Korea24 – 2020.07.10 (Friday)

News Briefing Part 1: Shim Kyu-seok of the Korea JoongAng Daily discusses details surrounding the death of Seoul’s mayor Park Won-soon(박원순). He also talks about his life as an outspoken human rights lawyer and the formal complaint filed against him.

News Briefing Part 2: On Friday, the Moon administration announced a set of toughened measures aimed at containing soaring residential property values. (Sam Len)

In-Depth News Analysis (Weekly Economy Review): Professor Yang Jun-suk of the Catholic University of Korea breaks down the Moon administration’s new round of real estate measures and gives us his own thoughts on the new policy.

Korea Trending with Jacco Zwetsloot: The race for the ruling Democratic Party’s leadership is put on hold out of respect for the passing of Seoul’s mayor Park Won-soon, a fire breaks out in a Goheung Country hospital and BTS’s music video of “Blood Sweat and Tears(피 땀 눈물)” reaches 600 million views.

Movie Spotlight: Film critics Darcy Paquet and Jason Bechervaise share the Hollywood film "Bombshell(밤쉘)" by Jay Roach and the South Korean film "Fanfare(팡파레)" by Lee Don-ku(이돈구).

Next Week from Seoul: Mark Wilson-Choi brings us stories to look out for the following week, including South Korean President Moon Jae-in announcing details of his administration’s “New Deal” package.

Korea24 – 2020.07.09. (Thursday)

- News Briefing:President Moon Jae-in stressed on Thursday the need for South Korea to become a global powerhouse in materials, parts and equipment. He made the remark during a visit to SK Hynix, which has succeeded in domestically developing semiconductor parts that had been imported from Japan prior to Tokyo's enactment of trade restrictions on Seoul. (Robert Koehler)

- In-Depth News Analysis Part 1: Bae Hyun-jung (배현정) of the Korea Herald gives an overview of the current South Korean housing market, new measures that could raise the real estate holding tax for homeowners and where the market is headed.

- In-Depth News Analysis Part 2: Jesse Quigley Jones, the managing editor for The Economist Intelligence Unit, discusses a recent report on Cancer Preparedness in the Asia Pacific. He talks about what the study found, how South Korea compares to other countries in the region, and where it can improve.

- Korea Trending with Lee Ju-young: One of South Korea’s oldest high schools will lose its autonomous status, an award from the Korean Sports & Olympic Committee honors the late Cho Yang-ho(조양호) and former Major League (MLB) player Addison Russell joins the Korea Baseball Organization’s (KBO) Kiwoom Heroes.

- Explore Korea: Jennifer Chang shares the exhibition “New Discovery of Travel(여행의 새 발견),” held at the Culture Station Seoul 284(문화역서울284). She talks about how the theme of travel is represented through media and installation art, as well as talk sessions and performances.

- Morning Edition Preview with Mark Wilson-Choi: Mark shares an article from the Korea Times that features Koreatowns in the U.S. and how they have been affected by recent demonstrations. He also shares a piece by the Korea Herald that talks about virtual and digital celebrities, and their history in South Korea.

Korea24 – 2020.07.08. (Wednesday)

- News Briefing: Lee Do-hoon(이도훈), special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, and his US counterpart, Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun, met in Seoul Wednesday and agreed to resume efforts to get Pyongyang to discuss the scrapping of its nuclear weapons. (Sam Len)

- In-Depth News Analysis: US President Trump says he’s open to the idea of another summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, if he thought it was going to be helpful. This comes as US Deputy Secretary of State is visiting Seoul. Professor Park Won Gon(박원곤) of Handong Global University(한동대학교) discusses Biegun’s visit to Seoul, the prospects of the third US-North Korea summit, and the future of denuclearization talks.

- Korea Trending with Jacco Zwetsloot: South Korea tightens quarantine rules for churches (교회 전자출입명부 도입), freelance journalist Kim Woong(김웅) is sentenced to prison for attempted blackmail, and Valencia CF midfielder Lee Kang-in(이강인) scores his first goal in some nine months.

- Korea Book Club: Barry Welsh shares Korean Literature Now, a quarterly literary magazine by the Literature Translation Institute of Korea that features book reviews, poetry, interviews, artwork and more. He also discusses an essay on women’s housing experiences, featured in the magazine.

- Morning Edition Preview with Mark Wilson-Choi: Mark shares an article from the Korea Times that covers a wastewater treatment plant that doubles as a solar panel farm. He then discusses an article from the Korea Herald on the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism injecting 156.9 billion won to support artists who have suffered at the hands of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Korea24 – 2020.07.07. (Tuesday)

- News Briefing: In a news conference on Tuesday, Democratic Party(DP) lawmaker Lee Nak-yon officially declared his candidacy in the election for the ruling party’s new leader, to be held at a party convention in August. (Robert Koehler)

- In-Depth News Analysis Part 1: Lidia Morawska, Professor of atmospheric sciences and environmental engineering at Queensland University of Technology, discusses the open letter for the World Health Organization(WHO). The letter calls for the health agency to update its guidelines for COVID-19, as many experts claim the novel coronavirus can spread through the air.

- In-Depth News Analysis Part 2: Dr. Chung Heejung(정희정), Reader in Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Kent, discusses how flexible working has affected gender equality and what more needs to be done.

- Korea Trending with Lee Ju-young: Last week's nationwide shopping event is a success as it continues through July(대한민국 동행세일), a new controversial website reveals the personal information of suspects convicted of heavy crimes(디지털 교도소), and the South Korean label Illionaire Records closes its doors after ten years(일리네어 레코즈).

- Touch Base in Seoul: H.E. Joanne Doornewaard, Dutch Ambassador to South Korea, reflects on the strong history between South Korea and the Netherlands. She also discusses their responses to COVID-19, and how the two nations can work together for green growth. (요안나 도너바르트 주한네덜란드 대사)

- Morning Edition Preview with Mark Wilson-Choi: Korea Times has a story that talks about the return of live-action South Korean Pro Wrestling, and on the Korea Herald a story covers controversial scenes depicted in K-dramas.

Korea24 – 2020.07.06. (Monday)

- News Briefing: At a press conference on Monday, two former teammates of Choi Suk-hyeon(최숙현), a triathlete who took her own life last month after allegedly being abused by coaching staff and teammates, supported her accusations and claimed that physical and verbal harassment were rampant in their semi-pro club. (Sam Len)

- In-Depth News Analysis: Sports Professors Kim Yu-kyoum (서울대학교 체육교육과 김유겸 교수) of Seoul National University and Chung Yong-chul (서강대학교 교육대학원 체육교육과 정용철 교수) of Sogang University discuss the physical and psychological abuse within South Korean sports and what needs to be done to end it.

- Korea Trending with Jacco Zwetsloot: Former South Chungcheong Province An Hee-jung(안희정) is temporarily released from prison, an investigation is led into a case that involves a cab driver that prevented an ambulance from going to the hospital(구급차 막은 택시), and Son Ye-jin(손예진) is likely to make her Hollywood debut in Andrew Niccol's "Cross."

- Sports: Yoo Jee-ho from Yonhap News Agency talks about the K League 1's top squad, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC losing a second time, the KBO's clubs remaining bunched in the middle of the rankings, and Kim Min-sun (김민선) winning her first KLPGA title in 3 years.

- Morning Edition Preview with Mark Wilson-Choi: Mark shares an article from the Korea Times on young South Korean demonstrators joining in on the #BoycottMulan movement. He also covers an article from the Korea Herald that talks about the difficulties that South Koreans with disabilities are facing amid the ongoing pandemic.

Korea24 – 2020.07.03. (Friday)

News Briefing: President Moon Jae-in has nominated ruling Democratic Party Rep. Lee In-young(이인영) as his new unification minister. The reshuffle was announced on Friday in the wake of recent inter-Korean tension. (Sam Len)

In-Depth News Analysis: Dr. Choi Ji-eun, international spokesperson for the ruling Democratic Party(더불어민주당 최지은) and Lee Jun-seok former Executive Vice Rep. of the United Future Party(미래통합당 이준석) debate the pros and cons of changing workers' status from non-regular to regular and how it affects young job seekers. (인국공 정규직 전환 논란)

Korea Trending with Jacco Zwetsloot: The South Korean Army dismisses the appeal of Byun hee-soo's (변희수) return to service, the government seizes a large number of counterfeit face masks(가짜마스크) and controversial "Coronavirus Parties"(코로나파티) occur in the U.S. state of Alabama.

Movie Spotlight: Film critics Darcy Paquet and Jason Bechervase share "The Singer(소리꾼)" by Cho Jung-rae(조정래) and the German film "Transit(트랜짓)" by Christian Petzold.

Next Week from Seoul: Mark Wilson-Choi brings us stories to look out for the following week, including Stephen Biegun's possible visit to Korea.

Korea24 – 2020.07.02. (Thursday)

- News Briefing: Tensions are rising between Chief Prosecutor Yoon Seok-youl(윤석열) and Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae(추미애), as the Justice Minister issued an order to the chief prosecutor, warning him to back off from a case. (Robert Koehler)

- In-Depth News Analysis Part 1: Professor Yang Jun-suk of the Catholic University of Korea discusses the deep divide between South Korea's labor unions and employers in setting next year's minimum wage. He talks about arguments from both sides, and how the issue could pan out. (최저임금)

- In-Depth News Analysis Part 2: Dr. Kang Hyun-mi of Seoul St. Mary's Hospital talks about hemolytic uremic syndrome or "hamburger disease" and how to prevent it, following an outbreak at a kindergarten in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province. (안산 유치원 집단 식중독, 장출혈성대장균확진자 60명)

- Korea Trending with Lee Ju-young: A 30-year murder case if finally solved, a promising South Korean Triathlete takes her own life, and K-pop girl group Blackpink breaks multiple world records with their music video of "How You Like That." (이춘재, 최숙현, 블랙핑크)

- Explore Korea: Andy St. Louis shares two exhibitions by media artist Park Young-deok, aka Insane Park. He talks about how the artist uses multimedia installations for "I have no idea, because I have no idea," and paintings emulating the world-famous American Painter, Bob Ross. (아라리오 갤러리 인세인 박 개인전 "나는 아무 생각이 없다, 왜냐하면 아무 생각이 없기 때문이다," "그림을 그립시다"")

-Morning Edition Preview with Mark Wilson-Choi: Mark talks about an article from the Korea Times that talks about the construction of a Cheorwon County theme park that could destroy endangered animals' habitats in the area.

Korea24 – 2020.07.01. (Wednesday)

- News Briefing Part 1: Journalist Tom Grundy of Hong Kong Free Press (HKFP) talks about the newly passed National Security Law that broadens China's authority into Hong Kong's legal system. He also discusses what law means for Hong Kong and its people.

- News Briefing Part 2: Hong Kong police used force to disperse protesters on Wednesday, which marks the 23rd anniversary of the former British colony's handover to China, as demonstrations continue following the enactment of a national security law a day earlier. (Sam Len)

- In-Depth News Analysis: Law professor Cho hee-kyung and reporter Shim Kyu-seok of the Korea JoongAng Daily discuss the government's plan to launch the Corruption Investigation Office For High-ranking Officials (공수처) this month, although the major opposition United Future Party (UFP) has been strongly against it.

- - Korea Trending with Jacco Zwetsloot: South Korea provides remdesivir to treat local COVID-19 patients(렘데시비르), the government enforces a QR code system for "high risk" facilities(고위험시설 QR코드) and a new strain of swine flu virus has the potential to become a pandemic (돼지독감).

- Korea Book Club: Barry Welsh shares the book "도시는 무엇으로 이루어지는가 (What Makes a City?)" by Park Seongwon(박성원), and discusses the collection of short stories that cover every facet of human struggle through humor and despair.

- Morning Edition Preview with Mark Wilson-Choi: Mark shares an article from the Korea Herald that features the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA), and talks about its plans to potentially reopen its doors as the number of COVID-19 infections falls.

Korea24 – 2020.06.30. (Tuesday)

- News Briefing: Six months after the very first reported COVID-19 case from China, epidemiologist Dr. Bryan Kim from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) gives the latest information on the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

- Special Roundtable: In a special panel discussion, four experts share their thoughts, opinions and predictions for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, half a year after its first case was reported. How well did South Korea’s response measures work? What could we have done better? What lies ahead for us?

Guests :

1. Dr. Ki Mo-ran from the National Cancer Center's Department of Cancer Control and Population Health, in charge of the COVID-19 committee of the Korean Society for Preventive Medicine (기모란 교수, 국립암센터 국제암대학원대학교 교수 / 대한예방의학회 코로나19 대책위원장)

2. Dr. Jerome Kim, Director General of the International Vaccine Institute (제롬 김 사무총장, 국제백신연구소)

3. Michael Breen, former president of the Seoul Foreign Correspondents Club (마이클 브린 기자, 전 서울외신기자클럽 회장)

4. Dr. Kim Byung-joo(김병주), affiliate professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. (김병주 한국외대 겸임교수/시사평론가)

Korea24 – 2020.06.29. (Monday)

- News Briefing: The ruling Democratic Party(DP) has produced chairpersons for 17 of 18 parliamentary standing committees, but without the participation of the main opposition United Future Party(UFP) breaking a 35-year old convention of assigning the posts according to the seat distribution by parties. (Sam Im)

- In-Depth News Analysis Part 1: Dr. Bruce Klingner, former CIA deputy division chief for Korea and current senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, discusses what to make of North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un's order to suspend military actions and remove propaganda speakers just as inter-Korean tensions were at their height.

- In-Depth News Analysis Part 2: Daniel Yoo, Head of Global Investment at Yuanta Securities Korea, talks about the Japanese restrictions on exports imposed onto South Korea and how it has affected both economies for the past year.

- Korea Trending with Jacco Zwetsloot: The government offers financial aid to South Korean airlines amid COVID-19 (항공산업 지원), a survey asks how people feel about public agencies switching employee statuses from irregular to regular (인국공 정규직 전환), and U.S. President Donald Trump takes down a retweet containing racist remarks.

- Sports: Yoo Jee-ho from Yonhap News Agency talks about the government's decision to allow sports fans into stadiums, though in a limited capacity to follow proper social distancing. He also shares the results of the much-anticipated match between K League 1's top two teams as well as the latest KBO standings.

- Morning Edition Preview with Mark Wilson-Choi: Mark shares an article from the Korea Times on the South Korean health authorities advising companies to encourage their employees to take their summer vacations in September. He also shares an article on the Korea Herald on the victims of relationship violence and where victims can go for help.