News

S. Korea-U.S. tariff talks ease uncertainty, open path for orderly consultation: finance minister

2025/04/28 17:00

Meanwhile here in Korea. Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok believes the most recent tariff talks with the U.S. have paved the path for orderly consultations. This belief was shared to members of the media this past Sunday at Incheon International Airport upon his arrival from Washington D.C. to attend the spring gatherings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund as well as the two-plus-plus trade talks with Trump administration's officials. According to Choi the talks have laid the groundwork for future discussions.

Trump's approval rating drops ahead of 100 days mark

2025/04/28 17:00

U.S. President Donald Trump is witnessing the lowest 100-day approval rating of any American leader over the past eight decades. According to the most recent public poll conducted by ABC News, The Washington Post and Ipsos, 39 percent approved of his policies, down six percentage points compared to February. Pundits are linking this latest finding to public backlash against Mr. Trump's economic policy with many of the respondents concerned about the risk of a recession. His immigration as well as diplomatic policies have also ignited fears. Trump this week marks his first 100 days at the White House under a second term at the top office.

At least 40 killed in Iran port explosion

2025/04/28 17:00

Iran is reeling in the aftermath of a deadly detonation at a port this past weekend that has led to hundreds of casualties. Lee Seung-jae covers this tragic event. A massive explosion at the port of Bandar Abbas on Saturday killed at least forty people,.. and left at least a thousand others injured. According to eyewitnesses and surveillance footage,.. chemicals in an area with shipping containers caught fire, setting off the massive explosion. According to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency, quoting an Iranian official,.. the explosion was likely due to containers of chemicals, but the official did not elaborate on what type of chemical. Iran's national oil company also explained that the explosion was "not related to refineries, fuel tanks, or oil pipelines" in the area. The deadly explosion on Saturday was also a grim reminder of another massive explosion in Beirut nearly five years ago. The similarity in the smoke created from the blast also shed light on what type of chemical could have been involved. Video and images from CNN showed orange-brown smoke rising from the port, suggesting that a chemical such as sodium or ammonia was involved. The New York Times also reported on Sunday, that a person with ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said what exploded in the incident was sodium perchlorate, a major ingredient in solid fuel for missiles. Other experts have said that ammonium nitrate was behind the deadly blast, the same chemical involved in the 2020 Beirut explosion. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

PPP's interim-chair calls DP's convention "coronation," amid PPP's fierce 4-way battle

2025/04/28 17:00

The People Power Party for its part is in the process of electing its contender with a name to be announced as early as this coming Tuesday or on Saturday at the latest. Kim Do-yeon covers this partisan primary as well as the party's criticism of its rival. The People Power Party took shots at its rival the Democratic Party of Korea on Monday, saying that its convention, where the party announced its presidential candidate, was nothing more than a coronation ceremony. "It was virtually a coronation for Lee Jae-myung, proving that the Democratic Party has become a one-man dictatorship under his leadership, with an overwhelming 89.77% of the vote. Some even said it already felt like a Democratic Party government would be in place in just 40 days." The comments came as the PPP's second round of voting by eligible PPP members continues throughout Monday until 10 PM. For this round, the final vote will be calculated by amalgamating 50-percent of this vote with 50-percent from an open public survey. The results of the voting will be announced on Tuesday, and if no one receives more than 50 percent of the final tally, there will be a run-off between the top two contenders, with the final results coming on May 3rd during the PPP's convention. The four contestants, Kim Moon-soo, Ahn Cheol-soo, Hong Joon-pyo and Han Dong-hoon, continued to promote their candidacy. Kim focused on media interviews and kept an "on-air campaign" doing 3 live interviews and a press briefing in one day. Ahn visited the Daejeon National Cemetery, before announcing his pledges for the Chungcheong-do provinces. Han visited the Hyeonchungsa Shrine in Asan City. As it's a place to honor the famous Admiral Yi Sun-shin, Han revealed his military and security pledges there. Hong visited the Korea Federation of SMEs to assess the state of the industry. Meanwhile Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's possible declaration of his candidacy, which started as speculation, seems to be emerging as a key variable in the PPP's presidential primary. Local reports confirmed the PM's chief of staff and three others resigned from their current posts, likely to prepare for the election. Among the four Kim Moon-soo is the only one so far who has welcomed the idea of Han running for the presidency. Ahn and Hong have openly criticized the idea, while Han Dong-hoon has so far refrained from a direct answer, saying he will focus on the primary. That said, the three did pledge to merge their camps with the acting president if he does run and if they win the primary. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.

Lee Jae-myung secures DP’s presidential nomination with landslide victory in primary

2025/04/28 17:00

On the political front. The Democratic Party has elected its party candidate for the presidential race on June 3rd. Lee Jae-myung will seek a second attempt at the top office. Our correspondent Shin Ha-young reports. "Lee Jae-myung has been confirmed as the DP's presidential nominee after winning 89-point-7-7 percent of the vote." No surprises, as expected. The Democratic Party wrapped up its presidential primaries on Sunday with a victory for former party leader Lee Jae-myung. In his acceptance speech, Lee blamed himself for losing in the last presidential election and vowed to win this time. "I will win and take back the government. I promise to build a new Korea, full of hope and energy, to repay your trust." According to the DP, Lee won the votes of over 90 percent of party members and delegates, and over 89 percent in a public poll of one million people. With both results weighted 50 percent each, he secured 89-point-7-7 percent of the total vote. It's the highest figure ever recorded in a presidential primary among DP-affiliated candidates. Lee's two opponents Kim Dong-yeon, who came in second with 6-point-8-7 percent, and Kim Kyung-soo, who followed with 3-point-3-6 percent finished well behind. "Lee Jae-myung, who stayed as the front-runner throughout the primary, is now running for president as the Democratic Party's candidate for the second time, following his presidential bid in 2022." Lee kicked off his first day as a presidential candidate with a visit to the Seoul National Cemetery on Monday morning. He paid tribute to former presidents, including those from the conservative side, seen as a move to emphasize unity and expand his appeal to centrist and conservative voters. "We must work to unite the country. While I am the DP's candidate, I will also do my best to become a candidate for all the people. I hope today's cemetery visit doesn't spark new conflict." In the afternoon, Lee held a meeting at SK hynix headquarters on AI memory semiconductors. Ahead of the meeting, he emphasized his goal of making South Korea the top semiconductor country and pledged to quickly pass a special act aimed at boosting the domestic semiconductor industry. Meanwhile, the DP plans to launch its election campaign committee on Wednesday. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

Experts analyze N. Korea's strategic move in acknowledging troop deployment to Russia

2025/04/28 17:00

North Korea's confirmation of active combat duty by its soldiers in support of Russia against Ukraine has pundits pondering over the purpose of this public announcement made on the front page of its state-run daily. Our correspondent Kim Jung-sil spoke to a few of them. Just days after Russia confirmed North Korea's involvement, Pyongyang made its own public acknowledgment. Experts say the move aligns with Moscow's victory narrative in recapturing the Kursk region and signals stronger ties between the two. "Since President Putin publicly acknowledged the deployment on the 26th, this revelation from North Korea seems to have been made in coordination with Russia." According to experts, Moscow and Pyongyang likely coordinated their messages to maximize their diplomatic impact. With Russia declaring victory in Kursk, North Korea strategically positioned itself as a key player in this ongoing conflict — both militarily and diplomatically. "North Korea is emphasizing its contribution to the victory, and by framing its involvement as a legitimate defensive action under the North Korea-Russia treaty, it is reinforcing its diplomatic standing and legitimacy." The regime has also seized this moment to publicly address the deaths of North Korean soldiers deployed to Russia—a detail previously withheld from the public since their deployment last year. "North Korea has been educating its people about the deployment, and, by promising compensation on a national scale, it seems to believe that any potential backlash can be effectively addressed." Experts suggest Monday's announcement could also set the stage for a summit between Putin and Kim, ahead of Russia's Victory Day celebration next month. However, they note that North Korea may prefer a bilateral meeting to avoid Kim being one of many leaders at a multilateral event. Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.

K-wave AI News

2025/04/28 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. A large-scale lotus lantern parade was held in downtown Seoul on Saturday ahead of Buddha's Birthday. About 50,000 participants marched through the streets of Jongno, carrying some 100,000 colorful lanterns. Celebratory performances, including traditional dances like 'Ganggangsullae,' were also staged as part of efforts to strengthen national unity. Organizers said the event aimed to promote harmony and peaceful coexistence amid rising social tensions and political uncertainty in Korea. The "2025 Seoul Shopping Festa," a large-scale shopping and tourism festival for domestic and international visitors, will be held throughout May. Nearly 4,000 stores from around 260 companies will participate across seven sectors, including retail, accommodation, and fashion. To improve accessibility for international consumers, this year's event features special promotions through e-commerce platforms. Now in its 17th year, the festival offers extensive discounts and diverse cultural experiences. More information is available on the official website, www.seoulshoppingfesta.com. A festival celebrating the "treasures of the mountains" will kick off in Hongcheon, Gangwon-do Province. The 'Gangwon Hongcheon Wild Edible Greens Festival' will run from May 3 to 5 at Hongcheon Sports Stadium, offering visitors a rare chance to sample a rich variety of fresh mountain vegetables grown in pristine nature where highlands rise above 600 meters. This year's event features hard-to-find delicacies such as traditional "gomchwi," a rare type of ragwort, and "bujigaengi," or Amur Wallflower. A special highlight is Hongcheon wild mountain garlic, officially recognized as Forest Product Geographical Indication Number 46. That's all from me. Keep it tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[Short-form] April 28, a day to honor Admiral Yi Sun-sin

2025/04/28 14:00

Korea honors its greatest war hero, Admiral Yi Sun-sin, on his birthday. His legacy and indomitable spirit live on across the nation, inspiring generations to come.

[Kulture Issue]_K-pop stars and their shining presence at major international music events

2025/04/28 14:00

Jennie and Lisa from BLACKPINK and ENHYPEN were part of the proud K-pop lineup at Coachella 2025. It has become the norm to have K-pop stars perform at major international music events. Today, we want to talk about K-pop’s presence on the global stage and what significance this holds for the K-pop industry. For that, we are now connected to CedarBough Saeji, Assistant Professor at Pusan National University. Hello Professor Saeji! Q1. K-pop artists made headlines at this year’s Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival. What do you think has earned them the attention from the media and audience? Q2. In the past we would hear of news that this and that group has made its debut in the U.S., or that groups like BTS and BLACKPINK have for the first time performed at this and that event, but now K-pop acts are at the center of global music events. What do you think of this development? Q3. The fandom power is also very impressive at these international music events. You can hear the crowd sing along, see fans with light sticks, banners, etc. What kind of impact does this fan culture have? Q4. Why do you think international fans are showing this enthusiastic response to K-pop performances? What are the appealing factors or what differentiates K-pop stages from others? Q5. SEVENTEEN recently headlined Tecate Pa’l Norte 2025, becoming the first K-pop act to perform at this major Latin American music festival. Tell us about the significance this stage holds. Q6. It’s also becoming more common for rookie groups to be invited to big music festival stages. How do you interpret this trend? Q7. How do you see K-pop's presence on the global music festival stage evolving in the future?

[K-enter] Jennie reveals 'Seoul City' music video

2025/04/28 14:00

Time for our daily dose of K-enter news with Walter Lee. Starting off with some news on BLACKPINK's Jennie, what do you have for us? On Saturday, BLACKPINK's Jennie posted the music video for "Seoul City," a track from her first full solo album "Ruby", on her official YouTube channel and social media. This is Jennie's seventh music video out of the fifteen tracks included on "Ruby." "Seoul City," the music video shows Jennie fully enjoying the essence of.. well Seoul city, against the dreamy backdrop of various locations around Seoul, drawing viewers into the song itself. With "Ruby", Jennie has seen the highest first-week sales among female K-pop solo artists this year, and the album's debut at No. 3 on the "UK's Official Albums Chart" was the highest ever for a female K-pop soloist. Next moving on to a story where K-pop meets sports? Tell us more! On Sunday, K-pop boy group BOYNEXTDOOR's agency K'OZ Entertainment announced that the group has been appointed as the global ambassadors for the "2025 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship". The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) visited the HYBE headquarters in Seoul, the previous day to officially appoint the BOYNEXTDOOR members as global ambassadors. Following the appointment, BOYNEXTDOOR will participate in pre-tournament promotional activities and attend the opening ceremony where they will also perform. BOYNEXTDOOR shared their thoughts, saying, "We are thrilled and honoured to be chosen as global ambassadors in such a meaningful year when Korea’s national team is competing." I believe this year's championship will be held in Manila, the Philippines, starting in September, so I'm sure we will touch upon that in the future. Lastly, we have some K-drama news. According to global platform ranking site FlixPatrol on Monday, the Netflix series "Weak Hero" which released its second season, "Weak Hero: Class 2" on Friday, ranked second overall globally. The teen drama claimed the No. 1 spot in 32 countries, including Korea, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Singapore, and Japan, and ranked third in the United States. "Weak Hero: Class 2" follows the brutal survival and coming-of-age story of Yeon Si-eun , a model student who, after failing to protect a friend despite standing up against violence, transfers to another high school. Park Ji-hoon reprises his role as Yeon Si-eun from season 1, once again captivating viewers with his layered portrayal of a character who fights in order to end fighting. All 8 episodes are available on Netflix now, so it sounds like a drama to binge watch. Thank you for that news Walter

[Features reporter] K-Royal Culture Festival: Experiencing the splendid royal culture of the Joseon Dynasty

2025/04/28 14:00

It’s a special festival where visitors can be transported back to the Joseon Dynasty and experience its royal court culture for themselves. To deliver us some joy from the palace our Choi Soo-hyung Soo-hyung, do share with us what's happening there! Good afternoon, Soa and Walter! I’m just standing right now in Gyeongbokgung Palace in the heart of Seoul. I’m here because of the "K-Royal Culture Festival" happening right here. This year's festival, which started on Saturday is taking place at Seoul's five major palaces: Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Deoksugung, Changgyeonggung, and Gyeonghuigung, as well as at Jongmyo Shrine. Visitors can join a program where they experience royal life from the Joseon Dynasty, which lasted from the late 14th century to the turn of the 20th century. One highlight is "Time Travel with King Sejong," where visitors can experience important moments from King Sejong’s life, such as the creation of Hangeul, the Korean alphabet and other historical achievements. The biggest feature of this festival is that visitors can do more than just watch, they can actually participate. Visitors can act as royal palace apprentices, making royal desserts and trying out royal dances. And they can experienced daily life as it was about 500 years ago. "My friend invited me to join the program. The weather was so great, and when I tried it myself, it was easy and so much fun for anyone to enjoy." This year is the 11th edition of the festival. Last year, more than 960-thousand people visited the event making it one Seoul's most visited festivals. The Korea Heritage Service created a variety of programs that match current trends, different age groups, and even special programs for foreigners. "Last year, we focused mainly on performances showing daily life. This year, we wanted to give the audience a chance to join in and interact before the show starts. We also encouraged foreigners to participate, focusing more on hands-on experiences rather than just delivering lines." Looks so nice and interesting. So, what makes this year's festival special? Which program can catch people's eyes? In front of Gyeongbokgung Palace, you can enjoy traditional crafts and goods. At Deoksugung Palace, near Seoul City Hall, there is a special program for foreigners called "The Emperor’s Table." Visitors can taste traditional royal food from the Korean Empire period and hear stories about the food and about Korean history in English. This year, there is a special program called "Spring Day at Gyeonghoeru" to celebrate the country's 80th anniversary of the country's liberation. Independence heroes and their families have been invited to special performances at Gyeonghoeru Pavilion in Gyeongbokgung Palace. The festival will continue until May 4th at the five palaces and Jongmyo Shrine as I mentioned. If you want to know what royal life and culture were like during the Joseon Dynasty, don’t miss this special time. Thank you for covering at the venue of the cultural essence of South Korea. That was our Choi Soo-hyung.

North Korea confirms it deployed troops to Russia for first time

2025/04/28 10:00

North Korea has officially acknowledged its dispatch of troops to Russia to fight against Ukraine on Monday, just two days after Russia did so in the latest effort by the two allies to justify the military support. Bae Eun-ji starts us off. North Korea confirmed for the first time that it has sent troops to support Russia's war efforts against Ukraine. Citing the North's ruling party, the state news agency KCNA said Monday that the troop deployment was ordered by leader Kim Jong-un himself, who made the decision under the 'comprehensive strategic partnership treaty,' which he signed with Russian President Vladimir Putin last year. Article 4 of the treaty says North Korea and Russia "shall immediately provide military and other assistance" to the other party if it "falls into a state of war due to armed invasion from an individual or multiple states." Kim Jong-un reportedly hailed those deployed to Russia as 'heroes' and representatives of the honor of the motherland. And the KCNA also cited the Central Military Commission of the regime's ruling Workers' Party as saying the deployment of troops showed the firm alliance between Pyongyang and Moscow, as it declared Russia's victory in a battle to "liberate the Kursk region." This comes after Russia on Saturday local time confirmed that all Ukrainian troops were forced out of the western Russian region of Kursk, with the help of North Korean troops. "I would like to separately note the participation of the servicemen of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the liberation of the border areas of the Kursk region, who, provided significant assistance in the defeat of the wedged group of the Ukrainian armed forces." South Korea's intelligence agency in October of last year assessed that around 12-thousand North Korean troops had been deployed to the Kursk region. The news also comes as Kim Jong-un is likely set to visit Moscow for Russia's Victory Day celebration in May and as U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met in Vatican City on the sidelines of the pope's funeral to discuss a potential ceasefire deal. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.

[Weather] Dry and sunny with big rise in highs

2025/04/28 10:00

We're starting the week with beautiful, clear skies and warm spring sunshine across the country. However, with the air getting drier and strong winds picking up, the risk of wildfires is growing, so we need to be extra careful. Currently, a dry weather warning is in place for mountains in southern Gangwon-do Province as well as Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, with a dry weather advisory issued for other eastern regions and even here in Seoul. It's a bit cool to start the day. Inland regions, including Bonghwa, had morning low temperatures in the single digits, but by the afternoon, we'll see a pleasant warm-up. For a closer look, Seoul gets up to 20 degrees Celsius, Daegu and Gyeongju at 24 degrees under sunny skies. Air quality will be decent in most parts of Korea. Looking ahead, we do have rain in the forecast for Thursday nationwide. But until then, the clear and dry conditions will persist, so please, let's be extra cautious with anything that could start a fire.

Hundreds of people line up to visit Pope Francis' tomb in Rome

2025/04/28 10:00

Finally, in Rome, the Vatican opened Pope Francis' tomb to the public on Sunday. The late pontiff, who passed away on April 21 at the age of 88, was laid to rest at the Santa Maria Maggiore church, with a single white rose and a simple inscription of his name "Franciscus" on his stone tomb. The simplicity reflected his commitment to humility and simplicity. Thousands of mourners visited the site, lining up to pay their respects. Following the funeral on Saturday, which drew approximately 250,000 attendees, the College of Cardinals began preparations for the papal conclave, which is expected to begin between May 5 and May 10.

Indian Navy tests missiles in wake of Kashmir militant attack

2025/04/28 10:00

India conducted long-range precision missile tests to demonstrate military readiness on Sunday, as tensions between India and Pakistan flared following a deadly militant attack that killed 26 people in Kashmir on April 22. India has since announced a series of measures to downgrade its ties with Pakistan, including suspending a key water-sharing treaty and closing borders. Pakistan responded by canceling Indian visas and closing its airspace to Indian aircraft. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued a strong warning on Saturday, stating that Pakistan would respond with full force if India decides to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty.

Vehicle plows into crowd in Vancouver festival

2025/04/28 10:00

In Vancouver, Canada, a vehicle drove into a crowd at a festival celebrating Filipino heritage, killing at least 11 people. On Saturday, at approximately 8:14 PM local time, a black SUV entered a pedestrian-only area, where the Lapu-Lapu Day Festival, an annual celebration of Filipino culture, was taking place. The vehicle accelerated into the crowd, killing at least 11 people and injuring more than twenty others. The victims' ages ranged from five to 65, according to police. The driver, a 30-year-old Vancouver resident known to have mental health issues, was taken into custody after being detained by bystanders at the scene. Police stated that the suspect acted alone and there was no evidence suggesting acts of terrorism.

Israel launches air strike on Beirut

2025/04/28 10:00

Starting in the Middle East, where Israel has conducted an airstrike on Beirut. Tell us more. Israel conducted an airstrike on Sunday targeting a Hezbollah facility in southern Beirut. The airstrike comes despite the ceasefire established in November 2024. It destroyed a building in the Dhiyeh suburb of Beirut, which the Israeli Defense Forces identified as a Hezbollah precision missile storage facility. No casualties have been reported. Before the strike, the IDF issued evacuation warnings to residents, advising them to maintain a distance of at least 300 meters from the site. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the airstrike and called upon the United States and France, co-guarantors of the existing ceasefire agreement, to intervene and prevent further hostilities. Another Israeli airstrike earlier this month in Beirut's southern suburbs had killed four people, including a Hezbollah official.

Fluttering wings, blooming spring in S. Korea: Hampyeong Butterfly Festival begins

2025/04/28 10:00

For those of you here in Korea looking to enjoy the most out of the spring warmth, how about a butterfly festival? Our Park Kun-woo shows us a glimpse of the spring festa. Busy and colorful wings flutter through the air, signaling the full arrival of spring. And there's no better place to experience it than at South Korea's biggest butterfly festival in Hampyeong-gun County, Jeollanam-do Province. Celebrating its 27th edition, Hampyeong Butterfly Festival showcases around 200 thousand butterflies of nearly 20 different species. Among them, the Korean tiger swallowtail has been named the Butterfly of the Year. Caterpillars, larvae, and other fascinating insects also add to the festival's charm, making it a rare opportunity to enjoy nature up close. After the festival kicked off on Friday, people from all over the country visited to enjoy not just the winged insects, but the vibrant scenes of spring. "My friends and I are all over 70, but we've been here since early this morning, feeling as excited as if we were 18 again. There are so many flowers, butterflies, and even people! It's such a joy to be here." "It's really fun to see butterflies I've only seen in books. There are so many kinds, like the cabbage white butterfly that I know, and I actually got to see them today! I hope more people can come and enjoy them too." The festival isn't just for observing, as it's filled with intriguing activities to encounter butterflies, including feeding them using floral bouquets. "Butterfly, Butterfly" "One of the most exciting things you can try here is releasing a butterfly, so I'm going to try it myself. As I do it, I'll be sending off my greatest wishes on their wings, hoping they'll spark a beautiful butterfly effect. Now go, fly away!" While butterfly populations are in decline globally, especially down by 22 percent in the U.S. over the past two decades, Hampyeong has worked hard to keep its ecosystem thriving. "Instead of collecting butterflies from the wild, we raise them using selected breeding stock. To thrive, butterflies need host plants for caterpillars and nectar plants for adults. And this clean and natural area of Hampyeong offers both in abundance." He stressed that the combination of natural resources, expertise, and sustainable practices is making Hampyeong an ideal place for both the butterflies and the festival. Offering visitors a colorful spring escape with butterflies galore, the festival runs through May 6th. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News, Hampyeong.

On-point: Trump's approval rating at lowest for any newly elected president after 100 days

2025/04/28 10:00

U.S. President Donald Trump's approval rating has reached the lowest for any newly elected president at 100 days mainly due to the rollout of his aggressive tariff plan. Why is he taking the risk, and what does that mean for South Korea? Let's turn to Professor Breg Buchak. Welcome back. 1. It's been less than 100 days since Trump returned to the Oval Office, and his 41% approval rating is the lowest for any newly elected U.S. leader. Why is he rushing through his tariff policies this time? 2. There's this 90-day tariff pause for now. 3. Seoul and Washington are looking to draw up a July package, but to realize a package that works in favor of South Korea, what would be crucial for South Korea to appeal to the U.S. in negotiations in the coming weeks and months? 4. Based on consultations held last week will South Korea's LNG imports be enough leverage for South Korea to find a breakthrough in Trump's tariff policies? 5. South Korea made a counterproposal to establish a consultative body with other Asian countries. How feasible is this idea, realistically speaking? Thanks so much for sharing your insight with us this morning.

S. Korea-U.S. tariff talks ease uncertainty, open path for orderly consultation: finance minister

2025/04/28 10:00

South Korea's Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok said Sunday that trade talks with the U.S. last week eased uncertainties and opened the path for orderly consultations. The finance chief made the remarks upon arriving at Incheon International Airport, returning from the U.S. capital, where he held trade talks with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, alongside Seoul's industry minister Ahn Duk-geun. According to Choi, Seoul "clarified the agenda items and laid the groundwork for future negotiations." The finance minister also said that he fully explained to the U.S. side about the upcoming snap presidential election, and the need for cooperation with the National Assembly on the tariff talks.