Korea24 – 2022.12.22 (Thursday)

News Briefing: Rival parties have reached an agreement on next year’s budget bill, and it is set to be passed at the National Assembly on Friday. (Koo Hee-jin)

In-Depth News Analysis (Korean Politics Digest): Professor Song Se-ryun from Kyunghee University and Koo Se-woong, co-founder of Korea Expose, joins us on the line to discuss President Yoon Suk-yeol’s approval rating, which jumped up to over 40% for the first time in six months this week.

Korea Trending with Diane Yoo:

1. US President Joe Biden announced the US will provide $1.8 billion in additional military assistance for Ukraine. (바이든 "우크라 지속 지원"…젤렌스키 "주권·영토 타협불가")

2. A charity that provides warm meals to the underprivileged in Seoul faces a possible suspension in operations due to a dispute with the local district office. (35년 운영한 무료급식소 ‘밥퍼’ 블법 증축 논란)

3. Police officers in Busan have moved people online after they showed compassion to a woman who had been caught stealing. (무인점포 절도범 잡고 보니…고시원 복도서 라면으로 끼니 때우던 정신장애 부부)

Explore Korea: Our Culture and Art Explorer Ahn Jae-woo joins us to discuss the way Christmas is viewed and enjoyed in Korea, and how art could play a role in cultivating a more inclusive holiday for those who might be going through difficult times.

Korea24 – 2022.12.21 (Wednesday)

News Briefing: The government has slashed its economic growth outlook for next year to 1.6%, citing internal and external economic challenges. (Koo Hee-jin)

In-Depth News Analysis: South Korea's ambassador for North Korean human rights, Lee Shin-hwa, joins us via video call to discuss a recent international forum hosted by South Korea’s unification ministry on North Korea’s human rights situation, as well as continuing efforts by Seoul and the international community to address the issue.

Korea Trending with Walter Lee:

1. Singer and actor Eru has apologized for driving under the influence and said he would suspend all activities. ('음주 운전' 이루, 한 달 전에도 운전자 바꿔치기 혐의)

2. Paik Seung-ho's goal at the Qatar World Cup has been included in a list of the top ten goals of the tournament by FIFA. ('백승호 브라질전 중거리슛' 카타르 WC 베스트골 후보에 포함)

3. Elon Musk has expressed intent to step down as CEO of Twitter after the results of a poll he held on the platform. (머스크, 결국 트위터 CEO 사의 발표)

Korea Book Club with Barry Welsh: “Wind Burial (풍장)” and other poems by Hwang Dong-kyu (translated by Brother Anthony)

Morning Edition Preview with Chris Welsh:

- The Korea Times: Yee Soo-kyung’s aesthetic journey through broken ceramic shards (Park Han-sol)

- The Korea Herald: Acclaimed soloists to perform with the KBS Symphony Orchestra next year (Hwang Dong-hee)

Korea24 – 2022.12.20 (Tuesday)

News Briefing: South Korea and the US carried out a joint air drill, involving US Air Force F-22 stealth fighters, in continued defiance of North Korea’s provocations. (Daniel Choy)

In-Depth News Analysis: Karen Curtis, chief of the Freedom of Association Branch at the International Labour Standards Department of the International Labour Organization joins us on the line to discuss the recent unionized truckers strike in Korea and concerns over the government’s return-to-work orders.

Korea Trending with Diane Yoo:

1. 54 skiers were stuck on a ski lift for some three hours after a malfunction at a resort in Gangwon province on Monday. (평창 리프트 멈춤 사고로 54명 고립, 3시간만에 구조)

2. South Korea is reportedly investigating claims that China may be operating ‘secret police stations’ in the country. (국내 '중국 비밀 경찰서' 범정부 실태 파악 착수)

3. Reigning KBO MVP Lee Jung-hoo of the Kiwoom Heroes expressed his intent to play in the MLB after next season. ('타격 5관왕' 이정후, MLB 진출 공식 선언)

Touch Base In Seoul: Pianist Michelle Kim joins us via video to discuss her career, the charity she founded “Hong Kong Generation Next Arts (HKGNA)”, and a recent music festival featuring the legendary Korean Soprano Sumi Jo.

Morning Edition Preview with Walter Lee:

- The Korea Times: Rise of webtoons has positive impact on print industry (Park Han-sol)

- The Korea Herald: BTS’ Busan concert ‘Yet To Come’ to hit global cinemas (Choi Ji-won)

Korea24 – 2022.12.19. (Monday)

News Briefing: North Korea's claims that the MRBM launch it conducted on Sunday was an "important, final phase" test to put a military reconnaissance satellite into space. (Daniel Choy)

In-Depth News Analysis : According to a recent report released by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, over 3,300 people died lonely deaths(고독사) in South Korea last year, and this number has been continuously growing. Reporter Seo Ji-eun from the Korea Joongang Daily joins the show to discuss the issue.

Korea Trending with Walter Lee:

1. Roh-So-young, the wife of SK Group Chairperson Chey Tae-won, appealed a court's divorce ruling which ordered him to pay 66.5 billion won in property division and an alimony of 100 million won. (노소영 "SK주식 혼인 중 샀다" 665억원 분할 불복 항소)

2. A local court handed down a suspended sentence to a man in his twenties who had been stalking a mother and her ten-year-old son. They were complete strangers. The suspended sentence was because of the man's expression of remorse, and his intellectual disability. (양구서 생면부지 10세 아동과 친모 따라다니며 스토킹한 20대)

3. Trains running on Paris Metro's Line 1 will have announcements warning passengers of pickpockets available in Korean. The S.Korean Embassy in France worked with the operator RATP to have the announcements on when the capital sees a surge in tourists. ("조심하세요"…파리 지하철역서 한국말 방송 나온다, 무슨 내용)

Monday Sports Roundup : Sports journalist Yoo Jee-ho from the Yonhap News Agency begins with Argentina’s victory at the Qatar World Cup. He then brings us news of speed skater Kim Min-sun continuing her winning streak and swimmer Hwang Sun-woo defending his title despite an injury.

Morning Edition Preview with Katie Suh: In tomorrow’s Korea Herald, Hwang Dong-hee writes about the revival of a Joseon Royal Banquet that was held in 1902.

Korea24 – 2022.12.16 (Friday)

News Briefing: Memorial ceremonies for the victims of the Itaewon crowd crush were held across the country, marking the 49th day since the tragedy, representing the final day of mourning in Buddhist tradition. (Emma Sparks)

In-Depth News Analysis: Professor Ahn Jae-myung from the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) joins us on the line to discuss South Korea's first-ever lunar orbiter, Danuri, entering the moon’s orbit this week after its four month journey from earth.

Korea Trending with Walter Lee:

1. The CEO of Institut Pasteur Korea, Dr. Jee Young-mee, is reportedly being tapped to head the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. (새 질병관리청장에 지영미 유력…‘이해충돌’ 논란 백경란 후임)

2. A Seoul subway train broke down on a bridge on Thursday night, trapping some 500 passengers for two hours. (‘한강철교 위’ 지하철 1호선 고장…2시간 동안 ‘덜덜’)

3. South Korea is set to compete in the Asia Professional Baseball Championship next November. (한국, 6년만에 열리는 APBC 참가…내년 11월 개최)

Movie Spotlight with Jason Bechervaise and Darcy Paquet:

- “Avatar: The Way of Water (아바타: 물의 길)”

- “Before, Now & Then (나나)”

Next Week From Seoul with Richard Larkin:

- The government will release details for adjusting its COVID-19 indoor mask mandate by next Friday.

- The Seoul Light-Gwanghwa and Seoul Lantern Festival will run at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul from Monday.

- The World Cup final between Argentina and France will take place on Sunday.

Korea24 – 2022.12.15. (Thursday)

News Briefing: The U.S. Federal Reserve raised its key interest by 50 basis points, further widening the gap with the Bank of Korea’s rate to a 22-year-high. (Koo Hee-jin)

In-Depth News Analysis : For a special Korean Politics Digest, Scot Marciel, former US Ambassador for ASEAN affairs, joins Dr. Kim Byoung-joo in the studio. Our experts discuss the Indo-Pacific Strategies of the US and South Korea, and how the allies can cooperate in the region.

Korea Trending with Diane Yoo:

1. A boy passed away after a car driven by his grandmother crashed in Gangneung. While the family claims that the accident was caused by sudden unintended acceleration, the grandmother has been booked for now. (할머니 몰던 차 ‘굉음 질주’해 손자 숨져…“급발진 의심”)

2. The Korea Post announced its plans for next year's commemorative stamps, which includes megastars BTS and Pororo the Little Penguin. (내년 상반기, 방탄소년단 기념우표 나온다)

3. France beat Morocco 2-0 at the FIFA World Cup, and will now face Argentina for the final match on Sunday, local time. (모로코 돌풍 잠재운 프랑스‥'음바페·메시' 결승 격돌)

Explore Korea: Allison Needels from the travel/history website Pinpoint Korea shares the history behind Cheongju’s Sangdangsanseong and introduces a few museums to visit while in the city.

Morning Edition Preview with Richard Larkin:

-The Korea Herald: Reporter Yoon Min-sik spoke to a medical expert and asked if Korean traditional home remedies are actually effective.

-The Korea Times: Lee Hae-rin writes about the Korean government’s plan to introduce two new types of visas next year.

Korea24 – 2022.12.14 (Wednesday)

News Briefing: The former spy chief Park Jie-won has appeared for prosecutors’ questioning over cover-up allegations in the 2020 fisheries official shooting by North Korean soldiers. (Koo Hee-jin)

In-Depth News Analysis: Professor Kim Yong-jin from Sogang Business School and Economics Professor Yang Jun-sok from the Catholic University of Korea join us over the line to discuss the government’s plan to cut corporate tax rates for conglomerates, a key sticking point in the clash between rival parties for the 2023 budget.

Korea Trending with Walter Lee:

1. A teenager who survived the Itaewon crowd crush was found dead in an apparent suicide on Monday. (이태원 참사 생존 고교생, 숨진 채 발견…극단적 선택 추정)

2. A convicted sex offender, who fled after allegedly killing a woman despite wearing an electronic anklet, has been caught by the police. (전자발찌 차고 만취해 여성 살해...40대 남성 긴급체포)

3. Argentina are through to the final of the World Cup after beating Croatia 3-0 on Tuesday. ('라스트댄스' 메시 1골 1도움...아르헨티나, 8년 만에 결승 진출)

Korea Book Club with Barry Welsh: “The Hellbound” by Yeon Sang-ho (Illustration and artwork by Choi Gyu-seok, translated by Danny Lim)

Morning Edition Preview with Richard Larkin:

- The Korea Herald: K-Pop enters ‘hallyu 3.0’ with localized idol groups (Hong Yoo)

Korea24 – 2022.12.13 (Tuesday)

News Briefing: The government’s emergency response system was mobilized on Tuesday following a forecast of heavy snowfall in many parts of the nation. (Daniel Choy)

In-Depth News Analysis: Greg Scarlatoiu, Executive Director at the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, joins us on the line to discuss growing calls for the UN Security Council to hold open discussions on North Korea’s human rights violations.

Korea Trending with Diane Yoo:

1. Seoul subway trains are set to pass stations without stopping if there are serious delays due to protests by disability rights groups. (오늘부터 전장연 시위로 지하철 지연 심하면 무정차 통과)

2. The government announced plans to help parents with childcare costs, including a “parenting allowance”. (새해부터 0세 아동에 월 70만 원 지급‥4차 중장기 보육 계획 발표)

3. An off-duty firefighter couple stopped a fire that they spotted in their neighbor’s apartment. (집주인도 몰랐던 불씨 포착…이웃집 화재 막은 부부 소방관)

Touch Base In Seoul: The Israeli Ambassador to South Korea stops by the studio to discuss 60 years of South Korea-Israel relations, the Korea-Israel FTA, and his personal experiences of Korea.

Morning Edition Preview with Richard Larkin:

- The Korea Times: Seoul City to reopen ice rink after almost 3 years (Lee Yeon-woo)

- The Korea Herald: Four world classics translated into Korean for 1st time (Hwang Dong-hee)

Korea24 – 2022.12.12 (Monday)

News Briefing: Negotiations between the rival political parties over the 2023 budget ahead of Thursday’s deadline have hit an impasse following the opposition party’s unilateral passage of a motion calling for the dismissal of the interior minister. (Daniel Choy)

In-Depth News Analysis: The second vice foreign minister Lee Do-hoon set off for Washington on Sunday to hold talks with US officials on economic issues, with the Inflation Reduction Act top of the agenda. It’s the latest in a series of talks on the bill, which will exclude electric vehicles assembled outside North America from tax subsidies, and is set to hit Korean automakers. To discuss the bill and where the two sides stand on the issue, Professor Choi Won-mog from Ewha Law School joins us on the line.

Korea Trending with Walter Lee:

1. Tenants of some one-thousand villas and officetels in the Seoul metro area have been unable to get their jeonse key money deposit back after the owner of the properties suddenly died. ('빌라왕' 급사에 전세보험 든 세입자도 발 동동...원희룡도 나섰다)

2. 97 hooded cranes have been found dead near Suncheon Bay in South Jeolla Province in less than a month, all infected with the H5N1 bird flu. (변종 AI에 멸종위기종 흑두루미 집단폐사)

3. Jin of the K-pop group BTS revealed a photo of his buzz cut ahead of his mandatory military service training, which begins on Tuesday. (13일 BTS 진 입대···군, 종합상황실 운영)

Monday Sports Round-up: Sports journalist Yoo Jee-ho from the Yonhap News Agency returns after covering the World Cup. He tells us about his experience in Qatar, as well as discuss some of the latest sporting headlines, including golfer Ryu Hae-ran’s qualification to the LPGA Tour, boxer Manny Pacquiao's recent exhibition bout in Korea, and controversial American infielder Addison Russell’s return to the KBO.

Morning Edition Preview with Richard Larkin:

- In tomorrow’s Korea Herald, Park Ga-young reports on the Philharmonic Orchestra of Strasbourg’s upcoming tour of South Korea.

- Tomorrow’s Korea Times features a piece by Kwak Yeon-soo on Hollywood director James Cameron’s press conference in Seoul for the sequel to Avatar.

Korea24 – 2022.12.09 (Friday)

News Briefing: The nationwide truck drivers strike has come to an end after 16 days. Unionized truckers voted to call off the walkout, despite no demands having been met. (Koo Hee-jin)

In-Depth News Analysis (Weekly Economy Review): The cryptocurrency Wemix, operated by video game company Wemade, was delisted from South Korea’s key cryptocurrency exchanges on Thursday, spurring panic among its investors. We take a closer look at what happened with Economics Professor Yang Jun-sok from the Catholic University of Korea. We also discuss the latest jobs growth data, and the growing number of single households in Korea.

Korea Trending with Diane Yoo:

1. Police and firefighters in Ulsan killed three bears that escaped from an illegal breeding farm Thursday night. (울산서 곰 3마리 탈출...사육농장 부부 숨진 채 발견)

2. The national football team captain Son Heung-min thanked forward Oh Hyeon-gyu for his role in the team at the World Cup, despite not being included in the 26-man squad. (27번째 대표팀 선수‥등번호 없는 태극전사)

3. Singer/rapper TOP of the K-pop group Big Bang is set to accompany Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa to fly around the moon next year. (日억만장자 마에자와 "빅뱅 탑과 내년 달 여행")

Movie Spotlight: A new Korean film “Christmas Carol (크리스마스 캐럴)” hit cinemas this week. But despite its name, it is a very un-festive movie about a young man seeking revenge for the death of his brother. We’ll also discuss the US black comedy horror, “The Menu (더 메뉴)”, starring Ralph Fiennes, with our critics Jason Bechervaise and Darcy Paquet.

Next Week From Seoul with Richard Larkin:

- The top nuclear envoys of South Korea, the United States and Japan will meet in Jakarta, Indonesia next week to discuss issues related to North Korea.

- The chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will visit South Korea from next Tuesday to Friday to discuss a range of nuclear issues with government officials.

- South Korea’s first lunar orbiter “Danuri” is set to enter lunar orbit next week.