News

Gov't, ruling party announce new measures to strengthen safety on school grounds

2025/02/17 20:00

Meanwhile, following the shocking murder of an elementary school student by a teacher in Daejeon last week, authorities are hammering out new measures to prevent similar incidents in the future and better protect children within school grounds. The members of the ruling People Power Party and the government, following talks at the National Assembly on Monday, announced they are dispatching a special team to conduct inspections and strengthen safety at schools nationwide before the new school year starts in spring. Furthermore, they will work on legislative action to establish legal foundations that will immediately separate students from teachers who pose a threat to student safety due to mental illnesses or other conditions. They will also work to expand mental health support for faculty members.

Seoul Central District Prosecutors to take on Yoon, first lady election interference case

2025/02/17 20:00

Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office will now take on the case looking into President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee's alleged interfering in an election through political broker Myung Tae-kyun. On Monday, Changwon City District Office said the case and the team had been transferred to Seoul as many relevant figures reside in the capital. This, however, could be a move by prosecutors to show their efforts in investigating the case amid opposition parties' push for a special probe bill for the case as they cite prosecutors' lack of apparent motivation. Last year, a phone call between Yoon and Myung surfaced where they discussed the candidacy of a then-upcoming by-election which would be illegal. Also, other allegations involving the first couple and Myung are included in the investigations such as misuse of political funds.

World News: Zelenskyy rejects Trump's minerals deal

2025/02/17 17:00

This is The World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declined the Trump administration's critical minerals deal, which suggests that the United States take a 50% stake in Ukraine's vast critical mineral resources, citing a lack of security provisions. On Saturday, Zelenskyy said the draft minerals deal with Washington did not include any security guarantees, and emphasized that any such agreement must include robust security assurances to protect Ukraine's sovereignty and deter further aggression from Russia. The U.S. proposal was presented by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent during his visit to Kyiv on February 12 and aims to secure half of Ukraine's rare earth mineral rights, as compensation for past military and financial aid as well as payment for future assistance. Trump has previously said he wanted 500 billion U.S. dollars worth of critical minerals from Ukraine to reduce dependence on China for rare earth materials. Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown on Friday held a meeting aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation, between the two nations. The Cook Islands said Saturday that it signed a 'comprehensive strategic partnership' deal with China, during the discussions in Harbin. Premier Li emphasized China's commitment to deepening political mutual trust with the Cook Islands. He proposed aligning the Belt and Road Initiative with the Cook Islands' development strategies, to enhance collaboration in various sectors, including maritime infrastructure, agriculture, fisheries, and cultural exchanges. Prime Minister Brown acknowledged the nearly three-decade-long friendship between the two states and reaffirmed the Cook Islands' adherence to the one-China policy, while assuring that relations with China do not impinge on longstanding ties with New Zealand. In Austria, a 14-year-old boy was killed and 5 people were injured in a stabbing attack in the city of Villach on Saturday. The attacker, a 23-year-old Syrian national, was apprehended at the scene. Authorities have identified the incident as an Islamist attack, and said the suspect had sworn allegiance to the Islamic State. A local food delivery driver's swift intervention by using his vehicle to impede the attacker, likely prevented further casualties. The attack follows a series of similar incidents in Europe, and has intensified discussions on immigration and security policies within the country. Finally in the United States, Marvel Studios' latest release, "Captain America: Brave New World," has delivered box office success during its opening weekend with the highest-ranking domestic debut of the year. The film garnered 88.5 million U.S. dollars domestically over the three-day period, with projections estimating a total of 100 million dollars by the end of the four-day President's Day holiday on Monday. Internationally, it accumulated an additional 92.4 million dollars. This performance also marks the fourth-best President's Day holiday opening on record. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.

"Squid Game" production designer Chae Kyoung-sun wins ADG Award for season 2

2025/02/17 17:00

On the entertainment front. Squid Game Season Two's production designer has been honored with an Art Directors Guild award. Chae Kyoung-sun won the award in the "One-Hour Contemporary Single-Camera Series" category at a ceremony on Saturday in LA. The Art Directors Guild Awards acknowledges excellence in production design for both small and big screens. Chae also clinched an Art Directors Guild award for exceptional visuals in Squid Game Season One.

'Comfort woman' activist Gil Won-ok dies at age 97; seven registered victims remain

2025/02/17 17:00

In other news. Another survivor of Japan's forced sexual slavery during World War Two has passed away. According to authorities here Gil Won-ok passed away at the age of 97 this past Sunday. Following her horrifying ordeal Gil spent her life seeking to raise global awareness about Japan's atrocities. She was 13 years old when she was taken from her home in Pyongyang and forced to work as a sex slave. Out of the 2-hundred-40 survivors of Japan's shocking wartime system of sexual slavery registered here in South Korea only seven now remain. Politicians across the aisle here in the country are mourning her passing. The ruling People Power Party has highlighted the importance of remembering "the witnesses of the history" while the main opposition Democratic Party has vowed to work on legislation for survivors of Japan's sexual atrocity and for a sincere apology from the Japanese government.

S. Korea to run booth representing gov't, small and mid-sized arms firms at IDEX 2025

2025/02/17 17:00

The South Korean government and the country's small and mid-sized defense firms are showcasing an integrated booth at the latest five-day International Defense Exhibition and Conference in Abu Dhabi starting today. According to the state arms procurement agency this marks the first time for a joint booth by the two sides at an overseas defense show. South Korea will seek to share its remarkable advances in arms technology at the event as it aims to become the fourth-largest defense exporter by 2027.

Will the Constitutional Court postpone Yoon's 10th impeachment hearing?

2025/02/17 17:00

President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial enters its final week with two additional hearings this coming Tuesday and Thursday but his legal team has requested a rescheduling of Thursday's session as the president's criminal trial starts on the same day. Our correspondent Oh Soo-young has the latest. The Constitutional Court has not decided whether or not to change the date of President Yoon Suk Yeol's tenth impeachment hearing, as it also falls on the day his criminal trial proceedings begin. Court Press Officer Cheon Jaehyun told reporters Monday that the judicial bench has not yet conveyed its decision, and it may or may not be announced before the 9th hearing on Tuesday. After the Court decided to schedule two additional trial dates for Tuesday and Thursday this week, Yoon's team has objected to Thursday's session, and on Friday filed a request to postpone the date to February 25th. The President's lawyers have on various occasions complained about the twice-weekly hearings, calling for just one session per week, to allow for sufficient preparation. Especially as the Seoul Central District Court will begin Yoon's pretrial hearings for his criminal case on Thursday morning, Yoon's legal team would be spread out over both trials. 15 lawyers are working on his criminal case, 21 on his impeachment trial. Among them, 13 are working on both. While some experts say the overlapping schedule weakens the right to legal self-defense, the Constitutional Court might still push ahead with the impeachment hearing in the afternoon, as the criminal trial is at 10 AM. The Court officer added that the National Assembly's impeachment panel has submitted its position that the Thursday hearing must not be delayed. Meanwhile, she said Tuesday's hearing will see the Assembly and Yoon's side each organize and make their claims from 2 PM. Thursday's hearing for now will have three witness examinations beginning with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. Han previously said that the president had not held a proper cabinet meeting before declaring martial law on December 3rd. Former Deputy Director of the National Intelligence Service Hong Jang-won was summoned last week by the National Assembly's side but will return to be questioned by Yoon's legal team. Hong claims there was a list of 14 to 16 figures the President wanted to arrest under martial law. National Police Agency Commissioner General Cho Ji-ho will be questioned by both sides, after missing two witness sessions for health reasons. "With the Constitutional Court having rejected other witness applications, it remains to be seen whether they will schedule additional hearings beyond the tenth session. It would take around two weeks for the justices to deliver a verdict, based on past Presidential impeachment trials. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News."

S. Korea, U.S., Japan send message to China through support for Taiwan's participation in int'l organizations

2025/02/17 17:00

In Germany this past weekend. Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and his U.S. and Japanese counterparts Marco Rubio and Takeshi Iwaya reaffirmed their resolve to rid the Korean peninsula of nuclear weapons laying to rest rampant fears of a potential shift in American policy on North Korea's nuclear ambitions. Our foreign affairs correspondent Bae Eun-ji covers this commitment and the trilateral support for Taiwan. South Korea's foreign minister Cho Tae-yul and his American and Japanese counterparts, Marco Rubio and Takeshi Iwaya met for the first time since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to the White House earlier this year and delivered a strong message that appears to be aimed at China. In a joint statement, they expressed their "support for Taiwan's meaningful participation in appropriate international organizations." That detail, which could upset China has never been included in a joint statement by the three countries before. This appears to reflect the Trump administration's hardline stance towards China. as Beijing has been making efforts to block Taiwan from joining the United Nations and many other global organizations. At a session of the Munich Security Conference, Foreign Minister Cho said it's only natural for South Korea to keep relations with both the U.S. and China in harmony to best to serve its national interests, but added that this is easier said than done. "We can continue to improve our relations with Beijing while continuing to upgrading our strong alliance with Washington. But particularly when it comes to the security issues, there's a limit to what we can do to accommodate demands from Beijing." The three countries also made it clear in the joint statement that they reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea. This gave reassurance to Seoul, particularly after Trump's comments referring to the North as a "nuclear power" raised concerns in South Korea, as they led to speculation that Washington could be shifting away from its focus on denuclearizing North Korea. Before the trilateral talks, Cho and Rubio held a separate meeting for about 40 minutes, where they agreed to closely cooperate on deterring North Korean threats. The two sides also reaffirmed that their alliance will continue to remain strong throughout Trump's second term in office., with Rubio reiterating his confidence in South Korea's acting president. Speaking to reporters in Munich, Cho said he expects the two countries to hold more high-level meetings, and that the government plans to consult with Washington on the issue of tariffs on steel and aluminum as soon as possible, to minimize possible damage to Korean companies. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.

Trump's threat of targeting VAT systems raises further concerns for S. Korea

2025/02/17 17:00

In a recent post on his social media platform U.S. President Donald Trump sought to DEFEND his reciprocal tariff proposal and DISPUTE the so-called value-added taxes claiming that America has been mistreated by its friends and foes alike. Lee Soo-jin covers his latest remarks. U.S. President Donald Trump's plans to impose new tariffs on countries that utilize value-added tax systems have added another layer of uncertainty to South Korea's export competitiveness. Trump said Saturday that Washington will treat countries with a value-added tax system, the same as those with tariffs in order to help calculate reciprocal duties on other countries. The comment raises concerns for South Korea, which, unlike the U.S., collects value-added tax. Typically, companies in countries with a VAT system, including South Korea, receive a VAT refund when exporting to the U.S. and only have to pay a relatively low sales tax. However, U.S. companies exporting to foreign countries have to pay a high VAT rate that they do not pay in the U.S. And for that reason, Trump has criticized VAT as being an unfair trade barrier for the U.S. "They do have something that is somewhat similar which is the sales tax effectively the U.S. sales tax can be considered something that is very similar at least the results." And since South Korea's VAT rate is 10 percent, higher than the average U.S. sales tax of 6.6 percent as of 2023, it's fueling speculation that Trump will impose a 10-percent reciprocal tariff on all South Korean imports in April. Amid concerns over Trump's trade policies, Deputy Minister for Trade Park Jong-won left for the United States on Monday. During the 5-day visit, Park will meet with high-ranking officials from the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to discuss trade and other pending issues. This will be the first official visit to Washington by a high-ranking trade official since President Trump took office. Park is expected to hear the specifics of the trade policies under the Trump administration, and convey Seoul's position on the matter. These discussions are particularly important because it will be challenging for the Korean government to devise response measures, as VAT is applied based on the value added at each stage of production. "In the end, it is the consumers which pay the value-added tax and right now except for foodstuff which is exempted, it's 10 percent so we'll have to figure out some way to eliminate the import component of that 10 percent and that could be difficult." The same expert also added that another factor that makes this situation complex is how a large portion of the tax revenue for many nations, not just Korea, relies on VAT. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.

U.S. State Secretary Marco Rubio declares Washington's full support for Israel

2025/02/17 17:00

Staying in the Middle East. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and visiting U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio have reaffirmed their resolve to eradicate Hamas from the Gaza Strip while reiterating Mr. Trump's ambitious plans for the region. Our Choi Soo-hyung reports. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Israel as his first stop during his first Middle East tour. On Sunday local time, in a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Rubio pledged full U.S. support. He said that threats that violate peace should be eliminated. "Related to that, the president's been very clear. Hamas cannot continue as a military or government force. They must be eliminated. It must be eradicated." Netanyahu stated that he is cooperating perfectly with President Trump and welcomed Trump's firm stance on the release of the remaining hostages. He also expressed support for Trump's plan to relocate residents and develop Gaza which has been opposed by many other countries. In response, Secretary Rubio said that President Trump has presented a bold plan. "The president's also been very bold about his view of what the future for Gaza should be. Not the same tired ideas of the past, but something that's bold and something that frankly took courage and vision in order to outline." The two countries have also agreed to jointly address the nuclear threat posed by Iran. "Israel and America stand shoulder-to-shoulder in countering the threat of Iran. We agree that the ayatollahs must not have nuclear weapons, and we also agree that Iran's aggression in the region has to be rolled back." The conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has entered a six-week ceasefire, from January 19th. The first phase is set to conclude on March 1st, but the negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire are at a standstill. "So there is no exact timeline for finalizing the second phase of the ceasefire plan but the situation remains fluid and heavily influenced by political maneuvering and the ability of negotiators to facilitate these negotiations." Meanwhile, Hamas says that three police officers were killed in Israeli airstrikes in southern Gaza, while Israel says it hit "several armed individuals." Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.

Top U.S. officials to hold Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Saudi Arabia

2025/02/17 17:00

A senior U.S. delegation is meeting with its Russian counterpart in Saudi Arabia for talks about ending the Kremlin's aggression against Kyiv. The meeting also seeks to lay the ground for a summit between Trump and Putin also in Saudi Arabia. Lee Eun-hee starts us off. Washington's Middle East envoy told Fox News on Sunday, that he and White House National Security Advisor Mike Waltz would go to Saudi Arabia for talks aimed at ending nearly 3 years of war between Russia and Ukraine. "I am going tonight. I'll be traveling there with the National Security adviser and we'll be having meetings at the direction of the president. And hopefully we'll make some really good progress with regard to Russia, Ukraine." However, speaking to NBC News on the same day Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said Kyiv had not been invited to the talks in Saudi Arabia adding that Ukraine would never accept any deals made without them. During a previous interview last week, Zelenskyy also remarked that no one, including President Trump, should trust Russian President Vladimir Putin. Regarding Ukraine's absence from the talks, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told CBS News on Sunday that if real negotiations happen, Ukraine must be involved and that Europe must also be involved. He also emphasized that the next few days would determine if Putin was serious about achieving peace. Amid European concern that the U.S. is moving ahead on peace talks with Russia without consultation, French President Emmanuel Macron will hold an informal emergency meeting on Monday on security for Ukraine and Europe. According to officials, the meeting will include Germany, Britain, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Denmark, as well as the NATO secretary-general and the presidents of the European Council and the European Commission. Also on Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters that he is working hard to bring peace between Russia and Ukraine and that he believes the leaders of both countries want to stop fighting. To a question asking about Ukraine's involvement in talks, he answered that Zelensky would be involved in the negotiations. Trump also hinted that a meeting with Russia's president in Saudia Arabia could happen soon but no date has been set. "No, there's no time set. But it could be very soon." Meanwhile, Russia attacked Ukraine with 143 drones Saturday overnight, injuring at least one person. According to Ukraine's prime minister, the attack damaged a thermal power plant in Mykolaiv in southern Ukraine. Zelenskyy said the attack left around 100 thousand people without heat. He took to social media to condemn the attack calling it a sign that "Russians are waging war against our people and against life itself in Ukraine." Lee Eun-hee, Arirang News.

[Weather] Weather to get colder tomorrow, cold wave advisories in place

2025/02/17 17:00

It seemed as if spring was coming, but the cold is back again. In Seoul today, the daytime temperature dropped by 7 degrees Celsius in one day. With frigid cold everywhere, cold wave advisories are issued in eastern parts of Gangwon-do Province and Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. The morning temperature in Seoul is expected to plummet to minus 5 degrees tomorrow. On Tuesday and Wednesday it will drop even further to minus 7 degrees Celsius. The feels-like temperature will stay around minus 10 degrees. The weather will get colder with stronger cold waves throughout the week. Please take care. Tomorrow, the whole country will start off at below zero degrees. Daejeon at minus 6 degrees and Gwangju at minus 4 degrees. Daily highs will move up to 3 degrees in Chuncheon, 6 degrees in Busan. With freezing conditions, east coast areas are still drying up with gusty winds. Extra precautions against fire are necessary. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

K-wave AI News

2025/02/17 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. Sales of MUDS, museum merchandise inspired by cultural heritage, have surpassed 20 billion won, or roughly 14 million U.S. dollars for the first time. The name "MUDS" combines the words "museum" and "goods." The National Museum Foundation of Korea says MUDS generated over 21 billion won in revenue last year, marking a 42% increase from the previous year. Interest from international visitors is also growing, with foreign customers accounting for nearly 17% of total MUDS sales at museums last year, up from just 6% in 2020. To cater to global demand, the foundation has launched an international online shop, offering 50 flagship products to customers in over 220 countries. Explore the collection at www.muds.kr. The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art has named Yang Jung-uk the winner of the Korea Artist Prize 2024. His kinetic sculptures weave storytelling with warmth, reflecting his vision of an ideal life. The judging panel described his work as "a powerful reminder of art's ability to provide comfort" and highlighted "the deeply moving interplay between large-scale and intimate pieces." Each year, the museum selects four visual artists, offering them opportunities to exhibit their works before choosing a final winner. The exhibition, featuring works by Yang Jung-uk, along with fellow nominees Yoon Ji-young, Kwon Ha-yoon, and Jane Jin Kaisen, runs at MMCA Seoul through March 23. Poetry by Korean grandmothers from a small rural town has come to life on stage, captivating audiences with warm humor and heartfelt reflections on life. The musical, "Ojige Jaemitneun Gasinadeul," follows elderly women attending a literacy school in Chilgok, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, as they rediscover their voices through poetry. It reimagines their remarkable journey of learning to read and write for the first time at the age of over 70, radiating a sense of empowerment. Adapted from the documentary "Chilgok Gasinadeul," the production had a showcase in 2023 before making its full-stage debut this week, after three years in the making. Director Oh Kyung-taek noted that while creating a show that resonates across generations is challenging, he firmly believes this one succeeds. The performance runs through February 27. That's all from me. Keep it tuned to the Kulture Wave.

K-pop album sales analysis

2025/02/17 14:00

K-pop fever hasn't cooled off. Global demand is still growing with K-pop-related sales generally doing well. BUT, lately, there’s been a decrease in sales of music ALBUMS. Today, we want to analyze this shift with Jeff Benjamin, a K-pop expert and contributor to Billboard, Forbes, Rolling Stone, and more. Hello Jeff! Q1. Figures released earlier this month showed that K-pop album sales last year declined (There was a slight rise in album exports by 0.5%) What caused this drop? Q2. What’s your assessment of this change? Q3. Last year, K-pop idols were more active overseas than ever before, resulting in a surge in K-pop concert sales. So, can we say the K-pop market is still growing and what’s the connection between increased performances and the decrease in album sales? Q4. So, could we say fans' perception of album purchases is changing? Q5. Some also attribute the downward trend in album sales to the hiatus of K-pop giants like BTS and BLACKPINK. BUT BTS and BLACKPINK are set to RETURN in the second half of the year. So how much of an impact do they have on these sales of albums? Q6. It looks like it’s difficult to draw a correlation between K-pop growth and record sales from hereon. Are we expecting changes in the K-pop industry based on that?

[K-enter] Korean actor Kim Sae-ron dies aged 24

2025/02/17 14:00

It's now time for K-enter news with Walter Lee. The first story is one we wish we didn't have to report on. Yes, Korea is mourning the loss of Korean star Kim Sae-ron , as the 24-year-old actor was found dead at her residence in Seungsu-dong by a friend at around 4:50 PM on Sunday. As of now, police are still investigating Kim's death however they have said that there appears to be no forced entry into the house or signs of foul play. Kim first debuted as a child model in 2001 and later made her acting debut at the age of 9 in "A Brand New Life", however it wasn't until 2010 when she gained massive notoriety in the popular Korean movie "The Man from Nowhere" alongside Won Bin . However, in May 2022, she was heavily criticized after causing an accident while driving under the influence near Cheongdam-dong , Gangnam-gu, Seoul. She crashed into a roadside electrical transformer and a tree before fleeing the scene. Following the incident, she was bombarded with malicious comments from the public regarding her actions. Kim attempted to return to the spotlight with a stage performance but had to withdraw from projects due to health concerns. We here at the Kulture Wave and Arirang send our deepest condolences to Kim Sae-ron's family and friends. Moving onto an act of kindness from a veteran K-star. It was recently revealed that Korean actor and businessman Bae Yong-joon , donated 3 billion KRW, just over 2 million U.S. dollars, to the Yonsei University Health System. According to a report on Sunday, Yonsei University Health System announced in a newsletter, published in December last year, that Bae had donated the money for the development of its medical center. Bae stated, "Despite the challenging circumstances in the medical field, I decided to contribute in hopes that the medical center will continue to develop and grow into a leading institution in future medicine." Yonsei University Health System plans to use the donation for the center's development and to cover medical expenses for teenagers and infants from low-income backgrounds. Bae debuted as an actor in 1994 and gained immense popularity in 2002 with the KBS drama "Winter Sonata", which was said to be a key factor in the rise of Hallyu . And moving onto our last K-enter news of the day and we are going to K-pop. Girl group LE SSERAFIM is set to release their fifth mini-album, HOT, at 1 PM on March 14. This marks a return seven months after their previous release, CRAZY. At midnight on Monday, LE SSERAFIM announced their upcoming album through the fan interaction site Weverse. The new album embodies the group’s passionate attitude of giving their all to what they love. LE SSERAFIM is a five-member girl group that debuted in May 2022. They have released hit songs such as ANTIFRAGILE, UNFORGIVEN, EASY, and Perfect Night. Another HOT group's album to look forward to soon and easy to remember, as it's White Day in Korea. Thank you for today's K-enter news Walter, stick around.

[Features reporter] What happens when K-pop gets a classic makeover?

2025/02/17 14:00

Yoo-jin, what do you have for us today? There's a saying: 'Don't be afraid to try something new. It might just become the best thing you ever do.' And here in Korea, a concert that took place last Friday and Saturday is proof of that. To give you a sneak peek, it was a bold fusion of two very different musical worlds. Take a look. This 2007 hit by SM Entertainment's girl group Girls' Generation, "Into the New World," has jumped into a new world -the world of classical music. Since 2020, SM Entertainment and the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra have teamed up, with eight classical renditions of songs by artists such as SHINee, Red Velvet, and aespa. Now, they've brought the world's first-ever K-pop orchestra live concert to Seoul. "It's the first of a kind in that the entire setlist performed by the orchestra is K-pop songs. So we're very proud of that." Performing over a dozen K-pop songs, is a new experience for everyone, starting with arranging the music. The key was to keep the original while adding originality. "When arranging, we sample works by famous classical music composers. We looked for pieces that would blend well with the original K-pop track to stay true to the original and highlight the classical elements." Then, it was practice, practice, and more practice until every note hit the mark. "We watched the original performance videos and compared them to the sheet music. Our goal was to bring the lyrics, rhythms, melodies, and emotional depth of the K-pop tracks into our orchestral performance." Finding this new groove wasn't easy. The orchestra's associate concertmaster compares it to learning a new language. "Because we're so used to playing all the you know normal classics Beethoven, Mahler, Brahms you know, and then now you know all these K-pop songs, so it's been a little bit challenging in a way." But in the end, they discovered the beauty of crossing genres and unlocking new potential. "We're taking K-pop's flashy performance and transforming it into something you can appreciate with just your ears. We're not just playing melodies. We're reimagining K-pop as 21st-century orchestral music. Even if you're not familiar with the original songs, you'll find something to enjoy." Two genres, worlds apart, have come together to strike a chord, creating something groundbreaking, making classics trendy, and turning trends into timeless classics. What a unique experience. We did report on the SM Town concert marking SM Entertainment's 30th anniversary before but this was totally different. It really sounds like the audience would have gotten the best of both worlds. But for those who didn't make it, is there any way they can still experience this collaboration? Luckily, there is. Last month, SM Classics released its first full album, "Across the World." It's available on major music platforms like Spotify, iTunes, and Apple Music. The album features 14 songs, including some were performed at these concerts. When asked which songs stood out, Conductor Kim mentioned aespa's "Black Mamba" and SHINee's "Sherlock," while the arrangers picked Red Velvet's "Feel My Rhythm." All three are on the album. And is there anything more we can look forward to in the near future? There's more to come. This September, Seoul Philharmonic will collaborate with Jung Jae-il, the composer behind the Squid Game soundtrack, to perform his latest works. It’ll be fascinating to see how the orchestra reinterprets contemporary music once again. That sounds like something to mark on the calendar. Thank you for your report today, Yoo-jin. Always a pleasure.

Concerns for S. Korea as Trump threatens tariffs for countries with VAT system

2025/02/17 10:00

U.S. President Donald Trump continues to push for his America First trade agenda now with a warning that he will treat countries with value-added tax systems the same as those with tariffs, raising fears of a hit to South Korea. Lee Seung-jae reports. U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday that Washington will treat countries with a value-added tax system, the same as those with tariffs in order to help calculate reciprocal duties on other countries. The comment raises concerns for South Korea, which, unlike the U.S., collects value-added tax. Typically, companies in countries with a VAT system, including South Korea, receive a VAT refund when exporting to the U.S. and only have to pay a relatively low sales tax. However, U.S. companies exporting to foreign countries have to pay a high VAT rate that they do not pay in the U.S. And for that reason, Trump has criticized VAT as being an unfair trade barrier for the U.S. Since South Korea's VAT rate is 10 percent, higher than the average U.S. sales tax of 6.6 percent as of 2023, it's possible that Trump may also consider it an "unfair tariff" fueling speculation that Trump will impose a 10-percent reciprocal tariff on all South Korean imports in April. Amid concerns over Trump's trade policies, Deputy Minister for Trade Park Jong-won at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy will visit the United States on Monday. During the 5-day visit, Park will meet with high-ranking officials from the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to discuss trade and other pending issues. This will be the first official visit to Washington by a high-ranking trade official since President Trump took office. Park is expected to hear the specifics of the trade policies under the Trump administration, and convey Seoul's position on the matter. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Zelenskyy rejects Trump's minerals deal

2025/02/17 10:00

Let's begin with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's refusal of the Trump administration's critical minerals deal. Sure. The proposal, suggesting that the United States take a 50% stake in Ukraine's vast critical mineral resources, was declined by President Zelenskyy, citing a lack of security provisions. On Saturday, Zelenskyy said the draft minerals deal with Washington did not include any security guarantees, and emphasized that any such agreement must include robust security assurances to protect Ukraine's sovereignty and deter further aggression from Russia. The U.S. proposal was presented by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent during his visit to Kyiv on February 12 and aims to secure half of Ukraine's rare earth mineral rights, as compensation for past military and financial aid as well as payment for future assistance. Trump has previously said he wanted 500 billion U.S. dollars worth of critical minerals from Ukraine to reduce dependence on China for rare earth materials.

Top U.S. officials to hold Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Saudi Arabia

2025/02/17 10:00

U.S. officials are set to meet Russian counterparts in Saudi Arabia to discuss bringing an end to the Ukraine crisis. Ukrainian president said Kyiv had not been invited to talks but Washington stressed that both Ukraine and Europe would have a part to play. Our Lee Eun-hee reports. Washington's Middle East envoy told Fox News on Sunday, that he and White House National Security Advisor Mike Waltz would go to Saudi Arabia for talks aimed at ending nearly 3 years of war between Russia and Ukraine. "I am going tonight. I'll be traveling there with the National Security adviser and we'll be having meetings at the direction of the president. And hopefully we'll make some really good progress with regard to Russia, Ukraine." However, speaking to NBC News on the same day Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said Kyiv had not been invited to the talks in Saudi Arabia adding that Ukraine would never accept any deals made without them. During a previous interview last week, Zelenskyy also remarked that no one, including President Trump, should trust Russian President Vladimir Putin. Regarding Ukraine's absence from the talks, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told CBS News on Sunday that if real negotiations happen, Ukraine must be involved and that Europe must also be involved. He also emphasized that the next few days would determine if Putin was serious about achieving peace. Amid European concern that the U.S. is moving ahead on peace talks with Russia without consultation, French President Emmanuel Macron will hold an informal emergency meeting on Monday on security for Ukraine and Europe. According to officials, the meeting will include Germany, Britain, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Denmark, as well as the NATO secretary-general and the presidents of the European Council and the European Commission. Also on Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters that he is working hard to bring peace between Russia and Ukraine and that he believes the leaders of both countries want to stop fighting. To a question asking about Ukraine's involvement in talks, he answered that Zelensky would be involved in the negotiations. Trump also hinted that a meeting with Russia's president in Saudia Arabia could happen soon but no date has been set. "No, there's no time set. But it could be very soon." Meanwhile, Russia attacked Ukraine with 143 drones Saturday overnight, injuring at least one person. According to Ukraine's prime minister, the attack damaged a thermal power plant in Mykolaiv in southern Ukraine. Zelenskyy said the attack left around 100 thousand people without heat. He took to social media to condemn the attack calling it a sign that "Russians are waging war against our people and against life itself in Ukraine." Lee Eun-hee, Arirang News.

[Weather] Getting colder this week under bright skies

2025/02/17 10:00

After a mild but dusty weekend, a cold snap seems to be settling back into much of Korea today. The good news though, air quality has greatly improved thanks to stronger winds. But temperatures are taking a dip, and it's going to get chilly over the week. Meanwhile, the east coast is under dry weather alerts, Jeju and the west coast are under a strong wind advisory. Take extra precautions against wildfires. It will be windy in most regions, adding an extra chill. Afternoon highs could be 3 to 10 degrees lower than Sunday. Seoul gets up to 3 degrees Celsius, Daegu and Jeju at 7 degrees. Despite the cold, we should have plenty of sunshine, making for a bright and beautiful late winter. However, Korea's easternmost islands, Ulleungdo and Dokdo will receive heavy snow of up to 20 centimeters through Wednesday. The chillier-than-normal trend continues this week and into the weekend under sunny skies while the air stays dry. Bundle up before heading out this week!