Korea24 – 2020.03.09. (Tuesday)

News Briefing: South Korean police have raided offices of the state-run Korea Land and Housing Corporation(LH) in a recent development on the land speculation scandal. At a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun apologized to the public. (Koo Heejin)

In-Depth News Analysis: Retired Lieutenant General Chun In-Bum, who also served as special warfare commander, and Professor Cheehyung Harrison Kim from the History Department of the University of Hawaii at Manoa give their thoughts on the joint military exercise by South Korea and the US. They discuss how these drills, albeit scaled back, may affect peace talks with North Korea as well as the ROK-US alliance.

Korea Trending with Lee Ju-young: Environmental education centers in South Korea are in desperate need of government funding(“돈 얘기하면 안 된대요”…‘환경’ 중요하다며 예산은 없다), a live stream at a restaurant catches a worker reusing old side dishes(생방송 중 ‘깍두기 재탕’ 들킨 부산 국밥집 ‘행정처분’), and LA Dodgers manager Dave Roberts speaks out against racism towards Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders("우린 박찬호 유산 가졌다" LAD 로버츠 감독, 전 직원에 亞차별 규탄 메일).

Touch Base in Seoul: Former MLB pitcher Aaron Brooks shares his journey to the KBO as he prepares for the new season with his squad, the Kia Tigers. He also talks about how an overwhelming amount of support from South Korean fans was a major factor in his return to the KBO, after he had to leave mid-season due to a family emergency.

Morning Edition Preview with Mark Wilson-Choi: Mark shares a piece from the Korea Times that talks about two rock bands, one South Korean and one American, teaming up to make a split album. He also talks about the Korea Herald's coverage of the upcoming fall-winter edition of Seoul Fashion Week.

Korea24 – 2021.03.08. (Monday)

News Briefing: Seoul and Washington have concluded talks on the long-awaited renewal of a defense cost-sharing deal regarding American troops stationed on the Korean Peninsula. While details have yet to be released, an unnamed U.S. official was quoted as saying that a "meaningful increase" in Seoul's contribution was included. (Eunice Kim)

In-Depth News Analysis Part 1: Seoul Bureau Chief for The Economist Lena Schipper delves into the weekly paper's annual "Glass Ceiling Index(GCI)," published marking International Women's Day, that assesses where women in OECD countries stand in the workplace. She talks about how South Korea ended up at the bottom of the list and what needs to be done to further support working women.

In-Depth News Analysis Part 2: Evans J.R. Revere, senior director with the Albright Stonebridge Group and former acting assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, talks about the springtime joint military exercises between South Korea and the US that began Monday and if they'll prompt a response from North Korea. He also talks about how the regime is heavily focused on its own economic concerns and how this could be the time for the US to put more pressure on North Korea with stronger sanctions.

Korea Trending with Alex Sigrist: Migrant workers and employers criticize a new government measure on temporary housing(비닐하우스 숙소 금지에 농가 발 동동…양성화·유예기간 절실), rumors emerge about a large amount of gold buried under an old farmstead in North Jeolla Province(전북 익산 도심에 금괴 2t 매장설 확산…경찰 "확인된 바 없어"), and BTS is set to perform at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards(‘그래미 후보’ 방탄소년단, 공연도 한다…한국 가수 최초).

Sports: Yoo Jee-ho from Yonhap News Agency talks about Son Heung-min and Harry Kane breaking the record of the most goal combinations in a single season, the KBO's SK Wyverns being rebranded as the SSG Landers, and short track star Lim Hyo-jun applying for Chinese citizenship to boost his chances of competing at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

Morning Edition Preview with Mark Wilson-Choi: Mark shares a piece from the Korea Times that talks about a special grant by the Korea Arts Management Service(KAMS) that helps strengthen the relationship between artists and gallery owners. He then talks about a large indie music festival kicking off on Monday that aims to support indie music venues hit hard by the pandemic.

Korea24 – 2021.03.05. (Friday)

News Briefing: The Health and Welfare Ministry released a draft plan on how it will revise the current five-tier social distancing scheme to four levels and to better convey public action plans for each level. The draft is also designed to have less impact on small businesses. (Eunice Kim)

In-Depth News Analysis: Law professor Song Se-ryun from Kyunghee University and reporter Lee Kyung-min of the Korea Times talk about how South Korea's political parties are finalizing their candidates for the upcoming mayoral by-elections. They also talk about the second round of the primaries as the parties narrow their selections down to a single candidate to avoid a split in votes.

Korea Trending with Alex Sigrist: Gyeongchip - the day that small animals awaken from their winter slumber - signals that spring is right around the corner(경칩), a complaint is filed by the Korea Railroad Corporation against a woman who broke social distancing rules by eating on a train(“우리 아빠가 누군데”…KTX내 취식 20대 결국 고발), and the actor Ji Soo admits to severe bullying allegations from when he was in middle school(배우 지수, 학폭 인정).

Movie Spotlight: Film critics Darcy Paquet and Jason Bechervaise dedicate the entire segment to Lee Isaac Chung's semi-autobiographical film, "Minari(미나리)." They delve into its production, its exceptional cast, and the film's chances at the 93rd Academy Awards.

Next Week from Seoul: Mark Wilson-Choi brings us stories and events to look out for the following week, including the government task force wrapping up its examination on alleged land speculations made by officials of the Korea Land and Housing Corporation(LH).

Korea24 – 2021.03.04. (Thursday)

- News Briefing: Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl has announced his intent to resign, reiterating his opposition to the ruling camp's law enforcement reform. Speaking to reporters in front of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office in Seoul on Thursday, he said the spirit of the constitution is being torn apart and that he has no choice but to step down. President Moon Jae-in accepted the top prosecutor’s resignation. (Koo Heejin)

- In-Depth News Analysis: Professor Kim Byoung-joo of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies(HUFS) and Professor Kim Kee-chang of Korea University’s School of Law delve into Yoon Seok-youl’s resignation and discuss what the next steps could be for the former top prosecutor as well as the government’s prosecutorial reform.

- Korea Trending with Alex Sigrist: Former Staff Sergeant Byun Hee-soo, who was forcibly discharged after her sex reassignment surgery, was found dead in her home on Wednesday(‘성전환 뒤 강제 전역’ 변희수 전 하사 숨진 채 발견), Korean school textbooks portray South Korea’s stand on climate change over the past 30 years(“30년 내내 북극곰 사진만”…교과서 이대로 괜찮나?), and the Korea Football Association(KFA) taps Lee Young-pyo as Vice President(이영표, 대한축구협회 부회장 전격 선임).

- Explore Korea: Andy St. Louis talks about the exhibition “Tactics(전술들),” held at the Nam June Park Art Center(백남준 아트센터). Andy describes the show that heavily features installation and video art by artists from South Korea and abroad, and discusses how they address the idea of resisting centralization while aiming to emphasize a collective hope for a better future.

- Morning Edition Preview with Mark Wilson-Choi: Mark shares a feature from the Korea Times that features a Buddhist artist who adds a modern twist to his technique. He also talks about an article from the Korea Herald that covers the growing popularity of cycling amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Korea24 – 2021.03.03. (Wednesday)

- News Briefing: The Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency announced on Wednesday that it launched an investigation into 14 employees of the Korea Land and Housing Corporation(LH) who are accused of speculative land purchases in two Gyeonggi Province cities recently named as development zones. (Eunice Kim)

- In-Depth News Analysis: Economics professors Yang Jun-suk from the Catholic University of Korea and Shin Se-don from Sookmyung Women's University delve into the latest relief package unveiled by the Moon administration worth 19.5 trillion won. They break down the details of the fourth relief package aimed at helping small businesses along with others hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and also address any concerns it may present.

- Korea Trending with Lee Ju-young: Seoul's population dips below 10 million for the first time in over 30 years(32년 만에 서울 인구 ‘천만 명’ 밑으로), a hotel allegedly fires a part-time employee due to his physical disabilities(“호텔 정문에 왜 장애인을 세웠냐”…지배인 지적 뒤 해고된 청년), and multiple sources predict that Minari's Han Ye-ri will get a nomination for Best Actress for the 93rd Academy Awards. (美 버라이어티 등 "'미나리' 한예리, 오스카 유력 후보").

Korea Book Club: Barry Welsh shares "Tower(타워)" by Bae Myung-hoon(배명훈), who is considered one of the top science-fiction novelists in South Korea. Barry talks about the novel comprising several interconnected short stories all set in the "Beanstalk," a towering superstructure several hundreds of stories high in the not-too-distant future.

- Morning Edition Preview: Mark shares a story from the Korea Herald on a project by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism that will create a venue specifically made for the production of online K-pop concerts.

Korea24 – 2020.03.02. (Tuesday)

News Briefing: The South Korean cabinet has approved a 15 trillion won extra budget plan aimed to help small businesses suffering from the protracted COVID-19 pandemic. (Koo Heejin)

In-Depth News Analysis: Professor Melinda Mills from the Department of Sociology at the University of Oxford delves into the idea of a “Vaccine Passport” as COVID-19 vaccines roll out in South Korea and other parts of the world. Professor Mills discusses possible issues that this concept could present, such as discrimination. (백신여권)

Korea Trending with Lee Ju-young: South Korean parents now have access to unaltered CCTV footage from daycare centers(어린이집 CCTV), hundreds of vehicles (and the people in them) were stranded on Korean expressways for hours(강원도 폭설로 동해고속도로, 서울-양양 고속도로 등 차량 수백 대 고립), and Newcastle United puts their offer on the table for South Korean midfielder Lee Kang-in(영국 뉴캐슬, 이강인에 410억 제안).

Touch Base in Seoul: Former MLB coach Carlos Subero talks about his role as the new manager of the KBO’s Hanwha Eagles. The Venezuelan native talks about his journey to South Korea and his hopes for the upcoming 2021 season.

Morning Edition Preview with Mark Wilson-Choi: Mark shares a piece in the Korea Times that features a new film exhibition by the Korean Film Archive(KOFA), and a Korea Herald story that covers the Korea Creative Content Agency's(KOCCA) latest budget to support the local video content industry.

Korea24 – 2021.03.01. (Monday)

News Briefing: In a speech marking the 102nd anniversary of the March First Independence Movement Day on Monday, President Moon Jae-in said South Korea is ready for face-to-face talks with Japan, and that the past should not hold the two nations back. (Eunice Kim)

In-Depth News Analysis: Dr. Bong Young-shik from the Yonsei Institute for North Korean Studies and Professor Kan Kimura from the Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies at Kobe University give their thoughts on President Moon Jae-in's speech and delve into the current relations between South Korea and Japan.

Korea Trending with Alex Sigrist: A civil employee of the United States Forces Korea(USFK) with COVID-19 is found to have left self-quarantine(주한미군 방역수칙), a woman goes out of her way to help catch a drunk driver(아버지 이어 음주차량 추적한 딸), and actress Song Hye-kyo teams up with a Korea PR activist professor to donate pamphlets in Los Angeles, California to teach people about Korea's independence movements(송혜교, 삼일절 맞아 LA 독립운동 역사 안내서 기증).

Sports: Yoo Jee-ho from Yonhap News Agency talks about the K-League kicking off its 2021 season and South Korean players getting ready for the major leagues as MLB's spring season training begins.

Morning Edition Preview with Mark Wilson-Choi: Mark shares a piece from the Korea Times that covers the Embassy of India in Seoul and the Indian Cultural Centre opening a Korean chapter of Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth(SPIC MACAY). He also talks about a Korea Herald piece that delves into the recent wave of bullying allegations made against Korean celebrities and what the youth may be learning from it.

Korea24 – 2021.02.26. (Friday)

News Briefing: South Korea has begun administering its first available COVID-19 vaccines to medical workers and patients at long-term care facilities on Friday. The immunization program launches some 13 months after the first coronavirus case was reported in the country. Through the program, the government aims to immunize more than 70 percent of the population by September, in order to achieve herd immunity by November. (Eunice Kim)

In-Depth News Analysis(Weekly Economy Review): Economics professor Yang Jun-suk from the Catholic University of Korea gives his thoughts on the nation's new plan to impose taxes on cryptocurrency transactions. He also talks about issues such as the Bank of Korea's announcement to once again freeze the key policy rate and its growth forecast for 2021.

Korea Trending with Alex Sigrist: South Koreans living abroad talk about symptoms they've experienced after receiving AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine(아스트라제네카 백신 맞아보니…"이틀 정도 으슬으슬"), a man takes back school bullying accusations against a pro footballer("가해 선수의 인생 망치고 싶지 않다" 학폭 제보자의 이유있는 변심), and FC Barcelona shows interest in South Korean midfielder Lee Kang-in(바르셀로나, 이강인 영입 고려).

Movie Spotlight: Film critics Darcy Paquet and Jason Bechervaise review the action-comedy "Mission: Possible(미션파서블)," starring Kim Young-kwang(김영광) and Lee Sun-bin(이선빈). They also discuss the award-winning film "Go Back(고백)," which tackles issues such as child abuse and violence against women.

Next Week from Seoul: Mark Wilson-Choi brings us stories and events to look out for the following week, including the Health Ministry announcing changes to the nation's social distancing system.

Korea24 – 2021.02.25. (Thursday)

- News Briefing: Reversing the previous Trump administration's withdrawal from the UN Human Rights Council in 2018, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed America’s commitment to address human rights abuses. He specified North Korea as a violator, but only cast doubts on whether Washington will be able to pursue both human rights and nuclear dialogue with Pyongyang. (Koo Heejin)

- In-Depth News Analysis Part 1: Joanna Hosaniak, the deputy director-general of the Seoul-based NGO Citizens Alliance for North Korean Human Rights (NKHR), gives her insight on Blinken's call for investigations into North Korea's human rights abuses and the current human rights situation there.

- In-Depth News Analysis Part 2: Seoul-based journalist Steven Borowiec discusses the idea of the pandemic widening the gap between South Korea's haves and have-nots, a subject that he wrote an article on. He talks about how large conglomerates have fared well, while small businesses took the brunt of the pandemic-induced economic struggles.

- Korea Trending with Alex Sigrist: The Supreme Court finds a man not guilty for refusing reserve forces training due to his personal beliefs(비폭력 신념 따른 예비군훈련 거부 첫 무죄 확정), K-League star Ki Sung-Yueng denies sexual assault accusations(기성용, 성폭행 의혹 직접 부인), and PSY's entertainment company P Nation teases a comeback from one of its artists(피네이션, 3월 컴백 예고).

- Explore Korea: Allison Needels from the travel and culture blog Moon Bear Travel shares the history behind Incheon Open Port, dating all the way back to the Joseon Dynasty. She talks about events that led to the country opening its port, such as the Ganghwa Treaty, and picks out spots we can visit today. (강화도조약, 인천 개항장거리)

- Morning Edition Preview with Mark Wilson-Choi: Mark shares a feature from the Korea Times on actress Han Ye-ri and her thoughts on her role in the widely-acclaimed film "Minari." He also talks about a piece in the Korea Herald that talks about big data revealing the growing number of tourists opting to head outdoors amid the pandemic.

Korea24 – 2021.02.24. (Wednesday)

- News Briefing: Final preparations are being made for South Korea’s COVID-19 vaccination program, which starts on Friday, February 26. The first batch of AstraZeneca vaccines left the factory in Andong and arrived in a logistics center. (Eunice Kim)

- In-Depth News Analysis: Harry Kazianis, Senior Director of Korean Studies at the Center for the National Interest, gives his thoughts on how the stalled nuclear negotiations between the US and North Korea could proceed under the Joe Biden administration.

- Korea Trending with Lee Ju-young: A survey reveals a possible shift in career aspirations among South Korea's students(초등학생 희망직업), Big Hit Entertainment unveils their stellar earnings in 2020(빅히트 창사 이래 최고 실적), and golf legend Tiger Woods is seriously injured in a car crash near LA(타이거 우즈 교통사고).

Korea Book Club: Literary translator Anton Hur shares two pieces by award-winning writer Suhryun Park(박서련), "The Woman Who Climbed Up on the Roof(체공녀 강주룡)" based on a historic/historical figure, and "The Work of Martha(마르타의 일)" that alludes to the biblical story between sisters Martha and Mary.

- Morning Edition Preview: Mark shares a story from the Korea Times that covers a new educational dance game and a piece from the Korea Herald that talks about non-Koreans making kimchi at home around the world.