News

Czech Republic and S. Korea sign deal to build nuclear power reactors

2025/06/05 10:00

South Korea has signed a nuclear plant project with the Czech Republic, which had been put on hold after a rival bidder had filed an injunction. This multi-billion-dollar deal will be the first for Seoul in 16 years. Ahn Sung-jin has the details. The nuclear plant deal between the Czech Republic and South Korea has finally been sealed. Representatives from the Dukovany II Power Plant and the Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power on Wednesday signed final contracts to build two new nuclear power reactors in the Czech Republic. Czech Prime Minister Petra Fiala said on the same day, "all doubts and legal obstacles that prevented the nuclear power plant project from being launched" had been removed. The signing of the deal came only hours after the Czech high court lifted an injunction barring the deal from closing. The two parties were originally to sign the contract on May 7th, until the losing bidder EDF of France had filed for and won an injunction, delaying the project's timeline. However, Dukovany and KHNP appealed the ruling, and the court declared that the injunction was "unverifiable." The 18-point-six billion U.S. dollar deal will result in the expansion of the Dukovany nuclear site with the construction of two 1-thousand megawatt units, with the first to be completed by 2036. This deal is the first such project for KHNP in Europe and the company's first overseas project since a deal made with the UAE in 2009. According to pundits, the deal proves South Korea's technical skills and economic feasibility for nuclear plants, while they also say it could be a turning point for Seoul's nuclear plant expansion into the European market. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.

S. Korea’s economy contracts 0.2% in Q1 2025

2025/06/05 10:00

South Korea's economy contracted in the first quarter of this year, primarily due to sluggish construction investment and exports. Data from the Bank of Korea on Thursday showed that the country's GDP from January to March shrank by point-two percent on quarter, spurred by domestic and international economic uncertainties. This was mainly due to a three-point-one percent fall in construction investment and a point-six percent decrease in exports.

Mangjong today, summer warmth with strong UV rays

2025/06/05 10:00

Today marks 'Mangjong,' the third of summer's seasonal terms, and true to the season, it's going to be quite warm this afternoon. Most parts will see summer warmth sticking around through the weekend. Also, the skies will be mostly clear nationwide, and with clean air blowing in, our air quality will be good. With a gentle breeze, it almost feels like autumn rather than spring thanks to clear blue skies we've had lately. BUT strong sunlight will boost UV rays during the hottest parts of the day. So wear hats or carry UV umbrellas to protect yourselves. Seoul will reach 27 degrees, Daejeon and Gwangju seeing highs of 28 degrees. At least, the humidity won't be high, so the heat will not feel overwhelming, and it'll cool down quickly once the sun sets. It will be mostly clear across the country with afternoon summer warmth through next week, excluding Jeju, where rain is in the forecast this weekend.

Pres. Lee holds emergency economic task force with working-level gov't officials

2025/06/05 10:00

President Lee held the first meeting of his Emergency Economic Evaluation Task Force, on the night of his inauguration, underscoring his pledge to focus on repairing the economy first. Creating the task force as his first executive order, Lee convened an emergency meeting with vice ministers and working-level officials from the ministries of finance, SMEs, and transport for two hours and twenty minutes. According to the Presidential Office, Lee listened to opinions on trade issues with the U.S. and discussed measures concerning people's livelihoods. Lee also inquired about the fiscal capacity for a supplementary budget and its potential stimulative effects on the economy. On Thursday, Lee will hold his first Cabinet meeting. The full Cabinet had expressed intentions to resign upon his inauguration, but Lee rejected the move, only accepting the resignation of Justice Minister Park Sung-jae.

On-point: N. Korea's state media reports on Lee's presidential win for 1st time

2025/06/05 10:00

North Korea's state media on Thursday reported on the result of South Korea's presidential election for the first time, noting that Lee Jae-myung was elected South Korea's new president. The North kept the report brief and short. Let's discuss more with Dr. Bruce Bennett. Welcome back. 1. The Korean Central News Agency briefly said Lee, a candidate from the Democratic Party, was elected as South Korea's president. Why no big reaction from the North? 2. President Lee Jae-myung pledged to push for peace and dialogue, saying peace is cheaper than war. He specifically said he'll make sure to discover ways to co-exist with North Korea without war. What does this mean? Seoul will reach out to Pyongyang first? 3. How do you think the Lee government will reach out to the North? That may not be an easy project, considering inter-Korean relations have been frosty in recent months and under the former Yoon Suk Yeol administration. How do you think Lee will bring the North back to dialogue? 4. The Trump administration is preoccupied with its own matters, from tariffs to the Ukraine war. But Trump will one day or has already reached out to North Korea. How can the Lee government make sure Seoul is not left out? 5. North Korea's nuclear and missile ambitions are only growing, now with the regime's troop deployment to the Ukraine crisis. How can the Lee and Trump administrations put their heads together against Pyongyang's ever-growing military threats? U.S. troop withdrawal from South Korea can absolutely not be an option. Thanks so much connecting with us this morning. We appreciate it.

Mangjong today, summer warmth with strong UV rays

2025/06/05 10:00

Today marks 'Mangjong,' the third of summer's seasonal terms, and true to the season, it's going to be quite warm this afternoon. Most parts will see summer warmth sticking around through the weekend. Also, the skies will be mostly clear nationwide, and with clean air blowing in, our air quality will be good. With a gentle breeze, it almost feels like autumn rather than spring thanks to clear blue skies we've had lately. BUT strong sunlight will boost UV rays during the hottest parts of the day. So wear hats or carry UV umbrellas to protect yourselves. Seoul will reach 27 degrees, Daejeon and Gwangju seeing highs of 28 degrees. At least, the humidity won't be high, so the heat will not feel overwhelming, and it'll cool down quickly once the sun sets. It will be mostly clear across the country with afternoon summer warmth through next week, excluding Jeju, where rain is in the forecast this weekend.

Stock

2025/06/04 20:00

2025. 6. 4. KOREAN STOCK MARKET KOSPI : 2,770.84 ▲71.87 +2.66% KOSDAQ : 750.21 ▲9.92 +1.34% KOSPI200 : 369.90 ▲10.21 +2.84% ASIAN STOCK MARKET NIKKEI225 : 37,747.45 ▲300.64 +0.80% HANG SENG : 23,654.03 ▲141.54 +0.60% SHANGHAI : 3,376.20 ▲14.23 +0.42% WALL STREET (June 3) DOW JONES : 42,519.64 ▲214.16 +0.51% NASDAQ : 19,398.96 ▲156.35 +0.81% S&P500 : 5,970.37 ▲34.43 +0.58% EXCHANGE RATE USD : 1,369.50 (-3.60) JPY : 951.24 (-7.46) CNY : 190.42 (+0.01) EUR : 1,557.53 (-6.57)

Scaled-down presidential inauguration: Pres. Lee pledges to be ‘president for everyone’

2025/06/04 20:00

Thank you for joining us. I'm Yoon Jung-min. We begin our coverage with the start of a new government here in Korea. Taking the oath of office in a red, white and blue tie, President Lee Jae-myung pledged to become "a leader for all" regardless of their political inclinations. Other Key messages centered on kick-starting an economic task force as he vows to take "pragmatic" approaches when it comes to diplomacy. Our correspondent Shin Ha-young reports. "I solemnly swear before the people to uphold the Constitution, defend the nation, strive for the peaceful reunification of the homeland, promote the freedom and well-being of the people, advance national culture, and to faithfully carry out my duties as president." President Lee Jae-myung took the oath at the National Assembly in a scaled-down inauguration on Wednesday, keeping the ceremony brief and focused as he started his term without a transition committee. In his inaugural speech, Lee emphasized national unity, which he has highlighted throughout his campaign, saying he will embrace everyone and be a "president for all." "The new Democratic administration under Lee Jae-myung will be a government of just integration and pragmatic flexibility. I will be a president who ends divisive politics." During the inauguration, Lee caught attention by wearing a red, white and blue tie, symbolizing his message of unity across political affiliations. Lee pointed to reviving the domestic economy as one of the top priorities of his administration. "We will start by restoring people's livelihoods and reviving the economy. With a determination to fight through this downturn, we will immediately launch the emergency economic task force." Regarding his diplomatic policy, Lee emphasized pragmatic, national-interest-focused diplomacy to turn the global economic and security challenges into opportunities that maximize national benefits. "We will strengthen the trilateral cooperation between South Korea, the U.S., and Japan based on a solid South Korea-U.S. alliance, while managing relations with neighboring countries in a practical and national interest-based perspective." Lee also pledged to boost the nation's culture industries, stressing that culture is economic as well as global competitiveness. We will expand South Korea's cultural industries. With strong support for the arts and culture, we will become a cultural powerhouse, setting global standards one of the top five global soft power leaders. After the inauguration, Lee had lunch at the National Assembly with Speaker Woo Won-shik and leaders from both the ruling and opposition parties, demonstrating his commitment to national unity from the very first day of his term. There, he expressed his hope that by making necessary concessions and compromises, policies that everyone agrees on can be created to help people live better lives. "Crowds gathered to witness history as Lee Jae-myung took office after winning the snap presidential election with 49-point-4-2 percent of the vote. Having consistently emphasized national unity, all eyes are now on how Lee will turn those words into action. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News."

[Weather] Summer-like weather across the country, high UV rays tomorrow

2025/06/04 20:00

The weather was generally clear today, and it seemed like late spring at this time of year in many regions. Seoul rose up to 25 degrees Celsius during the day and the central parts of the country had slightly lower temperatures than yesterday. However, the south was hotter than yesterday at nearly 30 degrees. The temperatures will rise higher tomorrow in most parts of the country. With clear skies, the UV rays will be at high to very high levels from the morning tomorrow. They will then rise to very high levels all over the country between noon and 3 in the afternoon when the sun shines strongly. Make sure to protect yourself from UV rays. Tomorrow morning, Daejeon and Gyeongju will start off at 14 degrees, Jeju at 18 degrees. Daily highs will move up to 27 degrees in Seoul, 28 degrees in Chuncheon, Daejeon, and Gwangju. Temperatures will get hotter again next week. Please take good care of your health. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

KAI signs $700 million deal to supply 12 additional FA-50 jets to Philippines

2025/06/04 20:00

Korea Aerospace Industries has signed a 700-million-dollar deal to provide an additional 12 fighter jets to the Philippines. According to the KAI, it struck a deal on Tuesday to provide the country with 12 more FA-50s through 2030. The country previously purchased 12 FA-50 jets in March 2014, and the customized version is currently considered a core asset of the Philippines Air Force. The latest FA-50 exports mark the first such deal in about two years, since a contract signed in May 2023 to supply 18 planes to Malaysia.

Trump signs proclamation to double tariffs on steel, aluminum to 50%

2025/06/04 20:00

In other news. In an official declaration, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the imposition of revised tariffs, doubling taxes on steel and aluminum to 50-percent, starting Wednesday. Lee Seung-jae has the latest. The White House says U.S. President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Tuesday, to double Washington's tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum to 50 percent. Prior to the signing, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the tariff hike to reporters. "The president will be signing that executive order today, and steel and aluminum tariffs will be going to 50%, yes." The hike comes as Trump said that the increased tariffs will be more effective in countering foreign countries that offload "low-price excess" metals into the U.S. market. The 50 percent tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum took effect at 12:01 AM on Wednesday. According to Trump's proclamation, the previous 25 percent tariffs have helped "provide critical price support in the United States market," however he added "they have not yet enabled these industries to develop and maintain the rates of capacity production utilization that are necessary for the industries' sustained health and for projected national defense needs." He also said he's determined that "increasing the previously imposed tariffs will provide greater support to these industries and reduce or eliminate the national security threat posed by imports of steel and aluminum articles and their derivative articles." Meanwhile, the White House also said that Washington has sent a letter to all of its trading partners to remind them of the trade negotiation deadline. "USTR sent this letter to all of our trading partners just to give them a friendly reminder that the deadline is coming up and they are in talks." The 90-day pause on the reciprocal tariffs is set to end on July 8th, with Trump optimistic that Washington is on track for positive outcomes from, ongoing negotiations. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Korean stock markets rise as Korea welcomes new president

2025/06/04 20:00

The local bourse rallied on Wednesday, bolstered by foreign investors and institutions, as Korea welcomed a new president. The benchmark KOSPI hit a fresh high to close trade today at over 27-70, soaring more than 2-percent from its previous session. This is the first time in some ten months that the index has closed above the 2-thousand-7-hundred-70 mark. The tech heavy KOSDAQ also gained more than one-percent to end at over 7-hundred-50.

From factory floor to presidential office: Lee Jae-myung's rise to presidency

2025/06/04 20:00

Up next, our Park Kun-woo explains who Lee Jae-myung is and his journey from the factory floor to the nation's highest office. Even his biggest critics won't be able to deny that Lee Jae-myung, the newly elected president of South Korea, is self-made. Lee, who is 61 years old, was born in Andong as the fifth of seven children. Facing severe financial hardship, he inflated his age to work in factories, and suffered from industrial accidents one leaving his arm permanently disabled and exempting him from military service. Despite this, he studied on his own to pass middle and high school equivalency exams, later earning a college scholarship. The year he graduated, he also passed South Korea's notoriously difficult bar exam, setting him on the path to becoming a human rights lawyer. And his background as an underage laborer and human rights lawyer heavily influenced his political career, which began as the city of Seongnam's mayor in 2010, and drove his focus on policies addressing social conflict and inequality. "Lee Jae-myung identified polarization and significant disparity as the root causes of social conflict. So he suggested artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and the cultural content sectors, to maintain growth and to reduce our social division." After gaining attention for his bold, progressive policies as mayor, he went on to become the governor of Gyeonggi-do Province, which expanded his political base and helped launch his presidential runs. Although he narrowly lost to former president Yoon Suk-yeol by just 0-point-73 percentage points in 2022 one of the tightest races in Korean history Yoon's failed attempt to invoke martial law later paved the way for Lee's ultimately successful bid this year. But while his rags-to-riches story inspired many, the nation's deep political divide was laid bare when he was stabbed by an assailant posing as a supporter last year. With polarization remaining a pressing issue, Lee's emphasis on the importance of unity throughout the campaign signals that national cohesion will be a key theme of his presidency. "One of our biggest challenges is achieving social unity. This is essential to restoring livelihoods, reviving the economy, and building a democracy where everyone shares opportunities and hope." Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

Lee Jae-myung administration kicks off with parliament's backing and weakened opposition

2025/06/04 20:00

For a closer look at the 21st presidential election and beyond, our political correspondent Kim Do-yeon joins us here in the studio with us. Do-yeon, Lee Jae-myung won the election this morning with some 49-percent of support. What can you tell us about this figure? That's right, Jung-min. To repeat the number — he received 49.4 percent of the votes. First, let's put that into perspective. Since 1987, when direct presidential elections began, only one president has secured more than 50 percent of the vote — President Park Geun-hye, who still holds the record for the highest share. Had Lee crossed that 50-percent mark, it would've added even more momentum to his policy agenda, as it's quite a rare achievement. But, as you can see, he still has the second-highest percentage. That's why some voices inside the Democratic Party are calling it a sobering message from the public — to remain humble despite the strong support throughout the campaign. The message comes against the backdrop of earlier opinion polls and even exit polls, which suggested Lee might secure a majority — but he ultimately fell short. Now, two key numbers to highlight: First, he received more votes than any other president in Korean history — breaking the previous record set by former president Yoon. Lee secured 17.3 million votes. It was also the highest voter turnout since 1997. Another notable comparison is Lee's growth from the last presidential race. He received 47.83 percent in 2022. This time, 49.4 percent — roughly a 1.5 percentage point increase. In terms of actual votes, 1,139,775 more people voted for Lee compared to three years ago, as the turnout was higher. Now, let's turn to the political landscape after the election. The DP holds the majority in parliament. What does this mean for the new government? That's exactly right. The DP can now push through bills as it sees fit. For context, during the past three years under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration — including acting presidents — 40 bills were vetoed, as many were passed unilaterally by the DP-controlled legislature. But now, with both the presidency and parliamentary majority, the DP holds full control. The only option left for the opposition People Power Party is to filibuster. Still, Lee has extended an olive branch — sitting down with leaders of all parties and promising cooperation Of course, this is just the beginning — and PPP interim leader Kim Yong-tae has urged the president to acknowledge proportional representation and work together. "If the president and ruling party recognize proportional representation — a core value of democracy — and pursue cooperative politics, then the People Power Party will actively engage and cooperate where possible." Another area to watch: the nomination of a new prime minister. Lee has named Kim Min-seok as his nominee. Under the previous administration, these confirmation hearings often became political flashpoints, with the opposition blocking or resisting cabinet picks. While ministers can be appointed even without opposition support, prime ministers require National Assembly approval. But now, with the DP's majority, even the prime minister nomination is expected to move smoothly — and ministerial confirmation hearings will likely be much shorter. All right. Now let's shift to the People Power Party. I hear the party is going through the aftermath of its defeat. That's right, Jung-min. The election itself was triggered by the impeachment of PPP's own president. Let's first listen to what the PPP candidate Kim Moon-soo had to say about the party's failures: "First and foremost, I believe our party lacks a fundamental understanding and commitment to the principles of democracy — the determination to uphold those principles. That is what led to the unimaginable act of declaring martial law." This was Kim's strongest criticism yet over the martial law declaration — the very issue at the heart of the party's need for so-called "renewal" to move forward. Broadly, the party remains divided between two factions — those who supported Yoon's impeachment and those who remain loyal to him. And with the election outcome, as Kim pointed out, the people have spoken: the martial law declaration was wrong. The party now faces the challenge of reshaping itself accordingly.

How S. Korea's new president plans to revitalize economy

2025/06/04 20:00

The new president's first executive order was launching an emergency task force to address urgent economic challenges and improve the daily lives of the people. Our economics correspondent Lee Soo-jin takes a closer look. South Korea's newly elected President, Lee Jae-myung, is swiftly moving to deliver on a key campaign pledge revival of the economy. His spokesperson announced on Wednesday that President Lee had signed his first executive order. "On June 4th, 2025, his first day in office, President Lee Jae-myung signed his first executive order, calling for the establishment of an Emergency Economic Task Force." This comes as growth projections for South Korea's economy have been revised downward by both domestic and foreign institutions. The Bank of Korea just last week slashed its GDP growth forecast for this year to zero-point-8 percent from 1-point-5 percent in its economic outlook report. And the OECD on Tuesday lowered South Korea's 2025 growth forecast to 1 percent, down zero-point-5 percentage points from its earlier projection. While it is yet unclear who will take on the dual role of finance and deputy prime minister, the appointee is expected to lead the task force in overseeing pressing economic issues. This includes overseeing a planned economic supplementary budget amounting to 30 trillion won, or 22 billion U.S. dollars to boost domestic demand. But as the ruling Democratic Party is expected to maintain a majority in the National Assembly for the next three years until the 2028 general election, the new administration is likely to face fewer hurdles in carrying out its policy agenda. The new administration will also have to navigate high-stakes negotiations with the Trump administration. Korea and the U.S. held high-level trade talks in April where the two countries agreed to reach a comprehensive agreement dubbed the "July Package" by July 8th the day that the 90-day pause on Trump's "reciprocal" tariff rates on foreign nations is set to expire. The Ministry of Economy and Finance is also expected to be restructured, as Lee, since his candidacy, has pledged to transfer the Finance Ministry's budgeting role to a separate body. The ministry currently oversees both economic policy and budget allocation, but Lee argues this concentrates too much power in one place. The separation of the budgeting function is expected to allow other ministries to gain more autonomy and accountability over their spending, while allowing the Finance Ministry to focus more on coordinating overall economic policy. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.

S. Korea's new president expected to hold first phone call with Trump soon

2025/06/04 20:00

Also on his first day in office, South Korea's new Commander-in-Chief spoke with the country's head of the JCS to ensure the nation's security. Later, he is expected to hold his first phone conversation with his American counterpart Donald Trump. Our foreign affairs correspondent Bae Eun-ji has more. South Korea's new leader, Lee Jae-myung, is expected to hold a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump as early as Wednesday night on day one of his presidency. While the call will likely be focused on congratulating Lee on his inauguration, there is a possibility that they'll discuss bilateral issues such as tariffs and North Korea's nuclear threats. Addressing concerns on North Korea, President Lee, on his first day in office, called the country's head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and ordered him to ensure the nation's security remains strong. "Given the current fluid situation, I ask that you closely monitor North Korea's military movements based on South Korea and the U.S. combined defense readiness, and maintain a strong defense posture." Later in the day, he visited the JCS, looked around the military's Operations Control Room, and was briefed on the country's defense readiness. Lee, who has earlier pledged to open communication channels with North Korea, will likely seek ways to build peace on the Korean Peninsula, throughout his term. Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department on Tuesday local time congratulated Lee on his election win, noting that the two countries share a strong commitment to their alliance. It also said Washington will continue to deepen trilateral cooperation with Japan. According to Reuters, the White House reacted by saying that although South Korea's election was free and fair, it said it remains concerned about Chinese interference in democracies around the world. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba also congratulated Lee, and said he seeks to hold a summit with him as soon as possible, explaining that the two countries face similar challenges, such as an aging population and declining birthrates. Separately, China's Xinhua state news agency said Xi Jinping also sent a congratulatory message to the new South Korean president. Xi specifically pointed out that he "highly values" the development of relations between Seoul and Beijing. China's foreign ministry also told reporters in a press briefing that the country plans to deepen its partnership with the new South Korean government. With the tariffs, potential reduction of U.S. troops, and global uncertainties remaining as key challenges for the new government, eyes are on how the administration will navigate relations with other countries to overcome them. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.

President Lee Jae-myung names PM, top aides on first day of commute to Yongsan Office

2025/06/04 20:00

The new leader began his work at the presidential office in Yongsan, for now, tapping some of the key posts of his administration, including a new Prime Minister nominee. Our correspondent Oh Soo-young tells us more. Day one of the Lee Jae-myung administration began at the break of dawn, with the new South Korean leader's duties beginning upon the National Election Commission confirmation of his presidency. As he stepped out for his first commute, from his home in Gyeyang-gu District, Incheon, Lee and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung spent about 10 minutes shaking hands with supporters and expressing their gratitude. As per tradition for all newly elected leaders, President Lee made a visit to the Seoul National Cemetery to the nation's war-dead and heroes, before heading to the National Assembly for his inauguration ceremony. Despite his push to move the Presidential Office back to the palatial grounds of Cheong Wa Dae, undoing his predecessor's relocation to the city centre,. Lee launched his administration in Yongsan. Awaiting his arrival, the flag bearing the presidential phoenix was once again raised early Wednesday. Staying true to his pledge that he'd dive straight into his duties, President Lee Jae-myung personally announced his key appointments. In a briefing to reporters at the Yongsan Presidential Office, Lee named four-time lawmaker Kim Min-seok as Prime Minister nominee, and as his National Intelligence Service Director -- These two positions require parliamentary approval. However, senior aides working directly with the president assume their positions right away, without a separate vetting process. Lee appointed as his Chief Presidential Secretary lawmaker Kang Hoon-sik --one of the key strategists behind his election campaigns. Former Ambassador to Russia Wi Sung-lac now heads the National Security Office, as National Security Advisor. former Army General Hwang In-kwon leads the Presidential Security Service, tasked with protecting the President and his family. Professor-turned-politician Kang Yoo-jung has become the Presidential Spokesperson. For future ministerial appointments, President Lee said he'd like to take his time to gather opinions from the public, the ruling and opposition parties, and the media. He said restructuring the Presidential Office won't happen today or tomorrow, as the administration will focus first on emergency measures for economic recovery. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

S. Korea's inter-Korean policy and diplomatic outlook under the new Lee administration

2025/06/04 20:00

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus. I'm Kim Mok-yeon. Lee Jae-myung has been sworn in as South Korea's 21st president, promising to lead with unity and realism on the global stage. In his inauguration address, he laid out a vision of "pragmatic diplomacy" focused on the national interest, not ideology. "Through a pragmatic diplomacy centered on the national interest, we will turn the crisis of global economic, security, and environmental transformation into opportunities to maximize our national interest. Based on a strong South Korea–U.S. alliance, we will strengthen trilateral cooperation with the U.S. and Japan, while approaching relations with neighboring countries from the perspective of practicality and the national interest." When it comes to North Korea, President Lee has emphasized phased cooperation and open communication — alongside firm deterrence. "We will respond to North Korea's nuclear and military provocations with strong deterrence based on the South Korea-U.S. military alliance, while keeping communication channels with the North open and building peace on the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and cooperation." To help us unpack how President Lee's diplomatic signals may play out, we are joined by Go Myong-hyun, senior research fellow at the Institute for National Security Strategy. Welcome. Also joining us online is Dr. John Nilsson-Wright, head of the Japan and Koreas Programme at the Centre for Geopolitics at the University of Cambridge. 1. (Go) Let's start with the big picture. The Lee Jae-myung administration has been launched in full force. President Lee has presented "pragmatic diplomacy" as the key principle of his governance. What do you see as the most urgent diplomatic and security issues the new government must address first? 2. (Nilsson-Wright) Let's take a closer look at the Korean Peninsula and North Korea policy. In his inaugural speech, President Lee stated he would "open communication channels with North Korea and build peace on the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and cooperation." What initial steps do you expect him to take to improve inter-Korean relations? 3. (Go) Continuing on that thread, President Lee had expressed his intention to restore the September 19 inter-Korean military agreement, which was nullified by North Korea after being suspended by the previous administration. How realistic is the restoration of the agreement, and what are the key challenges to achieving it? 4. (Nilsson-Wright) Broader security concerns also come into play. President Lee has set the mid-to long-term denuclearization of North Korea as a goal, emphasizing a phased, pragmatic approach. How do you assess the new administration's strategy toward denuclearization? 5. (Go) At the same time, North Korea has remained completely silent on this election — no media coverage and no commentary. Do you think such kind of strategy will persist under the new administration? What ways are possible to bring Pyongyang back to the negotiation table? 6. (Nilsson-Wright) Now widening the lens to regional dynamics, North Korea's deepening ties with Russia are likely to complicate the new government's North Korea policy. How do you think the Lee administration — under the banner of "pragmatic diplomacy" — will shape its diplomatic approach toward China and Russia, which play major roles in regional stability? 7. (Go) Meanwhile, alliance management remains a central concern. President Lee has emphasized that the foundation of his pragmatic diplomacy is a solid ROK-U.S. alliance. As Korea's new government begins its term, concerns are mounting that the U.S. might increase pressure on defense cost-sharing. How should Korea respond if Washington calls for a renegotiation? 8. (Nilsson-Wright) On the military front, the Trump administration has hinted at a possible reduction in U.S. troop numbers and a reassessment of their role in Korea. Some say this could give Seoul a chance to push for the return of wartime operational control — something President Lee promised during his campaign. How do you see this playing out? 9. (Go) In its first message on President Lee's win, the White House called the U.S.-ROK alliance "ironclad," but also voiced concern over China's influence on democracies. What does this unusual mention of China suggest, and how should the Lee administration respond?

President Lee Jae-myung names PM, top aides on first day of commute to Yongsan Office

2025/06/04 17:00

We turn now to the Yongsan Presidential Office where the president has tapped the first six people to potentially join his administration. Our correspondent Oh Soo-young tells us who they are but begins with his earlier engagements this morning. Day one of the Lee Jae-myung administration began at the break of dawn, with the new South Korean leader's duties beginning upon the National Election Commission confirmation of his presidency. As he stepped out for his first commute, from his home in Gyeyang-gu District, Incheon, Lee and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung spent about 10 minutes shaking hands with supporters and supporters and expressing their gratitude. As per tradition for all newly elected leaders, President Lee made a visit to the Seoul National Cemetery to the nation's war-dead and heroes, before heading to the National Assembly for his inauguration ceremony. Despite his push to move the Presidential Office back to the palatial grounds of Cheong Wa Dae, undoing his predecessor's relocation to the city centre,. Lee launched his administration in Yongsan. Awaiting his arrival, the flag bearing the presidential phoenix was once again raised early Wednesday. Staying true to his pledge that he'd dive straight into his duties, President Lee Jae-myung personally announced his key appointments. In a briefing to reporters at the Yongsan Presidential Office, Lee named four-time lawmaker Kim Min-seok as Prime Minister nominee, and as his National Intelligence Service Director former Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok, who's an experienced negotiator and policy expert in inter-Korean relations. These two positions require parliamentary approval. However, senior aides working directly with the president assume their positions right away, without a separate vetting process. Lee appointed as his Chief Presidential Secretary lawmaker Kang Hoon-sik one of the key strategists behind his election campaigns. Former Ambassador to Russia Wi Sung-lac now heads the National Security Office, as National Security Advisor. former Army General Hwang In-kwon leads the Presidential Security Service, tasked with protecting the President and his family. Professor-turned-politician Kang Yoo-jung has become the Presidential Spokesperson. For future ministerial appointments, President Lee said he'd like to take his time to gather opinions from the public, the ruling and opposition parties, and the media. He said restructuring the Presidential Office won't happen today or tomorrow, as the administration will focus first on emergency measures for economic recovery. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

From factory floor to presidential office: Lee Jae-myung's rise to presidency

2025/06/04 17:00

For quite a number of his supporters President Lee Jae-myung 's personal story of pain and perseverance served to strike a deep chord. That being said our Park Kun-woo shares the president's journey from poverty to presidency. Even his biggest critics won't be able to deny that Lee Jae-myung, the newly elected president of South Korea, is self-made. Lee, who is 61 years old, was born in Andong as the fifth of seven children. Facing severe financial hardship, he inflated his age to work in factories, and suffered from industrial accidents one leaving his arm permanently disabled and exempting him from military service. Despite this, he studied on his own to pass middle and high school equivalency exams, later earning a college scholarship. The year he graduated, he also passed South Korea's notoriously difficult bar exam, setting him on the path to becoming a human rights lawyer. And his background as an underage laborer and human rights lawyer heavily influenced his political career, which began as the city of Seongnam's mayor in 2010, and drove his focus on policies addressing social conflict and inequality. "Lee Jae-myung identified polarization and significant disparity as the root causes of social conflict. So he suggested artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and the cultural content sectors, to maintain growth and to reduce our social division." After gaining attention for his bold, progressive policies as mayor, he went on to become the governor of Gyeonggi-do Province, which expanded his political base and helped launch his presidential runs. Although he narrowly lost to former president Yoon Suk-yeol by just 0-point-73 percentage points in 2022 one of the tightest races in Korean history Yoon's failed attempt to invoke martial law later paved the way for Lee's ultimately successful bid this year. But while his rags-to-riches story inspired many, the nation's deep political divide was laid bare when he was stabbed by an assailant posing as a supporter last year. With polarization remaining a pressing issue, Lee's emphasis on the importance of unity throughout the campaign signals that national cohesion will be a key theme of his presidency. "One of our biggest challenges is achieving social unity. This is essential to restoring livelihoods, reviving the economy, and building a democracy where everyone shares opportunities and hope." Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.