News

Trump says he has "no intention of firing" U.S. Federal Reserve chief Jerome Powell

2025/04/23 10:00

Trump has "no intention of firing" U.S. Fed Chair Jerome Powell, the U.S. leader says. The comments come as Trump was asked by reporters at the Oval Office on Tuesday if he has plans to fire Powell, to which the U.S leader said he "never did." He added that the "press runs away with things." Trump, however, called on Powell to cut interest rates, calling it the "perfect time" to do so. Just last week, Trump took to social media to say that Powell is "always TOO LATE and WRONG" and that his "termination cannot come fast enough," raising speculation that he could be looking to oust the U.S. Fed chair before his term ends next year.

Trump signals cooling trade tensions with Beijing with possible tariff reductions

2025/04/23 10:00

In the meantime, U.S. President Donald Trump has signaled easing trade tensions with China, as countries around the world push to negotiate lower tariffs. Speaking from the Oval Office on Tuesday, he said tariffs on Chinese goods could be "substantially" reduced, though not eliminated, under any forthcoming agreements. His remarks came after the U.S. Treasury Secretary expressed optimism about a potential de-escalation, but described negotiations with Beijing as a "slog" that has yet to officially begin. According to the White House, 34 countries are set to meet with Trump's trade team this week, with 18 having already submitted proposals.

On-point: How to make 2+2 tariff talks with U.S. fruitful?

2025/04/23 10:00

The South Korea-U.S. 2+2 trade talks on Thursday will be momentous, especially for South Korea, as what Seoul is calling 'consultations' will be the first of their kind since the Trump administration's 90-day tariff pause. We discuss more with Professor Park Minjung this morning. Good morning. 1. Can we expect some sort of a concrete outcome from the 2+2 meeting? Or will it be more of a pre-game where the two sides let each other know what they want and what they can offer? Because it's the first round of such talks? What makes you think so? 2. An expert I spoke to said that it would be a good sign if Trump shows up at discussions on Thursday because Trump is favoring countries like South Korea and Japan. What's your take on this? Do you also think so? 3. Trump is waging this tariff war on the U.S. trade deficit. Will South Korea's shipbuilding and LNG be enough as leverage to resolve tariff issues? Or are they enough for now? 4. Would you say it's a relief that a new administration will be launched in South Korea in June? Because we can buy time in the meantime? Or are we still running out of time? 5. The Trump administration is busier than ever carrying out tariff talks with countries around the world. Does the 90-day tariff pause give enough time to conduct talks with more than 70 countries realistically? Will the pause be extended? Or no? Thanks so much for sharing your insight with us. We appreciate it.

IMF slashes S. Korea's growth projection by half for 2025 amid a "new high" in uncertainties

2025/04/23 10:00

And the world economy is already being swayed by Trump's tariff policies. According to the IMF, the South Korean economy will see just 1% growth this year due to trade uncertainties sparked by the tariff push. Our Moon Hye-ryeon has more. The International Monetary Fund has sharply lowered its forecast for South Korea’s economic growth amid rising trade tensions and heightened policy uncertainty. In its latest economic outlook, the IMF now expects the economy to grow by just one percent in 2025 a full percentage point lower than its January projection. The estimate was presented in the report's appendix without further commentary, with the IMF’s forecast the lowest among projections for South Korea from major institutions. The Korea Development Institute forecast a growth of 1-point-6 percent for the year, while the OECD and the Bank of Korea’s projections came in at 1-point-5 percent. However, the BOK said last week, following its Monetary Policy Committee meeting, that it was likely to cut its economic growth projection as it expects growth in the first quarter of the year to be lower than previously estimated. The IMF also revised down its global forecast by point-five percentage points. The revised outlook with the expectation that the world economy will grow by 2-point-8 percent reflects what the agency described as a “new high” in uncertainties spurred by escalating trade tensions. In response to these volatile conditions, the IMF introduced a new forecasting method. Alongside baseline projection based on data available as of early April, the outlook includes two alternative scenarios that account for key tariff-related developments. Prior to the new tariff announcement by the United States on April 2nd, global growth was projected at 3-point-2 percent, factoring in high oil prices and U.S. trade policy. After tariff suspensions and retaliatory measures on April 9th, the forecast dropped to 2-point-8 percent, suggesting that gains from delayed tariffs are outweighed by slower growth in the U.S. and China. The U.S. saw one of the biggest downward revisions, with 2025 growth now forecast at 1-point-8 percent, down point-nine percentage points — while China’s growth forecast was also lowered to 4 percent. To mitigate the growing risks, the IMF recommended working toward a more predictable trade environment through regional and multilateral agreements and stressed the importance of balanced monetary policy to maintain financial stability and anchor inflation expectations. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

DP primaries in stronghold Honam region while PPP's 4-way race starts

2025/04/23 10:00

The People Power Party on Tuesday shortlisted four contenders in the first round of its presidential primary. The Democratic Party begins voting in its stronghold, Honam region, on Wednesday, with its second debate set to take place on the same day. Our Kim Do-yeon has more. The Democratic Party of Korea kicks off the second half of its regional presidential primaries on Wednesday in its traditional stronghold of the Honam region consisting of the Jeolla-do provinces and Gwangju City in the country's southwest. This region accounts for 27 percent of the Democratic Party's total electors, more than the 18 percent combined from the previous two voting regions, the Chungcheong-do and Gyeongsang-do provinces. While the primary is largely dominated by Lee Jae-myung, who leads with 90 percent of the votes so far other candidates are looking to boost their chances and turn things around. Second-place Kim Dong-yeon released his pledges for the region's development while Kim Kyung-soo, who is in third place, was the first to arrive on Tuesday to meet with DP members. Lee Jae-myung on the other hand had no public appearances due to a court appearance for one of his ongoing criminal trials. However, he's set to visit the region on Thursday as the voting will continue for a few days. And as the voting starts the three candidates are also set to have a second debate on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the People Power Party primary also turned a corner as the first round cut-off was announced on Tuesday evening. Kim Moon-soo, Ahn Cheol-soo, Han Dong-hoon, and Hong Joon-pyo survived after the eight initial contestants were cut to four. Except for Ahn Cheol-soo, all candidates were expected to make it through. Ahn's survival comes as the first round cut-off rule is new in this election. Having no weighted votes for PPP electors, the aim of the rule was to provide a boost to candidates who appeal to undecided voters. And Ahn was in favor of impeaching President Yoon Suk Yeol as opposed to Na Kyung-won, who was seen as Ahn's rival for the fourth spot. Now the race is two against impeachment Kim Moon-soo and Hong Joon-pyo and two for impeachment Han Dong-hoon and Ahn Cheol-soo. Starting with the second round cut-off, 50 percent of the votes will be from eligible PPP electors, while the other 50 percent will come from an open survey giving more weight to PPP members than the open survey. This means, those who protected President Yoon during the impeachment process could have an advantage. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.

Pope Francis to lie in state until funeral on Saturday

2025/04/23 10:00

Over in Vatican now. The body of the late Pope Francis will be moved to Saint Peter's Basilica on Wednesday to lie in state until his funeral on Saturday morning. Lee Seung-jae has the details. The coffin containing the body of the late Pope Francis will be transferred from the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta to St. Peter's Basilica on Wednesday. According to the Holy See press office on Tuesday,.. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, will preside over the rite of translation on Wednesday. St. Peter's Basilica will be open for those who wish to pay their respects before the funeral mass takes place on Saturday. Large numbers were already seen at St. Peter's Square, mourning the death of Pope Francis. "He was a Pope who truly remembered the fringes of society." After the viewing, the funeral mass will begin on Saturday, and will be presided over by the Dean of the College of Cardinals. After communion, the ceremonial final praise and a farewell will be given to the late pope, before he's taken to the St. Mary Major Basilica for burial. Pope Francis will be the first pontiff in more than a hundred years to be buried outside the Vatican. Once the funeral concludes, the long process of choosing the next pope begins. According to Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera, Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-sik, the first Korean to become a Vatican secretary, has been named as a strong candidate for the next pope. Ahead of the conclave to elect the next pope, the Italian daily selected 12 candidates, with Cardinal You the 11th mentioned. You previously served as Bishop of Daejeon from 2005 to 2021, before he was named a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2022. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

S. Korea-U.S. to begin high-level trade talks in Washington

2025/04/23 10:00

High-level trade talks between South Korea and the U.S. are set to begin in Washington this week. South Korea's finance minister Choi Sang-mok is now there, and joining him is trade minister Ahn Duk-geun who says he's being mindful of all possibilities at the talks, considering how President Trump abruptly showed up at Japan's tariff talks with the U.S. Our Kim Jung-sil reports. South Korea's Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Choi Sang-mok, has arrived in Washington, D.C. for trade talks with the U.S. The discussions are set to begin at 8 a.m. local time on Thursday. This marks the highest-level visit by a South Korean official since the start of the Trump administration's second term. "We are here to initiate discussions that will further strengthen the ROK-U.S. alliance. I will share the results of our talks on Thursday." Choi's visit comes amid rising trade tensions, with the U.S. imposing a 25% tariff on South Korean imports. Minister Choi is joined by Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun, who will arrive on Wednesday to join the discussions with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. While the specifics of the meeting remain unclear, the talks are expected to address a broad range of issues, including the ongoing trade imbalance, potential non-tariff barriers like U.S. beef import restrictions, and even defense cost-sharing. The Trump administration has been accelerating its trade efforts, with the White House announcing that the entire trade team is meeting with officials from 34 countries this week alone. "We are moving at Trump speed to ensure these deals are made on behalf of the American worker and the American people." Experts in Seoul advise South Korea to take a measured approach for a better long-term deal. "We don't know if what Trump wants today it will be the same tomorrow—he may ask additional things in the near future. We want to make sure that if there is a deal, then it's a complete deal." The expert also cautioned that the U.S. may be seeking a quick win for President Trump, which could lead to rushed decisions. With so much on the line in these negotiations, the outcome of Thursday's talks is being closely watched. Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.

U.S.-South Korea Trade Talks: What’s next for the semiconductor industry?

2025/04/22 20:00

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus. I'm Kim Mok-yeon. Tonight, we turn our attention to U.S.-South Korea trade relations, with a specific focus on the semiconductor sector. As both nations prepare for the upcoming '2+2' trade talks, key industries such as the automotive, steel, and semiconductor sectors are set to take center stage. With rising tariffs, trade imbalances, and increasing geopolitical tensions, South Korea's semiconductor industry faces critical challenges. With the U.S. looking to expand local production, how should South Korea respond to ensure its semiconductor sector remains competitive in the global market? And what steps should companies take to navigate these uncertain times? To explore more on this, we connect to Sung Soo Eric Kim, founder & CEO of Datacrunch Global and adjunct professor at Yonsei Graduate School of Business. Welcome. Also joining us is William Brown, a former member of the board of directors at the Korea Economic Institute of America, and the principal of NAEIA.com. Great to have you. (KIM) 1. Let's begin with Prof. Kim. So the upcoming '2+2' trade talks are expected to address issues such as tariffs on automotive and steel products, and semiconductors. How likely do you think it is that South Korea will be able to negotiate a reduction or removal of these tariffs, specifically in the semiconductor sector? (BROWN) 2. With the U.S. seeking to expand its local production in key sectors such as semiconductors, what incentives or proposals should South Korea present during these talks to ensure its own semiconductor industry remains competitive and benefits from the negotiations? (KIM) 3. Given that South Korea is about to experience a political transition, Prof.Kim, how should the current government approach these trade talks to secure the best possible outcome for its semiconductor industry, especially considering the next administration may have different priorities? (BROWN) 4. On the topic of tariffs, the U.S. has indicated it will impose tariffs on South Korean semiconductors. Bill, what potential effects do you foresee this having on the South Korean economy, and what steps should South Korean companies take to adjust to these changes? (KIM) 5. Considering the growing uncertainty around global trade Prof. Kim, how should South Korean semiconductor companies adapt their production strategies to avoid the impact of these tariffs and maintain their competitive edge in the global market? (BROWN) 6. The semiconductor industry plays a crucial role in both the U.S. and South Korean economies. In your opinion, how important is it for South Korea to maintain strong ties with major American tech companies like Intel, Nvidia, and Qualcomm, particularly given the rising geopolitical tensions? (KIM) 7. President Trump has expressed interest in tying U.S. military cost-sharing arrangements to the trade negotiations. What risks do you see in linking these national security concerns directly to trade talks, particularly in terms of the semiconductor sector? (BROWN) 8. The U.S. has been focusing heavily on addressing trade imbalances and has pressured countries like South Korea to adjust their trade structures. What actions should South Korea take to address U.S. concerns while protecting its semiconductor industry and other economic interests? (BROWN) 9. Given the ongoing political and economic pressures surrounding U.S.-China trade tensions, how should South Korea strategically navigate these negotiations to avoid being caught in the middle of the two superpowers, especially when it comes to its semiconductor exports to both countries? (KIM) 10. In light of the recent reduction in semiconductor exports to China due to U.S. trade restrictions, what specific steps should South Korea take to ensure its semiconductor industry remains resilient and continues to thrive, both through market diversification and by strengthening its trade agreements with the U.S.?

Lee Jae-myung shares vision for medical system and environment; PPP's 1st round cut-off announced

2025/04/22 20:00

Thank you for joining us. I'm Yoon Jung-min. Presidential primaries heat up in the nation as the June 3rd election approaches. For the latest, our political correspondent Kim Do-yeon is live on the line. Do-yeon, let's begin with the Democratic Party that appears to have a clear front-runner. Jung-min, the front-runner, Lee Jae-myung, was forced into a quiet day on the campaign trail as he appeared in court for one of his ongoing criminal trials. Still, he took to social media earlier in the day to highlight his pledges—ranging from cutting carbon emissions and reducing plastic use, to pushing forward with changes in the medical system. Tomorrow marks the start of the second half of the regional primaries—starting with the southwest, covering the Jeolla-do Provinces and Gwangju City. A liberal stronghold, this region accounts for 27 percent of the Democratic Party's total electors—more than the 18 percent combined from the previous two voting regions, the Chungcheong-do and Gyeongsang-do provinces. Lee Jae-myung, who has so far secured 90 percent of the vote, is expected to travel to the region on Thursday. The candidate in second place, Kim Dong-yeon, laid out his development plans for the region today, while third-place Kim Kyung-soo—looking to turn things around—was the first to arrive there. Let's now turn to the People Power Party. The first round cut-off results are out. Who are advancing to the next round? Right, Jung-min. PPP's presidential primary is now a four-way race with Kim Moon-soo, Ahn Cheol-soo, Han Dong-hoon, and Hong Joon-pyo. A 100-percent open survey among PPP supporters and undecided voters took place from yesterday to 3 PM today and those four were the top-scoring candidates among eight. The Party says that due to election laws, exact numbers and rankings cannot be disclosed. Except for Ahn Cheol-soo, the rest were expected to make the cut. Ahn's survival comes amid the first round cut-off rule being new in this election. Having no weighted votes for PPP electors, it was aimed at providing a boost to candidates who appeal to undecided voters. And Ahn was in favor of impeaching President Yoon Suk Yeol as opposed to Na Kyung-won, who was seen as Ahn's rival for the fourth spot. Starting with the second round cut-off, the voting will be comprised of 50-percent eligible PPP electors and 50-percent an open survey giving more weight to PPP members than the open survey. All right Do-yeon. Thank you for the latest.

[Weather] Rain until late tonight, back to spring weather tomorrow

2025/04/22 20:00

Strong rain has been falling across the country all day today. In inland areas, heavy rain of 5 to 15 millimeters per hour has been pouring. On the south coast, there are also strong winds along with thunder and lightning. In most areas, 5 to 30 millimeters of rain is expected through the day. This rain is accompanied by gusty winds. With a strong wind advisory in place on the south coast, winds of up to 20 to 25 meters per second will blow in the mountainous areas and coastal areas, 15 meters per second in the rest of the country. Most of it will stop late tonight, but on the east coast, rain will continue until tomorrow morning. Morning will start mild with Seoul and Jeju at 13 degrees Celsius, Gwangju at 16 degrees. Daily highs will move up to 24 degrees in Seoul and Chuncheon, 19 degrees in Busan and Jeju. The temperatures will drop a bit from Friday morning with the temperature in Seoul falling to 7 degrees. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

Korean animation "The King of Kings" debuts at #2 in U.S. box office

2025/04/22 20:00

A Korean animation based on the Bible debuted at number two at the U.S. box office and globally raked in millions of dollars on its opening weekend. Lee Eun-jin explains what's special about it. The animated film "The King of Kings," created and produced by Korean studios and filmmakers, debuted at number 2 in the North American box office. With its Korean title translating to "The Life of Jesus," this marks a milestone for a Korean animation on the global stage. According to the U.S. tracking site Box Office Mojo, "The King of Kings" raked in 7-point-0-1 million U.S. dollars across 3,200 theaters in North America on its opening day on April 12th. The film's opening weekend earnings surpassed 19-point-4 million dollars globally, making it the largest debut for an animated biblical movie since 1998's "The Prince of Egypt" and continued its success over the Easter weekend, bringing in 17-point-2 million dollars. "From the outset, we targeted the North American market as our main target audience. The United States is a country founded by Puritans, and although it is not the same as it used to be, it is still a country with a strong Christian cultural tradition, so we were confident that this theme would resonate with audiences. That said, the success has been far greater than we anticipated, leaving us feeling a bit overwhelmed." The story of the life of Jesus is well known, but it had never been made into a feature-length animated film for the theater. Written and directed by Mofac Studio's CEO Jang Seong-ho, who was inspired by Charles Dickens' book, The Life of Our Lord, and tells the story of a father taking his youngest son on a journey through time, to restore their relationship. To this fresh approach, Jang added extraordinary computer graphics and visual effects. Director Jang endured a decade of rejections for investments to bring this film to theaters. But it is now set to make its way around the world with anticipation high for its release in South American theaters before it comes to Korea at the end of July. Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.

Gov’t holds disaster safety policy session for diplomatic missions to Korea

2025/04/22 20:00

Disasters are something we must always be prepared for, as safety matters to all. And with a growing number of foreign people in Korea, the authorities turn their eyes to ensuring them better access to information in times of emergency who may struggle due to language barrier. Shin Ha-young tells us more. South Korea is no exception to the growing disaster risks caused by various factors such as climate change and urbanization. Already this year, the country experienced one of the worst wildfires in its history in the southeastern region, and an earthquake struck the central city of Chungju. But not everyone can equally respond to disasters. According to the Justice Ministry, the number of foreigners living in South Korea has been growing annually, with over 2-point-6 million living in Korea as of last year. However, they are especially vulnerable to disaster-related risks due to language barriers and cultural differences. To address this issue, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety held on Tuesday the 8th Annual Policy Session on Disaster and Safety Management for Diplomatic Missions to Korea, bringing around 100 participants from 63 embassies. "Apart from disaster management for the Korean people, you're also thinking about foreigners living in Korea. That's a very good gesture from the Korean government. And we have had a lot of cooperation between the Korean government and Laos, including with ASEAN member states." The session addressed a range of topics, including Korea's comprehensive disaster and safety management system and the effectiveness of disaster alerts and emergency text messaging. One way for foreigners to receive emergency alerts is through the Emergency Ready App, operated by the ministry. "Foreign residents can't receive the emergency messages in their native languages because of the technical limitation of cell phone technology. So we developed an app which is called Emergency Ready App." The app offers a multitude of emergency services, including alerts, safety guides, and information on the locations of civil defense shelters, in five languages. The ministry plans to expand the service to 19 languages by August. During the session, improvements in the country's disaster management were also discussed. "As I said in Belgium, we don't have anything like this, so this is already much appreciated. But of course, there's always room for improvement. First of all is to limit the emergency alerts. It's repeated a lot of times every day." Regarding such an issue, the ministry said it is testing a system to cut down on repetitive or similar emergency alerts, aiming to implement it as early as the second half of this year. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

Wall Street stumbles as Trump bashes Fed chair Powell again

2025/04/22 20:00

Wall Street ended sharply lower on Monday in response to crude comments by President Donald Trump directed at the head of the U.S. Federal Reserve Jerome Powell, pressuring him to lower interest rates. Lee Seung-jae reports. Wall Street stumbled to a close on the week's first trading session on Monday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 971-point-8-2 points, or 2-point-4-8 percent, to close at 38-thousand-170-point-4-1. The S&P 500 shed 2-point-3-6 percent, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq fell 2-point-5-5 percent to settle at 15-thousand-870-point-9-0. The so-called 'Magnificent Seven' tech giants all dragged the major indexes lower, with Tesla losing 5-point-8 percent, while Nvidia shed more than 4 percent. Wall Street saw U.S. stocks tumble and bonds sold off as U.S. President Donald Trump threw fresh criticism towards U.S. Fed Chair Jerome Powell on Monday,.. pressuring him to cut interest rates. Taking to social media, Trump said the economy would slow unless Powell, who he called "Mr. Too Late, a major loser," lowers interest rates immediately. Trump had previously called for the U.S. Fed to lower rates, even hinting at Powell's possible "termination." The lack of progress on global trade after Trump announced his reciprocal tariffs earlier this month has also dented investor confidence. Since Trump's announcement on April 2nd, the S&P 500 is down 9 percent, and both the Nasdaq and Dow Jones fell nearly 10 percent. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Putin implies Russia is open to direct talks with Ukraine

2025/04/22 20:00

Elsewhere, Russian President Vladimir Putin has signalled that he is open to direct talks with Ukraine, for the first time since the full-scale war began more than three years ago. During an interview with Russian state TV on Monday, Putin said Russia has "always looked positively on any peace initiatives," adding that he "hopes that representatives of the Kyiv regime will feel the same way." Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, "the president had in mind negotiations with the Ukrainian side." Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not directly respond to Putin's comments, but said in his nightly video address on the same day that Ukraine is "ready for any conversation" that would ensure the safety of civilians.

S. Korea successfully launches fourth reconnaissance satellite from space base in U.S.

2025/04/22 20:00

South Korea successfully sent its fourth reconnaissance satellite into space on Tuesday morning, Korea Time. It's to enhance capabilities to monitor North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, regardless of weather conditions. Kim Bo-kyoung covers this latest launch. "Three, two, one. Ignition, engines full power, and lift off. Go Falcon, go Bandwagon-3." South Korea's fourth military reconnaissance satellite aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket was launched from a U.S. space base Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, at 8:48 PM Monday local time, 9:48 AM Tuesday Korea time. 15 minutes after liftoff, the reconnaissance satellite was placed into orbit and it successfully communicated with the ground station at 12:27 PM Korea time, indicating the satellite's normal operation. "The fourth spy satellite, launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, successfully separated from the launch vehicle, entered its orbit, and successfully communicated with a domestic ground station, confirming that the satellite is in good working order." The satellite launched this time was the third synthetic aperture radar satellite, part of South Korea's plan to deploy five reconnaissance satellites by the end of this year under the "425 Project." Aiming to enhance surveillance of North Korean military activities, South Korea launched its first reconnaissance satellite in December 2023, equipped with electro-optical and infrared sensors capable of capturing detailed images. Two satellites with SAR sensors, which enable the collection of data regardless of weather conditions, were launched last year, in April and December. South Korean military is aiming to send the last one within this year, and once completed, Seoul will be able to monitor North Korea at two-hour intervals. The country is to deploy dozens of ultra-small satellites by the early 2030s, which is expected to further reduce that interval. "Our surveillance over North Korea would be much strengthened, and after launching ultra-small satellites as well, this will mark a very important step toward self-reliant national defense, as it will significantly reduce our dependence on the U.S. for intelligence capabilities." While bolstering the core assets that form the foundation of Korea's three-axis defense system, South Korea is aiming to pave the way to emerge as a strong space power in national defense. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.

Public mourning for Pope Francis begins at Myeongdong Cathedral in Seoul

2025/04/22 20:00

Public mourning for the deceased Pope Francis has begun in the cathedral of the country's capital. The Archdiocese of Seoul announced that starting at 3 PM today, the public can pay their respects at Myeongdong Cathedral. A memorial space has been set up in the cathedral's underground chapel. Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung and Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taick visited the place of worship to pay their respects and so did many South Korean Catholics and non-believers alike.

How does Conclave elect new pope?

2025/04/22 20:00

The passing of the pope looks to initiate the procedure of electing a new leader of the Catholic Church. Our Choi Soo-hyung walks us through that protocol. "With key." That's the literal meaning of Conclave, which comes from the Latin "cum clave." In the Catholic Church, the Conclave is the secret meeting of cardinals, under the age of 80, held to elect a new pope. The meeting takes place 15 to 20 days after the pope's death, leaving enough time for a nine-day mourning period and funeral, with cardinals from around the world arriving in Rome. The current Conclave traces its roots back to the 13th century. Traditionally, the pope is buried four to six days after his death. The process of electing the 267th pope begins after the mourning period. For this Conclave, 138 cardinals are eligible to elect and to be elected as the new pontiff out of the 252 members of the College of Cardinals. During the Conclave, the cardinals are locked inside the Sistine Chapel until the new pontiff is chosen. They cast four ballots each day, with a two-thirds majority required to choose the pope. The cardinals are not allowed contact with the outside world, no phones, no television, and no newspapers. After each vote, the ballots are burned, and the smoke coming from the chapel's chimney is the only signal to the outside world. Black smoke means an inconclusive vote, while white smoke marks the election of a new pope. Once elected, the bells of the Sistine Chapel ring, and after the chosen candidate accepts the office, an official announcement is made, revealing the new pope's papal name. Pope Francis, elected on March 13th, 2013, was chosen after five rounds of voting, just two days into the Conclave. The senior cardinal deacon introduces the newly elected pontiff with the traditional declaration, "Habemus Papam," meaning "We have a pope." Following Pope Francis, the first Latin-American pontiff, all eyes are now on whether the next pope, for the first time, could come from Asia or Africa. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.

Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok flies to U.S. for 2+2 trade talks with Washington

2025/04/22 20:00

Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok departed for the U.S. today to attend "two-plus-two" trade consultations set to take place later this week. Other than expected topics, the Korean team is also preparing for unexpected ones, too. Our Park Kun-woo reports. South Korea's Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok departed for the U.S. on Tuesday to attend the upcoming "2+2 trade talks" with Washington to address trade and tariff issues. "I will return after paving the way for renewed discussions on strengthening the alliance with the U.S." The talks, reportedly proposed by the U.S., will be the first high-level trade consultations since the start of Trump's second term, and will be held on Thursday local time. Joining Choi are Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Ahn is set to depart on Wednesday. Key agenda items are expected to be trade issues following Trump's reciprocal tariffs and bilateral cooperation in energy and shipbuilding. Seoul is also preparing for unexpected topics from the U.S. and accordingly plans to send officials from other ministries, including foreign affairs and agriculture. The government is reportedly preparing for the possibility of Trump joining the talks, as seen in recent negotiations with Japan. Trade Minister Ahn said the agenda items will not cover the FTA or the stationing of U.S. forces in Korea. Acting President Han Duk-soo also on Tuesday expressed hope that the meeting will lead to a "win-win" solution and mark a meaningful starting point for deeper cooperation between the two countries. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

Supreme Court starts full bench review of election violation of DP's likely presidential candidate

2025/04/22 20:00

The Supreme Court on Tuesday started reviewing the election violation case against DP's likely presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung as a full bench. This means the Court is taking the case more seriously than others due to the level of public interest. Usually, Supreme Court cases are overseen by four justices out of the 13. For this case, however, one of the justices has requested to be recused from the bench as he leads the National Election Commission. Lee faces charges of spreading false information regarding urban development projects ahead of the 2021 presidential election. An initial guilty verdict was overturned on appeal last month.

[Weather] Rain until late tonight, back to warm spring weather tomorrow

2025/04/22 17:00

There is some heavy spring rain all over the country. In inland areas, 5 to 15 millimeters per hour of rain has been pouring down everywhere. On the south coast, rain is accompanied by thunder and lightning with gusty winds. In most areas, 5 to 30 millimeters of rain is expected today. The wind is blowing strongly with this rain. With a strong wind advisory issued on the south coast, winds of up to 20 to 25 meters per second will blow in the mountainous areas and coastal areas, around 15 meters per second in the rest of the country. Rain will mostly stop late tonight, but it will continue on the east coast until tomorrow morning. Morning will start mild with Seoul and Jeju at 13 degrees Celsius, Daejeon, Daegu, and Busan at 15 degrees. Daily highs will move up to 24 degrees in Seoul and Chuncheon, 19 degrees in Busan and Jeju. The weather will get chilly on Friday morning with the temperature in Seoul falling to 7 degrees. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.