Korea24 – 2022.08.30. (Tuesday)

News Briefing: The government has drawn up a budget plan worth 639 trillion won for next year. The 5.2% on-year increase is the lowest since 2017. (Eunice Kim)

In-Depth News Analysis: After almost 10 years, the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes is set to announce its verdict on the 4.68 billion dollar lawsuit filed by the US private equity firm, Lone Star, against the South Korean government on Wednesday. The firm claimed that the planned sale of its stake in the now-defunct Korea Exchange Bank fell through due to an unreasonable delay in approval by Seoul. To brief us on the case and preview the verdict, Attorney Nathan Park from Kobre & Kim joins us on the line.

Korea Trending with Jenny Suh:

1. A video on social media of a middle school student misbehaving by lying down in front of the classroom as the teacher is teaching is causing public anger. (수업중 교단 드러누운 중학생, 교권 침해 논란)

2. Comedian and TV personality Kim Shin-young has been chosen to succeed the late Song Hae as host of KBS’s music talent show “National Singing Contest.” (KBS 전국노래자랑 새 진행자에 방송인 김신영)

3. Award-winning actor Song Kang-ho will be starring in a television drama series for the first time in his 32-year acting career. (송강호, 데뷔 32년 만에 드라마 출연)

Touch Base In Seoul: The legendary ice hockey coach, Jim Paek, will be leading Anyang Halla in the upcoming Asia League season, which is returning for the first time in three years. He joins us via video call to talk about the new season, his decision to step down as head coach of the Korean men’s national team, and the hardships that Korean hockey had to face during the pandemic.

Morning Edition Preview with Richard Larkin:

- In tomorrow’s Korea Times, Jon Dunbar previews “Zandari Festa”, an Indie music festival that will take place in Hongdae this weekend.

- Tomorrow’s Korea Herald features a report by Park Han-na on the rising trend of professional makeover and photoshoots among young Korean women.

Korea24 – 2022.08.29. (Monday)

News Briefing: The new leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, Lee Jae-myung, has pledged to proactively work with the Yoon Suk Yeol administration to improve people’s livelihoods. (Eunice Kim)

In-Depth News Analysis: South Korea's daily COVID-19 case count has been trending downward in recent days, falling below 50,000 new cases reported on Monday. Despite this, the number of critical patients and deaths remain high. Meanwhile, the government is expected to announce this week its vaccination plan for the second half of the year. To get some expert analysis on where the country stands in its battle against COVID-19, Dr. Kim Seungtaek from Institut Pasteur Korea joins us on the line.

Korea Trending with Walter Lee:

1. The Cultural Heritage Administration and Italian luxury brand Gucci have canceled an upcoming fashion show at Gyeongbok Palace, amid controversy over a photoshoot at Cheong Wa Dae. (청와대 화보 논란에... 문화재청, 구찌 경복궁 패션쇼 취소)

2. An option for multi-use containers will be added for food delivery apps serving Seoul this week, in order to reduce plastic waste. (이제 배달음식도 다회용기로…강남구부터 서비스 시작)

3. The first US lunar mission in 50 years, Artemis 1, is set to lift off on Monday. (50년 만의 달 탐사…‘아르테미스’ 오늘 밤 첫 발사)

Monday Sports Round-up: Sports reporter Yoo Jee-ho from the Yonhap News Agency joins us on the line to update us on footballer Hwang Ui-jo’s transfer to Nottingham Forest and subsequent loan to Olympiacos FC, Son Heung-min’s goalless run in the Premier League, golfer Im Sung-jae’s runner-up finish at the Tour Championship, and high jumper Woo Sang-hyeok’s disappointing finish in the Diamond League.

Morning Edition Preview with Richard Larkin:

- In tomorrow’s Korea Times, Kim Rahn reports on a new museum on Jeju island which has attracted foreign tourists after an exhibition with the theme of "Diaspora and All Minority of the World" was on display.

- Tomorrow’s Korea Herald features a piece by Park Yuna on artist Kim young-eun and her exhibition called “Frames of Sound.”

Korea24 – 2022.08.25. (Thursday)

News Briefing: The Bank of Korea has raised its benchmark interest rate by 0.25 percentage points to 2.5%. It is the first time the central bank has raised the key rate four consecutive times. (Koo Hee-jin)

In-Depth News Analysis (Korean Politics Digest): This week, we take a closer look at the Board of Audit and Inspection(BAI)'s plans to investigate key policies of the Moon Jae-in administration, including COVID-19 response management and the nuclear phase-out policy. We also discuss the presidential office's decision to strengthen security around the retirement residence of former-President Moon, banning noisy protests within 300 meters. Affiliate Professor Kim Byoung-joo from the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies and Law Professor Cho Hee-Kyung from Hongik University join us to discuss.

Korea Trending with Jenny Suh:

1. A civil servant in Busan is said to have illicitly accessed the financial records of her former boyfriend and his family in Daejeon. (부산 공무원이 대전 시민 정보 무단 열람, 경찰 수사 착수 예정)

2. A controversy involving a misunderstanding of an expression used in an online apology last week has raised questions about the falling literacy level in South Korea. (“심심한 사과? 난 하나도 안 심심한데?”…21세기 신문맹족 ‘논란’)

3. Rumors that Jennie from Blackpink and V from BTS are dating have resurfaced, after a third photo of what appears to be the two together appeared online. (뷔-제니 세번째 열애설)

Explore Korea: This week we discover the incredible world of Haenyeo, the hardy sea divers of Jeju island! Our travel explorer Hannah Roberts joins us on the line to tell us about their story, what makes them so special and where to experience Haenyeo culture, such as Haenyeo House and the Haenyeo Museum.

Morning Edition Preview with Richard Larkin:

- In tomorrow’s Korea Herald, Kan Hyeong-woo reports on a claim by a South Korean professor that the Dokdo islets have been unlabeled on Apple Maps in many countries around the world.

Korea24 – 2022.08.24. (Wednesday)

News Briefing: South Korea and China are commemorating the 30th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties with events in their capital cities on Wednesday. (Koo Hee-jin)

In-Depth News Analysis: Second Vice Foreign Minister Lee Do-hoon is on a trip to the United Nations headquarters in New York this week to explain the South Korean government's policy on North Korea. Lee's visit comes after President Yoon Suk Yeol presented the "audacious initiative" in his Liberation Day speech, which calls for denuclearization in exchange for economic assistance. However, the offer was rejected out of hand by Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who called it “the height of foolishness”. To get some expert analysis on the initiative, Dr. Woo Jung-yeop from the Sejong Institute joins us on the line.

Korea Trending with Walter Lee:

1. A man who broke into apartments using a highlighter pen and stole 41 million won in cash and goods has been sentenced to one year in prison. (CCTV 허술한 곳만…'형광펜'으로 4천만 원 털었다)

2. South Korea ranked 10th in the 15th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA), improving by 13 places from the previous year. (국제 천문 및 천체물리 올림피아드 한국대표단 종합 10위 달성)

3. K-pop sensation BTS is set to hold a concert in Kijang County on October 15 to promote South Korea’s bid to host the 2030 World Expo in Busan. (BTS, 10월 부산서 10만명 콘서트…2030부산엑스포 유치 활동)

Korea Book Club: Literary translator Beth Eunhee Hong joins us for a special edition of the Club, looking at “우리가 보지 못한 대한민국 (The Korea We Refuse to See)” by Raphael Rashid, a British journalist living in Korea for over ten years. The book is a collection of essays on his personal observations of modern Korean society, ranging from relationships, work, public discourse, news media, and more.

Morning Edition Preview with Richard Larkin:

- In tomorrow’s Korea Herald, Choi Jae-hee reports on whether consumers feel the price of fried chicken is too expensive or not.

- Tomorrow’s Korea Times features an article by Ko Dong-hwan on the city of Gimhae becoming one of the country's leading eco-friendly areas.

Korea24 – 2022.08.23. (Tuesday)

News Briefing: President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday voiced concern over macroeconomic factors and called for swift measures to minimize possible adverse effects on the local economy. (Koo Hee-jin)

In-Depth News Analysis: South Korea and China celebrate 30 years of diplomatic ties on August 24, but the two countries’ relationship has not always been smooth during that time, such as the deployment of the US missile defense system THAAD on Korean soil shaking ties and raising tensions in recent years. To discuss the past 30 years of bilateral relations and look ahead to the next 30, Professor Han Suk-hee of the Yonsei Graduate School of International Studies and former South Korean consul general in Shanghai joins us on the line.

Korea Trending with Jenny Suh:

1. The Cultural Heritage Administration said that the fossil of “Koreaceratops hwaseongensis” will likely be designated a national monument. (‘한국 뿔공룡’ 코리아케라톱스, 첫 천연기념물 된다)

2. A freshman in college, who had recently left a residential institution, was found dead on campus in Gwangju in an apparent suicide. (보육원 출신 대학 신입생 숨진 채 발견)

3. K-Pop girl group BlackPink’s new music video “Pink Venom” racked up 90.4 million views on YouTube within 24 hours of its release, which is a record for 2022. (블랙핑크 '핑크 베놈' 뮤비, 24시간 조회 수 9천만 새 기록)

Touch Base In Seoul: Korean-Argentinian Nicolas Kyol Beun started out as a 17-year-old intern for a presidential campaign in Argentina, but eventually became a communications assistant to the President, accompanying him in his daily activities and around the world. He joins us via video call to tell us about his story, what inspired him and his brothers to be involved in politics, and the challenges he faced along the way.

Morning Edition Preview with Richard Larkin:

- Tomorrow’s Korea Times features an article on "Day By Day: Korean Ceramics in Daily Life,” an exhibition that will take place in Sydney, Australia.

- In tomorrow’s Korea Herald, Hwang Dong-hee reports that the country’s biggest jazz festival, Jarasum Jazz festival, will make a full return this year in October.

Korea24 – 2022.08.22. (Monday)

News Briefing: The Korean won continued to fall against the US dollar, closing at 1,339.80. It also surpassed the 1,340 mark during the day’s session for the first time in 13 years. (Tom McCarthy)

In-Depth News Analysis: US President Joe Biden signed into law the 740 billion-dollar Inflation Reduction Act last week, which seeks to tamp down on inflation and tackle climate change. Included in the plan are tax credits for electric vehicles(EV), but only for those assembled in North America, dealing a blow to South Korean carmakers which manufacture all of their EVs at home. To learn more about the situation, Cho Jae-hwan, a car journalist for Economic Review, joins us on the line.

Korea Trending with Walter Lee:

1. The police have confirmed that the woman believed to be the mother of two children whose bodies were found in a suitcase in New Zealand earlier this month is currently residing in South Korea. (뉴질랜드 가방 속 아동 시신···“어머니 추정 여성 한국에”)

2. Police are investigating the head of an entertainment agency after he allegedly forced trainees to send photos of themselves in underwear every week. (연습생에게 속옷사진 요구한 기획사 대표 경찰 수사 착수)

3. The annual “Space-out” Competition in Seoul, where participants are judged on how well they sit and do nothing, will be held for the first time in three years. ('한강 멍때리기 대회' 내달 4일 잠수교서 3년 만에 개최)

Monday Sports Round-up: Three games into the new Premier League season, last season’s Golden Boot winner, Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur, has yet to score. Sports reporter Yoo Jee-ho from the Yonhap News Agency joins us on the line to brief us on Son’s goalless start to the season, as well as the latest from the K League, the KBO and the PGA Tour.

Morning Edition Preview with Richard Larkin:

- In tomorrow’s Korea Herald, Park Jun-hee reports on how K-pop idols are finding more opportunities in musical theater in recent years.

- Tomorrow’s Korea Times features a report by Kwak Yeon-soo on Brad Pitt’s fourth visit to Korea to promote his upcoming film “Bullet Train” with co-star Aaron Taylor-Johnson.

Korea24 – 2022.08.19. (Friday)

News Briefing: Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, has strongly criticized President Yoon Suk Yeol’s ‘bold initiative’ to help the regime’s economy in return for denuclearization. (Koo Hee-jin)

In-Depth News Analysis (Weekly Economy Review): South Korea's fiscal deficit in the first six months of this year exceeded 100 trillion won. Meanwhile, we look into the minutes from the US Federal Reserve's July meeting and how it could affect the Bank of Korea's rate decisions in the months to come. Providing us with his analysis is Economics Professor Yang Jun-suk from the Catholic University of Korea, who joins us in the studio.

Korea Trending with Walter Lee:

1. A Seoul court has ordered the government to pay Bongeunsa Temple 41.7 billion won in compensation, after they failed to return parts of its land in the 1960s due to civil employees falsifying records. (강남땅 잃은 봉은사…법원 "정부가 417억 배상")

2. A woman who made headlines after riding on the back of a motorcycle in a bikini, has caused a stir again, after she turned up to police questioning in a wedding dress. ('비키니 오토바이' 남녀, 과다노출 혐의 입건)

3. Girl’s Generation are set to appear on various music programs following the release of their highly-anticipated comeback album “Forever 1” earlier this month. (소녀시대, 오늘(19일) '포에버 원' 완전체 무대 첫 공개)

Movie Spotlight: Highly-acclaimed director Jordan Peele’s third film “Nope (놉)” hit theaters in Korea this week. Our critic Jason Bechervaise joins us in the studio to review the mystery-horror feature. He also looks at a local indie thriller by Lim Sang-su (not to be confused with Im Sang-soo), called “Drown (파로호)”.

Next Week From Seoul with Richard Larkin:

- South Korea and the U.S. will take part in “Ulchi Freedom Shield”, their biggest combined military training in years, from next Monday until September 1st.

- The Bank of Korea is set to raise the country’s interest rate in its monetary policy meeting next Thursday.

- On Sunday, the presidential office is expected to announce changes to the public relations office.

Korea24 – 2022.08.18. (Thursday)

News Briefing: President Yoon Suk Yeol has named a senior prosecutor as his administration’s inaugural prosecutor general, while also nominating a law professor as head of the state antitrust regulator. (Koo Hee-jin)

In-Depth News Analysis: Amid the Yoon administration’s efforts to improve relations with Japan, South Korea’s Supreme Court is set to rule on Friday whether to controversially liquidate the assets of a Japanese company to compensate victims of wartime forced labor. To discuss the potential implications of Friday’s ruling on Seoul-Tokyo relations, the former South Korean ambassador to the US and current President of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, Ahn Ho-young, joins us on the line.

Korea Trending with Jenny Suh:

1. An appellate court has rejected a man’s claims of conscientious objection, and has sentenced him to 10 months in prison for refusing his mandatory military service. (입영통지서 나오자 종교활동 재개...법원 “병역 거부 유죄”)

2. Calorie information will be displayed on the labels of alcoholic drinks, such as soju, beer, makgeolli and wine, starting next year. (내년부터 소주·맥주 등 주류에도 칼로리 표시)

3. The Korea Handball Association has awarded the players and staff of the U-18 women’s national team 5 million won each after their world championship win last week. (핸드볼협회, 세계선수권 우승 U-18 대표팀에 포상금 1억 1천만 원)

Explore Korea: This week, our Arts Explorer Ahn Jae-woo introduces a rising star in the art world who has had FOUR solo shows this year alone. He tells us about the young artist Janc Gyudon (장규돈) and his two current solo shows at the Ingahee Gallery in Seoul and Gallery Art Topic in Seosan, as well as a group show at Gallery Hoho in Seoul.

Morning Edition Preview with Richard Larkin:

- Tomorrow’s Korea Times features an article by Lee Hae-rin on how the popular Korean drama "Extraordinary Attorney Woo” has created a tourism boom in the southeastern coastal city of Ulsan and Jeju Island.

- In tomorrow’s Korea Herald, Choi Jae-hee reports on the popularity of part-time work as “data labelers” to help Artificial intelligence understand the real world better.

Korea24 – 2022.08.17. (Wednesday)

News Briefing: President Yoon Suk Yeol has promised diplomatic support for normalized U.S.-North Korea relations, if the regime abandons its nuclear weapons program. (Eunice Kim)

In-Depth News Analysis (Korean Politics Digest Special): To mark 100 days in office, President Yoon Suk Yeol held a press conference at the Yongsan Presidential Office, where he said he would humbly pay attention to the public sentiment in response to his recent low approval ratings. In this special KPD, we review the presser and Yoon’s presidency so far with our regular expert guests, Law Professor Cho Hee-kyung from Hong-ik University and Affiliate Professor Kim Byoung-joo from the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies.

Korea Trending with Walter Lee:

1. Seoul city has announced that they will build a new waste incineration plant by 2026. A final location is set to be announced in September. (서울 쓰레기소각장 후보지 9월 발표)

2. Jeju police have booked a man who was on board a plane and verbally abused a couple for not being able to stop their baby from crying. (제주행 비행기 난동 40대 경찰 입건)

3. The South Korean Army has banned officers from posting “body profile” photos wearing their uniform. (공군 이어 육군도 군복 걸친 보디 프로필 SNS 게시 금지)

Korea Book Club: Literary critic Barry Welsh reviews a classic short story from the Japanese colonial period called “A Lucky Day (운수 좋은 날)” by Hyŏn Chin'gŏn / Hyun Jin-geon (현진건), translated by Kevin O’Rourke. Described as “presenting a slice of life from early 20th century Korea,” it tells the story of a rickshaw man, who is concerned about his sick wife at home with their newborn, but then enjoys a very busy and lucrative day at work.

Morning Edition Preview with Richard Larkin:

- In tomorrow’s Korea Herald, Hwang Dong-hee reports on “Korean Fashion: From Royal Court to Runway”, an exhibition exploring the history of Korean fashion, taking place in Washington, DC, over the next four months.

- Tomorrow’s Korea Times features an article by Kang Seung-woo on a new textbook about Korea, produced by the Korean Embassy in Serbia.

Korea24 – 2022.08.16. (Tuesday)

News Briefing: The South Korean and US military have kicked off a crisis management drill in preparation for the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise next week. (Eunice Kim)

In-Depth News Analysis: Last month, the Yoon administration appointed Lee Shin-hwa, a political science professor at Korea University, as the new envoy for North Korean human rights, filling a post that had been vacant for five years. Lee has been tasked with pursuing cooperative efforts with foreign governments, international organizations and civic groups to address the North's human rights issue. Ambassador Lee joins us on the line to tell us more about the role and what she hopes to achieve during her one-year term.

Korea Trending with Jenny Suh:

1. A couple has discovered that their IVF conceived son, now an adult, is not related to the father. (시험관으로 어렵게 얻은 아들 "유전자 불일치"…담당의 연락두절)

2. Police are investigating a man who claims that a commercial bank in South Korea gave him counterfeit US dollar bills. (환전하다 100달러 위조지폐 무더기 발견...경찰 수사)

3. Blackpink have announced that they will perform at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards, becoming the first K-Pop girl group to do so. (블랙핑크, K팝 걸그룹 최초 ‘MTV 뮤직 어워즈’ 출격)

Touch Base In Seoul: It was announced in January that Oscar-winning director Bong Joon-ho was working on a new film based on a science-fiction novel by Edward Ashton called “Mickey7”. The writer joins us via video to tell us about the book, his career in cancer research and teaching quantum physics, and the conversation he had with Director Bong on the adaptation.

Morning Edition Preview with Richard Larkin:

- In tomorrow’s Korea Herald, Shim Woo-hyun reports on the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s plan to replace the city’s eight-year-old slogan “I·SEOUL·U.”

- Tomorrow’s Korea Times features an interview by Jon Dunbar with Canadian Kevin Grabb, who is a brewer of the Korean alcohol "makgeolli."