Gyeongpo Lake in Gangneung, Gangwon, is seen covered in algae on June 18.YONHAP
We're almost at the end of the week! Good evening from Seoul. Here are the stories you need to know in Korea.
In today's news, we look into what was said by President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump during the G7 summit.
In other stories, we find out about Mexico's love-hate relationship with Korean captain Son Heung-min. And we learn more about a proposed bill revision that tightens rules for hotels in Korea.
What did Lee and Trump talk about? The Korean president was in France for the Group of Seven (G7) summit and was sat next to the U.S. president during its gala dinner. The two spoke for around two hours on topics including the South Korea-U.S. alliance, the Middle East situation and peninsula issues.
What was said about South-North relations? During the leaders' conversations at the summit, Trump asked about the current status of inter-Korean relations, according to senior presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung. Lee asked Trump to play a "leading role in resolving the North Korean issue peacefully, just as you resolved the war in the Middle East."
What else was discussed? Lee revealed that Trump gifted him a signing pen and also mentioned his invitation to play golf together. βDuring the dinner, he mentioned golf and said he would play with my wife and me,β Lee said, adding that the first lady made a βpinky promiseβ to do so.
What is Mexico's history with Son Heung-min? The country has an interesting affection for the Korean caption, who helped Mexico get through to the round of 16 at the 2018 World Cup after contributing to Korea's win over Germany. The victory meant that Mexico could proceed from the group stage, with the moment being etched in the country's collective memory.
How is Son's form as he enters this match? Son is seen as being in form. He hit six shots in the team's first match against the Czech Republic and clocked the fastest sprint of the match at 35.2 kilometers per hour (21.9 miles per hour).
What is happening here? Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism proposed a revision to its law governing hotel ratings that would penalize hotels for price gouging and installing weak soundproofing between rooms. The ministry would use a 1,000-point scale to assess accommodations, with hotels needing to earn 900 points or more to achieve a five-star rating.
What things are the ministry paying attention to in this revision? The ministry is looking to reduce instances of unfair pricing, proposing a 30-point penalty for infractions. Other points can be deducted for hygiene and safety issues, as well as illegal activities. Evaluations for guest rooms and bathrooms will also be bolstered with inspectors taking note of furniture and soundproofing.
How will assessments be carried out? The ministry says the rating process will be carried out through both scheduled and surprise inspections. Luxury hotels that are seeking a four- or five-star rating will be assessed through overnight stays by anonymous inspectors. Lower-rated hotels will be assessed through unannounced single-day inspections.
