News

N. Korea dismantling facility for separated families near border

2025/02/13 17:00

North Korea is dismantling a reunion center for separated families located at its Kumgangsan Mountain. This is according to the Unification Ministry here on this Thursday in a statement that also denounced the demolition of the property as an "inhumane act" that tramples on the hopes of families separated by the Korean War. South Korea built the center in 2008 at a cost of over 35 million U.S. dollars. The 12-story building can accommodate up to a thousand family members and is owned by the South Korean government. The last cross-border family reunion took place in 2018.

Former NSC official, Allison Hooker, tapped as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs

2025/02/13 10:00

Former U.S. National Security Council official, Allison Hooker, who was involved in U.S.-North Korea summits during Trump's first term, has been nominated as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs. This is the third-highest position in the U.S. State Department and oversees the East Asian and Pacific Affairs Bureau, which handles affairs related to Korea. Trump notified Congress of his decision on Tuesday. Hooker served as the former senior director for Asian affairs at the National Security Council and took part in preparations for Trump's summits with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore in 2018, Hanoi in 2019, and the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjom in 2019.

U.S. says minerals deal with Ukraine could serve as post-war security for Kyiv

2025/02/13 10:00

The U.S. and Ukraine are working toward a minerals deal that could serve as a post-war security shield for Kyiv. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Ukrainian President President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed the potential agreement in Kyiv on Wednesday. Bessent said the deal would provide Ukraine with long-term security, while Zelenskyy expressed hope that negotiations could be finalized later this week. U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly promoted the idea of trading U.S. aid for Ukraine's critical minerals, as part of his push to secure 500 billion dollars worth of rare earth minerals from Ukraine. Bessent is the first cabinet-level official from the Trump administration to visit Ukraine.

S. Korean wins silver, bronze medals in men's freestyle skiing at Winter Asian Games

2025/02/13 10:00

South Korea added two more medals at the 2025 Winter Asian Games in Harbin on Wednesday, both coming in men's freestyle skiing. Yoon Jong-hyun and Shin Yeong-seop won silver and bronze medals in the event on the final day of the freestyle skiing competition. Yoon earned 169-point-50 points for second place, while Shin scored 165-point-25 points for the final podium spot. South Korea remains in second place in the medal standing, with 12 gold, 13 silver, and 12 bronze, for a total of 37 medals. And on Thursday, both the men's and women's figure skating free program will take place. Cha Jun-hwan and Kim Chae-yeon both ranked second in the short program, and will be seeking a podium finish.

Trump reciprocal tariffs could come by Thursday: White House

2025/02/13 10:00

According to the White House, reciprocal tariffs that President Donald Trump has warned he will impose will be signed on Thursday. Trump's trade officials have also begun holding talks with key global allies, in the hope of avoiding the worst. Lee Seung-jae reports. U.S. President Donald Trump will announce his reciprocal tariffs sometime this week,.. in response to tariffs being imposed on U.S. exports by other countries. According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday, Trump will announce his latest tariff plan before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit this Thursday. This means that Trump could make the announcement as early as Wednesday, but no later than Thursday. Amid criticism over Trump's trade policies, the press secretary reiterated the U.S. president's call for even trade, adding that such policies are needed to benefit American workers and improve its national security. "And it's very simple logic as to why the president wants to impose reciprocal tariffs. It's the golden rule, which we all learned, when we were growing up in school. Treat others the way you want to be treated. And far too many nations around this world have been ripping off the United States of America for far too long. And that's why the president believes this will be a great policy that will benefit American workers and improve our national security. " Meanwhile, with the reciprocal tariff announcement looming countries have been in talks with Trump's trade officials. Earlier on Wednesday, Kevin Hassett, the director of the White House National Economic Council, said that Washington is in talks with other countries on reciprocal tariffs. According to Reuters, European Union Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič held phone talks with U.S. Commerce Secretary nominee Howard Lutnick, and U.S. Trade Representative nominee Jamieson Greer as well as Hassett. Pundits say, despite Trump's looming announcement on reciprocal tariffs, it's likely that he will disclose his plans for how to proceed with the tariffs first, rather than immediately announcing the tariffs to be imposed on each country. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Trump, Putin agree to begin talks to stop war in Ukraine during phone call

2025/02/13 10:00

With just a week left until the Ukraine crisis enters its third year, U.S. President Donald Trump held a 90-minute phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, signaling a potential breakthrough in ending the war in Ukraine. Choi Min-jung reports. The United States and Russia have reportedly agreed to begin talks to stop the war in Ukraine. U.S. President Donald Trump posted on social media on Wednesday,. that he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin about ending the almost three-year-long war. Trump said he had a "lengthy and highly productive phone call" with Putin, and that their respective teams have agreed to start negotiations immediately. "I think I can say with great confidence he wants to see it, end it also. And that's good. And we are going to work toward getting it ended and as fast as possible." The two leaders also agreed to meet in the future,.. with Putin inviting Trump to Moscow. Trump said he would likely meet with Putin in the "not too distant future," probably in Saudi Arabia. Trump also held a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday, which Zelenskyy described as a "long, substantive" discussion. "President Trump informed me of what Putin told him. We believe that America's strength, together with us and all our partners, is enough to pressure Russia and Putin into peace." Following Trump's separate phone calls with both the leaders of Russia and Ukraine, the White House confirmed that the conversations went very well and that all three sides were committed to peace. "It is time to stop this ridiculous war where there has been massive and totally unnecessary death and destruction." On Friday, U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are set to attend the Munich Security Conference, and reaffirm Washington's determination to end the war. The Vice President is scheduled to hold in-person talks with Zelenskyy that day as well. Meanwhile, European foreign ministers and officials warned that the future of Ukraine could not be decided without Europe or Kyiv. Last week, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged unity against Moscow, stating that lasting peace for Ukraine depends on military and financial strength. Choi Min-jung, Arirang News.

K-wave AI News

2025/02/13 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Let's dive into the first story. Korean ballerino Park Youn-jae held a press conference after his historic win at the prestigious Prix de Lausanne in Switzerland, sharing his thoughts on the achievement. He said that he believes individuality, a unique style, and the courage to believe in oneself and move forward were key factors in the competition's scoring. He also expressed his desire to dance freely around the world without being tied to one place. Culture Minister Yu In-chon congratulated Park on his victory, calling it a "great step in showcasing the strength and prestige of Korean ballet on the global stage." The 75th Berlin International Film Festival kicks off on Thursday, local time, with a lineup of Korean films set to captivate audiences. The most anticipated film is director Bong Joon-ho's Hollywood sci-fi movie "Mickey 17," which has been invited to the Special Gala section to be screened on Saturday. The festival described Bong as the "writer and director of Parasite, once again delivering a dazzling cinematic experience." Director Hong Sang-soo, a regular at Berlinale, enters the competition section with his 33rd feature film, "What Does That Nature Say to You," which will premiere next Thursday. Meanwhile, director Min Kyu-dong's vengeance-thriller "The Old Woman With The Knife" will have its world premiere as a late-night Berlinale Special. The 13th Diaspora Film Festival will take place across Incheon in May. Organized by the Incheon Film Commission, the festival has been held annually since 2013 to promote the values of diversity and tolerance, spotlighting the experiences of migrants and refugees facing discrimination. The commission says the number of domestic and international submissions hit a record high this year. In addition to the festival's regular venues, such as Korea's first indoor theater, Aekwan Multiplex Cinema, and Incheon Art Platform, this year's event will also include screenings at Incheon Milim Theater, a beloved local cinema with deep ties to the community. The full lineup and special programs will be unveiled on the festival's official website in early May. That's all from me. Keep it tuned to Arirang.

[Hallyu People] Sijo celebrated in U.S. to mark "World Sijo Poetry Day"

2025/02/13 14:00

1) The Sejong Cultural Society hosted a celebration marking "World Sijo Poetry Day" last Friday. Please tell us a bit about this event, as well as your organization. 2) For our global viewers, what defines "sijo"? Also, there is a specific reason for why "Sijo Poetry Day" falls on February 7th? 3) What's behind the idea of bringing sijo (among many other Korean cultural aspects) to America? (Was there a specific incident?) 4) A variety of sijo events have been held so far. One of the most interesting is the sending of sijo poems into space? What's that about? 5) You've been involved in raising awareness of sijo for close to two decades now. During that time, the Korean wave has become a global phenomenon. Has that helped in raising further interest in sijo in the U.S.? 6) I can imagine it's not easy to teach Korean sijo to Americans due to the unique rhythm. How do you teach it? 7) Would it be possible if we could hear a sijo from you? 8) What do you ultimately hope to accomplish by bringing sijo into American society and could you also share some of your future plans of the Sejong Cultural Society in terms of spreading awareness of Korean culture?

[K-enter] NJZ Hanni Secures A New South Korean Visa

2025/02/13 14:00

Time for some K-entertainment news with Bella Kim. Our first story for today is about one of the members of NJZ, or still known to many as NewJeans? Hanni has received a new visa to stay in South Korea. According to the Instagram account managed by NJZ members' parents, Hanni, a Vietnamese-Australian, received a new visa this Tuesday after her previous visa reportedly expired earlier this month. Foreigners wishing to work in the local entertainment industry are required to obtain an E-6 visa, which typically allows for a stay of up to two years. The Instagram post did not state the type of visa Hanni received. The parents also mentioned that the group's agency, ADOR, pressured Hanni and the parents to sign a visa extension agreement that stated ADOR as Hanni's agency, saying that she is at risk of becoming an illegal resident. Meanwhile, NJZ rebranded itself last week after a dispute with ADOR although ADOR had expressed its discontent towards that rebranding as Walter reported earlier this week. Their first performance under the new name will be at the music festival "ComplexCon" in Hong Kong next month. Next we have another story on some other female artists? That's right. On Wednesday it was revealed that girl group aespa and Jennie from BLACKPINK are set to be honored at the 2025 Billboard Women in Music awards. Jennie will receive the 'Global Force Award.' According to Billboard, Jennie has taken over the charts and stages across the world, both as a member of BLACKPINK and as a solo artist. She is gearing up to release her debut solo album, "Ruby," on March 7th. Another winner, aespa, will receive the 'Group of the Year' award as they were recognized for expanding their global tour and releasing their album, "Armageddon," in May 2024. Billboard Women in Music celebrates the incredible women who continue to drive innovation, inspire change, and reshape the future of music. Girl group Twice and NJZ are previous winners. The 2025 Billboard Women in Music award ceremony will take place on March 29th at YouTube Theater in Hollywood Park, California. Our last story for today is on a new movie or should I say concert? "Lee Chan-won Concert Changa: Dear My Chance," a concert film about trot singer Lee Chan-won, will premiere on the 26th of this month. The film will show Lee Chan-won's energetic and passionate performances along with his life stories. His first concert film will also include behind-the-scenes of his concert tour. Lee Chan-won's 2024 nationwide tour, "Changa," was held in 8 different cities, including Seoul, Incheon, Busan, and Daegu. The film, "Lee Chan-won Concert Changa: Dear My Chance," will premiere on February 26th, exclusively at CGV theaters. Thank you Bella for today's stories. Now let's find out what our AI anchor Ari has in store for other culture-related news.

[K-Wave] KOCCA to expand investment and support for indie game production

2025/02/13 14:00

Gaming has become one of the core industries of Korea's content exports, accounting for about 60 percent of that sector. Accordingly, the Korea Creative Content Agency will expand support in this field. Lee Eun-jin has the details of this plan. A post-apocalyptic near-future where 90 percent of humanity has been wiped out due to the resurrection of an ancient virus as a side effect of global warming. Survivors hide in an underground bunker to avoid mutant creatures, as they train agents with a training AI simulator named "VEDA" to regain ground. This is the narrative of the indie action game "VEDA" which was produced with the support of the Korea Creative Content Agency and swept various indie game awards last year. "VEDA" has raised expectations among gamers for its versatility, being both a PC and console game. To foster further development of such games, the Korea Creative Content Agency will invest 63-point-2-billion won, or roughly 43-point-5 million U.S. dollars in the gaming sector. That's an increase of nearly 1-point-4 million U.S. dollars from last year. Specifically, they plan to expand support for indie and console games. "We plan to uncover a variety of creative indie games, and support production and consulting costs. Console games have a long production period, so we've established a new three-year support program." In addition to the financial support, all-around support will be provided to gaming companies, which includes assistance with distribution contracts and promotion at overseas game shows. The Korea Creative Content Agency will also actively respond to the problems that exist in the registration of game disease codes that can cause great damage to the game industry. As of the first half of 2024, games accounted for about 60 percent of Korea's content industry exports, steadily becoming established as a core export asset. Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.

Taiwan lantern festivals begin celebrating Year of the Snake

2025/02/13 10:00

Finally, to Taiwan, where the 2025 Taiwan Lantern Festival for the Year of the Snake officially began on Wednesday, with an opening ceremony held in Taoyuan City. Daily light shows and a variety of lantern displays will be held across Taoyuan's 13 districts from 6 to 10 PM until February 23. The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival in New Taipei City also attracted thousands of visitors who participated in the release of illuminated lanterns into the night sky. The tradition symbolizes peace and prosperity for the new year.

[Weather] Brief cold snap this morning, windy and sunny day

2025/02/13 10:00

Yesterday, we were hit with a lot of snow and sleet across much of the country, it was a great day for snow lovers, but after all the snow we've had this winter, it kind of feels like we've had enough for the season. AND things are looking much brighter today. After a cold start, highs will go up much higher then highs in Seoul will hit 10 degrees Celsius tomorrow. But it looks to be a quite windy day today. A wind advisory has been issued along the east coast and Jeju, and the rest of the country will also feel strong winds. We're actually expecting temperatures to be about 2 to 5 degrees higher than yesterday, but feels like temperatures could be 3 to 4 degrees lower than what readings say here. Seoul gets up to 5 degrees, Busan at 10 degrees with good air quality expected nationwide. The warming trend continues through the weekend but before you pack away those winter coats, we're expecting another round of winter chill next week. So, keep those warm layers handy.

Live: Will President Yoon's impeachment trial end today? Court says it "doesn't know"

2025/02/13 10:00

President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial draws near to a close, with the eighth and final session scheduled so far taking place on Thursday. For more, we connect to our Oh Soo-young at the Constitutional Court. Q1. Sooyoung, The eighth hearing of President Yoon's impeachment trial began moments ago in the main courtroom. Tell us more. Sure, Dami, The eighth and what could be the final hearing of President Yoon's impeachment trial began at 10 AM with the leader once again attending to represent himself. Today, three witness examinations are scheduled, National Intelligence Service Director Cho Tae-yong, former Seoul Metropolitan Police Commissioner Kim Bong-sik, and head of the Capital Defense Command's 1st Security Group Cho Sung-hyun. National Police Agency Commissioner General Cho Ji-ho was also set to testify but couldn't due to health reasons, marking his second absence. The questions are likely to focus on the orders that were given on the night of December 3rd when the President declared Martial Law, as justices continue to review whether his actions were Constitutional in terms of legality and context. Cho Sung-hyun's questioning session should be interesting as he was summoned to the trial by the judicial bench, as his boss Capital Defense Commander Lee Jin-woo refused to answer certain questions regarding President Yoon's direct orders on sending troops to the National Assembly and the arrest of politicians. Given the conflicting statements we've seen so far at past hearings, it's unclear whether today's will offer more clarity or confusion. Q2. Right. It's still unclear whether the Court will conclude the sessions today or not. That's right, Dami. Press Officer Cheon Jae-hyun said Wednesday that she hasn't been informed of any additional hearings, and when asked about the possibility, simply said she didn't know. She also refused to answer how trials normally wrap up. Based on previous cases, we can assume it would take around two to three hours for both the petitioner and the respondent to make their final arguments. Now, as there's a full day of witness questioning today, experts predict there'll be one or two more hearings scheduled. But if the hearings do conclude today, the verdict could come as early as late February. Former President Park Geun-hye underwent 17 hearings in her impeachment trial, while former President Roh Moo-hyun's trial involved seven hearings. Park's impeachment was upheld in 11 days, and Roh Moo-hyun's was dismissed in 14 days. Q3. Well, what will affect the timeline of the verdict? One key factor is whether additional witnesses will be approved. So far, the court has accepted a total of 15 witnesses in the impeachment trial—seven requested by the National Assembly and eight by President Yoon's side. This compares to the 36 witnesses approved during Park Geun-hye's impeachment trial. The Court says it is reviewing the three new candidates requested by Yoon. Experts say, there could be ramifications later if the justices don't show due process. Another variable affecting the timeline is the dispute case related to Acting President Choi Sang-mok's decision not to appoint Ma Eun-hyuk as a Constitutional Court justice. If the Constitutional Court upholds the jurisdictional dispute and Ma is appointed, the court will return to its full nine-member bench, and Ma will participate in the impeachment trial. Yoon's team might request a retrial process then, asking Ma to review evidence records from the beginning, which would delay the ruling. Soo-young, thank you for the coverage. That was our Oh Soo-young live from the Constitutional Court.

U.S. frees jailed Russian cybercriminal after Russia releases teacher Marc Fogel

2025/02/13 10:00

Good morning, I'm Choi Chi-hee, And this, is The World Now. With expectations growing over a possible peace deal in Ukraine, the United States and Russia conducted a prisoner exchange, for the first time in six months, involving American teacher Marc Fogel and Russian cybercrime suspect Alexander Vinnik. On Wednesday, the U.S. released Alexander Vinnik, co-founder of the cryptocurrency exchange BT-e, who had been detained since 2017 on charges of laundering over 4 billion U.S. dollars through the platform. Vinnik admitted to being part of a money laundering scheme and was waiting to be sentenced in the U.S. Moscow released Marc Fogel, a 63-year-old American schoolteacher based in Russia, who was arrested in 2021 for having medically prescribed marijuana and was sentenced to 14 years in a Russian prison. Fogel returned to the U.S. on Tuesday and was welcomed by President Donald Trump.

Mexican president says Mexico and U.S. will discuss steel tariffs later this week

2025/02/13 10:00

Following U.S. President Donald Trump's imposition of tariffs on steel and aluminum imports earlier this week Mexico and Canada plan to seek exemptions through discussions. On Wednesday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that top officials will engage in discussions with the United States over the 25% tariffs later this week. Mexico's economy minister emphasized that the levies are "unjustified," noting that the U.S. maintains a trade surplus in these metals with Mexico. Also on Wednesday, Canada made a diplomatic push by sending all 13 Canadian premiers to Washington, D.C. for the first time. They'll meet with U.S. senators and members of Congress to speak against the impending tariffs and highlight the negative impacts on industries that rely heavily on steel and aluminum in both nations.

U.S. likely to impose reciprocal tariffs as early as Tuesday

2025/02/12 20:00

Thank you for joining us. I'm Yoon Jung-min. Following his 25-percent blanket tariffs on steel and aluminium imports into the American market, U.S. President Donald Trump is now poised to announce reciprocal tariffs on American trade partners. Choi Min-jung has our top story. The U.S. is anticipated to announce plans to impose reciprocal tariffs on other countries, as early as Tuesday, or by Wednesday at the latest. "I'll be announcing probably Tuesday or Wednesday at a news conference reciprocal tariffs. And very simply, it's if they charge us, we charge them." Trump claims that introducing reciprocal tariffs will create a fairer trading environment for the U.S. In theory, the U.S. would apply identical levies on imports from a specific country that the country imposes on American exports. Pundits say one of the most significant countries impacted by reciprocal tariffs would be India. In 2022, India imposed an average tariff of 9-point-5 percent on American products, significantly higher than the 3-percent rate the U.S. imposed on Indian goods. Europe will also likely face reciprocal tariffs. The U.S. imposes a 2-point-5 percent tariff on cars from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen, while the EU charges 10 percent on American auto imports. On top of that, there's the question of how Trump will handle value-added tax in the EU, which averages at over 20 percent. "The European Union charges as 20% plus, plus, plus of VAT tax, called a VAT tax, very similar, and it cost us an absolute fortune. We are treated so badly." If Trump takes a country-level approach, countries with which the U.S. has free trade agreements, including South Korea, are likely to remain unaffected, as most products are tariff-free. "Most of the goods that Korea sells to the United States as well as most of the goods that U.S. sells to Korea are covered by the KOR-U.S. FTA, which means that they have zero tariffs So the reciprocal tariffs will probably not affect Korea that much unless Trump specifically targets Korea." Given that South Korea posted a record trade surplus with the U.S. last year, there's a possibility that President Trump could target this issue. Nonetheless, the White House has indicated that reciprocal tariffs may not be implemented immediately this week, as Trump focuses on reviewing existing tariffs. Choi Min-jung, Arirang News.

[Politics & Diplomacy] Key agenda for S. Korea's February Assembly

2025/02/12 20:00

This week, we take a look at developments in the National Assembly. It's back in action after starting its February extraordinary session last week. Our political correspondent Lee Shi-hoo joins us here in the studio. Shi-hoo, let's begin with the government interpellation session that began this afternoon. What were key takeaways from today's Q&A? Right, it was indeed the first day of the interpellation today, and lawmakers from both sides questioned the ministers of foreign affairs, justice and national defense, to name a few, one by one. Now, the topics for today were politics, diplomacy, North Korea, and national defense and security. As had been forecast, we saw many lawmakers focus their questions around the briefly imposed martial law by President Yoon Suk Yeol back in December and its aftermath. We're seeing some strong attacks on government officials by members of the main opposition Democratic Party and minor opposition Rebuilding Korea Party, while ruling People Power Party lawmakers maintained a relatively moderate tone in their questions, although some of Yoon's close allies actively defended the conservative president and his actions. Let's shift our focus to the Assembly's plans and outlook this month. The rival parties are also undergoing a standoff on another major agenda. What is that? Yes, one of the main goals of the Assembly this month, and this week actually, was to possibly speed up joint talks between bipartisan lawmakers and the government on state affairs. They planned on launching "the joint consultative body" within this month, as a way to restore stability in South Korea's politics after the turmoil in December but the process is being delayed with the PPP and DP clashing on the details, mainly of two key items for discussion: They are 1. the potential special act to boost the domestic semiconductor industry; and 2. the supplementary budget for this year. The PPP wants to introduce a special act that will provide chip companies an exception to the current labor law so that employees in the sector can work for more than 52 hours per week, which is the limit laid out under the law. Right now, it's the ruling party's goal to get the bill approved within this month. While on the other hand, the DP wants to exclude this special labor law exemption and instead lay out other means to support the industry. And what are their stances on the supplementary budget? Yes, the PPP has been adamant that the DP needs to apologize first for cutting this year's budget in the first place, before it can start discussing the appropriate amount for the supplementary budget. They're urging the DP to restore and supplement this year's budget "they've unilaterally cut." They're especially pushing for budgets that will help the domestic economy recover. Meanwhile, the DP has insisted on a fast review and approval of the extra financing. They're suggesting a supplementary budget of at least 30 trillion won also to help the people's livelihood and the economy recover. Despite key differences, there is still a mutual bipartisan agreement to allocate an extra budget to boost the AI and chip sectors. The DP said it will announce its own version of the budget proposal tomorrow. As for the PPP, as we just heard, said they won't object to extra funds for areas that will not instigate political dispute. So, we expect to see some progress in the coming weeks as they scramble to find common ground. Thank you Shi-hoo. Do keep us updated on future developments.

STOCK

2025/02/12 20:00

2025. 2. 12. KOREAN STOCK MARKET KOSPI : 2,548.39 ▲9.34 +0.37% KOSDAQ : 745.18 ▼4.41 -0.59% KOSPI200 : 337.23 ▲0.56 +0.17% ASIAN STOCK MARKET NIKKEI225 : 38,963.70 ▲162.53 +0.42% HANG SENG : 21,857.92 ▲563.06 +2.64% SHANGHAI : 3,346.39 ▲28.33 +0.85% WALL STREET (February 11) DOW JONES : 44,593.65 ▲123.24 +0.28% NASDAQ : 19,643.86 ▼70.41 -0.36% S&P500 : 6,068.50 ▲2.06 +0.03% EXCHANGE RATE USD : 1,453.40 (-0.80) JPY : 945.89 (-9.93) CNY : 198.68 (-0.13) EUR : 1,505.58 (+8.24)

[Weather] Rain and snow will stop tonight, temperatures will rise tomorrow

2025/02/12 20:00

The cold has eased off a lot compared to a few days ago. Temperatures in most areas rose today with Seoul rising to 4 degrees Celsius. However, rain and snow has been falling across the country. Most of snow had stopped in the Seoul metropolitan area, while more rain and snow is expected in some areas. As for the amount of rain and snow to come, up to 8 centimeters of snow will fall in inland areas and the mountainous areas of Gangwon-do Province, 1 to 5 centimeters in northern Gyeonggi-do Province, Chungcheongbuk-do Province, and Gyeongsangbuk-do Province today. You should be careful on icy roads tomorrow morning with Seoul and Daejeon at minus 5 degrees Celsius. Daily highs will move up to 6 degrees in Gwangju, and 8 degrees in Daegu. The moon in Seoul today will be at its roundest at around 10:53. Enjoy the full moon. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

Yoon Jong-hyun wins silver, Shin Yeong-seop wins bronze in men's big air freestyle skiing

2025/02/12 20:00

Over in Harbin, China where the Winter Asiad is being held. Team Korea won one silver and one bronze medal in the men's big air freestyle skiing. On Wednesday, Yoon Jong-hyun and Shin Yeong-seop ranked second and third respectively. Big air is a sport where skiers perform freestyle moves in the air as they're traveling down the slope. Team Korea has won a total of five medals in freestyle skiing at this year's event, including one gold and two bronze.