News

S. Korea seeking advances in medical industry using AI and medical tourism

2025/03/20 20:00

An annual medical conference here in Korea showcases how healthcare taps into AI as well as growing international recognition in the industry. Ahn Sung-jin tells us more. AI and healthcare. The combination of these is going beyond implementation, as companies seek to weave them into our daily lives. South Korea's Health Ministry and the Korea Health Industry Development Institute are hosting the annual Medical Korea conference to connect those in the field, and promote discussions on the implications of this. With a need for more healthcare workers and an aging population, AI integration into people's daily lives has become inevitable, and an expert says this is not as a replacement, but as a helper. "There is no doubt that AI is here to stay in the medical industry the people who are concerned or worried about AI are going to struggle in the future as AI becomes more and more intercalated into everything that we do." Alongside the use of smart technology in our everyday lives, Korea is also promoting medical tourism, welcoming those seeking K-beauty healthcare. "An increase in the number of patients visiting Korea for medical purposes implies that not only is our medical technology acknowledged worldwide, but also suggests that we are becoming a focal point for medical tourism in Asia." As Korea receives more international recognition, medical tourists continue to increase with the number soon to exceed 1 million. "Many Korean companies in the beauty and medical industry are here to showcase the latest trends as well as to network and find partners." With more tourists spending on healthcare and reinvigorating the economy, companies are aiming to increase their competitiveness in the field. "Due to Hallyu, Korean healthcare products are garnering more attention, and I hope to share this worldwide." As the country steps up as a medical powerhouse, efforts from stakeholders are set to become more apparent. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.

Finland remains happiest country in world for eighth consecutive year: World Happiness Report

2025/03/20 20:00

Finland has been named the happiest country in the world for the eighth consecutive year. According to the World Happiness Report released on Wednesday, Nordic nations Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden followed closely behind. South Korea ranked 58th out of 147 countries, dropping six spots from last year. The U.S. fell to 24th place, its lowest ranking since the survey began in 2012. Researchers link declining happiness in the U.S. to more people dining alone and note a similar trend in South Korea due to aging and more single-person households.

Trump-Zelenskyy call: Trump proposes running Ukrainian nuclear power plants

2025/03/20 20:00

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agrees to a partial ceasefire with the Kremlin on energy and infrastructure during talks on the phone with U.S. President Donald Trump. Choi Soo-hyung has the latest. U.S. President Trump and Ukraine's President Zelenskyy have had a direct phone call to talk about a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. On Wednesday local time, Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, that the call "to align both Russia and Ukraine in terms of their requests and needs" lasted about an hour and went smoothly. Trump said Zelenskyy also agreed on a partial ceasefire for energy and infrastructure facilities. During the call, Trump suggested that the U.S. could help with nuclear power plant operations using its expertise in the energy sector. "He said that the United States could be very helpful in running those plants with its electricity and utility expertise. American ownership of those plants would be the best protection for that infrastructure and support for Ukrainian energy infrastructure." The White House added that the U.S. will continue to provide intelligence resources to Ukraine to end the war. This means that Trump rejected Putin's demand to stop military support and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. "They reviewed the situation in Kursk and agreed to share information closely between their defense staffs as the battlefield situation evolved." President Zelenskyy also reportedly requested additional air defense systems, including the Patriot missile system and Trump said he would work to find available systems in Europe to support Ukraine. Trump also promised to help ensure that children who were kidnapped or went missing during the war could return to Ukraine. Regarding the partial deal on Tuesday, after the call with Putin, the White House stated that the U.S. position supports a ceasefire for "energy and infrastructure," not just energy infrastructure, as Russia claims. The U.S. will continue negotiations with Russia for a wider ceasefire deal in meetings in Saudi Arabia in the end of this week. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.

Defense ministry calls in Russia's defense attaché to protest KADIZ intrusions by Russian warplanes

2025/03/20 20:00

The defense ministry called in Russian Defense Attaché to South Korea, Colonel Nikolai Marchenko on Thursday to protest Russian military warplanes intruding into South Korea's air defense identification zone, or KADIZ. According to the ministry, the Russian warplanes reportedly entered the KADIZ eight times from March the 11th to the 20th. Earlier, warplanes even flew as close as 20 kilometers to the outer edge of South Korean airspace without responding to the military's attempts at communication. In response, the Air Force scrambled fighter jets in accordance with international law. The defense ministry strongly protested the incidents, and urged measures to prevent any recurrence.

S. Korea-U.S. Freedom Shield joint military exercise wraps up on Thurs. after 11-day run

2025/03/20 20:00

A major military exercise between South Korea and the U.S. came to an end on Thursday after 11 days of comprehensive drills. This year's Freedom Shield was the first under the second Trump administration and featured expanded on-field drills. It also took into account realistic threats such as potential changes in North Korea's military strategy in light of its defense deal with Russia. Meanwhile, North Korea, for its part, condemned the annual training between South Korea and U.S. and test-launched a series of close-range ballistic missiles into the West Sea on the first day of the training but stayed silent in the following days.

[Econ & Biz] Political instability and Trump's protectionist tariff policies: S. Korea's economic growth under threat?

2025/03/20 20:00

The deliberation process at the Constitutional Court takes longer than expected as to the political fate of President Yoon Suk Yeol as it extends into next week. Today, we take a look at its ramifications on the economy. Our economics correspondent Moon Hye-ryeon joins us in the studio. Hye-ryeon, to start off, does the current situation affect South Korea's economic growth projections for the year ahead? As we prepare to wrap up the first quarter of the year, major institutions have come out with economic growth projections for 2025 – and thus far, the outlook looks gloomy. Both the Bank of Korea and the state-run Korea Development Institute have revised their economic growth forecasts downward from their previous projections last November, citing weak domestic demand fueled by political uncertainty. Domestic demand refers to the ​total ​amount ​spent on ​goods and ​services by ​people, ​companies, and the ​government – and low domestic demand can hinder economic growth. In short, everyone is tightening their purse strings, and this was reflected in recent data on consumer sentiment and consumer spending. Consumer sentiment, as measured by the central bank, saw its steepest drop since the COVID-19 pandemic in December with the martial law declaration and subsequent trials. Months down the line, it has yet to recover. So what groups in particular are being hit hard by low domestic demand? Despite the national Seollal holiday in January, which typically boosts spending, consumer spending declined. Rising costs of raw materials and ingredients have only exacerbated the situation, hitting small business owners – particularly restaurants – the hardest. "If political instability drags on, it's hard to predict an economic recovery in the future. So when consumers feel uncertain, they tend to cut back on spending – one of the first things they cut is dining out." This small restaurant, once packed at lunchtime, now sits idle. The owner says sales have plunged since December. "Since December, most reservations have been canceled. At first, sales dropped to about a third of previous levels, but recently, they've plunged to nearly half or even two-thirds." And this is just one of many – according to Statistics Korea, the number of small business owners in the country fell for the first time in January since 2021, alongside a big drop in production in the dining industry. But political instability isn't the only thing placing downward pressure on the country's economy. Tell us how this interplays with other factors. That's right, Jung-min, another big hurdle is the new Trump administration's trade policies. Tariffs levied at a rate of 25 percent now apply to steel and aluminum exports from South Korea to the U.S., and uncertainties surrounding more tariffs to come in April linger. Economists warn that continued political instability can "push back" important economic decisions to be made – not just regarding domestic demand, but also in response to the new Trump administration's protectionist policies which could further strain South Korea's economy. "The uncertainty in the economy will be significantly amplified, and as a result, economic decisions will be pushed back, likely having a considerably negative impact." The government introduced support measures for small business owners and self-employed individuals in December last year, but announced additional measures such as expanding the issuance and usage of Onnuri gift certificates used for purchases at traditional markets last week as challenges persist. As for trade policies, Seoul is pushing for high-level negotiations with Washington, and holding talks with firms to gather industry opinions. However, experts say that a more proactive approach is needed as domestic and international uncertainties converge. "We need to take a more proactive approach if there are U.S. goods or services we plan to purchase, we should buy them in advance, and companies with investment plans should consider moving them up. This could help mitigate the effects of the Trump administration's trade policies. Right now, our economy is facing even greater challenges than in the past, partly due to a lack of strong fiscal policy." Alright, thank you for your report, Hye-ryeon. Thank you for having me.

BOK warns of uncertainties as gov't urges vigilance following Fed's rate freeze

2025/03/20 20:00

The Bank of Korea says the U.S. Fed's rate freeze stands in line with widespread expectations and has warned of mounting risk factors amid geopolitical and trade tensions. Separately, acting President Choi Sang-mok has reiterated calls on economic and financial authorities to maintain close monitoring of markets here and of U.S. trade-related decisions. He also echoed concerns by the central bank about growing external uncertainty over global trade and geopolitical stability given the fresh fighting in the Middle East and continued conflict in Ukraine.

U.S. Fed keeps interest rate steady as Trump's policies incite uncertainty

2025/03/20 20:00

The U.S. Federal Reserve is holding its key rate steady for the second session in a row amid concerns over slower growth and higher inflation as the U.S. adapts to tougher Trump tariffs. Lee Soo-jin reports. The U.S. Federal Reserve has decided to once again keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged, but signaled potential rate cuts in future meetings. In its second monetary policy meeting of the year on Wednesday, the central bank kept its key borrowing rate steady at its current range of 4-point-2-5 percent to 4-point-5 percent. The Federal Open Market Committee has put a pause in its rate cutting cycle since December last year, after carrying out three consecutive reductions. The decision comes as Federal Reserve officials lowered their outlook for economic growth for this year to 1-point-7 percent from 2-point-1 percent in their December projection. " uncertainty today is unusually elevated. As the economy evolves, we will adjust our policy stance in a manner that best promotes our maximum employment and price stability goals." The Fed's goals of maintaining maximum employment and low inflation are often referred to as its "dual mandate." Powell said that the uncertainty comes from the changes that policies, particularly trade,.. but also immigration, fiscal policy and regulation, will bring to the economy. The rate-setting committee, which releases a summary of economic projections after its March, June, September, and December meetings, projected slightly higher unemployment of 4-point-4 percent from 4-point-3 percent by the end of the year. Inflation was also forecast to rise, as personal consumption expenditure, a measure of consumer spending, and core inflation, which excludes energy and food prices, were both revised upward. Powell acknowledged that tariffs have already contributed to the rise in inflation. The Trump administration imposed 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports last Wednesday, triggering retaliatory tariffs from Canada and the EU, with reciprocal U.S. tariffs set for April 2nd. But with officials expecting the Fed to implement a total of half a percentage point in rate cuts in 2025, two reductions are likely this year as rate cuts are typically in quarter-point increments. This latest decision keeps the interest rate gap between South Korea and the U.S. at 1-point-75 percentage points, with the Bank of Korea slashing its key interest rate to 2-point-7-5 percent in its last meeting in February. All three major U.S. stock indexes, the Dow Jones, S&P 500, and the Nasdaq, showed an upward trajectory following the Fed's decision. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.

S. Korea's National Pension System reformed so that workers will pay more to get more

2025/03/20 20:00

A reform bill that would affect the lives of pension payers in the country. was approved today upon bipartisan agreement. In what will be the first pension reform in almost two decades, workers will pay more and ultimately get more after they retire. Our political correspondent Kim Do-yeon explains. Pay more and get more. On Thursday the National Assembly passed a bill changing the National Pension System that will raise the insurance premium to an eventual 13 percent over the next eight years while the nominal income replacement rate will be raised to 43 percent from the current 41.5 starting next year. This is the first reform in 18 years. "At a time of heightened tension and deep conflict, it was truly a valuable process for both the ruling and opposition parties to come together with a focus on the lives of the people. I believe this is a significant matter that will be greatly recorded in our political and social history." In addition to this the two parties agreed to give more credit months. Those who served mandatory military service will now receive 12 additional months in their pension credit instead of six. Women who give birth will also receive credits. For the first two children, it will be 12 months each while starting from the third child it'll be 18 months. "It took 18 years for these new changes to the pension system because it's a sensitive issue that requires agreements across the aisle, generations, and working classes. But, it's something that needs to be done as the fund will be depleted in a few decades due to aging population and the low birth rate." The new changes, however, only pushed back the depletion time by 10 years to 2055. Because of this more changes will be made and a special committee will be formed. The committee chaired by the ruling People Power Party will be made of 13 members six from the PPP, six from the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea and one from a minor party. The members will discuss structural reform issues, including the revision of the multi-layered income security system linked to pensions, such as basic, retirement, and private pensions, as well as financial stability concerns. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.

Israel resumes ground operations in Gaza

2025/03/20 17:00

In the Middle East. Israel has re-deployed its boots on the ground in Gaza further fueling fears about the fate of civilians in the region. Lee Seung-jae has more. Airstrikes in Gaza on Tuesday killed at least 400 Palestinians, ending the two months of relative calm in the enclave. On Wednesday, Israel resumed ground offensives following the end of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement earlier this month, and killed dozens more. Israeli forces say it regained control of the Netzarim Corridor,.. in order to expand a "security zone and create a partial buffer" between the northern and southern regions of the Gaza Strip. The Israeli military had withdrawn from the corridor last month, allowing civilians in central and southern Gaza to return to what little remained of their homes in the north. The resumption of Israeli attacks comes as the two sides have failed to come to an agreement on the second phase of the ceasefire deal, that would have released more Israeli hostages. Meanwhile,.. with the resumption of Israeli strikes, the United Nations says one of its workers was killed, and others injured after a compound in Gaza was damaged on Wednesday. The Palestinian health ministry blamed an Israeli strike, while Israel's military denied striking the UN compound in Deir al-Balah. The UN Office for Project Services said that an "explosive ordinance was dropped or fired" at the compound. However, it added that there was no confirmation on the nature of the incident or the type of artillery used. The UNOPS stressed that the incident was "not an accident," while UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack and called for a full investigation. More than 300 humanitarian workers have been killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023, with most being staff members of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Trump-Zelenskyy call: Trump proposes running Ukrainian nuclear power plants

2025/03/20 17:00

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agrees to a partial ceasefire with the Kremlin on energy facilities during talks on the phone with U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday. Our Choi Soo-hyung has the latest. U.S. President Trump and Ukraine's President Zelenskyy have had a direct phone call to talk about a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. On Wednesday local time, Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, that the call "to align both Russia and Ukraine in terms of their requests and needs" lasted about an hour and went smoothly. Trump said Zelenskyy also agreed on a partial ceasefire for energy and infrastructure facilities. During the call, Trump suggested that the U.S. could help with nuclear power plant operations using its expertise in the energy sector. "He said that the United States could be very helpful in running those plants with its electricity and utility expertise. American ownership of those plants would be the best protection for that infrastructure and support for Ukrainian energy infrastructure." The White House added that the U.S. will continue to provide intelligence resources to Ukraine to end the war. This means that Trump rejected Putin's demand to stop military support and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. "They reviewed the situation in Kursk and agreed to share information closely between their defense staffs as the battlefield situation evolved." President Zelenskyy also reportedly requested additional air defense systems, including the Patriot missile system and Trump said he would work to find available systems in Europe to support Ukraine. Trump also promised to help ensure that children who were kidnapped or went missing during the war could return to Ukraine. Regarding the partial deal on Tuesday, after the call with Putin, the White House stated that the U.S. position supports a ceasefire for "energy and infrastructure," not just energy infrastructure, as Russia claims. The U.S. will continue negotiations with Russia for a wider ceasefire deal in meetings in Saudi Arabia in the end of this week. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.

S. Korea-U.S. Freedom Shield joint military exercise wraps up on Thurs. after 11-day run

2025/03/20 17:00

A major military exercise between South Korea and the U.S. came to an end on this Thursday after 11 days of comprehensive drills. This year's Freedom Shield was the first under the second Trump administration and featured expanded on-field drills. It also took into account realistic threats such as potential changes in North Korea's military strategy in light of its defense deal with Russia. Meanwhile North Korea for its part condemned the annual training between South Korea and U.S. and test-launched a series of close-range ballistic missiles into the West Sea on the first day of the training but stayed silent in the following days.

Marriage rate hits record high; divorces declines for fifth year

2025/03/20 17:00

Also in local news. Marriages rose remarkably while divorces dropped last year. According to Statistics Korea there were 2-hundred-22-thousand marriages in 2024 up 15 percent on year the highest since related data collection began in 1970. Officials note the rise was led by newlyweds in their early to mid-30s and link the phenomenon to postponed wedding plans owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. Divorces meanwhile declined by one percent on year marking the fifth annual fall in a row since 2020.

BOK warns of uncertainties as gov't urges vigilance following Fed's rate freeze

2025/03/20 17:00

The Bank of Korea says the U.S. Federal Reserve's rate freeze stands in line with widespread expectations and has warned of mounting risk factors amid geopolitical and trade tensions. Separately acting President Choi Sang-mok has reiterated calls on economic and financial authorities to maintain close monitoring of markets here and of U.S. trade-related decisions. He also echoed concerns by the central bank about growing external uncertainty over global trade and geopolitical stability given the fresh fighting in the Middle East and continued conflict in Ukraine.

U.S. Fed keeps interest rate steady as Trump's policies incite uncertainty

2025/03/20 17:00

As anticipated the U.S. Federal Reserve is holding its key rate steady for the second session in a row amid concerns over slower growth and higher inflation as the U.S. adapts to tougher Trump tariffs on American trade partners. Lee Soo-jin reports. The U.S. Federal Reserve has decided to once again keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged, but signaled potential rate cuts in future meetings. In its second monetary policy meeting of the year on Wednesday, the central bank kept its key borrowing rate steady at its current range of 4-point-2-5 percent to 4-point-5 percent. The Federal Open Market Committee has put a pause in its rate cutting cycle since December last year, after carrying out three consecutive reductions. The decision comes as Federal Reserve officials lowered their outlook for economic growth for this year to 1-point-7 percent from 2-point-1 percent in their December projection. " uncertainty today is unusually elevated. As the economy evolves, we will adjust our policy stance in a manner that best promotes our maximum employment and price stability goals." The Fed's goals of maintaining maximum employment and low inflation are often referred to as its "dual mandate." Powell said that the uncertainty comes from the changes that policies, particularly trade,.. but also immigration, fiscal policy and regulation, will bring to the economy. The rate-setting committee, which releases a summary of economic projections after its March, June, September, and December meetings, projected slightly higher unemployment of 4-point-4 percent from 4-point-3 percent by the end of the year. Inflation was also forecast to rise, as personal consumption expenditure, a measure of consumer spending, and core inflation, which excludes energy and food prices, were both revised upward. Powell acknowledged that tariffs have already contributed to the rise in inflation. The Trump administration imposed 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports last Wednesday, triggering retaliatory tariffs from Canada and the EU, with reciprocal U.S. tariffs set for April 2nd. But with officials expecting the Fed to implement a total of half a percentage point in rate cuts in 2025, two reductions are likely this year as rate cuts are typically in quarter-point increments. This latest decision keeps the interest rate gap between South Korea and the U.S. at 1-point-75 percentage points, with the Bank of Korea slashing its key interest rate to 2-point-7-5 percent in its last meeting in February. All three major U.S. stock indexes, the Dow Jones, S&P 500, and the Nasdaq, showed an upward trajectory following the Fed's decision. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.

Bipartisan agreement reached for pension reform but another unilateral special probe bill for first lady

2025/03/20 17:00

Meanwhile at the parliament. A bill to overhaul Korea's pension system secured bipartisan approval at a plenary session this afternoon. The gist of the new plan is pay more to get more. I have our correspondent Kim Do-yeon live on the line with more. Do-yeon, welcome. Let's begin with the significance of this latest event. That's right, Sun-hee, it's significant in that this is a reform to the nation's pension system, a sensitive issue that requires agreements across the aisle, generations, and working classes but something that needs to be done as the fund will be depleted due to the aging population and the low birth rate. This also comes as the nation's political scene has only been seeing strong stand-offs. First, take a listen to what the speaker of the National Assembly had to say. "At a time of heightened tension and deep conflict, it was truly a valuable process for both the ruling and opposition parties to come together with a focus on the lives of the people. I believe this is a significant matter that will be greatly recorded in our political and social history." Now to be specific, the current insurance premium stands at 9 percent and it will be raised by 0.5 percent annually for the next eight years to reach 13 percent. That means that the portion from people's paychecks will be bigger but starting next year the money you receive after retiring will be at 43 percent. According to the current standing pension system the return rate was at 41.5 percent this year but was gradually getting lower with the goal of 40 percent by 2028. The credit system has also been expanded. Credit means additional months added to the insured period for specific people. Those who served mandatory military service will now receive 12 additional months in their pension credit instead of 6. Women who give birth will also receive credits. For the first two children, it will be 12 months each while starting from the third child it'll be 18 months. However, there are more things that need to be settled and that is why the two parties have agreed to kick off a special committee. The current system according to the new plan pushed back the depletion of the fund by around 10 years until around 2055. The Committee is set to tackle issues like this going forward. Now despite consensus with regard to pension reform I hear lawmakers continued to clash over other matters? That's right, Sun-hee. The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea is set to unilaterally pass another special probe bill against First Lady Kim Keon Hee. The bill would kick off an investigation into the first lady and her allegations of stock meddling. Such a bill had been passed unilaterally four times before and was vetoed three times by President Yoon Suk Yeol and once by then Acting President Han Duck-soo. In addition, another special probe bill is likely to be passed unilaterally, a new one that would look into the allegations that some customs officers were involved in smuggling drugs into South Korea with the allegations pointing toward the top office. That's all for now, back to you Sun-hee. All right Do-yeon, thank you for the latest at the National Assembly.

PARTIAL CEASEFIRE ON ENERGY FACILITIES

2025/03/20 17:00

Welcome to Press Perspective for this Thursday March 20th here in Seoul. I'm Min Sunhee. Today we touch U.S. efforts to end the three-year Russian aggression against Ukraine given its broader implications on global stability and order. For more I have Celio Fioretti for French daily La Croix. Celio it's great to have you here. I also have Ruy Valdes with Spanish news agency EFE Spain. Ruy it's a pleasure to have you with us. 1) Celio, let's begin with the latest on efforts to halt Russian aggression against Ukraine. The heads of the White House and the Kremlin spoke on the phone on Tuesday U.S. time. What has been shared about their talks by their respective offices? 2) And Ruy, for the sake of clarity, do walk us through some of the details of the thirty-day truce that the U.S. and Ukraine had agreed upon, and Russia's following calls for additional conditions on Ukraine. 3) Ruy, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also spoke with Mr. Trump following the latter's talks with Putin. What was the gist of their conversation? 4) In the meantime, Celio, France and Germany continue to underscore the importance of Ukraine's role in peace talks with Russia. Do tell us more. 5) Celio, France has also spoken of extending its nuclear umbrella to allies. What's the latest on that front? 6) Ruy, the big question now is "can France's nuclear umbrella protect Europe?" What appears to be the general consensus? 7) Celio, moving on. Also this week, there was a war of words, if you will, between a French politician and the White House Press Secretary. First for the sake of those who may not be aware, do tell us about the confrontation itself, and your takeaways as a French journalist. 8) Staying with broader diplomacy, Ruy, what can you tell us about trade talks between Mexico and the U.S.? All right.

Constitutional Court to deliver impeachment verdict on PM Han Duck-soo next Monday

2025/03/20 17:00

We start with the latest on the political front. The fate of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will be determined next Monday. According to the court today its ruling on the impeachment of Han will be shared on the morning of March 24th. Now this verdict comes 87 days after the opposition-led National Assembly voted to remove him from his post as acting president following his reluctance to approve new justices for the Constitutional Court.

April warmth ahead under sunny skies but bad dust levels

2025/03/20 17:00

It's Spring Equinox today and spring is making its way in. Some cherry blossoms are already starting to bloom in some parts of Busan even before the official season begins! A morning jacket felt almost too warm in the afternoon and it will feel warmer tomorrow, feeling more like mid-April. But we have to talk about air quality. Smog that moved into western regions and parts of Gangwon-do today will remain through tomorrow. Tomorrow morning should be more manageable under sunny skies. Those in Chuncheon should notice a big rise in morning temperatures starting off at 3 degrees Celsius. Then highs will hike to 18 degrees, so as here in the capital. Daegu and Gyeongju will be seeing highs of 22 degrees Celsius. By the weekend, we're expecting temperatures around 20 degrees Celsius. It will feel more like the end of April on Sunday at a high of 21 degrees Celsius. Hopefully the air quality is promising for us. That's Korea for you, here's a look at the international weather conditions.

World News: Erdogan rival arrested days before becoming presidential candidate

2025/03/20 17:00

This is the World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. Turkiye is seeing widespread protests following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor and potential presidential candidate Ekrem Imamoglu. On Wednesday local time, Turkiye authorities detained Imamoglu on charges of corruption and alleged links to terrorist organizations. The arrest comes just days before the Republican People's Party primaries, where Imamoglu, a prominent opposition figure against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was anticipated to be nominated as the presidential candidate for the 2028 elections. Imamoglu's party has denounced the detention as a "coup," arguing that it is politically motivated to undermine the opposition. In response to the arrest, thousands of citizens have taken to the streets in Istanbul and Ankara to protest what they see as a violation of democratic processes. The Turkiye government has refuted allegations linking Imamoglu's detention to President Erdogan. In Africa, the presidents of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda have addressed the escalating conflict in eastern DRC, in their first in-person encounter since hostilities resurged in the region earlier this year. President Felix Tshisekedi of the DRC and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda met in Qatar on Tuesday, facilitated by Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The leaders jointly called for an "immediate and unconditional ceasefire" in eastern DRC, to stop the ongoing violence that has resulted in thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions. The conflict intensified in January when the M23 rebel group, reportedly backed by Rwanda, captured key cities in the mineral-rich eastern region of the DRC. The DRC government accuses Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels, while Rwanda denies the claim, asserting its forces act in self-defense. In Germany, the outgoing government has approved approximately 3.3 billion U.S. dollars in additional military aid for Ukraine. The decision, announced by the Finance Ministry on Wednesday local time, follows a recent fiscal policy overhaul that allows increased borrowing to support defense initiatives. The aid package includes 2.8 billion dollars allocated for immediate military assistance, supplemented by reimbursements from the European Peace Facility. Germany also plans to commit an additional 8.9 billion dollars between 2026 and 2029 to bolster Ukraine's defense capabilities. In other news, German automaker Mercedes-Benz is integrating AI-powered humanoid robots into its manufacturing processes at the Digital Factory Campus in Berlin. According to reports on Tuesday, the automaker is testing the 175 centimeters Apollo robot, in collaboration with U.S.-based robotics firm Apptronik, to handle tasks such as transporting components and conducting quality inspections. Unlike traditional factory robots, Apollo isn't fixed and can move around. The aim is to enhance efficiency by automating repetitive and physically demanding activities, and allowing human workers to focus on more complex tasks. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.