News

Why the world is flocking to Busan for content

2025/05/29 17:00

Staying in the southern port city of Busan content creators sellers and buyers are gathered there for an annual event aimed at broadening access to diverse screen productions. Our Park Kun-woo reports. Camera flashes light up the pink carpet as celebrities pose and wave to fans. It may look like a glamorous scene at Cannes, but this is Busan – a major city in southern South Korea, turning into a global content hub. At the heart of this transformation is the 19th Busan Content Market or BCM, where global buyers and sellers gather to trade content rights. And this year, BCM is opening its doors to the public. In a new collaboration with Canneseries, nine shows were screened before their official premieres, including the Norwegian series "Nepobaby" that won multiple awards. "We haven't sold this show to anyone yet so it's very exciting if someone in the Asian market is going to pick it up. A good place where we can like meet new producers and see if we can cooperate in a way." Global demand for high-quality content is not only bringing stars, but business to Busan. "A single drama or short-form video is more than just entertainment – it's a product and an investment. Thousands of people from 50 different countries have gathered in Busan, all searching for the next big hit. And with deals surpassing 100 million dollars each year, Busan has become a front line in the global content business." Korean companies are also making moves to meet wider demand. "We're using AI in production -from editing to adding product placements after filming -saving both time and cost, while improving user experience." Arirang TV also met with buyers from Japan, Mongolia, and beyond, showcasing visions for the future of Korean content, while aiming to broaden its reach ahead of its 30th anniversary. And these efforts are fueling Korean content's global momentum with buyers remaining hungry for more. "We are searching for the Korean costume dramas and documentaries. This is our interest." But organizers say they're looking far beyond. "There's concern over how long the Korean Wave can last. That's why we're targeting new markets and genres and linking Busan's content scene with finance and investment for future growth." Since launching in 2007, BCM has evolved into one of Asia's key content markets. And this year's edition, running through Friday at BEXCO, shows Busan isn't just showcasing content, but shaping the future of it. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News, Busan.

MADEX 2025 exhibition offers peek at the latest maritime defense technologies

2025/05/29 17:00

Busan is playing host to a trade show that has on display the latest technological advances to ensure maritime security. Our defense correspondent Kim Bo-kyoung was there. A place to have a peek at South Korea's latest maritime defense technologies. The 14th edition of the International Maritime Defense Industry Exhibition, dubbed "MADEX", kicked off Wednesday in the southeastern port city of Busan. Gathered were around two-hundred companies from 14 countries, as well as representatives from the naval forces of 29 nations. "I believe the innovative technologies showcased at this event will significantly enhance the combat capabilities of our Navy and greatly contribute to the expansion of K-Defense exports overseas." "One of the most interesting features of the four-day exhibition is the direct rivalry between South Korea's leading shipbuilders—HD Hyundai and Hanwha—whose booths are positioned directly across from each other." This, is a reminder of the fierce competition between two defense heavyweights, vying for Korea's next-generation destroyer, or KDDX, program. Aside from showcasing their own visions for the project to build six 6000-ton-class next-gen Aegis destroyers, the two giants offered more to enjoy. Hanwha's three defense affiliates established a joint booth together for the first time, presenting a way for the future when it comes to naval platforms, incorporating manned-unmanned integrated systems, and next-generation submarines targeting the global market. "In response to varying requirements from different countries—such as the exclusion of VLS or AIP systems—we are independently developing submarines equipped with lithium battery systems, enabling them to operate underwater for over seven days." HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, also premiered a high-performance 6,500-ton-class frigate, to secure competitiveness in the global market, especially to meet the needs of advanced navies that primarily conduct anti-ship operations. "The frigates we are currently delivering domestically are smaller --at 3,600 tons. That is why we have independently researched and developed a new 6,500-ton class frigate capable of anti-ship operations." LIG Nex1 and Hanwha Systems, contenders for next year's naval combat USV development program, are also showcasing their own tech. The four-day event continues through Saturday, offering a glimpse into the future of maritime defense. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News, Busan.

Live from early voting polling station in Seoul

2025/05/29 20:00

Polling places nationwide opened doors at six in the morning on this Thursday for two days of early voting. That being said I have my colleague Ahn Sung-jin standing by at one such venue here in Seoul. Sung-jin it's great to have you on. So what's the atmosphere like there where you are? Right, so Sunny, I'm currently in front of an early voting location in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu District, a bustling area with offices and business people. I was out here early this morning, and we saw an influx of people coming in to vote before going to work, so many in fact that officials needed to control the line of people, which extended well beyond the front of the polling station. And it only got longer throughout the afternoon, with a waiting time of around 30 to 40 minutes. Now, we're heading closer to the end of the first day of early voting. Have a listen to some of the voters. "A good thing about early voting is we get to come in at a convenient time for us. Especially for this time because the previous president was impeached, I cast a ballot in hopes of a president with a vision for the country." "I had come here during lunchtime, but the line was so long, so I came again now. It's obvious for me to come and exercise my rights, so I came to vote to really end the insurrection incident we had." So far, there haven't been any notable issues with the voting process going smoothly. For this presidential election, there are more than 3-thousand-5-hundred polling stations nationwide, with around 420 of them in Seoul. Now Sung-jin this latest election comes amid random allegations of election fraud. Do walk us through the voting process this time around and the efforts in place to reassure the public about transparency. To first explain how early voting works, early voting takes place for two days, Thursday and Friday, from 6 AM till 6 PM. Voters must be over 18 and bring a government-issued ID. Turnout in previous early voting in 2017 was 26.1%, while in 2022 it was 36.9%, a record-high figure. Although we did see an increase in turnout in 2022, with voting taking place on a weekday, unlike previously, we may see a lower number. The process of verifying vote-counting officials will be strengthened after accusations in 2020 that Chinese voting officials may have rigged votes during the general election. The NEC emphasized that it will be hiring all 260-thousand voting and counting officials as Korean nationals. Ballot boxes will be monitored around the clock, and the NEC will also operate a "Fair Election Observation Team" for the first time to observe the entire election process from voting to counting. The NEC also announced that, in this presidential election, the number of voters per hour will be disclosed by each polling station for the first time. One more question before you go Sung-jin . It's past five P.M. as we speak with less than one hour left before polling places close their doors for day one of the two-day early voting period. How many voters have cast their ballots thus far? Right, now as, of 4 PM, at the poll station I'm at 6,683 people have voted, and the total for Seoul is 1,295,881. Other major cities like Busan saw 382,308 people, Daegu 210,174, and Sejong 52,996. However, as we pass 5 PM, new figures should be out, which I will be back with for our later newscast. All right then Sung-jin thank you for that coverage and do keep us posted.

[K-wave] Why the world is flocking to Busan for content

2025/05/29 14:00

The annual Busan Content Market is underway, where global buyers and sellers come to discover top-quality content. This year, the event is opening up to the public, expanding its reach beyond industry insiders. Our Park Kun-woo shows us how. Camera flashes light up the pink carpet as celebrities pose and wave to fans. It may look like a glamorous scene at Cannes, but this is Busan – a major city in southern South Korea, turning into a global content hub. At the heart of this transformation is the 19th Busan Content Market or BCM, where global buyers and sellers gather to trade content rights. And this year, BCM is opening its doors to the public. In a new collaboration with Canneseries, nine shows were screened before their official premieres, including the Norwegian series "Nepobaby" that won multiple awards. "We haven't sold this show to anyone yet so it's very exciting if someone in the Asian market is going to pick it up. A good place where we can like meet new producers and see if we can cooperate in a way." Global demand for high-quality content is not only bringing stars, but business to Busan. "A single drama or short-form video is more than just entertainment – it’s a product and an investment. Thousands of people from 50 different countries have gathered in Busan, all searching for the next big hit. And with deals surpassing 100 million dollars each year, Busan has become a front line in the global content business." Korean companies are also making moves to meet wider demand. "We’re using AI in production -from editing to adding product placements after filming -saving both time and cost, while improving user experience." Arirang TV also met with buyers from Japan, Mongolia, and beyond, showcasing visions for the future of Korean content, while aiming to broaden its reach ahead of its 30th anniversary. And these efforts are fueling Korean content's global momentum with buyers remaining hungry for more. "We are searching for the Korean costume dramas and documentaries. This is our interest." But organizers say they’re looking far beyond. "There’s concern over how long the Korean Wave can last. That’s why we’re targeting new markets and genres and linking Busan's content scene with finance and investment for future growth." Since launching in 2007, BCM has evolved into one of Asia's key content markets. And this year's edition, running through Friday at BEXCO, shows Busan isn't just showcasing content, but shaping the future of it. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News, Busan. I hope there were some fruitful discussions between Arirang TV and the global buyers. Right, and watching the report I noticed how varied the interest in Korean content has become, with visitors from such a wide range of countries. Now is really the time to expand these opportunities. As Kun-woo mentioned in the report, the "Busan Content Market" has resulted in deals worth some 100 million dollars every year, but LAST year, transaction volume, reached a record of more than 200 million dollars. Speaking of content, Bella, you've got some new content to talk about as well in K-enter.

[K-enter] Stray Kids reaches 10 bil. Spotify streams, 3rd in K-pop history

2025/05/29 14:00

So, let's dive into today's K-enter stories. First, we've got some history made by a boy group? Stray Kids have made history again! This time by joining the exclusive club of K-pop artists with over 10 billion total streams on Spotify. The group recently surpassed 10 billion cumulative streams for their entire discography on Spotify, becoming the third K-pop group in history to achieve this milestone. Stray Kids also made waves at the 2025 American Music Awards, taking home the 'Favorite Soundtrack' award for their song "Come Play," soundtrack for the Netflix animated series "Arcane" Season 2. Meanwhile, Stray Kids are currently on their largest world tour to date, "Stray Kids World Tour ," and will perform 13 shows across 10 North American cities. Our next story is on a female artist? IU has taken over the music charts with her latest remake album "A Flower Bookmark, Pt.3". The new album, released on Tuesday, immediately climbed to the top of major domestic music charts, including Melon, Melon, Genie, and Bugs. The title track, "Never Ending Story," secured the No.1 spot on these platforms, with all tracks from the album entering the charts. "A Flower Bookmark, Pt.3" marks IU's return to her remake series 8 years after she released "A Flower Bookmark, Pt.2" in 2017, and it's her first release in about a year after her previous release "The Winning." The new album consists of six tracks in total, including the title track "Never Ending Story," "Red Shoes," "A Beautiful Person," and "Square's Dream." The music video for "Never Ending Story," features IU herself, and the second music video "A Beautiful Person" attracted a lot of attention even before its release with actor Cha Eun-woo's cameo. IU's remake album "A Flower Bookmark, Pt. 3" is available on various music platforms and the music videos are available on IU's official YouTube channel. This is going to be a gift for the ears and eyes Our final story is on a soon-to-be released drama! Wavve's original series "ONE: High School Heroes" held a press conference on Wednesday at Lotte Cinema in Konkuk University, Seoul. "ONE: High School Heroes" is a high school action drama about a model student, Eui-gyeom, who faces domestic abuse and school bullying, but joins forces with his classmates to form 'High School Heroes' to fight back against bullies on behalf of the victims. The new series is based on the popular webtoon "ONE," which recorded a cumulative view count of 65 million and also won the "2020 Today's Comic Award." "ONE: High School Heroes" has a total of 8 episodes which will be released in three batches on Wavve, starting May 30th. That's already tomorrow here in Korea. Thank you Bella, stick around, as we go over to Ari for other culture-related issues. Ari!

K-Wave AI News

2025/05/29 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. An exhibition celebrating mythical creatures from Korean culture through traditional crafts is currently on display at the Korea Heritage Agency's education center in Seoul's Gangnam-gu District. The exhibition brings together 39 master artisans and intangible heritage holders who have created 75 works inspired by dragons and other legendary creatures. Based on the ancient legend of "Dragon's Nine Children," it showcases diverse dragon forms alongside other fantastical beings such as the phoenix, and 'girin', all brought to life through exquisite traditional craftsmanship. The exhibition runs until October 17. Korea's first public museum dedicated to photography, the Photography Seoul Museum of Art, opens its doors today. Located near Chang-dong Station in Seoul's Dobong-gu District, the museum serves as a branch of the Seoul Museum of Art. Spanning over 7,000 square meters, the museum features four exhibition halls, a darkroom, archival storage, and educational facilities. Its inaugural exhibition, "The Radiance: Beginnings of Korean Art Photography," explores the early roots and hidden narratives of Korean photography. It showcases the museum's core collection of over 20,000 works and archival items from the 1920s to the 1990s, representing the legacies of 26 key photographers. Taean County in Chungcheongnam-do Province is set to host the 2025 Korea Dune Festival on June 7 at the Sinduri Coastal Sand Dune, a designated Korean Natural Monument. Celebrating one of Korea's rare natural dune ecosystems, the festival features a range of cultural and ecological programs, including a 2-kilometer guided walk along an ecological trail, live performances, circus acts, and interactive experiences for visitors of all ages. The highlight of the event, the ecological trail walk, invites participants to explore the area's unique sand dunes and native vegetation while enjoying a moment of relaxation in nature. That's all from me. Stay tuned to the Kulture Wave.

Glacier collapse buries most of Swiss village

2025/05/29 10:00

In Switzerland, a glacier collapse on Wednesday buried the Alpine village of Blatten under a massive landslide. The catastrophe occurred at around 3:30 PM local time, as a significant portion of the Birch Glacier broke off, triggering the landslide. The avalanche of ice, mud, and rock covered about 90 percent of the village, destroying homes and infrastructure. Around 300 residents and their livestock had been evacuated a few days before the event, after geologists warned of the glacier's instability. Despite the evacuation, one person remains missing, and search and rescue operations are ongoing.

Mexico gears up for first-ever public election for judges

2025/05/29 10:00

Mexico will hold its first-ever public election for federal judges, including Supreme Court justices, across the country on June 1 marking a shift in the nation's judicial selection process. The elections will fill 881 federal judicial positions, including nine Supreme Court justices, Electoral Tribunal magistrates, and district judges. The initiative stems from constitutional reform enacted in September 2024, which changed the judiciary from an appointment-based system to one determined by popular vote. Proponents, including President Claudia Sheinbaum and her predecessor, argue that electing judges will enhance accountability and reduce corruption within the judiciary. However, opponents expressed concerns that it may compromise judicial independence, making judges susceptible to political and criminal influence. Voters will receive six separate ballots to elect officials across various judicial levels. However, the complexity of the process means expected voter turnout below 30 percent.

Crowds overrun GHF aid site and storm WFP warehouse in Gaza

2025/05/29 10:00

Starting in the Middle East, hunger and desperation have led to deadly incidents at aid distribution centers in Gaza. Tell us more. That's right. Humanitarian efforts in Gaza are faced by immense challenges as crowds overwhelmed a food aid center and warehouse. Despite scenes of chaos and conflicting casualty claims, aid distribution by the U.S.-and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation resumed for a second day on Wednesday. The GHF delivered emergency food supplies in southern Gaza, distributing over 14,000 aid boxes across two sites. One of them reopened after delays caused by crowd surges and prior looting. Al Jazeera cited at least nine deaths over two days, while Gaza's health ministry reported one fatality and 48 injured on the first day alone. Meanwhile, World Food Program confirmed that crowds stormed one of its warehouses in central Gaza, leading to two deaths. The GHF plans to continue distributions on Thursday, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirming support for the mission.

On-point: Why Thursday's rate cut by BOK was much needed

2025/05/29 10:00

So the Bank of Korea went for a rate cut in the last monetary policy meeting of the first half of 2025, which many experts say was a much-needed decision by the central bank. Let's turn to Professor Park Min-jung for details. It's good to have you with us. 1. The rate cut this morning was widely expected, wasn't it? 2. Is that why the BOK slashed the country's growth outlook to _____? 3. Tariff negotiations with the U.S. will resume next month under the new South Korean government. 4. Didn't the recent strengthening of the Korean won play a significant role in today's rate cut? 5. And all eyes are on what the year-end interest rate will look like. Thanks so much for your time and your insight.

Reform Party leader continues young voter outreach as last minute merger attempt fails

2025/05/29 10:00

Attempts to form a merger between conservative candidates have effectively fallen through, as early voting for the Presidential Election is now underway. Around midnight on Thursday, with just six hours left before early voting began, the People Power Party's Kim Moon-soo aimed to track down Lee Jun-seok of the Reform Party, at Lee's office at the National Assembly. However, Lee was not there, and did not respond to Kim's attempts to reach him through various channels. Lee has consistently said he will not merge with the PPP. The Reform Party candidate on Thursday is set to cast his vote at an early voting station, in Hwaseong City, Gyeonggi-do Province. He'll continue reaching out to young voters, meeting with tech sector workers and university students and drop by a popular street food alley in central Seoul.

Lee Jae-myung focuses campaign on eastern Seoul; DP urges early voting

2025/05/29 10:00

With five days left until the election Candidates are ramping up their campaigns. Yesterday, Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung set out to win over voters in Seoul, the biggest battleground. Our campaign correspondent Shin Ha-young reports. A day before early voting begins for the snap presidential election, Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung visited eastern Seoul, which the party describes as a region that shows Seoul's past, present, and future. "Lee Jae-myung's campaign on Wednesday is focusing on attracting support from voters in the capital, by sharing his plan to make eastern Seoul not only a new hub for business, culture and transportation growth, but also as a result a better place to live." Ahead of Wednesday's rally, Lee joined a live YouTube broadcast where he emphasized his commitment to push South Korea's benchmark index, the KOSPI, to 5-thousand points and outlined plans for stock market reform. "South Korea's conservative governments have not been typical conservative governments, which has made them irrational. The economy relies on rationality and predictability. With little economic policy and frequent corporate abuses, the market has stayed weak. Fixing these issues could boost the market by 200 to 300 points." Meanwhile, the DP focused on getting people out to the polls, urging the public to vote to end what the party described as an insurrection. "Let's bring peace, revive the economy, and unite the country by taking part in early voting this Thursday and Friday. Everyone, please make sure to vote your vote is more powerful than guns and swords." Floor leader and Acting Chairman Park Chan-dae, who also serves as a chair of the presidential campaign committee, also noted that overseas voter turnout had reached a record high, reflecting a strong desire among Koreans abroad for peace and change in the country. He stressed that it is now up to voters in South Korea to carry that momentum forward. Lee is expected to cast his vote in Seoul's Sinchon on the first day of early voting and encourage others to take part as well. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

Trump suggests 15% cap on international students at Harvard

2025/05/29 10:00

U.S. President Donald Trump has called for a drastic reduction in the number of international students at Harvard University, proposing a cap of just 15 percent, less than half of the current figure. Our Kim Jung-sil has details. Speaking from the Oval Office on Wednesday, President Trump said Harvard's international student enrollment is too high and should be reduced. "About 31% of their students are foreign-based. Almost 31%. I think they should have a cap of maybe around 15%, not 31%. We have people who want to go to Harvard. They can't get in because we have foreign students there." It's part of the growing pressure on the school from the Trump administration. Last month, it froze 2.2 billion U.S. dollars in federal funding to the school. It then suspended the school's authority to issue I-20 visas, halting new international admissions. "We want to know where those students come from. Are they troublemakers? What countries do they come? Many of those students were troublemakers caused by the radical left lunatics in this country." Following President Trump's remarks, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a new crackdown, saying the U.S. will aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, including those linked to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields. New applications from China and Hong Kong will also face tougher scrutiny. Trump says he wants Harvard to be "great again," but not everyone on campus agrees. "The attack on Harvard and its international students is part of a deeper effort to disband and dismantle the academic world." "What makes Harvard Harvard is ability to bring in the best and the brightest from all around the world and that is what is under threat right now." In South Korea, students say new visa appointments at the U.S. Embassy are currently unavailable. This comes as the U.S. moves to expand social media screening for international applicants. Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.

Russia proposes talks with Ukraine on June 2

2025/05/29 10:00

Russia has proposed holding second round of direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul next Monday. U.S. President Donald Trump doubled down on his criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying he'll know soon if the Russian leader is just "tapping" him along. Lee Seung-jae reports. Moscow has proposed holding another round of direct talks with Kyiv. The meeting which would again take place in Istanbul, is slated for June 2nd, with the aim of achieving a sustainable peace settlement. "The Russian side, as agreed, has promptly developed a relevant memorandum, which sets out our position on all aspects of reliably overcoming the root causes of the crisis. Our delegation, led by Vladimir Medinsky, is ready to present this memorandum to the Ukrainian delegation and to provide necessary clarifications during the second round of direct talks in Istanbul next Monday, June 2." However, there was no immediate response from Ukraine. The proposed talks come as their previous meeting on May 16 in Istanbul ended without an agreement on a ceasefire. Russia's top envoy Sergei Lavrov expressed hope that those "interested in the success of the peace process will support holding a new round of Russia-Ukraine negotiations in Istanbul." Meanwhile,.. U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he doesn't want to impose any new sanctions on Russia yet, as he does not want such penalties to interfere with getting a ceasefire. When asked by a reporter if he believe Russian President Vladimir Putin is sincere about ending the war, Trump said he'll know in about two week. "I can't tell you that, but I'll let you know in about two weeks, within two weeks, we're going to find out very soon. We're going to find out whether or not he's (Putin) tapping us along or not. And if he is, we'll respond a little bit differently. But it'll take about a week and a half, two weeks." The U.S. President also said Putin may be intentionally delaying ceasefire negotiations, while expressing his disappointment over recent Russian strikes in Ukraine. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

S. Korea cuts key interest rates to 2.5% in May meeting amid sluggish growth concerns

2025/05/29 10:00

South Korea's central bank has slashed its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points as widely expected, bringing it to 2-point-5 percent. In its fourth Monetary Policy Committee meeting of the year, the Bank of Korea on Thursday announced a rate cut, after leaving rates unchanged in January and April, and lowering them in February. The decision comes amid growing economic uncertainty from U.S. tariff policies as well as the stabilization of the won-dollar exchange rate. South Korea's economy already contracted in the first quarter shrinking by 0-point-2 percent, a sharp downturn from the central bank's February forecast of 0.2 percent growth. The Bank of Korea also revised down its economic growth projection for this year from 1-point-5 percent to 0-point-8 percent.

Live from early voting polling station in Seoul

2025/05/29 10:00

Two days of early voting have begun in South Korea to elect the country's 21st president. Voters across the country are already making their way to polling stations 5 days earlier than the actual Election Day, and our Ahn Sung-jin is at one of them here in Seoul. Good morning, Sung-jin. 1. Sung-jin, which of the country's 3-thousand 5-hundred-69 polling stations are you at? Right, so Dami I'm currently in front of an early voting location in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu district, an area bustling with offices and business people. I've been out here since early this morning, and we saw an influx of voters coming in to vote before going to work, so many in fact that officials needed to control the line of people which extended well beyond the front of the polling station. "I'm 20 years old so this is my first time to vote. I hope someone who can bring national unity and enhance people's livelihoods becomes the next president." "I've been waiting to vote, and I wanted to do so as soon as I could. I came early before work because I couldn't wait out of frustration." So far there haven't been any notable issues with the voting process going smoothly. For this presidential election, there are more than 3-thousand-5-hundred polling stations nationwide with around 420 of them in Seoul. 2. Now, Sung-jin, tell us how early voting works. For this early presidential voting, the National Election Commission has made extra effort to realize a fair and transparent election, right? To first explain how early voting works, early voting takes place for two days, Thursday and Friday from 6 AM till 6 PM. Voters must be over 18 and bring government issued ID. Turnout in previous early voting in 2017 was 26.1% while in 2022 it was 36.9% a record-high figure. Although we did see an increase in turnout in 2022, with voting taking place on a weekday, unlike previously, we may see a lower number. The process of verifying vote-counting officials will be strengthened, after accusations in 2020 that Chinese voting officials during the general election may have rigged votes. The NEC emphasized that it will be hiring all 260-thousand voting and counting officials as Korean nationals to shut down any suspicions of election fraud. Ballot boxes will be monitored around the clock, and the NEC will also operate a "Fair Election Observation Team" for the first time to observe the entire election process from voting to counting. The NEC also announced that in this presidential election, the number of voters per hour will be disclosed by each polling station for the first time. 3. It's past 10 AM, which means four hours have passed since the early voting began. How many South Koreans have voted early so far? Right now as of 9AM, at the poll station I'm at 1,722 people have voted, and the total for Seoul is 293,852. Other major cities like Busan saw ______ people, Daegu _______ and Sejong _____. The Democratic Party spokesperson said that their party's candidate Lee Jae-myung will vote in Seoul this morning. The People Power's Party Kim Moon-soo is also believed to be voting early. That's all I have for now, and I will be back with updated figures for our later newscast. Alright Sung-jin, thanks for the coverage. That was our Ahn Sung-jin at one of the early voting polling stations here Seoul.

Early summer warmth continues with rain across Korea

2025/05/29 10:00

We're in for another day where we'll need to keep both sunglasses and an umbrella handy. The atmosphere remains a bit unstable for this afternoon, so some spots could see brief but heavy downpours. Most places can expect 5 to 20 millimeters of rain, with Gyeongsang-do regions seeing heavier showers. But until that rain fall, skies will be mostly sunny nationwide today, meaning the sunshine will be strong. The UV index will be higher in southern parts of Korea with high ozone concentrations. And this afternoon, Seoul will get up to 26 degrees, Daejeon and Daegu both will be hitting 27 degrees Celsius. Looking ahead, tomorrow brings a chance of showers to the southern coastal areas and early summer heat sets in and stays through the weekend. Meanwhile, the weather is looking promising for the presidential election next Tuesday!

Final Debate Showdown: Presidential candidates clash on security, diplomacy, and political Reform

2025/05/28 20:00

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus. I'm Kim Mok-yeon. In the final televised debate before the presidential election, four major candidates faced off on the most pressing issues in politics, diplomacy and national security. On May 27th, the stage was set for a revealing confrontation: the Democratic Party's Lee Jae-myung emphasized diplomacy and engagement, pledging to restore the 9/19 military agreement, while pursuing balanced ties with the U.S., China, and Russia. The People Power Party's Kim Moon-soo countered with a hardline agenda — calling for the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons, and a NATO-style nuclear-sharing deal. The Reform Party's Lee Jun-seok proposed a sweeping reorganization of government, merging the unification and foreign ministries under a new security deputy prime minister. The Democratic Labor Party's Kwon Young-guk pledged to abolish the military's counterintelligence command and restart peace talks. As candidates clashed over North Korea, alliance costs, and wartime control, the debate laid bare a stark divide — offering voters a critical lens into each party's vision for the Republic of Korea's security and sovereignty. To delve deeper into the candidates' policies on the Korean peninsula, we invited Go Myong-hyun, senior research fellow at the Institute for National Security Strategy, into the studio with us. Welcome. Also joining us online is Christophe Gaudin, professor of political science at Kookmin University. Good to see you. 1. (GO) To start with the big picture just yesterday, the final TV debate among the four presidential candidates was held, focusing on foreign and security policy. What stood out most to you in terms of how each candidate framed their priorities? 2. (GAUDIN) Let's start by unpacking how they framed their core priorities, especially with regard to national security and foreign policy So all presidential candidates have pledged to pursue pragmatic diplomacy centered on the ROK-U.S. alliance. However, critics argue that they failed to present specific blueprints. How would you assess the candidates' diplomatic and security pledges? 3. (GO) Diving deeper into inter-Korean policy The candidates showed differing views on North Korea's denuclearization and ways to restore inter-Korean relations. DP Candidate Lee Jae-myung emphasized reviving the September 19 Military Agreement as part of reinitiating the denuclearization process. What challenges must be overcome to make this happen in this situation? 4. (GAUDIN) Building on that PPP Candidate Kim Moon-soo stressed a principled North Korea policy based on preconditions for denuclearization. He even suggested reviewing the redeployment of tactical nuclear weapons or adopting a NATO-style "nuclear sharing" policy to strengthen nuclear deterrence. This became a major point of contention with the DP's Lee Jae-myung. What is your assessment of Kim's policy? Is it realistic? 5. (GAUDIN) Turning now to structural reform proposals RP Candidate Lee Jun-seok proposed merging the Ministry of Unification and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and appointing a "Deputy Prime Minister for Security" to oversee diplomacy, unification and defense. How would this merger affect the consistency and flexibility of domestic and foreign policy strategy? 6. (GO) On the topic of military oversight DLP Candidate Kwon Young-guk, who pledged to restart the Korean Peninsula peace process, proposed abolishing the Defense Counterintelligence Command (DCIC), citing its involvement in last year's martial law controversy. What is your opinion on the pledge to abolish the DCIC? 7. (GAUDIN) Zooming out to alliance management The candidates also expressed differing opinions on the issue of increasing South Korea's share of defense costs for U.S. Forces Korea. Notably, the PPP's Kim Moon-soo left room for a possible increase. How effective are the proposed solutions to this cost-sharing issue under the next administration? 8. (GO) Staying with alliance dynamics Among Lee Jae-myung's foreign and security pledges, the plan to reclaim wartime operational control (OPCON) stands out. If OPCON transfer occurs, what changes might it bring to the ROK-U.S. combined defense structure? 9. (GAUDIN) And finally, looking at the bigger diplomatic chessboard With the geopolitical landscape on the Korean Peninsula shifting — U.S.-China tensions, and strengthening North Korea-Russia ties — foreign and security policies have never been more crucial. With less than a week left until the election, what should voters prioritize when evaluating the candidates' foreign and security pledges?

Lee Jae-myung focuses campaign on eastern Seoul; DP urges early voting

2025/05/28 20:00

Thank you for joining us. I'm Yoon Jung-min. Ahead of early voting tomorrow, the DP's Lee Jae-myung toured the capital, seeking voter support. The party also focused on asking for strong voter participation. Our campaign correspondent Shin Ha-young reports. A day before early voting begins for the snap presidential election, Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung visited eastern Seoul, which the party describes as a region that shows Seoul's past, present, and future. "Lee Jae-myung's campaign on Wednesday is focusing on attracting support from voters in the capital, by sharing his plan to make eastern Seoul not only a new hub for business, culture and transportation growth, but also – as a result a better place to live." Ahead of Wednesday's rally, Lee joined a live YouTube broadcast where he emphasized his commitment to push South Korea's benchmark index, the KOSPI, to 5-thousand points and outlined plans for stock market reform. "South Korea's conservative governments have not been typical conservative governments, which has made them irrational. The economy relies on rationality and predictability. With little economic policy and frequent corporate abuses, the market has stayed weak. Fixing these issues could boost the market by 200 to 300 points." Meanwhile, the DP focused on getting people out to the polls, urging the public to vote to end what the party described as an insurrection. "Let's bring peace, revive the economy, and unite the country by taking part in early voting this Thursday and Friday. Everyone, please make sure to vote your vote is more powerful than guns and swords." Floor leader and Acting Chairman Park Chan-dae, who also serves as a chair of the presidential campaign committee, also noted that overseas voter turnout had reached a record high, reflecting a strong desire among Koreans abroad for peace and change in the country. He stressed that it is now up to voters in South Korea to carry that momentum forward. Lee is expected to cast his vote in Seoul's Sinchon on the first day of early voting and encourage others to take part as well. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

[Weather] Early summer heat of around 30 degrees with strong UV rays

2025/05/28 20:00

Early summer heat with daytime temperatures approaching 30 degrees Celsius appeared today in many areas. It rose up to 26 degrees Celsius in Seoul, 28 degrees in Daejeon and 29 degrees in Gwangju and Gimcheon. As the heat gets stronger, the atmosphere will become unstable, leading to strong showers. Showers will continue in some areas tomorrow. We also need to be prepared for strong UV rays in these hot conditions. Ultraviolet rays will be very strong in most areas due to strong sunshine tomorrow. Please refrain from going outside between noon and 3 in the afternoon when the UV rays are at their peak. Tomorrow morning, Seoul and Busan will start off at 16 degrees, Gwangju at 15 degrees. Daytime temperatures will move up to 26 degrees in Seoul and Chuncheon, 23 degrees in Busan. Temperatures will continue to be nearly 30 degrees around the country throughout this week. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.