News

'King' of Italian fashion Giorgio Armani dies at 91

2025/09/05 13:39

Italian fashion icon Giorgio Armani passed away at the age of 91 on Thursday, with reports saying he died peacefully at his home in Milan, following a long illness. Dubbed the "King of the Blazer," he was known for his modern Italian style, characterized by elegance and simplicity, having pioneered the concept of soft power dressing, which features more fluid, longer-cut suit jackets and loosely pleated trousers. Tributes poured in from across the fashion world and beyond, including Donatella Versace, who called him a "giant," and others lauded his legacy. Armani remained actively involved in his brand and design work until his final days. An area for the public to express condolences will be set up over the weekend in Milan.

Ebola outbreak kills 15 in DR Congo

2025/09/05 13:38

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a new Ebola outbreak has been confirmed in central Kasai province, where 15 people have died and 28 suspected cases have emerged, according to the country's health ministry on Thursday. The latest case involved a 34-year-old pregnant woman, admitted to the hospital in August, who subsequently showed symptoms of the illness. This marks the country's sixteenth Ebola outbreak since the disease was first identified in 1976. Officials said the Zaire strain, which is rare but highly fatal, was identified. The World Health Organization said it was "acting with determination to halt the spread of the virus and protect communities rapidly."

US gives Ecuador nearly $20 million in new funding, drones to fight drug gangs

2025/09/05 13:38

The United States has promised to support Ecuador's fight against drug cartels, announcing nearly 20 million U.S. dollars in new funding. The announcement was made during Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit to Quito, Ecuador, on Thursday, where he unveiled 13.5 million dollars in security assistance for general anti-cartel operations and an additional 6 million dollars to equip the Ecuadorian Navy with surveillance drones. Rubio also designated Ecuador's most notorious gangs, Los Lobos and Los Choneros, as foreign terrorist organizations, referring to them as "vicious animals." The designation grants the U.S. broader authority to freeze assets, target operations, and enhance intelligence-sharing capabilities. Ecuador's President, Daniel Noboa, expressed support for tighter cooperation with the U.S., including the possibility of reinstating a U.S. military base in the country. This decision comes in response to a surge in violence and drug trafficking driven by cartels in Ecuador.

Macron says 26 countries ready to send troops for Ukraine ceasefire

2025/09/05 13:38

Starting in Europe, French President Emmanuel Macron said 26 nations pledged to deploy a "reassurance force" to Ukraine, immediately after a ceasefire agreement is reached. According to Macron, following the "Coalition of the Willing" meeting in Paris on Thursday, 26 countries have committed to providing security guarantees for Ukraine. These forces are intended to deter future Russian aggression, not engage in combat, and will be deployed the day after a ceasefire or peace deal takes effect. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, alongside U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, participated in the summit. While continued American support was discussed, the U.S. has not yet pledged ground troops. Macron also said U.S. support for Ukraine's security guarantees will be finalized in the coming days, following a call with President Donald Trump. Though some EU countries, including Italy, have ruled out sending troops, others, such as Germany, are weighing participation and may support Ukraine through training and equipment.

[On-point] N. Korea reaffirms ties with China, as S. Korea's Lee prepares U.S. visit

2025/09/05 13:37

North Korea's Kim Jong-un met China's Xi Jinping in Beijing for the first time in six years, and their rare one-on-one meeting was largely focused on reaffirming friendship. As for South Korea, President Lee Jae Myung will be traveling to New York later this month where he could meet his American counterpart Donald Trump for the second time in around a month. For more on this, we're joined by Professor Kim Dong-soo, Professor at the Division of international and area studies, at Pukyong National University. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sat down for talks with China's Xi and Russia's Putin in Beijing. What's your assessment of North Korea moving closer to Beijing and Moscow? It was a dramatic image: Kim, Xi, and Putin appearing together in public. Will the United States try to further strengthen trilateral ties with South Korea and Japan in response? President Lee Jae Myung is set to attend the UN General Assembly later this month and chair a meeting there. He will be the first South Korean leader to preside over a UN Security Council meeting as South Korea assumes the rotating presidency this month, right? What makes this so significant? Will President Lee's visit to New York provide an opportunity for him to meet President Donald Trump again? Could there also be a trilateral summit that includes Japan? Alright. Thank you so much for your insight today. We appreciate it.

Kim Jong-un, Xi Jinping, Putin signal complications for South Korea, U.S diplomacy with N. Korea: Experts

2025/09/05 13:36

At China's Victory Day parade this week, active diplomacy between North Korea, Russia and China sent a strong signal to the world. Our Oh Soo-young explains what it means for peace and denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. A new phase of bloc politics could complicate the equation for peace on the Korean Peninsula. That's according to analysts in Seoul, after Kim Jong-un joined Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin at China's Victory Day celebration in Beijing. On Wednesday, the leaders of North Korea, China, and Russia put on a united front throughout China's major military parade, hardening the fault lines against South Korea's strengthened trilateral cooperation with the U.S. and Japan. "China and Russia have openly declared that they intend to advance a so-called multipolar international order, which would revolve around the Global South, BRICS, and Eurasian states. Their gathering reflected that push. Second, it signaled a counter-message to the US and the West, considering the recent South Korea–U.S. summit and their solidarity with Japan, reinforcing bloc confrontation in the region. For Kim Jong-un, it also underscored his push for recognition of North Korea as a nuclear power. While South Korea and the United States say they remain committed to reviving dialogue with Pyongyang, both allies maintain their push for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. But for now, Pyongyang has little incentive to talk, as it benefits from Russia's war in Ukraine with troop deployments and arms supplies exchanged for economic and diplomatic returns. At the same time, the potential end of the Ukraine war could means Kim must keep his options open, shoring up ties with China, and pressing for deeper economic cooperation. "From Kim Jong-un's perspective, it would be the North Korean-style division of labor: the economy from China, security from Russia, reaping benefits from both. Still, if talks to end the Ukraine war do take place and move forward, US North Korea dialogue could open up. In that dialogue, North Korea would seek to leverage China's backing to pressure the U.S. This reflects a calculated diplomatic strategy." For South Korea and the U.S., China adds another layer of complexity. "China's decision to invite Kim underscores its role as a key player in Korean Peninsula and regional affairs, displaying Beijing's firm influence on Pyongyang. The message is that Seoul and Washington must maintain amicable ties with China if they want to improve relations with the North." It's a leverage Xi Jinping clearly flaunted as he elevated Kim Jong-un's treatment with special protocol in Tiananmen Square. The diplomatic calendar further raises the stakes. South Korea will host the APEC leaders' meeting this October, and has hoped to see the leaders of the U.S., China, and even North Korea show up. Attending the Victory Day parade instead of President Lee Jae Myung, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik has invited Xi Jinping to APEC once again. It remains unclear whether the Chinese leader will accept. "China initially had high hopes at the start of the Lee Administration. But despite stressing "pragmatic, national interest–based diplomacy," Lee prioritized a summit with Japan and reaffirmed its alliance with Washington. That likely displeased Beijing." Looking forward, Seoul says it will continue strengthening the South Korea-U.S. alliance, while aiming to develop "mature relations" with China in a way that mutually benefits their citizens,.. also requesting Beijing play a constructive role in Korean Peninsula affairs. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

Two S. Koreans among 16 dead in Lisbon funicular crash

2025/09/05 13:35

Over in Europe. The tragic crash of the historic Gloria funicular in Lisbon has left 16 victims dead, of which two have been identified as South Korean nationals. A mass was held at the site of the accident Thursday night, and an investigation has been launched by the local authorities, with all of Lisbon's funiculars shut down for technical inspections. Lee Eun-jin has the details. In the tragic crash of the historic Gloria funicular, 16 people were killed, and more than 20 others injured. On Wednesday, around 6:15 PM local time, Lisbon's 140-year-old funicular train, which is popular with tourists, derailed and crashed into a building. Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Prime Minister Luis Montenegro visited the site of the funicular accident on Thursday evening for a mass in honor of the 16 victims of the crash. Prime Minister Montenegro called the crash "one of the biggest human tragedies" in the country's recent history, and President Rebelo de Sousa told journalists that it was a time to mourn the deceased and to console their family members. "Today is a national day of mourning, it's mourning for Lisbon but also for Portugal. In this hour of mourning, we are waiting for a time when, first and foremost, we must mourn the dead, respect the dead. Believers pray for the dead, non-believers think of the dead. The yellow funicular that carried many tourists up and down a steep hillside in Lisbon was left overturned on the cobblestone street. Of the 16 victims the coroner has so far identified the bodies of five Portuguese, two South Koreans and one Swiss national. "Five Portuguese citizens have been fully identified through scientific methods. Two South Korean citizens we have had close collaboration with the South Korean embassy from the outset and one identified Swiss victim identified through Interpol." Among those not yet officially identified may be two Canadians, one Ukrainian and one German. It is not known how many passengers were on board when the crash happened. An investigation has now been launched by Lisbon prosecutors, police and the transport accident investigation department. Carris, the company that operates Lisbon's buses, trams, and funiculars, said all of its funiculars and its vertical lifts in the capital had been shut down for technical inspections, which would take place "in the coming days." Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.

Trump signs executive order lowering tariffs on Japanese autos to 15%

2025/09/05 13:33

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday, under which tariffs on imported Japanese automobiles and parts will be lowered from the current 27-point-5 percent to 15 percent. The new tariff rate will apply retroactively to Japanese auto products that arrived in the U.S. on or after 12:01 AM on August 7th, Washington time. The order stipulates that for a Japanese product with an existing tariff of less than 15 percent, the total levy, including the reciprocal tariff, will be 15 percent. For a product with an existing levy of at least 15 percent, the reciprocal tariff will be zero percent. The U.S. has completed administrative procedures with Japan, and the order is scheduled to take effect as early as next week, increasing the likelihood of a gap in automobile tariffs with South Korea, which still has a tariff rate of 25 percent.

[NEWs GEN] Voluntary Retirement: Why are companies asking young people to leave?

2025/09/05 13:33

[NEWs GEN] Voluntary Retirement: Why are companies asking young people to leave?

Kim and Xi reaffirm unwavering friendship and signals restorations of close ties

2025/09/05 11:34

We begin in Beijing.. where North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks last night, reaffirming friendship, and discussing a variety of issues. Our Kim Bo-kyoung starts us off. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Chinese President Xi Jinping's meeting signaled the restoration of close ties that had grown distant due to the recent North Korea–Russia rapprochement. The two met at the Great Hall of the People on Thursday, marking the first such meeting since 2019, with Kim visiting China in January of that year, while Xi visited Pyongyang in June. During the meeting, the two leaders shared the pleasure of seeing each other yet again, and agreed to work together to safeguard their common interests, as part of what was described as a community of shared destiny. "In the face of a turbulent international landscape, China stands ready to strengthen strategic communication, enhance exchanges and cooperation, and deepen exchanges of experience in governance with the DPRK, so as to effectively advance our respective socialist cause and jointly promote regional peace, stability, development, and prosperity." "The past six years have seen earthshaking changes and development in China, which impressed me greatly. What touched me even more is the unwavering and profound friendship between our two peoples. Despite the ever-changing world, this friendship will never change." While touting the development Beijing achieved, Kim stressed the regime's readiness to deepen economic and trade cooperation to achieve greater results. When it comes to the tension on the Korean Peninsula, Kim did mention how he appreciated China's "fair stance" regarding the issues, to which Xi responded that China will continue to strengthen coordination with the North to safeguard peace and stability in the region. However, the joint statement released by China after the meeting did not include any mention of the "denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." Kim arrived at Beijing Station at 9:50 PM, departing on his special train 15 minutes later. He is expected to arrive in Pyongyang on Friday afternoon, if he heads straight back. His fifth visit to China was his longest one on record, lasting four days and five nights. His stay in Beijing was also his longest, at around 54 hours. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.

[Econ & Biz] Yellow Envelope Act opened: the name, reason, concerns, and future of labor and businesses

2025/09/05 00:35

It's widely known as the "Yellow Envelope Act" here in South Korea. The new law, signed on Tuesday, expands labor union rights, but has displeased businesses. With a six-month grace period before it takes effect, what are the key points of discussion? We have our reporter Kim Do-yeon in the studio. Do-yeon, President Lee Jae-myung's administration was adamant about passing this law. That's right Dami, first it was passed as means by the government to tackle labor inequality. There is a gap in treatment in the nation's labor scene between full-time employees and contract workers. This law was vetoed by the former administration twice and now it's one of the first laws to be signed by President Lee. Take a listen to the President first about this. Now, to give you a bit more detail. The so-called "Yellow Envelope Act," refers to revisions to labor unit laws which expand the definition of an 'employer' to include principal contractors and allow non-employees to join trade unions. Furthermore, it broadens the scope of lawful industrial action while limiting a company's ability to seek damages from unions for strike-related losses. Now, the Yellow Envelope Act will come into effect in six months. Before we get into the discussions, why is it called the Yellow Envelope Act? The name 'Yellow Envelope Act' originates from the 2009 Ssangyong Motors strike. After the 77-day strike, a court ordered workers to pay a staggering 4.7 billion won, or about 3.4 million U.S. dollars, in damages. In response to their hardship, a citizen sent a 47,000-won donation a symbolic 1/100,000th of the total debt inside a yellow envelope to a local newspaper with a letter showing empathy to their cause. That single act sparked a nationwide grassroots movement, which became known as the Yellow Envelope Campaign, as the public sent donations to support the workers. The law, parts of which are designed to protect unions from such crippling damage claims, was ultimately named in honor of that campaign. Despite the heartwarming story, this is fiercely fought against by businesses. The expansion of the definition of the word 'employer' seems to be a key point. That is the central issue. In essence, it means employees of a subcontracting firm can now negotiate their working conditions directly with the principal corporation that hired their company. For these large corporations, this could create a significant new burden, as they may now be responsible for the employees of hundreds of different contractors, amounting to thousands of workers. However, experts argue this legal change was an inevitable reflection of the current economic structure. Contracting has become prevalent over the last few decades, and courts have already been setting precedents for this type of responsibility. To put the scale into perspective, data from the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade shows that in the manufacturing sector alone, over half—50.6 percent—of all small and medium-sized enterprises operate as subcontractors. "Subcontracting firms are often very small, and their employees' wages are inevitably determined by the contract value set by the principal contractor. That is why subcontracted workers have consistently wanted to negotiate directly with the principal contractor. In that sense, this was an unavoidable legal measure." Another key part of this bill is the limitation on filing for damages from strikes. It sounds like that could result in more strikes that could halt business operations. That's a crucial point, and it's important to understand the context. But, of course we saw from the story behind the name of Yellow Envelope Act it's been put into question whether companies were retaliating against strikes when filing for damages. Take a listen to an expert. "The scope of what constitutes an 'illegal strike' in South Korea is very broad compared to Western countries. It's very easy for a strike to be deemed illegal here." This legislation aims to shield unions from what they see as punitive damages that could dismantle a union entirely. Will there be riot-like strikes by the union now that no damages can be claimed by the company? The texts will have to be clarified, and that's what the government is aiming to do going forward. "Many people are concerned about this. So, if the law cannot be abolished, then the enforcement decree must be drafted with great detail and care." Businesses have voiced strong concerns, including worries that this could drive foreign investment away. Is there validity to that argument? That is certainly a major concern for business lobbies. They fear rising labor costs and increased disputes could make South Korea a less attractive market, but take a listen to an expert. "However this seems to have somewhat limited on the U.S. investment because labor cost to U.S. is higher than in Korea. Passing such bills does not seem to critically increase labor cost in Korea to that in U.S." But, he added if things add up, at one point the scale could be tipped. Right Do-yeon. Thanks for the comprehensive coverage tonight. We appreciate it.

Eyes on ongoing N. Korea-China talks; what would Kim, Xi talk about?

2025/09/04 23:40

We begin in China tonight. After the country's grand military parade, Chinese leader Xi Jinping continues to mingle with other like-minded world leaders. That includes a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. We connect with our Kim Bo-kyoung for details. Bo-kyoung, the two are now in their meeting, aren't they? Dami, there hasn't been any detailed report yet on the meeting, but the meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un did start, according to the Xinhua news agency. Kim's motorcade was spotted by the media moving toward the Great Hall of the People at around 6PM local time. The summit between Kim and Xi, is the first such meeting in around six years, since Xi's visit to North Korea in June 2019. Having received the highest level of courtesy from Chinese President Xi Jinping during the Victory Day military parade, all eyes today were on whether North Korean leader Kim Jong-un would have a summit with Xi. In fact, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun, during the regular media briefing on Thursday, had said the two leaders will hold talks to exchange in-depth views on China-North Korea relations and issues of mutual interest. Guo further added that China wishes to strengthen strategic communication with Pyongyang. "China stands ready to strengthen strategic communication and enhance cooperation with the DPRK, deepen the sharing of governance experience, and advance the respective socialist causes." Pundits say the the agenda would likely to focus on economic cooperation, as Kim is pursuing a strategy dubbed "Security with Russia, Economy with China." Strengthening trilateral ties among Pyongyang, Beijing and Moscow is also expected to be part of agenda. There's also plenty of attention on the rest of Kim's itinerary, such as any visits to Chinese industrial or high-tech development sites or any appearances by his daughter Kim Ju-ae. Kim, who stood shoulder to shoulder with Xi and Putin at a military parade on Wednesday, had shown a sense of unity against the West especially the U.S. And, following the military parade, Kim held a bilateral summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin where they reportedly discussed long-term plan for bilateral cooperation. Meanwhile, a formal trilateral summit between Kim, Xi, and Putin did not take place, with Putin having headed to Vladivostok on Thursday, according to the Kremlin. That is all I have for now, back to you. Thanks Bo-kyoung for the coverage.

[Weather] Heat wave continues and rain until the weekend

2025/09/04 23:39

Rain had been falling in the central parts and showers in the southern parts of the country today. Some areas had strong rain of around 30 millimeters per hour. It is expected to rain in most parts of the country this coming weekend as well. Especially in the west where heavy rain is forecast from Saturday night. Heat wave warnings are in place in the southern parts of the country and Jeju Island. With the rain, the daytime temperature in Seoul only rose to 29 degrees Celsius today, but it was still hot in the southern regions such as Gwangju and Daegu, with the temperatures rising to around 33 degrees. It will move back up to 33 degrees in Seoul tomorrow. Tomorrow, Seoul and Daegu will start off at 24 degrees, Jeju at 27 degrees. Highs will top out at 33 degrees in Seoul, Daejeon and Daegu, 31 degrees in Busan. It will continue to be hot next week all over the country. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

At least 17 killed, 21 injured in Gloria Funicular crash in Lisbon

2025/09/04 23:39

A funicular railway carriage popular with tourists derailed in Lisbon, killing at least 15 people and injuring more than 20. One of the injured is believed to be a Korean woman. Shin Ha-young has this report. In Lisbon, Portugal, at least 17 people have died and more than 20 were injured after a carriage on the Gloria Funicular cable railway derailed. The incident occurred around 6 PM local time on Wednesday. Local authorities said a cable snapped, sending the tram down a steep hill before it crashed into a building and overturned. Aerial and bystander footage showed the yellow vehicle crushed against the building. "It fell about a meter and a half and made a huge crash — it was packed. We stayed to help. But just as we were going to assist, we saw another tram coming downhill." According to Seoul's Foreign Ministry and local media in Portugal, one of the injured is a Korean woman. She was taken to a hospital, but her current condition has not been reported. "We arrived at the scene in 3 minutes, getting there very quickly. The causes of the accident will have to be analyzed by the competent authorities." The line has served residents and tourists since 1885 and carries about 3 million passengers annually. Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas described the crash as a "tragic moment for the city." After the incident, the city launched emergency safety checks on other funicular cable cars. The Portuguese government has declared Thursday as a day of national mourning, while the Lisbon city hall announced three days of mourning in the city. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa offered his condolences and called for a swift investigation by the prosecutor general's office. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

South Korea sees hottest summer on record

2025/09/04 23:38

This summer has gone down as the hottest on record here in South Korea. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration on Thursday, the nationwide average temperature from June to August was 25.7 degrees Celsius. That's two degrees above the average for the period 1973 to 2024 and it is 0.1 degrees higher than the previous record, set last year. The country saw repeated heat waves and heavy rain, with some regions hit by floods while others faced drought.

Is Korean content past its peak? Culture minister answers

2025/09/04 23:37

South Korea's culture minister spoke up about the need for more cultural infrastructure support as Korean content continues to dominate the world. He said this during his first media roundtable held today, where he shared his cultural policy aims down the road. Our culture correspondent Park Kun-woo was there. We might be in a golden era of Korean content with an ongoing global boom, but this may already be past its peak. That was said by Culture Minister Chae Hwi-young at his first official media roundtable in Seoul on Thursday. He said commentary coming from the sector is dire, citing the film industry as a representative example, where this year's domestic cinema audience is expected to shrink by around a half year-on-year. "The number of movies with production costs over 3 billion won is less than 20 this year, compared to about 100 in the past, due to dried-up investment. The ecosystem is collapsing." He added that even star directors now turn to overseas streaming platforms for funding, as government support alone is insufficient. Projects branded "Made with Korea" are also stalling due to tight budgets, despite strong global interest in collaborative works. Chae also stressed the need for more K-pop infrastructure. "Japan has 34 large-scale concert venues with more than 10-thousand seats. We have only 8. It isn't good for the home country of K-pop to have such limited infrastructure." In order to create a better environment, he said making efforts to increase budgets was crucial. Noting that next year's cultural budget will jump by around 9 percent, he said that still puts Korea in the mid-to-low ranking among OECD countries in terms of cultural spending. While vowing to do his best to further increase the budget in the near future, he said there's hope thanks to strong Korean content. "There may always be crises, but aren't we the people who always find an opportunity in these situations, and achieve our goal. Stray Kids has made history on the Billboard charts with its seventh consecutive No. 1 album. The movie "No Other Choice" might even win big this weekend in Venice, where it received a 9-minute standing ovation. We're flooded by this kind of news every day." The minister added he will do his best to seize this "golden opportunity" to establish Korea as a leading cultural powerhouse. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

Industrial AI EXPO showcases uses of AI to develop industry

2025/09/04 23:36

An inaugural exhibition to share the application of AI technologies in industrial settings is underway here in Seoul. Our business correspondent Park Jun-han tells us more. Under the phrase “The Convergence of AI and Industry: A New Industrial Revolution,” the first industrial AI EXPO opened in Seoul on Wednesday. Hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and organized by the Korea Industry Intelligentization Association, some hundred companies and thousands of exhibitors were present to experience and learn how AI could be used to benefit the country's industries. “The current Lee Jae Myung administration places a strong emphasis on using AI to drive industrial innovation, and here you can see technologies ranging from autonomous systems and AI-driven manufacturing to humanoid robots. Right now, AI robots like this one can do simple tasks such as folding your laundry, but with more AI training, they could have a wide range of industrial uses. The CEO of Large Language Model stated that with repeated training, AI technologies are now ready for real-world use. “I believe most AI technologies can already be implemented for real-world use. Unlike traditional technologies built for a clear purpose, generative AI prepares the tools even before the goal is fully defined.” Once considered a futuristic concept, AI is now part of our daily lives, effectively connecting people and industries. “AI helps predict what people want to buy in e-commerce and provides personalized healthcare recommendations. It also optimizes factory automation, enhances education, and improves energy management by using collected data to make smarter decisions and deliver better services.” From physical robots to personalized agents, AI is already part of our daily lives. In fact, AI still holds tremendous potential to be used anywhere and everywhere to help people around the world. Park Jun-han, Arirang News.

Overseas Korean politicians gather to share and discuss experiences and challenges

2025/09/04 23:35

There are more than 7 million overseas Koreans who make up a diaspora, and some of these, now citizens of their respective countries but of Korean descent, are representative figures in the political realm. Ahn Sung-jin talked to a couple of them to understand what it means to have a Korean heritage and background. Understanding global leadership through K-Spirit. That's what this year's 11th Global Korean Politicians Forum aims to promote. Hosted by the Global Korean Politicians Council and supported by the Overseas Korean Cooperation Center, the event brings together more than 50 incumbent overseas politicians of Korean descent to share their diverse experiences and promote mutual exchange. These figures now represent different countries and regions, but as New Zealand's first Korean-born member of Parliament, who is in her 6th term, Melissa Lee says most of them maintain their Korean values and culture, and even the language for some. "I am a Korean-born New Zealander who is a member of Parliament, and my thoughts and behavior and the way I am is shaped by my culture and my parents. These are the things that have shaped me, and I can't deny that; I cannot move away from it." Some of the topics discussed included the role of Asian-Americans and Goryeo saram or ethnic Koreans of the former Soviet Union, as politicians in shaping policies or supporting the Korean diaspora abroad. "Koreans in Russia are scattered across the territory, so I set a goal to unite the Korean diaspora in my city. We have already done a lot of work together with the Korean Cultural Center to hold events to unite Koreans who live in Russia." The event also invited overseas Korean scholarship students to discuss leadership in a global age, despite challenges or discrimination. With their Korean heritage, though these overseas Koreans may be advocating for a greater good and representing a wider audience, they say that deep down they will always be shaped by their roots as Koreans. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.

Trump feels slighted by China, signals global troop redeployment

2025/09/04 23:34

Meanwhile, in the U.S., President Donald Trump felt his country's role in Japan's defeat was overlooked at China's World War II ceremony, pointing out America "should've been mentioned." Our Moon Ji-young reports. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he felt China slighted the U.S. by not sufficiently acknowledging its role in winning World War Two during a parade held to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the war's end. "I thought it was a beautiful ceremony. I thought it was very, very impressive I was very surprised. I watched the speech last night. The president is Xi, is a friend of mine. But I thought that the United States should have been mentioned last night during that speech because we helped China very, very much." This comes as Trump himself emphasized the immense help the U.S. provided to China in achieving its freedom. Meanwhile, during a summit with Polish President Karol Nawrocki on the same day, President Trump praised Poland for exceeding its defense spending commitments among NATO allies, while clarifying that U.S. soldiers stationed there would remain. "If anything, we'll put more there if they want. But they've long wanted to have a larger presence. We have some countries that have more, not too many. But, no, they'll be staying in Poland." However, he did state he would consider troop redeployments in other nations. A remark that further served as a reaffirmation of his broader plan for global U.S. troop reallocation. This comes amid lingering concerns that his administration might be considering a troop reduction in the roughly 28-thousand-5-hundred-strong U.S. Forces Korea as it seeks to shift the role, mission and operational scope of the command to focus more on deterring China. It remains to be seen whether the USFK will be subject to such a redeployment. During last week's summit with Korean President Lee Jae Myung, President Trump did not make specific remarks regarding a troop reduction, simply stating that he did not wish to speak on it at the moment, 'because they are friends.' Moon Ji-young, Arirang News.

S. Korea's National Assembly Speaker meets with China's top legislator to boost ties

2025/09/04 23:33

National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik met with China's top legislator, Zhao Leji, in Beijing on Thursday to discuss strengthening diplomatic ties. Speaker Woo emphasized South Korea's commitment to improving relations by his participation in the recent Victory Day ceremony, and urged President Xi Jinping to attend the APEC Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju. He also addressed the sensitive issue of China's installations in the disputed Yellow Sea areas, calling for a careful handling of the matter. Woo concluded by requesting a more predictable business environment for Korean companies, and advocating for expanded cultural exchanges.