News

Trump announces U.S. will hit back against EU's retaliatory tariffs on U.S., escalating trade war

2025/03/14 17:00

We begin with the latest twist in an escalating trade war between the U.S. and the European Union. Mr. Trump has warned of a 200-percent tariff on European wine champagne and more IF the EU proceeds with its 50-percent tariff on American whiskey in retaliation of course for current U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminium imports. Park Kun-woo has our top story. The U.S.-led trade war is intensifying as President Donald Trump told reporters on Thursday that he would not reconsider reciprocal tariffs set to be imposed on April 2nd. "We've been ripped off for years and we're not going to be ripped off anymore. Aluminum or steel or cars. We're not going to bend." Trump also uploaded a post on social media, threatening that he would soon impose a 200 percent tariff on alcohol products "coming out of France and other EU-represented countries" saying that would be great for U.S. wine and champagne businesses. That's in response to plans announced by the European Commission on Wednesday to retaliate with tariffs on U.S. goods worth 28 billion U.S. dollars, including a 50 percent tariff on whiskey from April. This came after the U.S. started imposing a 25-percent tariff on all steel and aluminum imports from Wednesday. EU Commission head Ursula von der Leyen, during a visit to South Africa, said on Thursday the EU would defend its interests while adding that it is also open to negotiations. She also said the bloc's trade commissioner plans to speak with his U.S. counterpart on related issues over the phone on Friday. And, with the trade war intensifying trade officials from South Korea visited Washington to discuss tariff issues. "If we're taking an exam, there must be some grading criteria. We need to first understand that criteria, and based on that, we should quickly correct any mistakes and need to persuade them on the points where we can." He added that they plan to request reciprocal measures to minimize the impact of the upcoming U.S. reciprocal tariffs. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

[Weather] Sudden changes in weather this weekend, heavy snow or rain forecast

2025/03/14 17:00

A day before the weekend, clear skies appeared across the country. With clean easterly winds, all the yellow dust that covered the skies yesterday was blown away overnight. The air will stay clear for the time being. The daytime temperature in Seoul rose up to 18 degrees Celsius, the highest temperature this year so far. It will continue to be warm tomorrow but there is rain forecast mainly on the south coast and Jeju Island. On Sunday, the weather will change rapidly as cold air comes down from the north. As the cold is expected to make a return, Gangwon-do and Gyeongsangbuk-do Provinces will have heavy snow, which will then spread to the rest of the country. Tomorrow morning will be as warm as 7 degrees in Seoul, Gwangju and Daegu. Highs will move up to 12 to 16 degrees across the country. Temperatures will fall below zero in Seoul next week. Please take care of your health with this sudden change in temperatures. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

World News: NHS England to be scrapped as role returns to government control

2025/03/14 17:00

This is the World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced a major shakeup of the country's public healthcare system by abolishing NHS England, the central body overseeing the National Health Service. On Thursday local time, Prime Minister Starmer unveiled plans to scrap NHS England and integrate its functions into the Department of Health and Social Care, aiming to streamline healthcare administration. NHS England was established in 2012 to grant the NHS operational independence and has 15,000 staff. While the restructuring aims to eliminate bureaucratic repetition and redirect resources to frontline services, the announcement was met with mixed reactions, with the British Medical Association endorsing the move, hoping that it will improve staff retention and patient outcomes and the UK's largest healthcare union, Unison, voiced concerns over potential job losses. The European Union and South Africa convened their first bilateral summit in 7 years on Thursday to strengthen economic and strategic ties. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa met with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in Cape Town for the 8th EU-South Africa summit, where the EU announced a substantial investment package, to support South Africa's development initiatives. They included a commitment to an investment package worth 5.1 billion U.S. dollars, to be allocated to key sectors, such as energy, and healthcare. The summit also addressed the broader geopolitical context, particularly the escalating trade tensions with the U.S., including President Donald Trump's recent decision to impose a 200% tariff on European alcohol. In Italy, a magnitude 4.4 earthquake struck a region near Naples in the early hours of Thursday local time with at least 11 people treated for minor injuries. The quake's epicenter was near the coastal town of Pozzuoli, west of Naples, occurring around 1:25 A.M. The earthquake caused minor structural damage, including cracks in buildings and the collapse of facades. This was the strongest tremor in the area in 40 years. Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation closely. An American influencer in Australia is receiving scrutiny, after she posted a video of herself removing a baby wombat from its mother, causing public outrage and prompting Australian authorities to review her visa status. The video, now deleted from her social media, shows Sam Jones picking up the baby wombat at night while its distressed mother chases after her. Wildlife experts criticized the act as potentially harmful and illegal, under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. Australia's Home Affairs department is reviewing the conditions of Jones' visa, to determine if immigration laws were breached. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.

How Yeosu is looking to welcome cruise tourists

2025/03/14 17:00

Korea's southern city of Yeosu is poised to welcome more than seven cruise ships at its dedicated cruise terminal this year a remarkable number especially following the previous fallout amid the global pandemic. Our Ahn Sung-jin was at the port. A 78,000 ton cruise ship with more than 2,000 passengers glides into port. This cruise has come from Japan and has arrived at its first stop in South Korea, the south coast city of Yeosu. "Yeosu city hall aims to provide a glimpse of Korean culture through such traditional performances and show unique aspects of the city as it looks to brand itself as a new cruise destination." As soon as visitors finish their customs checks, they are greeted by Korean snacks, jewelry and craftwork, and for those looking to explore the city even further, a shuttle bus takes them around for free. "Every time we pulled into a port like today here in South Korea, we were met with wonderful performances, and we found everyone to be very welcoming and we really appreciate the shuttles and it really helps us to see and navigate easily." From must-visit places such as the Yi Sun-shin Plaza and its replica historical turtle ship, to the beauty of Odongdo Island or the ocean cable car, the city has plenty for tourists to see and do. After the excitement of Yeosu city, these passengers will head to their next stop in Korea. "Well we're pretty old hats at this we've been doing it this is probably our 12th cruise. Just enjoying this area we don't know much about Yeosu but we're looking forward to Jeju tomorrow." To accommodate all the tourists, the city provides administrative support, including temporary currency exchange and tourism information centers as well as interpreters and tour guides. "With more cruise visitors, whether it's shopping or dining, the local economy of Yeosu is becoming more active. I think this will be an opportunity to improve its brand image and further promote itself which is why we are putting a lot of attention and support into these MICE and cruise businesses." The city is expecting to welcome another six cruises this year carrying a total of 10,000 tourists as it looks to put itself on the map as a cruise destination. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News, Yeosu.

Putin agrees with proposed 30-day ceasefire plan; Zelenskyy calls response deceptive

2025/03/14 17:00

In other news. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has cast doubt on his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin's latest remarks about supporting the U.S.-proposed ceasefire. Our Choi Soo-young explains starting with Mr. Putin's words. Russian President Vladimir Putin said he agreed in principle with the U.S.' proposed 30-day Ukraine ceasefire plan, but further terms and details need to be worked out. "We agree with the proposals to stop hostilities, but we proceed from the fact that this ceasefire should be such that it would lead to long-term peace and eliminate the original roots of this crisis." On Thursday, at a news conference in Moscow, he said the idea was correct and he supported it, but he needs to discuss it with U.S. President Donald Trump, referring to him as "our American partner." Putin added that Ukraine would need to accept future conditions before the ceasefire agreement could be reached. He said that a decision should be made on how to handle isolated Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region, one of the areas of contention, which he claimed Russia had regained full control of. He also stated that the ceasefire must be ensured, as Ukraine might use the period to secure more troops and supplies of weapons. In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed that Putin is tactically preparing to reject the ceasefire deal. Zelenskyy said Putin is the one who will make the situation worse. "We have all just heard very predictable and highly manipulative words from Russia in response to the idea of a ceasefire on the front. We do not set conditions that complicate things; Russia does. Putin has stolen years of peace and continues this war day by day." He criticized Putin's response as deceptive, stating that the Russian leader was effectively refusing to accept the ceasefire proposal but responded in this way because he was afraid to tell the U.S. that he wanted to continue the war. Putin is expected to discuss the Ukraine conflict and ceasefire with U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff in Moscow. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.

Trump reaffirms ties with Kim Jong-un; Seoul stresses denuclearization

2025/03/14 17:00

U.S. President Donald Trump has referred to North Korea as a nuclear power yet again while touting his close ties with Kim Jong-un . Our correspondent Kim Jung-sil covers his latest remarks and the response from South Korea's Unification Ministry. U.S. President Donald Trump once again expressed confidence in his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. "I had a great relationship with Kim Jong-un, North Korea. If I wasn't elected, if Hillary got in, you would have had a nuclear war with North Korea." Speaking to reporters in Washington on Thursday, Trump emphasized the importance of continuing dialogue, referring to North Korea as a "nuclear power," a recognition with significant diplomatic implications. In response, a spokesperson from the South Korean Ministry of Unification reaffirmed the nation's unwavering commitment to North Korea's denuclearization. "North Korea's denuclearization remains a steadfast principle upheld by South Korea, the U.S., and the international community. Our government will continue to strengthen close cooperation with the new U.S. administration to achieve this objective." Trump also reflected on how his diplomatic efforts, including several meetings with Kim Jong-un during his first term, contributed to the success of the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea. "The meeting caused the Olympics, which was in South Korea, to become a tremendous success. Nobody was buying tickets for the Olympics because they didn't want to be nuked. And I met (with Kim) and not only did the Olympics become successful, but North Korea participated in the Olympics." However, the first U.S.-North Korea summit took place in June 2018, four months after the PyeongChang Winter Olympics concluded, in February. While discussions about renewed dialogue continue, experts suggest that priorities like trade tariffs may delay progress. Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.

Why the Constitutional Court is taking record time for President Yoon's impeachment verdict

2025/03/14 17:00

Contrary to initial expectations that President Yoon Suk Yeol's fate would be decided on this Friday it appears that the Constitutional Court is taking quite some time deliberating on his impeachment trial. Our correspondent Oh Soo-young has the latest. With no verdict this week, President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial will stretch on past the three-month mark, as the Constitutional Court continues to deliberate on the leader's fate following his December third martial law last year. The Court typically notifies parties to the trial of the ruling date at least two days in advance. However, no such notification has been given yet, meaning the decision will not be announced on Friday as widely expected, but by next week at the earliest. With a hearing scheduled Tuesday for the impeachment trial of Justice Minister Park Sung-jae in the afternoon, it seems likely Yoon's verdict would come later in the week at the earliest. As Saturday marks 91 days since the National Assembly passed a motion to remove President Yoon from power, Yoon's case will become the longest presidential impeachment trial in South Korea's history. Former President Park Geun-hye's impeachment ruling took 91 days after the motion was passed, while Roh Moo-hyun's took 64 days. "I'd say the longer-than-expected deliberation suggests internal discussions are more complex than anticipated. It seems the grounds for impeachment are clear and it is hard to dispute the President's declaration of martial law was unconstitutional and unlawful but the justices must determine whether the constitutional violations are severe enough to warrant removal from office. There may be justices who argue that it does not meet the threshold for an impeachable offense." Since the trial hearings wrapped last month, the justices have been holding almost-daily deliberations to review each issue raised by both President Yoon and the National Assembly. At this stage, they are reportedly still in the process of organizing their views and exchanging opinions, as political and public pressure continues to grow both for and against Yoon's impeachment. Over 2.6 million petitions have been filed in support and opposition to his removal from office. "I think the court has a huge responsibility now and a huge burden the court needs to make the reasoning and adopt a judgment based on legal reasoning not any other consideration should be taken. But the court should also consider the environment and the status of the society where we are staying now. And that makes the task of the court very difficult, I believe but the court needs to stick to the basic fundamentals of law of the constitutional law." The Constitutional Court is also deliberating on the impeachment trial of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, and is reportedly trying to decide the order in which the rulings for Han and President Yoon should be delivered. Both the National Assembly and Yoon's legal team have called for a swift ruling from the court. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

Acting President Choi vetoes special probe into political broker and first couple

2025/03/14 17:00

Beyond the economy and onto the political front. Acting President Choi Sang-mok has vetoed a bill calling for a special probe into an obscure political broker called Myung Tae-kyun. The veto was largely expected and came on this Friday at a Cabinet meeting during which Choi pointed out that Myung was already under investigation by the prosecution. Last month the main opposition Democratic Party unilaterally passed the bill seeking to investigate allegations of election fraud involving President Yoon Suk Yeol, First Lady Kim Keon Hee, and Myung.

Gov't highlights 'downside risks' to S. Korea's economy for fourth straight month

2025/03/14 17:00

Meanwhile uncertainty over domestic politics and uncertainty over U.S. tariffs continue to weigh heavily on the Korean economy. Our correspondent Lee Soo-jin covers the Finance Ministry's latest economic assessment. South Korea's economy is facing growing pressure as domestic demand remains weak and global uncertainties worsen. That's according to the latest economic green book a monthly economic assessment report released by the Finance Ministry on Friday. This also marks the fourth consecutive month that the government stated that the economy faces "growing downside pressure" in its report,.. after first including the phrase in its December green book after the martial law declaration. "We began using the term "economic downward pressure" as uncertainties grew, which can be categorized into two types currently. The first is domestic uncertainty, leading to a decline in consumer sentiment. The second is trade uncertainty from Trump's policies." While the overall assessment was largely reminiscent of last month's, this month's report also highlighted that the growth in exports is slowing. The daily exports average came to 2-point-4 billion U.S. dollars in February, a nearly 6-percent drop compared to the previous year. " Because of the tariffs that are put down by the Trump administration as well as domestic political problems sparked by the Trump administration we're seeing growth in the US slowing down and that is affecting the global economy as well as Korean exports as well." Recovery in domestic demand also remains sluggish as consumption and investment slow. Retail sales, a key measure of consumer spending, in January, fell point-6 percent compared to the previous month as sales of both semi-durable goods and non-durable goods declined. As for retail sales in February, drops in sales at department stores and large supermarkets are expected to have a negative impact, while the rise in credit card transactions and increased auto sales are projected to act as positive factors. Investment also showed a sharp decline, as facility investment in January plunged more than 14 percent on-month, marking the biggest drop since October 2020, due to decreases in investments in machinery such as semiconductor manufacturing and transport equipment. To address ongoing concerns, the government plans to further strengthen support for local businesses affected by U.S. tariffs, and to mitigate trade uncertainties through measures that include establishing a dedicated financial support fund. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.

Acting President Choi calls for vigilance on financial volatility

2025/03/14 17:00

Also here on the local front. Acting President Choi Sang-mok has urged close cooperation among financial authorities to ensure market stability. During a related meeting earlier on this Friday Choi highlighted the possibility of volatility in light of uncertainty over external factors including the Trump administration's tariff campaign and its broader ripple effects. That being said he also underscored the importance of a 24-hour monitoring system to track financial and foreign exchange markets to allow for a swift and coordinated response.

K-wave AI News

2025/03/14 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. Blooming season has arrived for spring flowers in South Korea. The late cold snap delayed the spring bloom, which resulted in disappointing flower festivals earlier this month. But with daytime temperatures rising to between 10 and 15 degrees Celsius this week, plum flower buds have started to bloom. Yangsan and Gimhae Cities of South Gyeongsang Province say their plum blossoms are expected to be in full bloom starting Friday, and expect many visitors to celebrate the arrival of spring along the Nakdong River. The Cheong Wa Dae Foundation announced on Thursday that it will launch this year's "Cheongwadae Week," which refers to a series of weekend events and performance programs organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization to promote the Cheongwadae area and its cultural heritage. The first in the lineup of performances set to run from March to September, is the "gukgeuk", or the traditional Korean all-female theater, titled "Princess Seonhwa", which tells the love story of Prince Seodong of Baekje and Princess Seonhwa of Silla. On weekdays when there are no performances, there will also be an exhibition to further explore the background of "gukgeuk." Expo Chicago is set to host more than 170 galleries from 36 countries from April 24th to 27th. Since its acquisition by Frieze in 2023, it will be the first time for Expo Chicago to partner with the Galleries Association of Korea in an initiative supported by Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Korea Arts Management Service. Its 2025 edition will feature 20 Korean galleries in the main sector, including Seoul-based galleries BHAK, Gallery Baton, and Keumsan Gallery. Korea's 20 galleries will bring together 300 artworks by 90 artists, of which 80 percent are Korean artists. According to the Galleries Association of Korea, the funding to participate in the fair is partly supported by the Korea Arts Management Service. That's all from me. Keep it tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[Short-form] Spring mugwort: Natural health booster for the season!

2025/03/14 14:00

Discover K-style ways to enjoy the tender leaves of mugwort at its peak flavor this spring!

Latest in K-Sports

2025/03/14 14:00

It's time for the latest in K-sports, we have everything covered from football to baseball to curling today. Our sportscaster Jason Lee is joining us in the studio for that. Hello Jason! 1. South Korea's men's national football team gets back into action at home next Thursday against Oman as well as the following week against Jordan as qualifying continues for next year's World Cup what can you tell us about the upcoming games? Yes, Korea will host Oman Thursday night at Goyang Stadium, just north of Seoul. It's been almost 4 months now since Korea last played that was a 1-1 draw against Palestine the only team Korea has not beaten in the 4th round so far. Korea has a 3 point lead atop the Group B standings and more importantly they have a 5 point lead against 3rd place Jordan so IF Korea wins these next 2 games at home, they'll clinch a berth to next year's World Cup despite still having 2 more qualifying games to be played in June since the top 2 teams of their group earn automatic berths for next summer. 2. Jason, how about the roster that Hong Myung-bo has put together? I heard most of the players he selected for these games are those playing in Europe Yes, that's correct. Obviously the usual Son Heung-Min, Lee Kang-In and Kim Min-Jae are included. Additions to the line up of note include: Yang Hyun-Jun, who plays for Celtic in the Scottish Premier League and Yang Min-Hyuk, who's signed to Tottenham, but is currently on loan to QPR right now we've talked a lot about him already on this show. There's no guarantee yet that either will get into either of the 2 games or even make the final roster for either game, but it does show that head coach Hong Myung-bo is acknowledging their play as of late in Europe. 3. Over to baseball You mentioned before that the worst case scenario for Kim Hye-Seong would be that he starts the year in the minors if his hitting didn't improve during Spring Training and that seems to be the case Yes, Kim Hye-Seong will start his season in AAA after struggling out of the gun in Spring Training. He was hitting just.207 when the decision was made, but I do want to point out that he has played much better over the past week compared to the week before and things might have been different if the Dodgers weren't starting the season Tuesday in Japan. That meant that the Dodgers and Cubs basically had to make roster decisions a week earlier than all the other teams and Kim Hye-Seong getting off to that slow start really hamstrung him. Considering that he's been hitting much better as of late including a home run and once the team returns from Japan they'll have some extra time before the rest of the League opens the season, I wouldn't be surprised to see Kim Hye-Seong join the team sometime in April. 4. What about Lee Jung-Hoo how has he been doing in the exhibition games? And are there any other Koreans to take note of in the Major League camps? (Bae Ji-Hwan) Lee Jung-Hoo on the otherhand has been among the hotter hitters during Spring Training so far. He's hitting.333 with a pair of home runs already you can just tell that he's getting much more comfortable especially hitting out of the 3 hole, which is where he typically hit when he played in the KBO. One other player I will quickly mention is Bae Ji-Hwan of the Pittsburgh Pirates. He's been up and down the last 3 years between AAA and the majors and he didn't have a starting role going into Spring Training, but he might be able to force the issue. He's hitting.455 in 10 games with a home run and 3 doubles. He can play both the outfield or 2nd base so he does have some positional versatility if there's a hole to fill and he's also quite fast with 33 steals in 150 Major League games so he might be another Korean to look for in the Majors this season 5. Among the medals Korea won at last month's Asian Winter Games in Harbin was a gold in women's curling and Korea will be hosting the Women's World Curling Championships starting this weekend in Uijeongbu how are Korea's chances of winning on home ice? I remember 15 years ago saying that Korea should invest all their resources into Curling. It's a sport that requires accuracy, strategy and execution all things that Koreans excel in when it comes to other games and sports like: archery, Go, Esports, golf. And in large part because of the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, Koreans have fallen in Love with Curling and for good reason in 2018 it was the Garlic Girls who captured the nation going onto a silver medal. Right now, it's a new squad skipped by Kim Eun-ji that led her team to a gold medal at the Asian games and will look for Korea's first gold medal at a World Championships. This team finished 3rd at last year's Championships and perhaps home ice advantage will be just what they need to get them over that hump against some of the world's top teams like Canada, Switzerland and Sweden. Korea has been on the Podium in 3 of the last 5 World Championships so maybe some home cooking could help them to a gold.

[K-enter] Kim Soo-hyun's agency addresses Kim Sae-ron relationship allegations

2025/03/14 14:00

Time for some K-entertainment news with Bella Kim. Bella, today we start with the controversy surrounding actor Kim Soo-hyun and the late actress Kim Sae-ron. Please fill us in with the latest updates. This week, there has been some controversy surrounding relationship allegations between actor Kim Soo-hyun and the late actress Kim Sae-ron, who reportedly committed suicide last month. With the growing controversy, Kim Soo-hyun’s agency, Gold Medalist, initially announced it would issue a formal statement next week, but Kim Soo-hyun showed severe symptoms of psychological instability, so they urgently decided to make the statement today. The statement said that Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron were in a relationship for one year, from the summer of 2019 to fall of 2020. This would mean that Kim Sae-ron was not a minor at the time of their relationship, different from the claim that Kim Sae-ron’s family made through YouTube channel “Hover Lab.” They said the two were in a relationship since 2015, when Kim Sae-ron was a minor, for six years. As public sentiment continued to sour, several brands featuring Kim Soo-hyun as a commercial model have begun adjusting their marketing strategies or closely monitoring the situation. Please keep us updated. Now moving onto the next story, we have a K-pop group that's set a great achievement. ENHYPEN have achieved their first “triple-million-seller” album since their debut. According to the circle chart on Thursday, the group’s second full-length album “Romance: UNTOLD,” released in July of last year, sold over 3 million copies as of February of this year. It sold more than 2.34 million copies in its first week alone, marking the highest initial sales of ENHYPEN. “Romance: UNTOLD” is also doing very well on the global charts. The album ranked the highest among K-pop artists in the International Association of the Recording Industry (IFPI) at No. 2 and No. 4 respectively on the “2024 Global Album Sales Chart” and the “2024 Global Album Chart.” The album also ranked 9th in the album rankings and 10th in the combined album rankings of Japan’s “Oricon Annual Ranking 2024.” Based on the explosive popularity of “Romance: Untold,” ENHYPEN, recorded 5.45 million cumulative album sales last year alone. This is very impressive as only three K-pop artists, Seventeen, Stray Kids and ENHYPEN, have exceeded 5 million cumulative annual sales in 2024. Very impressive achievements! Lastly, we have a story on an animation film. What is it Bella? We are going to talk about an animation film “Exorcism Chronicles: The Beginning.” On Thursday, it surpassed 400-thousand viewers. The film, released on February 21st, is an occult blockbuster, depicting the beginning of an epic battle between exorcists with supernatural abilities and an ultimate evil. It's main target is adult, but the film is for 12 years and older. The film is based on the novel of the same title, which was first published in 1993 and has since sold over 10 million copies. “Exorcism Chronicles: The Beginning” is a unique combination of a horror film and an animation, so this has intrigued audiences, who are responding with great enthusiasm. With the enthusiasm from the viewers, the film is expected to rank No.1 among 2025 Korean animations. Let’s see if it can make it to the top of the rankings. Thank you Bella for today’s stories.

[Features reporter] How Yeosu is looking to welcome cruise tourists

2025/03/14 14:00

Sung-jin, you are going to introduce a way of visiting Korea that's growing in popularity? Right, I suppose the most common way to travel to places would be by plane, train or car, but today I want to share another method that would allow you to not only visit Korea but also have a look at its coastal cities and their culture as well. A 78,000 ton cruise ship with more than 2,000 passengers glides into port. This cruise has come from Japan and has arrived at its first stop in South Korea, the south coast city of Yeosu. “Yeosu city hall aims to provide a glimpse of Korean culture through such traditional performances and show unique aspects of the city as it looks to brand itself as a new cruise destination.” As soon as visitors finish their customs checks, they are greeted by Korean snacks, jewelry and craftwork, and for those looking to explore the city even further, a shuttle bus takes them around for free. "Every time we pulled into a port like today here in South Korea, we were met with wonderful performances, and we found everyone to be very welcoming and we really appreciate the shuttles and it really helps us to see and navigate easily." From must-visit places such as the Yi Sun-shin Plaza and its replica historical turtle ship, to the beauty of Odongdo Island or the ocean cable car, the city has plenty for tourists to see and do. After the excitement of Yeosu city, these passengers will head to their next stop in Korea. "Well we’re pretty old hats at this we’ve been doing it this is probably our 12th cruise. Just enjoying this area we don't know much about Yeosu but we’re looking forward to Jeju tomorrow." To accommodate all the tourists, the city provides administrative support, including temporary currency exchange and tourism information centers as well as interpreters and tour guides. “With more cruise visitors, whether it's shopping or dining, the local economy of Yeosu is becoming more active. I think this will be an opportunity to improve its brand image and further promote itself which is why we are putting a lot of attention and support into these MICE and cruise businesses.” The city is expecting to welcome another six cruises this year carrying a total of 10,000 tourists as it looks to put itself on the map as a cruise destination. Have you guys been on a cruise before? I went been on a cruise a long time ago as a kid. I can't remember much of the details anymore, but my parents did tell me that it was a cruise around the Nordic countries in Europe. Sung-jin, as well as these cruise terminals in Yeosu city, there are a couple more ports or cruise terminals that stop in Korea right? Absolutely! In this article I looked at the cruise terminal in Yeosu and what it has to offer, but there are other destinations in Korea including Busan and Incheon. Both are also destinations for not only for international cruises, but also for those who would like to catch a cruise or a ferry and travel domestically. Well, thank you Sung-jin for that exciting story. Thank you Sung-jin.

[Weather] Warmth like mid-April in west with normal air quality under bright skies nationwide

2025/03/14 10:00

Expect a pleasant spring day across Korea. Especially those of us in the west will have mid-April-like temperatures with highs surpassing 20 degrees in Gwangju. The best part? Air quality will be normal in most parts, so you can better enjoy the sunshine. But those in Daejeon, Gwangju and Jeollabuk-do could notice dusty air at times during the day. This mild trend will stick around through Saturday before cooler air moves in on Sunday with nationwide wintry precipitation. Next Monday, we'll be waking up to subzero temperatures. So make the most of this warm stretch under cleaner air today, Seoul gets up to 18 degrees, Daejeon at 20 degrees. Meanwhile, easterly winds will drag down the highs a couple of degrees in eastern parts of Korea with highs of 14 degrees in Gyeongju and 15 degrees in Busan. Jeju and the south coast will see rain from tomorrow expanding nationwide on Sunday and lingering into early next week. It will be much chillier than this week.

U.S. influencer's visa under review after taking baby wombat from mother

2025/03/14 10:00

An American influencer in Australia is receiving scrutiny, after she posted a video of herself removing a baby wombat from its mother, causing public outrage and prompting Australian authorities to review her visa status. The video, now deleted from her social media, shows Sam Jones picking up the baby wombat at night while its distressed mother chases after her. Wildlife experts criticized the act as potentially harmful and illegal, under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. Australia's Home Affairs department is reviewing the conditions of Jones' visa, to determine if immigration laws were breached.

Magnitude 4.4 earthquake, strongest in 40 years, hits Naples, Italy

2025/03/14 10:00

In Italy, a magnitude 4.4 earthquake struck a region near Naples in the early hours of Thursday local time with at least 11 people treated for minor injuries. The quake's epicenter was near the coastal town of Pozzuoli, west of Naples, occurring around 1:25 A.M. The earthquake caused minor structural damage, including cracks in buildings and the collapse of facades. This was the strongest tremor in the area in 40 years. Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation closely.

EU announces US$ 5.1 bil. investment plan to support South Africa's development initiatives

2025/03/14 10:00

The European Union and South Africa convened their first bilateral summit in 7 years on Thursday to strengthen economic and strategic ties. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa met with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in Cape Town for the 8th EU-South Africa summit, where the EU announced a substantial investment package, to support South Africa's development initiatives. They included a commitment to an investment package worth 5.1 billion U.S. dollars, to be allocated to key sectors, such as energy, and healthcare. The summit also addressed the broader geopolitical context, particularly the escalating trade tensions with the U.S., including President Donald Trump's recent decision to impose a 200% tariff on European alcohol.

NHS England to be scrapped as role returns to government control

2025/03/14 10:00

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced a major shakeup of the country's public healthcare system by abolishing NHS England, the central body overseeing the National Health Service. On Thursday local time, Prime Minister Starmer unveiled plans to scrap NHS England and integrate its 기능 into the Department of Health and Social Care, aiming to streamline healthcare administration. NHS England was established in 2012 to grant the NHS operational independence and has 15,000 staff. While the restructuring aims to eliminate bureaucratic repetition and redirect resources to frontline services, the announcement was met with mixed reactions, with the British Medical Association endorsing the move, hoping that it will improve staff retention and patient outcomes and the UK's largest healthcare union, Unison, voiced concerns over potential job losses.