News

[Weather] Clear weather comes back tomorrow but rain again this weekend

2025/05/01 17:00

It has been raining quite hard since the morning in Seoul and across the country. With the rain, most of the dry weather advisories have been lifted in inland areas, but dry weather warnings around the east coast are still in place with relatively less rain. Please take precautions to prevent any fires. In addition, the wind is also on the rise. Currently, gusty winds of more than 20 meters per second have been blowing on the west coast, and a strong wind advisory has been issued. Also, wind wave advisories are in effect around the West Sea and central parts of the East Sea. The wind is expected to be strong across the country. Friday morning will start off at 9 degrees Celsius in Seoul, Gwangju, Daegu, and Gyeongju. Highs will move up to around 20 degrees all over the country. Clear weather will be back tomorrow but it will rain again on Saturday. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

World News: Wildfires rage near Jerusalem, roads closed, communities evacuated

2025/05/01 17:00

This is the World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. In the Middle East, massive wildfires broke out near Jerusalem on Wednesday morning, leading to widespread evacuations and prompting the declaration of a national emergency. The fires erupted in a forested area between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, rapidly spreading due to high temperatures and strong winds. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the blazes could reach Jerusalem itself. This has forced the evacuation of several communities and the closure of major roads. Memorial Day ceremonies and Independence Day celebrations planned for Thursday have also been canceled. The Israel Fire and Rescue Services declared their highest alert level, mobilizing over 120 firefighting teams, including assistance from the Israel Defense Forces. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar has also sought additional firefighting aid from over a dozen countries. At least 16 people have reportedly been hospitalized for smoke inhalation, although no fatalities have been reported. In Sweden, police have arrested a teenager following a shooting that killed three people in the city of Uppsala on Tuesday. The incident has raised concerns about escalating gang-related crimes in the country. On Wednesday morning, local time, the authorities apprehended a 16-year-old suspect, with the Swedish Prosecution Authority confirming that the teen was being held on suspicion of murder. On Tuesday, around 5 p.m., a shooting at a hair salon in Uppsala killed three men aged between 15 and 20. While the motive remains unclear, the authorities are exploring a potential gang-related connection, as one victim reportedly had ties to organized crime. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson called the shooting "a terrible act," and lamented that "brutal and ruthless violence" was shaking the country. Sweden has seen a rise in violent crime in recent years, with its worst mass shooting --leading to 10 deaths --occurring in February. In the United States, Columbia University student and Palestinian activist Mohsen Mahdawi was released from U.S. immigration detention on Wednesday, local time, after a federal judge ruled his arrest was unjustified. Mahdawi, a 34-year-old who has permanent U.S. residency or "green card" status, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on April 14, during a naturalization interview in Vermont. The Trump administration attempted to deport Mahdawi under a rarely used statute, alleging his advocacy for Palestinian rights threatened U.S. foreign policy. However, U.S. District Judge Geoffrey Crawford found no evidence that Mahdawi posed a flight risk or danger and ordered his release. On Wednesday, Guinness World Records revealed that the world's tallest and shortest dogs met for the first time in early April. Facilitated by GWR, Reggie, a seven-year-old Great Dane from Idaho standing at approximately 1 meter, and Pearl, a four-year-old Chihuahua from Florida, measuring just over 9 centimeters in height, met as part of the institution's 70th-anniversary celebrations. Despite a huge height difference, the two dogs quickly bonded at Reggie's home, where the event took place. Reggie, known for his gentle demeanor, was cautious around the tiny Pearl, who, according to the owner, is unfazed by larger dogs and enjoys their company. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.

Stray Kids becomes third K-pop artists to reach 20 mil. subscribers on YouTube

2025/05/01 17:00

On the K-pop front. Stray Kids has amassed over 20 million subscribers on YouTube becoming the third K-pop act to mark this milestone. Following Blackpink and BTS in 2019 the eight-member boy band welcomed this feat this past Wednesday. Stray Kids is currently on a world tour covering over 30 cities and according to JYP Entertainment the group is projected to amass the largest audience in K-pop tour history.

U.S. and Ukraine sign critical minerals deal after weeks of fraught negotiations

2025/05/01 17:00

The U.S. and Ukraine have sealed a deal that grants the Trump administration access to Ukraine's critical minerals in return for American assistance against Russian invasion. Park Hyo-been has the latest. A new economic partnership was signed between the U.S. and Ukraine on Wednesday, establishing a joint investment fund focused on natural resource extraction and post-war reconstruction of Ukraine. The agreement, called the "reconstruction investment fund," allows both countries to co-invest in Ukraine's critical growth assets, including oil, gas, and rare earth minerals. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the deal sends a clear message to Russia—that the U.S. is committed to a peaceful, sovereign, and prosperous Ukraine. He added that President Trump sees this as a long-term partnership between the American and Ukrainian people. Also, the U.S. Treasury used the phrase "Russia's full-scale invasion," marking the administration's first official acknowledgment of Russia's responsibility for the war. The newly signed investment fund will be jointly managed by the U.S. and Ukraine, with neither side holding a controlling vote. Ukraine's economy minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, said the fund aims to attract Western capital for energy and mineral development, while ensuring that resources remain under Ukrainian ownership and control. The partnership will be equal and free of debt obligations to the U.S., with Kyiv overseeing all extraction decisions. In return, Washington will likely provide new assistance, including air defense systems. Earlier on Wednesday, President Trump said the agreement would help the U.S. recover part of the 66.5 billion U.S. dollars in military aid it has sent to Ukraine since 2022. "Rare earth is called rare for a reason, and they have a lot, and we made a deal where our money is secure, where we can start digging and doing what we have to do." However, Svyrydenko clarified that "the agreement includes no provisions regarding any Ukrainian debt obligations to the United States." The deal was signed days after Trump met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Pope Francis' funeral. Trump described the meeting as "beautiful" and said Zelenskyy "wants to make a deal" to end the war. The agreement reflects a growing focus on aligning post-war reconstruction with long-term economic collaboration — a partnership that may shape the next phase of U.S.-Ukraine relations. Park Hyo-been, Arirang News.

U.S. economy shrank 0.3% in Q1 amid Trump tariff impact

2025/05/01 17:00

The Trump administration's tariff policy has taken a tangible toll on America's first quarter economic activity. Findings show the country's GDP contracted by 0-point-3 percent on year and President Donald Trump insists that the former Biden administration is to blame. Lee Eun-jin reports. According to a Commerce Department report released on Wednesday, U.S. GDP in the first quarter of this year contracted 0-point-3 percent, marking the lowest GDP since the first quarter of 2022. The latest GDP reading is also lower than what was forecast by economists, which, according to FactSet, was 0-point-8 percent growth, still down from the 2-point-4 percent growth recorded in the fourth quarter of last year. The greatest cause for this sharp slowdown seems to have been President Trump's trade tariffs. Imports soared 41-point-3 percent in the first quarter, which threw the balance of trade off largely by the rush to bring in imports before the tariffs went up. But President Trump, during a Cabinet meeting at the White House, blamed former President Biden for the contraction, and even suggested that some responsibility for the next quarter would be Biden's as well, saying that such changes in the economy don't "just happen on a daily or an hourly basis." Trump also said in a Truth Social post, "quote," "This is Biden's Stock Market, not Trump's. I didn't take over until January 20th." Stock market volatility ensued following the release of the GDP report. But both the S&P and Dow marked their seventh straight day of gains, the S&P closing up 0-point-1-5 percent, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0-point-3-5 percent. Meanwhile, Nasdaq Composite dropped 0-point-0-9 percent. The personal consumption expenditures price index, the indicator for measuring inflation, stayed unchanged in March after advancing 0-point-4 percent in February. In the 12 months through March, the PCE increased 2-point-3 percent, after rising 2-point-7 percent in February last year. Based on Wednesday's Commerce Department data, the economy is holding up for now, but uncertainty is rising as Trump's tariffs could upend the global order as well as the U.S. economy. The latest figures don't actually reflect President Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs, as those were announced on April 2nd, just after the end of the first quarter. As some of those tariffs have already been paused or modified, analysts are expecting a more pronounced slowdown in growth later this year as consumers and businesses adjust. Meanwhile, President Trump wrote for everybody to be patient, saying the U.S. will soon "boom" after the tariffs start kicking in, and after the Biden "overhang" is gone. Economists say the tariffs could weaken economic growth and stoke inflation, but analysts still say one quarter of negative GDP growth is not itself a sign that a recession is underway. Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.

Trump implies possible trade deal with S. Korea during town hall event

2025/05/01 17:00

U.S. President Donald Trump continues to claim a tariff deal with South Korea is on the horizon while officials here maintain their cautious tone clarifying that no deal will be sealed ahead of the June third presidential election. Mr Trump's latest claim was made via phone to moderators of a televised town hall Wednesday evening hosted by NewsNation. When pressed about a tangible time frame for tariff deals with U.S. trade partners Mr. Trump added that he was in fact not in a hurry to rush into any deal as yet. He also went on to reaffirm that QUOTE "South Korea has been ripping the U.S. off on trade" despite the fact that "the U.S. pays for the military"

S. Korea saw third consecutive month of export growth in April despite U.S. tariffs

2025/05/01 17:00

And despite widespread concerns South Korea's exports managed to stay in the black in April rising for the third month in a row. Moon Ji-young covers this latest finding. South Korea's exports grew for the third consecutive month in April, despite the impact of tariffs imposed by the U.S., although outbound shipments to the U.S. saw a drop. According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on Thursday, the value of exports last month amounted to 58-point-2 billion U.S. dollars, up 3-point-7 percent compared to the previous year. This marked the highest-ever for any April. This growth comes as outbound shipments of semiconductors, the country's top export engine, surged by a whopping 17 percent on-year to reach 11-point-7 billion dollars. This is the highest figure for any April, driven by strong demand for high-value memory semiconductors such as HBM and price increases of DDR4 DRAM chips. Exports of wireless communications equipment, including smartphones, and exports of biohealth products also expanded by a large margin. While exports of steel and ships both increased, shipments of automobiles, another key export item, dropped almost four percent year-on-year. This decline was largely due to weaker demand for internal combustion engine cars and electric vehicles. Regionally, exports to China rose nearly four percent on-year on strong demand for smartphones and semiconductors. Exports to the European Union also surged by more than 18 percent, setting a new monthly record of 6-point-7 billion dollars. In contrast, outbound shipments to the U.S. decreased almost 7 percent year on year, mainly due to a drop in automobile and machinery exports. "High U.S. tariffs appear to have affected South Korea's exports to the U.S., though the degree of impact differs by sector" In the midst of global trade uncertainties, some experts highlight the need to increase local production in response to strengthening trade barriers, especially on chips. "Rather than solely insisting on exports, pursuing a strategy of increasing local production, while potentially leading to short-term industrial hollowing-out, is a necessary long-term approach to advance our industrial structure." Meanwhile, the country's imports decreased by 2-point-7 percent, driven by a drop in energy imports. Moon Ji-young, Arirang News.

K-wave AI News

2025/05/01 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. The number of foreign tourists visiting Korea last month reached over 1.6 million, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. According to the Korea Tourism Organization, that's 105% of the figure from March 2019 and an 8% increase from a year earlier. China topped the list of visitors to Korea last month with 417,000 arrivals, followed by Japan, Taiwan, and the United States. Notably, tourist arrivals from the Middle East and Africa exceeded 107% of pre-COVID levels, while those from Europe and the Americas reached 134%. The National Museum of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty fully opened today, unveiling a comprehensive look at 500 years of Joseon history. The museum is dedicated to the "Joseon Wangjo Sillok," or Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, and "Uigwe," records detailing the dynasty's administration and royal protocols. This marks the full opening of the museum about a year and a half after a partial exhibition in 2023. Located at Pyeongchang County in Gangwon-do Province, the museum houses over 1,200 artifacts from Joseon, including numerous national treasures. To commemorate the museum's full opening, a special exhibition will be held through July 13, featuring around 40 artifacts that shed light on the history of the Odaesan Archives, where the Joseon royal records were originally housed. How about spending the upcoming golden holiday surrounded by lush green tea fields? The 'Boseong Green Tea Festival' kicks off on Friday at the Korean Tea Culture Park in Boseong County, Jeollanam-do Province. Blending tradition with a modern touch, this year's festival features over 80 programs that offer a fresh take on Boseong's iconic green tea, targeting younger generations and the global market. The festival's signature event, the 'Grand Tea Party,' returns on a larger scale this year, welcoming up to 500 guests. A special K-Tea Culture Pavilion will also offer immersive experiences highlighting Korea's growing presence in the global tea scene. The festival runs through May 6. That's all from me. Keep it tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[Short-form] ‘Ipop Namu’ — the new face of spring in Korea

2025/05/01 14:00

With its many perks, the ‘ipop’ tree is quickly becoming Korea's springtime sensation!

[K-wave] Special exhibition to remark 20th anniversary of artist Koh Woo-young's death

2025/05/01 14:00

Up next, we learn about a prominent Korean comic artist Koh Woo-young who continues to be celebrated for his unique storytelling technique, through an exhibition to mark the 20th anniversary of his death. Cha Yun-kyung shares his story. Artist Koh Woo-young received high praise for raising the standard of Korean comics. He was a true storyteller who reinterpreted classics and folktales to give them a modern viewpoint. He left a lasting impression on his readers by reinventing strong characters from retold traditional tales like 'Iljimae'와 'Garujigi'. The Chinese classic, such as 'Samgukji' and 'Water Margin' were also reinvented through Koh's humor and art. "We say that the history repeats itself. While I was working on Chinese classics, my hair stood on end several times. It is just as the same as our situation. More than a lesson, a story from a thousand years ago could be our story, too." The comics of Koh Woo-young secured a large fan base of adult readers, opening up a new world of Korean comics. Koh also received much lover from the readers, increasing newspapers sales in the process. The special exhibition: “Storyteller of our times, Koh Woo-young,” sheds light on Koh's artwork and heritage. "We planned this exhibition with the hope that people, those who have read his works, and young people, can rediscover the values of artist Koh Woo-young's works. Koh's various works have been exhibited such as his most well-known pieces, scripts, and sketches. Visitors can see a timeline of the life of the artist and his work at the exhibition, which will be run until May 16th at Chungkang’s Comics and Animation Library in the city of Icheon, Gyeonggi-do Province. Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.

[K-enter] EPEX hold solo concert in China, a first in 9 years for a K-pop group

2025/05/01 14:00

Today we start off with some exciting news for K-pop fans in China. Please fill us in Bella. K-pop boy group EPEX is set to hold a solo concert in China next month, raising expectations that Beijing may be moving toward easing its tacit ban on South Korean entertainment. EPEX’s agency, C9 Entertainment, announced on Tuesday that the group will perform in Fuzhou, China, on May 31st as part of their Asian tour that kicked off in Seoul last December. EPEX’s concert would mark the first time in nine years that a K-pop group will stage a solo concert in China since 2016. As some of you may know, back in 2016, China had placed an unofficial ban on Korean culture and products in retaliation to Korea’s deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, THAAD. There have been signs of China warming up to Korea with K-pop singers opening small pop-up stores, fan meetings and concerts, but a full solo concert in a separate venue holds great significance for the two countries’ cultural diplomacy. EPEX are currently on their Asia tour that began in Seoul last December. The next tour dates coming up are in Macau on May 3rd, and in Taiwan on May 24th. We’ll keep an eye out as to how the two countries’ cultural diplomacy unfolds. Let’s stay on the topic of K-pop. This time we have a girl group gaining tremendous love on YouTube? The music video for FIFTY FIFTY’s latest release “Pookie” topped the Trending Videos list on YouTube on Wednesday. The new song was just released on Tuesday, so it’s impressive that this happened just within 24 hours. The music video surpassed 3.6 million views, the last time I checked just before the show, and it looks like it will continue to soar. FIFTY FIFTY’s third mini-album, “Day & Night,” released on Tuesday, is about five girls’ emotional journey to find their true identity as they face fear, confusion, and courage, breaking away from the world we live in. The new album features a total of six songs with double title tracks “Pookie” and “Midnight Special.” The music video is definitely eye-catching, colorful and artistic too a perfect match to the catchy melody. And for our last story, we are going to talk about a movie that has topped Korea’s box office? We talked about ‘One Punch Man’ Ma Dong-seok’s new film “Holy Night: Demon Hunters” previously on our show. Well, it has topped the box office on its opening day on Wednesday, just before the upcoming long weekend here in Korea. According to the Korea Box-office Information System, the new film claimed the top spot with over 117-thousand views on its opening day. This is very impressive as it got ahead of some big titles that are also currently out, such as “YADANG: THE SNITCH” and “THE OLD WOMAN WITH THE KNIFE.” “Holy Night” is an occult action film where the Holy Night team of dark fixers take on the forces of evil in a city plunged into chaos by a cult that worships evil. Under director Lim Dae-hee, the film features Ma Dong-seok, Seo-hyun, and Lee Da-wit. I’ll make sure to catch it during the long weekend. Thank you Bella for today’s stories.

S. Korea confirmed as final contractor of Czech nuclear power project

2025/05/01 10:00

South Korea is set to sign a contract next Wednesday to build two nuclear reactors in the Czech Republic, marking South Korea's first nuclear plant export in 16 years and also securing a foothold in Europe. Our Lee Soo-jin starts us off. South Korea has been officially confirmed as the contractor for the Czech Republic’s new nuclear power plant project. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said on Wednesday that a contract to build two reactors at the Dukovany power plant will be signed with the state-run Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power on May 7th. This comes as the Czech government announced that it will take an 80 percent stake in a subsidiary of its state-run energy company CEZ in charge of construction to finance the project, resolving one of the key hurdles to finalizing the nuclear power deal with Korea. CEZ had been pursuing alternative financing options after the government expanded the project from a single unit to two, estimated to cost more than 26 trillion won, or around 18 billion U.S. dollars. The project marks the first export of a nuclear power plant by a South Korean company since the Barakah nuclear plant in the United Arab Emirates in 2009. And if the Czech government later confirms plans to add two new units to the Temelin nuclear power plant, Korea is expected to be granted priority negotiation rights for that project too. A consortium led by the KHNP was selected in July 2024 as the preferred bidder to build the nuclear reactors, beating France's EDF and Westinghouse from the U.S., thanks to its competitive pricing and ability to follow tight construction timelines. While deal was supposed to finalized in March this year, it was delayed following complaints filed by EDF and Westinghouse against the decision. But the path to moving forward with the deal was cleared as Westinghouse and KHNP in January reached an agreement in January to settle their intellectual property dispute, and Czech authorities dismissed EDF appeals in April. The trial operation of the first nuclear unit is set for 2036, with the second to follow shortly after, aligning with the Czech Republic’s goal of having 50 percent of its energy generated by nuclear power by 2050. South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said that it "welcomes the announcement of the official contract signing date and that it will "make every effort to ensure a successful signing ceremony." The ceremony is expected to take place in Prague with representatives from KHNP and the CEZ subsidiary as well as government officials from both countries. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.

[Weather] May starts with rain and strong winds

2025/05/01 10:00

Relief from the dry conditions is on the way! However, this won't be a gentle drizzle. The rain will start in the western regions this morning and then spread to the rest of the country throughout the afternoon. Most of it should taper off by tonight. Northwestern Gyeonggi-do province and the mountainous areas of Jeju island could see up to 60 millimeters of rain. For Seoul and most other areas, we're looking at a range of 5 to 50 millimeters. It's also going to be quite windy across the country, especially along the west coast, where we could see typhoon-force gusts with wind advisories in place. This rain will bring a break from the recent heat, with temperatures going down 3 to 7 degrees lower than yesterday. Seoul gets up to 18 degrees Celsius. Gyeongju will go down to 24 degrees today. Looking ahead, we have more rain in the forecast for the entire country again during this upcoming long weekend. Today will be a wet and windy day, so please take precautions and stay safe out there.

World's tallest and smallest dogs meet

2025/05/01 10:00

On Wednesday, Guinness World Records revealed that the world's tallest and shortest dogs met for the first time in early April. Facilitated by GWR, Reggie, a seven-year-old Great Dane from Idaho standing at approximately 1 meter, and Pearl, a four-year-old Chihuahua from Florida, measuring just over 9 centimeters in height, met as part of the institution's 70th-anniversary celebrations. Despite a huge height difference, the two dogs quickly bonded at Reggie's home, where the event took place. Reggie, known for his gentle demeanor, was cautious around the tiny Pearl, who, according to the owner, is unfazed by larger dogs and enjoys their company.

US releases Mohsen Mahdawi, detained Columbia student activist

2025/05/01 10:00

In the United States, Columbia University student and Palestinian activist Mohsen Mahdawi was released from U.S. immigration detention on Wednesday, local time, after a federal judge ruled his arrest was unjustified. Mahdawi, a 34-year-old who has permanent U.S. residency or "green card" status, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on April 14, during a naturalization interview in Vermont. The Trump administration attempted to deport Mahdawi under a rarely used statute, alleging his advocacy for Palestinian rights threatened U.S. foreign policy. However, U.S. District Judge Geoffrey Crawford found no evidence that Mahdawi posed a flight risk or danger and ordered his release.

Swedish police arrest teenager after fatal triple shooting

2025/05/01 10:00

In Sweden, police have arrested a teenager following a shooting that killed three people in the city of Uppsala on Tuesday. The incident has raised concerns about escalating gang-related crimes in the nation. On Wednesday morning, local time, authorities apprehended a 16-year-old suspect, with the Swedish Prosecution Authority confirming that the teen is being held on suspicion for murder. On Tuesday, around 5 p.m., a shooting at a hair salon in Uppsala killed three men aged between 15 and 20. While the motive remains unclear, authorities are exploring potential gang-related connections, as one victim reportedly had ties to organized crime. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson called the shooting as "a terrible act," and lamented that "brutal and ruthless violence" is shaking the country. The nation has been seeing a rise in violent crime in recent years, with its worst mass shooting leading to 10 deaths occurring in February.

Wildfires rage near Jerusalem, roads and communities evacuated

2025/05/01 10:00

Starting in the Middle East, Israel is fighting one of the most severe wildfires in its recent history. Tell us more. Sure. Massive wildfires broke out near Jerusalem on Wednesday morning, leading to widespread evacuations and prompting the declaration of a national emergency. On April 30, wildfires erupted in the forest area between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, rapidly spreading due to high temperatures and strong winds. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the blazes could reach Jerusalem itself. This has forced the evacuation of several communities and the closure of major roads. Memorial day ceremonies and Independence Day celebrations planned for Thursday have also been canceled. The Israel Fire and Rescue Services declared their highest alert level, mobilizing over 120 firefighting teams, including assistance from the Israel Defense Forces. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar has also sought additional firefighting aid from over a dozen countries. At least 16 people have reportedly been hospitalized for smoke inhalation, and no fatalities have been reported.

How 'When Life Gives You Tangerines' captures the beauty of Jeju

2025/05/01 10:00

South Korean Netflix series "When Life Gives You Tangerines", known as "Pokssak Sogatsuda" in Korean has become a hit both at home and abroad. What's so special about it? Ahn Sung-jin tells us. This line from the last episode of the Korean drama "When Life Gives You Tangerines" captures one of the underlying meanings of the series, 'living life.' The story of a young couple on Jeju island and how their life progresses through many ups and downs caught many sniffling throughout the episodes of this heartwarming story. "Across generations, these stories and the lines from the characters were very relatable in talking about life and values because it revolves around family." Such storylines have resonated with viewers from around the world as the show topped Netflix's global non-English show chart. "The theme is so universal. In fact that there are Korean themes involved is part of the fascination and interest for me as a Westerner. That show makes me feel like I'm there. I feel like a part of their life, and I feel like I'm experiencing what it's like to be in Korea during the stretch of time. I think it's absolutely universal." The series' Korean title uses a phrase from Jeju dialect, "Pokssak Sogatsuda" which translates to "you've worked hard." The drama portrays glimpses of the beautiful scenery of Jeju island as a background to key events in their life. The characters grow up on Je주's rocky shores in the 1950s, and these scenes were filmed around Gimnyeong beach where haenyeo or female divers can often be seen, a symbol of Jeju Island. They fall in love in the warm bright canola fields in the 1960s, another endearing sight on the island during April and May. The characters take part in a writing contest at the Jeju-mok Government Office, capturing the history of Jeju. And other scenes show off the island's natural beauty. "This site right here was one of the places where scenes from the drama were filmed. You can also get a glimpse of the traditional houses that represent Jeju Island." The local government is developing programs so that tourists can visit these locations easily. "Through hosting drama filming locations and investing more in these programs, we hope to further invigorate Jeju's content and tourism business." So for those who haven't had a chance yet to catch up with the series, why not give it a look to enjoy the beauty of Jeju. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.

Top court to rule on Thursday on DP presidential candidate's election law violation case

2025/05/01 10:00

The Supreme Court will rule this afternoon on the election law violation case of the Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung. Lee will not appear in court, as defendants are not required to be present. The ruling follows an appeal by prosecutors against a high court ruling last month that had overturned an initial guilty verdict. The top court decided last week to have the full bench oversee the case and reviewed it at an unusually fast pace. Lee was convicted of making false statements during the previous presidential campaign, including denying ties to a key figure involved in a land development scandal in Seongnam during a media interview in 2021. He is also accused of having made false claims that there was pressure from South Korea's land ministry to rezone a research institute site in the Baekhyeon-dong area of Seongnam. The ruling will be broadcast live on TV and the court's YouTube channel.

U.S. Navy secretary visits S. Korea's leading shipbuilders to bolster cooperation

2025/05/01 10:00

With the U.S. looking to reconstruct its own shipbuilding industry, it's turning to South Korea for that grand project. And the U.S. navy chief came to Korea for visits to major shipyards here for cooperation between Seoul and Washington. Moon Ji-young reports. U.S. Navy Secretary John Phelan is on a visit to South Korea in a move to enhance bilateral cooperation in the shipbuilding sector under U.S. President Donald Trump’s leadership. According to industry sources, Phelan is visiting HD Hyundai Heavy's headquarters in Ulsan, and Hanwha Ocean's shipyard in Geoje on Wednesday, both located in the southern region of the country. He is expected to meet with the companies' top executives, including HD Hyundai Vice Chairman Chung Ki-sun and Hanwha Group Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan, to discuss potential collaboration in areas of naval shipbuilding, maintenance, repairs, and overhauls. The navy chief’s visit comes as Trump has highlighted the need to revitalize America's shipbuilding industry and the importance of partnering with allies, including South Korea, a global powerhouse in naval vessel construction. Before arriving in South Korea, Phelan visited Japan, where he toured local shipyards and met with Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani to seek bilateral cooperation in naval ship maintenance. "The competition with China, especially regarding the scale of warships, is so fierce that the U.S. shipbuilding industry cannot effectively compete. This is why President Trump plans to revive it." Meanwhile, Acting President Han Duck-soo met with John Phelan on Wednesday morning to discuss cooperation in the shipbuilding sector, including strategies to integrate this collaboration into broader trade negotiations. Moon Ji-young, Arirang News.