News

[Weather] Rain and snow until tomorrow on the eastern parts of the country

2025/01/24 17:00

A day before the Lunar New Year holiday, the ultra-fine dust has cleared. There were clear skies in the inland areas today. The weather is also milder than usual with highs of 9 degrees Celsius in Seoul, as warm as early spring. These milder conditions will continue throughout the weekend. Along the east coast, there has been rain or snow from the afternoon. It will relieve the dryness there. By tomorrow, up to 15 centimeters of snow is forecast in mountainous areas of Gangwon-do Province, and up to 5 centimeters on the east coast of Gangwon-do and the mountainous areas of northeastern parts of Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. Tomorrow, Seoul, Gwangju, and Daegu will start off at zero degrees. Daily highs will move up to around 10 degrees in most parts of the country tomorrow. More rain and snow is expected on next Monday and Tuesday across the country. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

World News: Federal court blocks Trump's executive order on birthright citizenship

2025/01/24 17:00

This is the World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. In the U.S., on Thursday, District Judge John Coughenour in Seattle put a two-week temporary halt, on President Donald Trump's executive order, aimed at ending birthright citizenship, calling it "blatantly unconstitutional." Trump's order sought to deny citizenship to children born in the U.S. to non-citizen parents. The order challenges the 14th Amendment, which grants citizenship to anyone born in America, with a few minor exceptions. 22 states and several immigrant rights groups are challenging Trump's executive order, arguing that it would strip many individuals of their right to citizenship. The Justice Department plans to appeal Judge Coughenour's decision, asserting that the order correctly interprets the Constitution. The case, which represents an early setback for the Trump administration's immigration agenda, could potentially end up at the Supreme Court for a final decision. Also in the U.S., Purdue Pharma and its owners, the Sackler family, on Thursday, agreed to a 7.4 billion U.S. dollar settlement, to resolve numerous lawsuits alleging their role in the U.S. opioid crisis through the marketing of their product, OxyContin. Under the settlement terms, the Sacklers will pay 6.5 billion U.S. dollars over 15 years, and give up their ownership of Purdue Pharma. An additional 900 million U.S. dollars will come from Purdue itself. The agreement follows the U.S. Supreme Court's rejection of a 6 billion dollar settlement that would have granted the Sacklers immunity from future civil lawsuits. The new settlement does not provide such immunity. The OxyContin crisis led to hundreds of thousands of deaths and addictions in the U.S. since the drug's release in 1996. The Sackler family continues to deny any wrongdoing. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning announced on Thursday that recent tests of seawater samples collected near Japan's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant revealed no abnormalities. The first independent test of samples since October 2024, was conducted as part of an agreement between China and Japan, allowing stakeholders to perform independent sampling and monitoring, under the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency. China's foreign ministry spokesperson noted the limits of the significance of a single test result, and China has not yet hinted at lifting its ban on Japanese seafood imports, which was imposed in August 2023. In Australia, Sydney's Royal Botanic Garden saw the blooming of a "corpse flower," or Putricia, for the first time in 15 years on Thursday. The rare flower, which is native to Sumatra, Indonesia, is known for its pungent odor, often compared to rotting flesh. The occasion attracted over 20,000 visitors, as the flower's bloom is a significant event, due to its rarity and brief 24-hour lifespan. Visitors endured lines exceeding two hours to witness the rare spectacle, and some described the scent as being like a dead animal. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.

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

2025/01/24 17:00

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 promote issues related to the cost of living for ordinary people.

New wildfire erupts in southern California

2025/01/24 17:00

A fresh and fast-moving wildfire is spreading through Los Angeles County. According to local authorities the Hughes fire which was first detected Wednesday morning had consumed over 10-thousand acres of land by Thursday afternoon. However no structures have been destroyed. This latest blaze comes just over two weeks after the catastrophic Palisades and Eaton fires in the LA area.

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

2025/01/24 17:00

While there is no indication of an imminent provocation North Korea is prepared for an intercontinental ballistic missile launch or a satellite mission at any time. This is according to South Korean military officials. 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.

Seoul envoy vows to maintain joint goal of N. Korea's denuclearization with Trump administration

2025/01/24 17:00

South Korea's top delegate to the U.S. has reaffirmed intentions to work with Washington to rid North Korea of nuclear weapons. The remarks were made in response to concerns here over Mr. Trump's labeling of the regime as a "nuclear power". Lee Seung-jae has details. South Korea's Ambassador to the United States Cho Hyun-dong said Thursday that Seoul and Washington will maintain the goal of North Korea's denuclearization in the new Donald Trump administration. In a monthly press meeting, Seoul's top envoy to Washington emphasized South Korea's focus on reinforcing policy coordination with the Trump administration. In order to remain on the same page on North Korea nuclear policy, Cho said the South Korean government will strengthen its coordination with the U.S., especially given the North's participation in the war in Ukraine. The ambassador also stressed Seoul's priority of strengthening the credibility of the U.S.' extended deterrence commitment. This includes the mobilization of the full range of its military capabilities, including nuclear weapons,.. in order to defend South Korea. Cho added that, Seoul will continue to ensure the combined South Korea-U.S. defense posture, while maintaining the Seoul-Washington-Tokyo trilateral cooperation. His comments come amid growing concerns that the U.S. may be changing its policy on North Korea's nuclear program. On the day of his inauguration on Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump described North Korea as a "nuclear power." Also,.. Trump's defense chief nominee Pete Hegseth used the same term to describe the regime. U.S. officials have long refrained from using such terms, as it could be seen as Washington's recognition of North Korea's nuclear weapons program. However, the term is different from "the nuclear-weapon states,". often used to describe countries like the U.S., UK, France, Russia, and China. They're officially recognized as countries that possess nuclear weapons in the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

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

2025/01/24 17:00

Elsewhere. In his first address to a global audience following his return to the White House U.S. President Donald Trump called on companies worldwide to make their products in America or face hefty tariffs. Our business correspondent Moon Hye-ryeon reports. "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.

Choi Sang-mok orders officials to respond to important issues first from Trump's 'America First' policy

2025/01/24 17:00

Acting President Choi Sang-mok has called for a thorough review of the country's response strategy to the Trump administration's America First campaign. The call came earlier on this Friday during a round-table discussion on global economic matters with relevant government officials. According to the Finance Ministry this latest session of talks is the third of its kind and takes place just three days after the last. The overall gist of the agenda is navigating the new U.S. government's protectionist policies.

GROWING GAP IN POLITICS AND AMONG PEOPLE

2025/01/24 17:00

Hello and welcome. You're watching Press Perspective for this Friday January 24th here in Seoul. I'm Min Sunhee. Today we address the impact of political polarization on the stability of our societies and more. For more I have Kelly Kasulis Cho with The Washington Post. Kelly it's good to have you back this week. I also have Colin Marshall with the foreign pundit's take on the issues at hand. Colin as always thank you for being here. 1) Kelly, there are grave concerns about the deepening political divide here in Korea. 2) Colin, what do you suppose is further aggravating Korea's political polarization this time around? 3) Kelly, some pro-Yoon supporters have spoken of seeing hope in Mr. Trump's return to the White House where he promptly moved to pardon the January 6th rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol in 2021. 4) Colin, back here in Korea. 5) Meanwhile Kelly, I hear this growing political gap between Gen Z women and men is a phenomenon that extends beyond Korean borders. 6) Colin, a local survey shows most Koreans believe the government should take the lead in bridging the political divide, but few trust its ability to do so. 7) Kelly, let's now move on to some other lighter stories. 8) Colin, there has been yet another foreign media report about robots tackling labor shortages amid Korea's aging population. All right.

[K-enter] Actor Byeon Woo-seok Donates Merchandise Proceeds to Pediatric Patients

2025/01/24 14:00

Time for some K-entertainment news with Bella Kim. Today, we start off with a heartwarming story. Actor Byeon Woo-seok has donated the proceeds from his birthday merchandise sales to Korea Pediatric Cancer-Foundation. The sale of the goods started last October and his agency VARO Entertainment announced that all proceeds will be donated to children suffering from childhood cancer, leukemia, and rare and incurable diseases. The exact amount is not revealed. Byeon Woo-seok actually donated 300 million won, which is roughly 210-thousand U.S. dollars, for pediatric patients to Severance Hospital in Seoul just last year. Meanwhile, he confirmed his next project for an MBC drama tentatively titled “21st Century King’s Wife”. We have another donation story, but this time by a K-pop boy group member? BTS' Jin donated 100 million won (about 70,000 U.S. dollars) to Korea University Medical Center to support terminally ill patients in developing countries. The donation will be used for Korea University Medical Center’s international medical support program, aimed at providing treatment to those suffering from financial hardships and lack of treatment. Jin stated “I hope this brings a small hope to those who are suffering and unable to receive treatment in medical blind spots.” He added that he wants to help more lives with his global fans. Jin was discharged from mandatory military service last June and recently released his solo album, “Happy.” And speaking of Jin, we’ll end off with another story on some other BTS members? BTS Jimin has achieved a historic milestone on the US Billboard charts. According to the latest Billboard charts released on Wednesday, Jimin’s second solo album, “MUSE” is still on the Billboard 200 chart at No.118. This is his 26th consecutive week on the chart, which makes him the longest-charting K-pop solo artist on this chart. Despite the fact that the album was released in July last year, it is still No.3 on the World Albums chart and its title track, “Who,” is ranked No.41 on the Hot 100. We also have some more exciting news for Jimin along with Jung Kook? Jimin and Jung Kook were nominated for various categories of the “2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards” in the United States. On Wednesday, iHeartRadio Music Awards announced the list of nominees for this year’s awards. Jimin was nominated for “K-pop Artist of the Year” and his song “Who” was nominated for “Best Lyrics” and “K-pop Song of the Year.” Notably, Jimin is the first Korean artist to be nominated for the “Best Lyrics” category. Also, a travelogue taken by Jimin and Jung Kook “Are You Sure?!” was considered as a competition for “Favorite On Screen.” The iHeartRadio Music Awards is a music awards ceremony hosted, since 2014, by iHeartRadio, an American online radio station. It awards the most played artists and songs on iHeartRadio stations and applications every year. This year’s awards ceremony will be held in Los Angeles on March 17th and will be broadcast live on the FOX channel in the United States. Thank you Bella for today’s stories.

K-pop marketing strategies behind new releases

2025/01/24 14:00

It’s been another week with new releases in the K-pop world, with a variety of songs catching the eyes and ears of fans. Today, we want to analyze some of the marketing strategies behind K-pop idols’ song releases. We’ll do that with the expert in this field Jeff Benjamin, a contributor to Billboard, Forbes, Rolling Stone and more. Hello Jeff! Q1. Let’s first start with WHO released WHAT in the past week. Q1-1. What’s your first impression of ‘KickFlip’? What do you think are their strengths? Q2. Girl group IVE have wrapped up their 11-month world tour and their song ‘REBEL HEART’ has been topping charts around the world. They will also return with a mini-album on Feb. 3rd. What's your take on the song and your expectations for the album? Q3. Now let’s go deeper into the "pre-release" strategy . It’s become the norm for K-pop stars to have a single released first, followed by an album release. How effective is this marketing strategy? And is there something different to it compared to releases elsewhere in the world? Q4. Interestingly, we're also seeing longer teaser and promotion periods, but shorter and shorter active periods. What’s behind this change? Q5. What are other mentionable marketing trends in the K-pop industry? Q6. Amid these strategies, are there any factors that may need improvement in your view?

[K-enter] Actor Byeon Woo-seok Donates Merchandise Proceeds to Pediatric Patients

2025/01/24 14:00

Time for some K-entertainment news with Bella Kim. Today, we start off with a heartwarming story. Actor Byeon Woo-seok has donated the proceeds from his birthday merchandise sales to Korea Pediatric Cancer-Foundation. The sale of the goods started last October and his agency VARO Entertainment announced that all proceeds will be donated to children suffering from childhood cancer, leukemia, and rare and incurable diseases. The exact amount is not revealed. Byeon Woo-seok actually donated 300 million won, which is roughly 210-thousand U.S. dollars, for pediatric patients to Severance Hospital in Seoul just last year. Meanwhile, he confirmed his next project for an MBC drama tentatively titled “21st Century King’s Wife”. We have another donation story, but this time by a K-pop boy group member? BTS' Jin donated 100 million won (about 70,000 U.S. dollars) to Korea University Medical Center to support terminally ill patients in developing countries. The donation will be used for Korea University Medical Center’s international medical support program, aimed at providing treatment to those suffering from financial hardships and lack of treatment. Jin stated “I hope this brings a small hope to those who are suffering and unable to receive treatment in medical blind spots.” He added that he wants to help more lives with his global fans. Jin was discharged from mandatory military service last June and recently released his solo album, “Happy.” And speaking of Jin, we’ll end off with another story on some other BTS members? BTS Jimin has achieved a historic milestone on the US Billboard charts. According to the latest Billboard charts released on Wednesday, Jimin’s second solo album, “MUSE” is still on the Billboard 200 chart at No.118. This is his 26th consecutive week on the chart, which makes him the longest-charting K-pop solo artist on this chart. Despite the fact that the album was released in July last year, it is still No.3 on the World Albums chart and its title track, “Who,” is ranked No.41 on the Hot 100. We also have some more exciting news for Jimin along with Jung Kook? Jimin and Jung Kook were nominated for various categories of the “2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards” in the United States. On Wednesday, iHeartRadio Music Awards announced the list of nominees for this year’s awards. Jimin was nominated for “K-pop Artist of the Year” and his song “Who” was nominated for “Best Lyrics” and “K-pop Song of the Year.” Notably, Jimin is the first Korean artist to be nominated for the “Best Lyrics” category. Also, a travelogue taken by Jimin and Jung Kook “Are You Sure?!” was considered as a competition for “Favorite On Screen.” The iHeartRadio Music Awards is a music awards ceremony hosted, since 2014, by iHeartRadio, an American online radio station. It awards the most played artists and songs on iHeartRadio stations and applications every year. This year’s awards ceremony will be held in Los Angeles on March 17th and will be broadcast live on the FOX channel in the United States. Thank you Bella for today’s stories.

[Features reporter] 'Seollal Temple Stay': Experience dumpling making and traditions at S. Korean temples

2025/01/24 14:00

Eun-hee, I heard you visited a special temple stay in Seoul. It must have been unique, especially with the Lunar New Year holiday approaching. Can you tell us more about it? Yes Soa. The Lunar New Year holiday or Seollal holiday is just around the corner, and to celebrate in a unique way, many temples across South Korea are offering special temple stays. I had the chance to visit one of these Seollal Temple Stays and see what's waiting for those looking to experience the peaceful, mind-clearing atmosphere of a temple stay. Let’s take a look. A unique sanctuary nestled in the heart of Seoul City. Jogyesa Temple is offering a special temple stay for the first time during the Seollal holidays so participants can experience the holiday's traditions. "At Jogyesa, we introduced dumpling-making as part of our Temple Stay program to bring back traditional holiday customs. Nowadays, with more people living in nuclear families or traveling abroad, it's hard to experience the warmth and togetherness of the holidays. We wanted to create a space where families or individuals spending the holidays alone could come together, even for just one night." Monk Seon Hae shared that through activities like making dumplings, eating rice cakes and sharing tea, she hopes to foster a warm sense of family and connection. This is the purpose behind many special programs including a Lunar New Year ceremony and folk games. The Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism is hosting the "Seollal Temple Stay" at over 20 temples nationwide from January 22nd to January 30th. "I came here to clear my mind because I've been feeling stressed at work." "I'm having a lot of fun it's my first time making dumplings, and I'm really enjoying it." Events like this bring out each person's unique personality. Some participants expressed their New Year's wishes through the dumplings they made. "This dumpling is called the 'Sun Dumpling.' I made it to symbolize the rising sun of the New Year, wishing for a bright year ahead." "To start the New Year meaningfully, we decided to join a temple stay before the semester begins." As they taste the dumplings they've made, along with healthy, vegetarian and environmentally friendly temple food, participants gain a deeper appreciation for the effort that went into preparing these dishes. No Seollal celebration is complete without enjoying a bowl of Tteokguk or rice cake soup. From preparation to consumption, every step in the temple is a daily practice. Practicing the performing of '108 bows,' which symbolizes the purification of 108 temptations, participants have time to reflect. The evening at Jogyesa Temple is the perfect time to focus on the present moment. This Seollal holiday, why not take a break from your smartphone and immerse yourself in seasonal traditions by experiencing a temple stay with friends or family? First of all, those dumplings look delicious. How were they? Was it your first time making them? Those meat-free dumplings were absolutely delicious. Though my dumplings might not have been perfect, it's actually not my first time making them. I'm not particularly skilled in cooking, but I did realize the last time I made dumplings was back in elementary school. I think that’s one of the reasons this activity felt so special because for many people, there aren't many opportunities to gather and make dumplings together. I've always wanted to try a temple stay, and it sounds amazing! Jogyesa Temple seems like a perfect choice, especially after seeing what you've shared. What other temples might we be able to visit during the holiday for a similar experience? Yes Bella, unlike many temples, Jogyesa is in the heart of Seoul, with the monk there describing it as a "temple in a forest of buildings." So throughout this Seollal Holiday which lasts until the 30th of this month, 28 temples across the country are hosting Seollal Temple Stay programs, and I'd like to introduce a few of them. At Yeongpyeongsa Temple in Sejong City, visitors can enjoy activities like rice cake pounding, Jegichagi which is a traditional game of kicking a shuttlecock, and Yutnori, a traditional board game. Dogapsa Temple in Jeollanam-do Province invites participants to make New Year’s lanterns. Another one is Naksansa Temple in Gangwon-do which provides the opportunity to craft LED lotus lanterns. There are many options available, so anyone interested should check the website for details. As for the cost, how much is it? The cost is approximately 80-thousand Korean won which is about 55 U.S. dollars at the current exchange rate. Thank you Eun-hee for sharing. Happy Lunar New Year! Thank you Eun-hee.

K-wave AI News

2025/01/24 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. 'Hangeul Seoye,' or Korean calligraphy, has been designated as a National Intangible Heritage. Hangeul Seoye encompasses not only the act of writing Hangeul using traditional brushes and ink but also the rich traditional knowledge embedded within it. The art of Seoye has served as a vital medium for recording the lives of Koreans throughout history. The National Heritage Service highlighted its value for its distinctive brush techniques and refined aesthetic. It added that Seoye extends into various other artistic fields, contributing to cultural diversity and creativity. Around 206,000 visitors are expected to visit Korea's southern resort island of Jeju during the six-day Lunar New Year holiday. Visitors will enter Jeju via roughly 1,200 domestic flights and 124 international flights, as well as on six cruise ships. The number of Jeju-bound travelers marks a nearly 10% drop compared to last year's figure. The Jeju Tourism Association attributed the decline to the extended holiday, which led many travelers to opt for overseas trips instead of domestic destinations. Korea's celebrated Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival, which kicked off on January 11, is set to surpass one million visitors this week. As of Wednesday, about 943,500 people have enjoyed the winter festivities, including more than 51,000 international tourists. Travelers from around the world—spanning the Arab region to Southeast Asia—have embraced Korea's unique winter traditions, such as ice fishing, highlighting the festival's global appeal. The festival will run through February 2. That's all from me. Wishing our viewers in Korea a wonderful and safe holiday, and to those watching from around the world, have a fantastic weekend!

[Short-form] How Korea celebrates Lunar New Year

2025/01/24 14:00

Explore how Korea celebrates ‘Seollal,’ a time when families reunite, traditions come alive, and hearts brim with hope for the year ahead!

On-point: Is Yoon better off with prosecution taking over martial law order investigation

2025/01/24 10:00

The investigation of President Yoon's martial law order is now in the hands of prosecutors. Will things speed up for the better? We're joined by Professor Song Se-ryun this morning. Good to have you with us, Professor Song. 1. As our Choi Min-jung reported, the transfer of the case to the prosecution came earlier than expected. Does it mean the investigators have given up on Yoon? 2. What role can the CIO play in the investigation following the transfer to prosecution? To what extent can they take part? 3. How do you think the prosecution will approach questioning Yoon? What options are there? What's the best option for the prosecutors? 4. Is having the investigation passed to the prosecution something that Yoon and his legal team pursued, do you think? Is Yoon better off now that prosecutors are carrying out the investigation? Or not really? 5. Yoon's side has hinted at cooperating with the prosecution. To what extent? Will it depend on the prosecutors' approach to the investigation? Thank you so much for joining us this morning. We appreciate your time and your insight.

Seoul envoy vows to maintain joint goal of N. Korea's denuclearization with Trump administration

2025/01/24 10:00

U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this week described North Korea as a "nuclear power," sparking concerns of a change in Washington's North Korea policy. Seoul's top envoy to the U.S. tamed the worries by vowing to ensure that Seoul and Washington will maintain the goal of North Korea's denuclearization. Lee Seung-jae reports. South Korea's Ambassador to the United States Cho Hyun-dong said Thursday that Seoul and Washington will maintain the goal of North Korea's denuclearization in the new Donald Trump administration. In a monthly press meeting, Seoul's top envoy to Washington emphasized South Korea's focus on reinforcing policy coordination with the Trump administration. In order to remain on the same page on North Korea nuclear policy, Cho said the South Korean government will strengthen its coordination with the U.S., especially given the North's participation in the war in Ukraine. The ambassador also stressed Seoul's priority of strengthening the credibility of the U.S.' extended deterrence commitment. This includes the mobilization of the full range of its military capabilities, including nuclear weapons,.. in order to defend South Korea. Cho added that, Seoul will continue to ensure the combined South Korea-U.S. defense posture, while maintaining the Seoul-Washington-Tokyo trilateral cooperation. His comments come amid growing concerns that the U.S. may be changing its policy on North Korea's nuclear program. On the day of his inauguration on Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump described North Korea as a "nuclear power." Also,.. Trump's defense chief nominee Pete Hegseth used the same term to describe the regime. U.S. officials have long refrained from using such terms, as it could be seen as Washington's recognition of North Korea's nuclear weapons program. However, the term is different from "the nuclear-weapon states,". often used to describe countries like the U.S., UK, France, Russia, and China. They're officially recognized as countries that possess nuclear weapons in the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

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

2025/01/24 10:00

Speaking at his first major global address, U.S. President Donald Trump renewed his economic agenda urging global companies to manufacture in the U.S. Our Moon Hye-ryeon has the details. “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.

Europe posts record year for clean energy

2025/01/24 10:00

The proportion of renewable energy in total electricity production in the European Union reached an all-time high last year. According to London-based think tank Ember on Thursday, renewable energy production, including solar, wind, and hydropower last year in the European bloc reached 13-hundred terra watt hours, accounting for 47-point-4 percent of the total electricity production. The figure is an increase of 7-point-6 percent from the previous year. Meanwhile, the proportion of fossil fuels, such as coal and gas, used in EU electricity production stood at 28-point-9 percent, the lowest in 40 years.

Prosecution preparing for full-scale investigation of Pres. Yoon

2025/01/24 10:00

Investigation into President Yoon's martial law order is still ongoing, except the case will now be under the prosecutors, not the investigators. We have our Choi Min-jung out at the prosecution's office in central Seoul. Min-jung, the prosecutors will now handle the investigation. Are you spotting anything at the site? Dami, it's a little past 10 AM here at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office And unlike what we've been seeing at the Seoul Detention Center or the CIO, it's still rather quiet,.. with not many 사람 around at the moment. Now regarding the investigation, the prosecution does not have much time with a detention deadline approaching which could be as early as the 26th of January. So the investigation team may request to extend President Yoon's detention as early as today. And if approved, that would mean he could be held until the 4th, 5th, or 6th of February, giving 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 have also set a plan to continue the investigation throughout the weekend, possibly at the Seoul Detention Center where Yoon is currently being held, and even during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday. And the point of this whole case transfer is so that President Yoon complies with the investigation. How is Yoon's side taking this handover? 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. 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. The CIO had faced backlash as the investigation continued to hit a stalemate. Other than on the day of his arrest, when he remained silent in front of investigators, Yoon refused to appear for further questioning, citing health and security concerns. The CIO also faced repeated interference from the Presidential Security Service in its attempts to seize evidence. One of the men arrested for the attack against Seoul Western District Court last weekend turned out to be a missionary. And he's been arrested as of Thursday? That's right, Dami. A man in his 40s, identified as Mr. Lee, was arrested after being accused of storming into the court last Sunday, shortly after an arrest warrant was issued for President Yoon. As of today, a total of 59 people, including Lee,. have been arrested in connection with the riot. Earlier, the court issued arrest warrants for 58 individuals—44 for storming the court and causing property damage, and 10 for blocking a vehicle carrying prosecutors and investigators from the CIO. That's all I have for now. But I'll be back with more on our later newscast. Back to you, Dami. Thank you Min-jung, for your report.