News

K-Correspondent_From K-dramas to K-healthcare Korean Wave in the Czech Republic

2025/01/15 14:00

Once a week we connect live to a correspondent who fills us in on K-culture news overseas. Today, we will talk to a K-correspondent in the heart of Europe, the Czech Republic. The country is well known here through a K-drama that was filmed in its capital Prague. Nowadays, Korean culture and products have become popular in the Czech Republic with the influence of K-pop, K-dramas, K-food and even Korean healthcare. Let’s now connect to our K-correspondent Kevin Chung in the Czech Republic to find out more! Kevin, hello! Q1. Please introduce yourself to our viewers. Q2. We see through the media how the Korean wave has grown in the Czech Republic. How do you perceive it? Q3. The Czech Republic’s capital Prague is a popular tourist destination for Koreans. Backed by the hallyu craze, are there any Korean tourism spots that are popular among Czechs? Q4. Are there any Korean dramas or movies that are a hit among Czech medical students? Q5. Recently, I heard that the influence of the Korean Wave is expanding into the medical field. Is this true? Q6. I wonder if there is any Korean medical practice that that Czechs are interested in. Q7. As far as I know, people in the Czech Republic consume a lot of meat and beer. I assume they may have similar tastes to Koreans. Where does Korean food stand in terms of popularity there? Q8. What other areas of the K-Wave are popular in the Czech Republic?

[K-Enter] J-Hope, Rosé, G-Dragon to attend French charity concert

2025/01/15 14:00

Time for K-Enter News with Walter Lee. Starting off with some news on three big names attending a fundraising concert in France. BTS's J-Hope, BLACKPINK's Rosé, and Big Bang's G-Dragon are set to take the stage at a charity concert named "Gala des Pièces Jaunes 2025" held at La Défense Arena in France on January 23rd (local time). The three K-pop stars are listed among the performers for the charity concert organised by the Fondation des Hôpitaux chaired by Brigitte Macron, the wife of French President Emmanuel Macron. Other performers include American singers Katy Perry and John Legend. The campaign involves collecting coins smaller than 1 euro (approximately 1,400 KRW) to improve the welfare of hospitalised children, with the fundraising effort lasting about a month. This will be Rosé's second time performing at the charity event as she has also taken part in the concert with BLACKPINK. C'est très intéressant. (Very interesting) Next up we are talking about a new K-pop group specifically from JYP. JYP Entertainment's rookie boy group Kickflip will release their debut mini-album, "Flip it, Kick it!", on January 20th, officially starting their activities. The group name, Kickflip, which refers to a skateboarding trick where the board barrel-rolls 360 degrees, 관습에서 벗어나 신선한 공연을 선보이겠다는 의지를 표현한 것입니다. The group Kickflip has seven members, five from Korea and two from Japan. They were recently named one of the "8 Rookie K-Pop Acts To Watch In 2025" by Grammy.com, signalling their bright future. Their debut mini-album, "Flip it, Kick it!", features six tracks, including the title song, "Mama Said". The mini-album will officially drop at 6pm on January 20th. On the same day, the group will hold a debut show on Mnet M2 at 7pm and a debut showcase at 9pm to mark the start of their career. I am sure we will be reporting on this group more in the near future. And now ending on some K-movie news. The press and distributor screening, along with a media Q&A session for the movie "Secret: Untold Melody" , starring EXO member Doh Kyung-soo better known as D.O. and Won Jin-ah , was held on Tuesday. "Secret: Untold Melody" is a fantasy romance film which starts with a chance meeting in a rehearsal room between Yoo Joon, a pianist played by Do Kyung-soo , and Jung Ah, portrayed by Won Jin-ah . Yoo Joon’s promising career is derailed by an unexpected injury, but Jung Ah rekindles his love for music, guiding him toward a timeless secret waiting to be uncovered. Doh Kyung-soo shared his experience playing the role, saying, "I don’t know how to play the piano, but the opportunity to act as if I were playing it and to try the melodrama genre drew me to this film." He also mentioned, "I worked hard to express the movements and actions of a pianist, such as how they emphasise certain notes or accents when playing." “Secret: Untold Melody" is set to be released on January 28th. The trailer of the movie really makes you wonder what that secret is. I'll have to find out at the cinema. Thank you for that news and stick around.

[Features reporter] Underprivileged youths getting winter sports experience in S. Korea

2025/01/15 14:00

Kun-woo, I heard you visited the sport facilities in Gangwon-do Province yesterday. So, why exactly were you there? That's right. I had a chance to visit the annual "Dream Program," one of the legacy projects of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, taking place in Gangwon-do Province until January 19th. This program is well-known for giving young people from around the world the opportunity to experience winter sports, some for the first time. So why don't we first take a closer look. 17-year-old Fatima is a promising figure skater from Peru. She has faced many challenges due to the lack of ice rinks near home, except for a small facility that's often closed, making it difficult for her to practice regularly. But Gangwon-do Province where the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics were held has been providing opportunities for young people like Fatima for over 20 years with the support of related organizations through the "Dream Program." "If you have a smaller rink it's hard to train but here it's easier because the ice is better and the conditions are better. Coming here is really privileged. I wasn't really sure what I wanted to achieve but I think for now I want people to know that there is ice skating in Peru and to invite them to try it." With better conditions, young talents have been able to practice to their fullest, gliding, jumping, and spinning. "Every year, Gangwondo Province in South Korea runs the 'Dream Program,' bringing young athletes who lack proper facilities and coaching in their home countries to train in an ideal environment here. Let’s see how hard these athletes are working to reach their goals." Professional coaches also helped participants train for short track, helping them give their best effort and skate at full speed. Ski slopes covered in heavy snow are also offering unique experiences for those seeing snow for the first time. "The snowing is very brilliant and very cool and this is the first time we come to snowing. So very interesting." "Very cool and very experienced winter season. Thank you so much. (I'm going to) get the Olympic ready Winter Olympic." Participants have steadily become used to the snow, to the point where they could tackle steep slopes on their own. And despite the heavy snowfall on the day, and falling during practice, they got back up right away. Since 2004, thousands of participants from around 100 countries, including Uganda and Guatemala, have taken part in the program, with hundreds advancing to international sports competitions. This year, over 120 people from around 28 countries participated in the two-week program. These young talents will be returning to their homes next week, carrying with them the dreams of one-day becoming winter sports stars representing their countries. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News, Pyeongchang. Kun-woo, I'm curious about the athletes that made it to international sports competitions. Can you tell us more about them? Of course. Among the hundreds that advanced to such competitions, around 20 made it to the Winter Olympics or Winter Paralympics so far. I had a chance to interview Julian Yee, the first Malaysian figure skater to compete in the Olympics and the winner of multiple international competitions who participated in the 2009 edition of the Dream Program. One fun fact about him is that he also participated in the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. Take a listen to him sharing his experience. "I thought that was like a huge stepping stone for me to just even realize and open my eyes to the world of winter sports. Always tell the participants to enjoy as much as they can, learn as much as they can from each other, from the coaches and most importantly to stay connected. It resonates with me a lot coming from Malaysia that we were not very developed and we made it this far." And especially as he participated as a special coach in this year's event, he said that his current dream is to help countries with less developed figure skating programs and produce athletes who can compete on the world stage. But Kun-woo, I've heard that climate change is changing the conditions for winter sports in Gangwon-do Province as well. How are they working on the issue? That's right Walter. Unfortunately, climate change is affecting South Korea as well, and ski resorts have been postponing their opening over the previous years. However, an official from the PyeongChang 2018 Legacy Foundation said they are working on creating indoor facilities where people can train while strengthening programs taking place at ice rinks, as they won't be affected by climate change. He also said training during the summer season is a possible option as well, saying that athletes in sports such as cross-country skiing and ski jumping can train even in summer. Alright Kun-woo, thanks for all of that. And we'll see you next time. Thank you Kun-woo. Of course, see you.

U.S. Defense Secretary nominee calls North Korea a "nuclear power" and threat to global stability

2025/01/15 10:00

U.S. Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth has labeled North Korea a "nuclear power" that threatens global stability, while stressing the importance of U.S. allies taking on more "burden sharing" to foster healthy partnerships. Lee Eun-hee brings more. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for U.S. defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, described North Korea as a threat to global stability, calling it a "nuclear power." Hegseth made the comments in reply to advanced policy questions submitted to the Senate Armed Services Committee ahead of his confirmation hearing for the role of 29th Secretary of Defense. Hegseth wrote that North Korea's nuclear weapons, missile development, and growing cyber capabilities threaten stability in the Korean Peninsula, the Indo-Pacific, and globally. He added that the threat is especially concerning due to North Korea's proximity to U.S. allies hosting American troops, and if confirmed, he will request both classified and unclassified briefings on the DPRK threat. His use of "nuclear power" differs from the term "nuclear weapon state" under international law, as it includes countries with nuclear weapons that are not officially recognized as countries with nuclear weapons. With him potentially running the U.S. Department of Defense, overseeing over 3 million people and a 9 hundred billion U.S. dollar budget, Hegseth's remarks signal a clear recognition of the threat posed by North Korea's nuclear capabilities. He also said he plans to reassess the readiness of U.S. military forces globally and ensure adequate funding to strengthen U.S. posture and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific. This suggests the Trump administration may seek higher defense contributions from South Korea for U.S. forces stationed in the country. Regarding China's military threat, Hegseth emphasized the need for greater global burden-sharing, along with increased investment in the U.S. defense industrial base. Hegseth emphasized that strong alliances require mutual responsibility and cannot be one-sided, noting that the U.S. will push for increased defense spending and burden-sharing from allies. He also said that strengthening these partnerships through consistent cooperation is key to enhancing mutual trust. Lee Eun-hee, Arirang News.

Israel-Hamas ceasefire close: Blinken

2025/01/15 10:00

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says an Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal is "right on the brink" and "closer than it's ever been before." Lee Seung-jae reports. After over a year of fighting, Israel and Hamas may finally agree to a ceasefire deal. According to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday, a ceasefire deal is "closer than it's ever been before." "Over the past several weeks, our intensive efforts have brought us to the brink of full and final agreement. On Sunday (January 12), the United States, Qatar and Egypt put forward a final proposal. The ball is now in Hamas's court. If Hamas accepts the deal is ready to be concluded and implemented, I believe we will get a ceasefire." Speaking at the Atlantic Council in Washington, the top U.S. envoy also laid out the plan, in which he says a reformed Palestinian Authority would lead Gaza and bring in international partners to help establish and run an interim government. Blinken added that the Biden administration will hand over the post-war management plan for Gaza to President-elect Donald Trump's team. This would include details of an interim security mission, including international forces and Palestinians. The Associated Press says that Hamas has accepted a draft agreement for a ceasefire, as well as the release of dozens of hostages. According to officials involved in the negotiation, the talks are in their final stages. The call for a ceasefire is also coming from a small number of Israeli soldiers, who are refusing to fight if a ceasefire agreement isn't reached. Some 200 soldiers signed a letter, vowing to stop fighting if the Israeli government didn't secure a ceasefire. The troops say they want others to come forward. Speaking to the Associated Press, a number of soldiers said the declaration comes as Palestinians were indiscriminately killed during the 15-month long conflict, with many soldiers being ordered to burn or destroy homes that posed no threat. Meanwhile, on Tuesday night thousands gathered at Tel Aviv's Hostages Square, a public plaza located in front of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, where families of the hostages taken during the October 7, 2023 attack have made camp. Protesters sang and played music on stage, with those present anticipating a ceasefire deal that would finally bring back their loved ones. Ninety-four hostages are still being held by Hamas since being taken on October 7, 2023. The 15-month-long conflict has also led to the death of over 45-thousand Palestinians. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

[Weather] Bitter cold returns, morning snow in Jeolla-do Provinces

2025/01/15 10:00

The bitter cold returns to much of the country with cold wave alerts re-issued in many central regions. Feels like temperatures in the capital are much colder and highs will stay below freezing. Stay warm! Meanwhile, Jeolla-do Provinces could see lingering snow flurries through the first half of the day, drive with extra care. Jeju will be rainy until the evening. A dry weather advisory remains in place for the east coast, it will be quite windy in the west of Jeollanam-do Province. Afternoon highs in the capital will be nearly 7 degrees lower topping out at minus 1 degree. Daegu at 3 degrees, Busan at 4 degrees Celsius with a dry advisory in place for a week. Most parts of the country will be under sunny skies with decent air quality. A snowy day is in store for tomorrow in western regions including here in Seoul then the cold snap should subside tomorrow afternoon. That's Korea for you, here's a look at the international weather conditions.

Nato launches mission to protect crucial undersea cables in Baltic Sea

2025/01/15 10:00

NATO has launched a new mission, the "Baltic Sentry," to protect critical undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, amid rising concerns over potential sabotage. This follows recent incidents involving damage to undersea cables and pipelines, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. As part of the mission, NATO countries will deploy frigates, maritime patrol aircraft, and naval drones to increase surveillance and deterrence capabilities. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte stated the mission aims to "deter and detect any potential threats" to undersea assets.

French PM proposes re-opening debate over Macron's pension reform

2025/01/15 10:00

Over in France, Prime Minister Francois Bayrou, on Tuesday, proposed reopening discussions on President Emmanuel Macron's 2023 pension reform, which raised the retirement age from 62 to 64. The move aims to secure support from left-wing lawmakers to pass the 2025 budget. Bayrou emphasized the necessity of restructuring the pension system to stabilize France's public finances, highlighting the country's significant debt, and the goal to reduce the public deficit to 5.4% of GDP in 2025. The proposal comes after months of protests and political turmoil, over the pension changes. Bayrou's approach includes engaging with labor unions, and opposition parties to find common ground, and warning against modifications that could exacerbate France's financial challenges.

Ukraine launches largest air attack on Russia since start of war

2025/01/15 10:00

Let's begin today with updates on the war in Ukraine. Kyiv has claimed it launched its largest air attack of war so far. That's right. Ukraine's military struck several targets deep inside Russia on Tuesday in what it called the "most massive" air attack since the start of the war. Ukraine deployed over a hundred drones and more than a dozen cruise missiles targeting infrastructure in cities far from the Ukrainian border. Damage was reportedly caused at gas storage tanks, that served an airbase for Russian bomber planes, as well as ammunition depots and chemical plants. In response, Russia has accused Ukraine of "energy terrorism" following an alleged drone attack on the TurkStream pipeline, a crucial channel for Russian gas to Europe. Amid the latest tensions, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius visited Kyiv to reaffirm Germany's unwavering support for Ukraine.

President Yoon's 1st impeachment hearing ends after 4 minutes due to absence; what next?

2025/01/15 10:00

President Yoon's impeachment trial kicked off on Tuesday at the Constitutional Court, but concluded within minutes due to his absence. The bench rejected a request by the president's team to recuse a justice. Our correspondent Oh Soo-young reports. Meeting adjourned after four minutes. President Yoon Suk Yeol's first impeachment trial hearing wrapped up almost as soon as it began, as the leader did not show up before the Constitutional Court on Tuesday. "As the respondent is absent, proceedings will not continue today in accordance with Article 52, Paragraph 1 of the Constitutional Court Act." Yoon's absence was largely expected as his legal team announced he would not attend the first session and submitted 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. It also filed a request to recuse Justice Chung Kye-sun who was appointed to the bench this month. Yoon's team cited her connections to the opposition Democratic Party and her husband's close association with former chief justice Kim Yi-su who is co-chair of the National Assembly's panel of lawyers trying to impeach the President. The Court's Acting Chief Justice said the bench rejected the recusal request, and said the Court's announcement of multiple hearing dates aligns with the Constitutional Court Act. Speaking to reporters, Yoon's attorney Yun Gap-geun expressed "deep regret" and indicated the President's team will continue to contest the proceedings. "The rushed scheduling of hearings is unnecessary. Even if hearings were scheduled through February 4th, there was ample opportunity during today’s or the January 16th hearing to consult with and notify the defense counsel. Such omissions cast doubt on the fairness and neutrality of the trial process." Meanwhile, the National Assembly's impeachment team called for swift proceedings and for the President himself to attend his trial. "The respondent is expected to continue employing various measures, even after today, in order to hinder the swift and smooth progression of the trial." "Yoon's absence at the first hearing means the session has been rescheduled to Thursday. Now, if he skips the hearing a second time, the Court can proceed without him. However, it's unclear how far the arguments can progress at this point." During their two pre-trial sessions, President Yoon's lawyers and the National Assembly failed to narrow their differences over the main grounds for impeachment, due to various sticking points. First, Yoon's lawyers say the National Assembly's panel removing charges of insurrection as a main argument for impeachment makes no sense as the Assembly's motion to remove him from power cited insurrection as a major reason. The Constitutional Court is expected to decide on this matter. Yoon's side also argues that his declaration of Martial Law was an 'act of state' under executive authority and therefore not subject to judicial review. In a 60-page document submitted to the Court on Tuesday, the team justified his reasons for declaring the decree citing election fraud, the opposition-led parliament's disruption of governance, and a state of emergency. Furthermore, Yoon's team filed an objection to the Court’s decision to obtain records from ongoing trials and criminal investigations over the martial law declaration, arguing that it violates the Constitutional Court Act. By raising procedural issues and various complaints, observers say Yoon's legal team appears to be angling for more time, having criticized the Court's focus on holding expedited proceedings. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

President Yoon's 1st impeachment hearing ends in 4 minutes due to absence; what next?

2025/01/14 20:00

Thank you for joining us. I'm Yoon Jung-min. We start with the president's impeachment trial today at the Constitutional Court, which concluded within minutes due to his absence. The bench rejected a request by the president's team to recuse a justice. Our correspondent Oh Soo-young brings us the latest. Meeting adjourned after four minutes. President Yoon Suk Yeol's first impeachment trial hearing wrapped up almost as soon as it began, as the leader did not show up before the Constitutional Court on Tuesday. "As the respondent is absent, proceedings will not continue today in accordance with Article 52, Paragraph 1 of the Constitutional Court Act." Yoon's absence was largely expected as his legal team announced he would not attend the first session and submitted 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. It also filed a request to recuse Justice Chung Kye-sun who was appointed to the bench this month. Yoon's team cited her connections to the opposition Democratic Party and her husband's close association with former chief justice Kim Yi-su who is co-chair of the National Assembly's panel of lawyers trying to impeach the President. The Court's Acting Chief Justice said the bench rejected the recusal request, and said the Court's announcement of multiple hearing dates aligns with the Constitutional Court Act. Speaking to reporters, Yoon's attorney Yun Gap-geun expressed "deep regret" and indicated the President's team will continue to contest the proceedings. "The rushed scheduling of hearings is unnecessary. Even if hearings were scheduled through February 4th, there was ample opportunity during today's or the January 16th hearing to consult with and notify the defense counsel. Such omissions cast doubt on the fairness and neutrality of the trial process." Meanwhile, the National Assembly's impeachment team called for swift proceedings and for the President himself to attend his trial. "The respondent is expected to continue employing various measures, even after today, in order to hinder the swift and smooth progression of the trial." "Yoon's absence at the first hearing means the session has been rescheduled to Thursday. Now, if he skips the hearing a second time, the Court can proceed without him. However, it's unclear how far the arguments can progress at this point." During their two pre-trial sessions, President Yoon's lawyers and the National Assembly failed to narrow their differences over the main grounds for impeachment, due to various sticking points. First, Yoon's lawyers say the National Assembly's panel removing charges of insurrection as a main argument for impeachment makes no sense as the Assembly's motion to remove him from power cited insurrection as a major reason. The Constitutional Court is expected to decide on this matter. Also, Yoon's team filed an objection to the Court's decision to obtain records from ongoing trials and criminal investigations over the martial law declaration, arguing that it violates the Constitutional Court Act. By raising procedural issues and various complaints, observers say Yoon's legal team appears to be angling for more time, having criticized the Court's focus on holding expedited proceedings. Yoon's team has also cited security concerns as state investigators seek to execute an arrest warrant to question the President over insurrection charges. These challenges, if accepted by the Court, could delay the trial's progression. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

[Weather] Cold air moves in and cold morning is expected tomorrow

2025/01/14 20:00

The air quality has got even worse than yesterday due to dust from overseas. The dust will clear from the central parts of the country tonight as the cold wind strengthens. However as the cold wind moves south from tonight, the weather will get cold again tomorrow morning across the country. Cold wave warnings and advisories have been issued for northeastern parts of Gyeonggi-do Province as well as Gangwon-do Province and the mountainous areas of northeastern Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. On the other hand, along the east coast, where there is no news of rain or snow, the atmosphere remains extremely dry. Please be careful not to cause any wildfires. Tomorrow morning, most areas will start off below zero degrees. Highs will move up to minus 1 degree in Seoul and Chuncheon. Gwangju and Gyeongju hit 2 degrees. Temperatures will rise back again from Thursday. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

Trump's second term 1 week away, Cabinet confirmation hearings begin

2025/01/14 20:00

In the U.S. Preparations are underway for the inauguration of America's 47th President on January 20th. Lee Seung-jae has the latest. President-elect Donald Trump will return to the Oval Office as the 47th President of the United States at noon on January 20th, which is the third of four days of related events. Two days before inauguration day on January 18th, the president's reception will take place, along with a fireworks display at Trump National Golf Club in Virginia. Later that night, a Cabinet reception and vice president's dinner will take place. On the following day, a wreath-laying ceremony will take place at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. The official inauguration day will begin with a service at St. John's church, where Trump will be sworn into office. Trump will then head over to the President's Room near the Senate chamber, where as part of tradition, he will sign nominations. After a luncheon hosted by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, the presidential parade will take place from the Capitol to the White House. The parade will be followed by an Oval Office signing ceremony, before Trump attends the "Commander in Chief Ball," the "Liberty Inaugural Ball" and the "Starlight Ball." On the last day on January 21st, inaugural activities will conclude with the National Prayer Service in the morning. Ahead of the inauguration ceremonies across various locations in the U.S. capital, security in the city has been significantly strengthened. "More than 30 miles of anti-scale fence will be used for the inauguration -more than any other NSSE (National Special Security Event) ever before the Secret Service. This comprehensive security plan will continue to use drones as part of our protective posture." Officials expect nearly a quarter of a million people will attend the inauguration, with many more expected in the downtown area of D.C. for demonstrations. Ahead of the inauguration,.. the U.S. Senate is also set to hold its confirmation hearings for the Cabinet nominees. In particular, attention is focused on the confirmation hearing for the U.S. Secretary of Defense, held on Tuesday. This comes amid controversy surrounding Pete Hegseth, who was investigated by police over sexual assault allegations. More than a dozen other confirmation hearings will take place over a span of a week, as the country prepares for the inauguration of Trump. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

S. Korea's ICT exports reach new high in 2024 on record chip exports

2025/01/14 20:00

Korea's exports of information and communication technology products soared almost 26 percent on-year in 2024. Our correspondent Lee Soo-jin covers this latest data. South Korea's tech shipments reached a new annual high in 2024, led by record chip exports. Data from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy showed that ICT exports last year came to 2-hundred-35 billion dollars, up nearly 26 percent compared to the same month the year before. This marks a fresh high on a yearly basis, surpassing the previous record set in 2022, as ICT exports have continued to see year-on-year rises for 14 straight months. The ministry attributed this mainly to outbound semiconductor shipments reaching an all-time annual high of 1-hundred-42 billion dollars in 2024, boosted by robust global demand for AI-related products. That's up a whopping 42-point-5 percent compared to the year before. Chip exports also surpassed the 10-billion dollar mark for the eighth consecutive month, as shipments of memory chips, including high-bandwidth memory semiconductors, showed significant growth. And a shift to a double-digit growth in mobile phones as well as large demand for solid-state drives also contributed to 2024's record-high tech exports. By country, exports to Vietnam and the United States, which showed a sluggish performance in 2023 due to a slump in the global economy, both recorded their highest-ever export value last year. China, South Korea's top export destination, accounted for over 40 percent of Korea's total ICT exports last year, on the back of strong chip demand. As for exports in December alone, shipments reached more than 22 billion dollars, up more than 24 percent year-on-year. But it wasn't just December that saw solid monthly exports, as shipments surpassed the 20 billion dollar mark for five straight months starting last August. And exports in the last month of the year were also bolstered by chip shipments, with both memory and system semiconductors showing significant increases compared to the previous year. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.

N. Korea fires SRBMs, signaling military strength amid rising tensions before U.S. inauguration

2025/01/14 20:00

Shifting gears. North Korea test-fired a series of short-range ballistic missiles earlier this morning, posing its second act of provocation for the new year in just over a week as the Trump administration is poised to return to the White House next week. Our correspondent Kim Jung-sil has more. At around 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles from the Ganggye area in Jagang-do Province. The missiles flew approximately 250 kilometers before landing in the East Sea, The Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that South Korea and U.S. intelligence detected North Korea's launch preparations early and tracked the missiles in real time. "Our military has increased its surveillance and readiness to prepare for any additional launches while closely sharing related information with the U.S. and Japan." Tuesday's SRBM launches mark North Korea's second missile test this year. Yang Moo-jin, President of the University of North Korean Studies, explains North Korea's possible intentions. "First, North Korea aims to speed up the completion of its five-year defense development plan. Second, it's testing new short-range missiles. Third, it's showing confidence in its ability to launch various types of missiles anytime and anywhere. Lastly, it's a display of military dominance over Seoul and the greater capital region." In response, Acting President Choi Sang-mok condemned Tuesday's launch as a clear violation

Ruling party announces its version of special probe into Yoon bill, excludes allegations of "instigating insurrection" among others

2025/01/14 20:00

The rival parties are now each pushing at the National Assembly their respective versions of a bill calling for a special counsel investigation into President Yoon. The ruling party announced its draft "excludes unlawful components" as stated in the opposition's while the main opposition urged the PPP to propose a more concrete plan. Our National Assembly correspondent Lee Shi-hoo reports. The ruling People Power Party announced it has decided to propose its own version of a bill for a special investigation into President Yoon's short-lived imposition of martial law that excludes what the party calls the "unlawful components" of the version drafted by the opposition parties, and with further restrictions on its scope and depth. Floor Leader Kweon Seong-dong told reporters on Tuesday that the PPP's proposal leaves out "unconstitutional and toxic clauses" stated in the proposal by the main opposition Democratic Party. These are mainly the allegations that Yoon and his aides "instigated an insurrection" and purposefully "induced foreign aggression." Kweon further urged the DP to "engage in negotiations as suggested by Acting President Choi Sang-mok." If the DP does not agree, Kweon warned that his party will ask the acting president to veto the bill. Tuesday's announcement follows seeming discord among PPP members earlier, who up until the day before, were divided on whether the party should pursue an investigation into its conservative president. Following Kweon's announcement, DP Spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said, "The opposition is open to discussions once the ruling party has proposed a concrete draft," adding that the PPP's bill appears to be more of "an idea" at the moment. Kang said that if such negotiations take place before Thursday, the day the opposition parties plan to put their bill up for a National Assembly vote at a plenary session, it's possible a negotiated bill could replace it. Earlier Tuesday, DP Floor Leader Park Chan-dae said the ruling party's "refusal to investigate allegations of insurrection in itself is an acknowledgment of its involvement in the insurrection," and urged the PPP to cooperate with the opposition. The primary focus of the opposition's proposal is to uncover whether President Yoon unlawfully instigated an insurrection and violated the Constitution in the process. The initial version of its bill was vetoed by Acting President Choi two weeks ago. The opposition's goal is to have the bill officially go into effect before the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday. Lee Shi-hoo, Arirang News.

Live from presidential residence: operations being planned for arrest warrant execution

2025/01/14 20:00

We move now onto the latest regarding the attempt to arrest President Yoon Suk Yeol. For details, Arirang's Moon Hye-ryeon joins us live from the president's residential neighborhood. Hye-ryeon, I believe there was a three-way meeting earlier this morning among anti-corruption officials, the police, and the presidential security team. What has been shared about that? That's right, so the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, the police, and the presidential security team held a meeting this morning to discuss the execution of the warrant to detain President Yoon. The CIO has said that the discussion will not influence their plans and that they simply "listened to opinions" raised. According to a CIO official, the discussions were centered on ensuring a peaceful execution of the warrant, but no conclusions were reached. The CIO noted that it is waiting for a more solid response from the presidential security service, without setting a specific deadline and further added that there are no additional meetings planned as of now. This comes following the public appeal from the President's Chief of Staff Chung Jin-suk this morning, which said the Presidential Office is willing to cooperate with the police and the CIO. This included options for investigation at a neutral location or through a visit. However, the CIO commented that they have yet to receive a formal request regarding alternative arrangements. In this morning's statement, Chung further emphasized that Yoon must be allowed to fully exercise his right to defend himself and present his position, as should be guaranteed for all South Korean citizens. What has been shared about the timing of the second arrest attempt? It's been more than a week since the new warrant to detain Yoon was issued, and actually, this just in — it has been reported that the CIO and the police have been granted permission to enter the presidential residence by the Capital Defense Command's 55th Guard Corps. But it has been reported that the police held another meeting today to discuss matters related to the execution of the warrant. The meeting took place this morning at 10 AM, lasting for around two hours, between the special investigation team of the National Office of Investigation and commanders from the criminal task forces of the Seoul, Gyeonggi-do Province, and Incheon police agencies. The execution of the warrant could begin as early as 5 AM tomorrow, and authorities aim to complete the execution within this week. Discussions focused on concrete plans on how to enter the heavily fortified presidential residence in Hannam-dong behind me, which is secured with barricades and barbed wire. Specific strategies were reportedly discussed, including measures to suppress resistance from the presidential security team, searching the residence, and detaining President Yoon. Approximately one thousand personnel from the security investigation teams and regional investigation units of the four metropolitan police departments will be deployed for the execution of the warrant. This includes 301 investigators from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's regional investigation unit. These personnel have completed the necessary procedures to be dispatched to their temporary assignment to the CIO set for January 15th to the 17th so tomorrow until Friday. This suggests preparations for a potential two to three-day operation as formerly reported, should the presidential security service resist the execution of the warrant. Meanwhile, what is the atmosphere around the president's residential area like as we speak? Well, Jung-min, it looks as though there's quite a crowd gathering by the presidential residence behind me despite the less-than-favorable conditions out here. Tensions are mounting alongside expectations of a second attempt at executing the detainment warrant happening within the next twenty-four hours. The proximity of the rally locations for both sides has raised concerns about potential clashes, and to prepare for any possible incidents, the police have positioned riot squad vehicles between the groups to separate them. Security around the presidential residence remains tight, with the presence of armed guards becoming more prominent photos were taken yesterday showing heavily armed security personnel patrolling the area wearing helmets, masks, and tactical gear. It appears that the presidential security team is further reinforcing security measures inside the residence, with barbed wires and chains placed in various areas within the grounds. That's all I have, back to you, Jung-min. All right Hye-ryeon, thank you for that coverage. That was our Moon Hye-ryeon reporting live from the president's official residential neighborhood.

President Yoon's first impeachment trial hearing over in 4 minutes due to absence

2025/01/14 17:00

We start at the Constitutional Court today where the president's impeachment trial began with the first hearing taking place in his absence. For more I have Oh Soo-young standing by live at the court. Soo-young welcome. Now the first session lasted some four minutes. Do tell us more. Good afternoon. Yes, the first trial hearing on the President's impeachment was over in just four minutes, as the Constitutional Court is obliged to adjourn the meeting if the main party is not present at the first hearing. Take a listen to what Acting Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae said. "As the respondent is absent, proceedings will not continue today in accordance with Article 52, Paragraph 1 of the Constitutional Court Act." His absence was largely expected by the Court which already scheduled the next hearing for Thursday. If Yoon also skips that session, the justices can proceed without him. Now you'll notice that the number of justices present was eight including Justice Chung Kye-sun who the President's lawyers filed to recuse. They cited her and her husband's affiliation with the Democratic Party and the National Assembly impeachment panel's chair Kim Yisu. However, Justice Moon said the whole bench had agreed to reject the recusal request in a meeting earlier today. Yoon's attorney said the decision was deeply regrettable. Right and the president's defense team continues to raise objections about the proceedings at court Soo-young ? Yes, Yoon's lawyers have disputed the speed and the manner in which the Constitutional Court is conducting the trial. It submitted four requests on Monday including a recusal for Justice Chung Kye-sun, as well as an objection to the first trial hearing, and the scheduling of five hearing dates without consultation. The Court's acting chief justice refuted that the bench's announcement of trial dates aligns with the Constitutional Court Act. So it seems the Court is determined to move ahead with the proceedings, while President Yoon's side is aiming to slow it down, as they call for the Court to conduct a "sufficient" trial procedure observing the 180-day trial period stipulated by law. Following the first hearing, the President's attorney Yoon Gap-geun indicated that the legal team will continue to contest the fairness and legality of the court's procedures. "The rushed scheduling of hearings is unnecessary. Even if hearings were scheduled through February 4th, there was ample opportunity during today's or the January 16th hearing to consult with and notify the defense counsel. Such omissions cast doubt on the fairness and neutrality of the trial process." Meanwhile, the National Assembly's impeachment team called for expedited proceedings and also called on the President himself to attend his trial. "The respondent is expected to continue employing various measures, even after today, in order to hinder the swift and smooth progression of the trial." Soo-young the second hearing is scheduled for this coming Thursday. Do we know whether the president will be there? The full-fledged trial will indeed begin on Thursday but it's unclear whether Yoon will attend and how far the arguments can progress. During their two pre-trial sessions, President Yoon's lawyers and the National Assembly failed to narrow their differences over the main grounds for impeachment, due to various sticking points. First, Yoon's team says the National Assembly's panel removing charges of insurrection as a main argument for impeachment makes no sense as the Assembly's motion to remove him from power cited insurrection as a major reason. They called for another vote for impeachment at the National Assembly without insurrection charges, if they wish to drop it from the impeachment trial. The Constitutional Court is expected to rule on this matter. Also, Yoon's team filed an objection to the Court's decision to obtain records from ongoing trials and criminal investigations over the martial law declaration, arguing that it violates the Constitutional Court Act. On top of the procedural complaints raised by the team observers note that these challenges if accepted by the court, could delay the trial from moving forward on schedule. I see. All right Soo-young thank you for the latest on the impeachment trial.

[Weather] Cold morning again tomorrow, cold wave warnings in some areas

2025/01/14 17:00

It was relatively easy to do outdoor activities during the day today. However as the cold air will move south from the northwest from tonight, the weather will get cold again tomorrow morning across the country. Seoul will drop to minus 6 degrees Celsius tomorrow morning. Cold wave warnings and advisories have been issued for northeastern parts of Gyeonggi-do Province as well as Gangwon-do Province and the mountainous areas of northeastern Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. On the other hand, along the east coast, where there is no news of rain or snow, the atmosphere remains extremely dry. Please be careful not to cause any fires. Tomorrow morning, most areas will start off below zero degrees. Highs will reach minus 1 degree in Seoul and Chuncheon. Busan hits 4 degrees. Temperatures are expected to rise again from Thursday. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

World News: Final draft made in talks over Israel-Hamas ceasefire

2025/01/14 17:00

This is the World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. Starting with the Israel-Hamas ceasefire talks. Mediators, including officials from Qatar, Qatar, Egypt, and the United Nations, have reportedly handed over on Monday, local time, a final draft of a deal that could end the conflict in Gaza. According to officials, Hamas is expected to release up to 33 hostages as part of the deal. U.S. President Joe Biden expressed optimism in a speech on Monday, stating that the U.S. is "pressing hard to close this." The final details of the ceasefire negotiations are set to be completed in Doha on Tuesday morning during another scheduled round of talks. The release of hostages will be the first phase of the agreement, with negotiations on the second phase, aimed at ending the war, commencing on the 16th day after the ceasefire deal is implemented. In Greenland, the country's Prime Minister, Mute Egede, announced on Monday, the nation's intent to strengthen defense and mining collaborations with the United States, emphasizing that any agreements will be established on Greenland's terms. This follows President-elect Donald Trump's renewed interest in acquiring the mineral-rich Arctic island in recent weeks, highlighting the region's strategic significance. Also on Monday, Denmark, which currently manages Greenland's foreign affairs and defense, expressed a willingness to discuss the increased U.S. military presence on the island. The dialogue aims to address security concerns and ensure Greenland's safety while avoiding any scenario of American annexation. Over in the U.S., the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has for the second time postponed the announcement of this year's Oscar nominations due to the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles. Initially scheduled for January 17, then moved to January 19, the nominations will now be revealed on Thursday, January 23. In a statement, Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang cited the active fires as the reason for extending the voting period, allowing members additional time. Also, the annual Oscar nominees' luncheon set for February 10 has been canceled. Despite these changes, the 97th Academy Awards ceremony remains scheduled for March 2. In India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh, the world's largest religious gathering, the Maha Kumbh Mela, also known as the Great Pitcher Festival, kicked off on Monday. Held every 12 years, the festival is expected to draw over 400 million Hindus over the next six weeks. During the festival, devotees take part in rituals such as the Shahi Snan or the Royal Bath, where they immerse themselves in the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers, known as the sacred waters. The act is believed to cleanse sins and help people reach salvation. Choi Chi Hee, Arirang News.