News

‘Captain America: Brave New World’ soars toward US$ 100 mil. holiday weekend opening

2025/02/17 10:00

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.

Austrian city in shock after deadly knife attack

2025/02/17 10:00

Now to Austria where 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.

Chinese premier meets with Cook Islands prime minister to 'deepen political trust'

2025/02/17 10:00

Moving to China, and a meeting between Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown on Friday, 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.

How K-pop is going classic

2025/02/17 10:00

The art of blending genres is redefining the music scene. K-pop is now moving to a whole new level by going classic. Our Song Yoo-jin shows us what happens when K-pop meets classical music. 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, 레드벨벳, 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. Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News.

'Comfort woman' Gil Won-ok passes away at age 97

2025/02/17 10:00

A former victim of Japan's forced sexual slavery during World War Two passed away on Sunday. According to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, Gil Won-ok passed away at the age of 97. Gil was also an activist who worked to raise awareness of Japan's atrocities both domestically and internationally. She was only 13 years old when she was taken from her home in Pyongyang, and was forced to work as a sex slave. Her death now reduces the number of surviving victims in South Korea to just seven. 240 victims have registered with the government, and 233 have passed away.

On-point: Will phase 1 of Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal end in peace?

2025/02/17 10:00

Over the weekend, Israel and Hamas successfully completed their latest hostage and prisoner exchange with 2 weeks left in the first phase of their ceasefire deal. It's a relief, but can the deal survive through the upcoming phases? Let's turn to Professor Hassan Geon. Good morning. 1. Hamas released three Israeli hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Why do you think Hamas decided to free the hostages after threatening a pause? 2. Would you say U.S. President Donald Trump's warning/threat to Hamas played a role in the successful ceasefire swap? 3. Do you think the first phase of the deal which is set to end by the end of the month will end in peace for Gaza? Why? Or why not? 4. Why is there no progress on phase two of the ceasefire deal? When will the plan be finalized? 5. Trump's ambitions to take over the Gaza Strip and relocate Palestinians seem to grow bigger day by day. Do you think this can potentially break or terminate the ceasefire deal? Or is this just be a threat? Thank you so much for connecting with us this morning. We appreciate it.

Pres. Yoon's impeachment trial to continue this week

2025/02/17 10:00

The Constitutional Court plans to hold two additional hearings this week for President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial, but it's unclear whether the last session on Thursday will be rescheduled as his team requested. The Court set the tenth hearing date for Thursday at 2 PM, where three witnesses will be questioned starting with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. Han previously said that the president had not held a proper cabinet meeting before declaring martial law. Former Deputy Directory 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 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. Yoon's lawyers have filed a petition to change the date of the 10th hearing, arguing for more time as the president is also preparing for criminal trial proceedings which begin on Thursday.

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

2025/02/17 10:00

Top diplomats of South Korea, the U.S. and Japan met over the weekend and agreed to tighten their ties in addressing security issues, including bringing about the complete denuclearization of North Korea. Our foreign affairs correspondent Bae Eun-ji has more. 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 outlines reciprocal tariff plan, eyes implementation as early as April

2025/02/14 20:00

The Trump administration will seek a tailored tariff response to its trade partners, imposing on them the same level of import duty they place on American products entering their markets. It's fueling potential concerns for South Korea among others. Shin Ha-young leads us off. U.S. President Donald Trump reinforced his push to impose reciprocal tariffs on global trade partners to match the tax rates that other countries impose on imports, fueling fears of a trade war. On Thursday, Trump signed a presidential memorandum ordering a comprehensive plan for reciprocal tariffs, aiming to deliver a level playing field for American workers. "On trade, I have decided for purposes of fairness that I will charge a reciprocal tariff, meaning whatever countries charge the United States of America we will charge them. No more, no less." The latest announcement comes as part of Trump's aggressive push for more balanced trade, following recent 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum. Trump's tariffs would also target countries with non-tariff trade barriers such as subsidies, burdensome regulations, and value-added taxes. Another element to be considered is exchange rate policies in countries. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said his team would be ready to hand a plan to the president by April 1st. Although South Korea has signed a free trade agreement with the U.S. and has eliminated most tariffs, Trump's plan to consider non-tariff barriers could lead to him imposing reciprocal tariffs on South Korea. South Korea posted a record trade surplus with the U.S. last year. Trump has also signaled potential tariffs on automobiles with the White House also seeking to renegotiate the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act, which could affect South Korea's top two exports to the U.S., raising concerns about further economic impact. Despite fears of a global economic slowdown, Trump is expected to continue his hardline tariff policy. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

[Weather] Mild weekend, but the air will be dusty

2025/02/14 20:00

With mild westerly wind blowing, the daytime temperature in Seoul rose up to 10 degrees Celsius today, making it as mild as mid-March. The weather will continue to be warmer than usual throughout the weekend. The temperature in Seoul will stay at nearly 10 degrees during the day, exceeding the average temperatures. Meanwhile, skies will be covered with dust again. Due to the influx of fine dust from overseas, the air will become dusty tonight for the Seoul metropolitan area and the Chungcheong-do provinces. The ultra-fine dust tomorrow will be at "bad" levels in most parts of the country. Tomorrow, Daejeon and Daegu will start off at minus 2 degrees, Seoul and Gwangju at zero degrees. Daily highs will top out at 9 degrees in Seoul and Gwangju, and 13 degrees in Gyeongju. From tomorrow morning to early Sunday morning, more rain is expected on the south coast and Jeju Island. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

[Arts & Culture] What happens when K-pop gets a classic makeover?

2025/02/14 20:00

Friday means it's time for our Arts and Culture segment. We're joined by our culture correspondent Song Yoo-jin in the studio. Welcome! Great to be here! 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 taking place today and tomorrow is proof of that. Today, I have a sneak peek of 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. It really sounds like the audience will get the best of both worlds. As you mentioned in your report, this concert is taking place today and tomorrow. Can you tell us a bit more about what the audience can expect? Of course! The first concert is happening right now. It started at 8 PM Korea time at the Seoul Arts Center, which is just about a 10-minute walk from our station. Tomorrow's concert will be held at Lotte Concert Hall in Seoul's Songpa-gu District, starting at 5 PM. Tickets are available both online and at the venue. SPO will be performing 16 to 17 songs by SM artists. What's notable is that SHINee's Minho will host both concerts and Red Velvet's Wendy will join the orchestra to perform her solo songs during Saturday's show. But for those who can'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 that are being 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 you can hear them live at the concerts as well. And 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.

Enjoying Dasik, traditional Korean sweets

2025/02/14 20:00

It's Valentine's Day today, and for those of you here in South Korea seeking perhaps a sweet traditional twist for this day, our Ahn Sung-jin was out and about. Do take a look. “On Valentine’s Day, February 14th, it’s common to see stores with large displays of chocolate and candy. But for those that are looking for something different, Korean traditional sweets can be the answer.” Boxes of colorful, visually appealing sweets these are known as Dasik. A popular snack during the Joseon dynasty, Dasik was also one of King Jeongjo's favorites. The cookie is made by kneading grain powder with honey. Most of the ingredients consist of all-natural ingredients. For example, grain powder can be made with grains, beans, sesame seeds and Barbary fig. These powders are beaten into finer particles and mixed with honey to create a dense dough texture. Once the consistency is there, they’re put into shaping tools to create delicate patterns of flowers, the Taegeuk emblem from the national flag or other traditional images. These days, shapes can be formed through a simple version of stamps. Nowadays these Korean traditional sweets can be overshadowed by modern desserts. That’s why Lee Yoon-sook works on keeping these alive. “I teach these classes with the hope that not only can people these days easily access our traditions, but also to blend aspects of Korean tradition and modernity in harmony.” So for those who aren’t familiar with these traditional sweets yet, why not give them a try. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.

S. Korea sees job growth in Jan., gov't pledges record no. of public sector jobs in Q1

2025/02/14 20:00

Overall employment in Korea rebounded during the first month of this year but by age and sector, the trend remained largely inconsistent. Our Moon Hye-ryeon explains. South Korea’s job market saw a rebound last month, but employment challenges persist, particularly in the construction and manufacturing sectors. According to Statistics Korea’s employment report released on Friday, the number of employed people aged 15 or older reached just under 27-point-9 million in January, marking a year-on-year increase of 135-thousand. This comes following a decline in December. By industry, the health and social welfare sector led job gains, followed by professional, scientific, and technical services and the information and communication sector. However, jobs in construction saw the biggest decline since data collection began due to a slump in the construction sector, alongside a drop in manufacturing jobs for the seventh straight month despite booming semiconductor exports. Retail and wholesale employment also saw losses marking 11 consecutive months of decline. By age group, employment among those aged 60 or older saw the biggest increase, adding 340-thousand jobs. In contrast, younger workers struggled. The number of employed individuals aged 15 to 29 dropped by 218-thousand, the sharpest decline since January 2021. With this latest data, the country's Finance Minister and Acting President Choi Sang-mok pledged a series of measures to vitalize the country's job market during an economic policy meeting on Friday. "We will create over 1-point-2 million public sector jobs by the first quarter the highest number ever through expedited hiring." State-run institutions plan to increase new recruitment from 20-thousand last year to 24-thousand this year, and raise the proportion of long-term internships that are particularly favored by young job seekers. The government also signed an agreement with six major business associations to strengthen employment initiatives in the first half of the year. Beyond direct job creation, Choi outlined plans to allocate seven trillion Korean won just under 4-point-9 billion U.S. dollars in social infrastructure budgets, and 17 trillion Korean won in public institution investments to support the struggling construction sector. Employment and Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo who also attended the meeting, announced the launch of a platform next month to provide tailored job-matching services to young job-seekers looking to find work after graduation. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

Ministry of Economy and Finance data shows delay in recovery of domestic demand

2025/02/14 20:00

On the economic front. The authorities forecast a delay in the recovery of domestic demand as well as employment concerns, citing increasing risks at home and abroad. Cha Yun-kyung has more. The Ministry of Economy and Finance announced on Friday that there continue to be delays in the recovery of domestic demand and difficulties in employment in its latest economic green book, a monthly report on the South Korean economy. The ministry stated that domestic demand had shown some signs of recovery in the six months since May last year, however, this slowed from November, in contrast to its expectations, and continues to be in the doldrums. The falls in the indicators for domestic demand, including consumption and investment, have been worsening due to national political crisis and potential U.S. tariffs. Retail sales fell 0-point-6 percent compared to last month, and 3-point-3 percent comparing the same month last year. Negative figures in new employment, for two months in a row, are also drawing attention. The number of young people finding work decreased by 218-thousand, the largest drop since January, 2021. The government concluded that economic sentiment has dampened due to the expansion of domestic and external uncertainties, raising downward pressure on growth. Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.

Fire breaks out at construction site of luxury resort in Busan

2025/02/14 20:00

A fire broke out in one of the buildings of a luxury resort under construction in the city of Busan, killing at least six people and injuring dozens. Our Lee Soo-jin has the details. A fire that broke out in a construction site of a luxury resort in Busan has left six people dead. According to the Busan Metropolitan City Fire and Disaster Headquarters, the fire started at 10:51 AM near the swimming pool on the first floor of one of the hotel buildings under construction in Gijang County, on the eastern coast of Busan. Construction began of the Banyan Tree Haeundae Busan, in 2022, with its opening scheduled for this year. While the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency has launched an investigation into the exact cause of the fire, the blaze reportedly started among stacks of insulation material. Around 20 minutes after ignition, the fire department had deployed all personnel from a fire station in its jurisdiction, as well as a helicopter. At 12 PM, it raised its response to Level 2, which means the mobilization of up to 80 fire fighting units from 8 to 14 fire stations. The fire not only left six people dead, all of whom were working at the construction site, but also 25 who sustained minor injuries. "When we arrived at the scene, the fire was at its peak, and the six individuals were already unconscious by the time we began the rescue operation." Acting President Choi Sang-mok ordered relevant agencies such as the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the National Fire Agency to mobilize all available personnel and equipment. He also stated that the safety of the firefighters was of the utmost importance, and that every effort should be made to ensure that no lives were lost during search and rescue operations. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.

Hamas to release three Israeli hostages this weekend as initially planned

2025/02/14 20:00

Elsewhere. The Palestinian militant group Hamas says it will release three Israeli hostages tomorrow as initially planned. Following talks with mediators from Egypt and Qatar, it has decided to go ahead with the release of the hostages, which will result in an exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Hamas had initially postponed the release, saying Israel was violating the ceasefire agreement. In response, Israel warned it would end the deal and resume fighting, if the hostages were not released.

Top diplomats of S. Korea, U.S., Japan to hold first trilateral meeting since Trump's return

2025/02/14 20:00

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul will meet with his American and Japanese counterparts on the sidelines of a security meeting in Munich tomorrow. Our foreign affairs correspondent Bae Eun-ji covers this agenda and its implications. South Korea's foreign minister left for Germany on Friday afternoon, to take part in the Munich Security Conference. There, Cho Tae-yul will hold talks with his American and Japanese counterparts, Marco Rubio and Takeshi Iwaya on Saturday local time. Seoul's foreign ministry said it hopes the meeting will become an opportunity to discuss ways to handle North Korea's nuclear threats and economic security issues. This is the first time that the three officials are meeting, since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to the White House on January 20th. Pundits say this signifies that the trilateral cooperation will continue throughout Trump's second term in office. In a press conference on Friday, the Japanese foreign minister hinted that the three countries will reaffirm the importance of their partnership during the meeting. Also on Saturday, Cho will sit down for a separate bilateral meeting with Rubio, where they will likely address the two countries' alliance and ways to boost security cooperation. This is set to be another very important meeting for South Korea, especially at a time when the country is left without a leader, and as Trump's return poses a challenge for not only South Korea but also for the rest of the world. "The security issue is the most important issue, because Trump already mentioned several times that he has every intention to meet Kim Jong-un again. So South Korea should have a very close cooperation with the United States to how to deal with the denuclearization issue with the in the United States." The meeting will reportedly be held for only about half an hour, so some experts believe there won't be enough time to talk about other issues that Seoul is concerned about, such as tarrifs or sharing costs needed for American troops in South Korea. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.

Constitutional Court adds another hearing date to Pres. Yoon's impeachment trial

2025/02/14 20:00

The Constitutional Court has decided to add one more hearing to President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial, after accepting his request for three key witnesses to be questioned, including Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. The Court on Friday announced it has scheduled a tenth hearing date for next Thursday at 2 PM, where the Prime Minister will stand witness. Han has previously stated the President did not hold a proper Cabinet meeting before declaring martial law. 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. National Police Agency Commissioner General Cho Ji-ho will be questioned by both sides, after missing two witness sessions due to health reasons. Yoon's hearing was supposed to end this week but was extended as the bench needs more time to review evidence. Yoon's lawyers filed a petition to change the date of the 10th hearing. The team has previously complained it lacks time to prepare for twice-weekly hearings, given that the president is also preparing for a criminal trial.

9th Winter Asiad wrap-up: Team Korea adds 1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze on last day

2025/02/14 20:00

Curtains are going down on the 9th Asian Winter Games in the Chinese city of Harbin tonight. Team Korea is set to finish the games with one of its best performances ever. Our Choi Soo-hyung has the latest. On the last day of the 2025 Winter Asiad in Harbin Team Korea added more medals. In the women's curling event, South Korea won the gold medal facing off against China. South Korea's team of Gim Eun-ji, Kim Min-ji, Kim Su-ji, Seol Ye-eun, and Seol Ye-ji beat China 7 to 2. The men's team had to make do with silver, after losing to the Philippines in the final 3 to 5. This is the Philippines' first-ever medal at a Winter Asian Games. The South Korean men's ice hockey team beat China to win the bronze medal. With a 5 to 2 victory, Team Korea finishes on the podium for the fourth consecutive time, since the 2007 Changchun Games. Although they lost to Japan in a shootout during the semifinals, they earned a come-from-behind win against China in the bronze medal match. Meanwhile, the women's team lost to Kazakhstan and finished in fourth place. On Thursday two figure skaters made history, winning gold medals in both the men's and women's figure skating single event. Male figure skater Cha Jun-hwan and female figure skater Kim Chae-yeon ranked second after the short program. However, both skaters stood on the top podium following flawless free skating programs. Cha finished with a final tally of 281-point-6-9 points while Kim scored 219-point-4-4 points overall, a personal best, beating three-time world champion Kaori Sakamoto of Japan. In summary South Korea finished the Winter Asian Games this year with 16 gold medals, 15 silver, and 14 bronze, for second place behind China in the rankings. After surpassing Team Korea's all-time best gold medal tally it secured a total of 45 medals. The 9th edition of the Winter Asian Games in Harbin ends on Friday with the closing ceremony at 9 PM Korean time. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.

Constitutional Court sets additional hearings for President Yoon's impeachment trial

2025/02/14 20:30

Welcome to Within The Frame where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus, I'm Kim Mok-yeon. As the impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk Yeol continues to unfold, key developments are drawing intense public attention. With the Constitutional Court wrapping up its eighth hearing and scheduling additional sessions, the trial is entering a critical final phase. The court's focus now shifts to assessing conflicting testimonies and handling disputes over procedural fairness, all while navigating external factors that could affect the timeline of its ruling. Meanwhile, parallel criminal proceedings on insurrection charges add further complexity to the legal landscape. To help us break down the progress of the impeachment trial and the potential implications for President Yoon's legal battles, we invite Song Se-ryun, Professor of Law at Kyung Hee University. Welcome, Professor. Also joining us is Joung W. Hwang, Chief Executive Officer of LawQuant LLC. Great to have you. (SONG) 1. The Constitutional Court wrapped up its eighth hearing session yesterday. How do you assess the overall progress of the impeachment trial so far? Do you believe sufficient questioning has been conducted? The court has categorized the National Assembly's grounds for impeachment into five major points. What are the specific key issues? (HWANG) 2. The key issue in yesterday's eighth hearing was whether there was an order to arrest political figures during the declaration of martial law. Former National Intelligence Service Deputy Director Hong Jang-won testified that there was indeed such an order, whereas National Intelligence Service Director Cho Tae-yong questioned the credibility of that testimony. How do you think the justices will assess these conflicting statements? What will they focus on when making their decision? (SONG) 3. President Yoon's legal team has criticized the court's handling of the trial, claiming that it prioritized "speedy proceedings over fairness." They took issue with the fact that written statements from investigative agencies were accepted as evidence despite key witnesses changing their testimony. The Constitutional Court maintains that it is following legal precedents. What is your opinion on this dispute? (HWANG) 4. The Constitutional Court has scheduled additional hearings for President Yoon's impeachment trial. It announced that it will hold two more sessions on the 18th and 20th, although Yoon has requested a rescheduling for the 20th. What is the reason for scheduling these additional hearings, and what key issues should be noted? (SONG) 5. It seems that the timeline for President Yoon's impeachment trial could be affected by the appointment of Ma Eun-hyuk as a justice. Why is this the case? Given this, when do you think the final ruling in President Yoon's impeachment trial will be delivered? (HWANG) 6. Meanwhile, on February 10th, the court concluded arguments in the jurisdiction dispute over Acting President Choi Sang-mok's decision to defer Ma Eun-hyuk's appointment and postponed the ruling. How do you expect the Constitutional Court to make a decision, and what implications might it have for Acting President Choi's next steps? (SONG) 7. On February 11th, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea recommended that President Yoon's right to defend himself in the impeachment trial should be protected. Some civic groups have criticized this decision, calling for reforms within the Commission. What motivated the Commission's recommendation? How might this affect President Yoon's ongoing trial? (HWANG) 8. Let's move on to the criminal trial related to the rebellion charges. Separate from the impeachment trial, the first pretrial hearing on the rebellion leadership charges will take place on the 20th. What are the main issues in this criminal trial? (SONG) 9. On the 20th, in addition to the criminal trial, a hearing will be held on President Yoon's request to be released from detention. Why did the court decide to address the detention cancellation request on the same day as his insurrection case's first pretrial hearing? What are the chances that the court will grant his release? (HWANG) 10. There is speculation that President Yoon's legal team may adopt a delay strategy, claiming that it is difficult to handle both the impeachment trial and the criminal trial simultaneously. When do you expect a ruling in the criminal trial? What procedural steps lie ahead?