News

[Weather] Huge daily temperature gaps, ultra-fine dust at "bad" levels

2025/02/27 17:00

It was still cold this morning, but the temperature rose significantly in the middle of the day, widening the daily temperature differences to around 14 degrees Celsius. Tomorrow, the temperature differences will be nearly 10 degrees with 3 degrees in the morning and 12 degrees during the day in Seoul. The air quality is not expected to be good tomorrow. It's because dust accumulates as the atmosphere is somewhat stagnant as the temperature rises. In addition, there is a possibility of additional smog tomorrow afternoon. This "bad" air quality will be relieved as rain clouds come around the day after tomorrow. Tomorrow, most areas will start off at above zero degrees with Daejeon and Gyeongju at 2 degrees Celsius. Daily highs will rise up to 14 degrees in Daejeon and Gwangju and 17 degrees in Daegu. Heavy rain for spring is expected during the Samiljeol holiday, and there is a possibility of heavy snow in the eastern parts of Gangwon-do Province. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

World News: Hamas hands over bodies of 4 Israeli hostages in exchange for release of hundreds of prisoners

2025/02/27 17:00

This is The World Now, bringing you the latest stories around the globe. The Palestinian militant group Hamas has handed over the bodies of four Israeli hostages, to the Red Cross early on Thursday, just days before the first phase of the truce comes to an end. In return, Israel has also begun to release Palestinian prisoners from Ofer Prison in the occupied West Bank. Israel has agreed to release 602 Palestinian prisoners, a move that was initially planned for last weekend, but later postponed. Under the truce agreement that began on February 19th, Hamas released six hostages on this past Saturday. However, Israel delayed the prisoner release due to what it described as the mistreatment and humiliation of the freed hostages during the handover process. Through mediators, both sides have now agreed to proceed with the remaining prisoner and hostage exchanges. According to the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the upcoming transfer will take place without any special ceremonies. At least 18 people have been killed and 23 others injured after a double-decker tour bus overturned in eastern Thailand. The crash occurred early Wednesday, local time after the bus lost control due to a brake failure and plunged down a slope. A total of 49 adults were on board, traveling as part of an educational tour. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra extended her sympathies to the victims' families and stated that an investigation was underway. Thailand's Ministry of Transport has also announced that it will work with police to investigate the incident and strengthen inspections to guarantee that all public transportation vehicles meet safety standards. Turning to the United States. Amid a growing measles outbreak, Texas has reported its first child fatality from the disease. This marks the first measles-related death in the U.S. in nearly a decade, with the last case occurring in Washington state in 2015. According to the Texas Department of Health on Tuesday, the number of reported measles cases in West Texas has risen to 124 an increase of more than 30 cases since late last week. The highest infection rates have been observed among children aged 5 to 17. So far, a total of 18 people have been hospitalized due to the outbreak, and all of them were unvaccinated. Actress Michelle Trachtenberg, best known for her roles in Gossip Girl and other hit TV dramas, has died at the age of 39. She was found dead in her New York apartment on Wednesday morning, local time. The exact cause of death remains under investigation. According to police, no signs of foul play were detected, but Trachtenberg had recently undergone a liver transplant and may have suffered complications. Born in New York in 1985, Trachtenberg began her career as a child actress, and later gained widespread recognition for her roles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gossip Girl. Yoon Se-young, Arirang News

Symbol of Joseon Dynasty's royal legacy returns home after over 100 years

2025/02/27 17:00

A piece of royal heritage has finally returned home in about a hundred years. Our Lee Eun-hee covers its journey back and its importance. This centuries-old piece of royal heritage has finally made its way back home. This is believed to have been the nameplate of Seonwonjeon Hall within the grounds of Gyeongbokgung Palace, one of the four main royal places of the Joseon Dynasty. Seonwon means the "origin of jade." The hall was considered the most sacred hall within the palace, home to the portraits of past kings and royal rituals. This month, the Korea Heritage Service successfully repatriated the nameplate from Japan. It is unclear how the plaque ended up there, but it's believed to have been taken by the first Japanese governor-general of Korea in the early 1900s, during the Japanese colonial period. "The plaque features gold letters on a black lacquered background, with intricately carved cloud patterns on the frame, featuring its prestigious significance and exceptional artistic quality." The nameplate was first publicly discovered in 2023 when it appeared at a Japanese antique auction. The Korea Heritage Service and the Overseas Cultural Heritage Foundation were quick to take action. The return of this priceless cultural heritage was made possible through negotiations and sponsorship from gaming giant Riot Games. "For the past 12 years, Riot Games has supported the protection and return of Korean cultural heritage. As a company shaping modern culture, we believe preserving Korea's heritage holds great significance for everyone including our players and Riot Games." The Gyeongbokgung Palace's "Seonwonjeon" nameplate will be studied and managed at the National Palace Museum of Korea in Seoul, with plans for in-depth research and future exhibitions to further honor its historical significance. Lee Eun-hee, Arirang News.

S. Korean tech giants Samsung and LG Electronics sweep iF Design Award 2025

2025/02/27 17:00

Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics dominated this year's iF Design Award one of the most prestigious events in the global design industry. Organized by Germany's International Forum Design since 1953 the award evaluates nine categories including product design packaging and user experience. Samsung won 58 awards including two gold awards for an AI home robot and for a reusable packaging cloth. "Ballie" the robot helps with scheduling and controlling household appliances among other tasks. "Bojagi" is a reusable packaging cloth inspired by traditional Korean wrapping allowing products of different shapes to be wrapped easily. LG won 36 awards including the gold award for the world's first wireless transparent-screen television the "LG Signature OLED T."

Opposition-led Assembly passes special counsel bill to investigate Yoon's alleged election interference

2025/02/27 17:00

Meanwhile at the National Assembly. Lawmakers across the aisle locked horns over a bill paving the path for a special probe into allegations of election interference by President Yoon Suk Yeol and First Lady Kim Keon Hee through a political broker called Myung Tae-kyun. Our correspondent Shin Ha-young is standing by live on the line. So Ha-young, I hear the bill was passed by the parliament today. You're right, Sunny. Just a few hours ago, the main opposition Democratic Party, with support from minor parties, unilaterally passed a special counsel bill to investigate President Yoon and first lady Kim for their alleged election interference through Myung Tae-kyun. It passed with 182 votes in favor, 91 against, and one abstention. Myung is accused of conducting public opinion polls favorable to Yoon ahead of the last presidential race, and soliciting his support in the People Power Party's nomination process during the 2022 parliamentary by-elections. Last year, a phone call between Yoon and Myung surfaced where they discussed the candidacy of a then-upcoming by-election, something that is illegal. Ahead of the plenary session, DP floor leader Park Chan-dae said the special counsel bill was key to uncovering the truth behind the December 3rd declaration of martial law, stressing the need to restore the country and democracy. Take a listen. "There is already overwhelming evidence of serious crimes involving Yoon Suk Yeol, Kim Keon Hee, and Myung Tae-kyun. The probe is about fixing the country, not political fighting." Ahead of the vote, the ruling PPP reached a party consensus to oppose the bill and decided to request Acting President Choi Sang-mok to veto it if the opposition pushes it through. Its floor leader Kweon Seong-dong called the appointment of a special counsel a political move for an early election. Take a listen. "The special counsel bill is a political scheme by Myung Tae-kyun and the Democratic Party. The DP claims the case was a trigger for a martial law declaration, but it's just a baseless delusion." The PPP criticized the bill for targeting the party's entire procedure for elections and for suggesting it could investigate all ruling party members at any time. And Ha-young, before you go do tell us about the postponement of the vote on the revision of the Commercial Act. Sunny, Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik decided to hold off on the Commercial Act amendment at today's plenary session, citing the need for more talks due to the sharp divide between the parties. Let's listen. "As the speaker, I've decided not to put down the revision of the Commercial Act at today's plenary session to encourage more talks between the parties. I urge the parties to keep discussing it until the next session." The amendment expands a company director's duty to act in good faith, requiring them to serve both the company and its shareholders' interests. The PPP has criticized the amendment, claiming it will lead to endless lawsuits and disrupt businesses, even though the revision is meant to protect shareholders. The DP, which has been pushing the amendment, expressed regret over the delay. Speaker Woo said the voting deadline would be determined as the negotiations progress. That's all I have for this hour. Back to you Sunny. All right Ha-young, thank you for that coverage. That was our political correspondent Shin Ha-young with the latest at the parliament.

Uncertainty over President Yoon’s impeachment timeline as Court rules in favor of instating left-leaning justice

2025/02/27 17:00

Acting President Choi Sang-mok's decision to hold back the appointment of justice nominee Ma Eun-hyuk stands in breach of the parliament's authority to recommend Constitutional Court justices. That is the verdict reached by the court in response to a parliamentary lawsuit against acting President Choi. Oh Soo-young covers this ruling and its broader implications. The Constitutional Court has ruled that Acting President Choi Sang-mok's decision to withhold the appointment of Justice nominee Ma Eun-hyuk was unconstitutional, violating the National Assembly's authority to select Constitutional Court justices. On Thursday, the Court announced its verdict that Choi does not have discretion to review or reject justices elected by the National Assembly, reaffirming that the legislature's selection power is independent and substantive. Choi had appointed two out of three justices put forward by the Assembly in December last year, but deferred Ma Eun-hyuk's appointment, calling for bipartisan agreement first. At the same time, the Court dismissed the request from the National Assembly Speaker to confirm Ma's status as a justice or order his immediate appointment, citing legal limitations. Following the ruling, Choi is now under significant pressure to appoint Ma Eun-hyuk,.. a left-leaning judge recommended by the opposition Democratic Party. His appointment is politically sensitive as he would be the fifth progressive justice on a nine-member bench. Choi's office said the Acting President would "respect" the Court's decision, and would carefully look into the verdict, but couldn't comment on if or when Ma would be appointed. If Ma is soon instated, various complications could arise in President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial, as the Court would then decide whether or not he will participate in the deliberation process. Given that Yoon's trial hearings concluded this week, the court could exclude Ma. Even if Ma is included, experts say he might choose to recuse himself to avoid controversy, and maintain the current eight-member bench. But if he participates, the Court would have to decide whether Ma should conduct a brief review of trial materials, or hold a retrial process which involves a more comprehensive examination with more hearings. The latter could significantly delay the ruling,.. which is currently expected in mid-March. President Yoon's legal team on Thursday strongly condemned the court's decision, calling it politically motivated, and aimed at securing a six-vote majority to uphold Yoon's impeachment. Yoon's team raised concerns over Ma Eun-hyuk's past affiliation with progressive legal groups which they said undermines judicial neutrality. They claim that Acting President Choi is not legally bound to appoint Ma and should conduct a thorough administrative review before making a final decision. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

Navy's Task Fleet Command conducts very first major maritime exercise

2025/02/27 17:00

The Navy's new Task Fleet Command has conducted its first major maritime exercise since its launch earlier this month. The exercise included nine warships including the 7-thousand-6-hundred-ton Sejong the Great destroyer one submarine and 13 aircraft in and above waters off South Korea's western and southern coasts. The three-day drills that lasted until this Thursday saw troops engaged in various sessions including live-fire training and anti-submarine warfare. The Sejong the Great destroyer also engaged in ballistic missile detection and tracking drills to strengthen its capabilities against North Korean missile threats.

NIS confirms N. Korean troop redeployment to Kursk frontline with possible additional reinforcements

2025/02/27 17:00

Starting early this month North Korea has been deploying troops again to the front lines of the battle in Kursk. This is according to the National Intelligence Service earlier on this Thursday. Now there appears to have been a reinforcement in the deployment but intelligence authorities here have yet to confirm its size. Sources for their part have suggested over one thousand more soldiers being sent between January and February. Back last October North Korea sent some 11-thousand soldiers to Russia. Meanwhile a senior official at the Unification Ministry says the additional troop deployment aligns with the rotation of forces aimed at maintaining combat readiness.

U.S. official Kevin Kim reassures Seoul it won't be sidelined if N. Korean talks resume under Trump

2025/02/27 17:00

A senior U.S. official has brushed aside concerns of South Korea being sidelined from potential denuclearization talks with North Korea. U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kevin Kim also reaffirmed the Trump administration's commitment to issues on the Korean peninsula. Remarks to this end were shared at the U.S. Embassy here in Seoul earlier on Wednesday and they come amid the political turmoil in Korea.

S. Korea, U.S. agree to use term 'denuclearization of N. Korea,' not 'of Korean Peninsula'

2025/02/27 17:00

The phrase "denuclearization of North Korea" will be promoted by South Korea and the U.S. in acknowledgement of the fact that it is NOT the Korean peninsula that is illicitly pursuing nuclear weapons but simply Pyongyang. Kim Bo-kyoung has more. Seoul and Washington have agreed to use the term 'denuclearization of North Korea' instead of 'denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula', when addressing the North Korean nuclear issue. South Korean Ambassador to the U.S., Cho Hyun-dong, made this announcement, during a monthly meeting of South Korean correspondents in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday. As Seoul does not have nuclear weapons, the two expressions largely convey the same purpose of dismantling Pyongyang's nuclear program. However, 'denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula' holds the broader meaning of not only ridding North Korea of its nuclear program, but also the possibility of South Korea going nuclear or hosting U.S. tactical nuclear weapons. To make the meaning clearer, second Trump administration has decided to use the expression 'the denuclearization of North Korea' in a consistent matter. Following the agreement, Seoul's top envoy to the U.S. added that the term was used in documents issued during high-level meetings, including the U.S.-Japan summit and the trilateral foreign ministers' meeting between South Korea, the U.S., and Japan. Meanwhile, South Korea, the U.S. and Japan raised voices together at a UN conference on disarmament in Geneva, condemning North Korea's military provocations, and calling for its complete denuclearization. While pointing out that Pyongyang is continuing its reckless provocations in blatant violation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions the three countries said the international community is resolute that Pyongyang will never have the status of a nuclear weapon state. The North Korean representative dismissed the statement, calling it "outdated and meaningless." Calling 'denuclearization' an absurd fantasy he blamed U.S. and its allies' military actions as main cause of instability on the Peninsula, and said that North Korea's status as a full-fledged nuclear state will remain an undeniable reality. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.

Trump threatens 25% tariffs on EU, says bloc was formed to 'screw' U.S.

2025/02/27 17:00

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 25 percent tariff on imports from the European Union accusing the bloc of being created to cheat the U.S. Addressing the White House press corps Trump claimed an announcement would be made "very soon" adding that the tariffs will be centered on cars and other goods. The European Commission for its part has rejected Trump's accusation adding that creation of the regional bloc had in fact facilitated business ventures in Europe for American companies. The Commission also vowed to respond "firmly and immediately against unjustified tariffs." The EU currently has in place a 10 percent tariff on American vehicle imports which is four times higher than the U.S. tariff on European passenger car imports. The U.S. nonetheless already has a 25 percent tariff on imported pickup trucks.

K-wave AI News

2025/02/27 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. Asia's premier K-content festival, the 'Busan One Asia Festival' will kick off its three-day extravaganza on June 11 in the southern port city. Now in its 9th year, BOF has grown beyond a K-pop event into a global cultural exchange platform attracting young people worldwide. The flagship K-pop concert will be held indoors for the first time this year, at BEXCO, with an initial lineup featuring popular boybands WayV and NCT DREAM. The highly acclaimed 'Park Concert' will return this year as a free event at Hwamyeong Ecological Park. The festival will also showcase K-beauty, K-art, and K-food programs, offering attendees a deep dive into Korea's vibrant cultural landscape. A retirement ceremony for eight Jeju haenyeos, or female divers, has been held aboard a yacht in the island's waters, their lifelong workplace. Ranging in age from 79 to 95, their combined years of diving total 528. Kim Ok-sun, one of the retirees, tearfully reflected on her journey, saying that it's hard to describe all the hardships while working tirelessly to support her children. The ceremony is part of ongoing efforts to preserve the fading Jeju haenyeo culture. Haenyeo culture is recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and remains a strong symbol of female empowerment. The 28th 'Yeongdeok Snow Crab Festival' will take place from March 14 to 17 at Haeparang Park in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. Yeongdeok snow crabs are among the finest in Korea, known for their sweet, tender meat. This year's festival will offer a range of activities, including snow crab fishing and pot trapping experiences. It also features specialty dishes such as snow crab kimbap, snow crab tteokbokki, and sea cucumber bibimbap. Established in 1998 the event has grown steadily to become one of Korea's most celebrated food festivals. That's all from me. Keep it tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[Hallyu-People] Meet Philippine star-turned K-vlogger Kristel Fulgar

2025/02/27 14:00

With the growing interest in Korean culture, more and more foreigners are sharing their personal experiences in Korea on a range of platforms. Some, like Filipina content creator Kristel Fulgar promote Korean culture through vlogs capturing their daily life here. And Kristel is our guest for "Hallyu People" today, she joins us live in the studio. Hello Kristel! Welcome! 1) Kristel, you are an actress, singer, model and content creator, with a YouTube channel called "KrisTells Vlogs". The last time I checked you had 2.79 million subscribers. And that's not the only platform you are active in. Please tell us a bit about yourself. 2) A couple of years ago, you also received an award as an influencer here in Korea. Can you tell us more about it? 3) Back in the Philippines you are a well-known actress and singer. As a "child star" you gained the nickname "nation's little sister" When did you debut? And tell us about your songs, movies or TV shows. 4) How were you introduced to Korean culture in the Philippines and what do you especially like about the K-Wave? 5) And what made you move to Korea? 6) What has been the most rewarding part of running a vlog channel with Korean contents? 7) What would you recommend to your fans who are planning a visit to Korea? (Must-see attractions, must-try foods, must-do experiences etc.) 8) What are your plans for year 2025 and your ultimate goals in Korea?

[Features-reporter] Independence fighter Ahn Junggeun Memorial Museum to reopen with wider range of digital content

2025/02/27 14:00

This year Korea marks a hundred and 15 years since the execution of independence hero Ahn Jung-geun whose faith in freedom for Korea fueled his fight against Japanese occupation and its atrocities. That being said a memorial museum bearing his name is re-opening its doors also just in time for this weekend's March 1st Independence Movement Day. Our Kim Bo-kyoung takes us there. An independence fighter who cut off the tip of his left ring finger with 11 others as a symbol of sacrifice to their nation. A patriot who assassinated Japanese general Ito Hirobumi, firing three bullets into his chest and abdomen in Harbin, before being executed at Lushun Prison. Marking the 115th anniversary of his death, the Ahn Junggeun Memorial Museum held a re-opening ceremony on Wednesday. An expanded range of digital exhibits is part of the patriots' ministry's efforts to renew the memorial museums of Korea's patriots --Yun Bong-gil, Ahn Junggeun, and Baekbeom Kim Gu, commemorating the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation. "Through introducing the latest digital content and immersive video rooms, visitors can now experience the life and independence movement of patriot Ahn Junggeun in a more vivid and interactive way." Ahn's commitment to the Enlightenment Movement in Korea, his role in the Righteous Army Movement along with his long journey are well-shown throughout the exhibition. But of course, the most noticeable part of the renewed exhibition is how it digitized major historical moments and lessons Ahn left. "If you put your hand on Ahn's handprint with his fingers cut off, it turns on the video on the wall showing Ahn pulling the trigger of his pistol to assassinate Ito Hirobumi, letting visitors feel the atmosphere at that moment." The museum recreated the courtroom as well, where Ahn explains why he shot Ito, citing 15 reasons, based on trial records. In the reproduced video, Ahn also talks about a treatise on peace in the East, which he wrote while at Lushun Prison, until his execution on March 26th, 1910. "I have always thought it has been difficult to convey why Ahn Junggeun shot Ito, the meaning behind it, and the ideals and dreams he envisioned. Through the renewal, I hope visitors will be able to easily understand Ahn's advanced philosophy on peace." People will be able to enjoy the renewed Ahn Junggeun Memorial Museum starting March 1st, Independence Movement Day. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.

[K-enter] Jisoo's "earthquake" tops World Digital Song Sales chart

2025/02/27 14:00

So Bella, let's start off with a story on BLACKPINK's Jisoo. Soa, did you take a listen to Jisoo's new song, "earthquake?" Well, this song is getting tremendous love as its topping a Billboard chart. According to Billboard's official website on Wednesday, Jisoo's title song "earthquake" from her latest mini-album "AMORTAGE" topped the "World Digital Song Sales" chart this week. On top of this feat, "earthquake" also ranked 47th on the Billboard "Global 200" chart and 22nd on Billboard Global 200 excluding the U.S. That's not all. It proved its global influence by ranking 20th on "LyricFind Global" as well. "earthquake" is catching the eyes and ears of global music fans with 36 million views on YouTube, 20 million streams on Spotify, and 800-thousand individual TikTok videos. Meanwhile, Jisoo starred in the recently released Coupang Play series "Newtopia" and her upcoming movie "Omniscient Reader: The Prophet" is also set to be released in July. In addition, she will hold the 2025 fan meeting tour "LIGHTS, LOVE, ACTION!" in seven Asian cities, including Manila, Tokyo and Hong Kong. Moving onto our next story about a Netflix series. What do you have for us Bella? "Squid Game" season 2 has been announced as the most-watched TV series on Netflix in the second half of 2024. According to Netflix's latest Engagement Report sharing what people watched from July to December 2024, the subscribers spent more than 94 billion hours on Netflix in the second half of last year, which is a 5% increase compared to the previous year. Now, what's very impressive is that "Squid Game" Season 2 premiered on December 26th of last year, but it dominated the second half of 2024 as Netflix's most-viewed series with 87 million views. So it topped the chart in just 6 days. Other Korean content also did well, including the film "Officer Black Belt," the drama "Love Next Door" and the reality TV show "Culinary Class Wars." And for our last story today, we'll talk about an upcoming film that stars one of the actors from "Squid Game." The actor Lee Byung-hun will come back to the screen with his upcoming film "The Match." The new film, set in the 1990s, is centered on the board game go, or "baduk" in Korean, and explores the mentor-disciple relationship and rivalry between the two of Korea's real-life go legends, Cho Hun-hyun and Lee Chang-ho. Lee Byung-hun will play Cho Hun-hyun, while Yoo Ah-in will step into the shoes of Lee Chang-ho. "The Match" will premiere in movie theaters on March 26th. Thank you Bella for today's stories. Now time to go over to our AI anchor Ari, who has festivals and ceremonies to report on. Ari, take it away!

Industry minister optimistic going into talks with Washington

2025/02/27 10:00

South Korea's trade minister is in Washington D.C. to find a breakthrough in the Trump administration's aggressive tariff policies. It's the first time a South Korean minister has traveled to the U.S. since Trump's return to the White House. Lee Seung-jae reports. South Korea's industry minister Ahn Duk-geun expressed confidence that his upcoming talks with U.S. trade officials will be constructive, adding that the two sides will be able to find "win-win" alternatives amid Trump administration tariff plans. Speaking to reporters upon arriving at the Dulles International Airport on Wednesday, Minister Ahn said that Seoul and Washington will be able to "dispel various misunderstandings" as most of the trade issues have been addressed through past FTA renegotiations. "We are in a situation where most of the issues, including non-tariff barriers, have been addressed in past FTA renegotiations. Through specific consultations with the U.S. side, I believe that we can dispel various misunderstandings and craft a constructive alternative." The industry minister also emphasized that his visit to Washington is aimed at finding the "best" option to protect South Korean businesses, while deepening bilateral partnership with the U.S. on strategic industrial sectors. He also said that he feels a great sense of responsibility, as the matter is of great national interest. Ahn cited the handling of the previous-Biden administration's Inflation Reduction Act, saying that Seoul will be able to find a constructive, win-win alternative with the current U.S. administration. The minister will hold talks with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik during his visit,.. with plans to discuss U.S. tariffs and bilateral cooperation in the shipbuilding industry, cutting-edge industries, energy, and other strategic sectors. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

[Weather] Feeling more like end of March this afternoon, dusty in central areas

2025/02/27 10:00

After a chilly start, we'll see a significant warming trend across the country. Most parts will see highs in the low teens leading to big gaps in temperatures. In terms of air quality, it shouldn't be as bad as we might think except for Jeju. However, dust levels will elevate in central parts of the country this afternoon. Another key issue today is the dryness in the air. Humidity levels dropped to below 15% in some parts of the capital region yesterday, which may have caused discomfort such as itchy eyes or a sore throat. If you're feeling these effects, be sure to drink plenty of water and keep yourself hydrated. It looks like being as dry as yesterday. Afternoon highs will be 1 to 7 degrees higher today, feeling more like the end of March. Seoul gets up to 13 degrees, Daejeon sees a high of 15 degrees. Dry air relief is on the way with nationwide rain in the forecast for the upcoming long weekend. Then cold air moves into the country again next week.

Michelle Trachtenberg, Gossip Girl and Buffy actress, dies aged 39

2025/02/27 10:00

Actress Michelle Trachtenberg, best known for her roles in Gossip Girl and other hit TV dramas, has died at the age of 39. She was found dead in her New York apartment on Wednesday morning, local time. The exact cause of death remains under investigation. According to police, no signs of foul play were detected, but Trachtenberg had recently undergone a liver transplant and may have suffered complications. Born in New York in 1985, Trachtenberg began her career as a child actress, and later gained widespread recognition for her roles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gossip Girl.

Child in Texas is first U.S. measles death in a decade

2025/02/27 10:00

Turning to the United States. Amid a growing measles outbreak, Texas has reported its first child fatality from the disease. This marks the first measles-related death in the U.S. in nearly a decade, with the last case occurring in Washington state in 2015. According to the Texas Department of Health on Tuesday, the number of reported measles cases in West Texas has risen to 124 an increase of more than 30 cases since late last week. The highest infection rates have been observed among children aged 5 to 17. So far, a total of 18 people have been hospitalized due to the outbreak, and all of them were unvaccinated.

Bus crash in Thailand kills leaves at least 18 passengers dead

2025/02/27 10:00

At least 18 people have been killed and 23 others injured after a double-decker tour bus overturned in eastern Thailand. The crash occurred early Wednesday, local time after the bus lost control due to a brake failure and plunged down a slope. A total of 49 adults were on board, traveling as part of an educational tour. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra extended her sympathies to the victims' families and stated that an investigation was underway. Thailand's Ministry of Transport has also announced that it will work with police to investigate the incident and strengthen inspections to guarantee that all public transportation vehicles meet safety standards.