News

Earthquake kills more than 1,700 people in Myanmar; search and rescue operations continue

2025/03/31 10:00

In Myanmar now. Rescue workers are continuing their search for survivors after a major earthquake with a death toll above 10-thousand expected. WHO is responding with its highest level of emergency response. Shin Ha-young reports. The 7-point-7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on Friday, causing widespread damage. According to Myanmar's military, the quake struck the country's central region on Friday, killing over 1-thousand-700 people and injuring more than 3-thousand-400 as of Sunday. With a lack of equipment and personnel, rescuers have been working with their bare hands in an effort to find survivors. "We were able to rescue a man aged around 24 from the rubble. It took us 24 hours for this operation to save this man. He had been stuck under the rubble for about 40 hours." Damage has also been reported in neighboring Thailand, where authorities said at least 18 people had been killed and at least 78 missing, as search and rescue operations continue. And with the death toll in the region rising quickly, the United States Geological Survey estimates a 71 percent probability that the number of fatalities will exceed 10-thousand. In response to the earthquake, international organizations are emphasizing the need for urgent aid. According to AFP, the World Health Organization on Sunday declared the earthquake a top-level emergency and urgently requested 8 million U.S. dollars to save lives and prevent disease outbreaks over the next 30 days. Meanwhile, Myanmar's military junta is continuing airstrikes in the war-torn country with attacks on "insurgents" despite the earthquake. According to the BBC, at least seven people were killed in a strike just hours after the earthquake on Friday, with further attacks taking place over the weekend. The UN has called the attacks "completely outrageous and unacceptable." Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

Main blaze in massive wildfire in Sancheong contained after nearly 10 days

2025/03/31 10:00

It took almost 10 days, but the main blaze in Sancheong County has been finally contained. South Korea's worst wildfires in history resulted in at least 30 deaths. Lee Seung-jae leads us this morning. The massive wildfire that began in Sancheong County in Gyeongsangnam-do Province and spread through nearby regions, causing the worst wildfires in South Korea's history has been fully contained. According to forestry officials, the main fires were contained as of 1 PM Sunday, nearly 10 days after the initial blaze broke out on March 21. "There were dangerous situations due to falling rocks and rocky terrain, but it seems they overcame it well and prevented further spread of fires." The wildfires in regions of the Gyeongsangnam-do Province, saw an estimated 1-thousand-858 hectares of woodland burnt, equivalent to around 26-hundred football fields. The fires in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province saw about 48-thousand hectares of woodland affected, equivalent to 80 percent of the size of Seoul. At least 30 people died, including 26 in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. More than three thousand houses were completely burned down, and significant damage was also reported to 30 national heritage sites and 2-thousand agricultural facilities. In order to extinguish the remaining fires, the military deployed 600 soldiers and 49 helicopters on Sunday, and is also providing medical and other assistance. The government will now focus on helping those that have been affected by the massive wildfires. This includes providing temporary housing and other assistance for those who have been displaced. Also, the government will provide livelihood support, including lowering fees for health insurance premiums, and costs for cell phone and internet and medical aid. Since the outbreak of the wildfires, approximately 10-thousand volunteers have participated in recovery and support for the displaced. The government also announced on Sunday that it will push for a supplementary budget worth ten trillion won, or 6-point-8 billion U.S. dollars, which would also include budget for wildfire recovery. Some 37 million dollars were also donated to disaster relief organizations in the hope that victims and the areas affected by the wildfires can recover quickly. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

[Weather] Cold snap eases this afternoon, high risk of fire

2025/03/31 10:00

We're starting off on a chilly note to wrap up March. Inland areas are feeling even chillier. However, temperatures will rise quickly this afternoon, bringing us back to seasonal norms in most places. The biggest concern today is the ongoing fire risk. The wildfire crisis alert level remains in the highest range nationwide. The air remains extremely dry, and strong westerly winds could make any small flame spread rapidly. We've already seen devastating wildfires in several regions, and with conditions like these, the risk remains dangerously high. Afternoon highs will be 2 to 8 degrees higher than yesterday, topping out at 14 degrees Celsius in Seoul, Gwangju and 15 degrees in Daegu under mostly sunny skies with decent air quality during the day. Welcome rain is in the forecast on Wednesday in the central region, Gyeongsangbuk-do and Jeollabuk-do provinces, which could help to ease dry conditions. For now, please stay alert, stay fire-safe, and take extra care outdoors.

Why DP leader's criminal court case matters as window for Constitutional Court verdict narrows

2025/03/29 12:00

This past week was a big one for politics in South Korea. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo made his return after the Constitutional Court rejected his impeachment following a motion made unilaterally by the main opposition three months ago. On top of that, the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, leader Lee Jae-myung's appeals ruling came out. We have our political correspondent, Kim Do-yeon to tell us more. Hello, Do-yeon. 1. First, Lee Jae-myung was found not guilty by an appeals court, and this shook up the nation's political scene. What can you tell us about this? That's right Dami, let me begin with what happened in court. The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea leader Lee Jae-myung, was acquitted by an appeals court on election violation charges. The Seoul High Court on Wednesday overturned a ruling by a lower court, which had handed Lee a suspended prison term. Lee was indicted on charges of making false statements in December 2021 during a media interview where he denied knowing the late Kim Moon-ki, an executive involved in a development scandal in Seongnam City where Lee previously served as mayor. He is also accused of having made false claims that there was pressure from South Korea's land ministry to rezone a research institute site in the Baekhyeon-dong area. The appellate court ruled that neither of the statements made by Lee can be seen as spreading false information, overturning the Seoul Central District Court's ruling in November. Take a listen to Lee Jae-myung on what he described as a 'proper ruling.' "I appreciate the court for delivering a proper ruling based on truth and justice. But it's frustrating that so much effort and national resources were spent on something so obvious." 2. We do know he is a political heavyweight, 이재명 대표가 정치 거물이라는 것은 알고 있지만, 이번 판결의 시점도 중요합니다. Could you give us more context? That's right. This is important to note because Lee Jae-myung is the favored candidate to be the next president. And, as we all know, there could be an early presidential election that will kick off within a matter of weeks if the Constitutional Court upholds President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment. Take a look at this most recent survey. According to a Gallup survey on 1,000 adults aged over 18 from last Tuesday to Thursday, DP leader Lee Jae-myung was the most favored candidate for the next presidency at 34 percent, followed by Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo at 8 percent , and former PPP leader Han Dong-hoon at 5 percent. Remember this survey was taking place as the ruling came out.. So, maybe respondents on Thursday were able to answer this survey with that in mind. But next week, it'll be clearer whether voters who had doubts over Lee Jae-myung due to his ongoing legal battles will have changed their minds. 3. But he isn't completely off the hook from these accusations. What about the Supreme Court's decision? That's right, the case can be taken to the Supreme Court, which would be the final and definite ruling. Now, since prosecutors lost the case at the appeals court, they are the ones who will have to appeal the case. Lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party are already calling for prosecutors to do so. If there is an appeal and if the Supreme Court overturns the decision to acquit Lee Jae-myung, Lee will lose his legislative seat and be barred from running for public office for the next five years. Here's the thing the Supreme Court has three months to make a ruling if prosecutors do appeal. That means even if the Constitutional Court decides to uphold President Yoon's impeachment within the next couple weeks a presidential election would be just 60 days away. This means theoretically speaking, DP Chair Lee Jae-myung could be the president before the Supreme Court rules on his case anyway which would pause the legal process. Article 84 of South Korea’s Constitution states that the president shall not be charged with a criminal offense which basic during his tenure of office, barring insurrection or treason. And it's all up to the Supreme Court's decision. "Even if the prosecutors speed up the appeal process and Lee Jae-myung doesn't purposely delay the legal process, the final issue at hand would be the will of the Supreme Court" 4. So where does Lee Jae-myung's trial fit into the picture when it comes to President Yoon's impeachment? It's certainly unrelated, but surely there must be some effect. Dami, you're absolutely right this is a criminal trial and Yoon's impeachment is a Constitutional Court trial and we're looking at the two most influential politicians of the nation. Before the ruling, the ruling People Power Party had a bit of confidence in the trial of course because of the first result of Lee being guilty. Many of them had accused Lee of purposefully delaying the trial process so the final result comes out after the possible presidential election. Now, that message won't carry as much weight. But all in all, both parties are calling for the Constitutional Court to quickly announce the date of the verdict as the continued vacancy in the nation's presidency only prolongs uncertainties. 5. So when will there be the ruling, do we know? Dami, this is already the longest presidential impeachment trial in the nation's history. While many guessed that the decision was likely to come in March, that ship has sailed. Now, one thing to note is that two Constitutional Court justices will retire on April 18th leaving a bench with only 6 justices. Therefore, it's highly likely that the Court will rule before then. Now, if we consider the fact that all previous presidential impeachment decisions came on Fridays that means there's a chance of it happening on April 4th or 11th, but as we've seen anything is possible. That was our Kim Do-yeon. Thank you.

Yoon's prolonged impeachment verdict raises early election tension

2025/03/28 20:00

The Constitutional Court kept its silence on Friday, likely meaning the month of March will pass without the ruling on President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment case. Our correspondent Oh Soo-young explains what's at stake. Suspense remains over President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment case, as the Constitutional Court deliberates for more than a month. As of Friday, 31 days have passed since Yoon's final trial hearing was held marking a record in terms of time taken by the Court, compared to previous presidential impeachment cases, which took at most 14 days. As the judicial bench typically gives advance notice of at least two working days before a ruling, the Court is now expected to issue its decision in April before two justices retire mid-month. With ambiguity over the when and what the verdict will be, there's growing tension brewing in political circles, as Yoon's impeachment would spark an early Presidential Election within two months. The opposition party is pushing for Yoon's swift removal, as their party leader Lee Jae-myung, is currently the pollster's favorite among presidential hopefuls. On Wednesday, Lee was acquitted in one of his five criminal trials, overturning a ruling by a lower court last year that handed Lee a one-year sentence and a two-year suspension from office for violating the election law. This cleared a major hurdle to gaining his party's full endorsement for the race. The ruling People Power Party had been hoping for the opposite result, leading to cries of foul against the justice system. There's now even greater pressure directed at the Constitutional Court. The opposition is calling for Yoon's immediate impeachment while the ruling party is demanding his return to power as in the case of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, whose impeachment case was dismissed on Monday. Public rallies also continue outside and around the Court. Recent polls indicate that 51 percent of voters want a change of government, while 37 percent wish to maintain the current administration. Those for and against impeachment also recorded around 58 percent and 37 percent, respectively. Underscoring how closely contested the political environment remains, the survey shows equal 36 percent support for the ruling and opposition parties, with the PPP gaining three percentage points compared to the previous week. As the Court's ruling stretches on, expectation for Yoon's impeachment was down by six percentage points from last week, while those expecting his return, hit 39 percent. Amid prolonged uncertainty, one thing remains clear: this is not merely a constitutional decision but a ruling that will inevitably carry significant political ramifications. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

S. Korean Navy holds naval gunfire exercises this week marking 10th West Sea Defense Day

2025/03/28 20:00

In light of the somber anniversary today, South Korea's Navy carried out a series of drills this week. Our defense correspondent Kim Bo-kyoung covers this year's West Sea Defense Day. Amidst a thin sea fog covering the West Sea, a simulated North Korean vessel crosses the Northern Limit Line on the West Sea moving southward, South Korean navy ships and personnel are ordered to deploy in combat formation for training. "Total personnel in combat formation, training, two, three!" Six naval ships lined up one after another. with the 3-thousand-600-ton frigate, the ROKS Chungnam at the front, fired guns targeting their simulated maritime target before maneuvering away in different directions. "This naval maneuver training in the West Sea is to mark the 10th West Sea Defense Day a day to remember those who lost their lives in a series of unprovoked attacks by the North near the Northern Limit Line." The day, falling on the fourth Friday of March every year, pays tribute to the 55 fallen sailors and marines from the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong in 2002, the sinking of ROKS Cheonan and the shelling of Yeonpyeong-do Island in 2010. In memorial of the fallen, the Navy conducted intensive maneuvering exercises for three days until Thursday, simultaneously on the East, West, and South Seas with some of the exercises open to the press. "The Navy will engrave the spirit of victory shown by the 55 warriors who defended the West Sea in our hearts, and if the enemy provokes again, we will strike back forcefully and firmly protect our seas." Since the military clashes with North Korea while defending the western maritime border, the South Korean Navy strengthened the combat power of its naval fleets, replacing outdated warships with new frigates equipped with advanced hybrid propulsion and sonar systems. "The ROKS Daejeon was built with our domestic defense technology, and it is especially a core frigate of the fleet with outstanding anti-submarine capabilities." With the patriotic spirit of the fallen in mind, the Navy vows to firmly safeguard the waters, even today. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.

Main fires of Gyeongsangbuk-do Province wildfires contained: Korea Forest Service

2025/03/28 20:00

The massive wildfires in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province have finally been put out. Authorities say the main fire, which started in Uiseong-gun county, is now extinguished. It's been a tough battle during the past seven days. Shin Ha-young has our top story. A week after wildfires broke out in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, authorities declared that the main blazes in the region were contained as improved visibility and cooler temperatures from overnight rain helped firefighters put out the main fires. The Korea Forest Service announced on Friday that the all main blazes in Andong City, Uiseong, Cheongsong, Yeongdeok, and Yeongyang-gun counties had been fully brought under control. "As of 5:00 PM on March 28, all the main fires in Uiseong, Andong, Cheongsong, and Yeongyang have been extinguished, starting with Yeongdeok at 2:30 PM." This comes after more than 5-thousand-500 personnel and 89 firefighting helicopters were deployed on Friday to fully contain the wildfire in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. By midday on Friday, the overall containment rate across the region had reached 94 percent, a 32-percentage-point increase from the previous afternoon. No additional casualties have been reported as of Friday evening. According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, as of 6AM, the wildfires had killed at least 28 and injured 37 others nationwide. The disaster has displaced around 33-thousand residents, with more than 8-thousand still unable to return home. Nearly 3-thousand-5-hundred structures were damaged. "I saw the flames approaching my house—everything was glowing red. I grabbed what I could and ran When I came back, it was all gone. The fire was still burning." The wildfire is the largest in South Korea’s history, burning approximately 4-hundred 80 square kilometers—nearly 80 percent the size of Seoul. With the main fires contained, the Korea Forest Service said efforts will now focus on extinguishing any remaining embers. It has also set the period until mid-May as the spring wildfire prevention and response period. It emphasized that, while the risk of more wildfires remains, it will stay vigilant and continue its full efforts to prevent and respond to them. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

[Weather] Chilly conditions this weekend, dry weather continues

2025/03/28 20:00

It felt much chillier this morning with Seoul plunging to just 3-point-7 degrees Celsius, which was about 10 degrees lower than yesterday morning. Temperatures will plummet further than usual this weekend with Seoul only rising to 8 degrees during the day. The dry weather warning, which was issued for the east coast of Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, has been relieved to an advisory, but the dry weather warnings and advisories are still in place in many regions. With strong wind advisories issued as well, please take extra precautions not to cause any fires. Tomorrow, Seoul, Gwangju and Gyeongju will start off at 1 degree and Daegu 3 degrees. Highs will move up to around 10 degrees across the country. There is rain or snow forecast with around 5 millimeters in Seoul, eastern parts of Gyeonggi-do Province, and western parts of Gangwon-do Province tomorrow afternoon. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

7.7 magnitude quake hits Myanmar and Thailand

2025/03/28 20:00

A seven-point-seven magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on Friday, also causing damage in neighboring Thailand's capital city of Bangkok. At least 20 people were confirmed killed in Myanmar, and three in Thailand but the death toll is feared to rise into the hundreds. States of emergency have been declared in both countries. The United States Geological Survey said the quake had a shallow depth of about 6 miles. Tremors were also felt in China's Yunnan province.

Putin seeks to work with other countries, N. Korea to settle war in Ukraine

2025/03/28 20:00

Russia's Vladimir Putin has spoken of cooperating with North Korea to end its war in Ukraine. Bae Eun-ji covers this latest comment and more. As U.S. President Donald Trump seeks to broker an end to the three-year war in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested that countries other than the United States could be involved in the peace process, specifically mentioning North Korea. Speaking about efforts to settle the war during his visit to Russia's northwestern port of Murmansk on Friday, some of the other countries he named were China, India, Brazil, South Africa, and the member states of BRICS. The Russian leader also proposed the idea of putting Ukraine under a form of "temporary administration" of the United Nations, as part of a peace deal, for new elections and the signing of key accords with the aim of reaching a settlement. "We could discuss under the auspices of the UN, with the U.S., with European countries, and of course with our partners and friends, the possibility of conducting temporary governance in Ukraine." Putin's comments come a day after a senior Russian diplomat reportedly said they're preparing for Kim Jong-un's visit to the country. According to Russia's Tass news agency, Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko said Thursday that this was discussed during his visit to Pyongyang two weeks ago without providing details on when the visit might take place. Just last week, Putin's top security adviser Sergei Shoigu met Kim in Pyongyang where the two sides reaffirmed their willingness to "unconditionally" uphold a major mutual defense treaty signed last year that pledges mutual assistance if either faces aggression. Eyes are now on whether the North Korean leader's visit to Russia will take place within this year, with some experts even saying that it could happen as early as May, on the 80th anniversary of Russia's "Victory Day," which marks the Soviet Union's triumph over Nazi Germany in World War Two. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.

Tariff war heats up with Canada vowing retaliation over Trump's car tariffs

2025/03/28 20:00

America's major trade partners Canada and Mexico have been among the first to respond to the Trump administration's new tariff plan on foreign-made cars and their reactions stood poles apart. Lee Seung-jae has more. Earlier this week, President Donald Trump signed off on 25-percent tariffs on all cars and auto parts imported into the United States. In response, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called it a "direct attack" on his country, and vowed to respond to Trump's latest tariff policy. "President Trump announced 25% tariffs against our auto industry. And this is a direct attack, to be clear, a direct attack on the very workers that I stood in front of, UNIFOR workers We've announced, of course, retaliatory tariffs. We have other options for those retaliatory tariffs. I have asked for a meeting, I will convene rather, a meeting of the Canada U.S. cabinet tomorrow to discuss our trade options." Carney said that Canada's long-time bilateral relationship with the U.S., involving the economy, security, and military cooperation, "is over." Instead,.. he vowed Canada would respond with retaliatory tariffs that will have "maximum impact" on the U.S. On the other side of the U.S. border, Mexico is negotiating for an exemption for its critical auto industry. Speaking from Washington after holding talks with U.S. officials, Mexico's economy minister, Marcelo Ebrard, said negotiation talks are ongoing to ensure that Mexico gets preferential treatment. The minister said that with the recent tariff policies of the U.S. administration, Mexico must protect jobs and economic activity in the country. While Mexico is seeking a more peaceful approach to Trump's tariff policies, both Canada and the European Union have been looking to fight the U.S. president's tariffs. In response, Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social on Thursday and said that larger tariffs could be placed on the EU and Canada,, if they work jointly to "do economic harm to the USA." While the EU delayed its first set of retaliatory tariffs, including a 50-percent tariff on U.S. bourbon, Trump threatened to impose a 200-percent tariff on all wines and other alcoholic products from the EU if the bloc went ahead with tariffs. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

U.S. offers condolences for victims of S. Korea's wildfires, says USFK is ready to provide assistance

2025/03/28 20:00

In related news. The United States has vowed to provide full support, while sending condolences for the people who've lost their lives. The State Department released a statement on Thursday, local time, saying it offers sincere condolences to the Korean people,.. adding that it mourns the loss of the brave firefighters and many others who have died. It said the U.S. Forces Korea stands ready to provide assistance to help combat the fires and support the affected communities. It also added "America stands with its ally during this difficult time," noting that the country has not forgotten Korea's unwavering support during the wildfires in Los Angeles and Hawaii.

[Weather] Chilly conditions this weekend, dry weather continues

2025/03/28 17:00

With cold air coming down from the northwest since last night, the temperature in Seoul this morning was just 3-point-7 degrees Celsius, which was about 10 degrees lower than yesterday morning. Temperatures will be lower than usual this weekend with Seoul only rising to 8 degrees during the day. The dry weather warning, which was issued for the east coast of Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, has been eased to an advisory, but the dry weather warnings and advisories are still in place in many areas. Also, there are strong wind advisories in place as well, so please take extra precautions to avoid starting any fires. Tomorrow, Seoul, Gwangju and Gyeongju will start off at 1 degree and Busan at 4 degrees. Highs will move up to around 10 degrees across the country. There is rain or snow forecast for Seoul, eastern parts of Gyeonggi-do Province, and western parts of Gangwon-do Province tomorrow afternoon. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

World News: Marco Rubio says U.S. revoked at least 300 students' visas for pro-Palestinian activities

2025/03/28 17:00

This is the World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. The U.S. government has intensified its crackdown on foreign students involved in anti-Israel pro-Palestinian activities leading to the revocation of visas and the detention of students. On Thursday local time, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the State Department has revoked the visas of over 300 foreign students. The action is part of the Trump administration's broader initiative to identify and expel individuals who are believed to be supportive of Hamas. Rubio told reporters on a visit to Guyana, "Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visas." Among those affected is Rumeysa Ozturk, a 30-year-old Turkish national and Ph.D. student at Tufts University who was apprehended on Tuesday. The Department of Homeland Security alleges that Ozturk engaged in activities supporting Hamas, though specific evidence has not been disclosed. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said U.S. President Donald Trump's renewed interest in acquiring Greenland was "serious." At the International Arctic Forum in Murmansk on Thursday, Putin stated the U.S. had a longstanding interest in the mineral-rich territory. He said that while the Greenland issue does not directly involve Russia, the U.S. plans "have old historical origins" and aren't just "extravagant talks." Meanwhile, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has reiterated that Greenland is not for sale and reaffirmed Denmark's commitment to supporting Greenland's autonomy. Also, referring to U.S. Vice President JD Vance's planned visit to the U.S. military base in Greenland, she stated, "The visit is clearly not about what Greenland needs or wants." In Egypt, six Russian tourists died on Thursday when a sightseeing submarine sank off the coast of the city of Hurghada. Others have been successfully saved, with some sustaining injuries. The vessel, named Sindbad, was carrying 45 tourists from various countries, including India and Sweden, along with five Egyptian crew members. The incident occurred approximately 1,000 meters offshore during a routine underwater tour of the Red Sea's coral reefs, where the recreational submarine dived to depths of 20 to 25 meters to showcase the marine life. The cause of the sinking is still under investigation. Finally, Art Basel Hong Kong 2025 opened to the public on Friday, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center, featuring 240 galleries from 42 countries. An off-site art installation has also been created at a high-end shopping center near the official show venue. The fair showcases a diverse range of artistic practices, including performance and digital art, with over half of the participating galleries originating from the Asia-Pacific region. Art Basel 2025, the largest and most prestigious event in the Asia Pacific region, will run from March 28 to 30. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.

Slow-aging diet: How young people in S. Korea eat to stay "young"

2025/03/28 17:00

Aging is a natural process that cannot be defied but some believe it can be delayed by eating light and right as a growing number of young Koreans are choosing to do. Our Park Kun-woo files this report. At around midday, people rush to grab their lunch from their favorite spots. What's catching a lot of attention is how many young people are opting for healthier choices. One of their go-to picks? Fresh salads packed with a variety of vegetables and nuts. "I used to eat a lot of high-calorie junk food which made digestion difficult and affected my studies. Since cutting back, I feel less bloated in the mornings and don't get as tired after meals." Healthy eating is no longer just a concern for older generations. "I think that your health starts on the inside and it doesn't matter if your skin looks good. It should be a little bit more active starting younger and also focus on what you're eating." The "slow-aging" trend, which focuses on eating certain foods to slow down physical aging, became a boom in South Korea after it went viral on social media last year. And more and more people from the younger generation are joining in. "Many young people began seeing others on social media embrace a healthier, more vibrant lifestyle that slows down aging, which seemed beneficial and inspiring enough to follow." As the trend grows, young people are even taking charge of their health by preparing "slow-aging diet" meals themselves. These meals they prepare involve cutting out simple sugars, refined grains, and unhealthy fats, while focusing on slow-digesting carbs like whole grains and veggies that can also prevent blood sugar spikes. "So today I tried making a meal, packed with vegetables and fruits like carrots and apples, as part of a slow-aging diet. As it tasted so good, I've also decided to eat like this more often and track my meals as part of a healthy routine." Many are even sharing their slow-aging meals and recipes online, inspiring others to follow suit. However, an expert warns against extreme eating habits. "Health is maintained through a balanced diet. While slow-aging meals are beneficial, they can also become too one-sided. And you need to maintain a balanced diet in long term, not just for a year or two before going off track." She added that occasional cheat days can be necessary for satisfaction and that she expects the slow-aging trend will evolve through a balanced approach, where combining the slow-aging diet with cheat days creates a harmonious lifestyle. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

Number of outbound int'l flights from Korea to exceed pre-COVID levels this summer

2025/03/28 17:00

Some 4-thousand-8-hundred flights will head overseas each week from South Korean airports this summer well beyond pre-pandemic numbers. This is according to the Transport Ministry on this Friday having finalized its summer flight timetable. More specifically come March 30th to October 25th 4-thousand-7-hundred-83 flights will head overseas per week on 2-hundred-46 routes. This marks a 3-point-6 percent rise from 2019 before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tariff war heats up with Canada vowing retaliation over Trump's car tariffs

2025/03/28 17:00

America's biggest trade partners Canada and Mexico have been among the first to respond to the Trump administration's latest tariff plan of a 25-percent import duty on foreign-made cars AND their reactions stand poles apart. Lee Seung-jae reports. Earlier this week, President Donald Trump signed off on 25-percent tariffs on all cars and auto parts imported into the United States. In response, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called it a "direct attack" on his country, and vowed to respond to Trump's latest tariff policy. "President Trump announced 25% tariffs against our auto industry. And this is a direct attack, to be clear, a direct attack on the very workers that I stood in front of, UNIFOR workers We've announced, of course, retaliatory tariffs. We have other options for those retaliatory tariffs. I have asked for a meeting, I will convene rather, a meeting of the Canada U.S. cabinet tomorrow to discuss our trade options." Carney said that Canada's long-time bilateral relationship with the U.S., involving the economy, security, and military cooperation, "is over." Instead,.. he vowed Canada would respond with retaliatory tariffs that will have "maximum impact" on the U.S. On the other side of the U.S. border, Mexico is negotiating for an exemption for its critical auto industry. Speaking from Washington after holding talks with U.S. officials, Mexico's economy minister, Marcelo Ebrard, said negotiation talks are ongoing to ensure that Mexico gets preferential treatment. The minister said that with the recent tariff policies of the U.S. administration, Mexico must protect jobs and economic activity in the country. While Mexico is seeking a more peaceful approach to Trump's tariff policies, both Canada and the European Union have been looking to fight the U.S. president's tariffs. In response, Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social on Thursday and said that larger tariffs could be placed on the EU and Canada,, if they work jointly to "do economic harm to the USA." While the EU delayed its first set of retaliatory tariffs, including a 50-percent tariff on U.S. bourbon, Trump threatened to impose a 200-percent tariff on all wines and other alcoholic products from the EU if the bloc went ahead with tariffs. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Newly declassified documents reveal N. Korean embassies dismissed Kim Il-sung’s death as “fabrication"

2025/03/28 17:00

Recently declassified documents from 1994 share the disbelief of North Korean embassies worldwide following the death of then-North Korean leader Kim Il-sung . Several North Korean diplomatic missions were either unaware of or chose to dismiss as "fabrication" news of his passing. North Korean staff members at embassies in Germany Senegal Vietnam and Indonesia initially voiced confusion while some denied the news until Pyongyang's official announcement.

Acting Pres. Han vows immediate, overwhelming response to any N. Korean provocations

2025/03/28 17:00

Acting President Han Duck-soo has pledged an immediate and overwhelming response to any North Korean provocation. The pledge came at today's official ceremony to mark the 10th West Sea Defense Day. Referring to North Korea as "the most regressive regime in the world" Han asserted that Pyongyang continues to threaten peace on the peninsula and beyond. He also vowed unwavering support for South Korea's fallen heroes injured service members and bereaved family members.

Majority of medical students from Seoul, Yonsei, Korea Uni. to register for this semester

2025/03/28 17:00

Medical students at some of Korea's top universities are looking to end their boycott of classes that had been fueled by government plans to raise medical school admission quotas. According to a task force at Seoul National University on Thursday medical students had been asked to register for classes by 5 p.m. on the same day as over 65 percent voted against prolonging the boycott. Meanwhile students at Yonsei University and Korea University have until today that is Friday to register for classes or face expulsion. It's been said over 80 percent had voiced intentions to return to classes. Separately acting President Han Duck-soo sent a letter to protesting medical students urging their return.