News

Preliminary report reveals Jeju Air black box stopped recording 2km from runway

2025/01/28 12:00

The black box of the Jeju Air plane that crashed last month was found to have stopped recording, approximately two kilometers before the plane reached the runway. This is according to a preliminary report released by the Transportation Ministry on Monday. The report shows that the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder stopped recording after a bird strike, and about 4 minutes later, the aircraft crashed into an embankment containing localizers at Muan International Airport. The Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board has submitted the report to the International Civil Aviation Organization, and aviation authorities in the U.S., France, and Thailand.

Heavy snowfall leads to severe traffic congestion on third day of Lunar New Year holiday

2025/01/27 18:00

It's a snowy third day of the Lunar New Year holiday, with a heavy snow warning issued across many regions, causing traffic delays. The Korea Expressway Corporation estimates that a total of 4-point-8 million vehicles are on the move today nationwide. The estimated travel time by car from Seoul is 6 hours to Busan, 5 hours to Daegu, and a little over 3 hours to Gangneung as of 5 PM. Traffic congestion is expected to clear by around 1AM or 2 AM on Tuesday. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety has issued heavy snow warnings for central parts of the country, Jeju, Jeollabuk-do, and Gyeongsangbuk-do provinces. It has activated the first level of the response system, and also raised the crisis alert level for heavy snow, from "attention" to "caution." Also, according to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, 10 flights were canceled as of 11 AM, due to heavy snow. The air quality in the central and western regions is also poor due to the first yellow dust of the winter.

Colombia agrees to deportation flights; U.S. suspends tariffs

2025/01/27 18:00

In other news, U.S. President Donald Trump has put a hold on imposing tariffs and sanctions, after Colombia agreed it would accept deported migrants. In a statement late Sunday, the White House said that Colombia had now agreed to accept the return of its citizens. Colombia had earlier refused entry to two U.S. military planes carrying deported migrants, arguing deportees were treated as criminals. The U.S. in response had vowed to impose a 25-percent tariff on all imports from Colombia, raising it to 50-percent after a week. The White House said the imposition of tariffs and sanctions on Colombia would be "held in reserve, and not signed, unless Colombia fails to honor this agreement."

Preliminary report reveals Jeju Air black box stopped recording 2km from runway

2025/01/27 18:00

The black box of the Jeju Air plane that crashed last month, was found to have stopped recording, approximately two kilometers before the plane reached the runway. This is according to a preliminary report released by the Transportation Ministry on Monday. The report shows that the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, stopped recording after a bird strike, and about four minutes later, the aircraft crashed into an embankment containing localizers at Muan International Airport. The Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board has submitted the report to the International Civil Aviation Organization, and aviation authorities in the U.S., France, and and Thailand.

Prosecutors indict Pres. Yoon under detention for insurrection

2025/01/27 18:00

And on the political front, South Korean prosecutors indicted President Yoon Suk Yeol, on charges of leading an insurrection, just a day before his detention was set to end. This is the first time in the country's history, that a sitting president has been indicted. Our political correspondent Shin Ha-young reports. President Yoon Suk Yeol is set to stand trial, becoming the first sitting president in South Korea's history to be indicted under detention. Prosecutors on Sunday indicted President Yoon on charges of leading an insurrection through his brief imposition of martial law. The move came 54 days after the declaration of martial law and just one day before Yoon's detention period was set to end. The prosecution's special investigation team took over the case from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials on Thursday earlier than planned, following Yoon's refusal to cooperate with the CIO. The prosecutors twice requested to extend Yoon's detention for further investigations but the Seoul Central District Court rejected it. Although the court's decision prevented further investigations, such as questioning the President in person, the prosecution concluded that indicting him was appropriate after reviewing the evidence gathered so far. They also cited ongoing concerns about evidence tampering. Yoon also faced allegations of abuse of power, but those charges were dropped, because under South Korean law, a sitting president has immunity from most criminal prosecutions, except for charges related to insurrection or inciting foreign aggression. In response, Yoon's legal team condemned the indictment, saying the prosecution has committed a historic mistake. It expressed confidence that the truth will be uncovered in court and vowed to expose the illegalities in the investigation and the truth behind the insurrection accusations. Yoon will be held in custody for up to six months in the first trial, and up to eight months each for the second and third trials. The prosecution claims they can prove guilt without further investigations, but with President Yoon's side denying the insurrection charges and claiming the investigation was illegal, intense courtroom battles are expected. As the unprecedented investigation of a sitting president ended abruptly with numerous challenges, this hints that controversies are expected to continue throughout the trial. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

Prosecutors indict Pres. Yoon under detention for insurrection

2025/01/27 12:00

Just a day before President Yoon Suk Yeol's detention was set to end, South Korean prosecutors indicted him, on charges of leading an insurrection. This is the first time in the country's history, that a sitting president has been indicted. Our political correspondent Shin Ha-young starts us off. President Yoon Suk Yeol is set to stand trial, becoming the first sitting president in South Korea's history to be indicted under detention. Prosecutors on Sunday indicted President Yoon on charges of leading an insurrection through his brief imposition of martial law. The move came 54 days after the declaration of martial law and just one day before Yoon's detention period was set to end. The prosecution's special investigation team took over the case from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials on Thursday earlier than planned, following Yoon's refusal to cooperate with the CIO. The prosecutors twice requested to extend Yoon's detention for further investigations but the Seoul Central District Court rejected it. Although the court's decision prevented further investigations, such as questioning the President in person, the prosecution concluded that indicting him was appropriate after reviewing the evidence gathered so far. They also cited ongoing concerns about evidence tampering. Yoon also faced allegations of abuse of power, but those charges were dropped, because under South Korean law, a sitting president has immunity from most criminal prosecutions, except for charges related to insurrection or inciting foreign aggression. In response, Yoon's legal team condemned the indictment, saying the prosecution has committed a historic mistake. It expressed confidence that the truth will be uncovered in court and vowed to expose the illegalities in the investigation and the truth behind the insurrection accusations. Yoon will be held in custody for up to six months in the first trial, and up to eight months each for the second and third trials. The prosecution claims they can prove guilt without further investigations, but with President Yoon's side denying the insurrection charges and claiming the investigation was illegal, intense courtroom battles are expected. As the unprecedented investigation of a sitting president ended abruptly with numerous challenges, this hints that controversies are expected to continue throughout the trial. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

Heavy snowfall to lead to severe traffic congestion in afternoon

2025/01/27 12:00

Meanwhile, here in Korea, it's a snowy third day of the Lunar New Year holiday, and heavy snowfall of three to five centimeters per hour is expected in many areas nationwide, possibly leading to severe traffic congestion in the afternoon. The Korea Expressway Corporation estimates that a total of 4-point-8 million vehicles are on the move today nationwide, with approximately 440-thousand vehicles traveling from the capital area to other regions, and about 390-thousand vehicles heading toward the capital. Traffic from the capital area to other regions is expected to peak between 4 PM and 5 PM. The estimated travel time by car from Seoul is 6 hours to Busan, 5 hours to Daegu, and a little over 3 hours to Gangneung as of 9 AM. Authorities have issued heavy snow warnings mainly for the capital region, Gangwon, Jeolla, and Gyeongsang-do provinces, and activated the first level of its response system. More snow is expected until possibly the Lunar New Year on Wednesday.

Trump vows tariffs and sanctions after Colombia rejects deportation flights

2025/01/27 12:00

In other news, U.S. President Donald Trump has announced sweeping retaliatory measures, including tariffs and sanctions, against Colombia, after it refused entry to two U.S. military planes carrying deported migrants. Trump on Sunday, vowed to impose a 25-percent tariff on all imports coming into the U.S. from Colombia. He said this would be raised to 50-percent after a week. He stated that the measures are only the beginning, emphasizing that the U.S. will not tolerate Colombia's failure, to meet its legal obligations in accepting the return of its citizens, who are illegally in the U.S. Earlier on Sunday, Colombia refused the flights, arguing that using military aircraft to transport deportees treated them as criminals. In response to Trump's actions,.. Colombia threatened a 50-percent tariff on U.S. goods.

Trump 2.0: South Korea's challenges and opportunities amid domestic political crisis

2025/01/25 12:00

As President Donald Trump took office as the 47th leader of the United States, the world has been bracing for the return of his 'America First' foreign policy. Experts have brought up various concerns related to tariffs, trade wars and potentially a high-stakes deal with North Korea that could undermine South Korea's security. We focus on the challenges and opportunities for Seoul, amid its domestic political crisis. For this we have our Oh Soo-young in the studio. Q1. Now there's been concern that South Korea is unable to fully engage the Trump Administration due to President Yoon Suk Yeol's suspension from his duties, following the martial law decree. Yes, the lack of top-level interaction does affect our diplomacy early in the game, particularly as during Trump's first term, he didn't have much affection for the then-Moon Jae-in government, which was considered too close to Beijing for Washington's comfort and was more focused on peace with North Korea than upholding the South Korea-U.S. alliance according to observers. Now, with Trump back and ready to revise trade agreements, impose tariffs and demand that allies pay more towards security cooperation, it's a worrying time for America's allies and partners like South Korea. There's been hope that in recent years, Seoul's strategic value has arguably increased, as an economic and cultural powerhouse but moreover, a producer of core technologies and as a liberal democracy. "South Korea should adopt a tailored strategy that aligns with the transactional nature of the Trump Administration, rather than its usual abstract rhetoric about the strength of the alliance. It is essential to highlight areas where South Korea excels and offers tangible benefits, such as semiconductors, shipbuilding, defence industries, large-scale investments in the United States – and its role in countering China." Q2. Now what do you think will be Trump's approach to the Indo-Pacific region, and what would it mean for South Korea? In this part of the world, the U.S. is focused on outcompeting China, economically, technologically and militarily --all of which are now interconnected under the broad framework of security. That means increasing U.S. prowess in all domains but also working with allies and partners. "I would expect the Trump administration to lean on allies in East Asia but to put much greater focus on hard power. And so the way it might lean on those allies could express itself in periods of tension when for example, it complaints about woeful underspending on defense among some of our key allies. And for that reason, I would imagine that an alliance based approach remains in the forefront. But a bigger focus on hard power capabilities is kind of characteristic of where Trump might go." Trump in his first term has been a key driver of so-called "minilaterals", such as the Quad with Japan, India and Australia, and AUKUS with Australia and the UK. South Korea has recently moved towards joining the second pillar of AUKUS which is about technological cooperation in cutting-edge areas, and participated in some Quad Plus initiatives. But there have been question marks around the future of initiatives formed under the Biden Administration --such as the South Korea-U.S.-Japan trilateral cooperation. Still, experts say Washington wouldn't necessarily scrap partnerships if they're aligned with U.S. interests. "I think the trilateral Tokyo, Seoul, Washington format is one that has bipartisan support in the U.S. This was something that for example, Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell really pushed forward an Indo-Pacific hand and which was widely applauded and, and lauded by Republicans. So I would expect that that remains a point of emphasis for the U.S." Rough suggested Indo-Pacific partners and allies cooperate more with European nations, perhaps through the defense industry. "South Korea's played a major role here in Europe both in foreign military sales and also in the provision via the U.S. of artillery to Ukraine. Moreover, there might be the frontiers of technology and innovation type of cooperation that are possible between leading European and Indo Pacific research institutes, universities and cutting edge technologies. All of that I think the U.S. would welcome, would even foster and would help us forge a strong front on the Eurasian land mass against this axis of revisionists led by the Chinese with their junior partner, the Russians, but also the Iranians and the North Koreans that has formed in past years." Q3. Of course, we need to talk about North Korea. Whether we will see a revival of the Trump-Kim bromance and what that means for South Korea. Right. Experts say there's a fair chance of President Trump reviving talks with Kim Jong-un --and even striking a 'small deal' with the regime. That's despite the breakdown of their talks in Hanoi in 2019, where Trump requested Kim close down all of the North's nuclear facilities. Washington's former special envoy to the Six Party Talks, Joseph Detrani says, the possibility of lifting economic sanctions could draw Kim back to the table. "In regards to what sort of a process could be used to better engage with North Korea? I think we learned from Hanoi that the Libya Model where we expect North Korea to put everything on the table is unrealistic. It's not going to happen. I think we knew this from the 6 Party Talks with North Korea going back to 2005 with the joint statement -it's actions for actions. As North Korea gets certain benefits, they will start to dismantle their nuclear weapons programs." Amid concerns over Trump officials referring to North Korea as a nuclear state, Detrani said it's unlikely the foreign policy establishment in Washington would ever accept Pyongyang's nuclear program, and that the South Korea-U.S alliance will likely remain "robust" due to the multiple challenges they face together. However, to move forward, experts agree that Seoul's domestic situation needs to stabilise. "South Korea must demonstrate its resilience in overcoming the current polycrisis to the international community. On contentious bilateral issues, negotiations with Washington should be approached with strong resolve." I see. There'll be challenges but hopefully opportunities for the alliance too. Thank you Soo-young for coming in today. We appreciate it.

S. Korean prosecutors file request to extend Yoon's detention period

2025/01/24 20:00

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring you today's most pressing issues from across the globe, I'm Kim Mok-yeon. South Korean prosecutors filed for an extension of the arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk Yeol on Friday, as they seek to speed up the investigation into his short-lived martial law declaration. This request, submitted to the Seoul Central District Court, could keep Yoon in detention until February 6th, pending approval. The move follows the transfer of the case from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials to the prosecution, as the agency lacks the authority to indict a sitting president. With a potential in-person interrogation on the horizon, questions remain about President Yoon's cooperation and the implications of the unfolding legal battle. For more on this, we invite Cho Hee-kyung, Professor of Law at Hongik University. Also joining us is Lee Hee-eun, Dean and Professor of Law at Handong International Law School. Great to have you. (Lee) 1. So today, prosecutors applied for an extension to keep President Yoon detained for longer. Professor Lee, Could you explain what the procedure is? Is there a possibility that the court may deny the extension? (Cho) 2. If the court grants the extension, the expected end of the detention period is until the 6th of next month. In this case President Yoon will be interrogated while still in detention. Professor Cho, if this scenario proceeds as planned, when can we expect a trial verdict? (Lee) 3. So the latest development came as the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials sent the insurrection case to the prosecution and requested an indictment. Professor Lee, what do you think is the reason behind this early transmission decision? (Cho) 4. Then Professor Cho, we are aware that that President Yoon has continually refused to cooperate with the CIO's investigation, will he comply with the prosecution's investigation this time? Reports indicate that the prosecution is focusing on a plan to visit him at the detention center rather than summoning him to the Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office. What do you think is the reason for this approach? (Cho) 5. In the meantime, President Yoon's side issued a stern warning, stating, "We will hold the CIO legally accountable for its unlawful investigation and illegal actions." What does the legal responsibility mentioned by President Yoon's side imply? Professor Cho (Cho) 6. Now let's take a look at the 4th trial session held on Thursday. The first witness, former Minister of Defense Kim Yong-hyun's face-to-face encounter with President Yoon has garnered much attention. There was no partition between President Yoon and Former Minister Kim. How would you generally assess the testimonies made? (Lee) 7. How about you Professor Lee? What were your takeaways from yesterday's session? (Lee) 8. A battle of truth between President Yoon and former Minister Kim was expected to unfold. However, during the witness testimony on that day, Former Minister Kim accepted the claims of President Yoon's side and took sole responsibility for the state of emergency. Professor Lee, so based on his statement that he personally wrote the proclamation and that President Yoon did not thoroughly review it, can it be interpreted that he essentially led the planning and execution of the state of emergency? (Cho) 9. Former Minister Kim has consistently defended President Yoon, even while in detention, and did so again during his testimony yesterday. Professor Cho, why do you think this is the case?

STOCK

2025/01/24 20:00

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Prosecution requests extension of Yoon's detention period until Feb. 6

2025/01/24 20:00

Thank you for joining us. I'm Yoon Jung-min. We start with the prosecution's probe into allegations of insurrection by the president in light of his short-lived martial law on the night of December third. For details, I have our Choi Min-jung standing by live at the Prosecutors' Office here in Seoul. Min-jung , prosecutors are seeking to further extend the president's detention. Jung-min, the prosecution does not have much time, with a detention deadline approaching, as early as the 26th of January. And because of the tight schedule,. we just learned just a few hours ago, that the investigation team had already requested with the Seoul Central District Court yesterday. an extension of President Yoon's detention until February sixth. If approved, that would allow more time for the prosecutors to investigate. Under such a plan, the prosecution is expected to make every effort to interrogate President Yoon. They also plan to continue the investigation throughout the weekend, and even during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday. Considering past cases of former presidents who were detained, prosecutors will likely visit President Yoon at the Seoul Detention Center for questioning, rather than summoning him to the prosecution office, due to security and confidentiality concerns. Previously, when former Presidents Chun Doo-hwan, Roh Tae-woo, Park Geun-hye, and Lee Myung-bak were detained, the prosecution conducted their investigations at the prison. The prosecution is reportedly only willing to question Yoon in person, given the gravity of the case. And what been the response from his defense team thus far? Right, the question is whether Yoon will respond to the prosecution's investigation. But given his team's latest response, they appear unlikely to cooperate. Around an hour ago, Yoon's legal team released a statement, criticizing the prosecution's handling of the situation. It argued that the prosecution should cancel the President's detention and wait for the impeachment trial to proceed. The statement stressed that keeping the President in detention could interfere with the impeachment process. The team also stated that the prosecution should disregard the illegal investigation conducted by the CIO and start a fresh investigation. Hours ago, Yoon's lawyers, Yun Gap-geun and Kim Hong-il, briefly stopped by, and told reporters that they came to convey their thoughts to the prosecution. Though exact details were not revealed, they may have discussed scheduling coordination with the investigators. But, just to give you a brief background, the prosecution's special investigation team took the case back yesterday, after the anti-corruption agency formally requested that the prosecution take over the investigation. The case was handed over earlier than planned due to President Yoon's refusal to cooperate with the CIO. That's all I have for now. Back to you, Jung-min. All right Min-jung thank you for the latest.

[Weather] Rain and snow along the east coast until tomorrow

2025/01/24 20:00

Seoul has weather like early spring today. Also, ahead of the holiday, most of the fine dust has cleared. These clear and warm conditions will continue throughout the weekend. There has been rain or snow from the afternoon along the east coast. It will relieve the dryness of the atmosphere. As for the snowfall, up to 15 centimeters of snow is forecast in the mountainous areas of Gangwon-do Province by tomorrow. There is a possibility of heavy snow advisories in this area. Up to 5 centimeters of snow is expected on the east coast of Gangwon-do and the mountainous areas of northeastern Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. Tomorrow, Daejeon will start off at minus 2 degrees Celsius, Busan at 5 degrees. Daily highs will move up to around 10 degrees in most parts of the country tomorrow. On next Monday and Tuesday, more rain and snow is forecast all over the country. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

Trump pushes "America First" agenda at Davos: Invest or face tariffs

2025/01/24 20:00

Elsewhere In his first address to a global audience following his return to the White House, President Trump called on companies worldwide to make their products in America or face hefty tariffs. Moon Hye-ryeon explains. "Come make your product in America and we will give you among the lowest taxes of any nation on earth." U.S. President Donald Trump emphasized his stance on tariffs once again in front of the global elite at the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, as he followed up his push to bring manufacturing into the U.S. with a threat to impose levies for foreign goods. "But if you don't make your product in America, which is your prerogative, then very simply you will have to pay a tariff." Speaking in a video call on Thursday at his first major appearance since his inauguration earlier this week, Trump went on to describe how these tariffs will add up to "trillions of dollars" to strengthen the U.S. economy. This follows an earlier announcement that he plans to impose tariffs of 25 percent on Mexico and Canada starting February – alongside a 10 percent tariff for China. During the rest of his 45-minute speech, he went on to lay out more of his vision for the U.S. economy, which includes lowering the corporate tax to 15 percent from the current 21 percent, lowering energy costs by pressuring OPEC and lowering interest rates in turn. And in a panel discussion following his speech, he addressed the European Union for its substantial trade imbalance with the United States and condemned their regulatory actions against American tech giants such as Apple, Google, and Facebook. His comments spurred a chain of reactions – oil prices fell, the greenback showed fluctuations, and U.S. stocks rose. It also inspired commentary from attendees, who called for a measured response to Trump's tariff policies – cautioning against hasty retaliatory actions. The Director-General of the World Trade Organization called for careful analysis to examine the economic impact to gauge whether they are excessive and warned that retaliatory tariffs can have disastrous effects on the global economy. The European Union's economic commissioner echoed this sentiment, while some attendees showed a more nuanced understanding of Trump's approach to tariffs by viewing it as a bargaining tool. Trump also advocated for a reduction in nuclear arms and urged for global cooperation at the forum, stating that he had discussed the matter with Russian President Vladimir Putin prior to the 2020 U.S. presidential election. He revealed that Putin had been receptive to the idea of nuclear disarmament and that China would have joined the initiative – warning that Beijing is rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal and could catch up with the U.S. in a few years. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

No immediate signs of provocation from N. Korea but preparing ICBM, satellite launches: JCS

2025/01/24 20:00

While there is no indication of an imminent provocation, North Korea looks to be prepared for an intercontinental ballistic missile launch or a satellite mission at any time. Our Kim Bo-kyoung reports. No immediate signs of North Korean missile launches have been detected since Trump's inauguration, but preparations for a spy satellite or an ICBM continue. This is the recent assessment made by the Joint Chiefs of Staff on North Korea. released on Friday. Regarding Pyongyang's potential missile launches, the regime had earlier this month already fired two missiles before Trump was sworn in as the new U.S. president. And, the JCS says the North appears to be ready to launch short-range ballistic and cruise missiles at any time. Yet, as Trump has delivered a message to resume talks, one expert says it is unlikely that Pyongyang will be highly provocative. "In response to President Trump's conciliatory message, it is unlikely that North Korea will conduct a high-intensity display of force, such as an ICBM launch." Meanwhile, Pyongyang has been dismantling and removing the materials from the Kaesong Industrial Complex's Comprehensive Support Center for over a month, since mid-December last year. Considering that North Korea had shown similar activities before demolishing the inter-Korean liaison office in June 2020, the same expert again says the possibility of utterly blowing up the complex would take some time. "North Korea has already dismantled symbolic South Korean buildings and facilities in the Geumgangsan Mountain area and destroyed the inter-Korean liaison office. Given that it is unclear what benefit would come from destroying the Kaesong Industrial Complex, they could dismantle, but it would take time to demolish." When it comes to North Korea sending troops to Russia. the South's military expects Pyongyang to accelerate preparations for additional deployments with around four months already having passed since the first troop deployment. It is likely, given the fact that the battle nearing its end could get fierce, but the expert said the relationship between Russia and the U.S. could bring a change in Kim Jong-un's decision. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.

Gov't strengthens emergency medical system ahead of Seollal holidays

2025/01/24 20:00

With the holiday just around the corner, the authorities are making sure that the emergency medical system is managed in a stable manner. Our Park Kun-woo has more. Efforts to stabilize the emergency medical system are underway. During a central disaster meeting on Friday, Acting President Choi Sang-mok emphasized that stabilizing the system during the upcoming Seollal holidays was crucial. "The government and local authorities will focus their efforts on ensuring the smooth implementation of special measures to maintain the emergency medical system, so people can spend the holidays peacefully." This comes after the emergency medical response period was set for two weeks from January 22nd, to cover the holidays. Choi said all domestic emergency medical facilities are being monitored around the clock with medical officers dispatched. He also stressed that every effort will be made to provide specialized care for high-risk pregnant women, nighttime pediatric care, and other special conditions. Choi also urged that emergency rooms be prioritized for those who are in real need. "If you have an urgent problem, call 119; if not please visit a local clinic or small to medium-sized hospital emergency room first." The government said more hospitals will be open during the holidays, up by over 3-hundred-60 percent from last year's Seollal holidays. The National Fire Agency will also increase its emergency personnel and medical consultations beyond normal levels. Korean nationals living abroad or traveling can also receive consultations through the agency's internet or social media channels. The health authorities advised caution regarding respiratory diseases during the holidays even though the flu season peak has passed. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said people should follow infectious disease prevention measures, including maintaining hygiene and ventilation, and especially high-risk groups should get vaccinated as the flu season continues. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

Lawmakers greet people traveling for Seollal holiday at major stations in Seoul

2025/01/24 20:00

Meanwhile, lawmakers across the aisle also made their way to major bus and train stations on this Friday here in Seoul to meet with travelers as they head home for the lunar new year holiday. Members of the ruling People Power Party were at Seoul Station while their counterparts of main opposition Democratic Party were at Seoul Express Bus Terminal. During their brief interactions with members of the public, rival lawmakers pledged to pledge to promote issues related to the cost of living for ordinary people.

Live from Seoul Station: Seollal holiday travel season starts in Korea

2025/01/24 20:00

Korea is looking ahead to an extended Lunar New Year holiday starting this weekend. For those seeking an early start to the journey back to their hometowns for Seollal celebrations with family and friends, today is travel day. Our correspondent Song Yoo-jin joins us live from a major transport hub here in Seoul. Happy holiday, Yoo-jin! What's the latest on the hustle and bustle where you are? Happy holiday to you too, Jung-min from Seoul Station, the busiest train station in Korea. Today is the eve of the six-day Seollal holiday if we include the upcoming weekend. Seollal is one of Korea's two biggest holidays, the other being Chuseok, often called the Korean Thanksgiving. The station is becoming increasingly more crowded, as we've been seeing a significant influx of travelers after 6 PM when most people will have finished work. According to the latest data from the country's state-run railway operator, as of 3 PM, more than 76 percent of nearly 3-hundred-40-thousand available train tickets from this train station have already been booked. In fact, we're seeing more and more notices on the big screens here that some trains are sold out. Earlier, I spoke with some travelers about how excited they are for the holiday. Take a listen. "I want to relax with my family. I've been quite busy leading up to this holiday, so I want to visit cafes and travel with them." "Right now, I'm living with a host family so I'm thinking maybe with my host family maybe I'll make tteokguk or I think maybe we may vacation a little bit outside of Seoul maybe to Everland. I'll see what happens. But I also have some friends here so I think I may hang out with them." "I haven't been able to visit my grandmother for quite a while because I've been preparing for a new job. I'm going to meet and tell her I'll do my best." "The holiday is so long that I'm a bit worried about how to spend all that time with my daughter, but I think she'll be really happy to see her grandparents after such a long time." Happy holiday plans! Now, let's talk about numbers. How many people are projected to travel and WHEN would be ideal? Ahead of every Seollal, the Transport Ministry announces a 'special transportation measures period.' This year, it spans 10 days, starting today and lasting through next Sunday, February 2nd. For those taking next Friday off, this means a potential nine-day break. The Korea Transport Institute estimates that a total of 34 million people will take to the roads, skies, and other forms of transport during these 10 days. That's an increase of nearly 8 million compared to last year when the transportation period was just five days. The institute predicts that Seollal Day itself, next Wednesday, will be the busiest in terms of volume, with approximately 6 million people traveling. But it seems that the days just before and after Seollal Day will also be difficult to move, as an online survey conducted by the institute shows that Tuesday morning is the most preferred time for starting trips, while Thursday afternoon, is expected to be the most popular time for returning home. To ease the burden for travelers, motorway tolls will be lifted from Monday to Thursday. Discounts will be offered for train tickets and snacks at highway rest stops. If you're planning your schedule this holiday season, keep this in mind. And Yoo-jin, as our culture correspondent, I hear you have a special recommendation for those passing through Seoul Station. That's right. Just a short walk from here, in the old Seoul Station building, which first opened in 1925. It operated as a railway station until 2003 but reopened in 2011 with a new name 'Culture Station Seoul 284' as a space for exhibitions, performances, and workshops. Currently, two exhibitions are being held there, with no admission fee. If you're in this area, it's worth checking out. Or, stay tuned for my full report, which will air next Tuesday, just ahead of Seollal. Back to you Jung-min. That was our Song Yoo-jin live from Seoul Station.

Live from Seoul Station: Seollal holiday travel season starts in Korea

2025/01/24 17:00

Korea is looking ahead to an extended lunar new year holiday starting this weekend and for those seeking an early start to the journey back home for Seollal celebrations with family and friends in their hometowns today is travel day. That being said I have my colleague Song Yoo-jin joining me live from a major transport hub here in Seoul. Yoo-jin welcome. So what's the latest on the hustle and bustle where you are? Sunny, I'm at Seoul Station, the busiest train station in Korea. Today is the eve of the six-day Seollal holiday if we include the upcoming weekend. Seollal is one of Korea's two biggest holidays, the other being Chuseok, often called the Korean Thanksgiving. As such, it's a time when many people either head to their hometowns or travel elsewhere. While cars remain the most common form of transport for domestic trips, train stations like this one offer the clearest snapshot of the holiday travel rush. The station isn't overly crowded at the moment, but we expect a significant influx of travelers after 6 PM when most people will have finished work. According to the latest data from the country's state-run railway operator, as of 3 PM, more than 76 percent of nearly 3-hundred-40-thousand available train tickets from this train station have already been booked. Earlier, I had a chance to speak with some holiday travelers. Take a listen. "I want to relax with my family. I've been quite busy leading up to this holiday, so I want to visit cafes and travel with them." "Right now, I'm living with a host family so I'm thinking maybe with my host family maybe I'll make tteokguk or I think maybe we may vacation a little bit outside of Seoul maybe to Everland. I'll see what happens. But I also have some friends here so I think I may hang out with them." Right it's family and friends for most people during Seollal. Now let's talk about numbers Yoo-jin . How many people are projected to travel and WHEN would be ideal? Ahead of every Seollal, the Transport Ministry announces a 'special transportation measures period.' This year, it spans 10 days, starting today and lasting through next Sunday, February 2nd. For those taking next Friday off, this means a potential nine-day break. The Korea Transport Institute estimates that a total of 34 million people will take to the roads, skies, and other forms of transport during these 10 days. That's an increase of nearly 8 million compared to last year when the transportation period was just five days. The institute predicts that Seollal Day itself, next Wednesday, will be the busiest in terms of volume, with approximately 6 million people traveling. But it seems that the days just before and after Seollal Day will also be difficult to move, as an online survey conducted by the institute shows that Tuesday morning is the most preferred time for starting trips, while Thursday afternoon, is expected to be the most popular time for returning home. To ease the burden for travelers, motorway tolls will be lifted from Monday to Thursday. Discounts will be offered for train tickets and snacks at highway rest stops. If you're planning your schedule this holiday season, keep this in mind. Back to you, Sunny. All right Yoo-jin thank you for the latest on the Seollal travel here in Korea. And YOO-JIN happy holidays! Happy holiday!

Prosecution requests extension of Yoon's detention period until Feb. 6

2025/01/24 17:00

We start with the prosecution's probe into allegations of insurrection by the president in light of his short-lived martial law on the night of December third. For details I have Arirang News correspondent Choi Min-jung standing by live at the Prosecutors' Office here in Seoul. Min-jung first then let's begin with talk about a further extension of the president's detention as sought by prosecutors. Sunny, the prosecution does not have much time, with a detention deadline approaching, as early as the 26th of January. And because of the tight schedule,. we just learned moments ago, that the investigation team has already requested with the Seoul Central District Court yesterday. an extension of President Yoon's detention until February sixth. If approved, that would allow more time for the prosecutors to investigate. Under such a plan, the prosecution is expected to make every effort to interrogate President Yoon as much as possible. They also plan to continue the investigation throughout the weekend, and even during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday. Considering past cases of former presidents who were detained, prosecutors will likely visit President Yoon at the Seoul Detention Center for questioning, rather than summoning him to the prosecution office, due to security and confidentiality concerns. Previously, when former Presidents Chun Doo-hwan, Roh Tae-woo, Park Geun-hye, and Lee Myung-bak were detained, the prosecution conducted their investigations at the prison. The prosecution is reportedly only willing to question Yoon in person, given the gravity of the case. And what been the response from his defense team thus far? Right, the question is whether Yoon will respond to the prosecution's investigation. President Yoon's legal team said nothing has been decided yet, but did urge the prosecution to comply with proper legal procedures, unlike what they call the "illegal" actions of the CIO. His lawyer said yesterday that his team will decide on whether to cooperate with the prosecution's potential visit to the detention center after consulting with the president. He added that many factors, including the prosecution's approach, still need to be considered. Just to give you a brief background, the prosecution's special investigation team took back the case yesterday, after the anti-corruption agency formally requested that the prosecution take over the investigation. The case was handed over earlier than planned due to President Yoon's refusal to cooperate with the CIO. That's all I have for now. But I'll be back with more on our later newscast. Back to you, Sunny. All right Min-jung thank you for the latest on the probe by prosecutors into insurrection charges against the president.