predictable business environment for Korean companies, and advocating for expanded cultural exchanges.

China, Russia, and N. Korea close ranks — What’s next for S.Korea’s diplomacy?

2025/09/04 22:35

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus. I'm Kim Mok-yeon. The images of the North Korean, Chinese and Russian leaders standing together in Beijing have now faded — but the diplomatic ripple effects are just beginning to take shape. Since the parade, talk of a deepening trilateral alignment has triggered swift reactions from Washington, Seoul and beyond. U.S. President Donald Trump expressed surprise at not being mentioned in Xi Jinping's speech, while analysts are parsing what Pyongyang and Moscow gained from the show of unity. Now, South Korea is under growing pressure to figure out where it stands — and how to respond. To help us break down the diplomatic fallout, and what it means for South Korea's next moves, we're joined by Bruce Bennett — adjunct defense researcher at the RAND Corporation and a leading expert on security dynamics in Northeast Asia. Welcome. So we saw the leaders of North Korea, China, and Russia standing together for the first time since the Cold War at China's Victory Day parade. Through this, what message were they trying to send to the U.S., South Korea and the broader international community? Off the back of that, do you think this high-profile gathering marks the beginning of a real strategic partnership among North Korea, China and Russia — or are their interests still too far apart for serious cooperation? And just a couple hours ago, we're receiving news that Chinese leader Xi Jinping and North Korea's Kim Jong-un are holding an in-depth summit in 6 years. What should we read into the timing and purpose of this meeting? What could they discuss? Zooming in on Pyongyang, after years of sticking to one-on-one diplomacy, what do you believe prompted Kim Jong-un to appear on a multilateral stage like this? Digging into Kim's intent, was his Beijing visit mainly about securing economic aid, rebalancing away from Russia, or boosting leverage for a possible return to talks with the U.S.? Now, from South Korea's view, as North Korea, China, and Russia draw closer — and the U.S.–Japan axis firms up — what real diplomatic room does President Lee Jae-myung have to maneuver? Following the parade, President Trump said he was "very surprised" Xi Jinping didn't mention the U.S. in his Victory Day speech. Calling Xi "a friend," he also praised the event itself as "very impressive." Given all this, how should we interpret President Trump's response? Looking ahead to APEC, Xi Jinping is reportedly planning to attend the summit in Gyeongju — his first visit to South Korea in over a decade. In light of recent developments, could this become an actual turning point in Seoul–Beijing ties? Zooming out to global diplomacy, with the UN General Assembly just ahead, what kind of joint message could President Lee and President Trump send to revive momentum on North Korea — especially after Kim's visit to Beijing?

STOCK&FX

2025/09/04 22:34

2025. 9. 4. KOREAN STOCK MARKET KOSPI : 3,200.83 ▲16.41 +0.52% KOSDAQ : 805.42 ▲8.61 +1.08% KOSPI200 : 432.32 ▲1.95 +0.45% ASIAN STOCK MARKET NIKKEI225 : 42,580.27 ▲641.38 +1.53% HANG SENG : 25,058.51 ▼284.92 -1.12% SHANGHAI : 3,765.88 ▼47.68 -1.25% WALL STREET (SEP. 3) DOW JONES : 45,271.23 ▼24.58 -0.05% NASDAQ : 21,497.73 ▲218.09 +1.02% S&P500 : 6,448.26 ▲32.72 +0.51% EXCHANGE RATE USD : 1,392.50 (+0.20) JPY : 939.64 (+2.47) CNY : 195.02 (+0.13) EUR : 1,623.45 (+3.44)

Opposition to 'Yellow Envelope Act' and uncertainty over details

2025/09/04 20:34

Earlier this week the president signed a series of revisions to the country's labor law that has lawmakers across the aisle embroiled in conflict. Our Kim Do-yeon tells us why. Businesses are still voicing their opposition over the "Yellow Envelope Act." Although the revisions to the labor law have already been completely passed, key details surrounding its implementation remain a source of fierce contention with six months to go before the grace period is over. One of the most heated provisions is the expansion of the legal definition of an "employer" to include principal contractors. This means outsourced employees can now demand direct negotiations with the parent companies that hire their immediate employers. During a meeting with the ruling Democratic Party's leadership on Thursday, the head of an organization representing small and medium-sized enterprises shared his worries. He said, "Even before the Yellow Envelope Act is implemented, we are seeing incidents where militant unions are bypassing the presidents of SMEs and demanding that the 'real boss' at the large corporation comes out to negotiate." However, some experts argue this legal change was an inevitable reflection of the existing economic structure. Contracting has become prevalent in the last couple of decades, and courts have already set precedents for this law. According to the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade, in South Korea's manufacturing sector alone, 50.6 percent of small and medium-sized enterprises operate as subcontractors. "Subcontracting firms are often very small, and their employees' wages are inevitably determined by the contract value set by the principal contractor. That is why subcontracted workers have consistently wanted to negotiate directly with the principal contractor. In that sense, this was an unavoidable legal measure." The "Yellow Envelope Act" also limits a company's ability to file for damages against union members for losses incurred due to strikes. Experts note this is particularly significant in the South Korean context. "The scope of what constitutes an 'illegal strike' in South Korea is very broad compared to Western countries. It's very easy for a strike to be deemed illegal here." Experts say more specific wording needs to be added through additional legal measures to make details of the law clearer. "Many people are concerned about this. So, if the law cannot be abolished, then the enforcement decree must be drafted with great detail and care." Those details will shape the law's real-world impact on businesses and employees in South Korea's complex industrial landscape. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.

[Kulture Issue] The current status and next chapter of K-pop with music critic Kim Youngdae

2025/09/04 19:44

On August 20th, Arirang TV hosted a special program titled "K-Pop: The Next Chapter", which explored the South Korean government’s cultural policy direction with President Lee Jae Myung himself. Today, we want to delve into the current status and future prospects for K-pop, which still makes up a large portion of the global K-wave trend. We’re going to do that with music critic Kim Youngdae, who happened to be one of the six panel members of that special show last month and is joining us in the studio today. Welcome Youngdae! There's hardly a single day that we're not talking about "KPop Demon Hunters" It's the most watched title on Netflix now, and as Bella earlier reported, the singers who were the voices of HUNTR/X will present awards at the MTV VMAs. and "KDH" was also a major topic on "K-Pop: The Next Chapter". How is the K-pop-themed animation appealing to this wide range of people from all over the world? As a person working in the K-pop industry, what implications do you believe the success of "KPop Demon Hunters" has for the K-pop market? "KPop Demon Hunters" centers around Korean culture, but it’s made by an overseas production team. We also have that within the K-pop industry, which incorporates multinational personnel and capital. To what extent can we call those cases K-pop? What defines K-pop today? During "K-Pop: The Next Chapter," you mentioned that the divide between "global" and "Korean" does not apply anymore in this era. Could you please elaborate on that statement? "KPop Demon Hunters" director Maggie Kang said there are no limits to the expansion of Korean cultural content. How far and in what ways do you think K-pop can expand further? During the special program, the issue of concert venues was also brought up. With the growing K-pop market, do you believe there is a need for more concert halls and bigger venues? Youngdae, next month if I’m correct, your YouTube channel " School of Music" becomes one-year-old. Just like "The Kulture Wave", we both launched in October 2024. What kind of music stories have you shared so far and what are you planning on next? Thank you very much Youngdae, for your insights today. Thank you Bella, as always. See you tomorrow.

XI, PUTIN, KIM IN BEIJING FOR VICTORY DAY

2025/09/04 19:43

Welcome to Press Perspective for this Thursday September FOURTH here in Seoul. I'm Min Sunhee. The open display of dedication to their diplomatic ties by North Korea's Kim Jong-un his Chinese host Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at Beijing's Victory Day Parade has been making headlines. For more I have Fabian Kretschmer with German news agency dpa. Fabian welcome back. I also have Andrew Salmon with The Washington Times. Andrew it's been a while. Great to have you on. Fabian, let's begin with the short speech shared by Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the start of Wednesday's Victory Day Parade in Beijing and its significance. Andrew, and before we delve any deeper into that parade and its participants, let's quickly touch upon the response from the U.S. leader to the military parade in Beijing. What has he said, and what are your takeaways? Fabian, Wednesday's Victory Day Parade followed a summit under the Shanghai Cooperation Organization that began on Sunday and ended on Monday. Analysts remain divided over the relevance of the SCO with some calling it largely symbolic while others point to its growing significance especially in light of the Trump administration's America First policy. What have you been hearing? Andrew, the phrase "a multipolar world" has been thrown around amid the latest SCO in Tianjin . What does the phrase mean under the current status quo, and is the world headed in that direction, do you think? Fabian, also in China, Russia's Vladimir Putin dismissed claims that he plans to expand his military operation beyond Ukraine and deeper into Europe. What has been the response to these remarks especially following a recent Russian GPS hacking that targeted that EU leader's plane? Andrew, here in South Korea, the North Korean leader's presence at China's parade made quite a bit of headlines. First, what makes Kim Jong-un's attendance at this particular parade in Beijing important? Fabian, scholars here in the South believe Kim Jong-un may have sought to head to China to coordinate with Xi Jinping a strategy ahead of a potential summit with Donald Trump. Again, what have you been hearing? And Fabian, do tell us a bit about the brief encounter between National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik and North Korea's Kim Jong-un in Beijing. Andrew, Kim Jong-un was accompanied by his daughter Ju-ae to China. What do you believe is the significance of this reality? Fabian, this week is proving to be a diplomatic super week for Beijing. What have been some of the broader gains for China? And Andrew, what have been the gains for Russia and North Korea this week? All right.

N. Korean leader displays active diplomacy at China's Victory Day parade, holds talks with Putin

2025/09/04 19:41

China's Victory Day celebration this year provided the international community with the rare opportunity to witness North Korea's Kim Jong-un openly engage with both his Chinese and Russian counterparts. Our foreign affairs correspondent Oh Soo-young reports. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un launched a new style of active diplomacy, at China's Victory Parade, displaying nuclear confidence in coalition with Beijing and Moscow. Centre-stage throughout the official events in Tiananmen Square, Kim was constantly at the side of Chinese President Xi Jinping, with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the other side. Amid geopolitical tensions, the gathering was a display of unity last seen 66 years ago in the Cold War era. "It seems intended to demonstrate the strengthening of North Korea and China's socialist solidarity as a form of counterbalance to the South Korea, U.S., Japan trilateral framework. Another aspect, for Chairman Kim, is to show he plays a key role within the North Korea-China-Russia alignment." For Kim Jong-un, the optics could portray North Korea as part of a trio of nuclear powers, as he continues to seek recognition of Pyongyang as a nuclear state. Further showcasing their alignment, Kim and Putin held a bilateral summit on the sidelines following Wednesday's Victory Day events. Exchanging warm greetings, they acknowledged the advancement of their relations, based on their new mutual defence pact reached last year, and the deployment of North Korean troops to aid Russia's war in Ukraine. "Since recently, the relations between our countries achieved a special, trusted, allied nature. In full correspondence to our new agreement. I want to point out that your soldiers fought courageously and heroically. I would like to note that we will never forget the sacrifices that your armed forces and the families of your servicemen have suffered." "If there is any way we can assist Russia, we will certainly do it as a fraternal duty. We will spare no effort in providing help to Russia." The meeting between the two stretched on for two-and-a-half hours, during which Putin invited Kim to visit Russia. Kim's trip to Beijing also reaffirms the North's relations with China,.. with a bilateral summit likely to take place. But a formal trilateral summit between Kim, Xi, and Putin is highly unlikely in the foreseeable future, according to experts, as the three sides are pursuing different strategic priorities. "Before a summit takes place, the agenda, the accompanying officials, and their positions on how the international community will respond must be closely aligned. Yet, their coalition can be likened to being in the "same bed with different dreams." Also, there hasn't been enough time for preparations in terms of the agenda and line-up." Kim arrived in Beijing on Tuesday by special train for his first visit in six years. The appearance of his daughter drew attention, and speculation that Kim is training her in diplomacy as his successor. The occasion marks Kim's first participation in a gathering of dozens of world leaders a notable departure from the one-on-one summits that have defined his diplomacy so far. Kim also shook hands with South Korea's National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik during the parade, and had a brief conversation, saying they were meeting after seven years, since the previous rounds of inter-Korean diplomacy. The implications for inter-Korean and U.S.–North Korea relations remain uncertain. Observers say Kim may consult Xi about a potential summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, as he did in 2018. Still, Seoul officials have cautioned against premature optimism, warning that Pyongyang shows no sign of abandoning its nuclear program. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

[Weather] Rain continues tomorrow and heat wave across the country

2025/09/04 19:40

Due to the influence of the easterly wind, it has been raining hard over some parts of the east coast today. Tomorrow, there will be showers in the Chungcheong-do provinces and southern regions. It will rain in most parts of the country over the weekend and heavy rain is expected, mainly in the west, from Saturday night. Heat wave warnings are continuing in the southern part of the country and Jeju Island. With the rain, the daytime temperature in Seoul only rose to 29 degrees Celsius today, but it was still hot in the southern regions such as Gwangju and Daegu, feeling as hot as 33 degrees at times. Temperatures in Seoul will move back again to 33 degrees tomorrow. Tomorrow, Seoul and Daegu will start off at 24 degrees, Gwangju and Busan at 25 degrees. Highs will top out at 33 degrees in Seoul, Daejeon and Daegu, 31 degrees in Busan. This summer heat will continue throughout next week across the country. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

World News: At least 15 killed, 18 injured in Gloria Funicular crash in Lisbon

2025/09/04 19:39

This is The World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. In Portugal, the derailment of the iconic Gloria Funicular cable railway in Lisbon claimed the lives of at least 15 people and injured 18 others. The accident occurred around 6:05 PM local time on Wednesday. A cable reportedly snapped, sending the tram down a steep hill before it crashed into a building and overturned. Aerial and bystander footage showed the yellow vehicle crushed and pinned against the structure. Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas described the tragedy as a "tragic moment for the city." The Portuguese government has declared a day of national mourning, while the Lisbon city hall announced three days of municipal mourning. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa offered his condolences and called for a swift investigation by the prosecutor general's office. The line served residents and tourists since 1885 and carried about 3 million passengers annually. Iran increased its stockpile of enriched uranium just before an Israeli strike on its nuclear facilities on June 13. That's according to the Associated Press on Wednesday, citing a confidential report from the International Atomic Energy Agency, which said Iran possessed 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched to up to 60 percent, an increase of around 32 kilograms since May. At that level, the uranium would require only modest additional processing to reach weapons-grade levels of nearly 90 percent. The IAEA noted that this quantity could potentially be used to produce up to ten nuclear bombs if further enriched. In response to Israeli attacks in June, Iran significantly reduced its cooperation with the IAEA, permitting only one inspection at its Bushehr power plant. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi urged Tehran to reach an agreement promptly to restore full access and monitoring. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio sent a warning to the drug cartels on Wednesday, saying, "The U.S. military will wage war on narcoterrorist organizations," and that similar operations, such as the one launched against a Venezuelan drug cartel vessel in the southern Caribbean, "will happen again." Tuesday's targeted military strike on a drug-carrying vessel killed 11 "narcoterrorists," according to President Donald Trump. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed the stance, affirming that assets are deployed across air and sea, adding that designated narcoterrorists operating in those waters "will face the same fate." Finally, legendary British band Radiohead have announced a return to the stage, marking their first tour in seven years. According to the band's official social media account on Wednesday, Radiohead will launch a 20-date European tour this November and December, featuring four-night residencies in Madrid, Bologna, London, Copenhagen, and Berlin. Drummer Philip Selway shared that last year's rehearsals revived their creative spark, saying, "After a seven-year pause, it felt really good to play the songs again and reconnect." Registration for tickets will be available at Radiohead.com starting Friday. Regular ticket sales will begin a week later. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.