News

Weak domestic recovery and export slowdown fuel ongoing downside economic pressures in May

2025/05/16 20:00

The finance authorities continue to sound the alarm about growing pressures on the local economy due to a combination of U.S.' tariffs and weaker consumption at home. Park Jun-han explains. The Ministry of Economy and Finance assessed that downside pressures on the economy are continuing to grow, for the fifth consecutive month. This assessment comes in the ministry's Green Book, a monthly report detailing the nation's economic trends. The ministry said a recovery of domestic demand — particularly in consumption and construction investment — has remained sluggish, while employment difficulties persist, especially in vulnerable sectors. It also noted that the Korean economy has been facing increasing downside pressures, including a slowdown in exports due to worsening external conditions following the imposition of U.S. tariffs. "I think the tariff impact is there, and that's why we used the term 'export slowdown' from April's data. We also saw some growth in exports to countries outside of the U.S., making the April export data less severe than the tariff effects might suggest." South Korea saw a dramatic decrease in construction investment from over a year ago. Investment in the first quarter of 2025 saw a year-on-year decline of 12.2% . In April 2025, there were about 28.9 million people employed, an increase of 194-thousand from the same period last year. However, year-on-year manufacturing sector employment was down 124-thousand last month, the largest drop in six years and two months. Employment challenges also persisted among the 15 to 29-year-old age group. The unemployment rate for young people in April stayed at 7.3%, continuing in the 7% range since February. To combat the slowdown in exports and to boost the country's industrial competitiveness, the ministry pledged to swiftly execute the necessary supplementary budget. The budget of 13.8 trillion won, or about 9.9 billion dollars, will be used to bolster the job market, construction, and support for small businesses. Park Jun-han, Arirang News.

Presidential candidate debates begin May 18, to be aired live on Arirang TV

2025/05/16 20:00

Arirang TV will broadcast three live debates featuring the major candidates, beginning this Sunday. Each debate will spotlight a different theme — economy on May 18th, social issues on May 23rd, and politics on May 27th. Four candidates will take the stage: Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party, Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party, Lee Jun-seok from the Reform Party, and Kwon Young-guk of the Democratic Labor Party. All three debates will begin at 8 PM Korea Standard Time.

Reform Party candidate calls on older conservative voters to back him, promises to turn Busan into data hub

2025/05/16 20:00

Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok was in the central city of Cheonan today to consolidate support. He claimed that the main conservative party's candidate cannot challenge his liberal counterpart and insisted his solid standing with young voters provides him with a strategic advantage. Earlier on this Friday, he also shared intentions to transform the southern port city of Busan into a global data hub with a strong legal framework in place against potential data breaches as feared by foreign firms.

PPP's Kim targets Gyeonggi-do and Chungcheong-do focusing on infrastructure

2025/05/16 20:00

Meanwhile, the People Power Party's presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo held rallies in Gyeonggi-do Province, where he vowed to upgrade transportation, before heading south to the Chungcheong-do region. Our Correspondent Kim Do-yeon reports. After a relatively quiet day on Thursday, Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party went into full rally mode on Friday. He started in Gyeonggi-do Province, where significantly he was governor for two terms and touted his starting of the GTX high-speed underground train system in the greater capital region. In fact, when he visited Dongtan in Hwanseong City, he pledged to improve transportation even more this time for owners of cars. "When you build a new city, because initially there are no jobs, everyone goes to Seoul for work. There is no way to get there. The Gyeongbu Expressway actually becomes the 'Gyeongbu Parking Lot.'" He pledged to construct six new beltways around the capital region. On top of this, Kim vowed to expand the GTX lines, saying those currently being constructed will have additional stops added. His campaign promised to build similar models around the country for major metropolitan areas. In the afternoon he held rallies in Chungcheong-do region and one major stop was Sejong City. He pledged to finish the process of making Sejong the nation's administrative capital by sending the National Assembly's major committees, alongside having a second office for the president there. While these pledges have been made by other candidates Kim added that the country's top five major commissions including the Korea Communication Commission and Korea Fair Trade Commission will be moved to Sejong to ensure administrative work can be done there. In addition, he promised to make Sejong more reachable with his specialty express train lines. "However, since the current railway infrastructure is insufficient for civilian access, there's a need to further develop the network — such as the CTX I mentioned earlier." In total, Kim went to 7 cities on Friday to hold rallies and make developmental pledges. All in Gyeonggi-do and Chungcheong-do provinces typically considered battleground regions. On Saturday he will campaign in the southwest Jeolla-do provinces the stronghold of the rival Democratic Party. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.

Top trade officials of S. Korea, U.S. to hold technical talks on tariffs next week in U.S.

2025/05/16 20:00

Moving on. Top trade officials from South Korea and the U.S. met in Jeju this afternoon on the margins of APEC trade talks, amid the Trump administration's tariff campaign. As a result, more consultations are slated for next week in Washington, focusing on six areas, including non-tariff measures. Our correspondent Bae Eun-ji has the details. South Korea's Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Ahn Duk-geun and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer met on Jeju Island on Friday, and agreed to hold technical talks on tariffs next week in Washington D.C. The meeting, held on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation trade ministers' meeting hosted by South Korea, comes as both countries have been working to produce a package of deals aimed at removing new U.S. tariffs before the July 8th deadline, when the 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs is lifted. "We have 50 days until the negotiation due date set by the U.S. government. Under the acting president, the South Korean government has been making efforts through inter-governmental cooperation and gathering opinions from industry stakeholders." Ahn explained that next week's talks will be focused on six key areas: balanced trade, non-tariff measures, economic security, digital trade, country of origin, and commercial considerations. Friday's meeting follows the two officials' meeting three weeks ago in Washington,.. where South Korea requested exemptions from reciprocal tariffs, while offering cooperation on shipbuilding and energy. In fact,.. prior to his meeting with Ahn, Greer met with the CEOs of South Korea's leading shipbuilding companies: HD Hyundai and Hanwha Ocean, to discuss cooperation. South Korea, which faces 25-percent U.S. reciprocal tariffs, hopes to leverage its shipbuilding capabilities in upcoming tariff negotiations, after the Trump administration reportedly showed great interest in this field as it seeks to revive the American shipbuilding industry. "As Seoul works to tackle trade uncertainties from Trump's tariffs, eyes are now on whether South Korea and the U.S will be able to make further progress during their talks next week. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News, Jeju."

USTR Greer’s visits S. Korea: High-stakes talks amid tariff deadlock

2025/05/16 20:30

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus. I'm Kim Mok-yeon. This week, all eyes are on Jeju, where the U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is visiting South Korea for a high-stakes bilateral meeting with Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun. The meeting, held on the sidelines of the APEC Ministerial, comes at a critical time — tariff negotiations between the two nations have been dragging for months, and hopes are now pinned on what’s being called the “July Package” to break the deadlock. But the timing is tight. With Korea’s new administration preparing to take office and the U.S. fast-tracking trade deals with the U.K. and China, pressure is mounting on Seoul and Washington to find common ground. For more on this, we are joined online by 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, Mays Business School. Great to see you. 1. (Kim) Let’s begin with the APEC Ministerial Meeting in Jeju, where Seoul's top trade officials Jung In-kyo, head of trade negotiations, and Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun held back-to-back talks with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. With bilateral tariff negotiations still making little headway, what is the significance and importance of these high-level bilateral meetings? 2. (Song) It’s now being reported that the trade ministers from both countries agreed to begin full-fledged discussions next week in the U.S., focusing on six key areas—including balanced trade and non-tariff measures. How do you assess this development? And would you say that the negotiations are entering a full-scale phase starting with the second round of technical talks next week? 3. (Song) Adding another layer to the negotiations — before the high-level talks even began — Greer, at Washington’s request, met with top executives from Korea’s shipbuilding industry, including HD Hyundai’s Chung Ki-sun and Hanwha’s Kim Hee-chul. Does this signal that shipbuilding cooperation is now emerging as a strategic bargaining chip in broader Korea-U.S. trade discussions? 4. (Kim) Looking at the broader picture, the U.S. has recently struck tentative deals with the U.K. and China involving tariff reductions and easing of non-tariff barriers. What’s behind this acceleration in Washington’s trade negotiation efforts? 5. (Kim) In that context, Korea has set a goal to conclude a deal by July, coinciding with the launch of the new administration. But if the U.S. pushes for an earlier outcome, how should Korea respond? And what lessons can we draw from the recent U.S. deals with the U.K. and China? 6. (Kim) Shifting to another key issue — exchange rates. Working-level discussions on this front reportedly began in earnest last week, as part of the broader Korea-U.S. trade agenda. With concerns that the U.S. may pressure Korea toward a stronger won, but reports suggesting currency policy might be left off the table, how do you see this playing out? 7. (Song) Given those currency discussions — along with ongoing U.S.-China trade negotiations — the won-dollar exchange rate has shown considerable volatility. What’s your outlook on how the market trend might evolve from here? 8. (Kim) At the same time, the domestic economic outlook is darkening. Korea’s KDI recently slashed its growth forecast to just 0.8% — a historic low among both domestic and international institutions. Is the fear of a recession becoming more than just sentiment at this point? 9. (Song) And with those economic worries mounting, a nationally televised presidential debate on the economy is set for May 18. What should viewers be watching for in that debate? And looking ahead, what should the next administration prioritize first to pull Korea out of stagnation and get the real economy moving again?

DP's Lee continues campaign in liberal stronghold; PPP's Kim stresses Gyeonggi-do governor experience

2025/05/16 17:00

We start yet again with the latest on the campaign trail. And for this our political correspondent Shin Ha-young joins me live on the line. Ha-young, it's good to have you on. Let's begin with the liberal camp. What's the latest there? Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung, who began rallying support in his party’s strongholds yesterday, is continuing his campaign in them today, this time in Jeollabuk-do Province. Lee's campaign trail today takes him through the cities of Iksan, Gunsan, Jeonju and Jeongeup. During his visit to Iksan, Lee emphasized balanced regional growth, noting that Jeollabuk-do has been especially overlooked. Take a listen. "If the current concentration in the capital region continues, the country won’t be able to grow sustainably. Balanced regional growth isn't just about helping local regions it's a necessary strategy for South Korea’s future." Lee also addressed the overconcentration of universities in the capital and the need to strengthen local universities in other regions. He said he would increase support for national universities outside of Seoul and promised to improve conditions for young people through better education, cultural opportunities, and jobs, so they don't feel the need to leave their provinces. Meanwhile, lawmaker Kim Sang-wook, who was in favor of former President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment and recently broke away from the People Power Party, showed up at Lee’s campaign to support him. Kim described Lee as both a true conservative and a true progressive, saying that those who divide politics into sides shouldn’t be involved in politics. I see. And now Ha-young, what's the latest at the conservative camp? I hear its candidate started the day in Gyeonggi-do Province before heading to the Chungcheong-do region? Sun-hee, that's right. Kim Moon-soo has moved southward from the capital region. His rallies in the Gyeonggi-do region in the morning were significant in that he was a two-term governor for the province and touts himself as being the person who started the GTX high-speed underground train system in the capital region. In fact, as he visited Dongtan City, he pledged to improve transportation even more this time for cars. "When you build a new city, because initially there are no jobs, everyone goes to Seoul for work. There is no way to get there. The Gyeongbu Expressway actually becomes the 'Gyeongbu Parking Lot.'" He pledged to construct six new beltways around the capital region. On top of this, the campaign revealed its pledge to expand the GTX lines, saying the lines currently being constructed will have additional stops built and they will build similar models around the country for major metropolitan areas. Now, he's currently in the Chungcheong-do region rallying support there as well. One major stop was Sejong City. He pledged to finish this process of making Sejong the nation's administrative capital by sending the National Assembly there and having a second office for the president there too. That's all for now. Back to you, Sun-hee. All right Ha-young, thank you for now. And do keep us posted.

[Weather] More rain is expected tomorrow in some areas, Seoul reaching 24 degrees tomorrow

2025/05/16 17:00

The skies are cloudy across the country today, and it has been raining everywhere. In particular, heavy rain of 20 to 30 millimeters per hour is pouring until tonight on the south coast and Jeju island. In addition, from this evening, rain will begin in central parts of the country including Seoul, but most of it will stop overnight. A little bit more rain is expected in northern parts of Gyeonggi-do Province and Gangwon-do Province tomorrow. The heat seems to have subsided due to the rain. After the rain stops, the temperatures will start to rise. The daytime temperature will move back to 24 degrees Celsius tomorrow, over 25 degrees in some areas, feeling like early summer again. Tomorrow morning will start mild with 15 to 18 degrees all over the country. Daily highs will move up to 28 degrees in Chuncheon, Daegu and Gyeongju. More rain is forecast on Monday. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

World News: U.S. Supreme Court grapples with Trump bid to restrict birthright citizenship

2025/05/16 17:00

This is the World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. In the U.S., the Supreme Court began hearing arguments concerning President Donald Trump's executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship for children born in the United States to undocumented or temporary immigrant parents. On Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court started a session on the executive order President Trump signed in January. Trump's order seeks to reinterpret the 14th Amendment's Citizenship Clause and would deny automatic citizenship to children born on U.S. soil unless at least one parent is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. The directive faced legal challenges from 22 states and civil rights groups, with several federal judges issuing nationwide injunctions to stop its enforcement. The case taken by the Supreme Court centers on whether lower courts have the authority to issue such injunctions. During the session, justices' opinions were divided with arguments saying that allowing the injunctions may overextend judicial authority whereas limiting the injunctions could lead to an inconsistency of laws across states. Meanwhile, protests occurred outside the courthouse, where demonstrators voiced support for birthright citizenship. The Supreme Court's decision is expected by the end of June. In Europe, the United Kingdom and Germany have announced a collaborative effort to boost Europe's self-defense by developing a new long-range precision strike weapon. On Thursday, local time, British Defense Secretary John Healey and his German counterpart, Boris Pistorius, met in Berlin to sign an agreement for the joint development of a "deep precision strike" missile system. The weapon is designed to have a range exceeding 2,000 kilometers. The plan comes under the Trinity House Agreement on bilateral defense cooperation signed in October 2024. It aims to reduce Europe's reliance on external defense support and address security situations, such as the ongoing war in Ukraine. Joint procurement programs to counter undersea threats have also been agreed upon. Minister Healey stated that both nations are dedicated to "making progress, not just making promises." In Brazil, a dye spill accident occurred on Tuesday in Sao Paulo's Jardim das Tulipas neighborhood, approximately 75 kilometers from the central city. According to authorities, some 5,000 liters of chemical dye spilled after a transport truck crashed, contaminating local streets and entering a nearby creek through a manhole. The blue dye changed the colors of the waters and ducks in the area, and some fish were found dead in a lake. Cleanup operations began immediately. However, investigations have begun to assess the environmental impact of the incident. The new Pope is expected to move into the official papal residence, an apartment on the top floor of the Apostolic Palace, according to an Italian media report on Thursday. Pope Leo XIV , the first American-born pontiff, had reopened the traditional papal apartments on May 11, which had been sealed following the late Pope Francis' death. Pope Leo's decision is a departure from his predecessor's choice to live in the Casa Santa Marta guesthouse and a return to longstanding papal customs. The Apostolic Palace apartments, unused since 2013, have nearly a dozen rooms, including a study, library, and private chapel. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.

BTS Jin drops second solo EP 'Echo'

2025/05/16 17:00

BTS 진, 두 번째 솔로 앨범 발매.

Trump touts 'freedom zone' plan for Gaza as scores killed in Israeli airstrikes on enclave

2025/05/16 17:00

And Mr. Trump has touted the idea of "taking" Gaza and turning it into a "freedom zone" even as Israel maintains its military campaign against the region. Lee Seung-jae has the latest. With ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas stalled, the Israeli military conducted airstrikes on dozens of sites in Gaza from Wednesday night and into Thursday. The latest barrage of airstrikes killed at least 114 Gazans, with witnesses saying the Israeli military targeted medical facilities, including pediatric clinics. The airstrikes were also carried out as U.S. President Donald Trump was on his tour of the Middle East. Israel was excluded from his itinerary. However, Trump on Thursday doubled down on his proposal to displace Gazans, stressing again that the enclave should be made into a "freedom zone." Speaking to reporters after a round table with business leaders in Qatar, Trump said that "Gaza has been a territory of death and destruction for many years," adding that the U.S. should "get involved and make it a "freedom zone." All Arab states have rejected his plan, with Hamas calling it "ethnic cleansing." Meanwhile, Israeli media reported that ceasefire talks mediated by the U.S. have not made any progress due to differences in opinion between Israel and Hamas. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian delegations delayed by a day

2025/05/16 17:00

Ukraine has cast doubt on Russia's sincerity for peace pointing to the Kremlin's dispatch of a delegation that lacks "decision-makers" for planned talks in Türkiye. Kim Bo-kyoung explains. All eyes were fixed on the first direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in more than three years, which were supposed to take place on Thursday but are now expected to happen on Friday in Istanbul. However, the negotiations failed to materialize amid criticism over the standard of the Russian delegation. Russian President Vladimir Putin was a noticeable absence on Moscow's list of attendees despite proposing the talks and a challenge from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to meet face to face. While making his announcement regarding the team headed by his defense minister to Istanbul for the peace talks, Zelenskyy criticized Moscow for not taking the negotiations seriously. "After we understood the level of the Russian delegation, we see that, unfortunately, they are not taking the real negotiations very seriously. So far, we do not see among those present anyone who actually makes decisions." The sides have also been separated with regard to the outcomes they each want from the direct talks. While Ukraine's top priority is a ceasefire, the Russian delegation, led by Vladimir Medinsky, said their goal was to "eliminate the basic root causes of the conflict", and to sooner or later establish long-term peace. He added that these negotiations are a continuation of the peace process that fell through in 2022, when Ukraine saw Russian demands as a threat to its sovereignty. Regarding the meeting, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday expressed limited optimism, saying Washington frankly does not have high expectations of the negotiations. Speaking to reporters in the southern Turkish city of Antalya, he said only the direct engagement between the U.S. and Russia could result in a breakthrough. "And frankly at this point I think it's abundantly clear that the only way we're going to have a breakthrough here is between President Trump and President Putin." Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.

Weak domestic recovery and export slowdown fuel ongoing downside economic pressures in May

2025/05/16 17:00

Korea's Finance Ministry has maintained its concerns over the presence of economic headwinds at home and abroad and their broader impact on market growth. Park Jun-han has the latest. The Ministry of Economy and Finance assessed that downside pressures on the economy are continuing to grow, for the fifth consecutive month. This assessment comes in the ministry's Green Book, a monthly report detailing the nation's economic trends. The ministry said a recovery of domestic demand — particularly in consumption and construction investment — has remained sluggish, while employment difficulties persist, especially in vulnerable sectors. It also noted that the Korean economy has been facing increasing downside pressures, including a slowdown in exports due to worsening external conditions following the imposition of U.S. tariffs. "I think the tariff impact is there, and that's why we used the term 'export slowdown' from April's data. We also saw some growth in exports to countries outside of the U.S., making the April export data less severe than the tariff effects might suggest." South Korea saw a dramatic decrease in construction investment from over a year ago. Investment in the first quarter of 2025 saw a year-on-year decline of 12.2% . In April 2025, there were about 28.9 million people employed, an increase of 194-thousand from the same period last year. However, year-on-year manufacturing sector employment was down 124-thousand last month, the largest drop in six years and two months. Employment challenges also persisted among the 15 to 29-year-old age group. The unemployment rate for young people in April stayed at 7.3%, continuing in the 7% range since February. To combat the slowdown in exports and to boost the country's industrial competitiveness, the ministry pledged to swiftly execute the necessary supplementary budget. The budget of 13.8 trillion won, or about 9.9 billion dollars, will be used to bolster the job market, construction, and support for small businesses. Park Jun-han, Arirang News.

Reform Party candidate calls on older conservative voters to back him, promises to turn Busan into data hub

2025/05/16 17:00

Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok was in the central city of Cheonan today to consolidate support from conservatives there. He claimed the main conservative party's candidate cannot challenge his liberal counterpart and insisted his solid standing with young voters provides him with a strategic advantage. Meanwhile earlier on this Friday he also shared intentions to transform the southern port city of Busan into a global data hub with a strong legal framework in place against potential data breaches as feared by foreign firms.

Trade officials from 21 APEC member states agree on joint statement with aim to tackle trade uncertainties

2025/05/16 17:00

Trade envoys of the APEC forum have highlighted the importance of continued cooperation in response to challenges to ensure broader economic stability. Our Bae Eun-ji files this report from the southern island of Jeju. Top trade officials from Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation member states wrapped up their two-day meeting on Jeju Island on Friday, an event hosted by South Korea ahead of the APEC leaders' summit later this year. South Korea's Minister for Trade Cheong In-kyo, who led the meeting, announced at a press conference that all 21 member nations have agreed on a joint statement which includes adopting artificial intelligence into global trade and strengthening cooperation on supply chain issues. "South Korea proposed the idea of the 'AI for trade' initiative, in which other APEC member states showed great interest and support." Member states agreed to continue cooperation on areas such as facilitating paperless trade, bridging digital divides, and creating strengthened digital infrastructure. In the joint statement, they also recognized the importance of the World Trade Organization, as they shared concerns on global trade risks. Meanwhile, much attention was drawn to a separate meeting between South Korea's Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Ahn Duk-geun, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. The two officials last met in Washington three weeks ago, when South Korea requested exemptions from reciprocal tariffs, while offering cooperation on shipbuilding and energy. Both countries are currently working to produce a package of deals to remove new U.S. tariffs before the July 8th deadline, when the 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs is lifted. So, eyes are now on whether South Korea and the U.S will be able to make further progress following Friday's talks. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News, Jeju.

Exploring Korea Week at Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai

2025/05/16 17:00

In other news. The latest global showcase of ideas innovations and inventions is underway in Osaka Japan and this week the spotlight is on South Korea. Our culture correspondent Song Yoo-jin was there. Every five years, the world comes together for the World Expo, a global stage for ideas, innovation, and cultural exchanges. This is where revolutionary inventions like the elevator, telephone, and electric car were first introduced. Now, 55 years after hosting Asia's first-ever World Expo, this global event has returned to Osaka, Japan. Each World Expo centers on a main theme. Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai's is "Designing Future Society for Our Lives," with three subthemes: Saving Lives, Empowering Lives, and Connecting Lives. Among the more than 1-hundred-50 participating countries is South Korea, showcasing its culture, technology, and vision for tomorrow. "This three-story building is the Korea Pavilion at the 2025 World Expo, which will be open until October 13th." The Korea Pavilion's theme, "With Hearts," embodies a message of harmony and human connection. "We wanted to create a space that connects Korea with the world, the past with the present and future, blending tradition, culture, and cutting-edge technology." Visitors to the Korea Pavilion go through three exhibition halls, with up to 1-hundred people allowed in at a time. At the entrance, guests are asked what they value most in life. Their responses are turned into music using AI and played in a room surrounded by synchronized lights, creating a symphony of shared values. In the next hall, you get to engage with green hydrogen technology. By blowing into a pipe, oxygen combines with hydrogen fuel cells to generate electricity, visibly demonstrated through falling bubbles. The final space is an immersive, three-sided cinema. Set in the year 2040, it follows a high school student using future tech to complete a musical score left by her grandfather in 2025. "It's been a month since we opened, and we're averaging 12-thousand visitors per day. With a target of 1-point-2 million, we expect to surpass that easily. Among all the country pavilions, Korea's is consistently ranking among the most popular." While pavilions will stay open throughout the expo, each country also has a dedicated National Day to take the spotlight. South Korea marked May 13th as its National Day and launched a five-day Korea Week. The celebration began with a recreation of the Joseon Tongsinsa, diplomatic envoys who traveled to Japan centuries ago to build peace and take part in cultural exchanges. A hanbok fashion show followed, introducing traditional and modern Korean dresses inspired by spring flowers. "In both Korea and Japan, spring is the time to enjoy flowers. We thought, why not express that excitement through hanbok? I've felt a strong eco-friendly spirit here. Hanbok, too, is created with sustainability in mind, so there's a meaningful connection between our clothes and the values of this Expo." Korean singer K.Will performed in the 'K-LIVE' concert, and the 'K-BEAUTY' show introduced the latest trends and tips in makeup. "Many women worry about smile lines or areas where hair touches the face. For those spots, I recommend using finishing powder to help makeup stay in place longer." And to further foster goodwill, the Culture Ministry and Korea Tourism Organization appointed Japanese actor Kentaro Sakaguchi as this year's Honorary Ambassador for Korea Tourism. "At first, I wasn't sure I was the right person. But after working on Korean dramas and projects, I realized I might be able to contribute in my own way. Even with cultural or language differences, I'd be honored to serve as a bridge between our two countries." Just like this, Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai is a stage where the international community can connect and shape a shared future. Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News, Osaka.

King Sejong and Hangeul go global: First National Day in his honor

2025/05/16 17:00

Yesterday that was May 15th Korea marked Teachers' Day and among teachers celebrated was King Sejong who created Hangul . Our Choi Soo-young has details. People press a seal engraved with Korean letters, Hangeul. They also try printing Hangeul, made up of consonants and vowels, by themselves. This is Hunminjeongeum, the original Hangeul created in 1443. "We just came to look around and then we just witnessed it and we started to do Hangul and it was really nice actually it was so fun to do." "I think if you want to try it out you can learn it easy." "She learned Korean like for three months now. So Hangul was really easy." "Yeah, and it was for me at least it was easy." Born on May 15, 1397, King Sejong the Great is regarded as one of the greatest monarchs in Korean history. He made important contributions to Korean culture, including in science, the arts and agriculture. Among his contributions is Hangeul, the Korean letters. "May 15th is National Teachers' Day. Last year, the government also designated it as a day to celebrate the anniversary of the birth of King Sejong, the "teacher" of the Korean nation, and honor his achievements." The first official celebration of the newly designated day was held at Gyeongbokgung Palace on Thursday. Many events were held to revive the significance of Hangeul's creation and his legacy. Modern Hangeul, made up of 24 letters, is easy to learn and has a unique design. As Korean culture spreads around the world, more people are interested in learning it. "Thanks to the global popularity of K-content, Hangeul is gaining attention worldwide. Its simple shapes and small number of characters make it easy to learn, so many people want to study it. But Hangeul is more than just a writing system, its unique design is also admired globally as a form of visual art." More than six centuries since his birth, King Sejong's legacy spreads across the world through Hangeul. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.

APEC TRADE ENVOYS GATHER IN JEJU FOR TALKS

2025/05/16 17:30

Welcome to Press Perspective for this Friday May 16th here in Seoul. I'm Min Sun-hee. Trade envoys representing the 21 economies under the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum touched upon trade here in Korea amid the Trump administration's tariff campaign. For more I have Steven Borowiec with Japanese weekly news magazine Nikkei Asia. Steven welcome back. I also have independent journalist Jessica Stone joining our talk live from Washington D.C. Jessica Stone it's great to have you on. 1) Steven, trade delegates from the Asia-Pacific region addressed economic concerns in the southern island of Jeju starting yesterday . 2) Steven, also in Jeju on this Friday, Trade Industry and Energy Minister Ahn Duk-geun and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer sought bilateral tariff talks on the margins of the APEC meeting. 3) Jessica, speaking at a Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum in Riyadh earlier this week, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent claimed South Korea came forward with "very good" proposals DURING last month's 2-PLUS-2 meeting despite its political transition period. 4) Steven, talk has been spreading about South Korea's shipbuilding industry being used as a bargaining chip in tariff talks with the U.S. 5) And Jessica, despite their differences, I understand U.S. lawmakers across the aisle stand together with regard to rebuilding America's shipbuilding industry. 6) Meanwhile, Jessica, China and the U.S. recently agreed to slash bilateral tariffs following talks in Geneva last weekend. 7) Steven, back in Korea, a number of high-profile visits by American delegations to Korea in recent times and their meetings with defense industry leaders here has some pundits forecasting greater growth in the country's defense exports. 8) Jessica, domestically there in the U.S., what has been the impact of Mr. Trump's tariffs thus far?

K-wave AI News

2025/05/16 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. The government will send a delegation led by Culture Minister Yu In-chon to Pope Leo XIV's inaugural mass set for Sunday in the Vatican. Minister Yu will be accompanied by Oh Hyun-joo, the Korean ambassador to the Holy See. Yu previously headed the official delegation sent to offer condolences following the passing of Pope Francis last month. The inauguration will see Pope Leo XIV presented with symbolic items in front of royalty, world leaders, and religious figures marking the official start of the new pontiff's papacy. An exhibition that embraces individuals with diverse physical conditions has kicked off at the Seoul branch of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. The exhibition, "Looking After Each Other," reimagines how museums can engage with different bodies through works of painting, sculpture, architecture, and performance by Korean and international artists. Organized around three thematic sections, Inclining Bodies, Odd Communities, and When Different Bodies Meet, the exhibition presents 40 works that celebrate body diversity and vulnerability as a form of connection and strength. It runs through July 20. The '2025 Haeundae Sand Festival,' Korea's largest sand-themed event, opened today for a four-day run along the shores of Haeundae Beach in Busan. Under the theme "K-Culture Meets Sand," this year's event celebrates the festival's 20th anniversary, showcasing more than 20 large-scale sand sculptures inspired by K-elements such as 'Hangeul'과 K-pop. Fourteen acclaimed artists from Korea and abroad have been invited to create works that reinterpret traditional and contemporary aspects of Korean culture through sand. Launched in 2005, the Haeundae Sand Festival has grown into one of the country's leading eco-friendly cultural festivals, drawing more than one million visitors last year. That's all from me. Stay tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[Short-form] The secret to K-Food’s rich flavors and aromas

2025/05/16 14:00

Discover the secret to K-Food’s rich flavors and Koreans’ passion for diverse spices