News

[Kulture Issue] The "featuring effect" in the global K-pop industry

2025/04/14 14:00

It went from "Some" by Soyou and Junggigo featuring Lil Boi of Geeks or Zico's "Soulmate" featuring IU to BTS's "Idol" featuring Nicki Minaj and JENNIE's "Handlebars" featuring Dua Lipa. It's not that sensational anymore to have global super stars collaborate with K-pop stars, as Korean artists are now too the global stars. Today, we want to delve into the "featuring effect" and K-pop's influence in the global music market. For that, we are now on the line with Stephanie Choi, postdoctoral researcher at the Asia Research Institute at State University of New York at Buffalo. Hello Stephanie / Dr. Choi! Q1. We see more and more vibrant collaborations between K-pop artists and foreign artists in the music scene compared to the past. Please tell us about this trend. Q2. Having well-known pop stars featured in K-pop songs seemed like a strategy to expand overseas, (or is it still?) but nowadays that doesn’t seem to be the priority. What do you say? Is it a more “natural” thing to see these international collaborations? Q3. (We reported on this on our program just recently) BTS’s Jungkook, with his solo single “Seven” featuring American rapper Latto, has been ranked number one on the “Best K-Pop and Rap Collaborations of All Time” by Complex magazine. Why do you think the song gained so much love? Q4. So, seeing the success of these partnerships, how are they benefitting the K-pop industry? Q5. I think there are benefits for both sides. Let’s take the BLACKPINK members as an example. LISA feat. Doja Cat & RAYE (Born Again), JENNIE feat. Dua Lipa (Handlebars), and of course ROSE feat. Bruno Mars (APT.) have all made it onto the Billboard charts. Big names in the western pop world are probably welcoming these collaborations and also make the first move for them? Q6. It also seems like featuring for a song goes beyond singing a few lines, it’s about producing music together and mixing styles. Is it fair to say that we are seeing a deeper cooperation in the way songs are featured? Q7. What are the prospects of these collaborations, or what could be done better in the future?

[K-Enter] Lisa kills it at Coachella

2025/04/14 14:00

Time for our daily dose of K-enter news with Walter Lee. Let's start with some news on the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Coachella, the largest music festival in the U.S. is underway and on Friday local time, BLACKPINK's Lisa was the first to represent the K-pop genre, performing at the Sahara Stage. Lisa performed tracks from her solo collection such as "Thunder", "Rockstar", "New Woman" and "Lalisa". Lisa’s performance received praise for her costume changes and choreography. She is set to perform again on the 18th. And on Saturday, boy group ENHYPEN became the first K-pop boy group to perform at the world famous music festival. ENHYPEN were backed by a live band and delivered a total of 13 songs. They will return on the 19th for the second performance. I believe BLACKPINK's Jennie also performed only a couple of hours ago as well, so I look forward to hearing how she went. Let's stay on the topic of K-pop and move on to some news on boy group ATEEZ . If you live in North America and didn’t get a chance to grab tickets to ATEEZ's 2025 WORLD TOUR 'IN YOUR FANTASY', well, you may be in luck, as on Saturday, ATEEZ's agency KQ Entertainment announced additional North American stops for their upcoming tour. The Orlando concert, originally scheduled for July 22, has added an additional show on the 21st, making it a two-day event. The Los Angeles concert, initially set for August 8, will also be held over two days with an additional show on the 9th. ATEEZ will now perform a total of 14 shows across 12 cities including New York, Orlando, Chicago, San Jose, Los Angeles, and Mexico City. The 2025 WORLD TOUR is set to kick off on July 5 and 6 at Inspire Arena in Yeongjongdo , Incheon. Great news for the fans and it must feel great for ATEEZ to feel the love from their North American fans. Lastly let's finish off with a K-movie, that's already showing its popularity before it's out? Yes, "Yadang: The Snitch" has topped the overall reservation rankings ahead of its release on April 16. On Monday, the film announced that it had maintained the number one spot in overall ticket reservations for three consecutive days since reaching the top on the Saturday. Starring Kang Ha-neul , Yoo Hae-jin , and Park Hae-joon , "Yadang: The Snitch" is a crime action film that follows a broker who runs South Korea’s drug trade, an ambitious, power-hungry prosecutor, and a detective who puts everything on the line to crack down on drug crimes. Again, "Yadang: The Snitch" is set to be released on April 16.

Winter makes unexpected return as Seoul sees snow in April for first time in 81 years

2025/04/14 10:00

Winter has made an unexpected return to South Korea, as Seoul experienced mid-April snow for the first time in over 8 decades over the weekend. The cold weather is expected to last for a few more days. Bae Eun-ji reports. Snow piled up on flowers and trees, as South Korea experienced unseasonably cold mid-April weather. Over 10 centimeters of snow accumulated in parts of Gangwon-do Province on Sunday. Light snow and hail also fell in the capital area, as it went through an unusual spring chill. Snow of up to 0-point-6 centimeters was recorded in central Seoul, between Saturday night and Sunday morning, making it the first time in 81 years that the city saw snow in April. This is mainly because of cold arctic air passing through the Korean peninsula. The weather turned turbulent as the lingering cold air from above clashed with a mild spring breeze on the ground, causing gusty winds and hail. Strong winds battered the country over the weekend, leading to widespread damage. In Jeju, the winds damaged roofs and toppled trees. In Busan, winds of up to 30 meters per second brought down signboards and caused power outages. Also in the capital area, at Incheon airport, a tug vehicle crashed into an aircraft on the ground, leading to flight delays. The national weather service says strong winds and falling temperatures are forecast for the coming days. "Damage from strong winds is expected until Monday, and temperatures will start to go up from Wednesday. We're expecting to see temperatures return to normal starting late this week." Rain or snow is expected across the country until Tuesday before spring warmth returns later this week. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.

Meet the artist who's putting Korea on the map

2025/04/14 10:00

We often hear about how Korean culture is putting Korea on the map. But here is a story of an illustrator who's quite literally putting Korea on a map. Our culture correspondent Song Yoo-jin tells us more. You know Gwanghwamun Gate, but you've never seen it quite like this. This is how UK-based map artist Jenni Sparks reimagined one of Seoul's most iconic landmarks. For over a decade, her hand-drawn maps have covered major cities across the West, such as London, New York, Paris, and Berlin. Now, she's turning her creative compass toward Asia, starting with Seoul. "The traditional architecture is extremely different from all the cities that I've done before. I think, also like the actual geography of the place, it's got like it's very like mountainous, including actually in like the middle of the city." This idea sparked when Seol Jae-woo, who runs a local tour business in Seoul, reached out to Sparks a few years ago. "Maps are usually seen as just information, useful in the moment but often forgotten after. Jenni Sparks' map, however, felt like a work of art. So I thought, what if we could create a map people would treasure, one that tells a story of the place they live?" That question led to Sparks creating a map of Seoul's Seochon neighborhood before setting her sights on the entire city. It's halfway done, but already, you can see what makes her maps so unique. It's not just the pop art-style design or the bold use of color but the sheer level of detail, including hidden gems like Tongin Market in Jongno-gu District. That insight comes from her rigorous research, her first and most important step, through books and videos. She then sketches out the bones of the city, rivers, mountains, parks, and metro lines before layering in Seoul's soul. "I will usually ask people from that city and say, 'Is this right?' or 'Take a look at this.' Is there anything you're like, 'This is absolutely wrong, like no, what you've forgotten this building is this is a really famous cafe, this is a really famous restaurant.' And then right at the end, it's just kind of just drawing like lots of residential buildings." It's a challenging process that takes months, but the map, in the end, becomes something more than directions. It becomes a story, one you can hold in your hands and revisit. Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News.

On-point: What kind of leader does S. Korea want & need?

2025/04/14 10:00

South Korea is officially on the hunt for a new president after the Constitutional Court's dismissal of now former President Yoon Suk Yeol. What kind of leader do the South Korean people want, and what kind of leadership does the country need? Let's turn to Professor Mason Richey. Good morning. 1. A new poll says the number one task for a new president, according to the South Korean people, is economic recovery and vitalization. Why the economy? 2. The number 2 job to work on is, according to the poll, national integration and conflict resolution. What kind of national integration and conflict resolution do the people want? Is this something that politicians should solve? 3. The president that the people want is a leader who can revitalize the economy What are the qualities, abilities, and virtues that the people and the Republic of Korea need in the next president? A person who does not lose the trust of the people? 4. We are now seeing some prominent figures jump into the election race. Starting with the Democratic Party of Korea. What are some of the tasks and challenges the DP must overcome in order to win the election? 5. How should the People Power Party recover from the impeachment ruling, and what position should it have in the presidential election? What could be a dilemma for the People Power Party candidates? Thanks so much for sharing your insight with us. We appreciate it.

Trump clarifies there's no full "tariff exception" on electronics from China

2025/04/14 10:00

U.S. President Donald Trump has settled the debate over tariffs on select electronics, saying exemption of tariffs on those items are temporary and that separate tariffs on goods including smartphones will be unveiled in the coming weeks. Lee Seung-jae starts us off. U.S. President Donald Trump and his key trade officials on Sunday made it clear that his administration's newly announced exemptions for reciprocal tariffs on electronic products would be partially or completely reversed in the coming weeks. After a technical guidance issued late Friday, Washington issued an exemption on select electronics, such as smartphones, laptops, personal computers, servers, and semiconductor equipment. Not only does this ease the burden on Samsung Electronics and Apple, it also means a possible exemption from some of the levies on Chinese imports. However,.. Trump took to his social media page on Sunday to clarify, saying tariffs would still be imposed on Chinese goods, specifically the existing 20 percent fentanyl tariffs. Trump also stressed that the U.S. administration is taking a look at semiconductors and the "WHOLE ELECTRONICS SUPPLY CHAIN" in upcoming National Security Tariff investigations. According to U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, while there may be some tariff exemptions on select electronics now, a separate tariff on semiconductors is coming. "So what he's doing is he's saying they're exempt from the reciprocal tariffs, but they're included in the semiconductor tariffs, which are coming in probably a month or two. So these are coming soon." Speaking to CNN on Sunday, White House National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett said that items subject to Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act have always been excluded from the reciprocal tariffs, and a separate investigation will be conducted to determine the necessary measures to protect the United States. He added that the tariff investigation into semiconductors has to do with broader concerns of U.S. dependence on Chinese-made imports. Hassett said that there is a "very uncomfortable amount of Chinese input" in U.S. weapons systems, stressing the importance of Section 232 of the Act. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

[Weather] More rain and snow nationwide with snow advisory in Gangwon-do

2025/04/14 10:00

It looks like Mother Nature has a bit more of a blustery story for us today. We're expecting more rain and even some snow across the country. If you're heading out, grab that umbrella and warmer jacket! The rainfall will be between 5 and 20 millimeters throughout the day. Meanwhile, most of the inland areas could expect to see 1 to 5 centimeters, but the mountainous regions in Gangwon-do could see up to 8 centimeters with a heavy snow advisory in place. And it's not just the rain and snow – the wind is really picking up too. If you're planning on flying or taking a ferry, make sure to check the latest travel information. It's definitely feeling much colder out there. We're only expecting highs of around 10 degrees in Seoul, 12 degrees in Gwangju. Looking ahead, we should see the cold air move out, with temperatures returning to more typical spring levels starting on Wednesday. But for today, that chilly wind will make it feel even colder, so please bundle up warmly!

Bangkok celebrates Thai New Year with Songkran splash

2025/04/14 10:00

Finally, Bangkok has officially kicked off the 2025 Songkran Festival, Thailand's traditional New Year celebration, known for major water fights. The festival, which runs from April 13 to 16 and involves the world's biggest water fight, symbolizes renewal and cleansing. Participants engage in spirited water battles across the city during the period. Key locations such as Silom Road, Khao San Road, and Siam Square have become epicenters of activity, and an 8% increase in foreign visitors during the celebration week is anticipated. The festival marks the end of the dry season and the start of a new agricultural cycle.

Iran and U.S. agree to more talks over Tehran’s nuclear program after 1st round talks in Oman

2025/04/14 10:00

The United States and Iran held indirect nuclear talks in Muscat, Oman, over the weekend, marking the highest-level meeting between the two nations since 2018. The discussions focused on Iran's nuclear program and the possibility of sanctions relief and were mediated by Oman. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the atmosphere as "productive, calm, and positive," while U.S. officials echoed similar sentiments. Both sides agreed to reconvene for further discussions on April 19. At the last meeting 7 years ago, President Donald Trump pulled the U.S. out of a nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers, saying he would make a better deal.

Israeli strike hits hospital in Gaza City

2025/04/14 10:00

In the Middle East, an Israeli airstrike has damaged Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, one of the last remaining fully operational medical facilities in Gaza. In the early hours of Sunday local time, Israeli missiles struck the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital, reportedly destroying the emergency room, outpatient clinic, and pharmacy. Surrounding buildings, including a nearby church, have also been damaged. The Israeli military said that the strike targeted a Hamas command center operating within the hospital. Before the strike, Israel issued an evacuation warning; however, a young girl suffering a head injury reportedly died during the rushed evacuation.

At least 34 people killed in Russian ballistic missile attack on Sumy

2025/04/14 10:00

Let's begin in Ukraine. A Russian attack has killed and injured dozens in the Sumy region. You have the updates. Yes. A Russian missile strike has hit the Ukrainian city of Sumy, resulting in at least 34 deaths and over 100 injuries. The attack occurred during Palm Sunday celebrations, marking one of the deadliest assaults on civilians in Ukraine this year. On Sunday at approximately 10:15 AM local time, two Russian ballistic missiles struck the city as residents gathered for Palm Sunday services. The missiles hit a trolleybus and the Sumy State University Congress Center, where a children's theater performance was underway. The attacks killed at least 34 people, including two children, and injured 117 others, among them 15 children. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the strike a deliberate act of terror and pushed for a stronger international response, including additional military support.

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol's first criminal trial takes place on Monday

2025/04/14 10:00

The first criminal trial for former President Yoon Suk yeol, who's facing insurrection charges just began at 10 AM, at the Seoul Central District Court. Yoon arrived at the court this morning, as he is required to be at the trial in person. Two key witnesses, including Cho Sung-hyun from the army's capital defense command are expected to testify at the hearing that will be held behind closed doors. Cho earlier testified at the Constitutional Court in February, that he was ordered to send troops to drag lawmakers out of parliament on the night of the martial law order. Monday's trial comes ten days after the 64-year-old former leader was removed from office. If convicted, he could face life imprisonment or even the death penalty.

Seoul says copper import restrictions will disrupt S. Korean investment in U.S.

2025/04/14 10:00

The South Korean government has called on Washington to ease measures against South Korean copper imports, stressing that restrictions could hinder South Korean investments in the U.S. The request comes as the U.S. Department of Commerce launched an investigation last month under Section 232 of the 1962 Trade Expansion Act to asses the national security implications of imports of copper and copper derivative products. Section 232 specifically allows the U.S. president to impose import restrictions if imported goods pose a threat to national security. South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy stressed that South Korean copper products are not a threat but contribute positively to the U.S. economy and supply chain stability. It added that copper tariffs could harm U.S. security and economy by increasing prices, weakening the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturers, and cause supply chain disruption.

South Korea establishes diplomatic ties with Syria, longtime ally of North Korea

2025/04/11 20:00

Thank you for joining us. I'm Yoon Jung-min. Today, we begin with a notable change in diplomacy. South Korea has forged diplomatic ties with Syria, a staunch ally of North Korea. Seoul now has formal relations with all UN members, with the exception of Pyongyang. The country's foreign minister made a rare visit to Syria for this event. Our foreign affairs correspondent Bae Eun-ji reports. Syria has now become the 194th country in the world to form diplomatic relations with South Korea marking a milestone for the country, as it now has formal ties with all UN member states, except North Korea. Foreign minister Cho Tae-yul visited Syria's capital city Damascus this week,.. and signed a joint statement on Thursday local time, with his counterpart Assad al-Shaibani. "By establishing diplomatic relations with Syria -the last remaining country with which we had no diplomatic ties, South Korea has now reached a historic milestone of establishing diplomatic relations with all 191 UN member states." The two sides held a meeting, where Cho said South Korea is willing to contribute to reconstruction efforts in Syria, and discussed the possibility of Korean companies participating in rebuilding the country. He also promised Seoul will provide humanitarian assistance including medicine, medical equipment and rice. During his visit, Cho also met the country's interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa.. and said taking a firm stance against extremism and eliminating chemical weapons, will help create an environment conducive to the country's development. South Korea started to work on forging diplomatic ties with Syria, after more than 13 years of war recently put an end to the brutal Assad dictatorship which had maintained a close relationship with North Korea for decades. The Assad family regime, which ruled the country for more than 50 years, collapsed in December during a major offensive by opposition forces. Syria has had diplomatic ties with North Korea since 1966, but the fall of the dictatorship brought about a significant shift in its relations with Pyongyang. Now that South Korea has forged ties with nations that have been close allies of the North, including Cuba last year, this latest diplomatic development is expected to further isolate Pyongyang on the global stage. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.

[Weather] Weather shift this weekend with cooler air

2025/04/11 20:00

We had a bit of summery feel during the afternoon under dazzling sunshine. Now, we're in for a significant change this weekend. Be prepared for some widespread rain starting from Jeju, along with strong winds and thunderstorms. And mountainous regions in Gangwon-do could see rain turning into snow. So this band of rain will bring cooler air to the country. But it's welcomed as the rain will help ease the dryness and clear the dust in the air. Tomorrow morning will be warmer under cloudy skies, kicking off at 13 degrees in the capital and 11 degrees in Daejeon and Busan. Highs will be around the norms, getting up to 18 degrees in the capital and Gwangju. Plan accordingly for your wet and much cooler weekend! And those of us in the capital could see rain into Monday. That's Korea for you. Here's a look at the international weather conditions.

Fully blooming cherry blossoms in Yeouido, Seoul

2025/04/11 20:00

The iconic cherry blossom festival at Yeouido here in the capital is in full bloom. Our Choi Soo-hyung covers these annual sights of the spring season. It's cherry blossom season now in South Korea. Many people have come to Yeouido in Seoul to see the beautiful cherry blossoms fully blooming in the warm spring weather. Visitors enjoy a nice spring walk along the 1-point-7 kilometers-long Yunjung-ro road right by the National Assembly building. "This is one the most famous hot spots to sightsee and enjoy the cherry blossoms in the capital city, Seoul." This year's cherry blossom festival in Yeouido started on Tuesday. Over 18-hundred cherry blossom trees are planted here, circling around the National Assembly building and right next to the Hangang River. With rain in the forecast for the weekend, many people came to hang out and enjoy the flowers, even though it's a weekday. "We came here as a vacation, but we were not planning to see these beautiful blossoms that are going on right now with the beauty of spring, and so we are very grateful to be here and see the beauty of this beautiful park. It's just exploding with color, and the blossoms are absolutely stunning." "My baby just turned one, so this is their first time seeing flowers like this. It was really fun and enjoyable. My baby really loved it too." "Actually, this is my first time coming to the Yeouido cherry blossom festival. It's also the first time for my baby, so I'm really happy to be here. The weather is nice too, so we're enjoying the flowers a lot." Facilities such as shelters for light picnics, photo zones, and temporary health centers.. have been set up for visitors. It also has a special barrier-free tour program for people who are visually impaired. They can walk around Yeouido Park with a guide, touch the flowers to feel them, and enjoy the sound of the street performances. For those who want to know the best spots to enjoy this stunning view, use exit one of National Assembly subway station on subway line number nine, or exit two of Yeouinaru Station on line number five. The festival was supposed to start on April 4th, last Friday, but it was delayed as this fell on verdict day for former President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial. Because of that, the festival will continue until Saturday, April 12th. To run the festival, Yeongdeungpo-gu Office will close some parts of the road behind the National Assembly and traffic restrictions will stay in place until Sunday April 13th. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.

Yoon leaves presidential residence 1 week after impeachment upheld

2025/04/11 20:00

Impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol today moved out of the presidential residence and into his private residence. Releasing a message through his legal representatives, Yoon said, he will return to being an ordinary citizen and seek new ways to help the nation and its people. The move comes precisely one week after the Constitutional Court ruled to uphold his impeachment. The ruling strips him of all presidential benefits with the exception of some 40 security officials. He also faces a criminal trial on charges of insurrection with a hearing set for Monday next week.

PPP primary to have heart monitors during debate, MBTI self-introductions for younger voters

2025/04/11 20:00

The People Power Party is planning to make its partisan primary election more appealing to those in their 20s and 30s. The party's primaries will require contenders to put on heart monitors during debates, as well as partake in speed games, and to include in their introductions their personality type as evaluated via the MBTI test. As of today, nine party members have voiced their intentions to run in the presidential race including five-term lawmaker Na Kyung-won who declared her decision earlier this afternoon. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon is scheduled to share his bid on the 13th while Hong Joon-pyo resigned from his Daegu mayor post today and is set to make his bid on the 14th.

Fmr. DP leader Lee Jae-myung outlines campaign vision in run for presidency

2025/04/11 20:00

On the local political front where the race for the top office is heating up. The former head of the Democratic Party shared his vision for South Korea as a potential global leader. Our correspondent Shin Ha-young reports. Former Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, now a preliminary presidential candidate, has pledged to make South Korea a "first mover" on the global stage. Lee laid out his campaign vision for a new government at the National Assembly on Friday, elaborating on the "K-Initiative" he introduced during his candidacy announcement the day before. He explained that while South Korea grew by emulating the successes of other countries, there are no clear models or answers to follow. "I will take South Korea into a new era of global leadership. This is the vision of the 'K-Initiative.' To survive in today's fierce global battleground, I'm calling for a paradigm shift from copying to leading. A recent poll released on Friday shows that Lee remains the front-runner among presidential hopefuls. A survey conducted by Gallup from Tuesday to Thursday on 1-thousand-5 adults aged 18 and over shows that Lee is the most favored candidate to be the next president at 37 percent. However, the DP has yet to announce its primary election rules or plans. The party is reportedly debating methods to select its candidate. One possible option is based on the results of a party membership vote -for 50 percent and public opinion polls also for 50 percent. However, candidates outside Lee's faction are pushing for an open primary, where the outcome is determined entirely by a public vote. Former DP lawmaker Kim Du-kwan and Governor of Gyeonggi-do Province Kim Dong-yeon, who both announced their bids earlier this week, have raised concerns, saying candidates are not being included in the discussions. The party aims to select its presidential candidate by early May. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

Gov't to provide US$ 6 bil. to support export companies

2025/04/11 20:00

The government is poised to provide over nine-trillion won, about six-billion U.S. dollars in financial support for export businesses. The plan was announced during a meeting led by Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok on Friday. The package includes loans at lower rates and crucial funding for operations. A dedicated task force will also be set up to address changes in supply chains.