News

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

2025/04/30 20:00

Couple of weeks ago, we covered how the Netflix series "When Life Gives You Tangerines" has been gaining popularity in and outside of the country. Ahn Sung-jin was in Jeju herself to see the scenes from the drama and to talk about what makes the drama the latest buzz. 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 Jeju'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.

Seoul bus drivers end one-day protest for normal operation but seek further negotiations

2025/04/30 20:00

The Seoul Bus Labor Union says buses will operate as normal starting tomorrow, following Wednesday's one-day "work-to-rule" slowdown protest. The union limited the protest to one day to minimize public inconvenience, but is urging management to take part in further negotiations. If talks continue to stall, the union may decide on further action, possibly a full-scale strike, at next week's meeting. Last-minute talks broke down in the early hours of Wednesday, after nine hours of negotiations. The union is demanding an 8-point-2 percent increase in base pay and an extension of the retirement age from 63 to 65. Management is pushing to lower the standard wage through wage system reform.

S. Korea welcomes 1.6 mil. foreign tourists in March, surpassing pre-pandemic level

2025/04/30 20:00

South Korea's inbound tourism for March fully rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, surpassing the number recorded during the same month in 2019. According to the Korea Tourism Organization on Wednesday, around 1-point-6 million foreign tourists visited the country last month, marking an 8 percent increase year-on-year. The largest number of visitors came from China, followed by Japan, Taiwan and the United States. From January to March this year, Korea has welcomed around 3-point-8 million tourists, up nearly 14-percent compared to the same period last year.

S. Korea's March industrial output rises while consumption and investment fall

2025/04/30 20:00

Industrial output maintained its growth momentum in March on the back of strong chip production but retail sales and facility investment lost ground. Shin Se-byuck covers the latest findings. South Korea's overall industrial output rose for a second straight month in March, led by a surge in semiconductor production,.. posting the biggest rise in 19 months. According to Statistics Korea on Wednesday, the country's industrial production index climbed point-9 percent on-month to 114-point-7. That follows a 1.0 percent gain in February, marking a continued rebound after a 1-point-6 percent drop in January. Manufacturing output jumped 2-point-9 percent from the month before. In particular, chip production spiked 13-point-3 percent, the largest increase since August 2023. Statistics Korea attributes this to sustained demand for advanced memory chips. "Semiconductor output has been climbing steadily since last year. In particular, demand for high-performance chips like HBM and DDR5 has reached record highs." Despite gains in production, the domestic economy remains sluggish. Construction output dropped 2-point-7 percent, while service-sector production, a key indicator of consumer activity, dipped 0-point-3 percent. Both consumption and investment declined, falling by point-3 percent and point-9 percent respectively from the previous month. Regarding consumption,.. by category,.. sales of nondurable and semi-durable goods rose, but durable goods like mobile phones and computers saw a sharp 8-point-6 percent drop. Statistics Korea attributed the sharp decrease in durable goods to a base effect from last month's surge in smartphone sales and early EV subsidies. For investment, facility investment fell point-9 percent as machinery investment declined, despite gains in transport equipment such as passenger cars. Pointing to weakening domestic demand as the main reason behind the divergence between industrial output and consumption, an expert said both short and long-term government efforts are needed to tackle the slowdown amid internal and external uncertainties. "The government is using a supplementary budget and potential rate cuts to support demand, but in the long run, we need new growth engines, as most industries, aside from semiconductors, are losing ground to China, hurting both exports and domestic demand." Shin Se-byuck, Arirang News.

Forest fire in Daegu reignites after a day; evacuation alerts issued

2025/04/30 20:00

A wildfire in Daegu that was contained yesterday flared up again this afternoon, with people advised to evacuate. We have our Lee Eun-hee on the line. Eun-hee, fill us in. Yes, Jung-min, the massive forest fire on Hamjisan Mountain in Daegu has reignited just a day after being brought under control. Around 5 PM today, local officials sent emergency alerts, ordering nearby residents to evacuate. In response, the Korea Forest Service deployed over 300 personnel and over 40 firefighting helicopters to the scene. The latest updates report that a fire line has formed along a 2.1-kilometer stretch around the mountain. The first fire was initially extinguished by Tuesday noon after nearly 24 hours, but strong winds reignited residual embers, causing the fire to flare up again. To prepare for the wildfire's continued spread, a nationwide emergency mobilization order has also been reissued, which calls for additional firefighting support from other regions. That's all I have, Jung-min. Thank you for the update, Eun-hee.

Spain, Portugal restore power, still no explanation on what caused blackout

2025/04/30 20:00

The lights are back on in Spain and Portugal following the recent massive blackout, but what caused the incident remains unclear. Lee Eun-jin has more. Power was restored to normal in Spain and Portugal by 11am on Tuesday, local time, after they experienced one of Europe's most severe blackouts. Despite the recovery, both Spain and Portugal remained in a state of emergency on Tuesday. A sudden loss of 15 gigawatts of power in a matter of five seconds around noon on Monday, local time triggered the blackout, but authorities are yet to give an explanation into what caused this sudden loss of power. When the power failure struck around noon on Monday, airports, railways, traffic and hospitals were paralyzed and phone services and ATMs were shut down. Emergency workers in Spain said they had rescued around 35-thousand passengers on Monday stranded along railways and the underground rail system. The Spanish national electricity system operator had detected two incidents of power generation loss that could have caused the energy instability. And while the agency ruled out cyber-attack as the cause, Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez said the government would not rush to conclusions in finding out what happened in those five seconds. Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.

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

2025/04/30 20:00

Against this backdrop, U.S.' Secretary of the Navy is here in Korea, visiting major shipyards in the country for related 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.

Trump temporarily eases tariffs for automakers for two years

2025/04/30 20:00

U.S. President Trump has taken a step back to ease some of his tariffs on the auto industry. Marking his first 100 days in office, his administration seems to be sending a message to America when it comes to trade negotiations with other countries. Moon Hye-ryeon reports. U.S. President Trump signed two executive orders on Tuesday, rolling back portions of the auto tariffs announced earlier this month. The changes modify the 25-percent tariff on fully assembled vehicles, as well as additional levies on auto parts that are set to take effect in stages starting May 3rd. The first executive order introduces a tariff offset for parts used in vehicles assembled in the U.S. — equaling 3-point-7-5 percent of the retail price in the first year and 2-point-5 percent in the second year. These percentages correspond to a 25-percent tariff applied to 15 percent of the vehicle's value in the first year and 10 percent in the second year. Trump said the measure is intended to give automakers more time to produce cars in the U.S. "We just wanted to help them during this little transition, short term, and during this little, if they can't get parts, you know, it has to do with a very small percentage, if they can't get parts, we didn't want to penalize them." Under the second executive order, automakers will be shielded from so-called "stacked tariffs." That means companies already paying the levy on imported vehicles and parts will not have to face additional steel and aluminum tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico. The administration says the goal is to avoid compounding unnecessary costs. Meanwhile, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Tuesday that tariff talks with South Korea are beginning to take shape, although he did not provide further details. "I could see the contours of a deal with the Republic of Korea coming together. And then we've had substantial talks with the Japanese." When asked how domestic issues in South Korea and other trade partners are affecting trade talks, Bessent stated that these countries want to have a "framework of a deal" in place before their elections. However, South Korea's Finance Ministry rejected the remarks and reaffirmed that the country is committed to following the proper procedures and not rushing the negotiations. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

NIS Reports 4,700 N. Korean casualties in Russia's war; UNSC holds key debate

2025/04/30 20:00

Intelligence officials estimate thousands of North Korean casualties on the battlefield amid Russia's war against Ukraine. The voice is growing louder within the international community to condemn growing military ties between the two following North Korea's recent confirmation of troop deployment. Our correspondent Kim Jung-sil has more. South Korea's National Intelligence Service reported nearly 4,700 North Korean casualties in Russia's war in Ukraine, including at least 600 fatalities. The information was revealed during a closed-door briefing of the National Assembly's Intelligence Committee on Wednesday. Intelligence reports also show a significant boost in North Korea's combat effectiveness, especially with the use of new technology like drones. This comes amid growing global tensions over North Korea's escalating military role in supporting Russia's war in Ukraine. On Tuesday, the UN Security Council held its first meeting addressing the situation in Ukraine, following North Korea's admission of sending troops to Russia and Russia's confirmation. Hwang Joon-kook, South Korean Ambassador to the UN, voiced grave concern over the military support. "Staggering reports indicate that North Korea now supplies nearly half of Russia's front-line munitions. Without this illegal military assistance, peace in Ukraine might already have been within reach." The meeting saw widespread condemnation from several countries, including South Korea, the U.S., and Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russia's Ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, defended the collaboration, framing it as part of their strategic partnership. "We are deeply grateful to our Korean brothers, whose fortitude and bravery will forever remain in the memory of our people." While North Korea's absence from the UN meeting raises questions about its diplomatic engagement, its ongoing military support for Russia continues to influence the course of the conflict in Ukraine. Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.

Trump temporarily eases tariffs for automakers for two years

2025/04/30 17:00

U.S. President Donald Trump has penned an executive order that allows for a slower implementation of tariffs on autos and their parts to offer carmakers more time to boost manufacturing in the U.S. Shin Ha-young has details. The U.S. government has decided to ease the tariff burden on the auto industry for two years. President Donald Trump signed an order Tuesday to temporarily ease tariffs on auto parts for companies that manufacture cars in the U.S. The move came after the Trump administration began imposing 25 percent tariffs on fully built vehicles, which took effect on April 3rd. Tariffs on auto parts are set to be implemented in stages on May 3rd. The new measure provides a tariff offset for parts in U.S.-assembled vehicles, equaling 3-point-7-5 percent of the retail price in the first year and 2-point-5 percent in the second year. These percentages correspond to a 25 percent tariff applied to 15 percent of the vehicle's value in the first year and 10 percent in the second year. Trump said the measure is meant to give automakers time to produce cars in the U.S. "We just wanted to help them during this little transition, short term, and during this little, if they can't get parts, you know, it has to do with a very small percentage, if they can't get parts, we didn't want to penalize them." Meanwhile, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Tuesday that tariff talks with South Korea are beginning to take shape, although he did not provide further details. "I could see the contours of a deal with the Republic of Korea coming together. And then we've had substantial talks with the Japanese." When asked how domestic issues in South Korea and other trade partners are affecting trade talks, Bessent stated that these countries want to have a "framework of a deal" in place before their elections. However, Seoul's finance ministry rejected the remarks and reaffirmed that the country is committed to following the proper procedures and not rushing the negotiations. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told CNBC on Tuesday that he had reached a deal with one country that should permanently ease the reciprocal tariffs Trump plans to impose. Lutnick declined to name the country, saying the deal was awaiting local approval. Based on remarks from U.S. officials, India is seen as the country closest to reaching a deal on tariffs. Bessent said in a briefing that two countries are "very close" to a breakthrough. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

[Weather] Rain across the country on Thursday

2025/04/30 17:00

It feels like summer is here already. The daytime temperature in Seoul was as high as 26 degrees Celsius today, about 5 degrees higher than yesterday. There were areas where the daytime temperatures rose to nearly 30 degrees in the southern parts of the country. However, as it gets chilly after sunset, please dress in layers when you go outside. Rain is forecast across the country tomorrow and the dryness of the atmosphere will gradually be relieved. Rain will begin tomorrow morning in the western parts of the country, including Seoul, and will spread nationwide in the afternoon. Tomorrow morning, most areas will start off in the double digits with rain falling. Highs will move up to 18 degrees in Seoul, 21 degrees in Chuncheon and Busan. Another round of rain is expected on Saturday all over the country. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

World News: Canada's Liberal Party wins election, PM Carney says Canada will ‘never’ yield to Trump’s threats

2025/04/30 17:00

This is the World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. Prime Minister Mark Carney has led Canada's Liberal Party to victory, in an election dominated by tensions with the United States. On Monday, local time, the Liberal Party secured governance for a fourth consecutive term. In his victory speech, Carney said his country would "never" yield to the United States. "America wants our land, our resources, our water, our country. Never. But these are not these are not idle threats. President Trump is trying to break us so that America can own us. That will never. That will never, ever happen." Carney's campaign gained momentum amid rising tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump, who had imposed tariffs on Canadian goods and said he wanted to make Canada the 51st state of the U.S. In his victory speech, Carney emphasized Canada's independence and declared Canada will never be part of the U.S. in any way, shape, or form. The Liberals secured 169 seats in the House of Commons, falling just short of the 172 needed for a majority. This means the government will need support from smaller parties to stay in power. In Syria, over a dozen people were killed during sectarian clashes in a Druze suburb of Damascus between residents and Sunnis on Tuesday. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least 14 people were killed in the predominantly Druze town of Jaramana, including local Druze fighters and members of Syria's General Security Service. The violence was reportedly triggered by the circulation of an audio recording on social media, allegedly insulting the Prophet Muhammad and attributed to a Druze cleric. The cleric, Marwan Kiwan, denied responsibility for the recording. The incident highlights ongoing sectarian tensions in Syria following the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad by Islamist-led rebels in December 2024. The Syrian Interior Ministry launched an investigation into the origin of the audio recording and called for calm. In the United States, tech giant Amazon on Tuesday denied reports that it planned to display U.S. tariff costs on product listings, following a backlash from the White House. The company refuted claims that it intended to show tariff-related costs on its main website. It clarified that while its discount platform, Amazon Haul, had internally considered listing import charges on certain products, the idea was never approved or implemented. Initial reports of such claims led to criticism from the White House, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt describing the alleged plan as "hostile" and "political," adding Amazon should have displayed cost increases caused by inflation during the previous administration. Finally, Starbucks is set to open its first-ever 3D-printed store in the United States. The location, which is drive-thru only, is set to open Friday in Brownsville, Texas. The store was constructed using a robotic arm that layered concrete to form the building's structure. Distinctive, ridged walls set it apart from traditional construction designs. Unlike typical Starbucks locations, this store is designed exclusively for drive-thru and pickups, with no indoor seating. The company has not disclosed plans for additional 3D-printed stores but is aiming to move toward innovative construction solutions. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.

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

2025/04/30 17:00

"Ageing is just another word for living." And the wisdom behind these few words comes to light in a Korean drama ALSO on Netflix that has been reigniting interest in the southern island of Jeju. In fact my colleague Ahn Sung-jin was just there. 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 Jeju'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.

Netflix original K-drama Weak Hero Class 2 tops its non-English chart

2025/04/30 17:00

On the entertainment front. Korean drama "Weak Hero Class 2" has topped the chart for the most-watched non-English series on Netflix. Findings for the final full week of April show this drama series standing at number one in nine countries including South Korea the Philippines and Thailand following its release last Friday. The plot revolves around efforts to fight bullying at school. Also with regard to the latest Netflix ranking six out of the top ten non-English series were Korean productions.

NIS Reports 4,700 N. Korean casualties in Russia's war; UNSC holds key debate

2025/04/30 17:00

Intelligence officials here in South Korea assert there have been thousands of North Korean casualties on the battlefield amid Russia's war against Ukraine. Our correspondent Kim Jung-sil covers this finding as well as the international condemnation following North Korea's recent confirmation of troop deployment in support of Russia. South Korea's National Intelligence Service reported nearly 4,700 North Korean casualties in Russia's war in Ukraine, including at least 600 fatalities. The information was revealed during a closed-door briefing of the National Assembly's Intelligence Committee on Wednesday. Intelligence reports also show a significant boost in North Korea's combat effectiveness, especially with the use of new technology like drones. This comes amid growing global tensions over North Korea's escalating military role in supporting Russia's war in Ukraine. On Tuesday, the UN Security Council held its first meeting addressing the situation in Ukraine, following North Korea's admission of sending troops to Russia and Russia's confirmation. Hwang Joon-kook, South Korean Ambassador to the UN, voiced grave concern over the military support. "Staggering reports indicate that North Korea now supplies nearly half of Russia's front-line munitions. Without this illegal military assistance, peace in Ukraine might already have been within reach." The meeting saw widespread condemnation from several countries, including South Korea, the U.S., and Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russia's Ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, defended the collaboration, framing it as part of their strategic partnership. "We are deeply grateful to our Korean brothers, whose fortitude and bravery will forever remain in the memory of our people." While North Korea's absence from the UN meeting raises questions about its diplomatic engagement, its ongoing military support for Russia continues to influence the course of the conflict in Ukraine. Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.

DP camp rallies unity with COVID hero Jung Eun-kyeong; PPP’s final showdown before voting

2025/04/30 17:00

South Korea is now counting down 34 days to the June third presidential election. And for more on the partisan preparations I have Kim Do-yeon live on the line. Do-yeon welcome. I hear the Democratic Party has launched its campaign committee? The Democratic Party of Korea just hours ago launched its presidential election campaign committee for its candidate Lee Jae-myung. As we know, Lee is leading the polls and with the election coming from a rival party's former president being impeached, Lee and the campaign's main message, in efforts to secure the win, is social unity. First, take a listen to Lee himself as he kicked off his camp. "South Korea now stands at a historic crossroads — will it rise as a hopeful leader on the global stage, or fall into decline through destructive backpedaling? The only force that can stop regression and lead us toward hope and the future is national unity." This aspect is also reflected through the lineup of the General Election Campaign Committee. There are a total of 22 leaders, with seven of them at the director level with 15 co-chairs; some of them come with conservative politics experience. One political debutante especially sticks out as she's known as one of the nation's popular healthcare experts the former Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency chief, Jung Eun-kyeong. Back in 2020, when COVID-19 first started spreading globally she gained international fame for leading South Korea's fast response to containing the then-not-well-known disease. All in all, the Lee campaign team will have 15 subcommittees directly under the auspices of Lee and 35 more subcommittees to deal with all aspects of the nation. Meanwhile Do-yeon the People Power Party is preparing for a final debate tonight? That's right, Sun-hee. Tonight at 10 PM, Kim Moon-soo and Han Dong-hoon face off in the final PPP run-off debate — a crucial and last showdown to decide the party's presidential nominee. Neither cleared 50 percent in the last round, which was split evenly between party electors and an open survey. This also means neither has a clear lead. Kim holds an edge among party members, especially those still loyal to impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol — whose removal he opposed. But Han, who supported Yoon's impeachment possibly tipping the scale with his faction during the impeachment voting, is seen as stronger among swing voters an advantage for the open survey. That divide came to light during their last debate — take a listen. You used to be really close with President Yoon. What happened? Dear citizens, I believe in democracy and the republic. I would've stopped my own father if he declared martial law. The voting will open on Thursday until Friday and on Saturday at the party's convention the winner will be announced. Meanwhile, Acting President Han Duck-soo is now expected to run for president, with his resignation from the caretaker role likely as early as tomorrow. If he runs, he'll begin as an independent since he skipped the PPP primary — a major variable in the race. Kim Moon-soo supports merging with Han to counter Lee Jae-myung, while Han Dong-hoon has been more critical, though he agrees that a merger may be needed. All right Do-yeon thank you for the latest on the presidential election.

[The Interview] Korean companies should "use American citizens as ambassadors" to navigate Trump tariff era: AMCHAM CEO James Kim

2025/04/30 17:00

The American Chamber of Commerce here in Korea believes raising awareness within the American public about Korea's business contributions to the U.S market may well serve the broader interests of the two governments. Our Lee Soo-jin explains. U.S. President Donald Trump's hard-line tariff agenda is fueling rapid, unpredictable shifts in the global trading landscape. South Korean companies are among those heavily impacted,. which is why they are actively exploring new strategies to adapt to the shifting environment. We sat down with the President and CEO of the American Chamber of Commerce in Seoul on Tuesday, who spoke highly of the contributions that Korean companies have made to the U.S. economy. "I think that Korean companies have done an amazing job. If you take a look at the past three years, Korean companies have made around 140 billion dollars worth of investment in America, making them the largest foreign direct investor in the United States. So if you are an American politician a governor or even the president of the United States I think you have to recognize the big contributions that Korean companies have made." But while Korean companies' contributions have been significant, more effort is needed to raise awareness of both these contributions and their broader strengths, particularly among the American public. "If you talked to an average American citizen who's living in Illinois, I don't think they know that Korean companies are the largest foreign direct investment. But I think that that's the mainstream America that the Korean government and Korean companies should really help educate the American public. And I would use the American citizens a lot more to be their their ambassador." " What are some specific strengths you think American citizens should know about Korean companies?" "Infrastructure is amazing. The people of Korea work very, very hard very, very efficiently. This is a great market to test out new products. The digital side of it is amazing, right? So those are the kind of aspects that people should know about Korea and why Korea is an important market for them to even consider investing in and doing business." And the more the U.S. and its people view Korea as an important market, the more investment and partnerships will follow, which will naturally give Korea a greater leverage against Trump's protectionist measures. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.

Samsung Electronics logs record quarterly revenue on strong smartphone, chip demand in Q1

2025/04/30 17:00

Samsung Electronics raked in its highest-ever quarterly revenue during the first quarter of this year. According to the company earlier on this Wednesday the revenue stands at slightly above 79 trillion won up some 10 percent on year. What's more Samsung's first-quarter operating profit also gained one-point-five percent on year to reach some 6-point-7 trillion won or some 4-point-7 billion U.S. dollars. These latest findings are being linked to strong performance in the smartphone and semiconductor units.

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

2025/04/30 17:00

U.S. Secretary John Phelan of the Navy is here in South Korea as part of efforts to jump-start partnership between Seoul and Washington in shipbuilding. 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.

TRUMP MARKS 100 DAYS IN OFFICE

2025/04/30 17:00

Hello and welcome to Press Perspective. It's Wednesday April 30th here in Seoul. I'm Min Sunhee. Now just a day earlier the Trump administration celebrated its first one hundred days at the top office. So what have been the broader implications of the administration's America First policy? To answer that question and more have Lee Ji-hoon with news agency Reuters. Ji-hoon welcome back. I also have Professor Kim Yong-Jin at Sogang University joining our talk virtually. Professor Kim it's a pleasure. 1) Ji-hoon, let's begin with details of an article by your news agency Reuters regarding the Trump administration's first 100 days in office and its impact on diplomacy and trade. Let's begin with diplomacy. What is the assessment on that front? 2) Professor Kim, with regard to South Korea, Reuters claims "debate has intensified in South Korea about developing its own nuclear arsenal". What would be the potential economic implications of South Korea seeking to strengthen its defense capabilities? 3) Professor Kim, the same article claims the Trump administration's pressure on its partners might serve to push them towards China. What are the prospects of such a scenario for South Korea? 4) Ji-hoon, back to the 100 day assessment of Trump's achievements. What has been shared about his trade policy thus far by Reuters? 5) Professor Kim, acting President Han Duck-soo in an interview with British outlet "The Economist" reaffirmed his confidence in cooperation rather than confrontation with regard to tariff talks with the U.S. Do you suppose this strategy will prevail regardless of who wins the presidential race on June 3rd? 6) Ji-hoon, there is also talk about the Trump administration looking into its options of engaging with North Korea. Do tell us more about this initiative, and its importance. 7) Professor Kim, speaking about North Korea. Do you believe South Korea could leverage economic initiatives to engage North Korea? 8) And finally, Ji-hoon, what does the Trump administration's next one hundred days appear to look like? All right.