News

Firefighters battle to contain wildfires in western Turkey for second day

2025/07/01 11:36

Western Türkiye is battling massive wildfires driven by extreme heat and strong winds, forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate from five regions across the country. Wildfires in Izmir province are entering their third day, fueled by scorching temperatures and winds reaching 40 to 50 kilometers per hour. The province's airport was briefly closed, and over 50-thousand residents from 41 settlements have been evacuated. More than 1,000 personnel are involved in firefighting efforts; however, dense smoke and strong winds are hampering aerial extinguishing efforts. Türkiye's Forestry Minister warned that the situation may worsen without a drop in temperature and wind speeds. Emergency services remain on alert, with resources being shifted to vulnerable coastal areas. The blazes form a part of a wider Western Europe heatwave, with temperatures across the region running 5 to 10 degrees Celsius above seasonal norms.

Israeli airstrike on cafe in Gaza kills dozens

2025/07/01 11:36

Now, let's take a look at some stories from around the world with our Choi Chi Hee. Good morning, Chi Hee. Good morning, Eunji. Let's begin in the Middle East, where Israeli airstrikes have hit several locations in Gaza, amid pressure for a ceasefire. Tell us more. Israeli airstrikes have hit several locations across Gaza on Monday, killing at least 60, while the Israeli Prime Minister is set to visit the White House. A seaside cafe was struck by one of the airstrikes, killing over 30 people. This coincided with Israel's strategic affairs minister Ron Dermer's visit to Washington, under U.S. pressure for a ceasefire and hostage exchange. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is also set to visit the White House on July 7 for talks with U.S. President Donald Trump. The Israeli military stated its targets included Hamas command centers, and that evacuation orders were issued in some areas. However, humanitarian groups and UN officials warn that the intensified strikes are adding to civilian suffering.

Seoul hit by season's first heat wave advisory

2025/07/01 11:36

It's rainy season, but with heavy monsoon rain taking a break, sweltering heat is on the rise. Seoul has experienced its first tropical night of the season, while the first heat wave advisory was also issued. Lee Seung-jae has more. Seoul saw the season's first heat wave advisory being issued on Monday, just a day after it experienced its first tropical night of the summer. A heat advisory is issued when the day's highest perceived temperature is expected to stay at 33 degrees Celsius or above for two or more days. However, the capital's heat wave advisory came 11 days later than last year. Still, the sweltering heat is expected to remain not just in Seoul, but nationwide. "As the hot and humid North Pacific high-pressure area covers our country, a large amount of hot and humid water vapor is flowing in along its edge." The Korea Meteorological Administration also issued heat wave warnings for around 20 regions nationwide, including Daegu, Gwangju, central Busan, and eastern Jeju Island. A heat wave warning is issued when the highest perceived temperature is expected to reach 35 degrees or higher for two or more straight days, or when major damage is expected from the heat. Southern regions like Uljin, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, Haenam, Jeollanam-do Province, and Jeju Island, experienced the hottest June since the KMA began compiling records. The intense heat also led to the death of a woman in her 60s, who had been working in a field in Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do Province. She was found unresponsive on Sunday afternoon, with police saying they believe she died of heatstroke. The KMA advises vulnerable groups, including the elderly and children, to take extra care to stay hydrated and limit outdoor activities. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

[On-point] Will President Lee Jae Myung's N. Korea policy help improve inter-Korean relations?

2025/07/01 11:35

With South Korea seeing the North's latest move as a "meaningful sign," eyes are now on how the new Lee administration will shape its policy on North Korea. For more on this, we're joined by Professor Min Jeong-hun, Professor at Korea National Diplomatic Academy. Professor Min, thanks for joining us this morning. 1. North Korea appears to have resumed operations to build fortifications near the border, after notifying the United Nations Command. What might be behind the North's move? 2. Upon President Lee's inauguration, both Koreas halted using loudspeakers across the border. Could this be a sign of improving inter-Korean relations? 3. President Lee Jae Myung has vowed to build peace on the Korean Peninsula. What would you say is the most notable shift in South Korea's policy toward North Korea compared to the previous administration? 4. U.S. President Donald Trump said he'll get the conflict solved with North Korea. How likely is it that Kim Jong-un will engage in talks with Trump? 5. The unification minister nominee voiced the need to change the ministry's name to better reflect the government's efforts to promote peace with North Korea. Do you see this as an effective measure? Alright. Thank you so much for your insight today. We appreciate it.

Lee calls for expanded support to make Korea "global cultural powerhouse"

2025/07/01 11:34

President Lee Jae Myung has invited leading cultural figures to his office to hear their voices on ways to support them, and promote Korea as a "global cultural powerhouse." There, he called for the need to significantly expand support for artists. Our top office correspondent Yoon Jung-min reports. A power that is soft, but strong. The message was prominent as President Lee Jae Myung hosted leading figures in the cultural sector at the presidential office on Monday, given the impact of culture on the economy and beyond borders. "As I watched 'When Life Gives You Tangerines,' I thought if we raise this as an industry, it could be a crucial opportunity for the Republic of Korea to shine on the global stage. Korea can become a powerhouse if we promote it overseas and enhance our cultural power." For that, he urged the need to significantly increase investment and support for the culture industry. Along with first lady Kim Hea Kyung, among those invited were musical writer Park Chun-hue who wrote Tony award-winning "Maybe Happy Ending," renowned soprano Jo Sumi , and 16-year-old ballerino Park Youn-jae. Also present were Kim Won-suk, director of the Netflix hit drama "When Life Gives You Tangerines" and Heo Ga-young, who recently won first prize in the La Cinef section at the Cannes for her short film "First Summer." "As for the performance industry, we need more exchanges with local experts overseas. I ask for policies to help invite overseas experts here for cooperation, or artists here going abroad." The roundtable focused on hearing from artists themselves, as the president often emphasizes the need to listen to voices on the ground to devise tailored policies from their point of view, though he did pitch his suggestion based on his administrative experience as a governor. "We should see it as a kind of investment that enhances the level of our society as a whole, and need to introduce a sort of basic income for artists." This is in line with Lee's pledges in his inaugural speech, when he vowed to make Korea one of the top five cultural powerhouses in the world, as he quoted a famous phrase by independence activist Kim Gu, who wished for "the power of a high culture." The meeting took place amid growing recognition of Korean culture on the global stage. What lies ahead is how to materialize what's been discussed to actually support artists. Yoon Jung-min, Arirang News.

Seoul deems N. Korea's UNC contact 'meaningful'

2025/07/01 11:33

Seoul says North Korea's recent communication with the United Nations Command is a "meaningful sign," as it marks the first direct contact in eight months. According to the South Korean military, North Korea last week notified the UNC of its plans to resume construction work near the Demilitarized Zone, using the inter-Korean military hotline known as the "pink phone." Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff says over a thousand North Korean troops have been mobilized daily since late last week, while adding that it will respond firmly to any violations of the Military Demarcation Line. Although it's unclear what Pyongyang's intentions are,.. Seoul says the communication itself is significant as the North has previously rejected dialogue.

S&P 500, Nasdaq hit new all-time highs for 2nd straight day

2025/07/01 11:33

Both the S&P 500 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq closed at new all-time highs on Monday, as hopes for trade deals and possible rate cuts eased investor uncertainty. The Nasdaq rose over 96 points, to close at 20-thousand-369-point-seven-three, while the S&P 500 rose over 31 points, to close above 6-thousand-204 on the day. Both indexes ended the quarter with double-digit gains, with the S&P 500 gaining over 10 percent, while the Nasdaq rose nearly 18 percent. Canada's recent withdrawal of its so-called "digital tax" on U.S. tech companies raised optimism about a possible trade deal between the U.S. and Canada. Both indexes had also reached all-time highs at the close of the previous session on Friday.

President Lee to hold first press conference on Thursday

2025/06/30 23:34

President Lee Jae Myung will hold his first press conference on Thursday to mark one month in office. According to Presidential Spokesperson Kang Yu-jung, the event will be held as a town hall meeting for closer communication with more reporters. The Q&A sessions will cover key issues, including the economy, politics, diplomacy, and culture. While former presidents typically held their first press conferences around the 1-hundred-day-mark, Kang said Thursday's event was scheduled earlier to explain the new administration's policy direction and priorities, as it began without a transition committee. It will start at 10 AM, though the venue has yet to be announced.

Lee calls for expanded support to make Korea "global cultural powerhouse"

2025/06/30 23:34

President Lee Jae Myung invited leading cultural figures to his office today to hear their voices on ways to support them, and promote Korea as a "global cultural powerhouse." There, he called for the need to significantly expand support for artists. Our correspondent Yoon Jung-min reports. A power that is soft, but strong. The message was prominent as President Lee Jae Myung hosted leading figures in the cultural sector at the presidential office on Monday, given the impact of culture on the economy and beyond borders. "As I watched 'When Life Gives You Tangerines,' I thought if we raise this as an industry, it could be a crucial opportunity for the Republic of Korea to shine on the global stage. Korea can become a powerhouse if we promote it overseas and enhance our cultural power." For that, he urged the need to significantly increase investment and support for the culture industry. Along with first lady Kim Hea Kyung, among those invited were musical writer Park Chun-hue who wrote Tony award-winning "Maybe Happy Ending," renowned soprano Jo Sumi , and 16-year-old ballerino Park Youn-jae. Also present were Kim Won-suk, director of the Netflix hit drama "When Life Gives You Tangerines" and Heo Ga-young, who recently won first prize in the La Cinef section at the Cannes for her short film "First Summer." "As for the performance industry, we need more exchanges with local experts overseas. I ask for policies to help invite overseas experts here for cooperation, or artists here going abroad." The roundtable focused on hearing from artists themselves, as the president often emphasizes the need to listen to voices on the ground to devise tailored policies from their point of view, though he did pitch his suggestion based on his administrative experience as a governor. "We should see it as a kind of investment that enhances the level of our society as a whole, and the need to introduce a sort of basic income for artists." This is in line with Lee's pledges in his inaugural speech, when he vowed to make Korea one of the top five cultural powerhouses in the world, as he quoted a famous phrase by independence activist Kim Gu, who wished for "the power of a high culture." The meeting took place amid growing recognition of Korean culture on the global stage. What lies ahead is how to materialize what's been discussed to actually support artists. Yoon Jung-min, Arirang News.

Israel-Iran ceasefire holds as new diplomatic dynamics unfold

2025/06/30 22:43

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus. I'm Kim Mok-yeon. Nearly a week has passed since Israel and Iran shocked the world by agreeing to a ceasefire—bringing a sudden, if fragile, halt to months of escalating conflict. While the guns have quieted, questions remain: How durable is this truce, and what were the real outcomes of the U.S.-led airstrikes on Iran's nuclear infrastructure? With President Trump pushing for a new nuclear agreement and Tehran pivoting eastward—turning to China and suspending oversight by global watchdogs—the Middle East is entering uncharted diplomatic territory. Add to that Trump's vow to tackle North Korea next and talk of a Gaza ceasefire within days, and the global security picture grows even more complex. As power dynamics shift and regional players multiply, we ask: Is this the start of lasting peace—or just a pause before the next storm? For a deeper discussion on this, we connect to Ban Kil Joo, Assistant Professor at Korea National Diplomatic Academy. Welcome Also joining us from Utah is Austin J. Knuppe, Assistant Professor of Political Science at Utah State University. Great to see you. (Ban Kil Joo) Let's begin with the status of the ceasefire itself. It's been nearly a full week since Israel and Iran agreed to a truce on June 24th. At this point, would you say the ceasefire is holding steady? (Austin J. Knuppe) Now, shifting to the aftermath of the strikes Prof. Knuppe, there are still questions surrounding whether Iran's nuclear infrastructure was fully dismantled. While the Trump administration continues to tout the mission as a success, what do we actually know about the extent of the damage? (Ban Kil Joo) Moving on to Iran's internal response, Tehran's parliament recently passed a resolution to halt cooperation with the IAEA, a move that signals its intent to step outside international oversight. Could this mean Iran is trying to conceal and resume its nuclear development? — And is there any chance Iran could formally withdraw from the IAEA? (Austin J. Knuppe) Turning now to the diplomatic front. President Trump has announced plans to engage Iran in nuclear negotiations this week. He's reportedly preparing incentives to encourage Tehran to come to the table. Do you think we're on the verge of a new nuclear deal? (Ban Kil Joo) Following the ceasefire, Iran's defense minister made a rare trip to China, asking Beijing to help sustain peace with Israel. Prof. Ban, In your view, does this mark a broader push by China to deepen its influence in the Middle East? (Austin J. Knuppe) Let's take a broader look, so now we're seeing regional power dynamics move away from U.S. dominance, with players like China, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia asserting a bigger role. Prof. Knuppe, How might this new multipolar order affect both the durability of the truce and prospects for nuclear talks? — Could this mean more complexity and less U.S. leverage? (Ban Kil Joo) Meanwhile there are concerns that attention may soon shift to the Korean Peninsula. After recent gains in the Middle East, speculation is growing that President Trump may now focus on North Korea. Just this past Thursday, he said he has a "very good relationship" with Kim Jong-un and intends to resolve tensions. Prof Ban, Could we see renewed dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang—and what kind of reaction should we expect from the North? (Austin J. Knuppe) Staying in the region. Following the Israel-Iran truce, President Trump said a Gaza ceasefire might also be reached within the week. Al Jazeera has reported a spike in related diplomatic activity. Do you think a Gaza ceasefire is realistically within reach? (Ban Kil Joo) And finally, before we wrap, even if things look relatively stable for now, what key variables remain that could still threaten the sustainability of the Israel-Iran ceasefire?

Stock

2025/06/30 22:41

2025. 6. 30. KOREAN STOCK MARKET KOSPI : 3,071.70 ▲15.76 +0.52% KOSDAQ : 781.50 ▼0.06 -0.01% KOSPI200 : 414.60 ▲1.88 +0.46% ASIAN STOCK MARKET NIKKEI225 : 40,487.39 ▲336.60 +0.84% HANG SENG : 24,072.28 ▼211.87 -0.87% SHANGHAI : 3,444.43 ▲20.20 +0.59% WALL STREET (June 27) DOW JONES : 43,819.27 ▲432.43 +1.00% NASDAQ : 20,273.46 ▲105.55 +0.52% S&P500 : 6,173.07 ▲32.05 +0.52% EXCHANGE RATE USD : 1,350.00 (-7.40) JPY : 938.12 (-2.33) CNY : 188.56 (-0.80) EUR : 1,583.55 (-4.81)

S. Korea may face 0.4% decline in real GDP if tariff effects are fully felt

2025/06/30 22:41

With about 10 days left until the Trump administration's tariff deadline comes to an end, the South Korean government on Moday hosted a public hearing to address concerns and seek Seoul's potential negotiation strategy. Our correspondent Park Jun-han was there. South Korea may face a 0.3 to 0.4 percent decline in real GDP if tariff effects are fully felt. This was mentioned during a public hearing held by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on Monday, based on a feasibility review conducted by the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy. "If all the tariffs imposed or planned by the Trump administration were to materialize, our projections estimated that real GDP growth could decline by approximately 0.3% to 0.4%." The hearing was held a day after trade ministry officials from the new Lee Jae Myung administration returned from high-level tariff negotiations in the United States last week. The talks involved six areas of trade between South Korea and the U.S., namely, balanced trade, non-tariff measures, economic security, digital trade, country of origin, and commercial considerations. People from various sectors, including agriculture, steel, automobiles and oil, gathered to express complaints and called for transparent disclosure of progress in the negotiations. A general manager from the Korea Iron and Steel Association raised concerns, saying that the industry is particularly worried about the possibility of major competitors securing better terms — and whether that could further hurt Korea's steel exports. Also, an official from the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, who appeared as a panelist to represent the voices of business leaders exporting to the U.S., urged the government to swiftly address the issue of uncertainty. "It's not just Korean companies; U.S. firms are also clearly concerned about the tariffs. I believe that shared concern can be used as a bargaining chip, and we should strategically approach the tariff talks through Korea–U.S. business cooperation channels." While the trade ministry expressed sympathy to industries affected by the tariffs, it explained that only limited information could be shared, as the potential harm of disclosing details of the negotiations outweighs the benefits. "If you look at global or domestic media, there's very little information on which countries specifically received what demands and how they responded to certain tariff-related issues. I believe this is due to concerns over transparency, as making the negotiations public could be detrimental to the national interest." Although the pace of negotiations is likely to pick up, it's still unclear when a deal will be reached — or what kind of tariffs might follow. With less than 10 days left before the July 9 deadline, the tug of war between South Korea and the U.S. is expected to continue. Park Jun-han, Arirang News.

[Weather] First heat wave warning in Seoul today, summer heat will continue

2025/06/30 22:40

Following the first tropical night in Seoul, the capital had its first heat wave warning of the year issued today. The heat wave warnings were also issued in some parts of Gyeonggi-do Province, southern parts of Gangwon-do Province, and southern regions. The rest of the country is under heat wave advisories. This summer heat of over 30 degrees Celsius will continue for the time being. Tomorrow, the daytime temperature in Seoul will rise up to 30 degrees. It will rain slightly in the Seoul metropolitan area and Gangwon-do Province on the way to work tomorrow morning. Also, showers are expected around the southern parts of Chungcheong-do Province. Tomorrow morning will start a bit hot at around 23 to 24 degrees across the country. Daily highs will move up to 32 degrees in Daejeon, 35 degrees in Gwangju and Daegu. Throughout the first week of July, heat wave will continue nationwide. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

[Sports Round-up] Potential Korean derby in last 8 of FIFA Club World Cup

2025/06/30 22:39

Time now 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. Thank you. Let's start with golf. LPGA sophomores Im Jin-hee and Lee So-mi joined forces to earn their maiden U.S. titles. Yes, they won the Dow Championship in Midland, Michigan, on Sunday. They beat the American team of Megan Khang and Lexi Thompson in a playoff. In this team competition, both teams finished at 20-under 260. Im and Lee shot an eight-under 62 in their bogey-free final round with eight birdies to draw level. In the playoff, Im sank a birdie putt set up by Lee's tee shot. Khang had a shorter birdie attempt but missed to hand the South Koreans their first wins. The pair joined the LPGA Tour last year and will split the prize money of just over 799-thousand U.S. dollars. They became the fourth and fifth South Koreans to win on the LPGA Tour in 2025, but are the first to win the Dow Championship, which began in 2019. Moving on to football now. There could be a Korean derby in the FIFA Club World Cup. Yes, indeed. We could see Lee Kang-in versus Kim Min-jae. That's because Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich will meet in the quarter-finals on Saturday. PSG and Lee Kang-in beat Lionel Messi's Inter Miami 4-0 on Sunday. Lee came off the bench in the 70th minute to make his third appearance of the competition. Meanwhile, Kim Min-jae was an unused substitute as Bayern beat Flamengo 4-2. Kim is yet to feature in the Club World Cup, having only just returned from an Achilles injury and Bayern are not rushing him back. Lee won the French top division title, the French Cup, and the European Champions League with PSG last year. Kim won the Bundesliga title with Bayern. There could be even more silverware should either team advance. To K League now. Jeonbuk look like they're back to their best. Yes, indeed. At the weekend, they went 10 points clear at the top of K League 1. In Round 21 on Friday, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors beat Gimcheon Sangmu 2-1 thanks to a brace from Italian striker Andrea Compagno. This, along with Daejeon in second place drawing 1-1 at home to Jeju SK, meant Jeonbuk's lead was extended from eight points to 10. This is quite the turnaround from last year, when the Green Warriors finished 10th and had to go through the relegation playoffs. Led by Uruguayan manager Gus Poyet, Jeonbuk are on a run of 17 matches unbeaten and are seeking a first K League 1 title since 2021. Reigning champions Ulsan have slipped to seventh but have two games in hand, having been away in the U.S. for the Club World Cup. And finally, to baseball. It seems highly likely that we'll have another South Korean star in MLB next year. Yes, Kiwoom Heroes infielder Song Sung-mun. According to Yonhap News, scouts from four MLB clubs came to watch his most recent matches. The New York Yankees, the Chicago Cubs, the Seattle Mariners, and the San Diego Padres are all reported to be interested in his services and have sent scouts to watch him over the past week. Song has previously said he wasn't too keen on a move to MLB but said recently that he spoke to current MLB star Kim Ha-seong, who provided encouragement. He says he'll weigh up his options at the end of the year if he has a good season and if there are clubs interested. Alright, something to keep tabs on. Thanks, Paul. See you next week. Thank you.

From Tokyo to Seoul: How Japan's teens are dancing into the spotlight

2025/06/30 22:37

Time now for the final installment in our series of stories to mark the 60th year of the normalization of Seoul-Tokyo ties. After Korean dramas, literature and food, it is K-pop that's been at the heart of the two countries' relations and which continues to promise a brighter future for them. Ahn Sung-jin has more. 11-year-old Hanae has a big dream, to become a K-pop idol. From Twice to her favorite artist, Tomorrow by Together, the idol wannabe's dance practices continue day and night. Her journey began when she was an infant. "When I watch K-pop, the singing is amazing and the dancing is incredible too. It makes me think that it's something really special." Her love for K-pop came from her mother, though she was also inspired by someone else, her grandmother. The passion for K-pop runs through three generations of her family. "In the past, only some people knew about and liked Korean culture, but now it's become mainstream, even my friends enjoy it. I think it gives people a positive motivation for life. Korean culture is now really being embraced here in Japan." For Hanae's mother, it started with Korean fashion and then naturally merged into K-pop. Now she's glad to be supporting her daughter's dream that she had once hoped for. "I want to support her dream with all that I can. I hope she becomes a globally renowned K-pop idol, maybe even performing at Coachella one day." For Hanae, this means a lot of effort, whether it be learning Korean or enhancing her dance skills. "I'm working hard on my singing and dancing until I can be truly satisfied with it myself. I want to meet K-pop idols up close and not only debut in Korea, but also ultimately launch a global career." But it's not just Hanae who has this ambitious aspiration. Students at this dance studio are also a part of a rising wave of Japanese teens captivated by K-pop who practice for hours every day. The studio has more than 1-thousand registered students and offers classes for all different levels. "We've been seeing a steady increase in students over the past seven or eight years, but I think that number will only grow. Until recently, most students have been high schoolers, but now we're seeing a lot more kids from elementary school or those who are in their 20s as well." "It's the K-pop performance for me, and how K-pop idols really try hard and put in a lot of effort." Kurumi has already crossed that threshold. She debuted only around a month ago as a K-pop idol in Korea and said that her dream since elementary school had come true. "It still doesn't feel real, but as we've been appearing on music shows more often these days, it's starting to sink in more and more. I hope to perform in Japan, my home country, sometime in the future." But the phenomenon of K-pop is flowing in both directions. &TEAM is a successful example of K-culture localization and draws fans from all over the world. "We just made the plans full steam. We booked the flight, we booked the hotel and we were on our way. I think it's because the members are so diverse and a lot of them are multilingual." "I had been learning Korean but I stopped for a while. After I started liking &TEAM, I picked it up again." These journeys represent not only what many young hopefuls see as success, but it also signifies a cultural crossover as K-pop continues to transcend borders, languages and generations. This next wave of idols are gearing up for their dream, one step and one beat at a time. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News, Tokyo.

"An Exhibition Without Borders": 9 artists with development disabilities soar beyond limits

2025/06/30 22:36

Over in Türkiye. A special exhibition is taking place by a group of South Korean artists whose works of art prove that developmental disabilities do not hinder creative ability. Our Choi Soo-hyung has their story. A hot air balloon floats gently on a small canvas, showing the beauty of Cappadocia, Türkiye. Flowers, recreated with Korean colors and lines, also catch the eye. All of these works are made using tape. Artist Park Tae-hyun visited Türkiye in 2017, and ever since, he has dreamed of going back to hold an exhibition there. "He rode a hot air balloon and sailed on a cruise ship in Türkiye, which left a strong impression. After returning to Korea, he made many related artworks and has always dreamed of exhibiting them." Since June 16, a special exhibition has been held at the Korean Cultural Center in Ankara, Türkiye, featuring work from Art Brut Korea by nine artists with developmental disabilities, including Park and Jeong Do-woon. More than 40 pieces of art grab the attention of visitors with their bold colors and unique perspectives. "I thought many Korean residents would come, but many locals visited instead. They listened carefully to the stories behind each artwork, asked questions, and showed their respect. Our artists felt very happy, and I was truly proud." "We thought it would be meaningful to share Korean culture through pure and unique perspectives. By introducing artworks about Türkiye seen through Korean eyes, we also hoped to highlight the strong friendship between Korea and Türkiye." Over the past 10 years of their artistic journey, the artists' disabilities have become a driving force for their art, not a limitation. "People with developmental disabilities often have sensitive hearing or vision, giving them a unique view of the world. With strong intuition and focus, it feels like the picture is already complete in their mind, and they simply transfer it onto the canvas." There were many doubts and stereotypes about how people with developmental disabilities could create such artwork. "One tough prejudice is people doubting that artists with developmental disabilities truly created the artwork themselves. It's a hurtful misunderstanding." From planning the exhibition to setting up the artwork, the parents do everything except create the pieces themselves. But the parents of Art Brut Korea say they want the world to recognize these works as those of true artists. "An Exhibition Without Borders" in Türkiye runs until July 25. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.

Monsoon floods sweep India and Pakistan, leaving at least 79 dead

2025/06/30 22:35

Heavy monsoon rains, triggering widespread flooding and landslides, have killed about 80 people across South Asia. Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority reported Sunday that at least 45 people have died and 68 others have been injured so far. Meanwhile, according to the Xinhua News Agency, at least 34 people have been killed and four remain missing over the past 10 days in northern India. Both countries have issued flood alerts, urging residents to take precautions as heavy rains are expected to continue.

Hyundai Rotem delivers 2nd generation KTX-Eum to Korail

2025/06/30 22:34

South Korea's high-speed rail network is getting an upgrade. Hyundai Rotem announced Monday that it has delivered the second-generation KTX Eum to Korail, more than four months ahead of schedule. The new fleet will soon be put into service on the Gangneung Line. With improved suspension, a reinforced frame, and advanced soundproofing, the trains promise a smoother, quieter ride. They're also equipped with better air quality control inside, and they meet the highest safety standards even at top speed. Hyundai Rotem says the second-generation Eum is also set to make a push overseas, targeting markets in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. Last year, the company signed its first export deal for the model — a contract with Uzbekistan worth 270 billion won, or roughly 200 million U.S. dollars.

S. Korea's industrial output, facility investment drop in May; retail sales remain flat

2025/06/30 22:34

South Korea's industrial production and facility investment fell for the second straight month in May. The government believes the figures will pick up once the supplementary budget takes effect on the local economy in the second half of the year. Moon Ji-young explains. Industrial output and facility investment here both declined in May from the previous month, while retail sales remained flat. According to Statistics Korea on Monday, industrial production declined by 1-point-1 percent on-month in May, continuing its downward trend for a second month. This was largely driven by contraction in the mining and manufacturing sectors, which are the backbone of the economy. "Mining and manufacturing production fell 2.9 percent month-on-month, with gains in primary metals and petroleum refining offset by drops in pharmaceuticals and metal processing." May's facility investment dropped by more than 4 percent from the previous month, marking three months of decline. Retail sales, a gauge of private spending, remained unchanged from a month earlier. In April, all three major economic indicators -industrial output, retail sales, and investment -had recorded declines, showing the fragility of the country's recent economic momentum. Against this backdrop, the National Assembly passed a first supplementary budget bill in early May. "We anticipate the effects of the supplementary budget to be felt in the economy in the latter half of this year, following a time lag." He also explained that the direct impact of U.S. tariff policies on this overall production decline was not significant, and added that their effects might gradually appear after the July tariff negotiations. Meanwhile, business sentiment among export companies is projected to continue to deteriorate for the third quarter. This comes as the Korea International Trade Association announced on the same day that the third-quarter Export Business Survey Index was recorded below 100. The association attributed this sustained sluggishness to ongoing trade uncertainties, including U.S. tariff measures, coupled with slowing global growth and increased exchange rate volatility. Moon Ji-young, Arirang News.

Seoul deems N. Korea's UNC contact 'meaningful'

2025/06/30 22:33

Seoul says North Korea's recent communication with the United Nations Command is a meaningful sign, marking the first direct contact in eight months. According to the South Korean military, North Korea last week notified the UNC of its plans to resume construction near the Demilitarized Zone, using the inter-Korean military hotline known as the "pink phone." The UNC plays a central role in maintaining security and stability around the inter-Korean border. Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff says over one-thousand North Korean troops have been mobilised daily since late last week, and South Korea is watching will respond firmly to any violations of the Military Demarcation Line. While it's unclear what Pyongyang's intentions are, Seoul says the communication itself is significant as the North has previously rejected dialogue and moved unilaterally. The UNC did not confirm the message's details but said prior notification helps reduce misjudgment and the risk of conflict.