Yesterday’s downpour caused the Han River to rise and flood park areas along the Han River. The lower Banpo bridge was closed as of 1pm yesterday, forcing drivers and cyclists to find alternate routes. This year’s monsoon season is said to be record breaking, with Seoul receiving the most rainfall in the first two weeks of  July in 59 years. As of this morning, it looks pretty calm. Fingers crossed!

H1N1 flu fears are causing local governments to cancel events and festivals across Korea. The 10th Yeosu International Youth Festival has been cancelled, and the World Choir Championship was shut down early because 13 foreign participants and 1 Korean volunteer are said to be infected. The Uljin Organic Food Festival is set to continue as planned. The Korean Ministry of Health states that there are 535 confirmed cases of H1N1 infection in the country to date.

On the cyber terrorism front, the attacks may have orginated in the U.K. The guilty server is also said to be in Miami.

With the U.S. free trade agreement still on the shelf, Korea and the EU have concluded a comprehensive FTA after two years of negotiations. Negotiators for boths sides are optimistic about the historic deal, but the biggest Korean exporters are criticizing the outcome.

A man in north Gyeongsang-do has been arrested for posing as an immigration officier to foreign workers.

The week’s heavy rain has already claimed multiple casualties and flooded homes and farms in Gyeonggi-do, and is predicted to continue until tomorrow.

The Korean film “Breathless” was named the Best Debut Feature at the New York Asian Film Festival. The film was released here in April and this is its 13th prize thus far on the international indie film circuit.

As the investigation into last week’s cyber attacks continues, there is no direct evidence that North Korea initiated the campaign. However, Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) did brief the National Assembly’s Intelligence Committee on possible  North Korean involvement in the attacks. The Korean Herald reports that 86 IP addresses from 17 different countries, including 5 in South Korea, have been identified as being used in the attacks.  The Associated Press reports differently, and states that isolating the IP’s mean little in identifying those responsible.

Hyundai began selling their hybrid car in Korea last week, giving drivers with green-guilt something to think about.

Korean designer, Jin Su Park, creates a pen that can scan any object’s colour and be used instantly.

North Korea may be to blame for a wave a cyber attacks on South Korea yesterday.

The Canadian Cattle Industry is teaming up with the federal government to establishment of a World Trade Organization dispute settlement panel to challenge South Korea’s six-year ban on Canadian beef.

iPod Nanos sold in South Korea get recalled for overheating and exploding.

Miss Arty Pants

On July 8 the wait will be over for Busanites who have long awaited the opening of the city’s first Costco. Costo’s Busan location will be the seventh for in Korea and offer shoppers a wealth of imported goods impossible to find any where else. Along with it’s 64-ounce vats of mayonnaise and four pound blocks of cheddar Costco will be offer Korean products at equally low prices. The new location will undoubtedly have a major impact on the cities culinary landscape giving local businessess a reliable source for menu kitchen essentials like PDO certified Parmesan Reggiano. Memberships are available now and cost w35000 including a coupon book with w30000 worth of discounts. The warehouse is located in Mangmi 2-dong Suyeong-gu. They are open 10:00 am – 10:00 pm Monday – Sunday except on New Year’s Day, Lunar New Year’s Day and Chuseok. You can get there by taking the green line to Centum City then bus 115 or click “more” for map and printable taxi directons.

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As the world fears for the fates of American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee,  recently sentenced to twelve years hard labour in North Korea for illeally crossing the boarder, CBS talks with Vice Magazine co-founder Shane Smith about what its really like inside. In 2007, Vice TV released an undercover documentary on North Korea after entering the country as tourists. Armed with Sony Cybershots and two pair of sweaty brass balls, Smith and a cameraman risked a similar fate to capture a glimpes of what he calls “a sort of Disneyland ride of a socialist utopian state”