News

K-enter_Cha Eun-woo enlists in army band on July 28

2025/05/30 14:00

Today's top story in K-entertainment is a sad story for Cha Eun-woo's fans. Singer and actor Cha Eun-woo will begin his mandatory military service in late July and serve in the Army's military band. According to his agency, Fantagio, on Thursday, he will enter the training center on July 28th to undergo basic military training before serving his duty in the Army Band. Previously, Cha Eun-woo applied and interviewed for the Army Band and has been officially accepted. The agency did not disclose the enlistment time or location of the camp, asking fans to refrain from visiting the site to ensure their safety. It added that there will be no special event held at the site to mark his enlistment. Meanwhile, Cha Eun-woo is currently filming the new Netflix series "The WONDERfools" and has confirmed his role in the movie "First Ride." Additionally, he is scheduled to meet fans at ASTRO's fourth solo concert in June and also his first solo virtual reality concert, set to be released on June 18th. Something tells me fans don't have to be too sad after all, as they'll have Cha on the screen, the stage, and that IU music video we talked about yesterday. PLUS, serving in the military band means there are more chances to see him. Now let's turn over to some exciting news for the ARMYs, or BTS fans, specifically j-hope fans. J-Hope is dropping a new digital single "Killin' It Girl." On Thursday, his agency, BIGHIT MUSIC announced that he will release "Killin' It Girl" on June 13th. This will mark the end of his solo single project after "Sweet Dreams" and "Mona Lisa." The new single is a hip-hop genre song that captures the thrill of falling in love at first sight. It will feature American rapper GloRilla. J-Hope will perform "Killin' It Girl" for the first time at the "j-hope Tour 'HOPE ON THE STAGE' FINAL" at Goyang Stadium from June 13th to 14th. Lucky for those attending the concert who will get to catch the live performance for the very first time. Last story is on a group we mentioned several times within just this week, because they continue to reach new milestones. It's SEVENTEEN! They placed third on Billboard's 2025 midyear boxscore report, earning 120.9 million dollars from ticket sales. According to Billboard's midyear boxscore report, released on Wednesday local time, Seventeen sold 842-thousand tickets across 30 shows on their latest "Right Here" world tour, held from October of last year to February of this year. Billboard's 2025 midyear boxscore report celebrates the top-grossing and best-selling artists, venues, and concert promoters around the world for the period of October 1st, 2024 to March 31st, 2025. Coldplay topped the chart, followed by Shakira in second place. It's impressive to see that Seventeen's gross nearly doubled from 67.5 million dollars during the same period last year, when it ranked No. 16. In the K-pop category, Seventeen led the pack, followed by ATEEZ and BTS j-Hope, who ranked second and third respectively. So much to celebrate for Seventeen, marking their decade of achievements this year. Thank you Bella for today's stories. Let's now check out what culture-related stories our AI anchor Ari has for us today! Ari!

K-wave AI News

2025/05/30 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. For the first time, Korea is hosting the World Summit on Arts and Culture, a multilateral dialogue that brings together leading voices in global cultural policy. Chair of the Arts Council Korea, Choung Byoung-gug, expressed hopes that the creative power of culture will resonate around the world, with the summit serving as a meaningful platform for shaping a shared global vision. Under the theme "Shaping the Future of Arts and Culture," over a hundred speakers from 65 countries are taking part to explore cultural strategies in a rapidly evolving global environment. Launched in Canada in 2000, the summit has become a flagship global event in the cultural sector. Korea was unanimously selected in 2023 as the first Asian country to host the summit. The highlight event of the millennium-old Gangneung Danoje Festival, the 'Sintong Daegil Gilnori' parade, was held Thursday with great fanfare. Celebrated as the pinnacle of Korean-style street parades, the Gilnori remains one of the most popular attractions of the festival, drawing more than 50,000 spectators each year. This year's parade featured over 4,000 participants, showcasing a vibrant array of costumes and performances inspired by local folklore and distinct village traditions. In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the festival's listing as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, members of the Inter-City Intangible Cultural Cooperation Network also joined the parade, underscoring the event's growing international significance. The Danoje festival runs through June 3. Korea's largest art fair, Kiaf Seoul, will be held alongside the globally renowned Frieze Seoul in September at COEX. Running from September 3 to 6, Frieze Seoul will feature more than 120 galleries from over 30 countries, including major international exhibitors and leading galleries based in Korea. Now in its fourth edition, this year's Frieze will see an especially strong presence of prominent Asian galleries. Opening the same day and continuing through September 7, Kiaf Seoul will feature 176 galleries from 20 countries. Anchored by its main section, Kiaf Galleries, the fair will also present Kiaf Plus, a dedicated platform for emerging artists, and a special exhibition titled "Reverse Cabinet," jointly curated by Korea and Japan marking 60 years of the two country's diplomatic normalization. That's all from me. Stay tuned to the Kulture Wave.

ON POINT: S. Korea's Presidential Race: Who will record early voting favor?

2025/05/30 10:00

Before early voting ends Friday, and we head into the weekend before the election, we have our political correspondent Oh Soo-young in studio with us. 1. Why don't we begin with this highest-ever turnout for early voting on Day 1. On the first day of early voting, turnout reached 19.58 percent, setting a new all-time high, as over 8-point-6 million out of a total 44-point-3 million eligible voters cast their ballots within a 12-hour time frame. With this unprecedented high for day one, there is now a strong possibility that by the end of Friday, the total early voting figures this year will top the record figure reached in the previous presidential race in 2022 which was 36-point-93 percent. By region, Jeollanam-do Province, a progressive stronghold, recorded the highest early voting rate at 34-point-9-6 percent, while the conservative stronghold of Daegu, recorded the lowest at 13.42 percent. In the capital region, considered the most fiercely contested battleground and a barometer of public sentiment, Seoul recorded a turnout of 19-point-1-3 percent , slightly below the national average, but still an increase compared to the 17-point-3-1 percent seen on the first day of the 2022 election. Incheon's early voting rate was 18-point-4-0 percent, and Gyeonggi-do Province which has the largest number of voters nationwide recorded 18-point-2-4 percent. 2. And any clue as to what this high turnout rate may indicate about the result? Now, historically,.. and globally, early voting or alternative forms of voting, such as by post, has generally been associated with younger, progressive voters. Here in Korea, it has typically been favored by voters in their 20s and 30s, as well as the generally left-leaning middle-aged voters in their 40s and 50s, with turnout reported to be five to ten percentage points higher than on the main voting day. As recently as the General Election last year, where the Democratic Party won 175 seats, early voting reached 31-point-28 percent the highest for any parliamentary race. But then again, conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol also won the 2022 race with record-high early voting. Of course,.. presidential elections tend to see a higher overall turnout, and voters aged 70 and older who tend to support conservative candidates may also turn up in swarms on the actual day of voting. In response to this year's early voting, the DP has said early voting reflects the outrage against the conservative camp, associated with impeached President Yoon's martial law. However, the PPP says that turnout simply rose due to increased political interest from both sides, and that conservative regions tend to see stronger turnout on election day. So some analysts say early voting no longer disproportionately favors one side. When early voting was still relatively new, younger Koreans showed high participation while turnout among older voters was low, but now we expect even the elderly to participate in large numbers, making it hard to conclude which side actually benefits. What we do know is that casting an early vote usually means the voter has firmly made up their mind. 3. We're currently in a so-called black out period as opinion polls are banned from six days before the day of the election. So it's hard to determine public sentiment. But we could potentially see the highest overall turnout for a presidential race. Yes. Opinion polls have shown over eight in ten people intend to take part in this presidential election. In a voter awareness survey conducted by Gallup Korea earlier this week, 86-point-8 percent of respondents said they would "definitely vote" in the upcoming election. That's 3-point-8 percentage points higher than the 83 percent reported ahead of the 2022 presidential race. Among those who intend to vote, 37 percent said they plan to cast their ballot during early voting, up 10 percentage points from 2022. The actual voter turnout in the 20th presidential election was 77-point-1 percent, with early voting making up almost one in four votes. So we'll have to wait and see what the early turnout will be, and how it will compare to the overall number of votes to draw meaningful patterns and conclusions. That's right. Well, early voting takes is open until 6 PM on Friday here in Korea. We'll see you back here Monday, Sooyoung.

Trump gains temporary boost as U.S. appeals court keeps tariffs in place for now

2025/05/30 10:00

A U.S. appeals court has temporarily allowed President Trump's import tariffs to remain in effect, after a lower court ruled Wednesday they were illegal. Our Kim Jung-sil reports. A U.S. appeals court has allowed President Trump's trade tariffs to stay in place for now, by putting a temporary hold on a lower court's decision to block them. This puts on hold Wednesday's ruling by the U.S. Court of International Trade, which said Trump had gone beyond his legal powers in imposing sweeping tariffs on imports under an emergency-powers law. The law, known as the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, says the president may use its powers only to address "unusual and extraordinary" national security threats. The court said IEEPA does not give the president full control over trade policy. But on Thursday, the appeals court said that decision would not be enforced while judges review the case. It gave the plaintiffs until June 5th to file their response. Also on Thursday, a federal judge in Washington, D.C., issued a separate ruling finding parts of Trump's tariff policy unlawful. The judge wrote that the IEEPA does not enable the president to "unilaterally impose, revoke, pause, reinstate, and adjust tariffs to reorder the global economy". Earlier that day, the White House defended the tariffs, saying they're necessary to protect American industries. "President Trump is in the process of rebalancing America's trading agreements with the entire world, bringing tens of billions of dollars in tariff revenues to our country, and finally ending the United States of America from being ripped off." With legal challenges mounting, the future of the tariffs remains uncertain. Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.

Early voting in S. Korea heads into final day following record-high figures on first day

2025/05/30 10:00

Polling stations are open until 6PM today for the second of the two days of early voting in the presidential election. We connect right away with our Ahn Sung-jin standing by at one of the polling stations. Hello there, Sung-jin. Sung-jin, I'm aware you are at the same polling station as you were yesterday. How's the second and final day looking this morning? Right, so Dami, I'm currently in front of an early voting location in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu District, an area bustling with office workers. I was out here since early this morning, and we're seeing an influx of people coming in to vote before going to work. Yesterday saw the highest voter turnout rate in early voting, which first took place in national elections in 2014, but today, it was relatively calmer than the same time yesterday when we got here. However, over time starting from 8-9AM, the line has begun to get much longer so we'll have to keep an eye on it till the afternoon. As we head into the last day of early voting, have a listen to some of the voters. "I came to vote early before going to work. Regardless of who becomes the next president, I think it's important to vote." "I think voting is the least we can do. I wish that the next government will be fair and transparent and bring more change for those in their 20s and 30s." 2. So Sung-jin, we already saw a record-high early voting figure on the first day, how are the figures looking 4 hours into the voting today? Right, if we take a closer look at how many people cast their ballot this morning as of 9AM at this polling station I'm at 1,845 people have voted, and a total of 223,978 for Seoul. Other major cities like Busan saw 53,151 people, Daegu 35,308, and Sejong 8,619. However, as we just passed 10AM, new figures should be out, which I will be back with for our later newscast. 3. And Sung-jin, today is the last day voters can cast their ballot in the early voting. Walk us through the voting procedure one more time, and how is the National Election Commission ensuring a transparent election? 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. I just mentioned the number of voters per hour, which is a new measure for this presidential election that the NEC announced, the number of voters per hour will be disclosed by each polling station for the first time. The process of verifying vote-counting officials will also be strengthened after accusations over the use of Chinese voting officials in 2020. The NEC emphasized that in this election, all 260-thousand voting and counting officials are 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. That's all I have for now and I will be back with updates in our later newscast. All right, Sung-jin. Thanks for the report this morning.

[Weather] Heatwave in store with chance of passing rain for the south coast

2025/05/30 10:00

Brace for a weekend heatwave. Starting today, Seoul's daytime high will climb to 29 degrees Celsius and we'll see temperatures close to 30 degrees through the entire weekend. But as you can see if you are dressing for the afternoon it might feel too breezy in the mornings and evenings so keep a light jacket handy! Most parts of Korea will be under strong sunshine but passing rain is expected to move into the southern coastal regions with 5 to 10 millimeters in the forecast. Seoul will near 30 degrees this afternoon, Daejeon and Gwangju will make it to 27 degrees but at least the humidity isn't too high yet, so it should still feel pleasant in the shade. Again, a hot and sunny weekend ahead to welcome June then early next week rain is expected in the southern coast and Jeju Island, which should bring a welcome break from the heat.

Pride flag raised to welcome visitors to Washington, D.C. for WorldPride events

2025/05/30 10:00

Finally, in the United States, Washington, D.C. is preparing for its WorldPride 2025 event slated for Saturday, May 31. Before raising the Pride flag to usher in the biennial event, the D.C. Mayor said, "The flag tells a story of pride, perseverance, and progress." This marks the 50th anniversary of Pride in the U.S. capital, and the city expects up to 3 million attendees for the celebration. A welcome concert by Shakira will be held at Nationals Park to kick off the event, which will run until the end of June.

Brazil's life-like doll craze goes viral as online videos spark political reaction

2025/05/30 10:00

In Brazil, hyper-realistic "reborn" baby dolls, designed and handcrafted to resemble real infants, are growing in popularity, stirring both fascination and controversy. Videos featuring emotional interactions with these dolls have gone viral, with influencers staging scenarios such as simulated births and public outings. While a bill has been passed honoring reborn doll artisans, a lawmaker proposed banning public healthcare services for the dolls, following a video of a woman taking one to a hospital. Critics argue that the attention given to the reborn doll community distracts from more pressing societal issues. Proponents defend the practice, citing therapeutic benefits.

Thousands Evacuate in Canada as Wildfires Rage

2025/05/30 10:00

Canada's state of Manitoba is facing severe wildfires, prompting the declaration of a province-wide state of emergency. Over 17,000 residents have been evacuated. On Thursday, local time, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew announced a state of emergency due to wildfires that have already burned approximately 491,000 acres. The city of Flin Flon, home to 5,000 people, was under a mandatory evacuation order. The Canadian Armed Forces have been deployed to assist in the evacuation, airlifting residents from remote communities. There are concerns about whether the fires can be contained, with the situation made worse by abnormally dry conditions and a lack of significant rainfall in the forecast. Premier Kinew said, "This is the largest evacuation Manitoba will have seen in most people's living memory." Meanwhile, smoke from the blazes is affecting air quality in some U.S. cities such as Chicago and Detroit.

Israel signs off on latest Gaza ceasefire proposal

2025/05/30 10:00

Good morning, I'm Choi Chi-hee, and this is the World Now. Israel has approved a new U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal developed by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff. It has also reportedly been presented to Hamas and is currently under review. On Thursday, May 29, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that Israel had signed off on a 60-day ceasefire proposal before it was submitted to Hamas. The proposal includes the release of 10 living and 18 deceased Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian detainees, along with terms for increased humanitarian aid to Gaza. However, Hamas has responded with reservations, stating that it does not meet key demands such as a permanent ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. Hamas official Bassem Naim said the proposal "does not respond to any of our people's demands, foremost among which is stopping the war and famine."

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

2025/05/30 10:00

Also on Thursday, Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok also cast his ballot at an early voting station in Hwaseong City Gyeonggi-do Province which he added was the closest to where he lives. On his campaign agenda for Thursday were talks with tech workers, college students, and a visit to a popular street food alley in central Seoul. Also, pundits believe a merger between Lee Jun-seok and Kim Moon-soo is now essentially out of the equation as early voting has kicked off.

PPP's Kim rallies with theme 'Beginning of a Great Comeback,' resembling Incheon landings

2025/05/30 10:00

The conservative party's Kim Moon-soo also voted early at his main rival Lee Jae-myung's congressional district while calling for stronger voter participation for democracy. Our Kim Do-yeon has more. With the election campaign coming to the final stages, as early voting started on Thursday, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, Kim Moon-soo, focused on making a comeback. His rallies for the day were called "The Beginning of a Great Comeback," and he said he's done it before some 30 years ago when he first ran for a seat in the parliament. "I was third until the last three days before the election, but won it to become a lawmaker. Who picks parliamentary members? Citizens do. Who picks the president? Citizens do. We call this democracy, right?" The idea of a comeback comes as the election comes from PPP's former president having been impeached, and it needing a strong change in narrative. It showed at the rallies. Kim made his way to a rally in the central part of the capital region—Gyeonggi-do Province—after kicking off the day in the western port city of Incheon. The route is symbolic, echoing the Incheon Landing Operation during the Korean War—a turning point that shifted the tide of the conflict. He also urged people to vote during early voting. For his own ballot, he chose to do it at his rival Lee Jae-Myung's congressional district. While the party said the message was clear, Kim said he didn't try to force the idea. "Well, it's not just about Lee Jae-myung, but my daughter lives in Bucheon right across the street here. We just stopped by on our way to other rallies. Lee Jae-myung could be one of the reasons." Kim also told voters that the early voting process will be managed fairly, though some question the process as the transportation and opening of the ballot is more complicated than regular voting. He said not voting is a bigger problem. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.

DP's Lee casts vote in Seoul's Sinchon; campaigns in capital, seeking support amid early voting

2025/05/30 10:00

And the presidential runners are going all out for the next four days until the actual big day. The liberal party's Lee Jae-myung cast his ballot early on Thursday here in Seoul, seeking support in the biggest battleground. Our correspondent Shin Ha-young reports. Marking the first day of early voting in the snap presidential election, Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung kicked off his campaign on Thursday morning after casting his ballot in Sinchon, Seoul, an area known for its many universities. After voting alongside young people, he encouraged the public to vote, emphasizing that it was the strongest way for them to exercise their sovereignty. "We can overcome the insurrection if people come out to vote. I chose to vote alongside young people because I hope this election marks the start of a new era for South Korea, led by its youth." The DP also focused its efforts on encouraging people to vote. Even though early voting takes place on weekdays, the party believes it's crucial to bring as many supporters as possible to the polls to secure victory in the presidential election. They urged voters to take part and clearly show who truly holds power in the country. Lee later addressed supporters again in the capital, including in Seocho-gu District, one of Seoul's busiest transit hubs. "During his campaign in Seoul's Seocho-gu District, Lee Jae-myung outlined plans to develop the area into a hub for K-culture and make the Gangnam region a more competitive and innovative center of the city's economy." Ahead of Thursday's rallies, Lee joined a meeting on supporting startups, where he discussed expanding the research and development budget, and easing regulations. "We're now in a time when the private sector is more advanced than the public sector, so we need to shift the direction of the administration. That includes creating a chief policy coordinator for AI at the presidential office, and boosting the National Artificial Intelligence Committee." Lee will continue his campaign in Gangwon-do Province on Friday, where rival Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party is also scheduled to hold rallies. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

Court blocks Trump administration's effort to bar Harvard from enrolling international students

2025/05/30 10:00

The Trump administration has begun the process of barring Harvard University from enrolling international students, but the courts have again blocked it. The U.S. State Department said that the review of student visas will resume soon. Lee Seung-jae has the details. Last week, a federal judge blocked the Trump administration's decision to revoke Harvard University's ability to enroll international students. This put the brakes on the government's plan to take away Harvard's certification in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, which allows schools in the U.S. to host international students with proper visas. However, the government notified the Ivy League school once again on Wednesday, that it would revoke the program, despite the court injunction. The Trump administration on Thursday gave Harvard 30 days to contest the government's move to revoke its Student and Exchange Visitor Program. In a notice of intent sent by the U.S. Department of Homeland on Wednesday, it said that the school has 30 calendar days to "submit written representation under oath and supported by documentary evidence" setting forth why SEVP should not be withdrawn from Harvard's certification. However, this, too, was blocked by a federal judge, who said that she would issue a preliminary injunction that would allow the school to continue enrolling international students. In the meantime, the U.S. State Department hinted at the resumption of student visa interviews, which were suspended earlier this week in order to introduce a new "social media screening" system. The Trump administration has been arguing that Harvard has "failed to maintain a campus environment free from violence and antisemitism," arguing that the school should be stripped of their ability to enroll international students. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

How will S. Korea-U.S. tariff negotiations play out?

2025/05/30 10:00

Economists and diplomatic experts have gathered on South Korea's southern Jeju Island for an international peace forum where growing uncertainty of Trump's trade policies were at the center of discussion. Our foreign affairs correspondent Bae Eun-ji was there. Experts are now warning that U.S. President Donald Trump's economic policies could have 'conflicting consequences' that do not necessarily promote economic growth or increase productivity in the country's economy. Speaking on Thursday at an international peace forum held on Jeju Island, Jeffrey Schott, a senior fellow from Peterson Institute for International Economics.. said uncertainty about the size and duration of tariffs will discourage or delay investment decisions. "So the climate is even more uncertain, and uncertainty is a tax on doing business. That's a lesson in economics that I think the Trump administration is only now beginning to learn." South Korea, which faces 25% U.S. reciprocal tariffs has been seeking a trade deal with the Trump administration before the July 8th deadline, when the 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs is lifted. Scott Snyder, the head of the Korea Economic Institute of America, who is also at the Jeju forum explained there will be a 'series of deals,' adding that although the current focus is on tariffs, there will be another negotiation on security. "I would say deal by deal. I think that is going to go on, maybe for the entire Trump administration. New things will pop up and they will require negotiation, and so I think that's what will happen and I think it will be ongoing. It will be stressful, but I think that until both sides come to a place where they're satisfied with everything, President Trump's style is to want to make deals but I don't believe that it's going to be a one big beautiful deal." He suggested it would be important for the Korean government to have negotiation strategies to make sure that what Trump is trying to do is perceived as too costly. He also noted that shipbuilding is clearly an area where South Korea has a set of technologies that the U.S. is in need of. Amid more uncertainty over Trump's tariff policies, especially following the latest decision from the U.S. trade court, eyes are now on how the trade negotiations between Seoul and Washington will play out. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News, Jeju.

First day of early voting reaches record-high voter turnout rate

2025/05/29 20:00

The two-day early voting started today ahead of the June 3rd presidential election next week. Nearly 8-point-7 million voters cast their ballots on this first day, with the turnout reaching a record-high for Day One. Our Ahn Sung-jin spoke with those who cast their ballots for their hopes and wishes. The line stretches out far beyond the front of the polling station. With early voting starting on Thursday, those who came to cast their ballot ahead of the presidential election next Tuesday have poured in. Election officials had to control the line of people, and in the afternoon, there was a waiting time of around 30 to 40 minutes. "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." "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." "This polling station in Yeoksam-dong Gangnam-gu District, in a bustling area with offices and business people, has been seeing an influx of voters from early in the morning till the end of the first day." The voter turnout rate for the first day was at 19-point-58 percent, 2-point-01 percentage points higher than the previous presidential election, and a record-high figure for the first day of early voting since 2014, when early voting took place in nationwide elections. A total of 8,691,711 voters cast their ballots across the country. Early voting takes place for two days, Thursday and Friday, from 6 AM til 6 PM. Voters must be over 18 and bring a government-issued ID. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.

Why the world is flocking to Busan for content

2025/05/29 20:00

In other news. The southeastern port city of Busan serves as a platform for content creators, sellers and buyers for an annual event aimed at broadening access to diverse screen productions. 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.

U.S. court blocks Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs, ruling they exceed legal authority

2025/05/29 20:00

The Trump administration's reciprocal tariffs on America's trade partners have hit a legal hurdle at home with a U.S. court ruling that the president has stepped beyond his authority. The Trump team lodged an appeal. Shin Se-byuck has more. The U.S. Court of International Trade struck down core parts of Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs, saying they overstepped presidential authority under existing law. At the center of the ruling is the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA. The Trump administration cited the law on April 2 to justify a global 10-percent tariff, along with higher, reciprocal duties on major trading partners like South Korea, the EU, Japan, and China. But the court rejected this interpretation. It said the law was intended for true emergencies, not for addressing routine trade deficits. The judges emphasized that Congress never gave the president blanket authority to impose such broad trade measures. The ruling halts some of the administration's most controversial trade actions, including 30 percent tariffs on Chinese imports, 25-percent duties on select Mexican and Canadian goods, and a 10-percent universal tariff on most products entering the U.S. However, the ruling does not affect auto, steel, or aluminum tariffs imposed under a separate legal provision, Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, a law permitting tariffs for national security reasons. Just minutes after the decision, the Trump administration filed a notice of appeal. The White House pushed back against the ruling, arguing that decisions on national emergencies should rest with the president, not the courts. It also reaffirmed President Trump's commitment to fully exercising his executive powers to respond to the crisis and advance his "America First" agenda. The court has given the administration a ten-day window to issue any necessary administrative orders. If the ruling is upheld through appeal, and possibly the Supreme Court, most of the tariffs would be suspended. The lawsuit, brought by the nonpartisan Liberty Justice Center on behalf of five small importers affected by the tariffs, marked the first major legal challenge to Trump's so-called "Liberation Day" measures. Shin Se-byuck, Arirang News.

S. Korea's real consumption falls in Q1 2025 despite rising income

2025/05/29 20:00

South Korea's household real consumption in the first quarter of 2025 dropped for the first time in 7 quarters. According to Statistics Korea on Thursday, household consumption rose by 1-point-4 percent in the first quarter of 2025. However, inflation-adjusted spending fell by point-7 percent, marking the largest real decline since the fourth quarter of 2020 during the COVID pandemic. Pundits say uncertainties like last December's martial law declaration, and U.S. tariff policies might have weakened consumer confidence in spending, despite a rise in household income.

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

2025/05/29 20:00

Korea's central bank has slashed its benchmark rate by 25 basis points to 2-and-a-half percent over concerns about slowing economy. The country's growth forecast for this year was cut by almost half to less than 1-percent. Lee Soo-jin has the details. South Korea's central bank has lowered its interest rate by 25 basis points, as widely expected, bringing it down to 2-point-5 percent. The Bank of Korea on Thursday announced the rate cut following the fourth Monetary Policy Committee meeting of the year, citing concerns about sluggish economic growth. "With inflation continuing to ease and growth expected to slow significantly, the Bank of Korea said it judged an additional rate cut to be appropriate to help ease downward pressure on the economy. The decision was unanimous among Monetary Policy Committee members." The decision comes after the central bank left rates unchanged in January and April, and lowered them in February. The decision to slash rates was mainly driven by concerns over weak growth, with domestic demand weighed down by sluggish consumption and a downturn in construction investment. South Korea's economy contracted in the first quarter ---shrinking by zero-point-2 percent on-quarter, a sharp downturn from the central bank's February forecast of zero-point-2 percent growth. "Domestic demand has remained weak nowadays and overall consumer sentiment remains subdued. Although exports have shown signs of improvement these days, it's clear that without rebound in domestic demand, economic recovery will be difficult in the short term." The BOK also slashed its GDP growth forecast for this year to zero-point-8 percent from 1-point-5 percent in its latest economic outlook report, which is released four times a year ---in February, May, August, and November. This mirrors a downgrade by the state-run Korea Development Institute and major global investment banks, all also projecting just zero-point-8 percent growth as of late April. The central bank's projection for 2026 was also lowered to 1-point-6 percent, but the outlook for this year's consumer price inflation was maintained at 1-point-9 percent. The Monetary Policy Committee also had room to cut rates as the Korean won has strengthened to the 1-thousand-3-hundred range against the greenback, after nearing the 1-thousand-5-hundred mark and forcing the committee to hold rates steady last month. But the move widens the rate gap with the U.S. to 2 percentage points, raising concerns over capital outflow and whether more cuts could fuel home prices and household debt without lifting growth. "And that's why the Bank of Korea is emphasizing that while it's open to further rate cuts to support growth, it will closely monitor both global and domestic conditions before deciding on the timing of its next move. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News."