News

How will Seoul-Washington relations unfold under Lee Jae-myung administration?

2025/06/04 10:40

The brand new South Korean government and its rebooting of the country's diplomacy will be put at test, especially with its strongest ally the U.S. How to further nourish Seoul-Washington ties under the Lee Jae-myung administration? We connect with Dr. Patrick Cronin. He's the chair for Asia-Pacific Security at the Hudson Institute. Thank you for joining us. 1. The U.S. was quick to welcome the incoming Lee Jae-myung administration with an emphasis on tight ROK-U.S. alliance. It's only a matter of time before a phone call takes place between Lee and U.S. President Donald Trump, isn't it? OR the leaders of South Korea and the U.S. said in their phone call that they would hold a summit at an early date. Is that a good sign and a good start? When might that be? Can we expect the ROK-U.S. alliance to remain right under the new Lee administration? 2. Anxieties over the security alliance with the U.S. are hanging in the air --namely, North Korea being a persistent challenge. How can the Lee and Trump administrations work together against Pyongyang's ever-growing military threats? The threats are only growing, not only with missile and nuclear ambitions but also with the regime's troop deployment to the Ukraine war. 3. While not stormy, things have certainly been bumpy between South Korea and the U.S. in recent months from tariffs to the defense cost-sharing deal. What do you think should be President Lee's first step for the Lee administration to take for healthier Seoul-Washington relations under his leadership? 4. The Trump administration is preoccupied with its own matters. Just to name a few the Ukraine war, the war in Gaza, and now a fresh war with Harvard University. But Trump will one day or has already reached out to North Korea. How can the Lee government make sure Seoul is not left out? 5. When talking about U.S. relations, we cannot not talk about China. How can the new South Korean government avoid walking on eggshells with regard to Washington and Beijing and maintain stable ties with both of them? The new South Korean government certainly needs a more careful and mindful diplomatic approach. Thank you for connecting with us. We appreciate it.

[K-Enter] SEVENTEEN's 5th full-length album sets K-pop highest first-week sales record

2025/06/04 14:00

Walter, starting off with some SEVENTEEN news! The boy group have set the highest first-week sales record in K-pop this year with their 5th full album "HAPPY BURSTDAY". According to the album sales tracking site Hanteo Chart, SEVENTEEN's "HAPPY BURSTDAY" sold roughly 2.52 million copies in its first week of release from May 26 to June 1, topping the weekly album chart. This marks the highest first-week sales among all K-pop albums released this year. On the day of their return, they became the first K-pop act this year to achieve a double million-seller, adding another significant milestone to their record. Though SEVENTEEN are seeing global fame across many countries it seems they are especially making a big impact in Japan, right? Correct. According to Japan's Oricon chart on Tuesday, "HAPPY BURSTDAY" sold around 457,000 copies, securing the No. 1 spot on the latest Weekly Album Ranking. This marks the highest weekly album sales this year among all international artists, both male and female, who have released albums in Japan. With this achievement, SEVENTEEN earned their 14th No. 1 on the chart, extending their record as the foreign artist with the most No. 1 albums in Oricon's history. Congratulations SEVENTEEN! Moving on to to K-movies now, what can our viewers expect coming out soon? A press screening and media conference for the musical romance film "Midnight Sun" was held in Seoul on Monday. "Midnight Sun" tells the story of Misol and Min-jun , who can only go on dates at night. As they fall in love through music, they challenge themselves to pursue their dreams together. The film is a remake of the Japanese movie of the same name, originally released in 2006. Norihiro Koizumi, the director of the original Japanese version of the film, strongly recommended the remake saying, "I'm already looking forward to seeing how this story will be reinterpreted across borders and through the 20 years that have passed." The film has already been released in Japan since May 19 and has received early praise. The demand for this film is already spreading globally too. According to distributor By4M Studio on Wednesday, "Midnight Sun" has been pre-sold in 83 countries, including in eight Asian countries, as well as the U.S., Canada, Germany and many more. As for Korea's release, "Midnight Sun" is scheduled on June 11. Thank you as always for the news Walter. Stick around while we move onto Ari our AI anchor for more interesting culture related news. Ari take it away.

K-wave AI News

2025/06/04 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. The cultural community called on newly elected President Lee Jae-myung to boost support for the nation's cultural sector and help reinforce the global influence of K-content. Representatives from various artistic fields emphasized the need to expand the cultural budget and invest more in foundational and fine arts. They asked for "support with minimal interference," urging the government to ease existing regulations. More specifically, writers' associations stressed the importance of ensuring autonomy in literature, while music industry leaders called for the establishment of a dedicated arena for K-pop performances. The film industry highlighted the urgent need to restore the Korean film ecosystem through expanded film development funding. The 21st Busan International Dance Festival kicked off today, launching a five-day celebration of global dance artistry. This year's festival features over 50 performances from nine countries, including Korea, France, Singapore, and Argentina. The festival opens with "Carmina Burana," a full-length special performance by the internationally acclaimed Szeged Contemporary Dance Company from Hungary. The Korea-France collaborative original production "No Matter" is set to premiere at a special outdoor stage on Haeundae Beach. Throughout the event, the beach stage will showcase a dynamic mix of street dance, contemporary dance, and classical ballet, engaging audiences. The Korean original musical "Maybe Happy Ending," which recently opened on Broadway, continued its winning streak by clinching six awards at this year's Annual Drama Desk Awards. At the award ceremony held in New York, the musical won major honors including Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Direction of a Musical, and Outstanding Music. The Drama Desk Awards is one of America's prestigious annual honors recognizing excellence in New York theater. "Maybe Happy Ending" has also earned ten nominations for the upcoming Tony Awards, adding to its long list of accolades. That's all from me. Stay tuned to the Kulture Wave.

Struggling movie theater industry make efforts to attract moviegoers

2025/06/04 14:00

We did talk about a soon-to-be-released movie in our K-enter segment just a bit ago, but the reality is movie theaters in Korea have been struggling to recover to pre-pandemic levels. Various efforts are being made to attract moviegoers, like providing on-site experiences for the highly loyal "fanatics," and even mergers between theater companies in a desperate bid to survive. Lee Eun-jin tells us more. A section of this movie theater has been transformed. A space where there's an added experience for fans of the popular Japanese manga 'Kaiju No. 8'. It's the first time that such an experience has been set up in Korea, and just in time for the release of its film adaptation. "It was really cool to see each character in such detail, just like in the manga." "It was a meaningful experience It reminded me of the protagonist's difficult journey in the story." As such, movie theaters have been focusing on offering extensions of entertainment that can only be experienced in person. Lately, there have been pop-up exhibitions and merchandise shops for films with strong fan bases. Certain theaters also offer their exclusively branded collaboration merchandise, as well as specialized screening rooms that fully utilize their large screens to stand out from their competition. The struggles of movie theaters suggest that going to the movies after a meal, which was once a cultural habit, is no longer routine. According to the Korean Film Council, in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, people went to the movie theater on average 4-point-3-7 times a year. But in 2024, that number dropped to 2-point-4. That means revenues for theaters also fell to nearly half of what they were. Over the same period, between 2019 and 2024, countries like China and Japan recovered to over 90 percent of their box office revenues, while the global average recovery rate came to roughly 87 percent. But recovery for theaters in Korea is noticeably slower. The cinema industry's stagnation is now evident, and as a first indication of a major shake-up, South Korea's second-and third-largest theater franchises have announced plans to merge. Their aim is to reduce overlapping investments and improve profitability. If successful, the merged entity would instantly become the largest in the industry, in terms of the number of screens. While it may be a necessary survival move for theaters, there are growing concerns that it may, in the long run, limit options for moviegoers. "If two massive corporations emerge from this merger, they'll likely invest more heavily in premium, or specialized theaters. That could mean a greater focus on Seoul and the capital region, leading to small neighborhood cinemas and local films disappearing." If film distributors are also brought under the same corporate umbrella, there are concerns that this could reduce the diversity of films and wither the ecosystem for independent films. We are now in an era where people are more willing to pay higher ticket prices for musicals or large-scale concerts than for movies. It remains to be seen whether the industry's survival efforts can spark change and usher in a new springtime for movie theaters. Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.

K-Correspondent_Korea's smart farm technology popularity on the grow in Middle East

2025/06/04 14:00

K-pop and K-dramas have gained significant popularity in the Middle East. But it's not only the interest in Korean culture, but also the interest in K-technology, including K-smart farm technology, that's been on the rise in this region. Let's find out more with today's "K-Correspondent" Kim Doehyung , researcher at the KOREATECH Technology Transfer Institute in Egypt. Hello Doehyung/ Mr. Kim! Q1. Could you briefly introduce yourself and what brought you to Egypt? Q2. How do you perceive the popularity of the Korean wave in Egypt right now? Q3. Apart from hallyu contents like K-pop and K-drama, we hear that there has been a quiet but steady growth in sectors like IT, construction and Korean food products. Tell us about the strengths in these less obvious areas. Q3-1. How are Korean companies being assessed? Apart from the superiority in technology, are there any other factors that result in positive perception of Korean brands in Egypt? Q4. We've heard that there's a lot of interest in K-smart farms in the Middle East. Smart farms may still be a little new to some people. Please tell us what they exactly are. Q5. How is K-smart farm technology being utilized locally right now? Are products being actually grown and sold? Q6. Are K-smart farms bringing more attention to Korean food culture and lifestyle? Do you see the potential in any changes in food trends stemming from these smart farms? Q7. Do you think smart farms could also play a role in promoting the overall image of Korea? Thank you Mr. Kim / Doehyung for connecting with us today. Thank you Walter as always. We'll see you back next week.

News Special 'INAUGURATION CEREMONY '

2025/06/04 10:40

South Korea wakes up to the dawn of a new administration, this time under liberal leadership. President Lee Jae-myung is set to take the oath of office during the inauguration ceremony at the National Assembly. We connect with our Shin Ha-young at the site. Good morning, Ha-young. Good morning, Dami. Ha-young, South Korea is set to usher in new leadership today. Tell us what to expect on this inauguration day. Indeed, it's a momentous day in South Korea, as the nation inaugurates Lee Jae-myung as its new president, to lead the country for the next five years. And I'm here at the National Assembly, where the presidential inauguration is set to take place in about 20 minutes. More specifically, the event will be held in the Rotunda Hall, located in the main building, the one behind me. This place was bustling with preparations earlier this morning, but now, everything is set, and all that remains is for the ceremony to begin. As you mentioned, it will be a small-scale ceremony, following a snap election triggered by the impeachment of the former president. Lee also mentioned during the campaign that it's better to keep the inauguration simple. Instead, Lee plans to hold an appointment ceremony on July 17, alongside the Constitution Day commemoration. So it's going to be much simpler and compact. What would a scaled-back ceremony look like then? Despite the scaled-down ceremony, many people have already gathered to watch the historic moment. And for those who want to watch the inauguration up close without an invitation, two large screens have been set up here on the front lawn, open to the public. We are expecting it to last around 30 minutes --short and to the point. It starts at 11 AM, local time, with some 300 attendees, including representatives of political parties and members of the cabinet, in attendance. And as I said, there'll be no elaborate ceremony, no armed services musical parade, or any celebratory performances. After taking the oath of office, Lee is expected to present his vision and outline key policy directions for his new administration. Since announcing his candidacy, he has consistently emphasized national unity throughout his campaign, even during his victory speech earlier today --so that's something to watch for as one of the key messages in his speech, especially in light of the recent political turmoil. Dami. Alright, Ha-young, thanks for the report. We'll come back to you, of course, after the ceremony.

NAT'L CEMETERY COVERAGE

2025/06/04 09:35

For in-depth analysis of today's event and insights into what lies ahead on the President's first day in office, we're joined in the studio by Choi Hyun Jin, associate professor of political science at Kyung Hee University and Song Se-ryun, professor of law at Kyung Hee University. We are soon expecting to see President Lee step out of his private residence for the very first time in his new role as South Korea's leader. His first official engagement will be visiting the National Cemetery in Seoul's Dongjak-gu District. As we await the live feed, we'll recap the 21st presidential election and break down what's ahead for the president's first day in office. We often hear that the National Cemetery is a deeply symbolic place for South Korea. What is the National Cemetery? Please elaborate on its significance. Many past presidents began their first official day with a visit here. What message does that send, and why is this tradition so consistent? For our viewers unfamiliar with the formalities, what does the president's visit typically involve? What are the key ceremonial steps? One element that often draws close attention is the cemetery log message the president writes after paying tribute. What kind of message do you expect from President Lee today, and what might that reveal about his priorities? Another point of interest is who accompanies the president. Is there any significance to the presence or absence of certain figures? Given that this election was triggered by the impeachment of the previous president, could you clarify: At what precise moment did the title "President" legally take effect? And are there any differences in protocol because this was a snap election? Now that President Lee's five-year term has officially begun, what direction do you expect the new president to emphasize in his first few weeks in office? Later today, the inauguration ceremony of President Lee is set to take place at the National Assembly. These ceremonies vary depending on context. For example, former President Moon Jae-in's was a simplified affair following the 2017 snap election, while former President Yoon Suk Yeol was far more elaborate. Do you expect today's inauguration to be similarly modest or the other way around? What do you think will be the key themes in the President's inaugural speech later today? With no transition period due to this being a snap election, how might that impact the tone and pace of governance from day one? President Lee inherits a divided nation still reeling from the shock of last December's martial law declaration. What are the biggest legal and institutional challenges his administration faces in rebuilding public trust and restoring stability? This election drew a voter turnout of 79.4 percent, the highest in almost three decades. How do you interpret that figure? Compared to past elections, did anything stand out to you this time, for example, in terms of voter behavior, generational divides, or regional shifts? Many have said that the new president has a lot on his plate, having to address issues that have been put on hold due to the political chaos since the martial law declaration. We're going to focus on some key policy areas that have been top of mind for the president since the campaigning period. On the foreign policy front, how do you expect the new president to approach relations with North Korea? What about Japan and China? The economy was front and center in this presidential campaign, not only for President Lee but for other candidates as well. What steps do you expect from the new president to deliver on promises like job creation, housing reform, and revitalizing growth?

Lee Jae-myung delivers victory speech; pledges to end insurrection and boost economy

2025/06/04 04:00

South Korea is due to embark afresh under a brand new government to be formed by the Democratic Party's Lee Jae-myung, after he officially claimed victory in the 21st presidential election. Our Shin Ha-young begins our coverage. New President-elect Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party of Korea delivered a victory speech on Wednesday, where he said he would not forget the mission entrusted to him and promised to carry it out faithfully. In his remarks, as his first mission, Lee said he would be overcoming what he described as an insurrection. The DP has been calling former President Yoon Suk Yeol's brief imposition of martial law an act of "insurrection" that undermined the constitutional order. "My first mission, entrusted to me by you, is to end the insurrection and prevent any future military coups. I will restore democracy and build a nation where people live together with respect and cooperation, and with understanding and cooperation instead of hatred and hostility. I promise to fulfill this mission without fail." Lee stressed that presidential power comes from the people. He also reaffirmed his commitment to reviving the economy and improving people's livelihoods. Among his pledges, he called for a peaceful and coexistent Korean Peninsula. During his speech, Lee reiterated his commitment to national unity a message he has consistently emphasized throughout his campaign. "Even if we disagreed before, everyone is still a citizen of South Korea. We may have different opinions and wear different colors, but now we're all united as one great nation. Let's go together!" On Tuesday, Lee remained at his home in Incheon's Gyeyang-gu District, even during the announcement of the exit polls, which projected him to win with 51-point-7 percent of the vote. But once his victory became more certain, he left to visit the party's main headquarters to thank party members. He then headed to Yeouido, where the party held a public event attended by party members and supporters who gathered to watch the vote count together. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

Key takeaways from voter turnout of South Korea's 21st presidential election

2025/06/04 04:00

1. We saw a whopping 79.4% voter turnout. That's the highest figure in 28 years? Did you expect the figure to come out this high? Why is this high? What made you think so? 2. Liberal party's Lee Jae-myung managed to secure a majority, something we saw being reflected in polls throughout the campaign period, right before the so-called blackout season. Interestingly enough, all South Korean presidential runners who led polls in the past have turned out to win the election? 3. It's always noteworthy to learn which candidate centrists bet on. Which candidate did the centrists turn to? 4. And there wasn't a major twist in voter turnout by region. Was there a region that took you by surprise? 5. What about the voter turnout by age group? Thank you for your insight again.

Polling stations close for 21st presidential election

2025/06/04 04:00

South Korean voters finally got their say on this big day. People across the country returned to polling stations to make sure their votes count. Ahn Sung-jin tells us more. The 21st presidential election has come to an end. "From 6 AM to 8 PM on Tuesday, more than 14,000 voting stations nationwide, including this one in Sadang-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, were open." Starting early in the morning with the older members of the population showing up as soon as the polling stations opened, to families with young children, throughout the 14 hours of voting, people continued to show up to cast their ballots, right up until the last minute before polling stations closed. "This is my first vote ever, and I'm proud to be participating in it. I would like them to work on making Korea a better country to live in." "Now that I've finished voting, I'm going to go to work right away. I hope someone honest becomes the president." "Our economy is going through a difficult time right now, so I hope the new president can boost our economy domestically and internationally and also improve people's livelihoods." After they headed out of the polling booths, many were seen taking pictures in front of the polling station with a ballot stamp on their hand. This shows that a lot of Koreans are participating in an "I voted" movement. There are also these kinds of certification sheets with art or characters on them, where people can get stamps to show that they've voted. Voters came to exercise their right to vote in hopes of electing a president who'll lead South Korea through a pivotal period. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.

Live from ballot counting station where process comes to an end

2025/06/04 04:00

We now have a clear picture of the incoming president of South Korea, but that doesn't mean vote counting is over. Some of the counting stations are still open nationwide, and our Park Kun-woo is at one of them. Kun-woo, fill us in. Dami, I'm currently at one of the 2-hundred-54 counting stations nationwide. We do have a clear winner after seven to eight hours of counting, but the process continues as a few votes remain. The counting station I'm at in southern Seoul ended the process as of around 3:40 AM. Those who were involved in the early stages, such as box opening, had been waiting for hours to wrap up; some were even fast asleep from exhaustion. Throughout the previous hours, the process here had been running smoothly and orderly. There was even some snack time for the people counting to have a break. The National Election Commission originally expected the counting nationwide to be completed by 6 AM, but it seems like there's a possibility for that to be brought forward. Then at 7 to 9 AM, the NEC is expected to confirm the winner. Right afterwards, the winner will be able to start his presidential term. Kun-woo, the past few hours have been quite a rollercoaster. How did the whole counting process go? Smooth enough? Yes, I can report that the process was smooth enough. A total of around 70-thousand personnel had been deployed to make that happen while ensuring transparency, especially as there has been some speculation of electoral fraud. Police authorities raised the national emergency level alert to the highest, "Gapho," from 6 AM Tuesday nationwide, enabling full mobilization, including special security forces outside counting centers. That's set to last until the new president-elect reaches his office in Yongsan. In some places, though, there were minor disturbances as a few observers shouted that the process seemed suspicious or that the CCTV inside wasn't working properly. But, police intervened to restore order and allow the counting to continue at the right pace. And that's all I have for you now. Back to you, Dami. Thank you, Kun-woo, for the report.

From factory floor to presidential office: Lee Jae-myung's rise to presidency

2025/06/04 04:00

President-elect Lee Jae-myung has risen from humble beginnings, overcoming physical hardships and social barriers to claim South Korea's highest office after two failed attempts. Who is Lee Jae-myung? Here's a brief of the 61-year-old so far. "We didn't even grow up with a dirt spoon we came from a family with no spoon at all. As you can see, that kind of background has brought a lot of pain to our family." Even his biggest critics won't be able to deny that Lee Jae-myung, the newly elected president of South Korea, is self-made. Lee, who is 61 years old, was born in Andong as the fifth of seven children. Facing severe financial hardship, he inflated his age to work in factories, and suffered from industrial accidents one leaving his arm permanently disabled and exempting him from military service. Despite this, he studied on his own to pass middle and high school equivalency exams, later earning a college scholarship. The year he graduated, he also passed South Korea's notoriously difficult bar exam, setting him on the path to becoming a human rights lawyer. And his background as an underage laborer and human rights lawyer heavily influenced his political career, which began as the city of Seongnam's mayor in 2010, and drove his focus on policies addressing social conflict and inequality. "Lee Jae-myung identified polarization and significant disparity as the root causes of social conflict. So he suggested artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and the cultural content sectors, to maintain growth and to reduce our social division." After gaining attention for his bold, progressive policies as mayor, he went on to become the governor of Gyeonggi-do Province, which expanded his political base and helped launch his presidential runs. Although he narrowly lost to former president Yoon Suk-yeol by just 0-point-73 percentage points in 2022 one of the tightest races in Korean history Yoon's failed attempt to invoke martial law later paved the way for Lee's ultimately successful bid this year. But while his rags-to-riches story inspired many, the nation's deep political divide was laid bare when he was stabbed by an assailant posing as a supporter last year. With polarization remaining a pressing issue, Lee's emphasis on the importance of unity throughout the campaign signals that national cohesion will be a key theme of his presidency. "One of our biggest challenges is achieving social unity. This is essential to restoring livelihoods, reviving the economy, and building a democracy where everyone shares opportunities and hope." Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.

Democratic Party's Lee Jae-myung wins S. Korea's 21st presidential election

2025/06/04 04:00

It's been 8 hours since vote counting began, and we're still counting. We go over to our election wall for exact voter turnout figures. Eun-ji, why don't we start with the overall voter turnout? Dami, the voter turnout for this election reached almost 80-percent, the highest in 28 years. This shows just how many South Koreans made efforts to engage in democracy, especially after the country went through six months of turmoil sparked by a failed martial law attempt. Almost all of the ballots have now been counted, so let's take a look at the exact numbers.

PPP's Kim accepts defeat, waits for Lee Jae-myung to finish victory speech

2025/06/04 04:00

With that being said, the People Power Party's Kim Moon-soo will now have to suffer the bitter failure and accept the loss. He kept his acceptance speech short and brief. Our Kim Do-yeon reports. After staying quiet throughout election day, the People Power Party's candidate Kim Moon-soo accepted defeat at around 1:35 AM on Wednesday. He had arrived around 10 minutes before, but decided to wait until the winner, Lee Jae-myung, finished his victory speech down the street. Taking the mic, he thanked his supporters, congratulated Lee and kept it short. "I thank those who fought alongside me. Korea, under any challenge, takes great leaps forward through the power of its people. I thank those who supported me despite my shortcomings." After wrapping up, he didn't take any questions but shook hands with the camp members and the media and left the briefing room. The media had been waiting since early in the evening for Kim to emerge and concede defeat right after the exit polls came out which forecast that Kim would lose by a double-digit figure. With that, the campaign leadership, who gathered at the situation room set up in the National Assembly Library, remained quiet and many of them soon left the situation room. Only PPP lawmaker and former primary contestant Ahn Cheol-soo remained in his seat past midnight along with another contestant, Yang Hyang-ja. For some in the campaign, the exit polls were shocking as they believed that a comeback was made during the past 22 days. The campaign, still grappling with the fallout from the martial law declaration and the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, tried to carefully balance its message — aiming not to upset Yoon and the party's loyal base while also reaching out to undecided voters by creating some distance from Yoon. In addition, it targeted Lee Jae-myung's legal risks to create an anti-Lee Jae-myung coalition. While in the end, Kim did narrow the gap to a single digit, it wasn't enough. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.

Live from DP Campaign HQ: Lee Jae-myung

2025/06/04 02:00

Let's go over to our correspondent Shin Ha-young, who has been following DP's Lee Jae-myung campaign. Ha-young, Lee Jae-myung delivered his victory speech. What did he have to say? Jung-min, Lee Jae-myung delivered his victory speech about an hour ago here in Yeouido, near the National Assembly. Separate from the campaign headquarters, the DP held an event from 10PM on Tuesday at an outdoor stage in Yeouido, where party members and supporters watched the vote count together. Lee arrived here after first heading to party's main headquarters to thank the party's members. That's all for now. Back to you, Jung-min

Polling stations close for 21st presidential election

2025/06/04 02:00

Voters in the country voted all day, stopping by at polling stations to exercise their rights. Ahn Sung-jin went out to hear their voices. The 21st presidential election has come to an end. "From 6 AM to 8 PM on Tuesday, more than 14,000 voting stations nationwide, including this one in Sadang-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, were open." Starting early in the morning with the older members of the population showing up as soon as the polling stations opened, to families with young children, throughout the 14 hours of voting, people continued to show up to cast their ballots, right up until the last minute before polling stations closed. "This is my first vote ever, and I'm proud to be participating in it. I would like them to work on making Korea a better country to live in." "Now that I've finished voting, I'm going to go to work right away. I hope someone honest becomes the president." "Our economy is going through a difficult time right now, so I hope the new president can boost our economy domestically and internationally and also improve people's livelihoods." After they headed out of the polling booths, many were seen taking pictures in front of the polling station with a ballot stamp on their hand. This shows that a lot of Koreans are participating in an "I voted" movement. There are also these kinds of certification sheets with art or characters on them, where people can get stamps to show that they've voted. Voters came to exercise their right to vote in hopes of electing a president who'll lead South Korea through a pivotal period. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.

Lee Jae-myung Projected as 21st President of South Korea: What to Take Away

2025/06/04 02:00

For insights, Attorney An Junseong joins us live. Mr. An, thank you for coming on so early in the morning. 1. We now have a clear picture of who the winner is. Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party of Korea is highly projected as South Korea's 21st president. How do you see the election result? 2. It's another leadership change from a conservative government to a liberal one. What were the possible factors that led to this result? 3. Lee Jae-myung delivered his victory speech in Yeouido. He seemed to have chosen his words carefully. What did you make of his speech? 4. The new government will be launched right away without a transition team. What should we expect from the new president on day 1? 5. Now, Lee Jae-myung has won the presidential election, and the Democratic Party of Korea holds a majority in parliament. What does this mean for the new administration? 6. This year's estimated voter turnout stood at almost 80-percent --the highest in nearly three decades. What does this number tell us about voter engagement? Q. It's a snap election to be held after a president was impeached. How would you describe this election? Q. The country witnessed the short-lived martial law some six months ago, and now it's holding a snap election. How would you assess the system of Korea's democracy and its resilience? Q. Social division and ideological conflict are nothing new, but they have been highlighted more than ever. What would be the task of the next president with this issue in mind?

Election 2025: DP's Lee Jae-myung projected to become next president of S. Korea

2025/06/04 02:00

Now let's go over to our Bae Eun-ji, once again, at our election wall for the latest on the election results. Eun-ji, give us the updates. Jung-min, the voter turnout for this election reached almost 80-percent, the highest in 28 years. This shows just how many people made efforts to engage in democracy, especially after the country went through six months of turmoil sparked by a failed martial law attempt. Much of the votes have now been counted, so let's take a look at the exact numbers.

Live from ballot counting station for S. Korea's next president

2025/06/04 02:00

Now, while we have a clear winner, ballot counting continues until all the votes are counted. Our Park Kun-woo is standing by at one of the counting stations. Kun-woo, how's it looking there? Jung-min, I'm currently standing at the ballot counting station set up at Seoul National University in southern Seoul, one of the 2-hundred-54 counting stations nationwide. As you mentioned, we do seem to have a clear winner after five to six hours of counting, but as the counting rate still stands at over 80 percent, the process continues. The process here has been running smoothly and orderly. There was even some snack time at around midnight for the people counting to have a break. However, in some places, there were minor disturbances as a few observers shouted that the process seemed suspicious or that the CCTV inside wasn't working properly. Police intervened to restore order and allow the counting to continue. The National Election Commission expects the counting to be completed by 6 AM Wednesday. Then at 7 to 9 AM, the NEC is expected to confirm the winner. Right afterwards, the winner will be able to start his presidential term. Now, about the eight key sections, how the counting works. First, after the ballot boxes were transported to counting stations under a police escort and with election observers, they were checked for any issues. Then, the boxes were opened, and ballots were neatly organized. The ballots are then fed into a sorting machine that automatically classifies them by candidate. Introduced in 2002, the machine has significantly sped up the process. And the machines aren't connected to any network, making hacking them impossible. Classified ballots are known to be manually checked in this election. The ballots are then manually checked once more to filter out any invalid votes. It then goes through two final rounds of verification, and then there's an official announcement by the commissioner. What's being done to ensure transparency throughout the ballot-counting process? A total of around 70-thousand personnel have been deployed to ensure transparency, especially as there has been some speculation of electoral fraud. Personnel includes election observers -6 from each party with a candidate, and 3 for each independent candidate. Police authorities raised the national emergency level alert to the highest, "Gapho," from 6 AM this morning nationwide, enabling full mobilization, including special security forces outside counting centers. The National Fire Agency has been mobilized in case of emergencies as well. And that's all I have for you now. Back to you, Jung-min.

PPP's Kim Moon-soo accepts defeat in 21st presidential election

2025/06/04 02:00

Now, to the PPP's headquarters. Our correspondent Kim Do-yeon is on the line. Do-yeon, has Kim Moon-soo delivered his concession speech? Jung-min, just a few moments ago People Power Party candidate Kim Moon-soo came here to the party's headquarters across the street from the National Assembly to officially accept defeat in the election. He first accepted the defeat and then congratulated his rival Lee Jae-myung on the win. He offered his thanks for the support he received. His message was short, and after wrapping up, he didn't take any questions but shook hands with the camp members and the media and left the briefing room. The media had been waiting since early in the evening for Kim to emerge and concede defeat. At about 30 past midnight, the reporters in the situation room were notified that Kim would be coming to the campaign headquarters to face the media, but after arriving at around 1:20 AM, he waited for Lee Jae-myung to finish his victory speech down the street. As for the campaign's election night, with the exit polls showing a double-digit gap, the mood inside the PPP camp remained subdued and somber throughout. The campaign, still grappling with the fallout from the martial law declaration and the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, tried to carefully balance its message — aiming not to upset Yoon and the party's loyal base while also reaching out to undecided voters by creating some distance from Yoon. Kim had trailed his rival Lee Jae-myung throughout the campaign sometimes in double digits in polls. And while the final count isn't in yet, he managed to narrow the gap — avoiding a double-digit loss in the end. Thanks for the latest.