News

[Weather] Big temperature swings across Korea under bright skies, dusty in west of central regions

2025/04/01 10:00

Welcome to April! We'll see a big temperature jump from a chilly morning. However, fine dust from abroad moved in overnight, making the air hazy across the central region. The capital area will see air quality in the 'bad' range all day, while other regions could experience dust spikes throughout the day. The dry spell continues today, with high fire danger. Dry weather advisories are still in effect across Korea. Please stay extra cautious about fires. And this afternoon, Seoul will reach 17 degrees Celsius, about 3 degrees higher than yesterday. Southern provinces can expect much brighter skies in the afternoon with an expected high of 15 degrees Celsius in Busan. We have some rain in the forecast for tomorrow. Showers will begin in the west and gradually spread across most regions. The amount won't be much. Meanwhile, temperatures will stay slightly above norms through the weekend. However, the large day-to-night temperature swings will continue, so make sure to dress accordingly.

Crowds in Tokyo gather for cherry blossom season

2025/04/01 10:00

Finally, in Japan, Tokyo's cherry blossom season has arrived earlier than usual this year, with full bloom observed over the weekend. The early arrival drew large crowds to popular "hanami" or "flower viewing" spots across the city on Monday. Parks and gardens throughout Tokyo are experiencing peak bloom, attracting locals and tourists to the seasonal festivities. While cherry blossoms usually reach their peak in late March to early April, the early blooming this year is attributed to warmer temperatures. The country's favorite flower reaching the peak usually signals the start of the new school and business year.

Three of four missing U.S. Army soldiers found dead in Lithuania

2025/04/01 10:00

In Lithuania, three of the four U.S. soldiers missing since last week have been found dead. According to a U.S. Army announcement on Monday, the bodies of three soldiers and an armored vehicle were recovered from a peat bog after days of intense searching using heavy equipment. The soldiers, assigned to the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, had been taking part in a training mission near the border with Belarus when their vehicle was reported missing. Efforts continue to locate the fourth missing soldier while the cause of the incident remains under investigation.

Le Pen calls ban on running for public office 'political decision'

2025/04/01 10:00

Meanwhile, in France, leader of the right-wing National Rally party and presidential hopeful Marine Le Pen has been convicted of embezzlement and barred from running in the 2027 presidential election. Le Pen has denounced the court's decision as politically motivated and says she will appeal the ruling. "What she is doing here is she’s saying ‘I am going to make you ineligible straight away and I’m doing it precisely to stop you from being able to be elected president'. If that’s not a political decision, I don’t know what it is." On Monday local time, a French court found Le Pen guilty of embezzling European Union funds. The court sentenced her to four years in prison, with two years suspended, imposed a 108,000 U.S. dollar fine, and prohibited her from holding public office for five years. This ruling effectively disqualifies her from the 2027 presidential race.

European foreign ministers urge Russia to agree on Ukraine ceasefire

2025/04/01 10:00

Beginning in Europe, foreign ministers from six European countries convened in Madrid, where they urged Russia to agree to an immediate, unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine. The foreign ministers of Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the United Kingdom, along with the European Union's High Representative, met in Madrid on Monday local time to address the war in Ukraine. In a joint statement, they collectively urged Russia to abandon its "delaying tactics" and respond to Ukraine's commitment to peace by agreeing to an unconditional full ceasefire. The statement highlighted the importance of making progress within a specific timeframe, and they also considered possible new sanctions to increase pressure on Russia. The possibility of using frozen Russian sovereign assets to aid Ukraine was also discussed. The ministers said they will ensure Russia's full accountability for its war crimes.

Police launch first on-site joint probe into ignition point of Gyeongsangbuk-do wildfire

2025/04/01 10:00

With the deadly wildfires contained, South Korean authorities are now looking into what caused the crisis. A man tending a family grave is suspected of sparking one of the fires. Lee Soo-jin reports. South Korean police, along with the National Forensic Service and firefighting authorities, have launched their first joint investigation into the country's worst-ever wildfire. Police in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province on Monday morning, using drones, began conducting on-site inspections in Uiseong-gun County, the ignition site of the wildfire in the province, to determine what caused it and the direction in which the fire spread. The fires in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province saw about 480 square kilometers of woodland affected, equivalent to 80 percent of the size of Seoul, and left 26 people dead. The police plan to examine traces of flames left on the trees around a tomb and the surrounding areas to determine the direction that the fire spread, and search the area around the site of the ignition to find any evidence of materials that may have caused the fire. Analysis of the evidence found from the on-site inspections is expected to take at least three weeks. The police revealed on Sunday that they booked a 56-year-old man on Friday without detention on charges of starting the fire on March 22nd while tending to the grave of his grandparents. The man denies the charges. On Saturday, the police found a lighter that was found at the scene and has requested an analysis from the National Forensic Service for fingerprints or DNA evidence. With the main fires in both Gyeongsangbuk-do and Gyeongsangnam-do Provinces now contained, the government is also focusing on helping those affected. This includes providing temporary housing and livelihood support for those who have been displaced. More than three thousand houses were completely burned down, and significant damage was also inflicted on 30 national heritage sites and 2-thousand agricultural facilities. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.

On-point: Constitutional Court to notify Yoon's impeachment ruling date in April

2025/04/01 10:00

The last day of March has passed, meaning the final call will be made in April. Let's turn to Professor Lee Hee-eun for more this morning. Welcome back. 1. There are calls that the Constitutional Court should issue a statement and explain the reasons for the delay. How likely is it that the court will do so? Should the court make clear its stance and plan? Has the court done so in the past? 2. Some experts say Yoon's case is not as complicated as that of former President Park Geun-hye, expressing frustration over the delay. Is that so? 3. As an expert's point of view, when do you think the court will or must announce a ruling date to prevent any more confusion and instability? 4. The opposition Democratic Party has designated today, April 1st, as the deadline for Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to appoint justice nominee Ma Eun-hyuk and warned it would make a major decision if Han doesn't. Does that mean another impeachment motion for Han? Will the DP do that? Would that be the first time ever for a PM to be impeached twice? How might that unfold? 5. Let's say Han does appoint Ma. Can Ma play an active role in the ruling? To what extent? Does that mean the ruling will get delayed even more? Thanks so much for taking your time to be with us this morning. We appreciate it.

Court still conducting review of President Yoon's impeachment amid speculation over ruling date

2025/04/01 10:00

While the record delay in announcing an impeachment ruling for President Yoon Suk Yeol is leading to various speculations, the Constitutional Court is reportedly handling the case with a great deal of caution and prudence. Our correspondent Oh Soo-young reports. The Constitutional Court is working "cautiously" and "thoroughly" on President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment case, as speculation continues over when the justices will deliver their ruling. Appearing before the National Assembly on Monday, the Constitutional Court's Secretary-General Kim Jung-won said the eight-member bench is deliberating with "caution" in their frequent "in-depth" reviews and discussions. Kim added even he wasn't informed of how many times the justices convened or what stage they were in in their deliberation, due to the high level of confidentiality. The justices have been deliberating for more than a month after Yoon's final trial hearing in February, the longest period yet for a presidential case. Once each justice concludes their review, and expresses their opinion, the bench is expected to draw up their collective decision, before announcing the ruling date two to three days in advance. While some believe the ruling could be as early as this Thursday, if the bench schedules a Friday ruling in line with past presidential impeachments, April 4th and 11th are key dates to watch. But given the record deliberation period, other observers say the verdict could take longer to be issued, as the justices may be sharply split in their opinions on whether or not President Yoon's martial law declaration warrants an impeachment. The Court needs at least six votes to remove a President. If three or more justices are against impeachment Yoon would be restored to office. At this point, April 18th is broadly considered the deadline for the bench —the date Justices Moon Hyung-bae and Lee Mi-son retire. In 2017, the Court dismissed President Park Geun-hye on a Friday, before Acting Chief Justice Lee Jung-mi stepped down the next Monday. But this time around, the two vacancies would leave only six justices on the bench, below the seven-member threshold required to deliver a ruling. The opposition Democratic Party has been calling for the urgent appointment of a left-leaning judge, Ma Eun-hyeok, to secure a six-vote majority to impeach the President, as an early election would favour their party leader Lee Jae-myung. The DP has also been pushing to amend the Constitutional Court Act to extend the retiring justices' terms. The Court's Secretary General said while the suggestion is "under internal review," "there is no official position yet.” When asked if President Yoon's ruling would be made by the 18th, the Court's secretary general said the aim is still to issue a verdict as swiftly as possible, but declined to specify a date. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

Trump confirms communication with North Korea, hints at taking action "at some point"

2025/04/01 10:00

U.S. President Donald Trump has hinted at further engagement with North Korea, confirming ongoing communication with leader Kim Jong-un. Speaking to reporters at the White House on Monday, Trump said he has a "very good relationship" with Kim, despite a rocky start during his first term. He said, "there is communication," although he didn't clarify whether this was through direct talks with Kim or via aides. Trump described North Korea as "a big nuclear nation" and called Kim "a very smart guy". He also said his administration will likely take some action at "some point", but offered no specifics.

Gold price surpasses US$ 3,100 for new record high on Mon.

2025/04/01 10:00

The price of gold has soared to a new record high ahead of the announcement of reciprocal tariffs by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration this week. The price of spot gold peaked at $3,128.06 on Monday, continuing a surge that has seen it gain over 18% since the start of the year. Experts say the rise is due to heightened demand as investors seek safe-haven assets amid economic uncertainty and escalating global trade tensions.

Students at 38 of 40 medical schools apply to return before reinstatement deadline

2025/04/01 10:00

Medical students who boycotted classes over the government's medical school admissions increase say they'll be back in school just right before the government-imposed deadline for reinstatement on Monday. Lee Seung-jae has more. Out of 40 medical schools nationwide, students from 38 of the schools have decided to return to class before the Monday deadline imposed by the government. According to sources familiar with the matter, 38 of the medical schools saw almost all of their students, who had been on leave of absence, complete their registration to return to school. Among the schools that saw their students register for classes before the deadline were Seoul National University, Yonsei University, Korea University, Sungkyunkwan University, and Pusan National University. The two medical schools where students hadn't registered before the deadline were Inje University and Hallym University. The government last month set a March 31st deadline after it announced a conditional decision to set the medical school admissions quota at 3-thousand-58 for the 2026 academic year. That is similar to the figure before the current administration decided to increase admissions by 2-thousand a year ago. In order to transition into the delayed school semester, most medical schools will begin with a few weeks of online classes. Seoul National University announced last week that online classes will be held for the first one to two weeks starting Monday. Ulsan University and Korea University have started online classes as well. Yonsei University, which was among the first medical schools to announce a "full return" of students, will conduct both online and offline classes. Based on data on the number of medical school students returning, the Ministry of Education will finalize the enrollment quota for next year's admissions by the end of the month. While the government expects the medical admissions quota to return to 3-thousand-58, it warned that the quota could return to 5-thousand-58 if students take a leave of absence or boycott classes after returning. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Rescue efforts continue in Myanmar past 'golden time'

2025/04/01 10:00

Rescue efforts continue in Myanmar, with the 72-hour "golden time" period since the magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck the southeast Asian nation last week now passed. According to AFP on Monday, rescue teams and citizens in the city of Mandalay continue to search for survivors in sweltering heat above 40 degrees Celsius. Rescue personnel are also struggling to search through rubble due to a lack of manpower and equipment. Myanmar's military government says over 2-thousand are dead and more than 39-hundred injured. It also announced it would observe a week-long national mourning period. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that the final death toll could surpass 10-thousand.

[Sports Round-up] Kim Hyo-joo wins 7th career LPGA Tour win at Ford Championship

2025/03/31 20:00

Time now to take a look at what's been happening in the world of sports. Joining us in the studio is our sports editor Paul Neat. Hello Paul. Hello. Let's start with golf. Kim Hyo-joo has secured her seventh LPGA title. Yes, the Ford Championship, on Sunday local time in Arizona. Kim Hyo-joo beat former world number one Lilia Vu of the United States in a playoff. Kim had been four strokes behind heading into the final round but hit an 8-under 64, including nine birdies, while Vu hit a four-under 68. This meant they both finished at 22-under 266, so went back to the 18th to find a winner where Kim struck a birdie to seal it. It was her seventh LPGA win overall but first since the Volunteers of America Classic in October 2023. Meanwhile, in the men's game, Korean-Australian Lee Min-woo on Sunday won the 휴스턴 오픈, finishing at 20 under par one stroke ahead of world number one Scottie Scheffler as well as Gary Woodland, both of the United States, who finished tied at 19-under. The final day saw Lee hit four birdies and one bogey for a 3-under 67. It's the 26-year-old's first-ever win on the PGA Tour in what was his 56th start. He's the younger brother of Lee Min-ji, LPGA star. Moving on to baseball. The Major League Baseball season began at the end of last week. Two South Korean stars were in the opening day rosters for their respective clubs. Yes, those being Lee Jung-hoo of the San Francisco Giants and Bae Ji-hwan of the Pittsburgh Pirates. For Lee Jung-hoo, he scored twice as the Giants beat the Cincinnati Reds 6-4 on Thursday in their season opener. Then, on Sunday, in what was game three of the new season, Lee recorded his first "multi-hit" to help the Giants win their opening series 2-1. Lee batted 2-for-4 with one RBI and scored two runs against the Reds in a 6-3 win. Batting third, he raised his batting average to point-300 and also leads his team for runs with four. Meanwhile, Bae Ji-hwan made two appearances for the Pirates against the Miami Marlins, but was run out trying to reach third in Sunday's 3-2 loss. He'd been left out for the first games, but then appeared in games three and four in a series his team lost 3-1. In domestic baseball, the LG Twins are making headlines with a remarkable 7-game winning streak to start the 2025 season. Yes, this sets a new franchise record and brings them closer to the KBO's all-time opening winning streak of 10, held by the 2003 Samsung Lions and the 2022 SSG Landers. This week, LG face the KT Wiz in a three-game series at Suwon's KT Wiz Park. If they sweep KT, they'll tie the league record. However, all matches scheduled for Tuesday, April 1st have been postponed. This is to mourn the death of a female fan in her 20s, who died in hospital on Monday after a piece of metal fell 18 meters, hit a concession stand then hit her on the head at the NC Dinos stadium in Changwon on Saturday. All NC Dinos matches this week are now postponed. Alright, thanks for that Paul. See you next week. Thank you.

Korean pianist Kim Sae-hyun wins prestigious international competition

2025/03/31 20:00

Korean pianist Kim Sae-hyun has taken first place at the Long-Thibaud-Crespin Competition, a renowned triennial event in France. According to the Kumho Cultural Foundation on Monday, the 17-year-old won the competition with a rendition of Rachmaninoff's Concerto No. 3 in the final round of the competition this past Saturday. Fellow Korean pianist Lee Hyo placed third. Notably, his brother Lee Hyuk was a co-winner of the same competition in 2022. Another past Korean winner is Lim Dong-hyek who claimed the title in 2001.

S. Korean cosmetics outshine French products in U.S.

2025/03/31 20:00

South Korean beauty products have surged in popularity in the U.S., driven by the Korean wave, and have now surpassed French cosmetics. According to Bloomberg on Monday, South Korea emerged as the top exporter of cosmetics to the U.S. in 2024, followed by France and Canada. It cited a report by the U.S. International Trade Commission showing Korean cosmetics exports to the U.S. in 2024 totalled over 1-point-7 billion dollars. This success can be attributed to the Korean beauty industry's online marketing strategies through platforms like TikTok and Reddit, as well as partnerships with major retailers such as Costco and Amazon.

S. Korea, China and Japan reaffirm trade cooperation ahead of U.S. reciprocal tariffs

2025/03/31 20:00

Here in Seoul. Trade ministers of South Korea, China and Japan met for their agenda ahead of new U.S. tariffs in the days to come. Moon Hye-ryeon has more. The trade ministers of South Korea, China, and Japan met in Seoul for the first time in nearly six years and underscored the need for stronger economic ties and pledged to expand trade partnerships amid growing global uncertainties. At the Trilateral Economic and Trade Ministers' Meeting on Sunday, South Korea's Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun, China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, and Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Muto Yoji emphasized the importance of a stable global trade system and vowed to strengthen cooperation in key economic sectors. Their discussions came just days before the U.S. government's scheduled announcement of new reciprocal tariffs as the three nations navigate rising protectionist pressures. The meeting was seen as a strategic move to coordinate a response with all three nations facing similar concerns as major U.S. trade deficit partners and potential targets of tariffs. And, as a result, the ministers aligned on the broader goal of preserving a stable international trade system. During the talks, the ministers reaffirmed their commitment to multilateral trade frameworks, supporting reforms at the World Trade Organization and expanding the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership to include new members. They also pledged to accelerate negotiations for a high-level trilateral Free Trade Agreement. "It is necessary to strengthen the implementation of RCEP, in which all three countries have participated, and to create a framework for expanding trade cooperation among the three countries through Korea-China-Japan FTA negotiations." While South Korea and China currently have an FTA in place, discussions on a three-way agreement have stalled due to differing economic conditions and national priorities. Beyond trade agreements, the ministers addressed broader economic concerns, committing to stabilizing supply chains and expanding cooperation in green and digital industries. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

Trump warns of secondary tariffs on Russian oil if ceasefire agreement fails

2025/03/31 20:00

U.S. President Donald Trump is ramping up his rhetoric on both Russia and Ukraine with regard to sealing a ceasefire deal. He's threatening heavier tariffs on Russian oil and vowing "big problems" for Kyiv if it backs away from its mineral deal with Washington. Park Hyo-been has more. Amid the stalled progress on the Ukraine-Russia ceasefire, U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed strong dissatisfaction with Russian President Vladimir Putin. In an NBC interview on Sunday, Trump revealed that he was "very angry" after Putin criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's credibility. Trump also said that if Russia is found responsible for prolonging the conflict, he would impose "secondary tariffs" on Russian oil, ranging from 25 to 50 percent. He warned that countries purchasing Russian crude oil could face tariffs, signaling economic pressure as potential leverage in the ongoing conflict. Trump also had a message for Zelenskyy. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump criticized the Ukrainian leader for trying to back out of a rare earth metals agreement. "And I think Zelenskyy, by the way, I see he's trying to back out of the rare earth deal, and if he does that, he's got some problems. Big, big problems. We made a deal on rare earth, and now he's saying, 'Well, you know, I want to renegotiate the deal'." With U.S.-Ukraine negotiations now stalling, Russia has begun rare metals talks with Washington. On Monday, Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev confirmed that discussions were underway, with several companies already expressing an interest. Last month, Putin underscored Russia's vast reserves, looking to position Moscow as a more stable supplier than Ukraine. As diplomatic efforts stall, the potential economic pressure from tariffs may become a crucial turning point in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Park Hyo-been, Arirang News.

S. Korea's foreign ministry to dispatch consul to quake-stricken Mandalay

2025/03/31 20:00

In related news. The Korean government has decided to dispatch a consul from its embassy in Yangon to Mandalay to aid Korean nationals affected by the earthquake. According to the Foreign Ministry, there are some 2-thousand South Koreans residing in Myanmar, most of them in Yangon, and about 70 in Mandalay. No Korean casualties have been reported thus far. Authorities here are also offering some two-million U.S. dollars worth of humanitarian assistance to Myanmar as part of relief support.

Death toll expected to increase in Myanmar following 7.7 magnitude earthquake

2025/03/31 20:00

Myanmar is reeling from the aftermath of a devastating earthquake that took hundreds of lives as rescue and relief workers from international entities fly in to offer much-needed assistance. Ahn Sung-jin reports. Buildings have turned into rubble, houses buried in the ground. A rescue team pulls out a young child from a collapsed building in the city of Mandalay in Myanmar after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit the country on Friday. As aftershocks continue, the military regime estimates that at least 2-thousand people are dead. "A very strong shaking started. Ground was slipping under foot The shaking lasted about a minute. When it ended, the walls of the palace and some other buildings were collapsing, and the cladding began to burst." Experts say that the true death toll could rise far higher as search efforts continue, while there has been difficulty tracking the exact casualties in areas that are controlled by rebel groups. The U.S. Geological Survey says there's a 70 percent chance that the number of deaths will be above 10-thousand. Damage has been reported not only in Myanmar, but neighboring countries including Thailand and nearby Chinese provinces. The international community, including ASEAN and the United Nations has been ramping up relief efforts and foreign medical teams have been deployed. The WHO has declared its highest level of emergency, while deploying emergency medical teams into Myanmar with trauma kits, medical supplies and other essentials. "We need urgent assistance, especially for children who often suffer the most in this kind of situation." Myanmar's military government has also declared a state of emergency. Despite the destruction from the earthquake, the country's military junta continued its air strikes, which the UN has described as "completely outrageous and unacceptable." Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.

Court still conducting review of President Yoon's impeachment amid speculation over ruling date

2025/03/31 20:00

President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment case has lasted for more than than three months, as the Constitutional Court justices take a record amount of time to deliberate on his political fate. This is leading to various speculations. Our correspondent Oh Soo-young explains. The Constitutional Court is working "cautiously" and "thoroughly" on President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment case, as speculation continues over when the justices will deliver their ruling. Appearing before the National Assembly on Monday, the Constitutional Court's Secretary-General Kim Jung-won said the eight-member bench is deliberating with "caution" in their frequent "in-depth" reviews and discussions. Kim added even he wasn't informed of how many times the justices convened or what stage they were in in their deliberation, due to the high level of confidentiality. The justices have been deliberating for more than a month after Yoon's final trial hearing in February, the longest period yet for a presidential case. Once each justice concludes their review, and expresses their opinion, the bench is expected to draw up their collective decision, before announcing the ruling date two to three days in advance. While some believe the ruling could be as early as this Thursday, if the bench schedules a Friday ruling in line with past presidential impeachments, April 4th and 11th are key dates to watch. But given the record deliberation period, other observers say the verdict could take longer to be issued, as the justices may be sharply split in their opinions on whether or not President Yoon's martial law declaration warrants an impeachment. The Court needs at least six votes to remove a President. If three or more justices are against impeachment Yoon would be restored to office. At this point, April 18th is broadly considered the deadline for the bench —the date Justices Moon Hyung-bae and Lee Mi-son retire. In 2017, the Court dismissed President Park Geun-hye on a Friday, before Acting Chief Justice Lee Jung-mi stepped down the next Monday. But this time around, the two vacancies would leave only six justices on the bench, below the seven-member threshold required to deliver a ruling. The opposition Democratic Party has been calling for the urgent appointment of a left-leaning judge, Ma Eun-hyeok, to secure a six-vote majority to impeach the President, as an early election would favour their party leader Lee Jae-myung. The DP has also been pushing to amend the Constitutional Court Act to extend the retiring justices' terms. The Court's Secretary General said while the suggestion is "under internal review," "there is no official position yet." When asked if President Yoon's ruling would be made by the 18th, the Court's secretary general said the aim is still to issue a verdict as swiftly as possible, but declined to specify a date. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.