News
June Green Book: Downside pressures persists as tariff concerns incite uncertainties
2025/06/13 17:00
The Economy and Finance Ministry's latest economic assessment acknowledges the persistent presence of downward pressure on the local economy but adds the pressure is NOT rising. PARK Jun-han explains. The Ministry of Economy and Finance on Friday assessed that downside pressures on the economy continue to persist due to tariff-led uncertainties. This assessment comes in the Ministry's Green Book for June, detailing South Korea's economic trends. The Ministry, however, dropped "increasing" when describing downside pressure on the economy. Globally, the 90-day suspension of reciprocal tariffs and a trade agreement between the U.S. and China have eased some uncertainties. Domestically, a slight increase in consumer and business confidence—following political stabilization and reduced global economic tension—has prevented downside pressures from worsening, though they still persist. "I think when we first used the phrase 'downside pressures,' we were primarily referring to internal uncertainty. Later, we noted that internal risks seemed to be gradually easing, while external risks had grown due to Trump's tariff policies." The Ministry pledged to swiftly implement the supplementary budget approved in May, while simultaneously preparing the second. "The ministry will continue to focus on responding to trade risks, including supporting our businesses affected by the imposition of U.S. tariffs. We will also accelerate the speed of development and implementation of a supplemental spending bill to revitalize the economy, stimulate consumption, and support vulnerable and small businesses." When asked about how Israel's attack on Iran earlier on the same day would impact the economy going forward, the spokesperson said that, regardless of the attack, downside pressure challenges persist. Park Jun-han, Arirang News.
Pres. Lee holds emergency meeting after Israel strikes Iran, emphasizes people's safety
2025/06/13 17:00
AND South Korea in response convened an emergency meeting at the top office earlier this afternoon. President Lee Jae-myung called on relevant officials to check on the situation facing Koreans residing in the region and to ensure their safety. He also urged close monitoring of the economy as Israel's preemptive strike against Iran rattles global markets with oil prices soaring and stocks losing ground. To the broader public here the president spoke against excessive concern.
Israel strikes Iran’s capital targeting military and nuclear sites
2025/06/13 17:00
We start with news of a dramatic escalation in tensions in the Middle East. Israel has launched a pre-emptive attack against Iran amid the latter's nuclear weapons ambitions. Our BYEON Ye-young reports. In the early hours of Friday, Israel launched strikes on Iran's capital, Tehran, targeting nuclear and military facilities. "Moments ago, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel's very survival. This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat." State media confirmed the deaths of several top military officials and scientists, including Mohammed Bagheri, Chief of Staff of Iran's military. General Hossein Salami, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, and ranking commander Gen. Gholamali Rashid were also reported killed. People in Tehran heard another round of explosions a few hours after the initial attack, with more being heard in other Iranian cities as well. The strikes come just days before scheduled U.S.-Iran nuclear talks in Oman. According to a statement released by the state-run news agency, Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned of "severe punishment" for Israel. Brigadier General Effie Deffrin, chief spokesperson for the Israeli army, said Iran had launched over 100 drones toward Israel in recent hours, and that defense systems were working to intercept the threats. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described Israel's actions as "unilateral" and stated that Israel had informed the U.S. it viewed the attacks as essential for its self-defense. Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the military escalation and called on both sides to exercise maximum restraint, warning that the Middle East cannot afford a wider conflict. Byeon Ye-young, Arirang News.
K-CULTURE AND THE POWER OF SOFT DIPLOMACY
2025/06/13 17:00
Welcome to Press Perspective. It's Friday June 13th here in Seoul. I'm Min Sunhee. It's been called soft power soft diplomacy cultural diplomacy and more. Well regardless of its name quite a number of countries are investing in creative industries fully aware that movies music and food can work wonders in building connections across borders. For more on South Korea's efforts on this front I have Marianna Baroli with Italian weekly news magazine Panorama. Marianna it's lovely to have you back. I also have writer Colin Marshall with the pundit's take on today's topic. 1) Marianna, let's begin with some remarkable news for Korean musicals on Broadway. The production "Maybe Happy Ending" won this year's Tony Award for Best Musical, which was one of the six awards this Korean musical garnered. What do you believe is behind the rave reviews, and what is the relevance of this recognition? 2) Colin, a recent article by the New York Times highlights the role of creative productions in advancing soft diplomacy and points to the "cultural reach" of K-pop. What are your thoughts? I mean, what has been the impact of K-pop in promoting Korea in the international arena? 3) Marianna, the article claims investments in creative industries by countries have risen over the past ten years. What more can you add? 4) Marianna, in the case of K-pop, geopolitical circumstances also reportedly have a big impact on its activities and profits. Do tell us more. 5) Colin, to what extent have policies by administrations affected the initiatives of the K-culture industry? 6) Marianna, President Lee Jae-myung has pledged to promote South Korea's soft diplomacy competitiveness to number five from the current 12, and to raise revenue to 300 trillion won from K-culture including its entertainment, food and beauty products. What are your takeaways from his ambitious plan? 7) And Colin, if you had the opportunity to share your thoughts on achieving this ambitious K-culture plan of the new Lee Jae-myung administration, what would be some of your suggestions? 8) Marianna, one final question. News of BTS members completing their military service have made international headlines as well this week, and Suga will be the final member to end his duty next weekend. What has been the focus of the foreign media with regard to their coverage of BTS lately? All right.
K-Classical music shines at LA Phil’s 'Seoul Festival' with composer Chin Un-suk
2025/06/13 14:00
Eun-hee, I heard you have a story on the new wave in South Korea's classical music scene. What is it about? Yes Soa. Over in Los Angeles, the week-long "Seoul Festival" took place at Walt Disney Concert Hall, presented by the prestigious Los Angeles Philharmonic and curated and directed by South Korean composer Chin Un-suk. The event marked a significant milestone as it was the first time the LA Phil dedicated an entire week to a single country. Let's take a look. Perhaps it's the dawn of a new era in K-Classical music. A new generation of composers is making its mark, not just in Korea, but on the world's most prestigious stages. Recognized as one of the world's outstanding orchestras, the Los Angeles Philharmonic presented a week-long "Seoul Festival" at the Walt Disney Concert Hall from June 3rd. This is the first time the orchestra has dedicated an entire week of performances to a single country. The entire program, featuring concerts that highlight rising Korean performers, was curated and directed by South Korean composer Chin Un-suk. She is a Siemens Prize winner, often called the 'Nobel Prize of Music,' and currently serves as the artistic director of South Korea's Tongyeong International Music Festival. "The opening concert at Disney Hall played to a near-full house and received an overwhelmingly positive response. The orchestra concerts that followed also received great applause and strong support from the audience." The Seoul Festival included a collaboration between South Korea's Tongyeong International Music Festival Ensemble and the LA Phil New Music Group, under the theme "New Voices from Korea." South Korea's young composers, including Lee Sung-hyun, a prize-winner at the Geneva International Music Competition, premiered works, all conducted by rising talent Yoon Hankyeol, the winner of the Herbert von Karajan Young Conductors Award at the 2023 Salzburg Festival. A university lecturer in composition, notes that while Korean composers once felt the need to emphasize 'Korean-ness' to appeal globally, they now naturally carry that identity, and are expressing themselves in more universal musical languages that resonate internationally. "Korean performers have already shown their talent through many international competitions, and now it seems natural that this spotlight is extending to Korean composers as well. They bring unique ideas, creative materials, and fascinating sound worlds that resonate with classical audiences worldwide. In the past, Korean composers had fewer chances to be heard, but the global rise of Korean culture is now inviting the world to discover the depth and originality of their music." Evenings highlighting Korean composers and artists who are shaping musical culture and building connections from Seoul to Los Angeles have shown just how strong Korea's classical music scene is. "I love working with young Korean musicians, so I had high hopes for this festival, and it went beyond my expectations. Every performance was world-class." After Chin Un-suk, the future of Korean classical music holds exciting promise. Lee Eun-hee, Arirang News.
K-enter_BTS celebrate 12 year anniversary with "2025 BTS FESTA"
2025/06/13 14:00
Time for some K-entertainment news with Bella Kim. So, this week, we can basically call it "BTS week" with four of the members discharged from their military service, and today, they are celebrating something big. BTS celebrate their 12th anniversary of debut today, which is June 13th. Congratulations to the members and the fans! To commemorate their anniversary, the "2025 BTS FESTA" is being held at KINTEX Exhibition Center in Goyang on Friday and Saturday local time. Fans can immerse themselves in interactive zones such as the 'VOICE ZONE' featuring members' voice messages, and the 'TROPHY ZONE' showcasing some of BTS's most iconic awards. In addition, a 'Signature Light Show' synchronized with the ARMY Bomb light stick will take place every hour on the hour starting at noon. The "2025 BTS Festa" is free to attend and will run from 10am to 7pm on both days. The festival will go on until tomorrow, so if you're an ARMY in the area, make sure to check it out! Great to have almost all members out of the military to celebrate together with the ARMY. We will continue with another story on BTS one of the members is releasing a single today? J-Hope released his digital single "Killin' It Girl" just before our show today. This release marks the end of his solo single project after "Sweet Dreams" and "MONA LISA," both released in March. "Killin' It Girl" is a hip-hop genre song that captures the thrill of falling in love at first sight. J-hope participated in making this single, just like he did with his last single "MONA LISA." Adding to the excitement is the collaboration with American rapper GloRilla, as she features in the new single. J-Hope will perform "Killin' It Girl" for the very first time at the final performances of his solo world tour, "J-Hope Tour 'HOPE ON THE STAGE' FINAL" at Goyang Stadium tonight and tomorrow. Wow, BTS Festa and j-hope's concert. Goyang will be colored purple as it will be filled with ARMYs this weekend. For our last story today, we will end off with an upcoming series. The crime thriller "Hunter with a Scalpel" held a press conference on Thursday in Ramada Sindorim Hotel in Seoul. Actors Park Joo-hyun, Park Yong-woo, Kang Hoon, and director Lee Jeong-hoon attended the conference. Based on the novel of the same name, the new series follows the story of a forensic scientist, Se-hyun, discovering the familiar murder methods of her father, a serial killer known as "the tailor," who she thought died 20 years ago. She embarks on a race against time to catch her father before the police do. The main actress Park Joo-hyun said at the press conference that as soon as she read the script, she thought it's a genre that she has never encountered in Korea. Each episode of "Hunter with a Scalpel" will be a 30-minute midform with a total of 16 episodes. It is set to be released on U+tv, U+mobile tv, and Disney+ starting on June 16th. Always excited to see new Korean series come out. Thank you Bella for today's stories. Now, let's go over to our AI anchor Ari, for other culture-related news! Ari, take it away!
K-wave AI News
2025/06/13 14:00
Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. Ulsan is ramping up efforts to position itself as the world's leading hub for "gungdo," or Korean traditional archery. The city adopted the "Republic of Korea Ulsan Declaration" at a ceremony on Thursday, attended by more than 200 archery officials and dignitaries from Korea and abroad. The declaration outlines five key initiatives aimed at the sustainable development and global promotion of gungdo. Among them are the establishment of a World Gungdo Federation and the launch of a World Gungdo Center headquartered in Ulsan. Home to the Bangudae Petroglyphs depicting prehistoric hunting and archery, Ulsan has long been regarded as the birthplace of Korean archery. Anticipation is high for the upcoming Seoul International Book Fair 2025, with all tickets completely sold out ahead of next week's opening. As a result, no on-site ticket purchases will be available. But admission remains open and free for preschool children, people with disabilities, and visitors aged 65 and older. The fair will take place from June 18 to 22 at COEX in Seoul, bringing together over 530 publishers and publishing organizations from 17 countries. The Seoul International Book Fair continues to grow in popularity, drawing a record-breaking 150,000 visitors last year. A pioneer of Korean contemporary art, Lee Kang-so is presenting his first solo exhibition in Seoul since signing an exclusive contract with the prestigious international gallery Thaddaeus Ropac. The exhibition showcases over 20 works spanning installation, painting, sculpture, and prints. Titled "Dwelling in Mist and Glow," the artworks reflect Lee's belief that art is a dynamic force, continuously evolving in harmony with the world's changing flow. It runs through August 2 at Thaddaeus Ropac Seoul located in Itaewon. That's all from me. Stay tuned to the Kulture Wave.
K-Sports highlights with Jason Lee
2025/06/13 14:00
Time for the latest in the world of K-sports, from wonderful news for Korea's national football team and fans alike, to baseball updates we are joined by our sportscaster Jason Lee in the studio who will bring us all the highlights. Hello Jason! Q1. The biggest Korean sports news over the past week has obviously been Korea qualifying for next year's World Cup in North America tell us about Korea's two wins! Yes, Korea beat Iraq 2-0 last weekend and then defeated Kuwait 4-0 Tuesday night in Seoul the win in Iraq was actually all Korea needed to qualify so that means Korea does indeed qualify for their 11th straight World Cup Championship dating back to 1986 in Mexico. The only countries to have played in more consecutive World Cups are: Brazil, Germany, Italy, Spain and Argentina and what do those countries have in common? Each have won the World Cup actually other than Spain, each of those countries have won the World Cup at LEAST 3 times! Q2. Because Korea qualified with last week's win in Iraq, coach Hong Myung-Bo used Tuesday's game against Kuwait to play some of his younger or less experienced players who stood out for you in that game? Yes, I thought the best player for Korea was clearly Lee Kang-In he was clearly a different player with the ball and his ability to make plays but of course we already know about him. In terms of younger players that hadn't seen as much attention for the national team, I thought Jeon Jin-Woo of Jeonbuk stood out down the right wing. He played as a sub against Iraq and then started against Kuwait. I think you could really see him look a lot more comfortable in the latter game although he did contribute a nice assist in the game against Iraq as well. Another player that caught my attention was Bae Jun-Ho of Stoke City he's only 21 years old, but his passing ability is amazing. He was playing in just his 7th and 8th national team game while Jeon Jin-Woo was making his 1st and 2nd appearances with the senior squad. Q3. There's basically a year left now before the World Cup next summer, so what's next for Korea's national team between now and then? Korea will actually host the E-1 Football Championship for the East Asian Football Federation next month in Yongin. The 4 country tournament will feature: Korea, China, Japan and Hong Kong and will take place from the 7th to the 15th. This is the 10th iteration of the event and typically Korea hasn't fielded their A-team for this event, but head coach Hong Myung-Bo is planning to use this as the early stages of preparation for the World Cup so I think we can expect to see a lot of Korea's top young players perhaps similar to what we saw against Kuwait. Korea also has a trip planned to North America where they will play both the USA and Mexico in a pair of friendlies against 2 of the 3 hosts for next year's tournament. I think this should be a good feeler for a pair of teams they could be grouped with and also I like the idea of getting a feel for the field conditions ahead of the tournament next summer. Q4. Let's switch to baseball as I heard some legendary Major League Baseball players have visited Korea for a good reason? Yeah both Hall of Famer, Adrian Beltre and World Series MVP Cole Hamels are in Korea right now to offer some advice to the SSG Landers Futures' League players. Now you might wonder: "Why are they here helping out a Future's League team", which of course is the minor leagues for the KBO. Well the answer is: Choo Shin-Soo, the former Major Leaguer and KBO All Star for SSG is now in charge of the SSG Futures' League team. So he's reached out to a pair of former teammates as both Beltre and Hamels were teammates of Choo's when he played for the Texas Rangers. So Lucky for the SSG youngsters that they have an opportunity to learn from some of the best and perhaps more importantly find inspiration from some of the stories I'm sure they'll share. Q5. Choo Shin-Soo is a Legendary Korean baseball player who is coaching the SSG Lander's Future's team Another Korean baseball legend is Lee Seung-Yuop who is no longer coaching for Doosan ? That's right Lee Seung-Yuop had been the Doosan Bears' manager for the past 2 seasons plus. He recently announced that he would be stepping down as manager as his team has clearly under-performed. Doosan is currently in 9th place and have frankly looked awful this season although they did make the post season in each of Lee Seung-Yup's first 2 seasons as manager. It was telling that something might happen as fans had been more vocal about the teams performance as there had audibly been more booing and negative noises at Jamsil stadium as of late especially directed at Lee Seung-Yuop, which is kind of sad because he's such a big legend in the KBO. He still holds the single season home run record with 56 and was ranked 4th on the KBO's all time greatest players list when they ranked the league top 40 players a few years ago for the league's 40th anniversary season. Q6. And one more KBO note, there's going to be a big showdown of the current top 2 teams in the league this weekend as the LG Twins visit the Hanwha Eagles in Daejeon that should be a Big Series! Yes, the top team teams clash LG, the champs from 2 years ago and Hanwha the league's perennial doormats that have turned things around this season. Thank you very much Jason for all the updates in the world of K-sports, have a wonderful weekend. Thank you Bella as always, have a great weekend and see you next week.
UN nuclear watchdog’s board of governors finds Iran isn’t complying with its nuclear obligations
2025/06/13 10:00
Good morning, I'm Choi Chi-hee, and this is the World Now. The International Atomic Energy Agency has, for the first time in nearly two decades, formally declared Iran in breach of its nuclear non-proliferation obligations by approving a related resolution. On Thursday, the United Nations' nuclear watchdog adopted a resolution, with 19 in favor and 11 abstentions, finding Iran non-compliant with its safeguards since 2019. A May 31 report by the agency identified uranium traces at four previously undeclared sites, concluding three were tied to a covert nuclear program carried out into the early 2000s. In response, Iran's foreign ministry and national atomic energy agency announced the country will build a new uranium-enrichment facility "in a secure location," and condemned the IAEA's resolution, saying it "completely called into question the credibility and prestige" of the nuclear watchdog. The recent vote comes as Oman announced on Thursday that the United States and Iran will hold a sixth round of talks over Tehran's nuclear program on Sunday.
Israel declares state of emergency after "preemptive strikes" against Iran
2025/06/13 10:00
Israel launched "preemptive strikes" against Iran early Friday, according to Israel's Defense Minister. Israel also says it has declared a state of emergency, with retaliatory missile and drone attacks from Iran expected. Iran's state-run media also reported that explosions were heard in the northeast of Tehran on Friday. And according to Reuters, two U.S. officials speaking on condition of anonymity have said that the U.S. was not involved in the operation.
Air India says 241 dead after plane crashes following take off
2025/06/13 10:00
Investigations are underway after an Air India passenger plane headed to London with 242 people on board crashed shortly after takeoff, with only one survivor. The plane crashed into a medical college in the city of Ahmedabad, causing further casualties. Lee Seung-jae has more. Air India says 241 of 242 people onboard a London-bound plane that crashed on Thursday were killed in what is thought to be one of India's worst airline disasters in decades. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed in the northwestern city of Ahmedabad, shortly after takeoff. According to reports 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian national were among the passengers on board. However,.. one passenger, a British national, miraculously survived the crash, and was sent to a nearby hospital for treatment. According to authorities, the lone survivor walked away after the accident, and escaped the site without life-threatening injuries. And the death toll is expected to rise as the aircraft crashed into a residential area attached to BJ Medical College, with part of the plane falling on a dining facility. According to local authorities, at least five medical students were killed on the ground, and dozens of others were injured. It's still unclear what caused the crash, however, video footage shows the plane with its nose pointed upward as it sinks lower toward the ground before the crash. An investigation is also underway to determine the exact cause. With 53 British nationals on board the ill-fated flight, the UK government has launched a crisis response team and has dispatched an investigation team to India. Its also working closely with Indian authorities to find the cause of the crash and provide support to affected families. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.
More tariffs coming: U.S. targets steel derivatives, imported vehicles
2025/06/13 10:00
We start in the U.S., where the government has announced plans to expand tariffs on products made with steel, including refrigerators. President Trump also warned that he may soon raise tariffs on foreign cars to have more auto makers build plants in America. Our Park Kun-woo starts us off. More ramping up of tariffs on foreign goods by the Trump administration. On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced that tariffs on steel and its derivative products will be expanded to cover eight more items starting later this month. Those items include refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers, ovens, and more. This means the 50 percent tariff, which went into effect in early June, is now set to be applied to those products for the "value of the steel content in each product." South Korean products are also expected to be affected, with companies like Samsung and LG Electronics manufacturing and exporting a wide range of home appliances to the U.S., from South Korea, and Mexico, though some products are made in the USA. Trump also hinted at raising tariffs on foreign-made automobiles on Thursday to boost the U.S. auto industry. "To further defend our auto workers, I imposed this 25% tariff on all foreign automobiles and investment in American manufacturing and auto manufacturing. I might go up with that tariff in the not too distant future. The higher you go, the more likely it is they build a plant here." The U.S. president was speaking at a White House event, where he also cited investment plans from automakers, including General Motors, crediting his tariffs for those announcements. South Korean cars, already impacted by U.S. tariffs, are also set to be affected. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.
Intense rainfall in southern regions through Saturday
2025/06/13 10:00
Jeju Island saw its first monsoon rains of the summer, a week earlier than average. And this morning, Jeolla-do regions are seeing rain, which will gradually expand to the rest of the country then it will be rainy on Saturday nationwide. Intense rainfall is expected tonight and tomorrow morning, especially in the south. Until tomorrow, Jeju's mountainous areas could see over 250 millimeters of rain, the southern coast and areas around Jirisan Mountain expecting more than 120 millimeters. Central-northern areas, including Seoul, can expect 5 to 20 millimeters. Rain and cloudy skies bring heat relief to southern regions today, falling to the mid-twenties, but the capital area stays hot at 30 degrees in Seoul. Rain will make it comeback in Jeju on Sunday and gradually spread across the entire country. Those planning to travel to the southern parts of Korea this weekend, especially to Jeju, beware of heavy rain and stay safe!
World News 4: Kronberg zoo introduces newborn elephant
2025/06/13 10:00
A zoo in the German city of Kronberg, near Frankfurt, welcomed a two-week-old African elephant, Kaja , on Thursday. Kaja, born 16 days ago, is the first baby elephant to be born in 57 years at the Opel Zoo. Meanwhile, Cologne zoo also welcomed visitors with a group of elephants enjoying the warm summer heat, among which was a young elephant calf, Taro, who was born in March. The zoo also revealed the birth of two rare horses: a female and a male of the rare Przewalski species.
World News 2: Germany pledges military aid in Kyiv
2025/06/13 10:00
Germany pledged more military aid to Ukraine, in addition to a joint production of long-range missiles and drones, during military aid talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. According to German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, during his visit to Kyiv on Thursday Germany has provided 8.1 billion U.S. dollars worth of military aid this year, with an additional 2.2 billion dollars awaiting parliamentary approval. The new aid package includes the delivery of new IRIS-T air defense systems under a three-year supply plan. Talks also included the joint production of long-range cruise missiles, drones, and rockets, exchanging funding for technical expertise. While Kyiv pushed for long-range Taurus cruise missiles, Berlin is not planning to supply them at this time. Pistorius emphasized Germany's role as Ukraine's largest European military backer and said enhanced support aims to strengthen Ukrainian deterrence and negotiating leverage ahead of any future peace talks.
Living legend author and illustrator, Anthony Browne's exhibition to showcase in Seoul
2025/06/13 10:00
For those of you here in Seoul, who have yet to make weekend plans do consider a visit to an exhibition that shares the works of a renowned British children's author, Anthony Browne, whose stories continue to delight readers of all ages. Our Cha Yun-kyung has more. The British author and illustrator Anthony Browne has dedicated his work "A Boy, His Dog and the Sea" to his late brother. The work illustrates the village where the artist is currently living. Browne has often shown the notion of opposites, such as "big" and "small," by, for example, showing various primates in "Big Gorilla: A Book of Opposites." He has also shared a warm look at the relationship between a grandfather and grandchild through "My Grandad." Browne, who is 78, has been illustrating daily life in his new picture books. Anthony Browne leads a step into a world of imagination and warmth for readers through the beautiful picture books with familiar characters and pastel colors. "Hidden clues and whimsical details in his illustrations invite visitors to discover references to famous artwork. The essence of Browne's storytelling is the combination of observation, dialogue, and imagination." Browne's stories explore a wide range of themes resonating with readers of all ages. Family members can enjoy his original artwork, including his latest unpublished creations. "It was so much fun to see the pictures that I had already seen from his book. It seemed like the characters came to life." Anthony Browne Exhibition: A Master of the Storytelling will be showcased at Hangaram Art Museum Gallery 3 and 4 of Seoul Arts Center until the end of September. Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.
N. Korea relaunches warship weeks after failed debut
2025/06/13 10:00
North Korea held a second launch ceremony Thursday for a 5,000-ton warship , the same vessel that partially capsized during its debut last month. State media says the destroyer, now named Kang Kon, after an anti-Japanese resistance figure, was rolled out again Thursday from the Rajin shipyard following full repairs. Leader Kim Jong-un attended the ceremony alongside his daughter, Ju-ae. According to North Korean media, he praised workers for restoring the vessel — one he personally watched tip over last month. At the time, he ordered those responsible punished and called for repairs to be completed by the end of June.
Putin announces creation of separate drone branch in Russia's military
2025/06/13 10:00
Russia is set to create a dedicated military branch for unmanned systems, as both Russia and Ukraine have been increasing the use of drones for strike missions and surveillance. During a meeting on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that his military will include a separate drone unit. According to Putin, Russia has "accumulated a great deal of experience to create" such a branch, adding that the unit will include personnel training, manufacturing and deployment of modern equipment. The move also comes as Ukraine formed its own Unmanned Systems Forces last year. The USF has since launched hundreds of deep strikes into Russian territory in the ongoing war.
President Lee orders prioritizing people's safety as Korea prepares for summer rainy season
2025/06/13 10:00
President Lee visited a local flood control center today ahead of the upcoming rainy season, putting emphasis on safety. At the same time, the new leader, who's just in his second week in office, has been bolstering communication with parliament and the press throughout the week. Our senior top office correspondent Yoon Jung-min reports. Appearing in a yellow civil defense uniform, South Korea's new president was at a flood control center of the Hangang River in Seoul on Thursday to check readiness as the nation braces for the summer rainy season. "Protecting our people's lives and safety and preventing disasters and damage, that's most important. Being better off, that's also important, but what's more important is protecting people's lives and their safety." Present at the meeting were related officials, where Lee called for an overhaul of flood-prone areas as well as the flood warning system. He went on to emphasize the responsibility of the officials in charge of public safety as he vowed to better empower them and improve compensation. Also in line with this, President Lee Jae-myung suddenly stopped by the alleyway in Seoul's Itaewon neighborhood, where the disastrous crowd crush claimed the lives of more than 150 people around three years ago. He laid flowers and observed a moment of silence at Memorial Alley. "Do you know who set up these boards?" On his way back to the office, he spoke with nearby merchants, asking them how their businesses were doing. Other than focusing on people's livelihoods during his second week in office, the new president has made a move to bolster communication with parliament. Lee's secretary for political affairs, Woo Sang-ho, paid a visit to the National Assembly for the third straight day on Thursday to meet the leadership of political parties, underscoring the need for cooperation across the aisle. It's taken as the president demonstrating his recognition of them as "partners" in charge of state affairs. Also conspicuous to the press corps covering the president was Lee unexpectedly stopping by at a cafeteria at the top office to have lunch and coffee with reporters in a casual setting, ---for three days in a row this week. It's widely seen as a move to bolster communication with the press at the early stage of his presidency.
President Lee holds phone calls with leaders of Australia, Vietnam
2025/06/13 10:00
And the President also continues to engage with his foreign counterparts, holding phone calls with the leaders of Australia and Vietnam. Our Presidential Office correspondent Song Yoo-jin reports. It was a busy day of diplomacy for President Lee Jae-myung on Thursday, holding phone calls with the leaders of two of South Korea's comprehensive strategic partners. In the afternoon, President Lee spoke with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. According to the Presidential Office, they pledged to strengthen cooperation in national defense, clean energy, and critical minerals, building on the long-standing trust and solidarity forged since Australia's participation in the Korean War in the 1950s. They also discussed working together to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula and to achieve meaningful progress on the North Korea nuclear issue. Cooperation for the successful hosting of the 2025 APEC Summit in Gyeongju City was mentioned as well, as both countries are founding members of the regional forum. Both sides agreed to hold in-person talks to discuss concrete ways. Earlier in the day, the South Korean leader spoke with Vietnamese President Luong Cuong. Similarly, their focus was on further developing their partnership. "The two leaders agreed to expand and deepen bilateral cooperation in strategic sectors such as high-speed rail and nuclear energy." President Lee requested Vietnam's continued interest and support for Korean companies operating there, to which President Cuong responded positively. Cuong also invited Lee to Vietnam, to which he said he looks forward to in-depth discussions to strengthen bilateral ties during his visit. "These are President Lee's fifth and sixth phone conversations with world leaders since taking office last Wednesday. His diplomatic efforts continue ahead of next week's G7 Summit in Canada, where he's expected to meet several of the leaders he spoke to, face-to-face. Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News."