News

U.S. committed to working with acting President Han

2025/04/05 12:00

The U.S. reaffirmed its commitment to working with South Korea's Acting President, Han Duck-soo, stressing its "ironclad" security commitment to Seoul. A State Department spokesperson said in response to a question from Yonhap News Agency on Friday that the U.S. respects South Korea's democratic institutions, its legal processes, and the Constitutional Court's decision. The European Union also expressed its respect for the Constitution and legal proceedings in South Korea, reiterating its close strategic partnership with Seoul.

N. Korea reports Yoon's dismissal without comment

2025/04/05 12:00

And a day after Friday's ruling, North Korea reported on the ouster of former President Yoon, noting that the dismissal was the result of a unanimous vote over his brief martial law order. The North's state media made no commentary on Saturday, instead citing headlines from major foreign news outlets. By contrast, in 2017, it took just about two hours for the North to report on former President Park Geun-hye's dismissal. Experts say the regime appears to be keeping its distance from the South, as leader Kim Jong-un has described inter-Korean relations as "hostile."

Acting President holds NSC meeting after Yoon's removal, calls for readiness against N. Korean provocations

2025/04/05 12:00

Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo urged all foreign and security ministries to unite and safeguard national security and public safety. Convening the National Security Council just hours after President Yoon's removal from office, Han warned that North Korea may try to exploit the political situation through provocations and propaganda. He stressed the need to maintain a watertight state of readiness. Han also called for continued cooperation with the Trump administration, especially in diplomacy and security. On trade issues, including Washington's reciprocal tariffs, he urged a coordinated, whole-of-government response with support from the private sector.

Protests both for and against impeachment to continue on Saturday

2025/04/05 12:00

Despite Friday's final verdict, protests both in support and against the impeachment are continuing today. Those for the impeachment are celebrating and wrapping up their protests on Saturday, while those against the impeachment are now entering a new phase of protesting against the Court's ruling. An organization that's for the impeachment said there will be a gathering at around 4 PM near Gyeongbokgung Palace, with 100-thousand people expected. An anti-impeachment organization said they will be gathering starting 1 PM at Gwanghwamun Square with around 200-thousand people expected.

Yoon apologizes for not living up to expectations as he is stripped of presidency

2025/04/05 12:00

The political fate of the prosecutor general-turned-president has ended in disgrace, with the remainder of his term cut short. The former President sent out a brief message after the ruling. Our Kim Do-yeon has the details. Shortly after the Constitutional Court upheld the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, Yoon laid out a brief message through his legal representatives. While he didn't directly mention the Constitutional Court's ruling, he thanked his supporters and said, "I am sincerely grateful for your unwavering support and encouragement, even when I fell short. I deeply regret not being able to live up to your hopes and expectations ." Meanwhile media caught the moment the phoenix flag, the symbol of South Korea's president, came down from the Yongsan Presidential Office building, signaling the end of President Yoon's 1,060-day presidency. "The Office will be supporting Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. But at around 3:30 PM, the Presidential Office released a written statement saying that the Chief of Staff, the Chief of Staff for Policy, the National Security Advisor — along with all senior level secretaries — expressed their intent to resign." The Acting President, however, rejected the resignations a few hours later, saying that the government needs to be in full operation. As for Yoon, however, he has now become a civilian. While he is still at the Presidential Residence and will have to leave, there are no clear rules for that, so we will have to wait. Former president Park Geun-hye left the former presidential Blue House two days after her ruling. Yoon is expected to return to his home in the Seocho-gu District of Seoul. From this point on, he will not be treated as a former president due to Friday's ruling. This means no presidential pension or a spot at the National Cemetery. The Presidential Security Service will no longer be fully protecting him, but because he has state confidential information, there will be a downsized security team to at least guarantee his safety for at least five years and ten at the maximum. This also ties into his criminal trial. It'll now be much easier for the prosecutors to call Yoon in for further questioning, as he won't have an official security system around him. That wasn't the case until now, as we had seen some conflict between the investigators for the criminal case and the Presidential Security Service. In South Korea's legal system, if Yoon is convicted of leading an insurrection, he could face life in prison or the death penalty. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.

Korean won strengthens against U.S. dollar; KOSPI falls on chip tariff fears

2025/04/04 20:00

The local currency strengthened against the greenback on Friday, driven by the dollar's weakness and eased political uncertainties. Moon Ji-young explains. The Korean won strengthened on Friday, trading against the U.S. dollar at 1-thousand-4-hundred-34-point-1 won at 3:30 PM, down 32-point-9 won from the previous day. The local currency saw a brief spike against the greenback, trading at one-thousand-4-hundred-30-point 2 per U.S. dollar at one point as the Constitutional Court was delivering its ruling to oust President Yoon Suk Yeol. "This depreciation of the U.S. dollar can be primarily attributed to the concerns over an economic slowdown in the U.S. in addition to the strengthening of the Korean won, driven by eased political uncertainties" Meanwhile, the benchmark KOSPI lost 21-point-28 points or point-86 percent to close at 2645.42. As Trump announced that tariffs on chips will start "very soon" on April 3rd local time, semiconductors led the decline, with market bellwether Samsung Electronics falling 2-point-6 percent and its rival SK Hynix tumbling nearly 6-point-4 percent. On the same day, the so-called F4 gathering of top financial officials, including Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, convened to assess market conditions following the Court's ruling. The officials concluded that there were no significant changes after the ruling and reaffirmed their commitment to addressing the increasing pressures on domestic companies and the economy resulting from U.S. tariffs. They highlighted the necessity of passing a supplementary budget of 10 trillion won, roughly 6.9 billion U.S. dollars, to the National Assembly. Moon Ji-young, Arirang News.

Foreign media outlets cover Constitutional Court's verdict on Friday as breaking news

2025/04/04 20:00

The international media has been quick to cover the court's verdict, calling the event a pivotal moment in South Korea's democracy. Kim Bo-kyoung recaps the foreign media response. Foreign media outlets were quick to deliver the Constitutional Court's ruling to oust President Yoon Suk Yeol. Reuters said Yoon lost a reckless gamble with martial law, while the New York Times said the Constitutional Court's decision cleared the way for South Korea to elect a new leader after months of political turmoil that has tested its democratic guardrails. British daily newspaper the Guardian and public broadcaster the BBC focused on the country's democracy. Calling the day "momentous," the Guardian said the fear sparked by Yoon's martial law declaration has been answered with his removal from office, and that the historic verdict will be remembered as a crucial moment in South Korea's democratic journey. The BBC, too, emphasized how the declaration of martial law was an attack to the heart of the country's democracy, but was able to eventually survive. Many others, including the Financial Times, laid out a road map of what would come next, explaining that a presidential election must be held within 60 days, with others like Bloomberg pointing out a series of challenges the country's next leader would have to deal with including contending with Washington's escalated global tariff campaign. Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba talked about the ruling with a parliamentary committee. Saying while the upcoming presidential election is South Korea's democracy to decide, he stated that the two countries' ties are extremely important, considering it not just from a security perspective but also for regional peace and stability. He further highlighted Seoul-Tokyo relations, especially in that this year marks the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties. Japanese public broadcaster NHK, and local newspapers such as Yomiuri, Asahi, and Nihon Keizai Shimbun all reported the news as breaking stories via their online editions. Some, including the Nikkei, raised concerns over the impact on the previously favorable South Korea-Japan relationship. The Chinese public showed strong interest in the ruling as well, with keywords related to Yoon losing the presidency being among the top trending searches on Chinese portal sites and social media platforms, while state-run media outlet Xinhua swiftly issued a breaking news report almost simultaneously with the Court's ruling. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.

Contrasting protestor reactions: 'Cheers vs. Tears' following Yoon's impeachment verdict

2025/04/04 20:00

Protesters both for and against the impeachment took to the streets on this day, too. Once the ruling was delivered, their reactions were in sharp contrast. Our Park Kun-woo reports. Joy on side, despair on the other, following the Constitutional Court's decision on President Yoon's impeachment on Friday. Thousands of pro-impeachment protesters, who mainly gathered near Anguk Station, the closest station to the Court, erupted in cheers immediately after the ruling. Celebrating the outcome and expressing relief, they shouted "We won," as their long-held wishes were finally granted. People were seen jumping, singing, and hugging each other in joy. Yoon's supporters, on the other hand, who had largely relocated to Hannam-dong near the Presidential Residence, voiced their outrage, some even crying. Protests there grew increasingly fierce, though most had ended by the afternoon. One supporter even smashed a police vehicle near the Constitutional Court with a baton after the decision was made. He was later caught and arrested by the police for damaging public property and is expected to face charges. But, fortunately, no large-scale riots broke out at demonstration sites, as had been feared. "With tensions still high, the highest emergency level 'gapho' remained in place throughout the day before being lifted at 6 PM on Friday. It was then lowered to 'eulho' in Seoul, the second highest level, allowing 50-percent mobilization of police forces." Over 2-hundred riot police units, with more than 14-thousand personnel, were dispatched in Seoul, along with special forces also on duty to prevent terrorist or drone attacks. A 1-hundred-50 meter radius around the Constitutional Court has been locked down with police vehicles, designating the area as a "vacuum zone," but began partially opening later in the day. Stations including Anguk as well as Hangangjin located near the Presidential Residence, were temporarily closed but later reopened. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon also inspected areas where demonstrations had taken place on Friday, saying there were no major issues. However, he asked for close monitoring of the situation until it calms down, even through the weekend. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

When will snap election be held in South Korea to replace Pres. Yoon?

2025/04/04 20:00

Up next, our Bae Eun-ji explains a possible time frame as to an early election. Now that the Constitutional Court has ruled against President Yoon Suk Yeol, he has been removed from office immediately meaning a formal end to his presidency. An early presidential election will have to be held within two months, so that a new president can take office. South Korea's Constitution specifically says, "a successor must be elected within 60 days, in case the president is disqualified by a court ruling." And the nation's Public Official Election Act says, the day of the election must be publicly announced by the President or acting President by "not later than 50 days before the election day." This means, since the court ruled against Yoon on April 4th, Acting President Han Duck-soo must announce an election day before April 14th. The National Election Commission has already said that if a snap election were to take place, it would be sometime between May 24th and June 3rd. But it's widely believed that the election will be held on June 3rd, exactly 60 days after the ruling, to give parties as much time as possible to prepare for elections and leave some time for campaigning. Another reason is that June 3rd is a Tuesday. Mondays and Fridays are usually not seen as viable options for an election day, due to fear of low voter turnouts, as voters are less likely to head to polls right before or after weekends. And this is not the first time South Korea is holding a snap election. Eight years ago, an early presidential election was held after former President Park Geun-hye was removed from office over a corruption scandal. The court ruled against Park on March 10th, 2017 , and most parties registered their candidates to run for the presidential election from March 31st to April 4th. Then, the election was held on May 9th, exactly 60일 after the Constitutional Court's ruling. So just as was the case in 2017, the country is likely to set aside a full two months to prepare for an election to choose its next president.

Rival parties show mixed reactions to Court's ruling to impeach Yoon

2025/04/04 20:00

The impeachment of the president is more of a start than a final end, leaving behind the four-month-long confusion in the country. With a snap election in mind, political parties were quick to send out messages of their own. Our National Assembly correspondent Shin Ha-young has more. The reaction from lawmakers across the aisle stands poles apart at the National Assembly. The ruling People Power Party, which had hoped the impeachment would be overturned, fell silent as the court unanimously removed Yoon from office. Interim leader Kwon Young-se said that while the decision is regrettable, the party apologizes and accepts the outcome. "First and foremost, we sincerely apologize to the people. We take full responsibility for not fulfilling our role as the ruling party. We also regret failing to stop the Democratic Party's repeated legislative overreach and political tyranny in the opposition-controlled National Assembly." PPP lawmakers gathered after the ruling to discuss the party's response and next steps, where its floor leader Kwon Seong-dong urged unity and emphasized the need to focus on winning the presidential election, which is just two months away. On the other hand, after the ruling, cheers broke out among the main opposition Democratic Party, which was at the forefront of the opposition-led push in the parliament to remove Yoon from office. The party welcomed the decision. DP leader Lee Jae-myung expressed gratitude to the public, saying they had taken back their democracy. "A sitting president being impeached for the second time is a tragedy that should never happen again in Korea's constitutional history. ( ) Now, a new chapter begins. With the people, we will work to restore livelihoods, peace, the economy, and democracy through unity." "With the Constitutional Court's decision to remove now-former President Yoon Suk Yeol from office, rival parties are now set to kick off a two-month race." All eyes are on the PPP, which had opposed impeachment, as the ruling could be a major blow with the presidential election just 60 days away. The party's biggest challenge will be overcoming public backlash over the martial law declaration and the burden of Yoon's impeachment, while also winning over centrist and independent voters. For the DP, which has been eager to regain power since its defeat three years ago, the focus is now on when Chairman Lee Jae-myung, the party's frontrunner, will step down as leader and officially launch his presidential bid. Meanwhile, addressing the public, Acting President Han Duck-soo said on Friday that he will do his best to make sure the upcoming election and transition to the next government go smoothly. Han also vowed to ensure stability in national security and diplomacy following the Court's ruling. "This is a serious moment in history, with a sitting president impeached for the second time. As acting president, I will make sure there are no gaps in national security and foreign affairs, maintaining a firm security posture." Han also emphasized the need to ease public concerns and confusion in the wake of the Court's ruling. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

Yoon apologizes for not living up to expectations as he is stripped of presidency

2025/04/04 20:00

The political fate of the prosecutor general-turned-president has ended in disgrace, with the remainder of his term cut short. After the ruling, he sent out a brief message. Our political correspondent Kim Do-yeon has the details. Shortly after the Constitutional Court upheld the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, Yoon laid out a brief message through his legal representatives. While he didn't directly mention the Constitutional Court's ruling, he thanked his supporters and said, "I am sincerely grateful for your unwavering support and encouragement, even when I fell short. I deeply regret not being able to live up to your hopes and expectations ." Meanwhile media caught the moment the phoenix flag, the symbol of South Korea's president, came down from the Yongsan Presidential Office building, signaling the end of President Yoon's 1,060-day presidency. "The Office will be supporting Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. But at around 3:30 PM, the Presidential Office released a written statement saying that the Chief of Staff, the Chief of Staff for Policy, the National Security Advisor — along with all senior level secretaries — expressed their intent to resign." The Acting President, however, rejected the resignations a few hours later, saying that the government needs to be in full operation. As for Yoon, however, he has now become a civilian. While he is still at the Presidential Residence and will have to leave, there are no clear rules for that, so we will have to wait. Former president Park Geun-hye left the former presidential Blue House two days after her ruling. Yoon is expected to return to his home in the Seocho-gu District of Seoul. From this point on, he will not be treated as a former president due to Friday's ruling. This means no presidential pension or a spot at the National Cemetery. The Presidential Security Service will no longer be fully protecting him, but because he has state confidential information, there will be a downsized security team to at least guarantee his safety for at least five years and ten at the maximum. This also ties into his criminal trial. It'll now be much easier for the prosecutors to call Yoon in for further questioning, as he won't have an official security system around him. That wasn't the case until now, as we had seen some conflict between the investigators for the criminal case and the Presidential Security Service. In South Korea's legal system, if Yoon is convicted of leading an insurrection, he could face life in prison or the death penalty. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.

South Korea’s Constitutional Court ousts President Yoon Suk Yeol

2025/04/04 20:00

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus, I'm Kim Mok-yeon. South Korea's Constitutional Court's unanimous ruling to remove President Yoon Suk Yeol from office has now set the country on a new constitutional path. With executive power transferred and a presidential election looming, the country faces a critical period of transition — and reflection. To help us unpack the legal foundations of the Court's decision and what it means for the presidency and the rule of law moving forward, we're pleased to welcome attorney An Jun-seong back to the studio. Welcome back. We also connect to Lee Hee-eun. Dean and Professor of Law at Handong Int'l Law School. Great to see you. And today, we also invite Bruce Klingner, Senior Research Fellow at The Heritage Foundation from Washington D.C. Thank you for joining us. 1. (AN) So attorney An, the Constitutional Court ruled to uphold President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment. What do you think were the key constitutional principles or legal standards that guided the Court's ruling? 2. (LEE) Now to Prof. Lee, could you elaborate for us, what were the likely constitutional violations identified by the justices? 3. (KLINGER) Let's also touch upon the reactions. Dr. Klinger, how is President Yoon's impeachment ruling being viewed in Washington, particularly among U.S. policymakers, intelligence circles, or defense analysts? 4. (KLINGER) What about in other countries? How might regional actors such as North Korea, China, or even Japan interpret the ruling? Could it shift perceptions of South Korean political stability or resolve? 5. (AN) So with this latest ruling, attorney An, what happens next? What are the immediate constitutional and legal procedures that follow the Court's decision? 6. (KLINGER) So, South Korea will have to hold a new presidential election within 60 days. Dr. Klinger, how might this sudden leadership transition affect ongoing U.S.-ROK diplomatic or security coordination? 7. (AN) Going back to the past, attorney An, how does this ruling compare to past impeachment decisions involving Presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Park Geun-hye, in terms of legal reasoning or the scope of presidential authority? 8. (LEE) Prof. Lee, as impeachment rulings are final and not subject to appeal, I wonder if there are discussions in the legal community about whether such high-impact decisions should involve any form of post-decision review or institutional check. 9. (LEE) So now that Yoon has been removed from office, he no longer holds presidential immunity and will stand trial on charges of leading an insurrection. His trial begins on April 14th. What do you think will be the most critical point of contention during the trial? 10. (AN) The issue of constitutional reform has also become a pressing issue following this crisis. From a legal standpoint, how might the impeachment process influence future discussions on constitutional amendments or presidential emergency powers? 11. (KLINGER) Given the concerns that the impeachment and martial law controversy may have affected South Korea's international credibility, what steps should Seoul take now to restore diplomatic trust and reassure key allies, Washington in particular? 12. (LEE) Looking ahead, what do you believe is the most important constitutional or institutional lesson Korea should take away from this impeachment trial — both for the presidency and for the health of the country's democracy?

[Weather] Rain across the country tomorrow, temperatures get chilly

2025/04/04 20:00

It is "Cheongmyeong" on the traditional calendar, which means "the sky becomes clear." Clear skies appeared across the country all day with large daily temperature gaps. These gaps will be much smaller in Seoul with 8 degrees Celsius in the morning and only 12 degrees during the day. In other areas, there will be temperature swings of around 10 degrees. Meanwhile, the atmosphere continues to be dry. Currently, a dry weather advisory is in place in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province with strong winds. Please take extra precautions not to start wildfires. Tomorrow morning, Seoul and Gwangju will start off at 8 degrees, Busan at 9 degrees. Highs will move up to 16 degrees in Gwangju and Daegu, 17 degrees in Gyeongju and Jeju. There is rain forecast tomorrow all over the country. It will get chilly as rain falls. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

Jinhae Gunhangjae: A city filled with cherry blossoms

2025/04/04 20:00

Earlier this week we covered the colorful sights and sounds of spring. Well we have more related coverage today as our Ahn Sung-jin made her way to a cherry blossom festival. Do take a look. Spring has returned. Streets filled with cherry blossoms greet those who have made their way to Jinhae-gu district in the south coast city of Changwon. The 63rd Jinhae Gunhangjae, which lasts for 9 days, is the mecca of spring cherry blossoms, with more than 2 million visitors every year. "The cherry blossom, a symbol of spring, is already approaching its peak here. People are out with their family and friends to enjoy the beautiful colors." "We're so happy to be back in Jinhae. We were here in 2013, the two of us, and now we are here with our three kids. Beautiful weather and cherry blossoms are in full bloom. It's beautiful." "I'm so proud that in our country, and here in Jinhae, there is such a beautiful spring blossom path." "We are in our last year of high school so we originally came out here for graduation photos,but it feels so refreshing to see all these pretty blossoms." The town's top cherry blossom spots including Gyeonghwa Station, an old, closed-down railway station and its train tracks, as well as the Yeojwacheon stream. Most areas in the south of the country have seen cherry blossoms bloom, yet with the sudden colder breeze in some areas, especially up north, they still need some time to fully bloom. Following the recent devastating wildfires in Gyeongsangbuk-do province, the festival has been reduced in scale. However, the festival still offers ample scenery while promoting local culture and boosting business in the small town. So for those who missed out this time around, make sure to be ready for next year. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News, Jinhae.

Gov't welcomes 10th consecutive consensus UNHRC adoption of N. Korean human rights resolution

2025/04/04 20:00

The Ministry of Unification welcomed Thursday's adoption of the North Korean human rights resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Council. The ministry on Friday expressed deep concern over ongoing human rights violations in North Korea. It called for action on issues such as the forced repatriation of defectors and the release of South Koreans detained in the North, including three missionaries. Seoul also raised concerns about forced labor and the inhumane conditions faced by North Korean troops sent to Russia. This marks 23 years in a row the resolution has been adopted, with consensus since 2016.

Reciprocal tariffs to rebalance imbalance in trade, open doors for new negotiations: Rubio

2025/04/04 20:00

And against the backdrop of heightened trade uncertainties, the foreign ministers of South Korea, the U.S., and Japan sat down in Brussels on the margins of a NATO meeting. Lee Seung-jae covers their agenda. The top envoys of Seoul, Washington and Tokyo held talks in Brussels on Thursday, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump announced his reciprocal tariffs. The meeting between Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya took place on the sidelines of a foreign ministerial meeting of members of NATO and its partner countries. According to Seoul's foreign ministry, Cho expressed deep concern over the U.S. reciprocal tariffs, asking the U.S. to consider the implications for the alliance, as well as investments in the U.S. In response, Rubio reiterated President Trump's stance, that the reciprocal tariffs have been introduced to readjust the trade imbalance. However, the U.S. Secretary of State stressed that it's now important to hold new negotiations based on the readjusted levies, raising the possibility that talks could take place between Seoul and Washington on adjusting the 25-percent tariff. Meanwhile, foreign minister Cho also called for cooperation among NATO member countries in dealing with the North Korea-Russia military alliance, which he says could lead to a "security decoupling" between the U.S. and its allies. He further called on member countries to prevent Pyongyang from believing it can secure advanced military technology that can directly threaten the global community. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

White House fixes S. Korea's reciprocal tariff rate at 25%

2025/04/04 20:00

Confusion emerged over the Trump administration's new tariffs set for South Korea, but now, the White House officially says the tax rate is set at 25-percent, not 26, as previously notified. Meanwhile, Wall Street saw its worst drop since the pandemic five years ago following the tariff announcement. Lee Soo-jin explains. The reciprocal tariff imposition on South Korea has been finalized at 25 percent. On Thursday local time, the annex to the executive order on the White House website was amended to 25 percent, from 26 percent. The amendment was made without a clear explanation. This comes after a panel presented by U.S. President Donald Trump at a Rose Garden event the day before listed the reciprocal tariff on South Korea as 25 percent, while the annex of the executive order stated it as 26 percent, causing confusion about the discrepancy. When the White House initially did not indicate any intention to make a correction, the South Korean government demanded one, arguing that under Trump's formula, Korea's tariff rate should be 25 percent, and not 26 percent. And this one percent difference is significant as it amounts to roughly 1-point-3 billion U.S. dollars. Meanwhile,.. the impact of the announcement of Trump's larger-than-expected tariffs was immediate in stock markets, with Wall Street on Thursday seeing its worst day since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The S&P 500 plunged nearly 5 percent, and the Dow Jones, 4 percent, both suffering the biggest one-day drop since June 2020. And the tech-heavy Nasdaq, dropped nearly 6 percent, the largest decline since March 2020. Trump, however, in response to a question about the severe impact of his tariffs, dismissed concerns. "The markets are going to boom, the stock is going to boom, the country is going to boom, and the rest of the world wants to see is there any way they can make a deal." But market analysts are less optimistic. "It is nerve-wracking to watch markets go down by a couple of percent in a day, but my career spans back to the 1987 crash . So this one still ranks up there and is very concerning. Any time markets are down with this amount of vehemence, if you will, especially on unexpected news, it's worrisome." Analysts say the sharp decline reflects investor concerns that U.S. companies reliant on global supply chains could soon be subject to retaliatory measures from trading partners. In the meantime, Trump says he is open to negotiations. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.

Foreign media outlets cover Constitutional Court's verdict on Friday as breaking news

2025/04/04 17:00

The international media has been quick to cover the court's verdict with quite a number of the reports calling the event a pivotal moment in South Korea's democracy. Kim Bo-kyoung recaps the foreign media response. Foreign media outlets were quick to deliver the Constitutional Court's ruling to oust President Yoon Suk Yeol. Reuters said Yoon lost a reckless gamble with martial law, while the New York Times said the Constitutional Court's decision cleared the way for South Korea to elect a new leader after months of political turmoil that has tested its democratic guardrails. British daily newspaper the Guardian and public broadcaster the BBC focused on the country's democracy. Calling the day "momentous," the Guardian said the fear sparked by Yoon's martial law declaration has been answered with his removal from office, and that the historic verdict will be remembered as a crucial moment in South Korea's democratic journey. The BBC, too, emphasized how the declaration of martial law was an attack to the heart of the country's democracy, but was able to eventually survive. Many others, including the Financial Times, laid out a road map of what would come next, explaining that a presidential election must be held within 60 days. with others like Bloomberg pointing out a series of challenges the country's next leader would have to deal with including contending with Washington's escalated global tariff campaign. Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba talked about the ruling with a parliamentary committee. Saying while the upcoming presidential election is South Korea's democracy to decide, he stated that the two countries' ties are extremely important, considering it not just from a security perspective but also for regional peace and stability. He further highlighted Seoul-Tokyo relations, especially in that this year marks the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties. Japanese public broadcaster NHK, and local newspapers such as Yomiuri, Asahi, and Nihon Keizai Shimbun all reported the news as breaking stories via their online editions. Some, including the Nikkei, raised concerns over the impact on the previously favorable South Korea-Japan relationship. The Chinese public showed strong interest in the ruling as well, with keywords related to Yoon losing the presidency being among the top trending searches on Chinese portal sites and social media platforms, while state-run media outlet Xinhua swiftly issued a breaking news report almost simultaneously with the Court's ruling. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.

Live from outside of Constitutional Court following Yoon's impeachment verdict

2025/04/04 17:00

Earlier on this Friday ahead of the court's verdict thousands had gathered around the venue of the Constitutional Court in a show of support to their respective political causes. Our Park Kun-woo joins us now. Kun-woo what's the atmosphere there like now? Evening, Sunny. It's much calmer here now compared to when thousands of protesters had been demonstrating for and against Yoon's impeachment near Anguk Station, the closest subway station to here. Many protesters marched away to Gwanghwamun Square after the decision was announced at around 11:20 AM today. Protesters that were near here — mostly in favor of Yoon's impeachment — cheered loudly, celebrating the outcome this morning. Many expressed feelings of joy and relief, calling out "mansae" or "hooray" as their wishes were finally fulfilled. People have been jumping, singing joyfully, and hugging each other. Yoon's supporters, on the other hand, who have largely relocated to Hannam-dong, where the presidential residence is situated, voiced their outrage and expressed deep frustration and anger. Protests there have grown increasingly fierce, showing the depth of their frustration with the ruling, but most of the demonstrations ended earlier today. One supporter even showed his outrage by smashing a police vehicle near the Constitutional Court with a baton this morning. He was later caught by the police and was arrested for damaging public property and is expected to face charges. And in light of such random acts of violence I hear security around Seoul will remain high? That's right. As for now, as the police had already raised their emergency alert to "gapho," the highest level that allows for 100 percent mobilization of police forces, it is likely that it will remain in place. Over 2-hundred riot police units, with more than 14-thousand personnel, have been dispatched in Seoul, along with special forces also on duty to prevent terrorist or drone attacks. A 1-hundred-50 meter radius around the Constitutional Court has been locked down with police vehicles, designating the area as a "vacuum zone," with protesters prohibited from entering. Anguk Station is currently closed, and several schools and tourist attractions have shut down temporarily. Hangangjin Station, located near the presidential residence, which was also closed this morning, reopened a little past 1 PM today. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon earlier this afternoon also inspected areas where demonstrations had taken place. Saying there are no major issues, he asked for close monitoring of the situation, until it calms down even through the weekend. All right Kun-woo thank you for that report.

Live from Nat'l Assembly: Rival parties show mixed reactions to Court's ruling to impeach Yoon

2025/04/04 17:00

Meanwhile at the parliament the reactions to the ruling from rival political parties stood in sharp contrast. For more our National Assembly correspondent Shin Ha-young joins me now. Ha-young welcome. So what have you been hearing? Sunny, the reaction from lawmakers across the aisle stands poles apart here at the National Assembly. The ruling People Power Party, which had hoped to overturn the impeachment, fell silent as the court unanimously removed Yoon from office. Interim leader Kwon Young-se said that while the decision is regrettable, the party accepts the outcome and apologized. Take a listen. "First and foremost, we sincerely apologize to the people. We take full responsibility for not fulfilling our role as the ruling party. We also regret failing to stop the Democratic Party's repeated legislative overreach and political tyranny in the opposition-controlled National Assembly." PPP lawmakers gathered after the ruling to discuss the party's response and next steps, where its floor leader Kwon Seong-dong urged unity and emphasized the need to focus on winning the presidential election, which is just two months away. Meanwhile I believe the opposition party welcomed the court's verdict? After the ruling, cheers broke out among the main opposition Democratic Party, which was at the forefront of the opposition-led push in the parliament to remove Yoon from office. The party welcomed the decision. DP leader Lee Jae-myung expressed gratitude to the public, saying they had taken back their democracy. Take a listen. "A sitting president being impeached for the second time is a tragedy that should never happen again in Korea's constitutional history. ( ) Now, a new chapter begins. With the people, we will work to restore livelihoods, peace, the economy, and democracy through unity." A plenary session was held at the National Assembly this afternoon, where an opposition-led impeachment motion against Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok was expected to be put to a vote. However, before the session, the DP decided to refer the motion to the Judiciary Committee instead of voting on it immediately. Moving forward we are now looking ahead to an early presidential race right Ha-young ? You're right, Sunny. Rival parties are now set to kick off a two-month race. All eyes are on the PPP, which had opposed impeachment, as the ruling could be a major blow with the presidential election just 60 days away. The party's biggest challenge will be overcoming public backlash over the martial law declaration and the burden of having two impeached presidents, while also winning over centrist and independent voters. For the DP, which has been eager to regain power since its defeat three years ago, the focus is now on when Chairman Lee Jae-myung, the party's frontrunner, will step down as leader and officially launch his presidential bid. Meanwhile, addressing the public, Acting President Han Duck-soo said on Friday that he will do his best to make sure the upcoming election and transition to the next government go smoothly. Han also vowed to ensure stability in national security and diplomacy following the Court's ruling. "This is a serious moment in history, with a sitting president impeached for the second time. As acting president, I will make sure there are no gaps in national security and foreign affairs, maintaining a firm security posture." That's all I have for now. Back to you, Sunny. All right Ha-young thank you for the latest on the political front. That was our National Assembly correspondent Shin Ha-young .