News

[Short-form] Daejeon=No Fun? Think again – it’s changing fast!

2025/03/27 14:00

Dive into the excitement of Daejeon and rediscover the city’s charms with its latest must-try activities!

[Hallyu People] From JYP to SM... meet K-pop producer and songwriter Paul Thompson aka MZMC

2025/03/27 14:00

K-pop is the number one sector that comes to people’s minds when asked about the Korean wave or hallyu. In today’s “Hallyu People” segment, we meet with a person who is deeply involved in the K-pop scene and will talk about Korean pop music, its global impact and more. Let's meet Paul Thompson, a K-pop producer and songwriter who is behind numerous hit songs by well-known K-pop artists. He's also known as MZMC, the founder and CEO of MZMC Inc. Welcome! 1-1) Please introduce yourself to ‘The Kulture Wave’ viewers. 1-2) Paul, you have been behind more than 100 K-pop songs to date. Please name us a few of them, also what kind of K-pop stars you have worked with. 2) You've been in the Korean pop music industry for over 10 years and worked with JYP and SM Entertainment. How did it all start? Tell us about your journey. 3) Speaking as an expert, what are the unique characteristics of K-pop music, in terms of melody, rhythm or lyrics? (Could you also share with us your process in making songs?) 4) What sets K-pop apart from other music? Why is K-pop so popular around the world? 5) Your label MZMC Inc. is also involved in creating new K-pop groups. Tell us more about it. 6) There also exist so-called “localized” K-pop groups like NiziU and Katseye. What do you think about the adoption of Korean idol training methods overseas? 7) Where do you see the K-pop business in ten years from now?

[K-enter] Korean stars donate to support wildfire relief efforts

2025/03/27 14:00

Bella, today we start on a somber note. Korea is still battling the wildfires in the southeast of the country. The little rain we are seeing today is not enough to stop the fires. During this difficult time, Korean celebrities have shown support for relief efforts? Korean celebrities have come forward to show support for the wildfire relief efforts by making donations. According to the Korea Disaster Relief Association on Wednesday, singer-actress Lee Ji-eun, better known by IU, donated 200 million won, which is about 136-thousand US dollars, expressing hopes that this contribution would be a small help to those affected. JYP Entertainment, an agency for K-pop idol groups TWICE, Stray Kids and ITZY, also donated 500 million won. In addition, singer-actress Suzy, NCT member Mark and trot singer Lee Chan-won each donated 100 million won. There are many more celebrities showing support for the victims of wildfires, including broadcaster Yoo Jae-suk, actress Kim Ji-won, singer Taeyeon, and virtual idol group PLAVE. Now we move onto our next story. It’s an impressive achievement by Korean content on Netflix? Not one, but two Korean original works on Netflix have topped the global weekly charts. First, the mystery thriller “Revelations,” starring Ryu Jun-yeol and Shin Hyun-bin, claimed No.1 on the Global Non-English Movies chart, with 5.7 million views. The film is a story that revolves around a pastor and a detective, each driven by their own beliefs, as they pursue a missing person case that forces them to confront their own demons. Also topping the Netflix chart is “When Life Gives You Tangerines.” It has claimed the top spot in Netflix’s Global Top 10 Non-English Shows category with 5.5 million views. The series tells the adventurous life story of ‘the remarkable rebel’ Ae-sun and ‘unyielding iron’ Gwan-sik on Jeju Island. Since its premiere on March 7th, the series has earned positive reviews for its heartwarming narrative, bringing both laughter and tears. The series is set to release its final act this Friday, tomorrow. Great achievements for both dramas and movies on Netflix. Our last story is on another film that's currently running in the theaters here in Korea, but there's great news for global viewers? Korean thriller film “Streaming,” released last week domestically, has achieved pre-sales in 98 overseas countries and territories, gaining a hot response globally. “Streaming” has completed pre-sales in Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia and France, among others. Release dates have been confirmed for March 27th in Singapore, April 17th in Malaysia, and September 26th in Japan, bringing much anticipation. “Streaming,” starring Kang Ha-neul, is a story about a crime streamer with the highest number of subscribers discovering clues in an unresolved serial murder case and broadcasting the process of tracking the perpetrator in real time. Excited to see Korean films expand globally. Thank you Bella for today’s stories.

On-point: Wait for impeachment ruling for President Yoon likely to continue into April

2025/03/27 10:00

While the acquittal has maybe paved a smoother path for Lee and his presidential bid, we're still waiting for another big political event here: the ruling for President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment. Let's turn to legal expert Kwon Hyuk-seong. Good morning. 1. Would you say there are now no hurdles left for Lee Jae-myung as a potential presidential candidate? 2. Why does the timing of the Supreme Court's ruling on Lee matter? 3. And prosecutors say they are appealing the ruling that cleared the opposition leader, aren't they? 4. A ruling date for President Yoon Suk Yeol is yet to be announced, as we are speaking on Thursday morning. 5. April 18th is obviously not an appropriate date to be a ruling day considering that's also the date that the terms of two of the justices involved come to an end. Thanks so much for connecting with us this morning.

Appeals court acquits DP leader Lee Jae-myung over election law violation charges

2025/03/27 10:00

An appellate court on Wednesday acquitted the opposition leader Lee Jae-myung of election violation charges, overturning the lower court's decision. Our correspondent Shin Ha-young reports. The main opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung has been acquitted by an appeals court with regard to election violation charges. The Seoul High Court on Wednesday overturned a ruling by a lower court, which had handed Lee a suspended prison term. Lee was indicted on charges of making false statements in December 2021, during a media interview where he denied knowing the late Kim Moon-ki, an executive involved in a development scandal in Seongnam City where Lee previously served as mayor. He is also accused of having made false claims that there was pressure from South Korea's land ministry to rezone a research institute site in the Baekhyeon-dong area. The appellate court ruled that neither of the statements made by Lee can be seen as spreading false information, overturning the Seoul Central District Court's ruling in November. The lower court found Lee guilty of making false statements, though it said that parts of statements regarding Kim could not be considered a violation of the election law. It handed Lee a one-year prison sentence, suspended for two years. Prosecutors demanded the Seoul High Court give a two-year prison term for Lee during the appellate trial, the same sentence as they demanded in the first trial. Right after the ruling, Lee thanked the court for delivering what he called "a proper ruling." "I appreciate the court for delivering a proper ruling based on truth and justice. But it's frustrating that so much effort and national resources were spent on something so obvious." The DP also welcomed the ruling, saying that the investigation and indictment were baseless from the start. Meanwhile, the ruling People Power Party expressed regret over court's ruling and said that it will wait for the Supreme Court's decision. "We deeply regret this ruling. Many politicians have lost their political careers due to false statement charges, so I can't understand how Lee was acquitted on the same issue, even from a legal professional's perspective." The prosecution announced that it will appeal the Seoul High Court's ruling at the Supreme Court. Now if the Supreme Court decides to overturn Wednesday's ruling, sentencing Lee to a fine of one million Korean won which is about 680 U.S. dollars, or more, he would lose his legislative seat and be barred from running in elections for five years. If sentenced to a prison term, the ban extends to ten years. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

Seoul envoy calls on N. Korea to stop sacrificing its people for Russia's war

2025/03/27 10:00

South Korea's UN ambassador has called on North Korea to stop sacrificing its people to maintain its regime in exchange for Russian support, stressing that the Ukraine war has caused "serious" suffering. Speaking at the UN Security Council meeting on the maintenance of the peace and security of Ukraine on Wednesday, Ambassador Hwang Joon-kook called for Moscow and Pyongyang to end their military cooperation. The envoy said that the war has not only led to suffering for the Ukrainian people, Russian soldiers, and their families, but "also those of North Korea." He also said that interviews with captured North Korean troops revealed that the North Korean leadership deceived them to believe they were sent to Russia for training.

Wildfire spreads to Jirisan Mountain, national treasures evacuated

2025/03/27 10:00

It's not just people the fires have put at danger. The disastrous wildfires have also engulfed a number of historic sites, pushing authorities to relocate some national treasures. Lee Seung-jae has more. The wildfires raging in Sancheong-gun, and Hadong-gun counties have now spread to the Jirisan National Park. Jirisan National Park is considered a sacred mountain to the people of Korea, and was the first national park in the country. Forestry officials have made every effort to prevent the further spreading of the wildfire at the national park by spraying fire retardants and mobilizing helicopters. Residents and livestock are being evacuated from the area, and major cultural heritage items, including national treasures, are also being moved to safety. By Wednesday, the Korea Heritage Service said it had moved 15 historic pieces to safety from areas affected by wildfires. Among them are 10 national treasures, including a seated stone Buddha statue from the now-destroyed Gounsa Temple in Uiseong. 15 national heritage items have been destroyed by wildfires, including 11 designated as national heritage and 4 as provincial heritage. While items can be moved to safety more freely, sites such as temples are impossible to move. This has led to historically important temples like Gounsa Temple being damaged. "This temple is an important and historic temple where many masters and believers have been practicing and receiving comfort for over 1,300 years. It is a place of comfort for many people, but I am very afraid that it may disappear." The Korea Heritage Service, on Tuesday, issued the highest national heritage disaster alert level. In the four-tier alert system, the KHS issued the "serious" level for the first time ever. The KHS explained that the highest alert level was issued due to the very high risk of damage to the national heritage items and sites due to the rapidly spreading wildfires. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Live from Andong City: Wildfires rage across southern S. Korea, death toll at over 20

2025/03/27 10:00

Wildfires that have pierced through South Korea's southeastern area for the past week are still burning. We head over to one of the hardest hit areas, Andong, with our Lee Eun-hee standing by. Eun-hee, how are things looking as of this morning? Yes, Dami, I'm in Andong City in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. Firefighting efforts resumed at around 6:30 AM this morning with a total of over 4-thousand-500 personnel and nearly 80 helicopters deployed or set to be deployed to the scene. I'm currently in a village that has been severely impacted by the wildfire, with small fires still burning and destroyed houses nearby. The mountains behind me are barely visible through the smoke. Multiple casualties have been reported in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province and Gyeongsangnam-do Province as people fled the fires, with the latest provisional estimate of at least 24 people dead and at least 26 injured as of Wednesday evening. While many died while evacuating, yesterday, one elderly person was found to have been completely consumed by the fire. The pilot of a firefighting helicopter was also killed in a crash in Uiseong-gun County on the same day. The areas most heavily impacted are Uiseong-gun County and Andong City in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, where the Korea Forest Service says an estimated 370 square kilometers of the region is on fire or affected by smoke. As of Wednesday, over 23-thousand people are taking shelter in temporary facilities in the province. Also, more than 200 structures, including homes, factories, and cultural heritage sites, have been damaged by the flames. The wildfires started in Uiseong-gun County on Saturday and continue to spread to northeastern cities and counties in the province due to strong winds, including the counties of Yeongdeok, Yeongyang, Cheongsong, and here in Andong. Eun-hee, this is when we really need that rain to put out the fire And thankfully, some rain is in the forecast? Yes Dami, we're eagerly awaiting the rain forecast from this morning, but the expected amount is small, so it's uncertain whether it will help extinguish the fire. A light rain of around 5mm is expected in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, where a dry weather advisory remains in effect. Also, in Gyeongsangnam-do Province, rain of 5 to 20mm is expected, and light rain is forecast to begin around noon in the counties of Sancheong and Hadong, where wildfires have been raging for seven days. Over there, over 1-thousand 5-hundred residents were relocated to shelters as of Wednesday evening. Overall, in the provinces of Gyeongsangbuk-do and Gyeongsangnam-do, the overnight fire containment progress is still being calculated and is expected to be updated throughout the day. That's all I have for you, Dami. All right Eun-hee thank you for that report. That was our Lee Eun-hee reporting live from Andong in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province.

Trump announces 25% tariffs on all cars not made in the U.S.

2025/03/27 10:00

U.S. President Donald Trump has pressed ahead with his long-warned tariffs on foreign cars. 25% tariffs will be slapped on all imported vehicles starting in April. Our Kim Bo-kyoung starts us off. U.S President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday, local time, to impose a 25-percent tariff on cars from overseas. The tariffs will go into effect on April 2nd the day Washington is expected to announce wide-ranging levies on other goods from around the world. It will apply to finished cars and trucks that are shipped into the United States. This follows Trump's 25-percent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, which went effect on March 12th. While saying this executive order is going to lead to tremendous growth in the automobile industry, he added many foreign car companies that already have factories in the U.S. would be able to expand their currently-low utilization rate, cheaply and quickly. "But this is very exciting to me. This is the automobile industry. And this will continue to spur growth like you haven't seen before. Inevitably, the tariff plan will significantly impact South Korea, which is the third-largest car importer to the U.S. following Mexico and Japan. In 2024, South Korea's automobile exports to the U.S. amounted to around 34-billion U.S. dollars, about 51 trillion Korean won accounting for more than 49-percent of the total automobile exports. Amid such tariff pressure, Hyundai Motor Group has come up with a strategy to overcome this by expanding local production in the U.S. On Monday, it announced an investment of worth 21 billion U.S. dollars in the U.S. over the next four years, including a plan for Hyundai Steel to build a new plant in Louisiana, which is set to supply steel for Hyundai's auto parts and auto plants in Alabama and Georgia. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.

[Weather] Much-needed rain across Korea but not enough

2025/03/27 10:00

We're finally seeing the rain we've been waiting for. Light rain is falling in parts of central regions, along the southern coast and Jeju this morning. It will gradually spread to the rest of the southern provinces in the afternoon. While it's much needed, especially in the areas affected by wildfires in Gyeongsang-do and surrounding regions, unfortunately, the rain isn't as heavy as hoped, less than 5 millimeters in the area, but at least the dryness in the air will be eased with humidity boosted. For now, dry weather alerts continue across the eastern regions, and the wildfire risk alert remains at the highest level nationwide. Adding to the fire risk, intense winds will continue. Temperatures are staying on the warmer side at 20 degrees Celsius in the capital, Daegu at 24 degrees. Dust levels are forecast to rise again in the west of central regions beginning in the afternoon. Today's rain will bring chilly air to the country. Expect a big drop in temperatures through the weekend. Take care and stay safe!

Mr. Pugsley Addams, Guinness World Record holder for domestic cat with longest tail

2025/03/27 10:00

In the U.S. state of Minnesota, a two-year-old Maine Coon named Mr. Pugsley Addams has set a new Guinness World Record following an official announcement on Wednesday for the longest tail on a living domestic cat. The cat has a tail that measures an impressive 46.99 centimeters long. The feline's owner noted that Pugsley's tail drew attention during his initial veterinary visits, prompting the official measurement. Described as having a mischievous yet affectionate nature, Pugsley was named after a character from the American sitcom "The Addams Family."

France to provide extra military aid for Ukraine

2025/03/27 10:00

French President Emmanuel Macron announced Wednesday an additional 2.2 billion U.S. dollars worth of military aid for Ukraine. The package includes anti-tank missiles, air defense systems, armored vehicles, drones, and additional Mirage fighter jets. The announcement was made during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Paris ahead of a summit involving around 30 nations, referred to as the "Coalition of the Willing." The coalition aims to enhance support for Ukraine and discuss Europe's role in deterring future Russian aggression.

Hundreds join Gaza's largest anti-Hamas protest since war began

2025/03/27 10:00

In the Gaza Strip, large protests have emerged as people voice opposition to Hamas and demand an end to war. Since Tuesday local time, for two straight days, hundreds of Palestinians gathered in the northern Gaza streets of Beit Lahia to protest against Hamas' governance. Demonstrators chanted slogans such as "Hamas out!," "Down with Hamas rule," and "We want to live in peace," expressing frustration and exhaustion over the prolonged war with Israel. The protests represent the largest public dissent against Hamas since the conflict began in October 2023. The recent collapse of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has led to intensified Israeli airstrikes, further exacerbating civilian suffering. Hamas official Basem Naim said people have the right "to cry out in pain," but criticisms must be directed at Israel.

Bolivia declares emergency after floods kill over 50

2025/03/27 10:00

Let's begin in Bolivia, which has seen torrential rains and severe flooding. Give us the updates. Yes. Bolivia is battling against severe flooding as rainfall continues to batter the nation. On Wednesday, Bolivian President Luis Arce announced a national emergency in response to the worst flooding the country has experienced in four decades. Continuous heavy rains have led to widespread flooding across all nine departmental regions, with Beni, Pando, and northern La Paz among the hardest-hit areas. This has resulted in at least 51 deaths, displaced tens of thousands, and affected more than 370,000 families nationwide. The Bolivian government is speeding up emergency funding and aid deliveries. While Bolivia's rainy season typically lasts from November to March, authorities forecast the intense rains to last until mid-April.

S. Korea's birthrate increases for 7th straight month in Jan.

2025/03/27 10:00

The birth rate in South Korea continued its positive momentum in the first month of 2025. Around 24-thousand babies were born in January, up 11% compared to a year ago. Park Jun-han reports. As of January, the number of childbirths in South Korea has been on the rise for seven consecutive months. According to Statistics Korea's data on Wednesday, the number of childbirths in January 2025 was 23-thousand 9-hundred-47. This number is 11.6 percent higher than the 21-thousand-4-hundred-61 births in January 2024. That's the biggest percentage increase since related data was first compiled. South Korea's total fertility rate, the average number of children a woman would have during her lifetime, also increased from January 2024's point-8 children to this January's point-88 children. The statistics show an increase in the total fertility rate for 25-29 year olds, those in their 30s, and those aged 40 and over. The number of marriages in South Korea has been rising for the past ten months, with the marriage rate increasing by over ten percent compared to the year before for all of those ten months except for June 2024 and January 2025. In January 2025, the number of marriages came to 20-thousand-1-hundred-53, point-7 percent higher than that of January last year. "If you look at the marriage growth rate, it has been increasing since April 2024 until now. In January 2025, there was a point-7 percent increase, so it looks like the growth rate has decreased a little bit, but it's actually due to the impact of four fewer reporting days because of the Seollal holiday in January 2025. If the number of reporting days hadn't decreased by four, the marriage rate would have been in the 20 percent range or at least in double-digit growth." Even though there has been a recent increase in births and marriages, the declining population and aging society remain concerns for South Korea. As a result of 39-thousand-4-hundred-73 deaths in January 2025, the country saw a natural population decline of 15-thousand-5-hundred-26 people. Park Jun-han, Arirang News.

Live from Andong City: Wildfires rage across southern S. Korea as death toll rises

2025/03/26 20:00

We begin with devastating wildfires that started last week in the southeastern part of the country. As it gets worse, some 20 people have been killed. Our Lee Eun-hee is standing by at one of the areas hit hard by the disaster. Eun-hee, how's the situation there? Yes, Jung-min, I'm now in Andong City in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. The wildfire that started in Uiseong-gun County on Saturday continues to spread. Where I am stood right now is Hahoe Village which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. A fire that that is around 5 to 10 kilometers away from the village, carried smoke towards the area, and by noon today, the smoke had thickened, increasing tension around the site. Residents have been evacuated and moving back and forth depending on the situation. Firefighters and residents are focusing on spraying water on homes and structures in the village every two hours to protect them from the flames. In this map you can see how the fire has been spreading to neighboring cities and counties due to strong winds including the counties of Yeongdeok, Yeongyang, Cheongsong, and here in Andong. On my way to the site a few hours ago, there was an evacuation order for residents in certain areas of Andong City. The challenging weather conditions have been complicating the firefighting efforts. Meanwhile, the wildfire that started in Sancheong-gun County in Gyeongsangnam-do Province on Friday has been raging on for six days now. The flames have now spread to Hadong-gun County, even reaching around 2-hundred meters inside Jirisan National Park. The containment rate, which was at 90-percent at one point on Tuesday, fell to 75-percent at around noon today. Authorities are fully mobilizing helicopters and ground firefighting teams in the area to bring the fire under control. However, the damage is worsening and as of this evening, over 1-thousand 5-hundred residents have been relocated to shelters. As residents are fleeing from the chaos, multiple casualties have been reported in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province and Gyeongsangnam-do Province. The latest update as of this evening shows a provisional estimate of at least 24 people dead and at least 26 injured. While one elderly person was found to have been completely consumed by the fire, others died during the evacuation process. The areas most heavily impacted are Uiseong-gun County and Andong City, where over 370 square kilometers have been affected. As of Wednesday, over 23-thousand people are taking shelter in temporary facilities. Also, more than 200 structures, including homes, factories, and cultural heritage sites, have been damaged by the flames. And Eun-hee how have authorities been responding? According to the government, over 1-hundred helicopters are actively involved in the operation, but at around noon today, one firefighting helicopter crashed at the scene in Uiseong-gun County, with the pilot confirmed dead. Additionally, over 4-thousand-5-hundred personnel are actively involved in the operation and over 5-hundred firefighting units, focusing on key facilities and densely populated areas of Uiseong, Andong, Yeongyang, Cheongsong, and Yeongdeok. "The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, along with relevant ministries, local governments, public institutions, volunteers, and village leaders on the front lines, is fully mobilizing all efforts to combat the wildfire and protect residential areas." We're eagerly awaiting the rain forecast for tonight and tomorrow, but the expected amount is small, so it's uncertain whether it will help extinguish the fire. But even a small amount could offer some relief, and authorities are hoping for any assistance it may bring. That's all I have for you, Jung-min. All right Eun-hee thank you for that report. That was our Lee Eun-hee reporting live from Andong in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province.

[Weather] Dry weather continues, rain all over the country tomorrow

2025/03/26 20:00

The highest level of wildfire crisis warning, "severe" level is in effect all over the country. With dry weather warnings and advisories issued in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, the eastern parts of the country, inland areas, and Jeju Island, it is important to take extra precautions not to cause any fires. The rain we have been waiting for to relieve the dryness is finally here. Starting with Jeju Island from late afternoon, it will expand to the south coast tonight and most of the country tomorrow. The amount of rainfall will not be as much as expected. There's about 5 to 30 millimeters forecast for Jeju Island, 5 to 20 millimeters on the west and south coast, and 5 millimeters in some parts of Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, where wildfires are still burning. Tomorrow morning will start mild with rain across the country. Highs will move up to 19 degrees Celsius in Seoul and Daejeon, 24 degrees in Daegu and Gyeongju. Temperatures are expected to fall after the rain stops tomorrow. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

How South Korean adoptees raised abroad are returning in search of their identities

2025/03/26 20:00

Effort to better accommodate adoptees from overseas seeking to trace their roots here in Korea continue with both the government and private entities offering assistance. Our Bae Eun-ji tells us more. Kim Sperling was born in Seoul in 1975, and was sent to an adoption agency when he was a month old. He was then adopted in Germany when he was just seven months. "I probably totally barred the whole abduction thing that the agency might've tried to sell to adoptive parents. If I had questioned that, there would have been no place where I could have found answers at that time. In the 80s and the 90s, nobody knew anything about Korea." He first returned to Korea at the age of 30, seeking to find his roots. "For me, it was about okay, I've got to clear the relationship between me and Korea. I mean, it's there and I cannot deny it." That's when he also made efforts to find his biological parents. "I started looking for them in 2006. A few weeks later I got an email and it's like we looked at the files and we contacted the hospital and they had another file and we have a name of your mother and I was surprised. It had a birth date but the police wouldn't locate any person with a matching name and birth date." He now lives in Korea with his wife and two children. He's also a photographer who has worked on projects that portray different stories about Korean adoptees who've returned to their country of birth. His works also include projects that relate to his Korean heritage, including Dokdo as well as Korean nurses and miners who were sent to Germany in the mid-1900s. "I am Korean, and I am German, and you know it's like the way my Korean is something that like my Korean identity my consciousness is like still evolving. It's like I'm learning every day." Sterling was just one of many Korean children who were sent abroad for adoption. Since 1953, after the country was ravaged by the Korean War, around 200-thousand Korean babies are known to have been sent to other countries. Louise Lindberg was adopted in Sweden when she was 12. After working as a social worker in Sweden for 18 years, she decided to return to the country where she was born. She now helps overseas Korean adoptees reconnect with their heritage at a non-profit organization and explains many of those who return have said they feel safe and comfortable. "And just like things like hey, people just like look like me, and they feel really comfortable. Because I asked, why did you come? What is the best thing with being in Korea? And they were like everybody just looks like me and I can just feel safe." The South Korean government is also making efforts to help these Korean adoptees who grew up overseas. The Overseas Korean Agency newly opened a service counter in central Seoul, aimed at providing a "one-stop" service that will not only provide interpretation services but also help them find their birth parents. "One example of the services that this counter could provide is finding parents using DNA matches, or providing adoption information." As the country continues to acknowledge its past on adoption, the government is now hoping to provide full support to make up for decades of lost time. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.

Russia and Ukraine agree naval ceasefire in Black Sea

2025/03/26 20:00

Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a naval ceasefire in the Black Sea and to suspend strikes on energy sites in separate deals with the U.S. as a result of three days of talks in Saudi Arabia. On the other hand, with a distinct lack of trust between Moscow and Kyiv, both sides said they would rely on Washington to enforce the deals. After the U.S. announcements, the Kremlin said the Black Sea agreements would only come into effect if a number of sanctions against its agricultural export bank were lifted.

What latest ruling on DP's Lee Jae-myung means for nation's political scene

2025/03/26 20:00

For a closer look on what today's ruling could mean for the nation, we're joined by our political correspondent Kim Do-yeon. Do-yeon, why does the opposition leader's legal case matter? First, the obvious reason is that Democratic Party of Korea Chair Lee Jae-myung is the most favored candidate to be the next president. And, as we all know there could be an early presidential election that will kick off within a matter of weeks if the Constitutional Court upholds President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment. Take a look at the most recent survey. According to a survey conducted by Gallup on 1,003 adults aged over 18 from last Tuesday to Thursday, DP leader Lee Jae-myung was the most favored candidate for the next presidency at 36 percent, followed by Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo at 9 percent ,and former PPP leader Han Dong-hoon at 4 percent. This of course was surveyed before the ruling today. That means there are some swing voters who could have had doubts over Lee Jae-myung due to the legal battles, and since he's been found not guilty he could be attracting more voters. Right, but is the case over and done with? Of course, the case can be taken to the Supreme Court, which would be the final and definite ruling. Now, since it's the prosecutors that lost the case at the appeals court, they are the ones that will have to appeal the case. The ruling People Power Party lawmakers are already calling for prosecutors to do so. As we saw from Hayoung's report just now, if there is an appeal and if the Supreme Court overturns the latest decision to acquit Lee Jae-myung, Lee will lose his legislative seat and be barred from running for a public office for the next five years. Here is the thing the Supreme Court has three months to make a ruling if prosecutors do appeal. That means even if the Constitutional Court's decides to uphold President Yoon's impeachment within the next couple weeks which kicks off a presidential election election day would be in just 60 days. This means theoretically speaking, DP Chair Lee Jae-myung could be the president before the Supreme Court rules on his case anyway which would pause the legal process. Article 84 of South Korea’s Constitution states that the president shall not be charged with a criminal offense during his tenure of office, barring insurrection or treason. And it's all up to the Supreme Court's decision. Take a listen to an expert. "Even if the prosecutors speed up the appeal process and Lee Jae-myung doesn't purposely delay the legal process, the final issue at hand would be the will of the Supreme Court" Does this affect President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court? To put it simply of course it shouldn't. But the two cases have always been tied together in context as it has to do with the country's two most influential politicians. The President, and the chairman of the main opposition who has the majority on the floor. And by the looks of it the verdict from the Constitutional Court won't be coming this week as there were no announcement today and it usually comes two days before. Now, it's highly likely it will come before April 18 though, when two justices retire. And in the meantime, messages from lawmakers could be a bit different from both parties now. For example, the ruling People Power Party lawmakers have been accusing Lee of delaying the trial process for his alleged crime so the presidential election happens before the final ruling. However, Lee has been acquitted and while prosecutors may appeal, such a message may not carry the same weight as it did before this latest ruling. Thank you for the report. Thank you.