News

S. Korea and U.S. inked new joint wartime operations plan last year to counter N. Korea WMD, missile threats: USFK Commander

2025/04/10 10:00

South Korea and the United States signed a new joint wartime operations plan last year, in response to North Korea's evolving nuclear threats. Commander of the U.S. Forces Korea, General Xavier Brunson, mentioned this plan in a written statement to the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday. The general said the plan was in response to Pyongyang's increasingly sophisticated weapons of mass destruction and missile capabilities and that the new plan was signed after testing and validating it through the two countries' joint exercises. He added that Seoul and Washington will continue to refine the plan to improve integration and interoperability.

[Weather] Cloudy with more rain in the south, April warmth continues

2025/04/09 20:00

We missed the sun today! Spotty rain that started in the west is gradually moving in across the country. Rain could take a break in between through tomorrow so keep an umbrella handy. Despite the rain, pleasant spring warmth continues with temperatures going up to similar to today, so let's take a closer look. The morning chill has eased, Seoul starts off at 9 degrees Celsius, Daegu at 11 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, the capital area will be dusty all day tomorrow. Then highs will go up to 20 degrees in most parts of Korea, Daegu and Gyeongju will be warmer at 22 degrees but expect to receive rain through the afternoon. Disappointing news for those who plan to check out the cherry blossoms this weekend, rain is in the forecast for both days. Also temperatures will plunge on Sunday with a high of 9 degrees in the capital. That's Korea for you, here's a look at the international weather conditions.

Negotiations already launched as reciprocal tariffs come into effect on Wednesday

2025/04/09 20:00

Country-specific U.S. tariffs took effect today, putting much uncertainty on the world economy. The team from Korea is in Washington, with the U.S. saying its allies South Korea and Japan in mind for negotiations. Meantime, the levy for China went up to 104-percent. Kim Bo-kyoung has more. Countries hit by tariffs have already launched negotiations with the U.S. as the steeper rates of reciprocal tariffs for what Trump calls the "worst offenders" were officially imposed on Wednesday. South Korea, which saw a 25-percent reciprocal tariff imposed as of 1PM Wednesday local time, began its talks as well. Along with Acting President Han Duck-soo's phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump, Seoul's trade minister Cheong In-kyo arrived at Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, for talks with the U.S. Trade Representative. Cheong said Korea has two major projects it could bring to the table. "The Alaska LNG project is an important part, and shipbuilding, where discussions are already ongoing between the two countries is an area the U.S. is particularly interested in so it will likely be brought to the negotiating table for discussions." While saying his goal is to completely eliminate mutual tariffs, Cheong said Korea will aim to reduce the tariffs gradually if elimination is difficult. Such talks come as the U.S. is prioritizing its key allies South Korea and Japan, in holding trade negotiations. Among dozens of countries facing high reciprocal tariffs, Kevin Hassett, Chairman of the White House National Economic Council, said in an interview with local media on Tuesday that Seoul and Tokyo are the highest priorities, citing them as major trading partners and allies with large trade surpluses with the United States. Meanwhile, China now needs to deal with Washington's huge one-hundred-four-percent tariff across all Chinese imports. China was already set to see tariffs increase by 34-percent on Wednesday, following two rounds of ten-percent levies. The rate shot up again as Beijing did not back down on its decision to impose 34-percent retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods by noon on Tuesday. "Countries like China, who have chosen to retaliate and try to double down on their mistreatment of American workers, are making a mistake. President Trump has a spine of steel and he will not break and America will not break under his leadership." Regarding the massive tariff on China, Trump at the National Republican Congressional Committee President’s Dinner on Tuesday, said though it might seem outrageous, China has imposed tariffs of one-hundred or one-hundred-25-percent on many American items. He then said China would at some point, negotiate. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.

Employment in Mar. up by 193,000; sharp decline in construction and manufacturing

2025/04/09 20:00

The Korean labor market is holding steady with employment expanding in March, growing by almost 200-thousand from a year ago, but that expansion remains uneven. Moon Ji-young explains. South Korea’s job market saw robust growth in March, but challenges persist, particularly in the construction and manufacturing sectors, along with youth employment. According to Statistics Korea’s employment report released on Wednesday, the number of employed people aged 15 or older reached almost 28-point-6 million in March, marking a year-on-year increase of 193-thousand. This gain marks the third consecutive month of growth. By industry, the health and social welfare sector led the job gains, followed by public administration, defense, and social security, as well as the finance field. However, construction saw the largest year-on-year drop in jobs since data collection began in 2013, marking a continuous decline for eleven consecutive months. The manufacturing sector also recorded its most significant decline since November 2020, reflecting a ninth straight month of falls in employment. Some experts forecast that manufacturing, the backbone of the domestic economy, could see a further decline in jobs this year, as export growth slows due to a potential trade war triggered by U.S. tariffs. "Due to the shock from tariffs, our product exports may decline, leading to a faster reduction in job opportunities. Since most of what we sell consists of manufactured goods, this could result in a reduction of decent jobs in the sector." By age group, employment for those aged 60 years and older primarily led the job growth, adding 365-thousand year-on-year. In contrast, the number of employed individuals aged 15 to 29 dropped by 206-thousand. The employment rate for young adults stood at 44.5 percent, marking the lowest monthly record for any March since 2021. With this latest data, Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok expressed concerns regarding sluggish job growth, particularly in export-driven industries such as manufacturing, during an economic officials' meeting on Wednesday. To address the volatility in the trade market, the government has committed to a supplementary budget of 10 trillion won, or roughly 6.7 billion dollars. Moon Ji-young, Arirang News.

[Politics & Diplomacy] Presidential race heats up: DP leader resigns to run for president, former Labor Minister joins race

2025/04/09 20:00

For the presidential election on June 3rd, politicians are speeding up their moves to join the race. To take a closer look at how the rival parties are preparing and what’s ahead, let’s turn to our political correspondent Shin Ha-young. Ha-young, the Democratic Party leader resigned from the chairmanship of the party today. What does this mean? You’re right. Today, Democratic Party Chairman Lee Jae-myung, widely seen as the likely DP candidate, stepped down from his position, hinting at his presidential bid. This comes as the political scene quickly shifted into early election mode, following former President Yoon’s removal from office. Lee, who lost to former President Yoon by a margin of zero-point-7-3 percentage points in the last presidential election, has not officially declared his candidacy but plans to do so on Thursday. Take a listen. "I am grateful to have been able to serve as the party leader for three years and to have achieved some meaningful results. Things were tough in the beginning, but I’m leaving with the situation looking better than when I started. I will soon be starting a new chapter." Politicians outside Lee's faction within the DP are also preparing to enter the race. Among them, former DP lawmaker Kim Du-kwan, who also served as minister of interior, and governor of Gyeongsangnam-do Province, was the first to announce his candidacy. Kim Dong-yeon, the current Governor of Gyeonggi-do Province, also formally declared his bid today, before departing for Michigan in the U.S. to address tariff-related issues. Following Lee's resignation, the DP quickly shifted into election mode, planning to launch an election committee as soon as possible. The party aims to select its presidential candidate by the end of this month. Primary rules and the election schedule are also expected to be finalized soon, with candidate registration expected to start next week. There’s growing attention on how the primary will be run, as different factions within the party hold different views. In the last presidential election, the primary was based on the results of a party membership vote given a 50 percent share and public opinion polls also given a 50 percent share. This time, however, politicians outside Lee’s faction are pushing for an open primary, where the outcome is determined entirely by public voting. What's the mood at the People Power Party? Any updates? Well, as for the People Power Party, there is no front runner like its rivals, and the primary is expected to have around 10 candidates or even more. Now-former Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo, who resigned from his post yesterday, declared his candidacy today. Let's take a listen. "I received a lot of support and encouragement from the public. I've decided to follow the will of the people. I'm committed to defending South Korea's identity as a free democracy, and doing my part to help make the country even stronger." PPP lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo also declared his fourth run for presidency on Tuesday. Former PPP Chair Han Dong-hoon said the formation of his camp will begin on Thursday, while Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon is planning to announce his candidacy on Sunday. Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo's supporters said his official announcement will be on the 14th of April. The party's election committee today decided to hold its national convention on May 3rd to choose its official presidential candidate. Candidate registration will take place next Monday for two days, and the first-round contenders will be announced on April 16th. With as many as 15 people expected to run, there’s a lot of talk about how many rounds of cutoffs there'll be, and how many candidates make it through each time. Those details are set to be decided at tomorrow's meeting. With the election date now official, I hear the election commission today ensured a fair and transparent process. You're right. National Election Commission chief Roh Tae-ak today stressed the importance of the 21st presidential election, saying the commission will make the voting and counting process more transparent to build public trust. Take a listen. "The National Election Commission takes this election seriously and is committed to ensuring a fair and impartial process. Despite the short timeline, we’ll do all we can to prepare thoroughly so the will of the people is fully reflected in the outcome." Roh also emphasized that election fraud is impossible, noting that over 300-thousand clerks take part in the voting and counting process, and more than 100-thousand observers monitor every step. CCTV will record in real-time the storage rooms for ballot boxes, and the footage will be shared. Ballot-counting clerks will count the ballots with their hands in addition to the electronic counting. Let's shift our focus to the Constitutional reform that has been making headlines during the past few days. I hear the Assembly Speaker has backtracked on the idea of holding a referendum on the election day. What's the story there? You're right. Well, calls for constitutional reform surface almost in every election in South Korea. But this time, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik pushed for a nationwide referendum to take place alongside the upcoming election, emphasizing the need to strengthen the separation of powers to ensure popular sovereignty and national unity. However, on Wednesday, he withdrew his earlier proposal, saying that it has become virtually impossible under the current political turmoil, especially after Acting President Han Duck-soo nominated two Constitutional Court justices to fill the bench. Instead, Woo suggested opening full-scale discussions on the revision after the presidential election. Alright, thank you, Ha-young, for your report today. Keep us posted on future developments. Thank you.

S. Korean, U.S. leaders signal interest in "win-win" "one-stop shopping" deal in phone call

2025/04/09 20:00

A deal between Korea and the U.S. could involve the one that ties trade and security. The country's acting president spoke over the phone with the American leader last night. Oh Soo-young reports. The leaders of South Korea and the United States have signaled interest in a potential "win-win" package deal, amid tensions over tariffs and defense cost-sharing. This came during a phone call Tuesday between Acting President Han Duck-soo and U.S. President Donald Trump,.marking the first top-level contact between the two countries since Trump began his second term 78 days ago. It follows a leadership shift in Seoul,. just four days after President Yoon Suk Yeol was removed from office by the Constitutional Court, placing Han in full control as acting president. The 28-minute conversation focused on trade and security issues. On trade, both leaders agreed to continue ministerial-level talks aimed at mutually beneficial outcomes, particularly around trade balance. Han highlighted potential cooperation in three key sectors: shipbuilding, liquefied natural gas, and trade adjustment. The call came just 16 hours before the U.S. implemented its so-called Liberation Day levies a 10 percent baseline tariff on all imports, and a country-specific reciprocal tariffs on goods from South Korea. On security issues, Han called for stronger unity on North Korea's denuclearization, as both leaders reaffirmed their dedication to the South Korea-U.S. alliance. They also pledged close coordination on North Korea policies, and backed continued trilateral cooperation with Japan. Beyond the formalities, both sides appeared to willing to work towards a deal. Speaking to CNN earlier that day, Han ruled out retaliation against Trump's tariffs, unlike China or Japan, and called for a “cool negotiation.” On top of last month's duties on steel and aluminum, Washington's latest measures target key Korean exports such as automobiles, batteries, and machinery. While calling Trump's string of tariffs “a pity,” Han said he believed a “win-win deal” between friends could encourage Washington to ease its stance. Meanwhile, Trump took to Truth Social, posting he had a "great call" with Han. He said they discussed South Korea’s trade surplus, tariffs, LNG purchases, and cost-sharing for U.S. troops in Korea. Trump claimed South Korea began paying “billions” in military costs during his first term, only for “Sleepy Joe Biden” to cancel the deal. However, no such agreement was finalized. A new cost-sharing pact was signed under Biden last year, raising South Korea’s contribution by 8.3 percent from 2026, with annual increases tied to inflation, marking a significant financial commitment by Seoul. Still, as a growing number of countries strike back against his tariffs, Trump seemed hopeful for a breakthrough with South Korea, saying he saw potential for a "great deal." Noting that South Korea’s “top team” on trade was en route to Washington, he floated a “one-stop shopping” approach which bundles trade, defense, and industrial policy into one sweeping pact. A South Korean government official told local press on Wednesday that Seoul prioritizes the easing of tariffs. The official added that Trump seemed "open" to a streamlined, package deal, but said sealing a deal will depend on the pace of negotiations, and what cards the two sides bring to the table. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News, Sejong.

Tariffs take toll on South Korea; KOSPI falls below 2,300 for first time in 17 months

2025/04/09 20:00

Korea's benchmark KOSPI fell below the 23-hundred mark on Wednesday in the wake of the major U.S. tariffs that went into effect. Markets elsewhere also took a hit. Bae Eun-ji has the details. South Korea's benchmark KOSPI has dipped below the 2,300 points, for the first time in almost a year and half. The KOSPI index closed at 2-thousand-293-point-7 on Wednesday, down 1-point-7-4 percent from the day before. The sharp decline comes after it already lost more than 5 percent in a single day on Monday. Over the course of three days, the benchmark index has lost 139-point-7 trillion Korean won in market value, which is more than 94 billion dollars. The country's tech-heavy KOSDAQ also slid more than 2-percent, to finish at 643-point-3-9. The local currency also fell,.. with the won-dollar rate briefly declining to its lowest since the global financial crisis more than 16 years ago. The Korean won dropped to 1,484 per dollar on Wednesday, the lowest since March 2009. And it wasn't just South Korea that saw sharp declines on Wednesday. In neighboring countries, Japan's Nikkei 225 lost almost 4 percent, while Taiwan's benchmark stock index also shed nearly 5-point-8 percent. Meanwhile, U.S. stocks also continued to drop amid tariff fears. The S&P 500 fell sharply on Tuesday, to close below 5-thousand points for the first time in almost a year. It has now lost 5-point-8-3 trillion dollars in value, for its steepest four days of losses since the index was created in the 1950s. Apple shares have fallen more than 20 percent since last week's tariff announcement, wiping out 770 billion dollars in market cap over the past four days. This was mainly because Apple is considered as one of the companies most exposed to the trade war, due to its heavy reliance on China clearly showing that the current uncertainty around tariffs is overwhelming. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.

A look into N. Korea’s moves and regional risks amid S. Korea’s political uncertainty

2025/04/09 20:30

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus. I'm Kim Mok-yeon. South Korea is facing an intense period of political transition following the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol. As Seoul prepares for new leadership, attention has been shifted to North Korea’s muted response to Yoon’s dismissal as it stands in stark contrast to its past behaviors, raising questions about Pyongyang’s current strategic thinking. Meanwhile, Kim Jong-un’s high-profile military inspection on the day of the ruling, along with renewed statements from Kim Yo-jong and a reported border-crossing incident in the DMZ, suggest that tensions may still be simmering beneath the surface. To delve deeper into the inter-Korean situation, we invite our go-to North Korea expert, Dr. Go Myong-hyun, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for National Security Strategy. Welcome. Also joining us is Brian Myers, Professor of International Studies at Dongseo University. Great to have you. 1. (Go) So Dr. Go, North Korea briefly reported the news of former President Yoon Suk-yeol's dismissal without special comments a day after it happened. This is in contrast with the swift and detailed reporting of former President Park Geun-hye’s impeachment. How could we read into this? 2. (Myers) On the other hand, there is also a view that the North may have limited its rhetoric against the South, as the impeachment news could negatively impact its own regime. What is your view? 3. (Go) The North's KCNA reported that Kim Jong-un inspected a special operations unit on April 4—the day of Pres. Yoon's impeachment ruling. Do you think this holds any significance? 4. (Go) Meanwhile, the former Yoon administration maintained a hardline stance on North Korea. Do you believe a shift in North Korea policy is necessary under the next administration for better stability on the Korean Peninsula? 5. (Myers) Dialogue between North Korea and the U.S. is being cited as the biggest variable that could shake the situation on the Korean Peninsula. In this context, Kim Yo-jong, Vice Department Director of the Workers’ Party, strongly objected to the foreign ministers' meeting between Seoul, Washington, and Tokyo, which reaffirmed commitments to North Korea’s denuclearization, calling it the most hostile act. What is the significance of Kim Yo-jong stepping forward to reiterate North Korea's position? 6. (Go) Meanwhile, Acting President Han Duck-soo and U.S. President Trump held their first phone call for nearly 30 minutes on Tuesday. This was the first conversation between the two leaders since the launch of Trump’s second administration, amid continued concerns over a “Korea passing” in the North Korea nuclear negotiations. How do you assess this development? 7. (Myers) After the call with Acting President Han, President Trump hinted at renegotiating the increase in South Korea's defense cost sharing. What kind of proactive diplomatic and security responses do you think are necessary going forward? 8. (Go) North Korea–Russia relations are strengthening into a strategic alliance, and the U.S.–Russia relationship is reportedly improving in light of the Ukraine ceasefire talks. Amid such changes in the international landscape, what direction should South Korea’s diplomacy take for the sake of Peninsula stability? 9. (Myers) Recently, the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a North Korea human rights resolution for the 23rd consecutive year. This year's resolution notably includes concerns over North Korean troop deployment to Russia. While these resolutions are not legally binding, do you think continued pressure like this can have an impact on North Korea? 10. (Go) On April 8th, the Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that around a dozen North Korean soldiers crossed the Military Demarcation Line in the eastern section of the Demilitarized Zone. While it may have been a simple mistake made during reconnaissance, there is also speculation that it was a deliberate incursion taking advantage of South Korea’s current political instability. What is your view on this?

S. Korean, U.S. leaders signal interest in "win-win" "one-stop shopping" deal in phone call

2025/04/09 17:00

Acting President Han Duck-soo and U.S President Donald Trump have confirmed their commitment to bolstering bilateral ties on trade and security. Our correspondent Oh Soo-young reports. The leaders of South Korea and the United States have signaled interest in a potential "win-win" package deal, amid tensions over tariffs and defense cost-sharing. This came during a phone call Tuesday between Acting President Han Duck-soo and U.S. President Donald Trump,.marking the first top-level contact between the two countries since Trump began his second term 78 days ago. It follows a leadership shift in Seoul,. just four days after President Yoon Suk Yeol was removed from office by the Constitutional Court, placing Han in full control as acting president. The 28-minute conversation focused on trade and security issues. On trade, both leaders agreed to continue ministerial-level talks aimed at mutually beneficial outcomes, particularly around trade balance. Han highlighted potential cooperation in three key sectors: shipbuilding, liquefied natural gas, and trade adjustment. The call came just 16 hours before the U.S. implemented its so-called Liberation Day levies a 10 percent baseline tariff on all imports, and a country-specific reciprocal tariffs on goods from South Korea. On security issues, Han called for stronger unity on North Korea's denuclearization, as both leaders reaffirmed their dedication to the South Korea-U.S. alliance. They also pledged close coordination on North Korea policies, and backed continued trilateral cooperation with Japan. Beyond the formalities, both sides appeared to willing to work towards a deal. Speaking to CNN earlier that day, Han ruled out retaliation against Trump's tariffs, unlike China or Japan, and called for a “cool negotiation.” On top of last month's duties on steel and aluminum, Washington's latest measures target key Korean exports such as automobiles, batteries, and machinery. While calling Trump's string of tariffs “a pity,” Han said he believed a “win-win deal” between friends could encourage Washington to ease its stance. Meanwhile, Trump took to Truth Social, posting he had a "great call" with Han. He said they discussed South Korea’s trade surplus, tariffs, LNG purchases, and cost-sharing for U.S. troops in Korea. Trump claimed South Korea began paying “billions” in military costs during his first term, only for “Sleepy Joe Biden” to cancel the deal. However, no such agreement was finalized. A new cost-sharing pact was signed under Biden last year, raising South Korea’s contribution by 8.3 percent from 2026, with annual increases tied to inflation, marking a significant financial commitment by Seoul. Still, as a growing number of countries strike back against his tariffs, Trump seemed hopeful for a breakthrough with South Korea, saying he saw potential for a "great deal." Noting that South Korea’s “top team” on trade was en route to Washington, he floated a “one-stop shopping” approach which bundles trade, defense, and industrial policy into one sweeping pact. A South Korean government official told local press on Wednesday that Seoul prioritizes the easing of tariffs. The official added that Trump seemed "open" to a streamlined, package deal, but said sealing a deal will depend on the pace of negotiations, and what cards the two sides bring to the table. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News, Sejong.

[Weather] Lingering rain tomorrow, warmth continues

2025/04/09 17:00

Make sure to grab an umbrella for the evening commute, rain is gradually moving in across the country. The rain that started in the west will gradually spread to most areas by tonight. Keep an umbrella handy tomorrow too. Despite the rain, spring warmth continues with temperatures going up similar to today. Let's take a closer look. The morning chill has eased up, Seoul starts off at 9 degrees Celsius, Gwangju and Busan at 13 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, the capital area will be dusty all day tomorrow. Highs will go up to 20 degrees in most parts of Korea, Daegu and Gyeongju look like they'll receive rain through the afternoon. Unwelcome news for those planning to check out the cherry blossom this weekend, rain is in the forecast for both days. Also temperatures will plunge on Sunday with a high of 9 degrees in the capital. That's Korea for you, here's a look at the international weather conditions.

World News: UN chief calls Gaza a 'killing field', condemning Israel for aid blockade

2025/04/09 17:00

This is The World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has described Gaza as a "killing field," following urgent appeals from UN agencies for immediate action to ensure the delivery of food and aid to Palestinians in Gaza. On Tuesday, the UN chief addressed the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, calling the area a "killing field" where civilians face extreme suffering. He emphasized the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, and humanitarian access to the enclave. Guterres also rejected an Israeli proposal to control aid deliveries into Gaza, saying it could potentially restrict humanitarian support "down to the last calorie and grain of flour." The heads of six UN agencies issued a joint appeal to world leaders calling for urgent action to facilitate the delivery of food and aid to Gaza's residents, who have been without supplies since March 2. In the Dominican Republic's capital city Santo Domingo, at least 79 people died and over 150 were injured after the roof of a nightclub collapsed during a live performance. In the early hours of Tuesday, local time, the roof of the Jet Set nightclub collapsed during a concert by merengue singer Rubby Perez, with hundreds of people inside when the incident occurred. Among the deceased are Nelsy Cruz, the governor of Monte Cristi province, and the sister of former Major League Baseball player Nelson Cruz, as well as former MLB pitcher Octavio Dotel. Rubby Perez sustained injuries but is reported to be in stable condition. While investigations are underway to determine the cause of the collapse, the country's president expressed his condolences and assured all resources are being deployed for ongoing rescue efforts. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Tuesday, local time, that Ukrainian forces have captured two Chinese nationals fighting alongside the Russian army in the eastern part of the country. Zelenskyy stated that intelligence suggests more Chinese individuals are present in Russian military units. He directed Ukraine's foreign minister to engage with Beijing to seek clarification on this matter, but has not heard from the Chinese government yet. The development raises questions about China's role in the conflict, given its previously declared stance for peace. Finally, in the United Arab Emirates, Sotheby's has unveiled a collection of rare diamonds valued at over 100 million U.S. dollars in an exhibition center in Abu Dhabi. The exhibition's centerpiece is the Mediterranean Blue, a 10.03-carat Fancy Vivid Blue diamond from South Africa, regarded as one of the most significant blue diamonds ever discovered. The gem is expected to be valued at up to 20 million dollars at an auction scheduled for May in Geneva. The exhibition features eight diamonds totaling over 700 carats and will be open to the public from April 9 to 10. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.

Ghibli-style AI-generated portrait boom; new wave in art scene?

2025/04/09 17:00

Up next we shed light on a new ChatGPT feature that is garnering quite a bit of global attention for viral images in the style of Studio Ghibli . Park Kun-woo touches upon this craze and the conflict. Social media is buzzing with Studio Ghibli-style portraits -not of actual characters but of real people transformed using generative AI. The global trend has also reached South Korea after OpenAI CEO Sam Altman posted his own version last month, showing how ChatGPT can now create intricate images with just simple prompts. "Whenever I open social media, it's flooded with these Ghibli-style images. A lot of my friends have tried them, some even shared their wedding photos in that style." Since the launch of the new image-generation tool in late March, over 700 million images were created, in just the first week. "This is my original photo, and I asked to be turned into a Ghibli character—and boom, two minutes later, here I am. And it's not just this but you can also turn into characters like Pororo or Marvel heroes. No wonder it's gone viral." As the craze spreads, Sam Altman even joked on social media that "our GPUs are melting." However, the trend has also had backlash. A Japanese animation director known for "One Piece" expressed strong distaste, saying the trend is tarnishing the Ghibli brand. And Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki previously condemned AI-generated work as "an insult to life itself" adding that he would never use it in his pieces. Copyright concerns are also fueling the controversy. "Art styles and aesthetics are considered ideas, so the case is hard to judge whether it's violating copyrights. The issue is whether an AI company trained its model on works in the Ghibli style." She added that because this is a legal grey area with not much precedent, international and social consensus will be crucial moving forward. Despite the controversy, some believe this could be a new turning point in the culture and art scene. "The art world faces what's called "Baumol's cost disease" -rising labor costs without matching productivity. And hand-drawn animation is extremely labor-intensive. Ghibli, for example, hasn't released a new film since 2014. But AI could ease that burden and enable new creations while preserving the original identity." She also said that with proper consensus, AI-generated art could evolve into a new cultural movement, perhaps even gaining long-term value, much like Van Gogh's paintings did posthumously. And considering that, a tiny Ghibli-style AI portrait might just be the spark, redrawing the entire canvas of modern art. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

K-drama "When Life Gives You Tangerines" ranks no.1 among Netflix's non-English content

2025/04/09 17:00

On the entertainment front. South Korean drama "When Life Gives You Tangerines" has topped Netflix's global non-English show chart. According to the streaming platform the series logged 5-point-4 million views between March 31st and April 6th which marks its fifth week since release. Centered on the acts of love and sacrifice that serve to strengthen family bonds the drama topped the chart in five Asian countries. Other Korean dramas including "Weak Hero Class 1" and "Karma" also placed within the chart's top ten.

Korean-American astronaut Jonny Kim begins first space mission

2025/04/09 17:00

NASA astronaut Jonny Kim has landed at the International Space Station becoming the first Korean-American to travel to space. According to NASA Kim flew aboard a Russian spacecraft which reached the ISS at around 7:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time on Tuesday. Kim and two Russian cosmonauts will stay at the station for about eight months conducting research and testing new technologies. Kim is also a U.S. Navy officer and Harvard-trained doctor.

Russia “welcomes” U.S.-Iran nuclear talks, ratifies treaty to upgrade relations with Iran

2025/04/09 17:00

Come Saturday this week over in Oman officials from the U.S. and Iran will launch talks over the latter's nuclear weapons. Lee Seung-jae covers this much-anticipated event and more. The United States and Iran will sit down for nuclear talks in Oman on Saturday. Tuesday's announcement comes a day after U.S. President Donald Trump warned that Iran could be in great danger if the nuclear negotiations do not go well. "He has said there will be direct talks with Iran on Saturday. You can strike a deal with the president, you can negotiate or there will be hell to pay. And as the president said yesterday, if they don't choose to move forward with diplomacy and a deal, which is the direction we do see them headed in, there will be grave consequences to pay." Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said a nuclear deal is possible as long as the U.S. is willing, while he dismissed the Libyan model, which would mean the full dismantling of Iran's nuclear program, mentioned by Israel. Russia welcomed the news of the upcoming talks, and expressed its willingness to provide assistance. According to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Tuesday, Moscow supports resolving the Iranian nuclear issue through political and diplomatic means. The remarks by the Kremlin also comes as Russia's lower-house, the State Duma, on Tuesday ratified a 20-year strategic partnership treaty with Iran, elevating their bilateral relations. The treaty which was signed by the leaders of Russia and Iran in January, strengthens political, military and economic cooperation between the two countries. One of the key provisions commits Moscow and Tehran to counter shared security threats, exchange intelligence and refrain from helping an aggressor if either country is attacked. However, unlike the treaty Russia signed with North Korea in October 2024, Iran did not include a clause allowing the deployment of troops to support military operations. Meanwhile, Russia also announced a separate expert-level talks with China and Iran on nuclear issues took place in Moscow on Tuesday. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

ADB projects S. Korea's 2025 economic growth at 1.5%, down 0.5% from December forecast

2025/04/09 17:00

The South Korean economy is projected to grow 1-point-5 percent this year. This is according to the Asian Development Bank in its latest projection which is lower than the two-percent growth forecast made back in December. The bank cited a host of internal and external factors as reasons behind its downward revision. Domestically high interest rates household debt and political uncertainty were underscored as risk factors while internationally uncertainty over global demand weighed on the bank's outlook for South Korea. Pundits meanwhile believe a further cut in growth forecast may be possible as this recent report by the bank did NOT take into account U.S. tariffs on Korean exports.

Tariffs fear rocks local markets, won-dollar exchange rate surpassing 1,487 won at one point

2025/04/09 17:00

Local financial markets were quick to respond to the start of U.S. tariffs. The benchmark KOSPI closed at 2-thousand-2-hundred-93-point-7 on this Wednesday down 1-point-7 percent from its previous session. This is the first time in 17 months that the KOSPI has dropped below the 2-thousand-300 level. Also on this Wednesday the Korean currency weakened further against the U.S. dollar trading at 1-thousand-4-hundred-84-point-1 won per greenback the highest close since the global financial crisis in March 2009. At one point during trade today the foreign exchange rate touched 1-thousand-4-hundred-87 won against the U.S. dollar.

Negotiations already launched as reciprocal tariffs come into effect on Wednesday

2025/04/09 17:00

And country-specific U.S. tariffs are in effect as we speak and the "top team" on trade from South Korea that Mr. Trump earlier mentioned is in Washington D.C. for negotiation rather than retaliation which is the case for China. Kim Bo-kyoung has more. Countries hit by tariffs have already launched negotiations with the U.S. as the steeper rates of reciprocal tariffs for what Trump calls the "worst offenders" were officially imposed on Wednesday. South Korea, which saw a 25-percent reciprocal tariff imposed as of 1PM Wednesday local time, began its talks as well. Along with Acting President Han Duck-soo's phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump, Seoul's trade minister Cheong In-kyo arrived at Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, for talks with the U.S. Trade Representative. Cheong said Korea has two major projects it could bring to the table. "The Alaska LNG project is an important part, and shipbuilding, where discussions are already ongoing between the two countries is an area the U.S. is particularly interested in so it will likely be brought to the negotiating table for discussions." While saying his goal is to completely eliminate mutual tariffs, Cheong said Korea will aim to reduce the tariffs gradually if elimination is difficult. Such talks come as the U.S. is prioritizing its key allies --South Korea and Japan, in holding trade negotiations. Among dozens of countries facing high reciprocal tariffs, Kevin Hassett, Chairman of the White House National Economic Council, said in an interview with local media on Tuesday that Seoul and Tokyo are the highest priorities, citing them as major trading partners and allies with large trade surpluses with the United States. Meanwhile, China now needs to deal with Washington's huge one-hundred-four-percent tariff across all Chinese imports. China was already set to see tariffs increase by 34-percent on Wednesday, following two rounds of ten-percent levies. The rate shot up again as Beijing did not back down on its decision to impose 34-percent retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods by noon on Tuesday. "Countries like China, who have chosen to retaliate and try to double down on their mistreatment of American workers, are making a mistake. President Trump has a spine of steel and he will not break and America will not break under his leadership." Regarding the massive tariff on China, Trump at the National Republican Congressional Committee President's Dinner on Tuesday, said though it might seem outrageous, China has imposed tariffs of one-hundred or one-hundred-25-percent on many American items. He then said China would at some point, negotiate. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.

Employment in Mar. up by 193,000; sharp decline in construction and manufacturing

2025/04/09 17:00

Meanwhile the Korean labor market is holding steady with employment expanding yet again in March growing by almost 200-thousand on year BUT that expansion remains uneven. Our Moon Ji-young explains. South Korea’s job market saw robust growth in March, but challenges persist, particularly in the construction and manufacturing sectors, along with youth employment. According to Statistics Korea’s employment report released on Wednesday, the number of employed people aged 15 or older reached almost 28-point-6 million in March, marking a year-on-year increase of 193-thousand. This gain marks the third consecutive month of growth. By industry, the health and social welfare sector led the job gains, followed by public administration, defense, and social security, as well as the finance field. However, construction saw the largest year-on-year drop in jobs since data collection began in 2013, marking a continuous decline for eleven consecutive months. The manufacturing sector also recorded its most significant decline since November 2020, reflecting a ninth straight month of falls in employment. Some experts forecast that manufacturing, the backbone of the domestic economy, could see a further decline in jobs this year, as export growth slows due to a potential trade war triggered by U.S. tariffs. "Due to the shock from tariffs, our product exports may decline, leading to a faster reduction in job opportunities. Since most of what we sell consists of manufactured goods, this could result in a reduction of decent jobs in the sector." By age group, employment for those aged 60 years and older primarily led the job growth, adding 365-thousand year-on-year. In contrast, the number of employed individuals aged 15 to 29 dropped by 206-thousand. The employment rate for young adults stood at 44.5 percent, marking the lowest monthly record for any March since 2021. With this latest data, Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok expressed concerns regarding sluggish job growth, particularly in export-driven industries such as manufacturing, during an economic officials' meeting on Wednesday. To address the volatility in the trade market, the government has committed to a supplementary budget of 10 trillion won, or roughly 6.7 billion dollars. Moon Ji-young, Arirang News.

S. Korea announces US$ 1.3 bil. support package for auto industry amid U.S. tariff pressures

2025/04/09 20:00

Also here at home. The government has framed out a support package for South Korea's auto industry as it seeks to ease the impact of U.S. tariffs on car imports that kicked in on April 3rd and on car parts to go into effect by May 3rd. Shin Se-byuck has details. South Korea will funnel an additional 2 trillion won, or 1-point-3 billion U.S. dollars, into the auto and parts industry amid pressure from the 25 percent tariff imposed by the Trump administration. "We'll provide 2 trillion won in special policy financing for affected firms and offer low-interest loans and supporting corporate bond issuance worth around 1 trillion won in cooperation with major companies and financial institutions." The announcement was made during an economy-related ministers' meeting on Wednesday, which addressed responses to shifting trade conditions, including U.S. tariffs and global supply chain changes. As a result, policy financing for the auto sector will increase from 13 trillion won to 15 trillion won,.. worth around 10-point-1 billion dollars this year. This came as the U.S. is a key market for Korea's auto industry, accounting for 34-point-7 billion dollars, or nearly half of the country's total auto exports which was worth 70-point-8 billion dollars last year. With Washington's 25 percent tariffs in place, Korea's auto exports to the U.S. are projected to drop by nearly 19 percent this year. One expert says the financial package may serve as a short-term buffer, but a different approach is needed for a long-term solution. "To fundamentally address the issue, the government needs to focus on boosting productivity, developing new technologies, and easing labor-management tensions." Aside from the aid package, the government will also extend its EV subsidy program, tied to manufacturer discounts to boost domestic sales,.. from the first half of the year through to the end of 2025. It will also support efforts to tap into new markets, particularly in the Global South, as part of its push to diversify auto exports. Plans include the early implementation of free trade agreements with countries including the UAE and Ecuador, and the resumption of FTA talks with Mexico to help open up new export destinations. The government is also accelerating efforts to diversify export markets, focusing on key industries most vulnerable to trade disruptions. It plans to inject over 40 million U.S. dollars worth of support for overseas operations of small and mid-sized firms, while expanding R&D funding to boost technological competitiveness. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok said the government will soon unveil 6-point-7 billion dollars worth of supplementary budget to boost industrial competitiveness and tackle global trade shifts, calling for swift parliamentary support. Shin Se-byuck, Arirang News.