News

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

2025/03/28 10:00

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.

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

2025/03/28 10:00

Nearly 48-hundred outbound international flights will be operated per week at domestic airports this summer, exceeding pre-COVID levels. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on Friday that it has finalized the summer flight operation schedule, as requested by domestic and foreign airlines. From March 30th to October 25th, 4-thousand-783 outbound international flights will operate per week on 246 routes. This marks a 5-point-6 percent increase from the summer of 2024. It also marks a 3-point-6 percent increase from 2019 before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On-point: President Yoon's impeachment ruling likely to happen in April

2025/03/28 10:00

Time is ticking for the court to make its final call on President Yoon as the nation's leader. And as reported by our Oh Soo-young, the big day will likely come in April. We turn to Professor Paik Eun-seok for more. Good to have you back, Professor Paik. 1. It's still possible the court will publicize a date today, right? If yes, in the morning? In the afternoon? In that case, when next week do you think the ruling day will be announced? 2. If the court decides not to announce a ruling date again today, we have to wait until the following week yet again. With by-elections set for April 2nd, next Wednesday, some say the verdict may come on Thursday or Friday. What's your take on it? 3. But what's widely expected is that things will wrap up before April 18th, when two of the 8 Constitutional Court justices retire. What happens if the two justices retire before the final verdict is delivered? 4. Prime Minister and acting President Han Duck-soo is under great pressure to appoint justice nominee Ma Eun-hyuk ever since Han returned to office. Will Yoon's impeachment ruling be delayed if Ma is appointed? By how much? 5. But the question is: will Han appoint Ma? Eventually? When will he appoint him? Thanks so much for sharing your insight with us this morning. Have a great one.

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

2025/03/28 10:00

Today marks the 10th West Sea Defense Day, a day remembering the heroes lost during military clashes near the de facto inter-Korean maritime border in the West Sea. South Korea's Navy held intensive drills this week to honor the day. Correspondent Kim Bo-kyoung was there. 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.

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

2025/03/28 10:00

Countries around the world are quickly mapping out their own plans to cope with Trump's 25% auto tariffs. Canada warns it'll respond with reciprocal tariffs. 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.

Yoon's prolonged impeachment verdict raises early election tension

2025/03/28 10:00

It seems the month of March will pass without the Constitutional Court ruling on President Yoon's impeachment case. The political stakes are higher than ever, after opposition leader Lee Jae-myung was cleared in a criminal case, boosting his chances for a potential presidential run. Oh Soo-young reports. 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.

Golden Window Today: Uiseong wildfires hit crucial turning point with 85% containment

2025/03/28 10:00

Our top story this morning. The wildfires in the southern Gyeongsang-do provinces are still spreading, with reports now indicating this could be the worst wildfire disaster on record. We turn to our Kim Jung-sil on the line. Jung-sil, can you give us a breakdown of the situation? How severe is the damage at this point? Dami. It's devastating wildfires that began simultaneously from last weekend have already claimed dozens of lives. As of this morning, the confirmed death toll stands at 28, with at least 37 others injured. The latest confirmed death was reported yesterday afternoon in Cheongsong, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, where an 80-year-old woman who had been missing was found dead in a collapsed house caused by the fire. Many of the victims were elderly, aged between 60 and 80. Unfortunately, these individuals either couldn't escape the rapidly spreading flames in time or died while attempting to evacuate from their homes or nursing homes. The Korea Forest Service said just about an hour ago that it is aiming to completely extinguish the main fire in 6 cities and counties in the region within the day. Minister Lim Sang-seop stated that an astonishing 45,000 hectares are affected by the wildfire an area larger than 70% of Seoul making it potentially the largest wildfire disaster in the country’s history. Over 2,600 structures, including homes, temples, and cultural heritage sites, have been reported damaged. Around 37,000 people have been evacuated, and 8,500 of them still cannot return home. That's truly devastating. Now, let's shift focus to the firefighting efforts. I'm afraid to say the rainfall in the area last night didn't do much in containing the fire? Dami, you're right some rain did fall, and it was a blessing for the firefighters. Take a look at this map: Uiseong-gun and neighboring regions, where the fire spread with the prevailing winds, along with Sancheong-gun in Gyeongsangnam-do, are still battling the flames. The average containment rate of the Uiseong wildfires is around 85%, with Uiseong itself at 95%. Officials are aiming for full extinguishment by the end of the day. It's a crucial moment, with progress made overnight, and authorities hopeful for full containment due to calmer winds and yesterday's rain. Due to the severity of the damage, the government has recently designated these affected areas as Special Disaster Zones. This designation ensures that significant resources will be allocated for relief and recovery efforts. Now, let's look at the areas where fires have been fully contained. Thanks to yesterday's much-needed rain, large fires in Ulsan, Muju, as well as Gimhae and Okcheon were successfully put out as of late last night. Thanks to yesterday's humidity and progress in containment efforts, this could mark a critical window to fully control the fires, with authorities focused on achieving complete containment by the end of the day. Thank you Jung-sil, for that update.

[Weather] Fire risk continues with spring cold

2025/03/28 10:00

We did get some rain, but it wasn't nearly enough to ease the dry conditions, especially across the Gyeongsang-do region, where dry weather alerts remain in place. And today, strong winds will be another big concern places like Chungcheongnam-do's west coast, the Jeolla-do region and Jeju are already under strong wind advisories. Meanwhile, we do have some rain falling along the east coast and Jeju this morning, with up to 5 millimeters of rain in store and snow in the mountains of Gangwon-do. It's feeling much colder today; afternoon highs will be 2 to 15 degrees lower this afternoon. Spring cold is here to stay through the weekend. And this afternoon, Seoul gets up to 12 degrees, Daegu and Busan make it to 15 degrees under sunny skies with improved air quality in most parts. After some spotty rain in the capital and Gangwon-do tomorrow, it's back to dry and sunny conditions for the time being. With these dry and windy conditions, the fire risk remains very high, so please be extra cautious with any open flames.

Art Basel in Hong Kong kicks off

2025/03/28 10:00

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.

Six killed off Egypt's Red Sea after tourist submarine sinks

2025/03/28 10:00

Over 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.

Putin says U.S. is serious about Greenland

2025/03/28 10:00

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."

[Weather] Temperatures will drop tomorrow, colder conditions during weekend

2025/03/27 20:00

Rain fell all over the country today, which is something we have been waiting for. But in Gyeongsang-do provinces, where severe wildfires have been burning, less than 5 millimeters of rain fell. It was not enough to put out the fires. With only a small amount of rain, dry weather warnings and advisories remain in many areas. Cold air will rush from the northwest from tonight cooling down the temperatures across the country. The temperatures will drop tomorrow with Seoul plummeting to 3 degrees Celsius in the morning, which will be about 10 degrees lower than today. Daytime temperatures will drop sharply to single digits this weekend. Tomorrow morning, Seoul, Chuncheon, and Gyeongju will start off at 3 degrees. Daegu and Jeju at 8 degrees. Daytime temperatures will move up to 11 degrees in Gwangju, 14 degrees in Daegu. Chilly conditions are expected with Seoul plunging to zero to 1 degree in the morning. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

Seoul International Sports and Leisure Industry Show 2025: New era for S. Korea's sports technology industry

2025/03/27 20:00

Seoul is hosting an exhibition aimed at giving you a glimpse of the latest in the leisure and sports industry. Our Choi Soo-hyung reports. People exercise without getting bored by playing games. A smartwatch-style wearable device with an optical sensor helps maximize the effectiveness of workouts. Under a new era of smart fitness, the Seoul International Sports and Leisure Industry Show 2025 opened on Thursday at COEX in Seoul. Marking its 25th year, this year's event features around 320 Korean and international companies, showcasing various products and technologies in fitness, sportswear, extreme sports, and the future of the sports industry. This year, the focus is "Sport-tech," combining sports with smart devices. "In the sports industry, Korea's advanced technology is emerging in the "sport-tech" sector. Overseas buyers are increasingly seeking tech-integrated products. The ability to analyze body types and suggest personalized exercise plans using AI is gaining attention." By using robots, people can strengthen specific parts of their body, such as their core muscles. In addition to muscle-strengthening exercises, advanced devices are also available to help improve body balance and maintain a well-proportioned shape. Artificial Intelligence screens and equipment also provide personalized workout services. "Some people suffer from pain, while others aim to lose weight—each person has different goals and motivations. Unlike traditional approaches applied to a single concept, we use AI models to analyze individual needs and provide personalized solutions." One of the hosts of the event, the Korea International Trade Association, set up an export booth to help Korean companies expand overseas. "The South Korean sports technology industry has grown over the past few decades and is now gaining significant attention worldwide." Especially in Southeast Asia, foreign companies say Korean culture is familiar, and its sports and leisure products are trendy and creative. "Korean brands have been, you know, very, very prominent in the past years You know, we have a lot of them around in Manila. So that's why we're looking to the Korean brands, right? Because they are very trendy, right they are innovative." SPOEX 2025 will run until Sunday, March 30th. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.

Latest gov't insights on N. Korea: Pyongyang deepens Russia ties, seeks to restore China relations

2025/03/27 20:00

In other news. South Korea believes North Korea has been reliant on Russia for strategic support and may seek China for economic stability this year. Our Unification Ministry Correspondent Kim Jung-sil explains. South Korea's latest intelligence points to a North Korea in transition—militarily assertive abroad, yet economically fragile and socially strained at home. According to the Ministry of Unification on Thursday, North Korea appears to be emerging from its pandemic-era slump—but signs of recovery remain limited. Experts say progress in the 20x10 campaign to build a new factory each year in 20 provinces has been largely symbolic with many of the new factories sitting idle. And for ordinary residents, daily hardship is deepening. Food prices are rising, the currency is weakening, and Chinese imports continue to decline. To sustain construction drives, Pyongyang is mobilizing housewives and soldiers Former soldiers who defected say some troops worked on as little as four hours of sleep, with compensation for their deaths as low as 70 U.S. dollars. Officials in Seoul say economic pressure could be accelerating Pyongyang's diplomatic pivot—starting with Russia. Since August 2023, Kim Jong-un has referred to Russian President Vladimir Putin as a "comrade"—a title previously reserved for four socialist allies: China, Vietnam, Laos, and Cuba. "In socialist countries, the term 'comrade' is typically used to convey not just familiarity, but also a deeper emotional and ideological bond. It can be seen as an indirect way of signaling a relationship as close as a blood alliance." That symbolic shift reflects Pyongyang's deepening alignment with Moscow—while ties with Beijing remain far more cautious. Though tourism resumed and Chinese media returned to Pyongyang this year, North Korea has held nearly six times more high-level exchanges with Russia than with China since mid-2023. Analysts say the regime is hedging its options—leaning on Moscow for strategic support, while carefully looking to Beijing to stabilize its economy. This year also marks key anniversaries for North Korea, China, and Russia. Analysts say how these regimes coordinate upcoming events could reveal the future direction of their trilateral ties. Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.

Trade ministers of S. Korea, China, Japan to hold trilateral talks for first time in 5 years

2025/03/27 20:00

The trade ministers of South Korea, China, and Japan will convene in Seoul for their first trilateral talks in over five years. Set for Sunday, the meeting will focus on key economic issues, including negotiations for a trilateral free trade agreement, the expansion of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, 그리고 공급망 안정화 노력 등이 있습니다. Attention is also on how they will navigate discussions amid growing protectionist trade policies. A series of bilateral meetings are also planned alongside the trilateral talks.

Netanyahu threatens to seize territory; Gaza sees mass anti-Hamas protests

2025/03/27 20:00

Amid renewed instability in the Middle East, Israel's leader now warns of seizing territory in Gaza while hundreds of Palestinians were out on the streets against Hamas, calling for the end of the war. Byeon Ye-young covers this latest development. Israel has pledged to increase military pressure until Hamas releases the remaining 59 hostages. In a parliamentary address on Wednesday, local time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel may seize parts of Gaza as part of its military pressure campaign. "The fighting in Gaza continues. The more Hamas persists in its refusal to release our hostages, the more powerful the pressure we will exert. And I say to Hamas -this includes seizing territory, and this includes other things that I will not list here." Israel resumed military operations in Gaza last Tuesday. According to the spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary-General, 142 thousand people were displaced in just one week. At the daily UN press briefing on Wednesday, the spokesperson said that Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warned that everything in Gaza was running out: supplies, time and life. Meanwhile in Gaza, hundreds of Palestinians gathered in the streets of Beit Lahia in the largest anti-Hamas protests since the beginning of the war. For two days straight since Tuesday, protesters took to the streets to demand an end to the war and showed defiance against Hamas' governance, chanting "Out, out, Hamas, out" and "we want to live". "We want to live in peace, we are tired, I raised my son for fifteen years only for him to be gone now (meaning dead), I built my house for ten years and then what? gone? We want to live." Hamas official Basem Naim said on social media that people have the right "to cry out in pain", but suggested the anger should be directed towards Israel. Byeon Ye-young, Arirang News.

[Econ & Biz] What Trump's April 2 tariffs mean for S. Korea amid its leadership vacuum

2025/03/27 20:00

On top of Trump's new tariffs that are set to take effect a week later,. the American leader has made it official to impose 25-percent tariffs on car imports to the U.S. We delve into its potential impact on businesses here in Korea. Our correspondent Lee Soo-jin is here in the studio. Soo-jin, what can we expect the tariffs to look like for Korea? Not all of the key details have been revealed as of yet, but it's growing more likely that South Korea will be significantly impacted by the tariffs. U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday local time that he would impose 25 percent tariffs on foreign-made cars and auto parts, set to take effect on April 2nd, with the U.S. beginning to collect the duties the following day. The tariff plan will inevitably significantly impact South Korea, as automobiles are the country's top export item to the U.S. Amounting to 34-billion U.S. dollars last year and accounting for more than 49-percent of the total automobile exports. Here's how the tariffs will impact Korea's auto industry, according to an expert. "This auto tariff will have a major impact on South Korea, as automobiles are a key export. But since it applies to all imported cars, other global automakers will also be affected. The bigger concern is the reciprocal tariffs set for early April, potentially adding further costs for South Korean automakers." Reciprocal tariffs are set to be announced on April 2nd,.. when the Trump administration is expected to assign each country a reciprocal tariff "number" that corresponds to tariffs and other trade barriers on U.S. products. Just last week, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent cited 15 nations, which he called the "Dirty 15," for imposing high tariffs on the U.S. While he did not clarify which nations, Trump has previously singled out South Korea for its trade surplus with the U.S. Let's take a listen to what an expert said was the reason behind South Korea's rise in export share to the U.S. "Since the pandemic, the United States was the virtually the only major country which had very strong demand so exports to the U.S. rose especially for manufactured durable goods. Korea was not one of the top ten countries which had trade surplus with the United States but now it's ranked eighth so that kind of change puts Korea in Trump's target range." What's being done on the corporate front as to U.S. tariffs? The private sector has been working tirelessly to protect South Korea's trade interests. On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he "may give a lot of countries breaks" on the reciprocal tariffs. This comes as Trump met with Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chairman Chung Eui-sun at the White House on Monday. There, Chung announced that South Korea's largest automaker will be investing 21 billion dollars in the United States through 2028. And the investment will give Hyundai Motor Group a pass from Trump's tariff policies. Let's take a listen. "Hyundai will be producing steel in America and making its cars in America. And as a result, they'll not have to pay any tariffs. You know, there are no tariffs if you make your product in America." This has raised speculation about further U.S. investment by major chip firms like Samsung Electronics and SK hynix. POSCO announced that it's considering investing in the U.S. upstream process, the initial stage of steel production. And according to an expert, here's how these investments may influence Trump's tariff decisions. "With reciprocal tariffs varying by country and product, Hyundai Motor's investment is expected to benefit South Korea overall. If Korean firms face the same tariffs as their global competitors, there would ultimately be no competitive disadvantage." How are the authorities responding? With tariff developments continuously unfolding, the government has been actively working to mitigate their impact on South Korean industries. In response to the auto tariff announcement, Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun held an emergency meeting on Thursday where he said that the government will prepare a plan for the auto industry that will be unveiled sometime in April. And it comes amid Alaska governor Mike Dunleavy's visit to Korea, where he urged Korean investment in Alaska's 44 billion dollar LNG project, a move seen as a way to narrow the U.S. trade deficit with South Korea. But a major variable in the government response is the result of the ongoing impeachment trial. Let's take a listen. "If upheld, the impeachment will bring new leadership and a clearer political stance. If dismissed, the current government, with three years of experience, will continue. Either way, a swift trial decision is crucial to reducing trade uncertainty." All right,.. we'll continue monitoring developments from both the U.S. and South Korea. Thank you for your report, Soo-jin. Thank you for having me.

Wildfire spreads to Jirisan Mountain, national treasures evacuated

2025/03/27 20:00

And the devastating wildfires are putting the nation's cultural assets at risk, too, having destroyed an ancient temple dating back over 13-hundred years. Lee Seung-jae takes a look. The wildfires raging in Sancheong-gun, and Hadong-gun counties have now spread to the Jirisan National Park. Jirisan National Park is considered a sacred mountain to the people of Korea, and was the first national park in the country. Forestry officials have made every effort to prevent the further spreading of the wildfire at the national park by spraying fire retardants and mobilizing helicopters. Residents and livestock are being evacuated from the area, and major cultural heritage items, including national treasures, are also being moved to safety. By Wednesday, the Korea Heritage Service said it had moved 15 historic pieces to safety from areas affected by wildfires. Among them are 10 national treasures, including a seated stone Buddha statue from the now-destroyed Gounsa Temple in Uiseong. 15 national heritage items have been destroyed by wildfires, including 11 designated as national heritage and 4 as provincial heritage. While items can be moved to safety more freely, sites such as temples are impossible to move. This has led to historically important temples like Gounsa Temple being damaged. "This temple is an important and historic temple where many masters and believers have been practicing and receiving comfort for over 1,300 years. It is a place of comfort for many people, but I am very afraid that it may disappear." The Korea Heritage Service, on Tuesday, issued the highest national heritage disaster alert level. In the four-tier alert system, the KHS issued the "serious" level for the first time ever. The KHS explained that the highest alert level was issued due to the very high risk of damage to the national heritage items and sites due to the rapidly spreading wildfires. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Live from Yeongyang-gun County: At least 27 dead, 32 injured in wildfires burning across S. Korea

2025/03/27 20:00

We begin with the latest on the worst wildfires in the southern regions of the country. For more on the situation on the ground, our reporter Song Yoo-jin joins us now. Yoo-jin, where are you, and what's the latest from there? Jung-min, I'm in Yeongyang-gun County in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, in the southern part of the country and one of the hardest-hit areas, where wildfires have been raging for several days now. The fire originally broke out in this particular region on Saturday in neighboring Uiseong-gun County. Since then, it has rapidly spread to Yeongyang and other areas nearby, as shown on the map. This province, Gyeongsangbuk-do, has the highest death toll with 23 lives lost, making it the deadliest of the multiple wildfires currently burning across the country. According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the nationwide total stands at 27 dead and 32 injured as of Thursday 4 PM, up one death and two injuries from the morning, which all came from Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. South Korea is now seeing the highest number of wildfire-related deaths in a single year since records began. The previous high was 26 deaths, back in 1989. In terms of scale, the devastation is also historic. So far, wildfires nationwide have scorched over 3-hundred-60 square kilometers, which is more than half the size of Seoul. I spoke to some local residents about the fire. Take a listen. "I could see the fire up on the mountains three days ago. The flames came here suddenly because the winds have been strong. Today, it's less windy, but when it is windy, it feels like the apocalypse." "It felt like helicopters were dropping fireballs because I could see fires here and then there. So I escaped in my car. I'm 72 and I've been living here since I was eight. I've never seen a fire like this in my lifetime." Yoo-jin, what are you learning about efforts to contain the flames? We hear conditions haven't made that easy. It's been non-stop for thousands of firefighters and rescue personnel working around the clock to control the fires. But it's been an uphill battle, largely due to extremely dry conditions and strong winds. Here in Gyeongsangbuk-do, the average containment rate of the five regions shown earlier on the map stood at 63-percent as of 5 PM, up almost 20-percent from our previous newscast. A few hours ago, Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo newly designated Gyeongsangbuk-do Province's Andong City, Cheongsong, Yeongdeok, and Yeongyang-gun counties as special disaster zones, allowing for a coordinated, pan-ministerial response focused on supporting victims and speeding up recovery efforts. There had been hope that rain today might help, but so far, the rainfall has been light and sporadic, and with little rain and strong winds in the forecast tomorrow. At this point, officials and residents are hoping the weather will shift in their favor soon. For tonight, the government will deploy around 3-thousand-7-hundred firefighting personnel to help increase the containment rate. That's all I have for this hour. Back to you, Jung-min. Thank you Yoo-jin. Hope you and your team there stay safe.

Despite Hyundai's major U.S. investment plan, Trump imposes 25% tariffs on imported cars

2025/03/27 20:30

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus, I'm Kim Mok-yeon. South Korea's Hyundai Motor Group on Monday announced a sweeping 21 billion dollar investment in the United States, including a new 5 billion dollar steel plant in Louisiana, through 2028. The plan includes investment for the automotive sector, the steel industry, and for future industries and the energy sector. "Hyundai Motors entered the U.S. in 1986. Since then, we have invested over 20 billion dollars and now support more than 570,000 American jobs across all 50 nation states. Today, I'm pleased to announce an additional 21 billion dollars in a new investment over the next four years. Our largest U.S. invest ever.” The announcement comes as U.S. President Donald Trump signals potential 25 percent tariffs on imported cars starting April 2nd and broadens trade pressure on countries with large U.S. trade surpluses. Calling Hyundai a truly great company, the U.S. President expressed excitement. “Hyundai will be producing steel in America and making its cars in America. And as a result, they'll not have to pay any tariffs. You know, there are no tariffs If you make your product in America.” Monday’s announcement made Hyundai the first South Korean company to unveil a major investment plan amid Trump’s tariff threats — raising cautious hopes it could help ease U.S. trade pressure on Seoul. For a deeper discussion on the latest developments, we invite Song Soo-young, Professor of Business and Economics at Chung-Ang University. Welcome. Also joining us from Texas is Hwagyun Kim, Professor of Banking and Finance at Texas A&M University's Mays Business School. Great to have you. 1. (Song) So Prof. Song, Hyundai Motors announced a massive 21 billion dollar-investment in major sectors including automobiles, parts, and steel throughout the next three years. What is the significance of Hyundai’s large-scale investment? And why did Chairman Chung Eui-sun specifically highlight steel plant construction as a core aspect of the investment? 2. (Kim) Regarding Chairman Chung’s investment announcement, President Trump emphasized that it “proves the effectiveness of the tariff policy.” What has been the local response? 3. (Song) Hyundai’s investment is seen as a bold move to directly counter the Trump administration’s tariff pressure. What lessons does this case offer to domestic companies and the government in terms of resolving tariff-related issues? 4. (Kim) However, Hyundai Motor has only avoided the tariff pressure for its vehicles produced locally in the U.S. Since President Trump has announced that 25% tariffs will be imposed on all imported cars starting April 2nd, what kind of countermeasures should be considered in response? 5. (Song) Following Hyundai, will major Korean companies like Samsung Electronics and SK hynix also accelerate investments in the U.S.? Given the uncertainty around receiving subsidies under the Biden administration’s investment terms, further investment might be burdensome. What is your outlook? 6. (Kim) The Trump administration has declared that reciprocal tariffs will be imposed starting April 2nd. Is there a possibility that Korea is included among the so-called “Dirty 15” countries targeted? And how would such tariffs be implemented? 7. (Song) On the other hand, after Chung’s announcement, President Trump stated that “not all new tariffs will be announced on April 2nd” and that “some countries may receive exemptions.” This is a shift from his previous stance that “there will be no tariff exemptions.” Can this be interpreted as a sign of flexibility in his tariff approach? 8. (Kim) Meanwhile, President Trump has encouraged Korea’s participation in the Alaska LNG (liquefied natural gas) project. In relation to this, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy visited Korea for discussions. Could Korea’s participation in the Alaska project become a bargaining chip to alleviate tariff pressure? What should the Korean government consider before making a decision? 9. (Song) With the Trump administration’s reciprocal tariff announcement just a week away, newly reinstated Prime Minister Han Duck-soo declared that he would dedicate efforts to safeguarding national interests amid this trade conflict. From Korea’s perspective, what other cards could be offered to the U.S. to avoid or reduce reciprocal tariffs?