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Live from Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office: Pres. Yoon's case transferred from CIO to prosecution

2025/01/23 20:00

Today, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials officially transferred its investigation of President Yoon Suk Yeol to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. For more, we have our Kim Jung-sil standing by live at the prosecution's office here in the capital city. Jung-sil, Welcome. Let's begin with this latest development. Thank you, Jung-min. The atmosphere here at the Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office is rather quiet this evening, with the investigation into President Yoon officially transferred here today. This morning, the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) formally requested the prosecution to take over the investigation into President Yoon, more than 50 days after his December 3rd martial law declaration. Take a listen to a comment from a CIO official earlier today. "The CIO has today decided to request the prosecution of the suspect in accordance with Article 26, Section 1 of the CIO Act, and has referred the case to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office." Why has the case been transferred earlier than expected, and what led to this decision? Jungmin, the case was handed over earlier than planned due to President Yoon's refusal to cooperate with the CIO. Despite their best efforts, including securing warrants that led to the president's arrest and detention, the CIO faces a backlash as the investigation continues to hit a stalemate. The only session he attended was for 10 hours on the first day of his arrest, where he remained silent. Yoon refused to appear for further questioning, citing health and security concerns. The CIO also faced repeated interference from the Presidential Security Service in its attempts to seize evidence, including the president's secret phone. Given these challenges, the CIO decided it would be more effective for the prosecution to take over, which it was initially expected to do on January 28th. Now, all eyes will be on the prosecutors in the office behind me as they carry out this unprecedented investigation. Now, what's the expected about the prosecution's investigation? The prosecution will continue investigating the allegations of insurrection and abuse of power flagged by the CIO, reviewing as many as 30,000 pages of records handed over by the CIO. While insurrection charges are typically handled by the police, no sitting president has ever been investigated by them; past investigations of former presidents were conducted by the prosecution. Legal experts note that while President Yoon's argument is technically valid, it does not prevent the prosecution or CIO from pursuing the case. "Technically, it's true that the power to investigate crimes of insurrection has been given to the police but the prosecution office retains the power to investigate any further crimes that are related to crimes they are already investigating." Now the question is , will the president cooperate this time? It remains uncertain, Jung-min. President Yoon, having served as prosecutor general, knows the process well, so his actions will be strategic. We will just have to keep a close eye on this. That's all from me, back to you. All right Jung-sil thank you for that coverage. That was our Kim Jung-sil reporting live from the prosecutors' office.

Fmr. Defense Minister testifies as first witness at President Yoon's impeachment trial

2025/01/23 17:00

We start at the Constitutional Court where the fourth hearing into the impeachment case against President Yoon Suk Yeol kicked off earlier this afternoon again in his presence. For more Arirang's Oh Soo-young joins us live from the court. Soo-young so what are the latest developments there? Yes. The President appeared in front of justices for the second time as he attended his fourth trial hearing, where the former defense minister was called in as the first of eight witnesses. Kim Yong-hyun is one of the key figures implicated in planning and executing the martial law decree. Considered Yoon's right-hand man, Kim initially said he'd take responsibility for the chaos that ensued. It seemed his loyalty to the President would remain firm as he initially refused to answer questions by the National Assembly's impeachment panel, saying his words were highly likely to be distorted. He changed his mind after a short break. As the session proceeded, the focus of the questions was on the legality of the martial law decree, with Kim insisting Yoon had held a proper Cabinet meeting beforehand, saying that a copy of the martial law declaration was distributed to Cabinet members and that someone had kept the minutes. Also, when asked if he had written the controversial note the finance minister received, instructing him to draft a budget for emergency legislation, Kim said he had, and handed it to an administrative staff member. This came after President Yoon initially said he could not remember whether he wrote the note or not, before recently denying that he had. There was also much focus on the martial law proclamation which included a ban on political activities one of the Assembly's grounds for impeaching Yoon. Kim said he had personally typed up the proclamation, but couldn't seem to recall which software he used when asked by the Assembly. Furthermore, on whether there was an order for military troops to storm the National Assembly on December third, "drag out Assembly members," Kim said he'd meant troop members inside the Assembly to avoid potential clashes. With his testimony, Kim more or less established the stance that martial law was declared to uphold the Constitutional order, out of deep frustration with the opposition-led parliament's efforts to impeach incumbent officials,.. thwart effective governance, and cut down budgets vital to public safety and livelihoods. The National Assembly's side, meanwhile, has continued to argue that Yoon's martial law declaration and the related decrees were unconstitutional and violated procedures, citing how Cabinet members said they didn't agree with the martial law nor documented their approval. Going forward I hear the president will now be attending all of the remaining four sessions? Yes. Yoon's lawyers say he will if possible attend all future hearings which have been scheduled until February 13th. He's filed without success an appeal against his arrest, and major figures implicated in the suspected insurrection have also been arrested so he is looking cornered when it comes to the criminal investigation against him. By attending future hearings, President Yoon could emphasize his narrative and might even directly question witnesses if necessary, as he did today. Also, he may be more determined to appear at the Constitutional Court as a means of further rallying his supporters, emboldened by the latest polls which show growing numbers back the ruling party, and his non-impeachment. On Thursday, the police deployed 54 riot police units, consisting of 3,500 officers, around the court to prepare for potential incidents. Approximately 160 police buses were stationed, forming walls around the Constitutional Court. Around 200 people were gathered nearby, waving Korean and American flags and chanting for the President's release and for the Court to drop the impeachment. On the opposite side of the street, though, people were calling for his impeachment and for him to be punished. The police formed tight lines to prevent clashes between the opposing groups. All right Soo-young thank you for the latest on the impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court.

[Weather] Ultra-fine dust will ease off a bit; rain or snow on the east coast from tomorrow night

2025/01/23 17:00

The ultra-fine dust has been a problem for four days. We passed the worst of the smog yesterday, but the air quality in most parts of the country is still at a "bad" level. As a result, ultra-fine dust advisories are still in place. However, from this afternoon, the air has been starting to clear. Ultra-fine dust levels will gradually ease off tomorrow except for some areas in central and western parts of the country. Meanwhile, there is rain or snow forecast for the east coast areas between tomorrow night and Saturday to relieve the dryness. Until then, the atmosphere will stay very dry with dry weather advisories. Tomorrow, Seoul will start off at minus 2 degrees Celsius and Daejeon at minus 4 degrees. Highs will move up to 9 degrees in Seoul. Gwangju and Busan will reach 13 degrees. The weather will be mostly sunny and warm in inland areas this weekend. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

Foreign Minister Cho holds phone talks with newly appointed U.S. State Secretary Rubio

2025/01/23 17:00

Meanwhile Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul held talks on the phone with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier this morning during which the two top diplomats agreed to maintain close coordination in response to North Korea's nuclear weapons ambitions. According to the Foreign Ministry here Minister Cho also shared hopes for greater advancements in the bilateral alliance under the new U.S. administration. Rubio for his part reportedly invited his Korean counterpart to the U.S. for more talks on cooperation. Both officials also highlighted the importance of the trilateral security partnership including Japan.

Quad joint statement omits reference to Korean Peninsula denuclearization

2025/01/23 17:00

In Washington earlier this week. Newly appointed U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio hosted his counterparts of the Quad framework for talks which ended with a joint statement that visibly omitted any mention of North Korea and its nuclear weapons ambitions. Lee Seung-jae has details. The top diplomats of the United States, Australia, India, and Japan met in Washington for their first Quad foreign minister's meeting since the launch of the Donald Trump administration earlier this week. This meant that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was the first to be confirmed in Trump's new Cabinet, was taking part in the meeting for the first time. However,.. the joint statement issued by the foreign ministers of the Quad nations saw the removal of any reference to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Instead,.. the top diplomats vowed to strengthen a "free and open" Indo-Pacific, while opposing "any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion." It also did not mention China or North Korea by name. The latest joint statement is in stark contrast to the previous years, where the foreign ministers reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. The difference in the joint statement also comes as Trump and his defense chief nominee Peter Hegseth used the term "nuclear power" to describe North Korea. And according to a prominent U.S. expert and former officer at the U.S. National Intelligence Council Sydney Seiler,.. the new U.S. administration believes Pyongyang's nuclear threat has evolved over the last four years,.. given the use of a term,.. that was largely avoided by U.S. officials in the past. Seiler says the Trump administration "faced the reality" that the regime "continues to grow its arsenal qualitatively and quantitatively," and the threat is greater than four years ago. He added that the remarks are a "realistic view" of the threat. While the term "nuclear power" is different from "nuclear-weapon state," a term used to describe countries like the U.S., Russia, and the UK, it raises concerns for South Korea,.. which seeks close policy coordination with Washington to achieve denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Galaxy Unpacked 2025: Samsung's Galaxy S25 series promises private, personalized user experiences with AI tools

2025/01/23 17:00

Samsung's Galaxy S25 series are out and they are pledging to change the way individuals interact with their smart phones thanks of course to AI. Our business correspondent Moon Hye-ryeon explains. Imagine a phone that knows what you need before you do — that's what Samsung's latest smartphones promise to make a reality. At its Unpacked conference on Wednesday in San Jose, California, Samsung Electronics announced its latest flagship Galaxy smartphones — the Galaxy S25 series. The Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra are all equipped with new AI tools unseen in their predecessors unveiled as the firm's first AI smartphones a year ago. The new models will hit the shelves on February 7th in the same price range as the S24. They use Google's Gemini AI model alongside Samsung's in-house AI voice assistant Bixby, and Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite chips for on-device processing – meaning that you don't have to be connected to the internet to be able to use AI functions. And these AI functions provide a key element in the S25 user experience: personalization. "With the S25, users can enjoy a seamless experience where the AI agent and personalized AI features make life easier—just say what you need, and the phone will recommend and handle it for you." For example, "Now Brief" and "Now Bar" are new services that provide a morning feed catering to your personal preferences based on user data, as well as giving you updates throughout the day — such as giving you directions to your next meeting, or giving you a breakdown of the latest sports games you've missed based on what teams you follow. And this is another reason why on-device processing is so crucial – because personal data used to tailor these functions will only be stored and processed on the phone. With many using mobile phones to search the web, Gemini's search tool enables users to look up information from their own images and even videos. '"The S25 also makes everyday interactions easier, by simply being able to ask your phone to do things. Schedule the launch of the new S25 in my calendar. Schedule it for February 7th." While the new AI features are the main focal point of the new phones, the hardware also boasts some upgrades. The new Ultra line has a 50-megapixel sensor on its ultra-wide rear camera in contrast to the S24's 12-megapixels for better quality images and videos and also features a new, hardier screen. The series overall has rounded corners with a reduced bezel for a bigger display, and there's an even thinner model to come – called the Galaxy S25 Edge. This model was briefly previewed at the end of the Unpacked event, setting up competition in the skinny smartphone market, with Apple's ultrathin model expected to come later this year. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

SK hynix, LG Electronics, Hyundai Motor report 2024 results; SK hynix achieve highest-ever performance

2025/01/23 17:00

On the corporate front. SK hynix staged a stellar performance last year on the back of strong demand for AI memory. Lee Eun-hee has more. SK hynix, the world's second-largest memory chipmaker, has announced that it recorded its highest-ever revenue and operating profit in 2024, driven by the strong demand for High Bandwidth Memory. The company said Thursday that its revenue surpassed 66 trillion Korean won or around 46 billion U.S. dollars, marking a 102-percent increase compared to the previous year. Operating profit turned positive, soaring to just over 16 billion U.S. dollars. Last year's fourth quarter also saw a record-high operating profit of over 6 billion dollars. SK hynix reported record revenue, surpassing 2022 by over 14 billion U.S. dollars, and its operating profit exceeded the 2018 peak. One expert says the first half of this year is expected to be very promising, noting Trump's AI initiative. "Given the new launch of Trump government, semi-conductor industry in general and HBM in particular, there are a lot of good materials to push SK hynix's stock price at the moment. So it is quite in the short-term based." Meanwhile, LG Electronics achieved record-high revenue in 2024, reaching approximately 61 billion U.S. dollars, a 6-point 6 percent increase compared to the previous year. This growth was driven by strong performance in its core home appliance business and expanding automotive electronics sector, which has seen nine years of consecutive growth. This marks the company's highest revenue in two years. However, both annual and quarterly operating profit declined, attributed to slower recovery in global consumer electronics demand and rising logistics costs. The company experienced an "earnings shock" in quarter four, with operating profit halving and falling more than 56-percent year-on-year to over 93 million U.S. dollars. On the same day, Hyundai Motor also released last year's revenue data, reporting over 175 trillion Korean won or more than 121 billion U.S. dollars, which is up 7-point-7 percent on year, but operating profit declined 5-point-9 percent to around 9-point-7 U.S. dollars. Hyundai Motor's revenue for the fourth quarter of 2024 rose nearly 12 percent compared to the same period last year, driven by strong sales of high-value models, including hybrid and Genesis vehicles which boosted the average selling price. However, quarter four operating profit fell 17-percent to almost 2 billion U.S. dollars, impacted by higher incentives, external uncertainties, and a sharp rise in exchange rates. A Hyundai official stated that despite these challenges, the company continues to grow, supported by strong North American sales and increasing hybrid model sales. Lee Eun-hee, Arirang News.

S. Korea's economy grows 2% y/y in 2024 amid weak consumption, construction sector

2025/01/23 17:00

In other news. The South Korean economy marked a two-percent annual growth last year slightly below earlier projections. Our correspondent Lee Soo-jin reports. South Korea's economy only showed modest growth in 2024. That's according to data from the Bank of Korea released on Thursday which shows that the country's gross domestic product a key indicator of economic growth grew 2 percent on-year in 2024. This was lower than both the central bank's November forecast of 2-point-2 percent and the government's forecast of 2-point-1 percent. "After our November forecast, political uncertainty in the country grew, and economic sentiment weakened which then impacted private consumption. Construction investment also remained sluggish as orders remained weak." In 2024,.. private consumption rose 1-point-1 percent, which was lower than the 1-point-8 percent increase of the year before while construction investment entered into negative territory. But as exports saw a sharp rise, jumping to 6-point-9 percent from 3-point-9 percent in 2023, leading economic growth, while modest, to be higher than that of last year's 1-point-4 percent on solid exports, a rise after three straight years of decline. As for the fourth quarter, economic growth expanded only point-1 percent on-quarter,.. and was also lower than the central bank's forecast. The central bank mainly attributed this to smaller growth in private and public spending as well as negative growth in construction investment. This follows an on-quarter increase of 1-point-3 percent in the first quarter, negative growth of point-2 percent in the second, and point-1 percent in the third quarter. With last year's economic growth hovering below forecasts, there are rising concerns about South Korea's economic growth this year, fueled by factors such as U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs. "Korean economy has been dependent on international trade and export to the United States. Multinational enterprises have promised to build a factory in the United States to avoid tariffs but as long as they make use of some parts from China they are still subject to tariffs." The Bank of Korea on Monday lowered this year's GDP growth forecast to as low as 1-point-6 percent, and the government to 1-point-8 percent in its 2025 economy policy plans released early this month. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.

Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung highlights recovery, growth as country's top priorities

2025/01/23 17:00

Also on the local political front. The head of the main opposition Democratic Party has placed national priority on recovery and growth. Speaking at a press conference earlier on this Thursday Lee Jae-myung called for a pragmatic approach to tackling challenges one that sets aside partisan politics. He also called for the creation of new growth engines by investing in AI robots. Separately he condemned acting President Choi Sang-mok for failing to approve a special probe bill aimed at President Yoon Suk Yeol .

Constitutional Court turns down impeachment for broadcast watchdog chief Lee Jin-suk

2025/01/23 17:00

The Constitutional Court on Thursday ruled against an impeachment motion targeting Lee Jin-suk, the head of nation's broadcast watchdog. Lee, who had been suspended from duty as the chair of the Korea Communications Commission returned to work after a hundred and seventy-four days. Last year the main opposition Democratic Party unilaterally passed an impeachment motion against her claiming that she had made important decisions with just one other member of the commission as the three remaining commission seats were vacant. Out of the eight justices at the Constitutional Court four ruled in her favor asserting that the number of incumbent members of the commission at the time does not render their decisions illegal. An impeachment requires six justices to support the case.

Live from Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office: Pres. Yoon's case transferred from CIO to prosecution

2025/01/23 17:00

Staying with the president's political fate. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials is transferring its investigation of the president to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. For more I have Kim Jung-sil standing by live at the prosecutors' office here in the capital city. Jung-sil welcome. Let's begin with this latest development. Thanks, Sunny. The atmosphere here at the Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office is relatively quiet this afternoon, with the investigation into President Yoon officially transferred here as of today. This morning, the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) formally requested the prosecution to take over the investigation against President Yoon. This comes more than 50 days after the December 3rd martial law declaration. Take a listen to a comment from a CIO official earlier today: "The CIO has today decided to request the prosecution of the suspect in accordance with Article 26, Section 1 of the CIO Act, and has referred the case to the Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office." The CIO deputy chief added that President Yoon's refusal to cooperate has stalled the investigation. During the first 10-hour questioning session, he remained silent and later declined further questioning, citing health and security concerns. The CIO also faced repeated interference from the Presidential Security Service in attempts to seize key evidence, including the president's secret phone. Deputy Chief Lee explained that while the CIO has investigative authority, it lacks the power to press charges on the president, so the case was handed over earlier than planned, initially set for January 28th. The Prosecutor's Office behind me has now taken over and will continue the investigation. And what are the prospects regarding the president's cooperation with the investigation now that it has been handed over to prosecutors? It remains uncertain, Sunny. There is a possibility that the president may also argue that the prosecution does not have the authority to investigate charges of insurrection, which under South Korean law is handled by the police. However, as no sitting president has ever been investigated by the police, the prosecution, which traditionally handles cases involving former presidents, has the authority to investigate related crimes such as 'abuse of power.' Take a listen to an expert on this. "Technically it's true that the power to investigate crimes of insurrection has been given to the police and the prosecution office but the prosecution office retains the power to investigate any crimes that are related to crimes that they are investigating. The President is charged not only with the crime of insurrection but also with abuse of office and several other crimes that are still within the power of the prosecution office to investigate." With both arrest and detention warrants issued by the court, legal experts argue that there is substantial evidence supporting his involvement. That's all I have for this hour, back to you Sunny. All right Jung-sil thank you for that coverage. That was our Kim Jung-sil reporting live from the prosecutors' office here in Seoul.

PRES. YOON ATTENDS IMPEACHMENT TRIAL AGAIN

2025/01/23 17:00

Welcome to yet another edition of Press Perspective. It's Thursday January 23rd.. here in Seoul. I'm Min Sunhee. While President Yoon Suk Yeol remains reluctant to cooperate in the investigation led by anti-corruption officials he appears quite dedicated to the impeachment case against him at the Constitutional Court. For more I have Thomas Maresca with the news agency UPI. Thomas welcome. I also have freelance journalist Raphael Rashid with us. Raphael it's good to have you here. 1) Thomas, you covered the president's attendance earlier on Tuesday of the third hearing into the impeachment case against him. What was the gist of your coverage? 2) Raphael, separately, anti-corruption investigators have had little success in questioning the president over his abuse of office. What has been the focus of the foreign media with regard to the ongoing investigation into insurrection charges? 3) Raphael, you covered the violence by rioters at the Seoul Western District Court last weekend following the court's order for a formal arrest of the president. What have you been hearing? 4) Thomas, parallels have been drawn between the 2021 storming of the U.S. Capitol on January 6th by pro-Trump supporters and last Sunday's storming of the Seoul Western District Court by pro-Yoon supporters. What are your takeaways? 5) And Thomas, what can you tell us about the legal consequences faced by the rioters in the U.S. before Mr. Trump's pardon earlier this week? 6) Also Raphael, foreign media continue to commend the people of Korea for protecting democracy. What are your takeaways as a journalist based here? 7) Thomas, the words of wisdom are "democracy is a work in progress." Do you suppose Korea is witnessing these words in action as we speak? 8) Raphael, some fear the latest political events may negatively reflect on Korea's credibility and reliability on the international stage. Is this a valid concern? 9) Thomas, does the political turmoil in Korea places its neighbors on shaky ground as well? 10) Raphael, how do you assess the coverage of Korea's political unrest by its East Asian neighbors? All right.

K-wave AI News

2025/01/23 14:00

Welcome to The Kulture Wave AI News. Here's our first story of the day. Passenger traffic at airports across Korea during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday is expected to surpass 4.4 million. The daily average is projected to reach nearly 441,700 nationwide, up more than 5% compared to last year. Incheon International Airport, in particular, is forecasted to see a roughly 13% rise in airport users from a year ago, with the busiest day anticipated to be this Saturday. To manage the surge in traffic, airport authorities are implementing special measures, extending operating hours for immigration and customs areas, and expanding security screening facilities. 'Cheongwadae,' the former Presidential Office will host a variety of events celebrating the Lunar New Year holiday. The "Cheongsa Chorong" festival will take place from next Monday to Thursday, featuring traditional games, music performances, and diverse interactive activities. During the day, visitors can enjoy games such as kite flying, 'Jegichagi' and 'Yutnori' at the main garden while evening events will offer a chance to view the Blue House's nightscape, as well as a New Year's concert. Cheongwade was opened to the public in 2022. An exhibition dedicated to Cattleya orchids will be held from this Friday through February 9 at the Sejong National Arboretum. Titled "Queen of Orchids," the exhibition will showcase more than 100 varieties of these vibrant and elegant flowers. Various hands-on programs are in store for visitors next week marking the Lunar New Year holiday, including gardening workshops and a flea market. Native to tropical rainforests in countries such as Mexico and Brazil, Cattleya orchids are renowned for their large, showy blooms and long-lasting fragrance. That's all for now. Stay tuned for more cultural updates and insightful discussions ahead!

[K-enter] BLACKPINK Jennie Comes Back with First Full-Length Album

2025/01/23 14:00

Time for some K-entertainment news with Bella Kim. Bella, today we’ll start off with some exciting news related to one of the members of BLACKPINK. Who are we talking about? We are going to talk about BLACKPINK member, Jennie. Jennie will make a comeback on March 7th with her very first full-length album, “Ruby.” Jennie has been working on the new album with many big-name artists, such as Dua Lipa, Childish Gambino and French Kiwi Juice(FKJ). The album will feature 15 songs in total, including her latest single, “Mantra,” released last October. “Mantra” has topped iTunes’ Top Songs chart in 47 countries and also made history as the first song by a female K-pop solo artist to reach No.1 on iTunes’ Top Songs chart in the U.S.. The single also appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for two consecutive weeks. It's also been announced that Jennie will perform at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 13th and 20th. Next, we have latest on the NewJeans-ADOR legal dispute? NewJeans members shared a detailed update regarding their legal dispute with ADOR through a letter posted on their Instagram account on Wednesday. In the letter, the group revealed that ADOR had filed a lawsuit seeking confirmation of the validity of their exclusive contracts and had also applied for an injunction to prevent the members from signing advertising contracts. The group received the related legal documents and had appointed the law firm Sejong to represent them. NewJeans members continued to express disappointment in how ADOR and HYBE had failed to protect and support them during their activities and detailed the obstacles they faced with the two agencies. The group also said that HYBE and ADOR used “underhanded tactics” to divide the members. As a result, they strongly stated that they will fight for the truth and will never return to HYBE and ADOR as they had already lost faith in them. And for our last story, we’ll move onto a new Netflix series that’s soon to be released? Netflix has officially announced that “When Life Gives You Tangerines” will be released globally on March 7th. The series is created by renowned director Kim Won-suk, versatile screenwriter Lim Sang-choon, and will features a stellar cast, including IU, who also goes by her name Lee Ji-eun as an actress, Park Bo-gum, Park Hae-joon, and Moon So-ri. “When Life Gives You Tangerines” follows the adventures of Ae-sun, “the remarkable rebel,” and Gwan-sik, whose nickname means “unyielding iron.” As the background of the drama is set in Jeju Island, the series’ Korean title is in Jeju dialect, translating to “thank you for your hard work.” The trailer for the series was also revealed. It features lively, refreshing music and the scenic beauty of Jeju Island, complete with canola fields, persimmon trees, and the sea. “When Life Gives You Tangerines” promises to bring warmth to your spring days with its authentic, relatable stories that reflect the different stages of life throughout the seasons. Thank you Bella for today’s stories.

[K-wave] Ministry of Tourism announces "Top 100 Korean Tourism Attractions"

2025/01/23 14:00

So, as we just mentioned the upcoming Lunar New Year holidays has been extended to 6 days While some have already made plans to travel abroad, the government has made special efforts to enhance DOMESTIC tourism over this period. The 'top 100 tourist attractions of Korea' is not only a must-visit list for foreigners, but also a guide for locals. Lee Eun-jin has the details. During the Lunar New Year holiday, there will be various tourist events for people to enjoy while visiting their hometowns. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in cooperation with the Korea Tourism Organization, will select the top 100 tourist attractions of Korea for 2025-to-2026. Marking its seventh edition, the biennial list has picked and publicized the nation's top tourist hotspots since 2012. The entries include 61 cultural tourism resources such as historical sites, architecture, interactive and leisure facilities and 39 natural and ecotourism resources such as forests, beaches and wetlands. The locations are spread out nationwide. By region, there are 22 in the greater Seoul metropolitan area, 11 in the Gangwon area, 15 in the Chungcheong area, 18 in the Jeolla area, 28 in the Gyeongsang area, and 6 on Jeju. The designated areas include experience-oriented locations that feature fun things enjoyed by Koreans in daily life, like eating noodles at the Hangang River, visiting the pop-up stores in Seongsu, and shopping at the Sokcho Tourist and Fisheries Market. There are also destinations that reflect the trend of travel for healing, including Gyodongdo Island in Incheon where "Squid Game" was filmed and the Jeongdongsimgok Badabuchae Trail, or the Jeongdongjin Marine Terrace Trail that features a unique topography resembling the "tip of a fan", where visitors can take in mesmerizing ocean scenery. On the list of 100 destinations, there are 14 places that have been selected for the 7th consecutive time since the start of this project in 2012. Deeply rooted in representing Korea, these locations include the Five Royal Palaces in Seoul, the Jeonju Hanok Village, Hallasan National Park, the trails of Jeju Olle-gil, and historical temples like Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto. With the government's recent decision to add Monday, January 27th, as a holiday, the Lunar New Year holiday will last 6 days. In line with the government's goal to increase domestic travel, a "traveler's passport" of stamp tours will be launched, where visitors can fill their stamp passports as they travel to the 100 destinations. At the end of the year, the Tourism Ministry plans to award a prize to those that have visited the most locations. Additionally, various events for the whole family will be available at various museums. The National Folk Museum of Korea will hold special cultural experiences and exhibitions, while the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art will offer free access to its special exhibitions, and various performances will be held at the National Gugak Center, the National Theater of Korea, and the Asia Culture Center. Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.

Xi holds video call with Putin after Trump's inauguration

2025/01/23 10:00

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin held a video meeting on Tuesday, to reaffirm their strategic partnership, following the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump. During the one-and-a-half hour discussion, the two leaders emphasized their commitment to a multipolar world order, and expressed mutual support for each nation's core interests. Putin referred to Xi as "a dear friend" and stated that the Kremlin and Beijing are strengthening their ties based on "friendship, mutual trust, and support" despite external pressures. Situations in the Middle East, South Korea, and Taiwan were also reportedly discussed. While President Trump was not directly mentioned, the timing suggests that Putin and Xi are preparing to build relations with the new U.S. administration. Trump earlier threatened tariffs on Beijing and warned of sanctions if Moscow does not end the war in Ukraine.

2 people killed in knife attack in Germany

2025/01/23 10:00

Beginning in Germany today, two people were killed in a stabbing attack. One of them is reportedly a toddler. Do tell us more. Right. Police arrested a 28-year-old Afghan man for stabbing a boy and a man to death in a park in the Bavarian city of Aschaffenburg, on Wednesday. The suspect, previously known for violent behavior and detained a few times, assaulted the group of children with a kitchen knife, killing a 2-year-old boy and a 41-year-old man who was trying to protect the children. Two others were seriously injured and moved to hospital for treatment. While authorities are investigating the motive for the attack, initial assessments suggest mental health issues. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned the attack as an "unbelievable act of terror" and stressed the need for accountability regarding the suspect's residency status.

SK hynix sees record-high performance in 2024 driven by HBM demand

2025/01/23 10:00

SK hynix, the world's second-largest memory chipmaker has announced its highest-ever revenue and operating profit for 2024 driven by the strong demand for High Bandwidth Memory. The company said Thursday that its revenue surpassed 66 trillion Korean won or around 46 billion U.S. dollars, marking a 102-percent increase compared to the previous year. Operating profit turned positive, soaring to just over 16 billion U.S. dollars. Last year's fourth quarter also saw a record-high operating profit of over 6 billion dollars.

Live from Seoul Detention Center: CIO investigation into Pres. Yoon faces setbacks

2025/01/23 10:00

President Yoon's appearance at the hearing today will mark his third trip out of Seoul Detention Center where he is currently detained. We go live there with our Kim Jung-sil standing by. Jung-sil, all eyes are again on the detention center ahead of his travel to the Constitutional Court later today. How are things looking there this morning? Dami, the atmosphere here at Seoul Detention Center is rather quiet this morning, It's another day of back-and-forth as the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, or the CIO, tries to bring President Yoon in for questioning. As of yesterday, their third attempt failed. It's unclear whether they'll make another attempt this morning, as the President has so far declined to comply. This follows attempts to search the presidential residence and office for evidence, which were blocked by the Presidential Office. Despite their efforts, the CIO has had little success in securing President Yoon's cooperation. Take a listen to CIO chief Oh Dong-woon. "I believe the presidential office also needs to respect the decisions of the judiciary. The CIO will thoroughly investigate anyone involved in the emergency martial law incidents, regardless of their position or rank." With no success in their attempts to question Yoon or search the presidential office and residence, time is running out for the CIO. That sounds like another setback for the investigation, which can be a real headache for investigators who are running short of time to question Yoon? At this time, it's unclear whether they'll be able to make another attempt this morning, as the president has so far declined to comply. I will let you know in our later broadcast if there are any updates. By January 28th, the CIO must transfer the case to prosecutors, as they lack the power to press charges on insurrection. The prosecutors are under pressure to move quickly, and there are reports that President Yoon may still face investigation during the Seollal holidays. And walk us through the investigation into the recent unrest at the Seoul Western District Court. Dami, there's been a significant update on that front. Following the release of the arrest warrant for President Yoon at the weekend, protesters stormed into the Seoul Western District Court. Police arrested 56 people, including several who assaulted police officers and others who trespassed or who damaged property. There were also incidents of individuals attempting to breach court security, assaulting a journalist crew, and one person climbing the court walls to gain access. This wave of arrests adds to the tension surrounding the ongoing investigation. The authorities are taking swift action to prevent further disturbances. That's all I have for this hour, but I will bring you more updates in our next broadcast. Thanks for that update, Jung-sil. We'll check back in with you later as the story develops. Please stay safe out there.

On-point: Yoon, ex-defense chief Kim Yong-hyun to attend trial

2025/01/23 10:00

What's drawing attention to today's hearing is the ex-defense minister's attendance as a witness and his first face-to-face with President Yoon since the martial law declaration on December 3rd. Let's discuss more with Professor Paik Eunseok. Good morning. 1. We'll be seeing two key figures in the same room later today. 2. Kim Yong-hyun made a statement that he broke the laptop that wrote the decree No. 1 announced at the time of the emergency martial law order, adding that he broke it because he accomplished a mission. 3. We should also talk about the memo about allocating funds for establishing an emergency legislative body that President Yoon allegedly passed to the current acting President Choi Sang-mok. 4. President Yoon showed a rather modest and confident attitude at the third hearing of his impeachment trial. 5. The last and 8th hearing will take place on February 13. Thank you for sharing your insight with us this morning.