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S. Korea's auto exports surpassed US$ 70 bil. for second straight year in 2024

2025/01/16 17:00

Korea's automobile industry remained resilient last year driven by its exports of hybrid vehicles. Our correspondent Moon Hye-ryeon has more. South Korea's auto exports continued to boom in 2024 due to robust growth in hybrid vehicle exports. That's according to the latest automotive trends report released by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on Thursday, which shows that the country's auto exports came to 70-point-8 billion U.S. dollars last year. This marks the second-highest annual performance following the record of 70-point-9 billion dollars in 2023. Despite the global stagnation in demand for electric vehicles contributing to the point-one percent decline in total exports, the popularity of hybrid vehicles offset the losses. Exports of eco-friendly vehicles, which include EVs, hydrogen vehicles, hybrids, and plug-in hybrids, totaled 23-point-2-1 billion dollars – down by around four percent from the previous year. However, hybrid vehicle exports surged by nearly 46 percent, 11-point-3 billion dollars. In terms of domestic production, South Korean automakers produced 4-point-1-3 million vehicles in 2024, a 2-point-7 percent decline from the previous year. The top-produced models were Hyundai Motor's Avante, Chevrolet's Trax, Hyundai Motor's Kona, Kia Motor's Sportage, and GM Korea's Chevrolet Trailblazer. Approximately 67 percent of domestically produced vehicles were exported. Domestic sales dropped by 6-point-5 percent year-on-year, reaching 1-point-6-3 million units, as weakened consumer sentiment and declining EV demand took a toll. However, eco-friendly vehicle sales in the domestic market showed resilience, climbing by more than 18 percent – meaning that four out of every ten new vehicles sold in South Korea last year were eco-friendly. Among these, hybrid vehicles stood out with a 32 percent surge in sales compared to 2023. December's automobile export revenue, however, fell more than five percent from the same month in the previous year to six billion dollars. The Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy attributed the decline to factors such as the safety inspections and component factory damages caused by heavy snow in late November, as well as a drop in export prices due to weaker EV demand. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

S. Korea's central bank holds rate steady in first rate decision of 2025

2025/01/16 17:00

Policymakers at Seoul's central bank have decided to hold their benchmark interest rate steady at three percent. Our correspondent Lee Soo-jin tells us why. South Korea's central bank held its key interest rate steady at 3 percent, as the Korean won remains weak. The decision was announced on Thursday following the first monetary policy committee meeting of the year. "We decided that it would be appropriate to maintain the current rate while monitoring internal and external conditions as domestic political circumstances and changes in major countries' economic policies have increased uncertainties in terms of the economic outlook and foreign exchange markets." It's worth noting that the rate freeze decision comes after two consecutive quarter-point cuts in both the October and November monetary policy meetings last year after the key rate was frozen at 3-point-5 percent since January 2023 in a bid to tackle inflation. There was a lot of speculation in the markets before the decision was announced. A rate cut had been anticipated by some due to concerns about a downturn in the economy due to the ongoing political turmoil, as well as uncertainties over President-elect Donald Trump's second term. But the Bank of Korea ultimately decided to freeze the interest rate, due to a weaker Korean won against the greenback, and minutes from the U.S. Fed's December meeting where officials hinted they would be moving more slowly on interest rate cuts. If the interest rate gap between the two countries widens, it could lead to further currency depreciation. In December, the average won-dollar exchange rate stood at 1-thousand-4-hundred-thirty-four-point-4-2, a change of nearly 3-percent from an average of 1-thousand-3-hundred-ninety-three-point-3-8 in November. "So it might be better to leave the interest rate where it is right now and at least for the moment have government spending increase. I do not think inflation will be a serious problem this year." The country's annual consumer inflation rose by 2-point-3 percent in 2024, the lowest rate since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. As for its assessment of the domestic economy, the Bank of Korea forecasted sluggish economic growth this year, as exports are expected to weaken due to political uncertainties. "Acknowledging concerns about the domestic economy, the central bank hinted at possible rate cuts in the future and pledged to carefully monitor inflation and currency trends before making the decision. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News."

Court rejected Yoon's request to delay Thursday's impeachment hearing, starts full-fledged trial

2025/01/16 17:00

Moving forward. The second hearing of the impeachment case against President Yoon Suk Yeol took place as scheduled despite a request for postponement placed by the president's defense team amid his arrest the day prior. For details I have Oh Soo-young standing by live. Soo-young let's start with the prosecution's allegations and the defense team's arguments. There were strong clashes over whether President Yoon's martial law order on December third could be justified, with each side accusing the other of abusing power and undermining the nation's Constitutional order. The National Assembly's panel presented five grounds for impeachment, saying that Yoon's decree threatened the country's Constitution and democracy. They argued there were no conditions that justified a martial law decree, which can be triggered by the President under the Constitution,.. only in times of national crises such as war or akin to war. The panel also said Yoon violated the procedure of declaring the decree, by not having properly gone through Cabinet approval. Panel members further claimed Yoon tried to paralyze the functions of parliament by aiming to prevent a motion to lift martial law, and tried to block political activities, gatherings, and press freedom. The Assembly's side further said Yoon tried to undermine the independence of the National Election Commission, and tried to detain judicial figures. Meanwhile, Yoon's lawyers questioned the impeachment process, and emphasized the context in which the President felt forced to declare the fateful decree. The lawyers insisted that the President was initiating peaceful martial law against the opposition-led parliament's series of attacks and impeachment motions against the incumbent government. They also argued that martial law should not be subject to judicial review, calling it an act of governance that can be exercised by the president. Yoon's side also raised suspicions about election fraud, and claimed it was the President's obligation to try to protect the Constitutional order from the National Election Commission which refused investigations. The team reiterated their position that the National Assembly's move to remove debate over insurrection from the trial, undermines its legitimacy, as the Assembly cited insurrection as a major reason for impeachment in their resolution. And for very clear reasons this second hearing also proceeded in the absence of the president right Soo-young ? That's right. The Court rejected Yoon's request to postpone the second trial hearing given his 48-hour detainment that began on Wednesday. Court press officer Cheon Jaehyun said the full bench of justices decided the reason Yoon presented did not justify a rescheduling. She said since the trial has already begun, any objections to its commencement can be considered implicitly dismissed, adding that the scheduling is at the Court's discretion. Regarding the President's request to challenge the legality of a second warrant to detain him for questioning, the Constitutional Court stated that it would continue to deliberate on the matter. The next trial hearing for President Yoon's impeachment will be held next Tuesday at 2 PM. All right Soo-young thank you for that coverage. That was our Oh Soo-young reporting live from the Constitutional Court.

Pres. Yoon spent first night at Seoul Detention Center after being questioned

2025/01/16 17:00

And President Yoon Suk Yeol has become the first sitting president to spend a night at a detention center following his arrest on allegations of insurrection. Our political correspondent Shin Ha-young reports. President Yoon Suk Yeol was taken to the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi-do Province at 9:50 PM on Wednesday, where he spent his first night in a cell to himself. Yoon was taken by car from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials after 10 hours of questioning. This unprecedented situation, with a sitting president being detained, has raised questions about security at the prison, but no specific rules are in place. The Presidential Security Service has reportedly discussed security measures with the detention center. However, an official from the Ministry of Justice said discussions about Yoon's security are confidential and cannot be confirmed. The room, about 10 square meters, is reported to have a toilet, toilet, television, foldable mattress, and other essentials. There is no bed, but the floor is heated, with CCTV monitoring the room. Former Presidents Roh Tae-woo and Park Geun-hye were held at this Detention Center, and currently, former minor opposition party leader Cho Kuk , sentenced for academic fraud involving his children, is serving time there. Yoon's breakfast on Thursday morning included cereal, boiled eggs, nuts, and milk. Until a decision is made on another type of arrest warrant seeking a longer period of detention, Yoon will be moving back and forth between the CIO for questioning, and the detention center. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

ECONOMIC IMPACT OF PRESIDENT'S ARREST

2025/01/16 17:30

Welcome to Press Perspective for this Thursday January 16th here in Seoul. I'm Min Sunhee. Today we start with the latest on the local political front amid the president's arrest and trial before touching upon the economic impact of this leadership vacuum. For more I have Steven Borowiec with Nikkei Asia here in the studio. Steven welcome back. I also have Professor Kim Yong-Jin at Sogang University with us virtually. Professor Kim it's good to have you on. 1) Steven, let's begin with latest from the Constitutional Court where a second hearing took place this afternoon for the impeachment trial against the president. 2) Meanwhile, Steven, what are some of the updates surrounding the arrest of the president by anti-corruption investigators for questioning yesterday? 3) Professor Kim, what have been the economic repercussions of Korea's political unrest? 4) Professor Kim, the Bank of Korea today decided to hold steady its benchmark interest rate at 3 percent. 5) Steven, a major variable for the Korean economy this year is the shift in U.S. trade policy. 6) Professor Kim, Mr. Trump had earlier floated the idea of imposing blanket tariffs of between 10% and 20% on all U.S. imports. 7) Steven, Korean automaker Hyundai Motor Group has been seeking to better reach out to the incoming Trump administration amid tariff concerns. 8) Professor Kim, Hyundai invested heavily in the U.S. to qualify for EV tax credits under the Biden administration's Inflation Reduction Act. 9) Steven, one Korean industry that has its fingers crossed for brighter prospects under Mr. Trump is the shipbuilding industry here. 10) And Professor Kim, what more can you tell us about Korea's shipbuilding industry? 11) Meanwhile, Steven, back on Trump tariffs. 12) Here in Korea, Professor Kim, the central bank earlier claimed "Trump tariffs pose a greater threat to Korea's economy than its political turmoil." 13) Steven, some foreign media have suggested Korea may look into boosting energy imports from the U.S. to appease Mr. Trump. 14) Professor Kim, what are your thoughts on ways for Korea to navigate the Trump administration's protectionist trade policy? All right.

An Australian who fell in love with Korean traditional alcohol

2025/01/16 14:00

From makgeolli and fruit wines, to distilled liquor like soju Korea has a wide range of traditional alcoholic beverages. Today we talk to someone who fell in love with these drinks and promotes them to foreigners in Korea and abroad. We are now joined online by Korean traditional alcohol specialist Julia Mellor, originally from Australia and currently connecting to us from the Netherlands. She is the founder of “The Sool Company”. Julia, hello! 1) It’s still mid-January. At the year end and beginning of the new year people like to gather and have some drinks. We also have the lunar new year holiday coming up. I can imagine it’s a busy season for you and your business. 2) Currently you promote and educate people about Korean alcohol, but you used to be an English instructor. Tell us about your journey here in Korea. 3) Countries around the world have their own traditional types of liquors. What’s unique about Korean traditional alcoholic beverages? And what is it about Korean “sool” that made you specialize in this field? 4) Tell us about your efforts to understand Korean traditional alcohol and what was your first experience with Korean alcohol? 5) “The Sool Company” doesn't only promote “sool”, but educates through brewing. Tell us about this process and do you have any memorable stories to share from foreigners who visited to learn about Korean traditional alcohol? 6) Please tell us about one of your visions which is to introduce Korean alcoholic drinks overseas. And that’s also the reason why you are currently in the Netherlands, right? 7) Can you share your future plans as a Korean traditional alcohol specialist?

[K-enter] "Squid Game" Season 2 Continues to Dominate Netflix Charts

2025/01/16 14:00

Time for some K-entertainment news with Bella Kim. Today we start with Netflix series, “Squid Game.” What do you have for us Bella? “Squid Game” Season 2 continues to captivate global audiences and is setting new milestones. It has held the No.1 position on Netflix’s Global Top 10 Non-English TV chart for three consecutive weeks since its release on December 26th. The latest season is also the third most-watched series of all time on Netflix after “Squid Game” Season 1 and “Wednesday.” It also recorded the highest number of views for a follow-up series on Netflix. In the new season, the main character Gi-hun returns to Squid Game with a resolute mission to end the deadly games once and for all. Season 2 concludes with a cliffhanger, setting the stage for the complete story of “Squid Game” to reach its climax in the third season, which is scheduled to be released later this year. Next, we move onto K-pop to talk about a boy group? Boy group ATEEZ will enter KSPO DOME in Seoul for the 2025 ATEEZ World Tour “TOWARDS THE LIGHT: WILL TO POWER” FINALE IN SEOUL on March 22nd and 23rd. The title of this world tour, “Towards the Light: Will to Power,” means that we all have our own light and let’s move toward it. ATEEZ already performed across North America last year for their tour of the same name. They will start their tour “TOWARDS THE LIGHT: WILL TO POWER” IN EUROPE this weekend, where they will perform in nine countries, including the UK, France and Germany. Lastly, we have a new play that’s returning for its anniversary? Korean comedy play “The Secret of Flowers” is returning next month for its 10-year anniversary, after its premiere back in 2015. A press conference for it was held at the artist’s house in the Daehak-ro area of Seoul last Wednesday. Director of the play, Jang Jin, and actors Park Sun-ok, Lee Yeon-hee, Ahn So-hee, and Gong Seung-yeon attended the conference. The play “The Secret of Flowers” is set in Villaperosa, a small town in northwestern Italy, and tells the story of patriarchal husbands, who were into soccer and neglected to do housework. The husbands disappear in an accident overnight, but it happens that they fooled everyone for a specific purpose. The play is a work that brings out empathy and emotion while providing constant laughter through the commotion of ordinary daily life. “The Secret of Flowers” will be performed at the Link Art Center in Seoul from February 8th to May 11th. Thank you Bella for today’s stories.

[K-wave] Children's fairytale books recreated into exhibition and musical performance

2025/01/16 14:00

For families with children that are now on winter vacation, there are some exhibitions and performances based on fairy tales and story books. Both parents and children can make memories while staying out of the cold and enjoying some culture. Lee Eun-jin has the story. Families take photos in front of a wall with a big picture from a children's book that parents read to their children. The children even get to interact with the main characters that have jumped out of the picture book. While visiting this fairytale exhibition, parents are also able to take the time that they didn't have in their busy schedules to read to the children, and connect with them. "It's difficult for children to participate in or enjoy exhibitions for adults, but I was happy to hear they had an exhibition for children! They could have a lot of fun." "I really enjoyed coming with my family." This exhibition set out to actualize the imagination of stepping in to a picture book. The pictures are hung at lower heights, closer to eye level for the children. "There was a book I had read, so it was even more fun reading it again here." "There was a book I had read at school so it was more fun! I want to come back again with other friends." There are immersive exhibitions that use animation and super-sized media art walls, where visitors can experience picture books from domestic authors, like Choi Sook-hee, as well as foreign artists. A picture book written by the famous author Baek Hee-na, well-known for her picture books "Magic Candies" and "Cloud Bread", is brought to the stage in a musical performance. "The Bath Fairy" tells the story of the main character Deok-ji and a fairy grandmother meeting in an old bathhouse. The magical world that the performance displays is enchanting for the children, and nostalgic for adults. Since its opening in July of 2021, the musical has attracted more than 200-thousand patrons, and it even won the Children's Family Musical Award at the Korea Musical Awards in 2024. Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.

Yoon rejects questioning on day 2, says he has said all he has to say

2025/01/16 10:00

1. And the questioning for President Yoon will resume this afternoon, investigators say. We go live to our Kim Do-yeon at the investigators' office. Do-yeon, while today is supposed to be the second day of questioning it's unclear whether President Yoon will be coming from Seoul Detention Center at all. Good morning Dami, that's right. As you said, today was supposed to be day two of questions for President Yoon on charges of insurrection due to his declaration of martial law last month. But it's unclear whether the session which was initially set to start here at 2 PM will happen today. Now according to reports, President Yoon's representatives initially asked for a delay to the start of questioning today due to health issues but have now stated that Yoon has nothing more to say and say he won't take questions. What seems to be a lack of cooperation from Yoon reflects his stance on the investigation from the beginning. He's called it illegal as he says the CIO does not have the investigative authority over insurrection charges. And as he left the presidential residence yesterday morning he said he only gave into investigators and was detained to prevent any unfortunate clashes between the investigators and the Presidential Security Service. 2. Now, walk us through the first day of the questioning. Nearly 11 hours of questioning? President Yoon spent ten hours and forty minutes here at the CIO yesterday starting from 11 AM. Prosecutors at the CIO have been questioning Yoon about his motives and the preparation process for the declaration of martial law back in December AND what his specific orders were when the military raided the National Assembly and the National Election Commission. among others. What we know so far is that he's remained silent for the most part, and if he moves to the CIO for questioning he will likely continue to do so today as well. The CIO has to be mindful of time. The warrant issued by the court only gives them 48 hours to detain President Yoon, and based on the questioning they will request for a warrant that will allow them to detain President Yoon for up to 20 days. All that needs to be done by Friday morning as Yoon's detention started around 10 AM yesterday. 3. And pro and anti-Yoon protesters are now arriving at the investigators' office. How are things looking there at the moment? That's right Dami, while as you said President Yoon may not even come here today it hasn't stopped these protesters. They have been here since early in the morning and from what I can tell at the moment there are dozens of President Yoon supporters. The Police started forming these barriers around the CIO to prevent any incidents with buses as well. Of course overnight near here there was an incident when someone set themself on fire. The person is in critical condition, and it's unknown whether the action was in support of or against President Yoon. That's all for now, back to you Dami.

[Weather] Cold snap eases, wintry mix in central regions

2025/01/16 10:00

Central parts of Korea could see a mix of rain and snow today, starting earlier in the day but should subside by the late afternoon. Gangwon-do could see up to 5 centimeters, the capital area could also see flurries around lunchtime to mid-afternoon, so stay safe on the road. The cold snap should ease today with top temperatures going up much higher this afternoon, topping out at 5 degrees Celsius but it will be rather cloudy all day. The rest of the country will also notice afternoon highs going 2 to 7 degrees higher, Daejeon and Gwangju top out at 7 degrees Celsius, Daegu and Busan getting up to 8 degrees with decent air quality nationwide. After today's wintry precipitation, we can expect much brighter skies with temperatures gradually getting warmer. Just for the heads up, there won't be any major cold snap next week as well. That's Korea for you, here's a look at the international weather conditions.

Death toll from South African mine siege rises to 78

2025/01/16 10:00

In South Africa, a police operation has retrieved at least 78 bodies from an illegal gold mine. Hundreds of miners had been trapped for months in the mine in Stillfontein, with the police trying to force them out by cutting off food and water. The operation also rescued 246 survivors from the mine, with many of the survivors in such bad condition, from lack of food and water that they were unable to walk. The South African government's harsh measures to attempt to curb illegal mining have drawn criticism from human rights groups and community members.

China slams U.S. trade restrictions, vows to protect its interests

2025/01/16 10:00

Over in China, the Ministry of Commerce issued a statement denouncing recent U.S. trade restrictions, particularly those targeting China's semiconductor industry. It said the Biden Administration's expansion of export controls, were economic coercion and a violation of international trade rules. The commerce ministry spokesperson added that such measures disrupt global supply chains, and harm the interests of both Chinese and American companies. This follows the U.S. Commerce Department's recent addition of several Chinese tech firms to its export control list, aiming to limit China's access to advanced semiconductor technologies.

Trump nominee Pam Bondi vows to uphold Justice Dept. independence

2025/01/16 10:00

Let's begin today with the U.S. attorney general nominee's confirmation hearing. With Donald Trump's inauguration just around the corner, we're seeing a series of these hearings for the nominees for key positions. Right. President-elect Donald Trump's pick for attorney general, Pam Bondi, testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, vowing to maintain the Justice Department's independence. Bondi, who previously served as Florida's Attorney General from 2011 to 2019, said she will not allow politics to influence her decisions and that her duty is to uphold the rule of law. While Democratic senators expressed concerns about her close ties to Trump, particularly her role as his lawyer during his 2020 impeachment trial and her comments related to the 2020 election, Republican senators voiced confidence in her confirmation. Bondi also emphasized that her overriding objective would be to keep Americans safe and get back to basics.

Pres. Yoon spent first night at Seoul Detention Center after being questioned

2025/01/16 10:00

President Yoon wrapped up the first day of questioning before being moved to Seoul Detention Center. That will be his home until questioning by investigators comes to an end. Our Shin Ha-young has the details. President Yoon Suk Yeol was taken to the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi-do Province at 9:50 PM on Wednesday, where he spent his first night in a cell to himself. Yoon was taken by car from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials after 10 hours of questioning. This unprecedented situation, with a sitting president being detained, has raised questions about security at the prison, but no specific rules are in place. The Presidential Security Service has reportedly discussed security measures with the detention center. However, an official from the Ministry of Justice said discussions about Yoon's security are confidential and cannot be confirmed. The room, about 10 square meters, is reported to have a toilet, toilet, television, foldable mattress, and other essentials. There is no bed, but the floor is heated, with CCTV monitoring the room. Former Presidents Roh Tae-woo and Park Geun-hye were held at this Detention Center, and currently, former minor opposition party leader Cho Kuk , sentenced for academic fraud involving his children, is serving time there. Yoon's breakfast on Thursday morning included cereal, boiled eggs, nuts, and milk. Until a decision is made on another type of arrest warrant seeking a longer period of detention, Yoon will be moving back and forth between the CIO for questioning, and the detention center. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

Yoon Suk Yeol becomes first sitting president of S. Korea to be arrested

2025/01/16 10:00

For the first time in the nation's history, a sitting South Korean president was arrested and taken in for questioning. It took just over 40 days for President Yoon to be arrested as part of the investigation into his martial law declaration. Bae Eun-ji reports. At around 10:30 AM, President Yoon was arrested at his presidential residence in central Seoul, marking a historic moment in South Korea's political landscape. He was arrested after a 7-hour standoff, with the operation to arrest him beginning in the early morning hours of Wednesday, at around 3:20 AM. This came 43 days after Yoon's short-lived imposition of martial law on December 3rd making him the first sitting president to become arrested in South Korea's history. This was the second time that the anti-corruption investigators tried to arrest President Yoon, but unlike the first arrest attempt two weeks ago, Wednesday's attempt succeeded without any physical encounters. It was carried out rather peacefully, as the presidential bodyguards showed almost no resistance. Investigators passed through defense lines in the residence by using ladders to go over the buses that were parked as barricades and the team managed to secure entry without any major incidents. But, the 64-year-old leader, who has repeatedly said his arrest warrant is not legally valid, did not admit that he was "arrested." Rather, he said in a video message on Wednesday that he agreed to cooperate with anti-corruption authorities to prevent "bloodshed," adding that the rule of law has "completely collapsed" after his detention. "To prevent any unfortunate bloodshed, I have decided to appear before the CIO, even though this investigation is illegal." On social media, he posted another defiant message a hand-written letter insisting once again, that the imposition of martial law is not a crime, and that it's only an exercise of presidential authority to overcome a national crisis. Throughout Wednesday, thousands of Koreans protested for, and against the president. Angry supporters of President Yoon rallied overnight, holding up signs that said they would fight with the president. Around 30 of them even laid down on the roads, and some were seen crying. SOV: "We will protect him!" Meanwhile, those against Yoon also came out to protest. SOV: "Arrest Yoon Suk Yeol!" After the impeached leader was arrested, anti-Yoon protesters cheered, while Yoon's supporters were seen crying and wailing. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.

Live: President Yoon's lawyers ask Constitutional Court to delay impeachment trial due to his arrest

2025/01/16 10:00

The second hearing of President Yoon's impeachment trial takes place today, after justices adjourned the first meeting due to his nonappearance. Given his arrest on Wednesday, his lawyers have asked for the hearing to be rescheduled. We now head over to the Constitutional Court with our Oh Soo-young standing by. 1. Sooyoung, for obvious reasons, the President cannot attend Thursday's trial. That's right. President Yoon's legal team has requested the Constitutional Court to postpone the second impeachment trial hearing, scheduled for 2PM on Thursday. This came after the President's detainment and interrogation by state investigators from Wednesday morning until late into the night. Yoon's lawyers reportedly claimed that holding a hearing during his detention violates his right to go to court as the respondent. As he already missed his first session,. if he does not attend Thursday's hearing, justices can proceed to begin a full-fledged trial without him. We have yet to hear whether the Court will agree to postpone the session, but if it goes ahead, we're likely to see strong protests from Yoon's lawyers. The trial already has had a rocky start, with the President's legal team filing a series of objections to the Court. These include an objection to the first hearing, and the Court's decision to fix five hearing dates without consultation both of which the panel rejected. Yoon's side has also objected to the Court's decision to accept ongoing investigation records as evidence, saying this violates trial rules. His team has further cited security concerns in attending the trial, filing for an injunction against arrest warrants by state investigators. 2. Remind us of the key points and arguments expected to the raised in the trial. Sure, but at this point it's hard to expect smooth debates with organised arguments, as President Yoon's team and the National Assembly's panel trying to impeach him failed to narrow their differences over the main grounds of argument in two pre-trial hearings. Initially, the National Assembly set out four or five main grounds for impeachment including the declaration of martial law on December 3, and various actions which they claim disrupted the Constitutional order. In a written response to the Court on Tuesday, Yoon's team claimed martial law was justified due to "suspicions of election fraud," and the opposition-led parliament sabotaging governance, among other reasons that put the country in a "state of crisis" akin to war or a national emergency. But the biggest point of contention continues to be whether 'insurrection' stands as a main ground for impeachment. The National Assembly's panel withdrew it from their argument, as they want to speed up the verdict. But Yoon's side argues that the Assembly cited insurrection as a major reason for impeachment in their resolution, so removing it from the debate undermines the trial's legitimacy. Court justices have been 'comprehensively reviewing' the matter, but until now, they have been focusing speeding up the trial. Thank you for keeping us updated Sooyoung.

S. Korea's central bank holds rate steady in first rate decision of 2025

2025/01/16 10:00

South Korea's central bank held its key interest rate steady on Thursday, as the Korean won remains weak. It announced the decision following the first monetary policy committee meeting of the year. The move, keeps the benchmark interest rate unchanged at 3-percent, and comes after two consecutive quarter-point cuts in both the October and November monetary policy meetings last year.

Israel, Hamas agree to six-week ceasefire, hostage release deal

2025/01/16 10:00

A ceasefire deal has been reached between Israel and Hamas. The six-week ceasefire will begin Sunday, and includes the exchange of prisoners and hostages. Lee Seung-jae has more. Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire deal, that will put a halt to the conflict in Gaza for six weeks beginning on Sunday. Qatar's Prime Minister announced the ceasefire deal on Wednesday, adding his hope that the pause in fighting will lead to an eventual permanent ceasefire. "Qatar, the Arab Republic of Egypt, and the United States, are happy to announce the success of joint mediation efforts in order to reach a deal between the parties in conflict in the Gaza territory to exchange prisoners and hostages, and a return to a prolonged truce that achieves a permanent ceasefire between the two sides." As part of the ceasefire deal, the Palestinian militant group is expected to release 33 Israeli hostages initially. In exchange, Israel will release 30 Palestinian prisoners for every Israeli hostage, and 50 Palestinian prisoners for every one of the five female Israeli soldiers being held in Gaza. Within the first 42 days of the deal, females and hostages under 19 years old will be released. They make up the 33 Israeli hostages mentioned in the agreement. Reports say some 1-thousand-650 Palestinian prisoners could be released as part of the deal. Pundits say the growing pressure to have Israeli hostages returned home forced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to the ceasefire deal, while others say the election of Donald Trump was behind it. However,.. both Trump and U.S. President Joe Biden were quick to take credit. Speaking from the White House on Wednesday, Biden said the deal was reached under "the precise contours" of a plan he set out in May last year. Biden added that the ceasefire deal was the result of "painstaking American diplomacy." On the other hand, Trump took to Truth Social to say that the ceasefire agreement could have only happened as a result of his "Historic Victory" in November. Biden says negotiations will continue beyond the latest temporary ceasefire to phase two of the deal, that could include a permanent halt to the conflict in Gaza. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Expert discussion on North Korea's continued military provocations, impact on regional security

2025/01/15 20:00

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring you today's most pressing issues from across the globe, I'm Kim Mok-yeon. North Korea continues with its provocative military actions, launching another short-range ballistic missile this week. The launch, which came Tuesday, was the second provocation of the regime this year and comes just eight days since its last launch. Experts are closely analyzing the regime's strategic motives, its involvement in the Ukraine war, and its potential engagement with the upcoming Trump administration in the U.S. As tensions rise, key questions surround how South Korea, the U.S., and the international community should respond to safeguard security and stability in the region. For a deeper analysis into this, we connect to Go Myong-hyun, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for National Security Strategy. Welcome. Also joining us is Evans Revere, Former Acting Assistant Secretary of State and Non-resident Senior Fellow at the Foreign Policy Program at Brookings. Great to have you with us. 1. (Go) So Dr. Go, just yesterday, North Korea launched short-range ballistic missiles ahead of Trump's inauguration. The last time it held a hypersonic missile test, I recall you told us it was more about domestic interests. What about this time? Do you think the provocations seek to send a message? 2. (Revere) In a recent statement, North Korea declared it would pursue the "toughest" counteraction strategy toward the U.S., especially in response to the growing military bloc with South Korea and Japan. What kind of strategy could we expect from N. Korea during the second Trump term? 3. (Go) How about you? With the possibility of incoming U.S. President Donald Trump seeking renewed engagement with Kim Jong-un in his second term, what kind of diplomatic approaches do you think could emerge, and what challenges might arise in any future negotiations? 4. (Go) Given North Korea's aggressive rhetoric and military actions, what steps should South Korea and the international community take to ensure that any future nuclear negotiations avoid sidelining South Korean interests? 5. (Revere) Moving on to the situation in Ukraine, President Zelenskyy recently emphasized that Russia is heavily reliant on North Korea's military support. How do you view North Korea's involvement in the Ukraine conflict? 6. (Revere) Ukraine has proposed a prisoner exchange involving North Korean soldiers captured in the conflict. The soldiers say they weren't told ahead that they would be participating in the war. What implications could this have for North Korea's internal propaganda? 7. (Go) How do you expect North Korea to respond to the news of its soldiers being captured and publicly displayed by Ukraine, and do you think they would accept the offer? 8. (Revere) Reports indicate that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is considering a visit to Russia this spring. How might this visit strengthen North Korea's strategic ties with Russia, and what impact could it have on regional dynamics, particularly with South Korea and the U.S.? 9. (Go) North Korea's military strength has been ranked 34th globally, with notable advancements in areas like submarine and fighter fleet strength. How do these rankings reflect North Korea's military strategy and its position in regional security? 10. (Revere) So we are aware that the regime wants to be recognized as a nuclear-armed state. Do you think this is the main reason for the regime's efforts to develop both nuclear and conventional military capabilities? What can the international community do to maintain non-proliferation efforts?

Yoon Suk Yeol becomes first sitting president of S. Korea to be arrested

2025/01/15 20:00

Thank you for joining us. I'm Yoon Jung-min. It was a scene that has not happened here in this country until this day. The sitting president was arrested and taken in for questioning, after an hours-long standoff that started early in the morning. During the event, there was no clash. Bae Eun-ji begins our coverage. At around 10:30 AM, President Yoon was arrested at his presidential residence in central Seoul, marking a historic moment in South Korea's political landscape. He was arrested after a 7-hour standoff, with the operation to arrest him beginning in the early morning hours of Wednesday, at around 3:20 AM. This came 43 days after Yoon's short-lived imposition of martial law on December 3rd making him the first sitting president to become arrested in South Korea's history. This was the second time that the anti-corruption investigators tried to arrest President Yoon, but unlike the first arrest attempt two weeks ago, Wednesday's attempt succeeded without any physical encounters. It was carried out rather peacefully, as the presidential bodyguards showed almost no resistance. Investigators passed through defense lines in the residence by using ladders to go over the buses that were parked as barricades and the team managed to secure entry without any major incidents. But, the 64-year-old leader, who has repeatedly said his arrest warrant is not legally valid, did not admit that he was "arrested." Rather, he said in a video message on Wednesday that he agreed to cooperate with anti-corruption authorities to prevent "bloodshed," adding that the rule of law has "completely collapsed" after his detention. "To prevent any unfortunate bloodshed, I have decided to appear before the CIO, even though this investigation is illegal." On social media, he posted another defiant message a hand-written letter --insisting once again, that the imposition of martial law is not a crime, and that it's only an exercise of presidential authority to overcome a national crisis. Throughout Wednesday, thousands of Koreans protested for, and against the president. Angry supporters of President Yoon rallied overnight, holding up signs that said they would fight with the president. Around 30 of them even laid down on the roads, and some were seen crying. "We will protect him!" Meanwhile, those against Yoon also came out to protest. "Arrest Yoon Suk Yeol!" After the impeached leader was arrested, anti-Yoon protesters cheered, while Yoon's supporters were seen crying and wailing. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.