News

Looking into first TV debate on economy among S. Korea's 4 main presidential candidates

2025/05/19 20:00

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus. I'm Kim Mok-yeon. The economy is once again a decisive issue that could sway voter sentiment in South Korea's upcoming presidential election. On May 18th, the four leading candidates—Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party, Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party, Lee Jun-seok of the Reform Party, and Kwon Young-guk of the Democratic Labor Party—faced off in their first televised debate. With Korea stuck in a prolonged period of 저성장, soaring inequality, and deepening regional disparity, each candidate laid out their vision to revive the everyday economy. From job creation and fiscal policies to trade and labor reform, the stakes couldn't be higher. Voters are no longer content with slogans—they're demanding realistic, concrete solutions. On Within The Frame tonight, we break down what each economic pledge really offers, what sets them apart, and how feasible their roadmaps are in confronting Korea's most pressing economic challenges. For a closer look into the trade dynamics, we are joined by Shin Se-don, Professor of Business Economics at Sookmyung Women's University. Welcome. Also joining us online is Chai Sang-mi, Professor of Business Administration at Ewha Womans University. Good to see you. 1. (Shin) Let's begin with Prof. Shin, so on May 18th, the four leading presidential candidates — Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party, Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party, Lee Jun-seok of the Reform Party, and Kwon Young-guk of the Democratic Labor Party — faced off in their first televised debate. The spotlight was on overcoming low growth and jumpstarting the everyday economy. Professor Shin, how did you assess the overall direction of the debate? 2. (Chai) While all four candidates agreed on the urgency of economic recovery, their proposed solutions couldn't have been more different. Professor Chai, can you walk us through the key differences between the plans put forward by the candidates? 3. (Shin) Let's now delve into the different pledges of each candidate. Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung, he's proposing swift supplementary budgeting, paired with long-term investment in AI, renewable energy, and cultural industries. But since his strategy depends on aggressive fiscal expansion, some are warning about the risk of worsening fiscal health. Professor Shin, what's your evaluation? 4. (Chai) Turning to People Power Party candidate Kim Moon-soo — he's called for sweeping deregulation, including new bodies like a Regulatory Reform Committee and a Ministry for Regulatory Innovation. Professor Chai, is this level of economic restructuring necessary to escape the low-growth trap? 5. (Shin) Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok offered a localized approach, suggesting the minimum wage be adjusted by region. It's a bold departure from uniform policy. Professor Shin, how realistic and effective could this be for struggling communities? 6. (Chai) Democratic Labor Party candidate Kwon Young-guk is putting inequality, not growth, front and center. He's pushing for wealth redistribution through increased taxes on the rich. Professor Chai, how would you assess this equity-focused economic philosophy? 7. (Shin) Trade with the U.S. also split the candidates. Democratic Party's Lee Jae-myung says there's no rush to finalize tariff negotiations, while People Power Party's Kim Moon-soo insists on wrapping up talks before July 8th. Professor Shin, what do you make of this stark policy divergence? 8. (Chai) In labor policy, the fault lines were especially clear. Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung supports the Yellow Envelope Law and a 4.5-day workweek. In contrast, People Power Party's Kim Moon-soo wants to reform the 52-hour workweek through labor-management consensus. Professor Chai, how should voters interpret these contrasting positions? 9. (Shin) And across the board, the candidates' proposals remain vague on funding details — raising questions about feasibility. When voters look at the economic pledges from the Democratic Party, People Power Party, Reform Party, and Democratic Labor Party, Professor Shin, where should they place the most weight?

[Weather] Strong winds until dawn tomorrow, summer-like heat continues

2025/05/19 20:00

Two different skies appeared today in the central and southern parts of the country. The central areas are affected by rain clouds from the afternoon, having cloudy skies. The expected rainfall will be up to 20 millimeters in the Seoul metropolitan area and Gangwon-do Province and up to 10 millimeters in the Chungcheong-do provinces. This rain will mostly stop by early tomorrow morning. A preliminary warning for strong winds is in place. Typhoon-like gusts of more than 15 meters per second will hit the East Sea and the west coast, and winds of 25 meters per second or more will hit the mountainous areas of Gangwon-do Province and Gyeongsangbuk-do Province until dawn tomorrow. Tomorrow morning, Seoul and Gyeongju will start off at 17 degrees Celsius, Chuncheon at 16 degrees. Daily highs will move up to 27 degrees in Seoul and Chuncheon, 25 degrees in Jeju. Rain is forecast throughout the east on Wednesday. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

[Sports Round-up] KBO reaches 4 million fans in record time

2025/05/19 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 begin with baseball. The KBO League has reached yet another attendance milestone. Yes, four million fans in record pace. The KBO announced on Sunday that it had surpassed 4 million in a record 230 games. The previous record was 255 games set in 2012. This is just one of a few milestones already this year. One, two, and three million were all achieved in record time. And the pace at which the KBO went from 3 to 4 million was also a record -55 games beats the last record by 10. Meanwhile, speaking of records, Hanwha Eagles star Cody Ponce on Saturday in a 1-zero home win over the SSG Landers, tied the KBO record for the most strikeouts in a single game with 18 level with Sun Dong-yol of the Haitai Tigers, set on June 19th, 1991. Moving on to football now. Lee Jae-sung played a big part in his team securing European football for next season. Yes, Lee Jae-sung helped Mainz secure a spot in the UEFA Conference League. Mainz on Saturday earned a 2-2 draw at home to Bayer Leverkusen, with Lee Jae-sung winning a penalty kick for Jonathan Burkardt to level just after the hour mark. Lee thought he'd scored himself at one point, but the goal was disallowed for offside. The point meant that Mainz finished sixth in the Bundesliga, their best finish since 2016. The following season was the last time Mainz played in Europe. Lee Jae-sung scored seven and laid on eight assists in 33 league appearances this season -his best return for the club. He joined them in 2021 and has so far played 123 times. His contract is due to expire at the end of next season. And finally, to volleyball. The legend that is Kim Yeon-koung has said goodbye to the sport. Yes, she waved goodbye to fans at an all-star game on Sunday. At the KYK Invitational 2025 All-Star game series at Incheon Samsan World Gymnasium this weekend, Kim took part as a player and coach in a two-game series that on Sunday had Team Star take on Team World. Kim and Team Star won Sunday's match 80-63. The day before, Kim played with the World All-Stars and beat the women's national volleyball team 80-59. This past season, Kim and the Heungkuk Life Insurance Pink Spiders won the regular season and championship titles. This meant Kim won five V Leagues in total and four championships. She also played and won trophies in Turkiye and Japan, and led the national team to the semifinals of the Olympics in 2012 and 2020. An incredible career. Alright, thank you for that, Paul. See you next time. Thank you.

Pope Leo XIV calls for peace and unity at inaugural Mass

2025/05/19 20:00

Pope Leo XIV called for peace and unity at his inaugural Mass, delivering a message that resonated far beyond the Catholic Church. During the service on Sunday at the Vatican, he condemned economic systems that exploit "the Earth's resources and marginalize the poorest," while also calling for peace in Ukraine and Gaza. Among the tens of thousands gathered for the address were believers and tourists alike, alongside world leaders. Following the Mass, the pontiff held a private meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Israel launches latest extensive ground operations in Gaza while lifting aid blockade

2025/05/19 20:00

In the Middle East. Israel has agreed to the basic flow of food into Gaza amid its launch of a fresh ground offensive against Hamas. Lee Eun-jin reports. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office released a statement on Sunday, which stated that under the recommendation of the Israeli Defense Forces, it would allow "a basic quantity of food" into Gaza so that a starvation crisis could be avoided, as such a situation would jeopardize the IDF's latest extensive ground operation. It was not immediately clear when or how aid would enter Gaza but Netanyahu said that Israel would work to ensure Hamas does not take control of the aid. The announcement came after the Israeli military said earlier on Sunday that it had begun "extensive ground operations" in the northern and southern parts of the enclave, named Operation Gideon's Chariot, including both active duty and reservist troops. The IDF said it would continue to operate against the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip in order to defend Israeli civilians, having conducted a preliminary wave of intensified airstrikes on more than 670 Hamas targets in Gaza over the past week to support "Gideon's Chariot." The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry reported significant civilian casualties of more than 400 people in the four days since the offensives began last week, including the more than 100 people killed in Gaza on Sunday. Meanwhile, there have been reports that no progress has been made in a new round of indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Qatar. Netanyahu's office said his negotiating team in Qatar was "working to realize every chance for a deal," but its position remained unchanged that fighting would end in exchange for the release of all remaining 58 hostages, the exile of Hamas terrorists from Gaza, and the disarmament of the territory. Hamas has refused to leave Gaza or disarm, as officials from the militant group said it was still proposing the release of all Israeli hostages in return for an end to the war, the pull-out of Israeli troops, an end to a blockade on aid for Gaza, and the release of Palestinian prisoners. Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.

Where South Korea's tariff talks with U.S. lie

2025/05/19 20:00

Korean trade officials are set to travel to Washington this week for talks on tariffs amid the U.S.' treasury chief putting pressure that tariffs will return to a higher level if countries don't reach agreements during the 90-day pause period. Bae Eun-ji has more. As South Korea seeks to reach a trade deal with the U.S. by early July, senior officials in Seoul are set to travel to Washington as early as Tuesday for talks on tariffs. This comes after South Korea's finance and trade ministers met with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in late April, and requested exemptions from higher levies. U.S. President Donald Trump on April 2nd announced a set of reciprocal tariffs on major trading partners, including South Korea, before putting a temporary pause to those levies for 90 days. He said on Friday that time is running out for countries to make trade deals with the United States. "And we have, at the same time, 150 countries that want to make a deal but you're not able to see that many countries so at a certain point over the next two weeks I think Scott and Howard will be sending letters out, essentially telling people, we want to be very fair, but we'll be telling people what they'll be paying to do business in the United States." Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Bessent said in an interview with CNN on Sunday that Trump has put countries on notice that if they don't negotiate in "good faith," tariffs will soon return to the April 2nd levels. Bessent also noted there are 18 important trading partners that the U.S. is most focused on solidifying deals with, while adding that there are a lot of smaller trading relationships. As the deadline looms, he said Washington may impose some tariffs by region rather than on individual countries. Addressing the concerns on tariff uncertainties, the Korean government earlier explained that this week's consultation will be focused on six key areas: balanced trade, non-tariff measures, economic security, digital trade, country of origin, and commercial considerations. "So I think that connects to what I really think is the critical thing here, which is the economic security issue. So on that front, the White House would like to kind of get this big headline win on so-called friend-shoring semiconductor and battery supply chains. That is, the U.S. kind of wants to have these supply chains run through an allied country like Korea." With only about 50 days left until the July 8th deadline, when the temporary pause on tariffs is lifted, eyes are now on whether South Korea will be able to make some meaningful progress in this week's talks. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.

DP's Lee holds campaign in Seoul, gives speeches from behind bulletproof glass

2025/05/19 17:00

Welcome to The Daily Report. I'm Min Sun-hee. We start here in Seoul where presidential contenders are seeking voter support following their first TV debate Sunday night. I have our political correspondent Shin Ha-young standing by live with the latest from the liberal camp. Ha-young, do start us off with Lee Jae-myung's agenda for today. Sunny, I’m currently in front of Times Square in Yeongdeungpo-gu District, southwest of Seoul, where Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung And as you can see behind me, a large crowd has gathered in front of the stage. During his speech, Lee said Before coming to Yeongdeungpo, he held a rally near Yongsan Station. Take a listen. "Life is tough, isn't it? Things feel unstable. On June 3rd, let’s bring this to an end. Let’s build a new country together one where people are truly respected, and where peace and stability lead to a better, happier life." Lee kicked off his official campaign in Seoul last week, then headed south. Now he's back in the capital, making stops in busy areas across the city today. Ahead of a rally on Monday, Lee addressed real estate issues, saying that he will manage real estate policy by increasing supply when it's lacking, following the basic principle of supply and demand. His campaign in Seoul aims to reach both older and younger generations to highlight unity across age groups. He will wrap up Monday’s rallies near Hongdae. Meanwhile Ha-young, I hear Lee's camp is ramping up security around him. Do tell us more. The Democratic Party is strengthening security for Lee after receiving multiple reports of suspected assassination threats against him. Starting from today, Lee began delivering his rally speeches from behind bulletproof glass. This comes as concerns over Lee’s safety are growing within the party and among his supporters, especially after he was stabbed in the neck during a visit to Busan in January last year. Lee has already been wearing a 3-kilogram bulletproof vest while campaigning. “Inequality, polarization and insurrection have pushed our society into extreme division and conflict to the point where a presidential candidate now has to wear a bulletproof vest while campaigning.” His camp is also keeping people away from areas near the stage, and he’s avoiding physical contact with supporters, such as shaking hands. Bulletproof glass was also used by U.S. President Donald Trump during his campaign after he was shot. Trump was protected on all four sides, but Lee is using two side panels, reportedly due to limited production time. That's all for now, Sunny. All right Ha-young, thank you for that coverage of the liberal camp.

[Weather] Back to early summer-like conditions with strong winds

2025/05/19 17:00

The central and southern parts of the country have very different skies today. The central areas are affected by rain clouds from the afternoon, having cloudy skies. The expected rainfall will be up to 20 millimeters in the Seoul metropolitan area and Gangwon-do Province and up to 10 millimeters in the Chungcheong-do provinces. This rain will mostly subside by early tomorrow morning. In addition, the winds are also strong with a preliminary warning for strong winds in place. Typhoon-like gusts of more than 15 meters per second will hit the East Sea and the west coast, and winds of 25 meters per second or more will hit the mountainous areas of Gangwon-do Province and Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. Tomorrow morning, Seoul and Gyeongju will start off at 17 degrees Celsius, Gwangju at 20 degrees. Daily highs will move up to 27 degrees in Seoul and Chuncheon, 24 degrees in Busan. Between Wednesday and Thursday, rain is expected throughout the east. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

From Laos to S. Korea: Global help cultivates local fields

2025/05/19 17:00

May is a busy month for farmers here and seasonal workers from neighboring countries are offering much-needed assistance. Our Park Kun-woo files this report. A vast area of crop fields stretches across Cheongyang-gun County in Chungcheongnam-do Province – a countryside region where farming is central. It's easy to find land and vinyl greenhouses here, but much harder to find people to farm them, especially in May, Korea's peak farming season. That's a sharp contrast to the past, when entire villages in rural regions worked side by side in the traditional "dure" system during busy times. But with Korea's aging population and younger people moving to cities, rural labor shortages have become a growing challenge. That's where new helping hands are stepping in – foreign "seasonal workers" employed legally under Korea's E-8 visa program from 2017. Dressed in farming gear, those workers began their work early, braving the heat and humidity. On this day, they cleared frost-protection plastic from the soil and carried heavy metal pipes used to support crops, all while wading through muddy fields. "I've only been working alongside them in this pepper field for a few minutes, and I'm already starting to sweat. But it's these foreign workers who help local farmers do this every single day." Though language can be a barrier, many see this as a chance to learn. "Working here isn't too hard, especially knowing I can send money home to my family. Communication can be difficult at times, but I'm learning a lot, using farming machines and new techniques that I hope to take back and use on my own farm someday." And farmers describe their help as vital. "They're like lifelines for us. Without this workforce, farming in our rural community simply couldn't continue. Without their help, my wife and I could only manage a much smaller piece of land." Due to its popularity, the number of these workers is growing, with nearly 70-thousand foreign seasonal workers coming to Korea this year alone, thousands more than the year before. Local governments are expanding agreements with other cities abroad and even considering longer-term visas. While the spring remains busy in the countryside, the shoulders of local farmers bearing the weight of our food supply are now a little lighter, thanks to help from afar. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News, Cheongyang.

Korean temple food recognized as National Intangible Cultural Heritage

2025/05/19 17:00

Korean temple food has been designated as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. The Korea Heritage Service announced the designation earlier on this Monday underscoring the food's focus on core Buddhist values including that of life as it excludes meat and fish. Temple food has also been applauded for its cultural value as it continues to be passed down in monastic communities embracing both tradition and creative reinterpretation.

N. Korea reveals first public test of air-to-air missile; experts suggest Russian tech

2025/05/19 17:00

Here on the peninsula. North Korea this past weekend shared images showing its first live-fire test of an air-to-air missile. According to its state media the missile intercepted targets during a training session last Thursday overseen by Kim Jong-un. This is the first public test since the missile's 2021 unveiling. South Korea for its part has yet to develop its own air-to-air missile and experts here believe North Korea may have received Russian technology particularly in radar and software in return for troop deployment.

Israel launches latest extensive ground operations in Gaza while lifting aid blockade

2025/05/19 17:00

In the Middle East. Israel has agreed to the basic flow of food into Gaza amid its launch of a fresh ground offensive against Hamas. Lee Eun-jin reports. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office released a statement on Sunday, which stated that under the recommendation of the Israeli Defense Forces, it would allow "a basic quantity of food" into Gaza so that a starvation crisis could be avoided, as such a situation would jeopardize the IDF's latest extensive ground operation. It was not immediately clear when or how aid would enter Gaza but Netanyahu said that Israel would work to ensure Hamas does not take control of the aid. The announcement came after the Israeli military said earlier on Sunday that it had begun "extensive ground operations" in the northern and southern parts of the enclave, named Operation Gideon's Chariot, including both active duty and reservist troops. The IDF said it would continue to operate against the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip in order to defend Israeli civilians, having conducted a preliminary wave of intensified airstrikes on more than 670 Hamas targets in Gaza over the past week to support "Gideon's Chariot." The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry reported significant civilian casualties of more than 400 people in the four days since the offensives began last week, including the more than 100 people killed in Gaza on Sunday. Meanwhile, there have been reports that no progress has been made in a new round of indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Qatar. Netanyahu's office said his negotiating team in Qatar was "working to realize every chance for a deal," but its position remained unchanged that fighting would end in exchange for the release of all remaining 58 hostages, the exile of Hamas terrorists from Gaza, and the disarmament of the territory. Hamas has refused to leave Gaza or disarm, as officials from the militant group said it was still proposing the release of all Israeli hostages in return for an end to the war, the pull-out of Israeli troops, an end to a blockade on aid for Gaza, and the release of Palestinian prisoners. Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.

Gov't monitors markets after U.S. credit downgrade, expects limited impact on South Korea

2025/05/19 17:00

The Finance Ministry has sought to ease fears about the impact of the downgrade in U.S. credit rating by Moody's last Friday. The credit rating agency lowered America's rating by one notch to Aa1 from Aaa citing concerns over rising debt. Ministry officials here say the impact of the U.S. credit cut on the Korean economy appears limited as it was anticipated. Moody's rating now matches that of Fitch Ratings and S&P whose analysts lowered their U.S. rating in 2023 and 2011 respectively. Separately acting President Lee Ju-ho has called for close monitoring of financial markets by relevant authorities.

Where South Korea's tariff talks with U.S. lie

2025/05/19 17:00

A Korean trade delegation is poised to depart for the U.S. this week for more technical talks on tariffs. Our foreign affairs correspondent Bae Eun-ji has the latest. As South Korea seeks to reach a trade deal with the U.S. by early July, senior officials in Seoul are set to travel to Washington as early as Tuesday for talks on tariffs. This comes after South Korea's finance and trade ministers met with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in late April, and requested exemptions from higher levies. U.S. President Donald Trump on April 2nd announced a set of reciprocal tariffs on major trading partners, including South Korea, before putting a temporary pause to those levies for 90 days. He said on Friday that time is running out for countries to make trade deals with the United States. "And we have, at the same time, 150 countries that want to make a deal but you're not able to see that many countries so at a certain point over the next two weeks I think Scott and Howard will be sending letters out, essentially telling people, we want to be very fair, but we'll be telling people what they'll be paying to do business in the United States." Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Bessent said in an interview with CNN on Sunday that Trump has put countries on notice that if they don't negotiate in "good faith," tariffs will soon return to the April 2nd levels. Bessent also noted there are 18 important trading partners that the U.S. is most focused on solidifying deals with, while adding that there are a lot of smaller trading relationships. As the deadline looms, he said Washington may impose some tariffs by region rather than on individual countries. Addressing the concerns on tariff uncertainties, the Korean government earlier explained that this week's consultation will be focused on six key areas: balanced trade, non-tariff measures, economic security, digital trade, country of origin, and commercial considerations. "So I think that connects to what I really think is the critical thing here, which is the economic security issue. So on that front, the White House would like to kind of get this big headline win on so-called friend-shoring semiconductor and battery supply chains. That is, the U.S. kind of wants to have these supply chains run through an allied country like Korea." With only about 50 days left until the July 8th deadline, when the temporary pause on tariffs is lifted, eyes are now on whether South Korea will be able to make some meaningful progress in this week's talks. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.

Ballots set up at 182 Korean embassies, consulate, offices from Tuesday to Sunday

2025/05/19 17:00

Polling stations overseas will open doors starting Tuesday for registered Korean voters abroad to cast their ballots for the 21st Presidential Election. According to the National Election Commission overseas voting will take place at one-hundred-82 Korean embassies consulates diplomatic missions and offices for a six-day period. Voting hours are from 8 AM to 5 PM. Additional voting booths in various U.S. states are also slated to open from Thursday to Saturday.

1st TV debate: S. Korea's Presidential candidates hold intense debate on U.S. tariffs, China, economic growth

2025/05/19 17:00

Now as mentioned earlier the first four presidential contenders held their first debate on live television this past Sunday with the focus on the economy. Our correspondent Oh Soo-young covers their comments and more. Pledging to save Korea from its present economic downturn, the four main presidential candidates held their first televised debate live on Sunday, beginning with the task of improving livelihoods. Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung promised big government spending, with funding towards debt forgiveness for small business owners, more research and development in AI, and new industries in energy and culture. "We need a supplementary budget as soon as possible, within feasible limits, to revive domestic demand and everyday livelihoods." The People Power Party's Kim Moon-soo agreed on boosting spending to offer subsidies and debt restructuring for small firms. He pledged to be a 'jobs president', using regulatory reform to support growth in high tech sectors. "By eliminating excessive regulations, businesses won't feel forced to move abroad and can confidently operate locally and create jobs." Reform Party leader Lee Jun-seok opposed "reckless" injections of money in a time of high inflation and low demand, saying it will hurt, not benefit small companies. He proposed regional governments set their own minimum wage, and focused more on building national competence in sectors critical to economic growth. "To beat China, we need not only an understanding of science and technology but also competent leadership that can communicate freely with global leaders." Meanwhile, the Democratic Labour Party's Kwon Young-kuk focused on overcoming inequality for workers, farmers, women, and minorities. "A world where you work hard yet remain poor, where you're driven further to the margins -this unequal world must not be left as it is." With the topic turning to America's tariffs on its trading partners, Lee Jae-myung said negotiations must begin but Korea must also diversify its export items. He said the door should stay open to Russia and China. Kim Moon-soo promised to hold a summit with U.S. leader Donald Trump,.. and resolve the bilateral issues based on their personal trust. Lee Jun-seok suggested a cool, strategic response that highlights South Korea's strength in semiconductors, and its value as Washington's long-standing security partner. Kwon Young-kuk showed the U.S a red card and said he will not submit to predatory trade tactics. The two candidates leading the polls faced intensive questioning. Lee Jae-myung was under fire over his proposed wind power project largely involving Chinese firms, and his alleged affinity with Beijing. Lee was also grilled on alleged illegal payments made to North Korea during his time as Gyeonggi-do province governor with the Reform Party candidate suggesting Lee's plans to legalise domestic spot cryptocurrency ETFs could also potentially fund North Korea. Meanwhile, Kim Moon-soo was strongly criticised for being a part of the impeached Yoon Suk Yeol Administration, as former Labour Minister. Lee Jae-myung said Kim should share the blame for the sluggish economy. And Kwon Young-kuk slammed Kim's endorsement of allowing extra working hours for semiconductor workers. The next live debate will take place on Friday, focusing on social issues. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

Lee Jun-seok promises to help increase real income for older people

2025/05/19 17:00

Staying on the campaign trail. Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok has pledged to raise the real income of senior Koreans. Speaking to members of the media at Gwanghwamun Square on this Monday he spoke of simplifying their qualification for reverse mortgage as some of the elderly rely heavily on their real estate for income. He also shared plans to raise the mortgage limit to accommodate their potential need for a large sum of money.

PPP's Kim stresses ROK-U.S. alliance after labeling DP rival Lee as pro-China during debate

2025/05/19 17:00

Up next we turn to the conservative camp whose contender Kim Moon-soo is also campaigning here in Seoul. For details I have Kim Do-yeon joining me live. Do-yeon welcome back. So I hear Kim has highlighted Seoul's ties with Washington? Sun-hee that's right First, I'm out here at Seoul Station where the campaign is preparing for a rally to start in about an hour. Kim's campaign hasn't held a big rally yet with this upcoming one the only one for the day Kim however kept a busy day in terms of his schedule and one key event was his visit to the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea. There, he said if he's elected he's going to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump right away. Take a listen. "If I'm elected president, I will visit the United States as early as June to hold a prompt summit with President Trump and swiftly resolve issues that are hindering economic cooperation between our two countries." He also added that he will open ways for South Korean and U.S. companies to cooperate in different industries, including advanced technology and culture, not just security. And as he has been emphasizing, he pledged to American companies that he will lift any unnecessary regulations so that more investments are made in South Korea. Of course, this comes after the televised debate last night where he claimed that his DP rival Lee Jae-myung was pro-China. As his other events on his schedule, he also gave pledges to the younger generation with today being Coming of Age Day here in South Korea. He said he will create more jobs and give them more opportunities. In addition, he also said he will tackle the issue of marriage for young adults by lifting some of the budgetary burdens for weddings and providing them places to live. And staying with his efforts to garner support I understand Kim has been reaching out to his conservative rival Lee Jun-seok of the Reform Party. Do FILL us in. That's right Sun-hee first the two met earlier today as they both participated in an event held by Seoul City on helping the less-privileged. There, Kim apologized to the New Reform Party candidate, saying the PPP treated him badly when he was the party chairman. He also praised Lee on his debate performance last night. But it was also during the AMCHAM fireside talk when Kim said this in light of the question of how he's going to overturn the current landscape against the DP's Lee Jae-myung. Take a listen. "That uphill battle is getting worse, but if you saw the debate last night, we have Lee from the New Reform Party. He used to be the PPP's chairman but left and took a portion of the votes with him. If I unite all these people, I believe there will be a lot of changes to the scene." Now, Lee Jun-seok rejected any idea of a merger with Kim. In addition, looking at all the polls out there the two's approval rating combined still doesn't beat their DP rival. But, as the race goes on with more exposure to voters, ratings will fluctuate, and the so-called anti-Lee Jae-myung alliance could be one of the endings. That's all for now, back to you Sun-hee. All right Do-yeon thank you for that coverage of the conservative camp.

[Kulture Issue] Month of May brings joy to K-pop fans with abundance of new releases

2025/05/19 14:00

May seems to be the month of new K-pop releases. From groups to solo artists, mini albums and full-length albums, there's something for every K-pop fan. Let's find out more on the latest in the world of K-pop with our K-pop expert Jeff Benjamin. Jeff, hello! Q1. First off, let's start with BTS' Jin, Walter reported on K-Enter that Jin's latest solo mini album "Echo" was released on Friday. What do you think of it? (How is it being received?) Q2. And today, Monday here in Korea, we have another list of new releases! Please tell us from whom they are and Jeff which one is grabbing your attention the most? Q3. Why are we seeing such a big lineup of new releases in the month of May? Do you see a specific reason? Q4. Are there any interesting or creative approaches we see in the promotion of the latest songs or albums? Q5. Now for girl group i-dle, or some may be more familiar with their former name (G)-I-DLE this return also comes with a change in their name! What can we make of this change? Q6. Let's talk about Seventeen. Marking their 10th anniversary, the boy group will release a full-length album later this month. What can we expect from this one? Q7. Let's wrap up with the rookies. Any notable activities by relatively recently debuted acts? Thank you Jeff, for your insights today, have a great rest of the month of May with all the K-pop releases and talk to you again soon. Thank you Walter, we'll have you back very soon, have a great rest of the day.

[K-enter] BTS Jin's new single 'Echo' gains global popularity

2025/05/19 14:00

Time for our daily dose of K-enter news with Walter Lee. Let's kick off with some news on an album's songs that have been echoing around the world since the past few days. BTS's Jin has, of course, received an amazing response from fans around the world following the release of his second mini-album 'Echo' on Friday. According to his agency BigHit Music on Saturday, "Echo" soared to the top of the iTunes "Top Albums" chart in 63 countries by 7 a.m. Korean time the day after its release. The album's title track, "Don't Say You Love Me," also reached No. 1 on the iTunes "Top Songs" chart in 61 countries, and secured the top position on both the "Worldwide iTunes Songs" and "European iTunes Songs" charts. Jin is also scheduled to host his first solo fan concert on June 28 and 29 at the Goyang Sports Complex Auxiliary Stadium in Seoul. Let's stay on the topic of BTS members and talk about Jimin and Jungkook now! Both Jimin and Jungkook have reached another significant milestone in their solo careers. According to the recently announced winners of the 2025 BMI Pop Awards, Jimin's tracks "Like Crazy" and "Who," along with Jungkook's "3D feat. Jack Harlow" and "Standing Next to You," were named among the "Most Performed Songs of the Year." The BMI Pop Awards, hosted annually by Broadcast Music, Inc., a U.S. music rights organisation established in 1939, celebrates exceptional achievements in pop music, honouring both songwriters and music publishers. The "Most Performed Songs of the Year" category recognises the 50 most-played and broadcast songs across U.S. radio, television, live events, and digital platforms throughout the year. This year, 51 songs were selected, with Jimin and Jungkook each having two spots on the list. Let's keep to the theme of K-pop and boy groups and lastly move onto RIIZE. Earlier today, boy group RIIZE made a return on promoting the release of their first full-length album, "Odyssey." To mark the album's release, RIIZE hosted a showcase at Blue Square Mastercard Hall in Seoul, boosting tracks such as "Fly Up" and the B-side track "Bag Bad Back." The album serves as a clear statement of the group's identity, showcasing their unique genre, "emotional pop," across a total of 10 tracks. The title track, "Fly Up," is a dance track inspired by the sound of 1950s rock and roll. The full-length album "Odyssey" will be available on major music streaming platforms beginning at 6 p.m. Monday . Thanks for that news Walter, stick around as we now go to our AI anchor Ari for more culture news.