News

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

2025/04/04 17:00

A few hours after the Constitutional Court's ruling the top office released a statement sharing the former leader's response. Our correspondent Kim Do-yeon is live on the line with details. Do-yeon let's begin with the gist of that statement. Sun-hee, there was a lot of speculation as to whether President Yoon was going to put out a statement if he were to lose the Constitutional Court case today, but the brief message was released 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. Now, the Office itself will be supporting Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. However, at around 3:30 PM, through a written statement, the Presidential Office said that the Chief of Staff, the Chief of Staff for Policy, and the National Security Advisor, along with all senior-level secretaries have passed on their intentions to resign to the Acting President. Whether the Acting President will accept their resignations is something to look out for. 2. I see. Meanwhile Do-yeon what are the protocols in place now that the court has upheld the presidential impeachment? I mean I hear he currently remains at the presidential residence? That's right, Sun-hee. Today marks day 1-thousand-and-60 since his inauguration. Just moments after the ruling, we saw the phoenix flag, the symbol of the South Korean president, coming down from this building. Yoon Suk Yeol is now a civilian. As you said, he is still at the Presidential Residence and will have to leave, but 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, but, as I say, there is no written rule about this. 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 today'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. This goes on for at least five years and ten at the maximum. 3. And before you go Do-yeon what's the latest with regard to the criminal case on charges of insurrection? As he has become a civilian, it'll 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. Keep in mind, in South Korea's legal system, if Yoon is convicted of leading an insurrection, he could face life in prison or the death penalty. On top of this, he has other accusations that he will have to deal with now as well. Presidents can't be charged with any crime except for insurrection or treason, but now that he's a civilian there could be additional legal battles brought against him. I see. All right Do-yeon thank you for that report.

[Weather] Rain across the country, weather gets a bit chilly

2025/04/04 17:00

Today is "Cheongmyeong" on the traditional calendar, which means "the sky becomes clear." Just like the solar term, clear skies appeared across the country with large daily temperature gaps. These gaps will be much smaller in Seoul, with the capital starting off at 8 degrees Celsius and rising to only 12 degrees tomorrow. However, other areas will continue to have temperature swings of around 10 degrees. Meanwhile, the atmosphere is staying dry. A dry weather advisory is in place for Gyeongsangbuk-do Province with strong winds. Please take extra precautions not to cause wildfires. Tomorrow morning, Daejeon and Daegu will start off at 7 degrees, Busan at 9 degrees. Highs will move up to 15 degrees in Daejeon and Busan, 17 degrees in Gyeongju and Jeju. It will rain tomorrow across the country and will get chilly as this rain falls. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

World News: Israeli airstrike hits school in Gaza, killing at least 27 people

2025/04/04 17:00

This is the World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. In the Middle East, amid expanded military operations by Israel in Gaza an Israeli airstrike on a former school being used as a shelter in Gaza City has resulted in significant casualties. On Thursday local time, an Israeli airstrike hit the Dar Al-Arqam school in the Tuffah neighborhood of Gaza City, which was serving as a shelter for displaced individuals. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, at least 27 people were killed, including 14 children and five women. It says over 70 others were injured. The Israeli military said that the strike targeted a "Hamas command and control center" and asserted that measures were taken to minimize civilian harm. The incident is part of a broader escalation, with Israeli forces expanding strikes and issuing evacuation orders across Gaza. Hungary has announced its intention to withdraw from the International Criminal Court as the country's Prime Minister welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's official visit to Budapest. Netanyahu had received an arrest warrant from the ICC in 2024. On Thursday local time, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban declared plans for Hungary to withdraw from the ICC, calling the court a "political" institution. The announcement was made during Netanyahu's first visit to Europe since the ICC in May 2024 issued an arrest warrant against him and his former defense minister, as well as three top officials of Hamas for alleged war crimes. Orban stated that the withdrawal process would begin immediately, involving legislative action and formal notification to the United Nations. The procedure is expected to take about one year. Netanyahu praised Hungary's decision, describing it as "bold and principled." In Brussels, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen on the sidelines of a NATO meeting on Thursday local time for their first high-level talks since President Donald Trump's renewed interest in acquiring Greenland. Rasmussen firmly stated that Denmark would object to any U.S. claims on Greenland, while Rubio reaffirmed the "strong relationship" between the U.S. and Denmark. Shortly after their meeting, Denmark's Prime Minister, who is also on a visit to Greenland, voiced support on Thursday for enhanced Arctic defense collaboration with the United States, but firmly dismissed U.S. attempts to annex the Arctic island. Finally, Nintendo unveiled the Switch 2, the successor to its popular gaming console, released more than 8 years ago, during preview events in New York City and Paris on Wednesday. The official release is slated for June 5, with the console priced at approximately 450 U.S. dollars, 150 dollars more than the original's starting price. A bundle including the new game "Mario Kart World" will be available for 500 dollars. Key upgrades over the original Switch include a larger 7.9-inch screen with a brighter display and higher resolution, as well as a faster processor. Pre-orders at major retailers, both online and in stores, will begin on April 9. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.

Jinhae Gunhangjae: A city filled with cherry blossoms

2025/04/04 17:00

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.

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

2025/04/04 17:00

And against the backdrop of heightened trade uncertainties amid U.S. tariffs on all imports into its market the foreign ministers of South Korea the U.S. and Japan sat down in Brussels on the margins of a NATO meeting. And as Lee Seung-jae says security and trade concerns topped the agenda of the latest talks. 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 17:00

Much confusion over the Trump administration's tariff set for South Korea has been settled with all Korean imports into the American market slated to face a 25-percent import duty. Our correspondent 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.

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

2025/04/04 17:00

Now that the Constitutional Court has ruled to uphold the presidential impeachment the next big assignment for South Korea is an early election. Our Bae Eun-ji touches upon a possible time frame. 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 60 days 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.

Latest in K-Sports

2025/04/04 14:00

It's time for the latest K-sports news with our sportscaster Jason Lee, who's joining us in the studio today. Hello Jason! Hello! Q1. So Jason, the KBO season is now well underway, what have been the biggest ON-FIELD stories over the first couple of weeks? Q2. There was also some tragic OFF-FIELD news as a fan was killed and another injured last weekend in Changwon at NC Park Q3. Not the best news for Korea's National Soccer team as they had to settle for a pair of draws in their last two home games against Oman and Oman and Jordan what's their status now in qualifying for next year's World Cup? Q4. Jason, you said you expected more Korean victories on the LPGA tour this year and there hadn't been a victory since Kim A-Lim's season opening victory almost two months ago but that drought is finally over

[K-enter] NewJeans and ADOR's first court hearing ended without progress

2025/04/04 14:00

Time for some K-entertainment news with Bella Kim. We will start off with an update on a court hearing for the dispute between NewJeans (or NJZ) and ADOR. Please provide us with the details. The first court hearing, held on Thursday, for the dispute between NewJeans and their agency ADOR ended without progress as the two sides remained far apart on the possibility of reaching a settlement. The Seoul Central District Court held the initial hearing for ADOR’s lawsuit seeking confirmation of the validity of its exclusive contract with NewJeans. On the day of the hearing, only legal representatives were present, as none of the members attended. ADOR argued that the group’s unilateral termination of contract in November 2024 lacked both procedural and legal grounds and that their deal signed in April 2022 remains valid. In contrast, NewJeans’ side asserted that trust between the parties had irreparably collapsed, particularly after the removal of former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin, a key figure credited with the group’s success. The judge asked whether the parties were open to a settlement. While Ador expressed a willingness to pursue an agreement, NewJeans replied that the group was not in a mental state to consider a settlement at this time. Back on March 21st, the court granted ADOR’s injunction to preserve its status as the group’s agency and to block any external advertising contracts until the final judgement. NewJeans has also decided to halt all activities for now. The next court hearing is scheduled for June 5th. Please keep us updated on the next hearing. Next, we will talk about some news that will excite NCT Dream fans. Please fill us in. NCT Dream will hold “2025 NCT Dream Fan Meeting Dream Quest” at Inspire Arena in Yeongjong-do, Incheon from May 24th to 25th, the first time in almost two years. The fan meeting will have the concept of exploration, where NCT Dream and their fans NCTzen go on a quest together. The members will perform, play games, and chat with the fans to pass the ‘huge quest.’ The pre-sales of the fan meeting tickets will open on April 8th, and the general ticket sales will open on April 10th. Meanwhile, NCT Dream will attend “SM Town Live 2025” in Mexico City on May 10th and in Los Angeles on May 12th. So NCTzens in Korea, Mexico and the U.S. can all look forward to meeting NCT Dream. Our last story for today is also on a boy group, but this time a new release? TWS released group and unit photos from their upcoming mini-album “TRY WITH US.” The group photos give off the free-spirited twenty-year-olds' vibes, while the unit photos capture the members’ daily lives more closely. “TRY WITH US” is an album depicting how TWS lives at the age of twenty. Their agency, Pledis Entertainment said, “You will be able to witness TWS’s growth as they race toward their twenties.” Their 3rd mini album “TRY WITH US” will be released on April 21st. Can't wait for their young spirited songs. Thank you Bella for today’s stories.

[K-wave] Jinhae Gunhangjae: A city filled with cherry blossoms

2025/04/04 14:00

South Korea is known for its spring celebrations, earlier this week, we had our reporter cover the Azalea festival in Bucheon now it's time for the cherry blossoms to shine. Our news features reporter Ahn Sung-jin was at one of the country's major cherry blossom sites down south. Let's 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.

K-wave AI News

2025/04/04 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. Jongmyo, Korea's foremost royal shrine, will come alive with the majestic music and graceful choreography of the Joseon royal court—a tradition that has endured for over 600년 years. The National Heritage Service and Korea Heritage Agency will showcase evening performances of "Jongmyo Jeryeak" at the Main Hall of Jongmyo Shrine from April 24 to May 2. Jongmyo Jeryeak is a traditional Korean court ritual performance that combines music, dances, and songs as part of the ancestral rites held at the Jongmyo Shrine. It was added to the list of UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2001. Tickets will be available for reservation starting at 2 PM on April 7 via Ticketlink. The 14th Busan Annual Market of Art, the port city's premier art fair, has kicked off a four-day run at BEXCO. This year's theme focuses on sustainability, highlighting a commitment to fostering a sustainable art ecosystem by embracing environmental and social values through art. Over 130 galleries, including 15 international galleries, are participating, showcasing around 4,000 artworks. The fair features a diverse range of works, from AI-generated pieces and interactive media art to a special spotlight exhibition on French painter Michel Delacroix and emerging new talents. Meanwhile, at COEX in Seoul, the 2025 Seoul International Buddhism Expo and 13th Buddha Art Fair are underway, offering a one-stop glance at Korea's traditional Buddhist cultural industry. Nearly 370 exhibitors are showcasing a rich array of Buddhist content, including Buddhist architecture, tea culture, and traditional crafts, that blend Korean heritage with Buddhist aesthetics. Participants from seven other Asian countries, including China and India, are also presenting various Buddhist cultural products, such as agarwood and meditation-related items. The event runs through this Sunday. That's all from me. Keep it tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[Short-form] Korea’s Tidal Flats: A Legacy from Nature

2025/04/04 14:00

Explore the ecological significance of Korea’s tidal flats, recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

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

2025/04/04 10:00

The White House finalized its reciprocal tariff on South Korea at 25% following confusion brought on by a discrepancy between the listing on Trump's panel announcement and the executive order annex. Our Lee Soo-jin reports. 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 worisome." 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.

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

2025/04/04 10:00

The top envoys of Seoul, Washington and Tokyo met in Brussels on Thursday, to hold talks on threats from North Korea and ways to promote economic cooperation. Lee Seung-jae has the details. 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.

Live at Constitutional Court: Justices soon to deliver Pres. Yoon's impeachment fate

2025/04/04 10:00

South Korea's Constitutional Court in the coming hour will rule on whether to dismiss or reinstate impeached President Yoon after his martial law order last year triggered the National Assembly's impeachment motion against him. We connect with our correspondent Oh Soo-young at the court. Soo-young, aren't we less than an hour away from the ruling? It seems relatively quiet today! Yes Dami. I'm here at the Constitutional Court where it's relatively quiet, but there's a thick atmosphere of tension as extra layers of police lines, vehicles and metal barriers are keeping this place heavily fortified. At 11 AM, the eight-member bench will take their seats in the main courtroom, with Acting Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae at the center. He'll declare the start of the session that will end the months-long Constitutional battle between the executive and the legislature. Following President Yoon's martial law order last December, the National Assembly passed an impeachment motion against him, accusing Yoon of declaring and declaring and conducting martial law illegally, disrupting the nation's constitutional order by storming parliament and state institutions, and attempting to arrest political and judicial figures. Meanwhile, Yoon stated that declaring martial law is an executive right of the President, and his hand was forced by the majority-led National Assembly's legislative abuses, budget cuts, and sabotage against the government. The ruling itself will be delivered by the acting chief justice, but we don’t know when he will reveal the final decision reached by the bench. But, the order in which he delivers the verdict may offer early clues. Based on past cases, if the presiding justice shares the reasoning for the verdict first, it usually means there’s been a unanimous decision. In former President Park Geun-hye’s case in 2017, where the Court unanimously agreed on her impeachment, the reading of the ruling took around 25 minutes. But if the final judgment is stated first, it suggests a split decision, with other justices sharing dissenting or concurring opinions. That’s what happened in last month’s ruling on Prime Minister Han Duck-soo’s impeachment. The style of ruling is at the Court’s discretion so we’ll have to see if Justice Moon follows these practices. If 6 or more of the 8 justices determine that even one of the grounds for impeachment constitutes a serious violation of the Constitution or the law, President Yoon will be removed from office. The verdict takes immediate legal effect the moment it is read aloud, coming 111 days after the case began. President Yoon will not be attending the Court session considering the logistical and security complications so he's likely to be watching from his official residence, as it's all broadcast live. 20 public gallery seats are open to the public. An online lottery saw over 96-thousand people register for a spot, meaning the rate of competition was 48-hundred to one. 2. The fate of the President and the nation hangs in the balance of the Constitutional Court's decision on his impeachment. Walk us through the scenarios. If the Court upholds the impeachment, Yoon would become the nation's second president in history to be removed from office—following Park Geun-hye’s impeachment eight years ago. Effective immediately,. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will continue as Acting President until an early election is held within 60 days. Yoon would vacate his office for good and leave the official residence in Yongsan-gu District. As a removed president, he would lose all post-presidential privileges—no pension, no office, no staff support, and no burial rights at the National Cemetery. Just basic personal security would remain. On the flip side, if the impeachment is dismissed with prejudice, President Yoon would retain his status and immediately resume his duties. He'll likely make a public address, and his first tasks are expected to focus on foreign policy and engagement with the United States. He may also begin laying out proposals for constitutional and political reform, as pledged during his final court appearance. With his impeachment case closed for good, Yoon would still face investigations regarding the Dec. 3 Martial Law, but during his presidency, would be immune from charges other than for treason and insurrection. Another scenario is the Court dismissing the case without prejudice, or simply put, dropping the case for now due to legal or procedural issues. The President would return to office, but the National Assembly could reattempt impeachment in the future. Whatever the outcome may be, it will bring an end the months of uncertainty and hopefully amount to a constructive step forward for a mature Korean democracy. Thank you Sooyoung, we'll talk again when the ruling is out.

[Weather] Cheongmyeong today, pleasant weather nationwide but dusty in western regions

2025/04/04 10:00

Today is Cheongmyeong, the 5th of six spring terms, and just like the name suggests, we're in for a clear and sunny spring day—but with a big temperature swing. A light jacket will definitely come in handy! However, the air isn't the best for us in the western regions again. The capital area should be dealing with high levels of ultrafine dust all day. Afternoon highs will be similar to slightly higher today at 16 degrees in the capital; Daegu and Gwangju see highs of 18 degrees under sunny skies. However, dry weather alerts are still in place for parts of inland Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, so please be careful with anything that could spark a fire. Tomorrow is Arbor Day, and we're expecting 5 to 20 millimeters of rain across the country, starting at dawn. That will be a great help for the dry weather and dusty skies! Temperatures will go down below norms with rain tomorrow, but sunshine and warmth return on Sunday.

Rubio meets Danish foreign minister in first high-level talks since Trump's vow to take Greenland

2025/04/04 10:00

Meanwhile, in Brussels, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen on the sidelines of a NATO meeting on Thursday local time for their first high-level talks since President Donald Trump's renewed interest in acquiring Greenland. Rasmussen firmly stated that Denmark would object to any U.S. claims on Greenland, while Rubio reaffirmed the "strong relationship" between the U.S. and Denmark. Shortly after their meeting, Denmark's Prime Minister, who is also on a visit to Greenland, voiced support on Thursday for enhanced Arctic defense collaboration with the United States, but firmly dismissed U.S. attempts to annex the Arctic island.

Hungary says it is withdrawing from ICC as Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu visits Budapest

2025/04/04 10:00

Hungary has announced its intention to withdraw from the International Criminal Court as the country's Prime Minister welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's official visit to Budapest. On Thursday local time, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban declared plans for Hungary to withdraw from the ICC, calling the court a "political" institution. The announcement was made during Netanyahu's first visit to Europe since the ICC in May 2024 issued an arrest warrant against him and his former defense minister, as well as three top officials of Hamas for alleged war crimes. Orban stated that the withdrawal process would begin immediately, involving legislative action and formal notification to the United Nations. The procedure is expected to take about one year. Netanyahu praised Hungary's decision, describing it as "bold and principled."

Israeli airstrike hits school in Gaza, killing at least 27 people

2025/04/04 10:00

Starting in the Middle East, amid expanded military operations by Israel in Gaza an Israeli airstrike on a former school being used as a shelter in Gaza City has resulted in significant casualties. On Thursday local time, an Israeli airstrike hit the Dar Al-Arqam school in the Tuffah neighborhood of Gaza City, which was serving as a shelter for displaced individuals. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, at least 27 people were killed, including 14 children and five women. It says over 70 others were injured. The Israeli military said that the strike targeted a "Hamas command and control center" and asserted that measures were taken to minimize civilian harm. The incident is part of a broader escalation, with Israeli forces expanding strikes and issuing evacuation orders across Gaza.

On-point: What scenes to expect inside the courtroom on impeachment ruling day?

2025/04/04 10:00

We now have less than an hour to find out the outcome of the ruling. Only the 8 justices at the Constitutional Court know the fate of the South Korean leader. We turn to Professor Paik Eun-seok in the meantime. Good morning. 1. How are the 8 justices spending the last few hours leading up to the ruling at 11 AM? 2. Nearly 100 thousand people applied to attend today's ruling with only 20 seats available. 3. Yoon has managed to keep a low profile ever since the hearings came to an end back in February. 4. Should we expect him to say something right after the ruling or not? 5. Security and safety measures are deemed absolutely vital especially today. Thank you for taking your time to be with us on this big day.