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Audio recordings of the Korea JoongAng Daily's in-depth, on-the-scene news articles and features informing readers around the world of the issues of the day in Korea. Under the slogan "Your window to Korea", the Korea JoongAng Daily is an English-language news organization focused on Korea that strives to publish factual, timely and unbiased articles.

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    APEC by the numbers: Three-fifths of the world's people and two-thirds of its GDP

    This article is by Michael Lee and read by an artificial voice. From Friday to Saturday, Korea welcomed leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) gathering to the historic city of Gyeongju, the onetime capital of the ancient kingdom of Silla and now a showcase of the country's cultural heritage. Beyond the usual spotlight that comes with hosting an APEC summit, this year's gathering in Gyeongju carries extra weight. A day after his summit with Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, marking a rare in-person meeting between the leaders of the world's two largest economies. In addition to Trump and Xi, heads of state and government from around the Pacific Rim are expected to attend, shaping discussions that could influence the future course of one of the most dynamic economic regions on earth. Founded 1989 By 1986, the format had expanded to include 12 participants - Asean's six member states and six dialogue partners - inspiring then-Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke to call for a broader framework of cooperation during a visit to Seoul in early 1989. Just 10 months later, Korea became one of the 12 founding members of APEC, which was formally established in Canberra, Australia. Its secretariat was later set up in Singapore to coordinate the forum's activities and initiatives. 21 member economies APEC's 21 members include not only countries but also Hong Kong - which joined in 1991 while still a British colony - and Taiwan, which participates as "Chinese Taipei." Each year, leaders of all 21 economies attend the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, hosted by a different member on a rotating basis. A well-known summit tradition - leaders donning attire typical of the host country - has come to symbolize the forum's spirit of cultural exchange and informality. That same year, the bloc's combined nominal GDP surpassed $64 trillion, underscoring its central role in global growth, trade and innovation. When the forum returned to Korea in 2005, the Busan Roadmap was adopted, setting out concrete steps toward the "Bogor Goals" of free and open trade and investment in Asia-Pacific. Two decades later, the 2025 Gyeongju summit gave Korea and President Lee Jae Myung a chance to highlight the country's leadership on issues such as digital transformation, the green economy and inclusive growth. Xi's last trip to Korea took place in 2014, when then-President Park Geun-hye was in power and relations between Seoul and Beijing were at their peak. During Xi's state visit to Seoul in July that year, China lent its support to Park's call for improving inter-Korean relations, as outlined in her speech in Dresden, Germany. The two countries concluded their FTA in June 2015, and Park attended a parade in Beijing three months later to mark the 70th anniversary of Japan's defeat in World War II. Relations deteriorated rapidly, however, following the Park administration's decision to deploy the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system in southern Korea, which China claimed could be used to spy on its missile capabilities. Following the cancellation of events planned by the Chinese Embassy in Seoul during the upcoming APEC summit period, Xi's visit this year was characterized by less pomp than his trip 11 years ago. Likewise, Trump's first scheduled visit under the Lee administration was brief compared to Lee's extensive trip to the United States in August. The U.S. president departed Korea on Thursday, before the APEC Economic Leaders' gathering kicked off. Three of them - China, the United States and Indonesia - rank among the five most populous countries in the world. The bloc's demographic diversity, stretching from advanced economies like Japan and Canada to developing ones like Vietnam and Papua New Guinea, gives APEC its unique character as a bridge between different stages of economic development. Trade remains at the core of APEC's mission...

    5 Min.

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    Local, disasporic artists exhibit together to explore belief from different perspectives

    This article is by Lee Jian and read by an artificial voice. [INTERVIEW] Why do you believe what you believe? A former Mormon Korean American and a Seoul-based spiritualist ask the question at Doosan Gallery's new exhibition in Jongno District, central Seoul. "sent in and spun," running through Dec. 13, is part of the gallery's ongoing series in which a Korean diasporic artist is spotlighted alongside an emerging local artist. This chapter of the series sets Brooklyn-based Korean Ginny Huo with Korea's Cha Yeonså. Huo, an interdisciplinary artist and educator, grew up in Hawaii as the child of Mormon parents. She later turned away from the faith and now uses her art to examine inherited systems of belief and how they can be reimagined. Cha is the daughter of the late Cha Dong-ha, a professor of Oriental Painting at Seoul National University who passed away in 2021. Using piles of colored hanji (mulberry paper) left behind by her father, she cuts and weaves them into her series titled "Festival" to explore the different belief systems that interpret what happens to human spirits postmortem. The two artists share no formal connection - they are from different generations, work in different media and have never met before this exhibition. But there are still parallels between them, despite the differences. "I think something really important to us was to find artists who might share similar interests but approach them in very different ways," said Lumi Tan, a Brooklyn-based curator who co-organized the show with Doosan Gallery. "Often, with two-person exhibitions, it's easy to pair artists based on similarities. But in this case, we wanted the tensions to be visible - even in the materials, like the weight and density of Ginny's work contrasted with the fragility of Yeonså's. Those contrasts felt essential rather than something to smooth over." Inside Doosan Gallery, Huo's installations, marked by motion and structure, bring an industrial rhythm to the space - a wheeled table that moves daily, layered drawings and a video projected in the driving car's window showing a road through Laie, Hawaii, where the Mormon church once operated a sugarcane plantation. Her works speak of systems - faith, migration, labor - and how belief travels across distance, reshaped by time and memory. The diaspora artist's unique background and experiences are key drivers behind Huo's creations. "For me, it's what I know - and also what I'm trying to find out more about," Huo said in an interview with the Korea JoongAng Daily on Oct. 20 at the Doosan Gallery in Jongno District, central Seoul. "My work has always been based on my own experiences, and through the art-making process, I'm figuring that out." Cha's paper collages, by contrast, feel organic and handmade. Her "Festival" series, composed of hand-cut and collaged hanji left behind by her late father, started as a mourning ritual that eventually became an act of self-care. "My relationship with my father was never that good to begin with," she said. "When someone like that suddenly dies, it's... different - more complicated than when a family member you were close to passes away. Because it happened so abruptly, I couldn't quite tell if what I was feeling was anger toward him, or toward death itself or even toward how the body changes after death." "When I first touched that paper, I thought it felt like human skin. I use these really big shears - not the kind that go snip-snip, but ones that slice through all at once - and when I cut the paper, it felt incredibly satisfying. There was anger, and then pleasure. I think I just kept following what felt good in that moment - it was an instinctive choice." Cha also presents a new "Festival" work that pays tribute to a cat killed in a road accident. The image of a snake - its natural predator - biting its own tail and spinning in an endless loop becomes a meditation on grief and renewal. The piece was inspired by poet Kim Eun-hee's verse "Those...

    4 Min.

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    A decade later, pianist Lu defies the odds to win Chopin Competition

    This article is by Kim Ho-joung and read by an artificial voice. A faint sense of excitement lingered in the crisp autumn air at 11 a.m. on Oct. 21, just eight hours after the announcement of the winner of the prestigious International Chopin Piano Competition. Cheers from the hundreds who had waited until 3 a.m. for the winner to be named still echoed faintly through the city. "I only got two hours of sleep," said pianist Eric Lu, the winner of the competition, arriving at the interview venue. Dressed in black and moving with quiet elegance, the pianist showed no signs of elation. Lu, born in the United States in 1997, had just become the 18th winner of the Chopin Competition - a title granted only 17 times over the last century. There was no hint of giddiness, though he admitted he hadn't had a single day of rest during the three-week competition. Lu said he became mentally fragile and physically unwell. The JoongAng Ilbo was the only Korean media outlet invited to the competition and granted an interview with Lu. The central message of his account was clear - success came only after unimaginable hardship. That was especially true for Lu at this year's event. The first question was one everyone wanted to ask: "Was the competition stressful?" Without hesitation, Lu answered, "It was overwhelming. But I expected it. I had been preparing myself mentally for months, telling myself, 'This is going to be extremely stressful.' But it turned out that preparing your mind doesn't make it any easier." Lu had drawn attention from the moment he applied to the competition. Many questioned whether he even needed to participate. He was no newcomer - he placed fourth at the Chopin Competition in 2015 and won the prestigious Leeds International Piano Competition in 2018. With a strong agency behind him, he had performed regularly at respected venues and released multiple recordings with a major label. So when Lu returned to the Chopin Competition, the reaction was largely unanimous: It's win or bust. "Toward the end of the competition, I couldn't even eat at restaurants," Lu said. "The stress was too much. My parents brought food to our lodging. I don't think I smiled for the last few weeks." The kind of pressure Lu faced was unimaginable. "It was self-doubt and fear," said Lu. "I had no idea what would happen next. Even though I tried to prepare mentally, it was still overwhelming. I didn't know I was capable of feeling that much stress." Lu didn't smile much even after the announcement. When names were called in reverse order from sixth place upward, he stood motionless. Even when his name was finally read out, he bowed his head, raising his hands to cover his face. A competition spokesperson had to escort him to the center stage. When asked to say a few words by the organizers, Lu hesitated for a long time. "I have nothing to say," he muttered, before managing to whisper, "It feels like a dream come true." His subdued reaction reflected the emotional toll of the event. "There were moments when I could barely breathe," Lu said. "Each time they announced who advanced to the next round, I got so tense I felt like I couldn't breathe." As soon as each round ended, he had to start preparing for the next. Performances grew longer - 30 minutes for Round 1, 45 minutes for Round 2, and an hour for Round 3. "We got one rest day before the finals, but of course I didn't rest. I practiced. It was a huge challenge." While all competitors faced pressure, Lu, already a professional pianist, attracted greater scrutiny - and with that, more anxiety. "It was a huge gamble," he admitted. "I already had a career and a manager. If I played poorly or lost, it would've been a major risk." When Lu asked to move his third-round performance to the end of the lineup on Oct. 15 due to illness, many in the audience suspected something was wrong. "I tend to get sick at major competitions," he said with a smile, but added, "It definitely had an impact. It was toug...

    8 Min.

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    Trump to prioritize new 'manufacturing visas' to safeguard Korean workers: Georgia governor

    This article is by Sarah Chea and read by an artificial voice. [INTERVIEW] The Donald Trump administration is "prioritizing" its consideration of introducing "manufacturing visas" to safeguard Korean workers stationed in the United States, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said. The newest visa proposal, requested by Kemp, is designed as a strategic response to the labor requirements of Korean companies after a sweeping federal immigration raid at a battery factory jointly run by Hyundai Motor and LG Energy Solution in Georgia in early September. "This incident was very regrettable. The federal government has acknowledged this. We've had great conversations on this with our federal partners, who have shown they are prioritizing this issue," Kemp said in a recent written interview with the Korea JoongAng Daily after he made a three-day visit to Korea last week. "Government work takes time, but we are working hard on this issue. I'm optimistic we will be able to achieve something positive in this space." Korea stands as the No. 1 country in Georgia in terms of both investment and job creation. Korea has invested over $20 billion in the U.S. state, which is now home to over 140 Korean companies, including Hyundai's $5.5 billion EV plant, a $4.5 billion battery factory by Hyundai and SK On and Hanwha Solutions' $2.5 billion solar plant. The following are edited excerpts from the interview with Kemp on the recent detention issue and how he plans to support Korean companies. Q. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention incident in September sent shock waves through the Korean community, both here and in the U.S. As the Governor of Georgia, what measures are you taking in response to this situation? This incident was very regrettable. The federal government has acknowledged this, and the state government was not given any prior notice. We sincerely regret that Korean companies were unintentionally caught up in the situation. We are working closely with the federal government and the companies involved to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. In light of the recent detention of Korean workers, I've asked the federal government to consider introducing a streamlined "manufacturing visa" to allow skilled Korean professionals to support U.S. manufacturing operations more effectively. How has the Trump administration responded to your proposal for manufacturing visas? Those conversations are ongoing. We've had great conversations on this with our federal partners, who have shown that they are prioritizing this issue and working with Korean partners as well. We're optimistic that we can get a positive outcome for everyone. We have worked with the federal government from the start to address visa challenges and ensure that the individuals that LG Energy Solution and Hyundai need to complete their nearly-finished battery facility are available. Government work takes time, but we are working hard on this issue, because we treat any company investing in Georgia as if they are a Georgia company. We are here in Korea to be a good friend. We know recent weeks have presented some challenges, but we have 40 years of positive relationships that we have built, and we want our partners to know how much that means to us and how much they are valued. You have talked with Hyundai executives during your visit to Korea. Could you share how you see your relationship with Hyundai moving forward? Hyundai is one of our closest partners. They recently announced an expanded investment in the Metaplant in our state, and we're really excited about that. We've been in touch with Hyundai throughout their project - daily here on the ground, and certainly even more closely following the incident. The State of Georgia has built Hyundai a brand-new, state-of-the-art work force development facility next to the Metaplant in which their "Metapro" team members and employees of affiliate companies will be able to take great pride as well as enjoy an immersive, ha...

    7 Min.

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    New and improved? Min Hee-jin's new label, NewJeans and an old web of 'slave contract' legalities

    This article is by Shin Ha-nee and read by an artificial voice. Barely a week before a Seoul court ruled in favor of ADOR in its high-profile dispute with NewJeans, Min Hee-jin - the girl group's controversial architect and former ADOR CEO - launched a new label, ooak. The timing was impossible to ignore. Many saw it as a contingency plan in case NewJeans broke free from ADOR's grip. But with the court siding against the quintet and NewJeans immediately appealing the decision, that scenario appears unlikely for now. The question now, therefore, is what Min can - and will - do with her new company. Will she create another project, or perhaps a new group? But more importantly, what is she even legally allowed to do? Observers online have been doing a double-take on how Min managed to make her latest move after she previously denounced her noncompete clause as a "slave contract." Is it legal for her to launch a new K-pop business venture now? The short answer is: yes. The longer story of how it came to be is more complicated, as the matter is still tied up in a pending court case. What happened to the 'slave contract'? Those following the web of lawsuits may remember that during a bombshell press conference in April of last year, Min argued that she was "bound by a shareholders' agreement similar to a slave contract," which effectively barred her from working in the industry without HYBE's consent through a noncompete clause. Then, last November, Min had argued in a lawsuit filed against HYBE - separate from the one involving ADOR and NewJeans - that the company's July declaration to dissolve that very same agreement was invalid, saying that the agreement remained in effect at that time. Both sides now agree on one thing: The shareholders' agreement is no longer valid. But they fiercely disagree on when and how that agreement expired, which became the key point in their ongoing legal battle. HYBE argues that the agreement ended in July last year when it declared the contract null after accusing Min of plotting to make NewJeans leave ADOR. Min, however, maintains that HYBE's unilateral termination was invalid, arguing that "no contract can be dissolved by a one-sided notice alone." Later that November, Min sought to exercise her put option - an investor's right to sell their shares to the company upon demand, which was included in the shareholders' agreement - on ADOR shares, on the grounds that the contract remained valid up to that point, while also declaring the contract's dissolution. She resigned from ADOR's board shortly afterward. Min appeared in court on Sept. 11, with an additional hearing scheduled for Nov. 27. A ruling is expected to come around January of next year. Whatever the outcome, the contract's invalidation means its noncompete clause is no longer enforceable, clearing Min to pursue new ventures in K-pop. Will NewJeans ever join ooak? While Min works to build a new foothold, NewJeans remains in an extended hiatus. On Thursday, the Seoul Central District Court's Civil Division ruled that "the exclusive contracts signed on April 21, 2022, between the plaintiff [ADOR] and the defendants [NewJeans] are valid." The court concluded that the label's actions did not constitute a breach of trust serious enough to justify the group's termination of its contracts. The group has been inactive since March, when an injunction barred the members from independent activities pending the court's decision. Meanwhile, Min registered ooak in southern Seoul as a K-pop agency on Oct. 16, which was revealed to the public on Oct. 24. The company has capital assets of 30 million won - a figure that can easily expand in the future. Its name stands for "only one always known," according to sketches of potential logo designs Min posted on her social media account on Oct. 24. This marked her first public business move since her ADOR departure. Legal experts say that while launching a new project is a viable option for Min, bringing ...

    5 Min.

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    Tentative U.S.-China rare earths deal allows manufacturers, markets to breathe sigh of relief

    This article is by Yi Woo-lim and read by an artificial voice. The United States and China reached a fragile truce over rare earth supplies on Thursday, easing a dispute that had threatened to upend global technology production and rattled markets from Seoul to Silicon Valley. While no formal agreement has yet been released, Korea's semiconductor and home appliance sectors - previously caught in the crossfire of China's export controls - welcomed the development as a temporary reprieve. During the one-hour-and-forty-minute meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan, both sides agreed that Beijing would suspend rare earth export restrictions for one year, while Washington would lower tariffs on fentanyl-related imports from 20 percent to 10 percent. "All of the rare earth has been settled," Trump said aboard Air Force One on his return to Washington. "You could say this was a worldwide situation, not just a U.S. situation. There is no roadblock at all on rare earth. That will hopefully disappear from our vocabulary for a little while," he added. 'Welcome news' for Korea's chip sector Korea's high-tech manufacturers - especially in the semiconductor industry - expressed relief. Rare earth elements are used in semiconductor fabrication, and recent uncertainty in supply chains had raised alarm. One chip industry official said the deal was "clearly welcome news for the sector, as it reduces overall supply chain risks." The relief followed months of anxiety after China's Ministry of Commerce tightened export controls on rare earths on Oct. 9, targeting advanced chip technologies. The measures required individual export reviews for rare earths used in sub-14-nanometer system semiconductors and memory chips with 256 or more layers, as well as related production and testing equipment. Foreign media outlets had warned that the restrictions could delay production of Samsung Electronics' ninth-generation V-NAND chips, Nvidia's H100 AI processors and Apple's A18 Pro chips by one or two quarters. The agreement is also expected to ease concerns for semiconductor equipment suppliers. ASML, the world's sole supplier of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines, had faced delivery delays amid China's export controls. The one-year suspension should relieve those pressures. Because Samsung Electronics, TSMC and Intel all rely on ASML equipment, analysts say the decision will help stabilize global chip production schedules. Cautious optimism from home appliance makers The home appliance industry also saw the summit as "a positive signal." Rare earths are used not only in chips but also in permanent magnets for washing machine and refrigerator motors as well as in phosphors for display panels. A domestic appliance company official noted that while the amount of rare earths used in appliances is "relatively small," China's message earlier this month that "even trace amounts could trigger sanctions" had caused unease. "If the United States and China reached an understanding, our supply risks are reduced as well," the official said. Still, some companies remain cautious. The Chinese government has not yet officially clarified the details of its commitment, and it remains to be seen whether the agreement will be fully implemented. Xi told Trump during their meeting that the two sides should "think big" and recognize the long-term benefit of cooperation, and not fall into a "vicious cycle of mutual retaliation," according to Xinhua News Agency. He emphasized that Beijing was willing to continue dialogue "in the spirit of equality, mutual respect and mutual benefit" to "continuously shorten the list of problems and lengthen the list of cooperation." Industry watchers had been closely following whether the U.S.-China summit would address the supply of Nvidia's latest AI accelerator chip, Blackwell, in the Chinese market. Trump told reporters that the two did not discuss Blackwell, but said they did tal...

    4 Min.

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    Nvidia bets big on Korea's AI future with 260,000 Blackwell processors

    This article is by Lee Jae-lim and read by an artificial voice. GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang - Four major Korean corporations - Samsung Electronics, SK Group, Hyundai Motor and Naver - as well as the Korean government have just sealed landmark deals with Nvidia to deploy 260,000 Blackwell processors in a sweeping push to infuse AI across the nation's core manufacturing supply chains. Of the total, most will be used in the private sector, as 50,000 GPUs each will go to Samsung Electronics, SK Group and Hyundai Motor, and an additional 60,000 units will be supplied to Naver Cloud. The remaining 50,000 GPUs will be allocated to the Korean government, according to the company. The timeline and investment size for the Blackwell deployment were not disclosed. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang pinpointed Korea, with its deep-rooted manufacturing base, as a test bed to transform entire industries including semiconductors, automobiles, shipbuilding, biotechnology and robotics with AI, turning the country's industrial backbone into an intelligent, automated system. "For Korea, this is an extraordinary opportunity because very few countries in the world have the essential, necessary qualities in order to succeed the next generation of AI [referring to physical AI]," Huang said in a keynote address at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit on Friday. "You have the technical capabilities, you have the software capabilities, you have artificial intelligence capabilities and you also have such an incredible manufacturing base and industrial base." The Nvidia chief hailed Korea as poised to become "one of the largest GPU or AI infrastructure countries in the world" through the deal. Huang arrived in Korea on Thursday to attend the APEC summit, sharing an intimate chimaek (chicken and beer) meal with Samsung Chairman Lee Jae-yong and Hyundai Executive Chairman and CEO Euisun Chung at a small fried chicken joint in southern Seoul. The power trio also appeared together shortly afterwards at the nearby Coex Mall to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Nvidia's GeForce graphics card in Korea. The following day, Huang traveled to Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang, to attend the summit where he joined not only Samsung's Lee and Hyundai Motor's Chung once again, but also Korean President Lee Jae Myung, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won and Naver founder Lee Hae-jin for a commemorative ceremony marking the GPU supply deal. Nvidia's processors remain in short supply worldwide amid an AI boom, making the 260,000-GPU commitment one of its largest ever to a single market. The company has also pledged 120,000 Blackwell GPUs to the UK and 100,000 to Germany. Virtuous AI chip cycle Nvidia's agreements with Samsung and SK, which includes memory giant SK hynix, mark the start of what Huang labeled "virtuous" AI chip cycle. Both companies are supplying Huang's company with high bandwidth memory (HBM) chips, a key component in Nvidia's GPUs. Samsung and SK will then in turn use the Blackwell GPUs to enhance their own manufacturing capabilities through AI-driven optimization. Samsung Electronics will deploy its 50,000 processors to integrate its semiconductor manufacturing process - from design and production to equipment, operations and quality control - into a single, intelligent network. In this setting, AI will continuously analyze, predict and optimize workflows in real time. Having recently earned Nvidia certification for its HBM3E chips and shipped samples of next-generation HBM4, Samsung has been one of Nvidia's closest technology partners. Huang referred to the company on Friday as Nvidia's first collaborator in developing the memory technology that powers modern AI. Samsung and Nvidia will also jointly implement digital twin manufacturing across memory, logic, foundry and packaging facilities using Nvidia's Omniverse platform, enabling predictive maintenance and production optimization. The system will first be introduced at Samsung's domestic fabs before ...

    7 Min.

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    September's rains create farmer pains as rice, cabbage, soy crops across Korea ruined

    This article is by Special Reporting Team and read by an artificial voice. Farmers are making desperate calls for government support as weeks of unseasonal rain have rotted their crops all across the country. On Wednesday afternoon, in a soybean field in Anhwa-ri, a village in North Chungcheong's Yeongdong County, a 74-year-old farmer surnamed Lee was using a brush cutter to take down rows of soybean stalks that had turned gray. Lee had planted Daewon soybeans, a variety typically harvested in late September or early October. The pods should have ripened to a yellow hue, but instead had turned ashen and rotten after enduring heavy and prolonged rainfall. "Every time the beans were about to ripen, it rained - and then it rained again at harvest time, so I couldn't cut them in time. Most of them rotted," said Lee. "I should've harvested them in late September or early October, but the rains continued through Chuseok and ruined the entire crop." When Lee opened one of the pods, the soybeans inside were small and shriveled. "They're supposed to be larger and a deep yellow by now," he said. "Nearly all 1,980 square meters of this field have rotted. I'll have to cut everything and see if there's anything salvageable." Nearby, another farmer, 66-year-old Ahn, said he might have to dispose of all the shine muscat grapes grown across his 4,950-square-meter (1.22 acres) field. This year's extended rainfall caused sugar levels to drop far below normal. "You need at least 17 to 18 Brix [a measure of sugar content] to sell, but most are around 13 to 14," Ahn said. "I'll wait another 10 days, but I may have to discard them." An unusually long autumn rainy season has caused widespread crop damage across Korea. The persistent rains have affected not only rice, but fruits and vegetables as well, with crops succumbing to disease or missing their harvest windows, prompting many farmers to plow their fields under. "Bakanae disease" - also known as foot rot - has been spreading due to the rainy season, impacting 36,320 hectares of rice paddies nationwide during the harvest period, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. The disease leaves sesame-shaped dark brown spots on rice leaves and degrades grain quality. If high temperatures persist through the ripening period, rice roots may even begin to rot in the paddies. In South Jeolla alone, the disease has affected 13,336 hectares, including 2,000 hectares in Goheung County and 1,760 hectares in Haenam County. Prime Minister Kim Min-seok visited a damaged paddy in Haechang-ri, Anyang-myeon, Jangheung County on Oct. 7 to inspect the damage firsthand. In South Gyeongsang, 4,935 hectares - or 8.2 percent of the province's total rice harvest area of 60,231 hectares - were found to be affected. Some farms also reported "preharvest germination," where rice begins to sprout prematurely due to prolonged rainfall. The resulting sprouts dry out and turn black when exposed to sunlight, further lowering crop quality. As of early October, 639 hectares in the region had been affected. In Haenam County, South Jeolla - the country's largest napa cabbage-growing region - farmers are also suffering. With kimchi-making season approaching, a bacterial soft rot outbreak has spread for the second year in a row, causing cabbage to become mushy and spoil. While the disease spread in Gangwon last year, it has since worsened in the Jeolla and Chungcheong regions. In Gangwon, cabbage fields have also been hit by soft rot and downy mildew. In Jinbu-myeon, Pyeongchang County, the soft rot outbreak has been so severe that many farmers are abandoning their harvest. "I started plowing under my cabbage field on Tuesday after soft rot hit all 99,000 square meters," said Yang Sam-yong, a 69-year-old farmer in Pyeongchang. "My entire crop, about 20,000 heads of cabbage, is a total loss." Yang said he shipped his early cabbages - planted in mid-June - before Chuseok, but lost his entire autumn crop plan...

    6 Min.
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Audio recordings of the Korea JoongAng Daily's in-depth, on-the-scene news articles and features informing readers around the world of the issues of the day in Korea. Under the slogan "Your window to Korea", the Korea JoongAng Daily is an English-language news organization focused on Korea that strives to publish factual, timely and unbiased articles.

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