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.