Tensions are rising again between South Korea and China over the Yellow Sea. ⚔️

Recently, China unilaterally set up no-sail zones in the Korea-China Provisional Measures Zone (PMZ) — an area where maritime borders between the two countries are still unclear. These zones seem to hint at military drills, and China didn’t consult South Korea in advance. Instead, the announcement came from a regional branch of China’s maritime agency, and the news was even broken by Newsweek, not the Chinese government itself.

Technically, drills in international waters like the PMZ aren’t illegal if a notice is given. But Korea is upset that China limited freedom of navigation in a sensitive area without any consultation, especially right after illegally installing oil rig-like structures there last year.

Analysts say this kind of tit-for-tat is part of China’s “gray zone” strategy - provocative but non-military moves to quietly increase its influence.

Experts believe this could be part of China’s “salami tactic” - slowly expanding control, piece by piece.♟️ Some think China is taking advantage of Korea’s political transition period, with only an acting president in place.

For now, Korea is being cautious, continuing to ask China to take down the structures while considering its own countermeasures like building similar facilities or conducting joint inspections.

Calling out to all chicken&beer lovers!🍗🍺 The Daegu Chimac Festival is back this year from July 2 to 6 at Duryu Park — and it’s going bigger than ever!

With the slogan “Chimac Sensation”, this summer’s event will feature chicken, beer, water concerts, and plenty of cool zones to beat the heat.

• What’s Chimac?
  Short for chimaek — chicken (chi) and beer (maek). It’s one of Korea’s favorite pairings, and Daegu is known as the birthplace of many fried chicken brands (like Kyochon, Mexicana, Cheogajip, and more!).

• What’s new this year?

  • Daefrica Waterpia – water + EDM concert 💦🎵

  • Blood Horror Club – spooky fun

  • Chimac Traveler Street – themed street vibes

  • 360° main stage – more immersive performance experience!

The second presidential TV debate, held on May 23, was originally set to focus on social issues—but quickly turned into a fiery exchange of personal attacks and accusations. Unlike the first debate, this time the candidates spent much of the time targeting each other’s integrity and past controversies. At one point, the moderator even stepped in to remind them to “stick to the topic.”

Tense exchanges fill the stage 🎤
Kim Moon-soo, the candidate from the People Power Party, opened the debate by taking aim at Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party, criticizing his campaign slogan “The Real Korea” and accusing him of past lies and impersonations. He even brought up Lee’s past family conflict, to which Lee responded with an apology—but countered by accusing Kim of abusing power when he was a government official.

Lee Jun-seok from the Reform Party also took sharp aim at Lee Jae-myung. Referencing the anniversary of the late President Roh Moo-hyun’s death, he questioned whether Lee was fit to invoke Roh’s legacy. He also brought up Lee’s past comments suggesting election fraud, to which Lee clarified that he had been referring to the manipulation of public opinion by the national intelligence agency—not to ballot tampering.

Even in policy discussions, tensions flared. When Lee expressed concerns about nuclear power, Kim asked if he had ever visited a nuclear facility. Lee said no, prompting Lee Jun-seok to claim that Lee was “ideologically biased” against nuclear energy.

Candidates react after the debate 🗣️
After the debate, Lee Jae-myung told reporters that the debate had been “more about personal attacks than about the country’s future,” and pledged to focus more on policy in future appearances. Kim Moon-soo defended his aggressive approach by saying Lee’s track record “speaks for itself.” Lee Jun-seok accused Lee of “lying on live TV” and mocked his economic ideas as “pseudo-science.” Meanwhile, Kwon Young-guk of the Democratic Labor Party criticized the overall tone of the debate, saying candidates had failed to address important issues like climate change and social inclusion.

In the end, this debate left many viewers wondering if the next round would return to policy and vision—or continue down the road of political drama.🔍

1. 그레이존 도발? 중국 구조물 이어 군사훈련 예고 🚢

2. 북한, 청진조선소서 해군 전력 큰 타격 인정 ⚓

3. 치맥 천국 대구, 다시 열린다! 🍗🎆

그레이존 도발? 중국 구조물 이어 군사훈련 예고 🚢

북한, 청진조선소서 해군 전력 큰 타격 인정 ⚓

치맥 천국 대구, 다시 열린다! 🍗🎆

한국의 늦봄이나 초여름에 나무 그늘이 짙게 드리운 길을 걸어본 적 있으신가요? 햇빛은 따뜻한데, 머리 위로 드리운 초록잎들이 선선한 그늘을 만들어 주고, 바람이 살짝 불어 나뭇잎이 흔들릴 때 말이에요.💚
그 순간을 한국어로 표현한다면? 바로 ‘녹음’이라는 단어가 어울릴 거예요.

📜 어원 이야기

‘녹음(綠陰)’은 녹(綠, 초록)과 음(陰, 그늘)이라는 한자로 이루어진 단어예요. 단순히 초록색을 뜻하는 것이 아니라, 나무가 짙게 우거져 만들어진 그늘과 그 주변의 분위기 전체를 담고 있어요.

옛 시나 고전 문학에서도 자주 등장하는 말인데요, 특히 조용한 시골 풍경이나 숲속 오솔길, 여름날의 느긋한 시간을 묘사할 때 자주 쓰였답니다. 즉, 풍경 그 자체이면서 동시에 감정을 담은 단어인 셈이죠.

✒️ 시 속의 녹음

이 단어의 정서를 더 깊이 느끼고 싶다면, 시인 김영랑의 시 〈녹음〉의 한 구절을 떠올려보세요:

“녹음이 짙은 그늘 속에 / 잠시 누워 보았네 / 그대 없는 세상도 / 이렇게 고요하구나”

짧은 구절이지만, 자연의 풍경과 내면의 고요함이 겹쳐지는 한국적 정서가 오롯이 담겨 있죠. 이처럼 '녹음'은 단지 그늘이 아니라, 그늘 아래서 생기는 마음의 변화를 담아내는 시어이기도 해요.

🎯 ‘녹음’이 가진 한국적 감성

한국어에서 ‘녹음’은 단순한 자연 묘사를 넘어 정서적 여백을 품고 있어요. 눈에 보이는 초록을 넘어, 계절의 흐름, 조용한 휴식, 삶의 틈새에서 마주하는 고요함 같은 것을 함께 떠오르게 하죠.

옛 시에서는 ‘녹음’이 세상의 시끄러움에서 벗어난 고요한 안식처를 상징하기도 했어요. ‘풀벌레 소리마저 들리는 저녁녘, 나무 아래서 잠시 머무는 평온한 순간’ 같은 이미지를요.

그러니 다음번에 5~6월쯤 한국을 걷다가, 무성하게 드리워진 나무 그늘 아래에 선다면 그건 단순한 풍경이 아니라, 당신이 ‘녹음’을 마주한 순간일 수도 있요.🍃