News

Reform Party candidate declares himself 'future of Daegu City,' appealing to conservative voters

2025/05/13 20:00

Staying on the campaign trail. Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok was at the conservative stronghold of Daegu. Starting with a rally in the city's commercial center, Lee then sat down for lunch with students at a university cafeteria before heading for talks with medical professionals. The 40-year-old candidate declared himself the future of Daegu, emphasizing his youth and intentions to interact directly with all those involved. He also found fault with the conservative party presidential hopeful for failing to oust the impeached former president from the party. Similarly, he accused the liberal party candidate of abusing legislative power to attack the former administration while inciting political division.

PPP’s Kim courts loyal base after impeachment fallout and presidential nomination turmoil

2025/05/13 20:00

The conservative camp's candidate Kim Moon-soo was also in the southeast, continuing his rally there for the second day. This as he apparently walks on a tightrope as former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his martial law continue to cast a shadow over the campaign. Our correspondent Kim Do-yeon explains. People Power Party candidate Kim Moon-soo spent a second straight day campaigning in the Gyeongsang-do region Tuesday — pledging to revive an area that's seen a clear population decline. He wrapped up the day's events at a local market in Busan — the nation's second-largest city — promising more jobs and better infrastructure. "If I become the president, I will build an express train system here and make the surrounding cities all within 30 minutes of each other. Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongsangnam-do Province will become one giant -and the best -global city that can be on par with the capital." "While cities like Busan here are traditionally viewed as a conservative stronghold, Kim enters the race at a disadvantage an impeachment of its former president, and the turmoil between Kim and the leadership over his candidacy. That's likely why he started his first extended stay in this region, to solidify the supporter base." Before Busan he was also in the neighboring city of Ulsan, a major industrial city as well. For this city, he pledged a multi-cultural complex. "The city has requested a large-scale cultural complex, estimated to cost around 500 billion won. If I'm elected president, I'll make sure it doesn't take long. I'll allocate a special budget of that amount to Ulsan as soon as I take office." But Kim's visit to the southeast doesn't end there. On Wednesday, he's expected to campaign in smaller cities like Jinju and Sacheon, continuing efforts to shore up support. At the same time, how to deal with issues regarding former president Yoon Suk Yeol and his martial law declaration continues to cast a shadow over the campaign. In a televised interview Monday, Kim offered his first public apology for the incident and its aftermath to the nation. The apology also gave attention to calls from some to expel Yoon from the party. Kim responded to this on Tuesday morning, saying whether the president leaves the party or not is up to him. It's not right for the party to decide that for him. With some party loyalists still backing Yoon, Kim must walk a fine line — keeping the base intact while reaching out to undecided voters, 많은 who remain critical of the martial law attempt. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News, Busan.

DP’s Lee Jae-myung visits southeast, focuses on national unity and balanced regional growth

2025/05/13 20:00

Thank you for joining us. I'm Yoon Jung-min. We are now counting down precisely three weeks to the June 3rd presidential election. The liberal camp's candidate Lee Jae-myung traveled to the conservative-leaning southeastern part of the country, saying what matters is people's everyday lives, rather than ideologies. Our correspondent Shin Ha-young reports. National unity was a key topic that Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung shared during his second day of campaigning for the presidency. Lee kicked off Tuesday in Gumi, the birthplace of former conservative President Park Chung-hee known both for his autocratic rule and having led the country's rapid economic development. Lee's visit to Gumi was part of his campaign through regions known as traditional conservative strongholds, including Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, 경상북도, Daegu and Ulsan. The DP said Lee's visit to this key industrial area shows how strong his intention is to bring the country together and promote balanced regional growth. Lee laid out his vision to make Gumi a key engine driving South Korea's economy. He also acknowledged Park's contributions to the country's industrialization and promised to be a capable leader. Lee said the country's future matters more than political sides or ideology. "What matters most is people's everyday lives not left or right, red or blue, or where you're from. It doesn't matter if a policy came from Park Chung-hee or Kim Dae-jung. If it works, we use it. If not, we don't. Ideology isn't as important as the lives of our people and the future of this country." In the afternoon, Lee visited Pohang, the nation's traditional powerhouse for steel, seeking voter's support. "During his speech, Lee Jae-myung urged people to come together to overcome the hardships that followed the declaration of martial law. He also emphasized national unity regardless of political affiliation." Lee wrapped up his Tuesday campaign in Ulsan, where he focused on strategies for industrial growth and supply chain restructuring. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News, Pohang.

[Weather] More taste of an early summer heat under strong sunlight

2025/05/13 20:00

Many places had a real taste of early summer heat today. Temperatures in the capital will go up even higher tomorrow, hovering way above the norms, feeling more typical of June! And how about the sunshine? It was hard to walk around without sun protective items. Intense sunlight continues nationwide. We hope you managed to stay cool and you protected yourselves from that strong sun. The morning starts off similar to slightly higher temperatures tomorrow, at 15 degrees Celsius in the capital and Gwangju, 14 degrees in Daegu. Highs in the eastern regions were nearing 30 degrees today, and it will be a couple of degrees lower than that on Wednesday. But most parts will see highs in the mid to upper twenties. Heat relief is coming with rain in the forecast on Thursday in central regions, the southern coast, and Jeju. The amount won't be much this time. That's Korea for you, here's a look at the international weather conditions.

261 years later, Korea's peace mission docks in Osaka

2025/05/13 20:00

Over in Japan. People there welcomed a special guest as a symbol of Korea's peace mission has arrived in Osaka for the first time in over 260 years. And this year, it's all the more special. Our Correspondent Song Yoo-jin explains why. It's a landmark voyage brought back to life more than two centuries later. The reconstructed Joseon Tongsinsa ship, once used to carry Korean envoys to Japan from the 17th to 19th centuries, has now reached its final destination: Osaka. While the recreated vessel also sailed to Japan in recent years, this is the first time it has anchored in Osaka since the 11th Tongsinsa mission from 1763 to 64. This year's arrival is all the more symbolic, as it coincides with the 60th anniversary of normalized diplomatic ties between South Korea and Japan. "Korea and Japan can't move away from each other. We're very close geographically and historically. This ship isn't just a symbolic restoration. Just as it opened a sailing route, I hope it also opens a path for both nations to grow together in the future." "The Tongsinsa mission has been a symbol of mutual respect and cultural exchange beyond borders. Recreating that history today will play an important role in helping Korea and Japan learn from their friendly past and build a future-focused relationship." This journey wouldn't have been possible without this team, who designed, built, and sailed the vessel, modeled after the original Tongsinsa blueprints. "We began planning this reconstruction back in 2015, and now, nearly a decade later, we've reached Osaka. We're deeply grateful to everyone who helped make it happen. Our institute will continue restoring and sailing traditional Korean vessels to preserve this legacy on the water." But the celebration didn't end at the port. "As Tuesday, May 13th, marked Korea Day of Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai, the reenacted Joseon Tongsinsa prepared something special here." The envoy procession marched through the expo grounds, just as the original envoys did when they set foot in Japan. Drawing large crowds, the parade echoed across the venue, spotlighting the centuries-old message of peacebuilding and cultural diplomacy. As for the Tongsinsa ship, now docked in Osaka, it will offer an onboard exhibition on the goodwill mission, before its journey back home. Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News, Osaka.

DP’s Lee Jae-myung visits southeast, focuses on national unity and balanced regional growth

2025/05/13 17:00

We are now counting down precisely three weeks to the June third snap election and that being said we start our newscast today with the latest on the campaign trail. The liberal camp's candidate is in the southeastern part of the country. For details I have our political correspondent Shin Ha-young standing by live. Ha-young, it's good to have you on. So I hear you are currently in Pohang? Yes, Sunny, I'm here on the east coast at Pohang City Hall, in the nation's traditional powerhouse for steel. Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung just wrapped up his speech a few minutes ago. (Lee Jae-myung is delivering his speech, seeking voter's support.)* And as you can see behind me, a large crowd has gathered in front of the stage. During the speech, Lee said ________. Lee's visit to Pohang is part of today's campaign through regions known as traditional conservative strongholds, including Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, 경상북도, Daegu and Ulsan. The DP said Lee's visit to this key industrial area shows how strong his intention is to bring the country together and promote balanced regional growth. Ha-young, do tell us a bit about Lee's agenda earlier this morning. Sure, Sunny. Earlier today, Lee kicked off his second day of campaigning in Gumi the birthplace of former conservative President Park Chung-hee known both for his autocratic rule and having led the country's rapid economic development. There, Lee laid out his vision to make Gumi a key engine driving South Korea's economy. He acknowledged Park's contributions to the country's industrialization and promised to be a capable leader. Emphasizing national unity, Lee said the country's future matters more than political sides or ideology. Take a listen. "What matters most is people's everyday lives not left or right, red or blue, or where you're from. It doesn't matter if a policy came from Park Chung-hee or Kim Dae-jung. If it works, we use it. If not, we don't. Ideology isn't as important as the lives of our people and the future of this country." After his morning campaign, Lee headed to Daegu, where he pointed out that local businesses have been struggling since the December 3rd martial law declaration. He emphasized that politics is all about improving people's livelihoods and securing the country's future. Lee will wrap up his Tuesday campaign in Ulsan, where he will focus on strategies for industrial growth and supply chain restructuring. That's all I have for now. Back to you, Sunny. All right Ha-young, thank you for the coverage from the liberal camp.

[Weather] Warmer in the capital area with intense sunlight

2025/05/13 17:00

It certainly felt like summer made an early arrival today! The air conditioner was much appreciated when out in public places, and it was hard to walk around without sun protective items. Temperatures in the capital will go up even higher tomorrow, hovering way above the norms, feeling more typical of June! Intense sunlight continues nationwide; imagine how warm it's going to be with that sunshine. We hope you managed to stay cool and you protected yourselves from that strong sun. The morning starts off similar to slightly higher temperatures tomorrow, at 15 degrees Celsius in the capital and Gwangju and Busan. Highs in the eastern regions were nearing 30 degrees today, and it will be a couple of degrees lower than that on Wednesday. Daegu and Gyeongju both get up to 27 degrees. Heat relief is coming with rain in the forecast on Thursday in central regions, the southern coast, and Jeju. That's Korea for you, here's a look at the international weather conditions.

DMZ Peace Trail opening gives opportunity to experience history and nature

2025/05/13 17:00

And for those of you interested scenic tours of the treks in South Korea's northernmost border regions are open again. Cha Yun-kyung reports. Horogoru Embankment in Yeoncheon was a strategic location during the Three Kingdoms period. One course on the trail here connects the embankment to an infiltration point where a North Korean guerrilla force came to the south to blow up the Blue House, where the presidential office was located in 1968. Gyeonggi-do province opened sections of the DMZ Peace Trail last week in Yeoncheon, Gimpo, Goyang and Paju. "I am a bit nervous since the area is close to North Korea, but it has beautiful scenery and lots to see making it quite meaningful for me to walk here." The trail courses provide places to visit, pointing to their history and natural resources. The North Korean border town of Kaesong can be seen from Dora Observatory in Paju. Also, the Han River Estuary and the North Korean town can be viewed from Gimpo. Visitors can experience undisturbed nature at Janghang wetlands in Goyang. "Since the DMZ is a very rare and special place where foreigners from all over the world want to visit, I encourage everyone to feel the special atmosphere here." Tours can be reserved through the website of the DMZ Peace Trail. Twenty people can participate per tour, and they must carry an identification card since visitors pass through the military's Civilian Control Line. Participation costs 10-thousand Korean won. Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.

Robots and AI help to enhance the library experience

2025/05/13 17:00

Over in Ulsan City. Imagine a local library for children where robots help with book borrowing and where AI assists with book reading. Lee Eun-jin has more. As children start their search for a book they want to read, a robot sets out to guide them. This library robot named "Romi" not only helps the young visitors navigate through the library, but also helps with the returning and lending of books. "It was a lot fun! I want to come again with my mother." This is a children's and young adults' library at the Jongha Innovation Center in Ulsan, the first of such an experience-based digital media library. There are a total of some 42 thousand books at this library, made up of donations from both the public and private sectors, with 26 thousand books given by the Undang Nanum Foundation. "During the building of the Jongha Innovation Center, we felt the need for a program with good content. That led to the creation of the Undang Nanum Foundation, and its first project was a donation project for this library." Storybooks are read to children using AI. And beyond just reading books, there are various interactive programs and lectures available. While the library is open to all children and young adults, borrowing books and signing up for some of the programs are exclusively for Ulsan residents. Ulsan City plans to further expand its various learning programs and experiences. "It is the first library in Ulsan exclusively for children and young adults, a new pride. This library will serve as a foothold for reading culture for the children and young adults in Ulsan." The Jongha Innovation Center will continue to develop as a complex cultural space. Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.

Italy's La Scala names Korean conductor Chung Myung-whun as Music Director

2025/05/13 17:00

Staying in Europe. Korean conductor Chung Myung-whun will take the podium of the renowned Italian opera house La Scala next year to become its first Asian musical director in history. Byeon Ye-young covers this upcoming event. On Monday, Italy's world-renowned opera house, Teatro alla Scala, announced on its official website the appointment of a new Music Director. According to reports, 72-year-old Korean conductor Chung Myung-whun was unanimously chosen for the role by the opera house's board of directors in a meeting on the same day. Inaugurated in 1778, this is the first time in La Scala's 247-year history that an Asian person will hold the position. Chung will also be just the second non-Italian to take up the role. "This isn't just about being appointed as a music director of an opera house — first and foremost, it marks a personal milestone for the 72-year-old Chung Myung-whun the peak of his career. Secondly, as the first Asian music director of La Scala, it elevates the global status of Asian, and especially Korean, classical music. It's something that can inspire and give hope to the next generation of Korean conductors." Chung's musical journey began as a pianist, but he stepped onto the conductor's podium in 1978, when he was named Associate Conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. In the 1980s, he entered the European scene, serving as Music Director of Germany's Saarbrücken Radio Symphony Orchestra and later of the Paris Opera. Chung's ties to La Scala run deep. Since 1989, Chung has led nine opera productions across 84 performances and conducted 141 concerts at La Scala, which is more than any other conductor who did not hold the title of Music Director. According to AP News, the opera house praised his "close and productive" relationship with its orchestra, choir, and philharmonic, stating that no other non-director has contributed more to enhancing La Scala's global reputation. Chung will succeed Riccardo Chailly, with his official term beginning late next year and running through early 2030. Byeon Ye-young, Arirang News.

Pope Leo XIV emphasizes peace and responsible communication in his first press conference

2025/05/13 17:00

At the Vatican. In his first global press conference Pope Leo XIV called on members of the media to promote peace through words asserting that "disarming words will help disarm the world." Park Hyo-been covers his comments. Amid thunderous applause, Pope Leo XIV, the 267th pontiff, made his entrance. "Buongiorno, and good morning." He started his first press conference at the Vatican on Monday with a light-hearted joke. "They say when they clap at the beginning, it doesn't matter much. If you're still awake at the end and you still want to applaud, thank you very much." In his address to more than 1,000 journalists from around the world, the Pope emphasized the way the media communicates is key to promoting peace. "We must say 'no' to the war of words and images, we must reject the paradigm of war." He warned against using language that fuels hatred, and emphasized the need to amplify the voices of those who cannot speak for themselves. "Let us disarm words. Disarming words will help disarm the world." He also called for the release of imprisoned journalists, underscoring the importance of press freedom. Pope Leo addressed the rise of artificial intelligence, urging its responsible and ethical use for the benefit of all humanity. "I am thinking in particular of artificial intelligence, with its immense potential, which nevertheless requires responsibility and discernment in order to ensure that it can be used for the good of all, so that it can benefit all of humanity." After speaking for about ten minutes, Pope Leo stepped down from the podium to personally greet and engage with journalists. Following his call for an end to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza last Sunday, Pope Leo has made 'peace' a central theme of the start of his papacy. Park Hyo-been, Arirang News.

Israeli-U.S. hostage released by Hamas after more than 19 months

2025/05/13 17:00

In the Middle East. Just one day ahead of the U.S. leader's diplomatic tour to the region Hamas set free its last surviving American hostage. Choi Chi-hee has the latest. On Monday, local time, Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old Israeli-American from New Jersey, was released by Hamas. He had been captured during the October 7, 2023, attacks, while serving in the Israeli military. The announcement of the decision was made on Sunday night by Hamas, after holding days of talks with the United States. Israel had been bypassed during the negotiations. Alexander's release is the first since the resumed military operations by Israel, ending a previous ceasefire. The handover occurred in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza, where Alexander was transferred to the Red Cross before being handed over. Arriving at an Israeli military base, he reunited with his family. "How strong you are, I love you so much Edan, we were so worried." President Donald Trump praised the decision, which comes a day before he visits the Middle East on Tuesday, with scheduled stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, as a step toward peace. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the occasion "a very emotional moment," and credited the release to Israel's military pressure and political influence from the U.S. He reaffirmed his commitment to securing the release of the remaining hostages with plans to continue intensifying military actions in Gaza. Following Alexander's release, still in captivity in Gaza are 58 other hostages, and at least 20 of them are believed to be alive. Alexander was the last U.S. citizen held by Hamas thought to be still alive. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.

Trump says he could join Russia, Ukraine ceasefire talks

2025/05/13 17:00

And the U.S. leader may join a much-anticipated possible meeting between the leaders of Ukraine and Russia in Türkiye later this week. Park Kun-woo has details. As Russia and Ukraine gear up for their upcoming ceasefire negotiations in Istanbul later this week, U.S. President Donald Trump said he might travel to Turkiye, as well. Speaking to reporters at the White House on Monday, Trump raised the prospects of taking part in the talks, in the hope of putting an end to the killing on the battlefields. "I was thinking about flying over. I don't know where I'm going to be on Thursday. I've got so many meetings. But I was thinking about actually flying over there. There's a possibility of it, I guess, if I think things can happen. But we've got to get it done. We've got to save 5,000 lives a week. 5,000 lives -it's really more than that. It's worse than that." President Trump will be visiting Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and and Qatar this week. Amid prospects of Trump taking part in the talks in Istanbul, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday that he wanted the U.S president to join the peace talks. In a post on X, Zelenskyy said that everyone in Ukraine wants President Trump to take part in the peace talks in Turkiye, calling it a "good idea." However, the Kremlin remained silent about whether Russian President Vladimir Putin would take part in the talks this week. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

Trump says China will "fully" open its markets to U.S. firms, hints at call with Xi

2025/05/13 17:00

U.S. President Donald Trump has hailed tariffs talks between his senior trade officials and their Chinese counterparts in Geneva this past weekend claiming that China will fully open its market to American businesses. Our correspondent Lee Soo-jin covers his remarks. President Donald Trump on Monday hailed the temporary de-escalation of trade tensions with China as a 'total reset' that will open China's market to American companies. "In addition, yesterday we achieved a total reset with China after productive talks in Geneva. And they've agreed to open China, fully open China. And, I think it's going to be fantastic for China. I think it's going to be fantastic for us." He also told reporters in the Oval Office that he may speak to Chinese President Xi Jinping later this week. The U.S. and China reached a trade agreement that slashes U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods to 30 percent from 1-hundred-45 percent, and lowers Chinese tariffs on U.S. imports to 10 percent from 1-hundred-25 percent, a decision that cuts tariffs from both nations by 1-hundred-15 percentage points. But sector-specific tariffs on automobiles, automobiles, aluminum, and steel are still in place, and China will be subject to the tariffs on pharmaceuticals that Trump previously said would arrive "shortly." The agreement followed two days of discussions held in Switzerland between senior-level officials from both nations. "Neither side wants a decoupling. We do want trade, we want more balanced trade and I think that both sides are committed to achieving that." "The two sides held in-depth exchanges on trade and economic issues of their respective concern. The atmosphere of the meeting was candid, in-depth and constructive." The deal,. which will be in place by May 14, will be effective for 90 days and sets up a framework for further talks between the two countries. U.S. stocks responded positively to the news, with the Dow Jones surging to close at 2-point-81 percent, the S&P 500 closed nearly 3-point-3 percent up, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq closed 4-point-35 percent compared to the previous trading day. This comes as investors reacted favorably to the unexpected progress in talks between the U.S. and China, sparking a rally in major tech stocks such as Nvidia, Nvidia, Amazon, and Meta. Companies like Best Buy and Dell Technologies, which rely heavily on Chinese manufacturing, also saw strong gains. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.

Acting Pres. calls for transparent election, focus on people's livelihoods until new gov't

2025/05/13 17:00

Acting President Lee Ju-ho has urged government officials to maintain political neutrality as presidential hopefuls engage in campaigns ahead of the June third election. At a Cabinet meeting on this Tuesday he also called for efforts to ensure election transparency and public safety adding that this is the government's final priority. He further touched upon the presence of economic challenges especially for small business owners and the self-employed while underscoring the need for prompt execution of the recently passed supplementary budget to support them as well as victims of the recent wildfires.

Reform Party candidate declares himself 'future of Daegu City,' appealing to conservative voters

2025/05/13 17:00

Staying on the campaign trail. Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok was at the conservative stronghold of Daegu . Starting with a rally in the city's commercial center Lee then sat down for lunch with students at a university cafeteria before heading for talks with medical professionals. The 40-year-old candidate declared himself the future of Daegu emphasizing his youth and intentions to interact directly with all those involved. He also found fault with the conservative party presidential hopeful for failing to oust the impeached former president from the party. Similarly he accused the liberal party candidate of abusing legislative power to attack the former administration while inciting political division.

PPP’s Kim courts loyal base after impeachment fallout and presidential nomination turmoil

2025/05/13 17:00

Up next we turn to the conservative camp whose contender is seeking support within his comfort zone if you will. For more I have my colleague Kim Do-yeon joining me live. Do-yeon welcome. What's the latest at your end? Sun-hee, I'm here at Jagalchi Market in Busan, the nation's second-largest city. Now, Kim is set to appear on my stage behind me in about half an hour. Kim is making his campaign tours in conservative strongholds, including Busan here, but for this election, that might not be the case. The party started off with a disadvantage as this election comes with its former president being impeached and building up to the official campaign period the candidacy change issue caused internal turmoil between Kim and party leadership. And that could be seen as the reason why Kim has chosen this region especially starting with Daegu yesterday and continuing to rally in the southeast. Of course, he isn't coming empty-handed. At a rally before here in Busan he was in the neighboring city of Ulsan a major industrial city, and promised the locals there a major multi-cultural complex. "The city has requested a large-scale cultural complex, estimated to cost around 500 billion won. If I'm elected president, I'll make sure it doesn't take long. I'll allocate a special budget of that amount to Ulsan as soon as I take office." In addition, he mentioned more jobs, improved infrastructure in the region. His trip is not done, though. He's staying here overnight and will hit smaller cities in Gyeongsangnam-do Province tomorrow as well. 2. You mentioned earlier that the conservative camp entered this particular race on the back foot. How is its contender addressing this reality? Sun-hee, that's right. The elephant in the room remains former president Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached due to his martial law declaration. Kim, for the first time, apologized in a local media interview last night, acknowledging the chaos that ensued from the declaration. And this morning, he addressed calls to expel Yoon from the party. Take a listen. "Whether the president leaves the party or not is up to him. It's not right for our party to tell the president to leave or stay. " There are also voices in and around the party calling for an official public apology by the campaign about the martial law declaration. While that hasn't been decided, both matters pose a complex situation as Kim has to keep party loyalists happy but needs to expand his supporter base among the undecided voters. That's all for now, Sun-hee. All right Do-yeon thank you for that coverage from the conservative camp.

IMPACT OF GEOPOLITICS ON TACKLING TENSIONS

2025/05/13 17:00

Welcome to Press Perspective for this Tuesday May 13th here in Seoul. I'm Min Sun-hee. Today we touch upon the impact of geopolitics in addressing security tensions amid North Korea's latest launch of ballistic missiles fresh hostility between India and Pakistan and the fate of Russian aggression against Ukraine. For this I have Thomas Maresca with American news agency UPI. Thomas welcome back. I also have Ruy Valdes with Spanish news agency EFE Spain. Ruy it's good to have you here. 1) Thomas, let's begin with tensions here on the peninsula before touching upon those beyond borders. 2) Ruy, despite such defiance, Russia and China earlier during a summit in Moscow called on the international community to ease sanctions and pressure on North Korea. 3-1) Thomas, separately, there were reports here about a North Korean spy detained in China last week. 3-2) Thomas, some believe the reality that this report made it on the Chinese media, albeit just a few, is a sign of cracks in ties between Pyongyang and Beijing. 4) Ruy, back in Moscow, the leaders of Russia and China also pledged partnership amid much "geopolitical uncertainty". 5) Thomas, beyond the peninsula, tensions between India and Pakistan have been tamed for now, according to Trump. 6) Ruy, according to an Indian business daily, the U.S. leader is claiming credit for the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, but remains irritated by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. 7) Thomas, according to your media agency, the Ukrainian leader has shared intentions to sit down with his Russian counterpart for talks in Türkiye this coming Thursday. 8) Ruy, does a potential deal to end Russian aggression against Ukraine look to affect the North Korea-Russia military collaboration? All right.

K-wave AI News

2025/05/13 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. Korea's renowned conductor Chung Myung-whun has been named the new Music Director of Teatro alla Scala in Milan, one of the world's most prestigious opera houses. He is the first Asian to hold the post in the theater's nearly 250-year history. Chung will succeed Riccardo Chailly in 2027 and serve through February 2030, aligning with the term of general manager and artistic director Fortunato Ortombina. Ortombina proposed Chung's appointment to the board, which unanimously approved the decision. Since 1989, Chung has led nine operas in 84 performances and conducted 141 concerts at La Scala, more than any conductor who has not previously served as Music Director. YouTube's most famous star, Baby Shark, has been invited to feature in FOCUS Art Fair New York 2025, a prominent contemporary art fair held annually in the U.S. city. Under the theme, "The Artists of the Future Are Our Children," the exhibition will spotlight 10 years of Baby Shark's remarkable global journey. Pinkfong, the company behind the most popular version of Baby Shark, says the exhibition will open this Thursday for a four-day run, showcasing a range of multimedia displays and interactive content. The Baby Shark video, available in 25 languages across 244 countries, remains the most-watched video on YouTube, with 15.8 billion views to date. Step into the magical world of Pixar at an immersive exhibition now open in Seoul. Hosted at the Seongsu Cultural Arts Center, the exhibition spans 3,300 square meters and features 12 imaginative spaces inspired by iconic Pixar films like Toy Story, Inside Out, and Coco. After successful shows in Europe and Latin America, it has already drawn more than 2.6 million visitors globally. Korea, chosen for its vibrant moviegoing culture and passionate Pixar fanbase, is the first Asian country to host this event. It will run through June 29. That's all from me. Stay tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[K-Enter] MONSTA X's Hyungwon and actor Lee Do-hyun discharged from the military today.

2025/05/13 14:00

And staying on the topic of entertainment with our daily dose of K-enter news with you Walter. Fantastic news for MONSTA X fans with one of the boy group's members having completed his mandatory military service? Yes, MONSTA X's Hyungwon was officially discharged from the military on Tuesday, after completing 18 months of service at the Capital Mechanised Infantry Division in Gapyeong. He enlisted back in November 2023 and made headlines for earning an early promotion to corporal thanks to his exemplary service. Hyungwon now becomes the fifth MONSTA X member to complete military duties, just in time to rejoin the group ahead of their 10th anniversary. And an actor was released from the military as well? That's right, actor Lee Do-hyun also wrapped up his service on Tuesday, this time with the Air Force military band. He enlisted in August 2023, and after nearly 1 year and 9 months, he returns to the spotlight with a strong resume, even during his absence. His film "Exhuma" , released during his enlistment, smashed the box office with over 10 million viewers. And in May, Lee showed up to the Baeksang Arts Awards in uniform and walked away with the "Best New Actor award". Many global fans also know him from the Netflix series "The Glory". Congratulations to both men on finishing their service and we can't wait to see them both in action again. Next moving onto some news on one of the biggest k-pop girl groups in Korea quite literally, we are talking about tripleS. Yes, Soa. They might have a massive following but they are on record as the biggest female k-pop idol group in terms of members with 24 in total. TripleS have released their second full-length album "ASSEMBLE25" and to celebrate the release, tripleS held a showcase on Monday in Yongsan district, Seoul. The album includes 10 tracks, including "Wake Up", which was actually selected through fan voting to become the title track. It's an alternative dance track with a message that acknowledges the world isn't always bright, but encourages awakening even within the darkness. Finally moving onto some K-movie news. A press conference for the superhero action film "Hi.5" was held Monday at Lotte Cinema Konkuk University in Seoul. Director Kang Hyeong-cheol answered questions, along with most of the cast members. "Hi.5" is about five individuals who unexpectedly gain different superpowers through organ transplants, leading to chaotic encounters with those who covet their powers. Cast member Lee Jae-in shared her thoughts by saying, "I've always wanted to try action scenes, and the director kindly gave me that opportunity. I even threw a kick during our very first meeting." "Hi.5" is scheduled for May 30. Thanks for the news Walter, stick around. Time to take a look at what our AI anchor Ari has for us next. Ari take it away!