News

Russian missile strikes on Ukrainian city of Sumy kill 34 people

2025/04/14 20:00

Despite peace talks, Russia has renewed its air assault against Ukraine, this time, attacking its northeastern city, killing dozens of people. This has sparked international criticism, including the U.S. Byeon Ye-young covers this latest attack. Rubble and bodies were left among the ashes and smoke after two Russian ballistic missiles struck the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy on Sunday. The attack killed 34 people, including two children, and left 117 injured in one of the deadliest attacks in the conflict of the year. Sumy, located just over 25 kilometers from the Russian border, has endured a wave of missile strikes in recent weeks. The missiles hit the city center just after 10 a.m. local time on Palm Sunday, as residents were attending church services --one of the busiest religious days of the year, according to Ukraine's economy minister. "There is no military base. No military people. Center of the city. What could there be possibly? There is no air defense here, there is nothing here. They're just erasing the nation. This is genocide. How can you call it any different?" The attack came despite a U.S.-brokered agreement between Russia and Ukraine last month to halt strikes on each other's energy infrastructure. On Sunday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy strongly condemned the latest attack, stating that only "filthy scum" were capable of such actions, and urged the international community to respond with action. "Only pressure, only decisive action, can change this. Every Russian ballistic missile, every cruise missile, every Russian Shahed, every guided bomb, strike not only our people, not only our communities, but also diplomacy, and the political efforts of everyone who is truly trying to bring this to an end." Reactions quickly poured in from global leaders. Keith Kellogg, Donald Trump's envoy for Ukraine, wrote on X that the missile strike "crosses any line of decency," and reiterated that the U.S. president was working hard to end the war. European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, took to social media to express support for Ukraine, condemn Russia's actions, and call for a full ceasefire. Byeon Ye-young, Arirang news.

Winter makes unexpected return as Seoul sees snow in April for first time in 81 years

2025/04/14 20:00

In other news. For the first time in over 80 years Capital Seoul recorded snowfall in mid-April as winter made an unexpected call. Bae Eun-ji has more. Snow piled up on flowers and trees, as South Korea experienced unseasonably cold mid-April weather. Over 10 centimeters of snow accumulated in parts of Gangwon-do Province on Sunday. Light snow and hail also fell in the capital area, as it went through an unusual spring chill. Snow of up to 0-point-6 centimeters was recorded in central Seoul, between Saturday night and Sunday morning, making it the first time in 81 years that the city saw snow in April. This is mainly because of cold arctic air passing through the Korean peninsula. The weather turned turbulent as the lingering cold air from above clashed with a mild spring breeze on the ground, causing gusty winds and hail. Strong winds battered the country over the weekend, leading to widespread damage. In Jeju, the winds damaged roofs and toppled trees. In Busan, winds of up to 30 meters per second brought down signboards and caused power outages. Also in the capital area, at Incheon airport, a tug vehicle crashed into an aircraft on the ground, leading to flight delays. The national weather service says strong winds and falling temperatures are forecast for the coming days. "Damage from strong winds is expected until Monday, and temperatures will start to go up from Wednesday. We're expecting to see temperatures return to normal starting late this week." Rain or snow is expected across the country until Tuesday before spring warmth returns later this week. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.

Presidential election D-50: candidates from both sides drop out due to primary rules

2025/04/14 20:00

We are now counting down 50 days to the early presidential election. Rival political parties have now set their own primary rules, but they have met with protests by some. Our Kim Do-yeon explains why. South Korea's major political parties are gearing up for their presidential primaries, but controversy is brewing for both sides, with candidates dropping out. The Democratic Party of Korea's previously announced rules for the competition -50-percent eligible DP members and the other 50 by an open survey -were the issue. In the past two presidential primaries, anyone who signed up in advance could participate in the voting regardless of party membership history. This is why Kim Du-kwan said it's against tradition and the party's spirit and dropped out of the race on Monday. Kim Dong-yeon also said the rules aren't fair but accepted the changes. DP's election committee on Monday brushed off the claims and started its first meeting. "The early election needs to be an answer to the call of those who filled the streets. The committee will be fairer, transparent, and more stable than ever for this primary." Despite the controversy, a new high-profile participant entered the race on Sunday -former Gyeongsangnam-do Governor Kim Kyung-soo. As for the rules, he accepted them. But the DP's front-runner Lee Jae-myung didn't comment on them. He continued to promote his candidacy by visiting an AI chips company on Monday, pledging 100 trillion won or around 73 billion U.S. dollars of investment into AI industries. Meanwhile, the People Power Party's official registration started on Monday, with the deadline set for Tuesday. "I know it's tough times, but I ask good candidates to come forward. Our Party's primary principle is clear. All candidates will be at the same starting point and under same standards." However, the issues seen with its rival party were seen in the PPP as well. Its tactical voting prevention measures asking respondents for the party they support during open survey and excluding those who support opposition were the problem. With some saying that to expand support, this measure has to be scrapped. However, the rule stuck, and former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min said he will not be joining the PPP primary in protest. In addition, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon also declared that he is not joining the PPP primary, but didn't specifically mention that the decision came in protest of the rules. On Monday, however, Hong Joon-pyo, the latest Daegu Mayor, joined the race as he'd previously announced. He focused on the need to beat DP's Lee Jae-myung, and that he's the only candidate who's able to compete with Lee. Now the public waits to see if the candidates who dropped out will still run as independents. With such a short election season, this could have impacts on both parties. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.

Fmr. President Yoon denies insurrection charges at first criminal trial hearing

2025/04/14 20:00

The first hearing in the criminal trial of former President Yoon Suk Yeol took place at a local court today, where there was an exchange of arguments between him and prosecutors. The former leader appeared before the court ten days after he was removed from office. Shin Ha-young reports. Former President Yoon Suk Yeol denied charges of insurrection at the first hearing of his criminal trial on Monday. During the hearing, prosecutors pointed to Yoon's actions leading up to his martial law declaration, claiming he aimed to "undermine the constitutional order" to foment a coup. Yoon pushed back, claiming the martial law declaration was intended as a peaceful message to the public, and "not a coup d'état." His legal team asked the court to dismiss the case, arguing that the indictment was unlawful. It brought up the issue of the detention period, stating the indictment was filed after it had expired. Two key witnesses, including Cho Sung-hyun from the army's capital defense command, testified at the hearing. Cho said he was ordered to send troops to remove lawmakers from the National Assembly on the night of the martial law order, repeating his earlier testimony given at the Constitutional Court in February. Yoon arrived at the Seoul Central District Court on Monday morning, as he is required to attend the trial in person. This comes 10 days after he was removed from office. The court did not allow media filming in the courtroom, explaining that the request came in too late for the appropriate judicial procedures to be followed. However, it added that if the request is submitted again for the next hearing, the court would review it. To convict Yoon of insurrection, prosecutors must prove that he intentionally tried to undermine the constitutional order by using the military. If convicted, he could face life imprisonment or even the death penalty. The next hearing is scheduled for next Monday. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

Rebounds in chip, display shipments lead to ICT exports growth in March, reaching US$ 20.6 bil.

2025/04/14 20:00

Exports of Korean ICT products expanded almost 10-percent on-year in March, ahead of the U.S. tariff campaign, led by chips and display panels. Moon Ji-young has the latest numbers. Rebounds in chip and display sales led to an increase in South Korea's tech exports last month, according to data released by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on Monday. ICT exports in March reached almost 20-point-6 billion dollars, up 9-point 4 percent compared to the same month the previous year. Month-on-month data shows that tech exports surged by 24 percent, while the trade balance saw an increase of a whopping 48 percent during the same period. Exports of major tech items, such as chips, displays, cell phones and computers, have all risen together for the first time in eight months. Semiconductor exports increased by nearly 12 percent year-on-year, driven by rising demand for high-value memory chips, such as High Bandwidth Memory and Double Data Rate 5. This growth is attributed to expanded investments in AI servers and a reduction in companies' memory inventories. The display sector rebounded by one-point-three percent after eight months, thanks to the launch of new mobile phones. Experts and officials from the Trade Ministry attribute these rebounds to preemptive measures taken by leading companies to secure their inventories in anticipation of reciprocal tariffs imposed by the U.S. "Certainly, after the announcement of the tariffs imposition, there was a trend where companies tried to pull forward their shipments for the following month, and the month after that, before tariffs were increased." Exports of mobile phones soared by nearly 15 percent while computers jumped over 28 percent, both showing double-digit growth. By country, shipments to the U.S., Vietnam, and Japan performed strongly last month, driven by robust demand for chips. In contrast, exports to China, South Korea's top export destination, fell by over 12 percent due to decreased demand for chips and computers. There was also a drop in exports to Europe. Meanwhile, ICT imports totaled over 12-point-2 billion dollars, resulting in a positive ICT trade balance. Moon Ji-young, Arirang News.

Acting President Han signals trade talks with U.S. to come, including Alaska LNG project

2025/04/14 20:00

Against this backdrop, Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo announced that the United States is moving swiftly toward trade negotiations with Seoul following a temporary suspension of additional rates on reciprocal tariffs. On Monday, Han said at a meeting on economic security that Mr. Trump has reportedly instructed his team to 'immediately begin negotiations' with three countries: South Korea, Japan and India. He also revealed that a virtual meeting between Seoul and Washington regarding Alaska's liquefied natural gas project is expected to develop concrete terms within the next couple of days.

Russian missile strikes on Ukrainian city of Sumy kill at least 34 people

2025/04/14 17:00

A Russian air assault against a northeastern Ukrainian city this past weekend has taken dozens of lives and injured over a hundred others. Byeon Ye-young covers this latest attack. Rubble and bodies were left among the ashes and smoke after two Russian ballistic missiles struck the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy on Sunday. The attack killed 34 people, including two children, and left 117 injured in one of the deadliest attacks in the conflict of the year. Sumy, located just over 25 kilometers from the Russian border, has endured a wave of missile strikes in recent weeks. The missiles hit the city center just after 10 a.m. local time on Palm Sunday, as residents were attending church services --one of the busiest religious days of the year, according to Ukraine's economy minister. "There is no military base. No military people. Center of the city. What could there be possibly? There is no air defense here, there is nothing here. They're just erasing the nation. This is genocide. How can you call it any different?" The attack came despite a U.S.-brokered agreement between Russia and Ukraine last month to halt strikes on each other's energy infrastructure. On Sunday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy strongly condemned the latest attack, stating that only "filthy scum" were capable of such actions, and urged the international community to respond with action. "Only pressure, only decisive action, can change this. Every Russian ballistic missile, every cruise missile, every Russian Shahed, every guided bomb, strike not only our people, not only our communities, but also diplomacy, and the political efforts of everyone who is truly trying to bring this to an end." Reactions quickly poured in from global leaders. Keith Kellogg, Donald Trump's envoy for Ukraine, wrote on X that the missile strike "crosses any line of decency," and reiterated that the U.S. president was working hard to end the war. European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, took to social media to express support for Ukraine, condemn Russia's actions, and call for a full ceasefire. Byeon Ye-young, Arirang news.

Presidential election D-50: candidates from both sides drop out due to primary rules

2025/04/14 17:00

We are now counting down 50 days to the early election and rival political parties are currently gearing up for their partisan primaries ahead of the big day. Our correspondent Kim Do-yeon has the latest. South Korea's major political parties are gearing up for their presidential primaries, but controversy is brewing for both sides, with candidates dropping out. The Democratic Party of Korea's previously announced rules for the competition -50-percent eligible DP members and the other 50 by an open survey -was the issue. In the past two presidential primaries, anyone who signed up in advance could participate in the voting regardless of party membership history. This is why Kim Du-kwan said it's against tradition and the party's spirit and dropped out of the race on Monday. Kim Dong-yeon also said the rules aren't fair. DP's election committee on Monday shot down the claims and started its first meeting. The early election needs to be an answer to the call of those who filled the streets. The committee will be fairer, transparent, and more stable than ever for this primary. The DP's front-runner Lee Jae-myung didn't comment on the rules and instead went on to promote his candidacy by visiting an AI company on Monday pledging 100 trillion won of investment into AI industries. Despite this, a new high-profile participant entered the race on Sunday -former Gyeongsangnam-do Governor Kim Kyung-soo. As for the rules, he accepted them as he entered the race. Meanwhile, the People Power Party's official registration started on Monday, with the deadline set for Tuesday. "I know it's tough times, but I ask good candidates to come forward. Our Party's primary principle is clear. All candidates will be at the same starting point and under same standards." However, the issues seen at its rival party were seen in the PPP as well. It's tactical voting prevention measures the same as DP's are seen as unfair for some candidates with some saying that to expand support, this measure has to be scrapped. However, the rule stuck, and former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min said he will not be joining the PPP primary in protest. In addition, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon also declared that he is not joining the PPP primary, but didn't specifically mention that the decision came in protest of the rules. On Monday, however, Hong Joon-pyo, the latest Daegu Mayor, joined the race as he'd previously announced. He focused on the need to beat DP's Lee Jae-myung, and that he's the only candidate who's able to compete with Lee. With the election now 50 days away, it's crucial to garner positive support and attention in a short span of time. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.

Acting President Han pledges to stick to "final mission" of resolving tariff troubles amid presidency run speculation

2025/04/14 17:00

Acting President Han Duck-soo has called his commitment to navigating the nation through tough tariff talks with the Trump administration his "final mission" Chairing a Cabinet meeting earlier on this Monday Han emphasized turning the crisis into an opportunity by leveraging his extensive trade experience to protect national interests and enhance Korea's global competitiveness. These remarks come amid much speculation about a potential bid by Han for the presidential election on June third. He has neither confirmed nor denied his intention to run. He has instead called on the parliament for prompt action on pending bills aimed at stabilizing livelihoods and spurring economic growth. In this regard he stressed the need to swiftly pass the Semiconductor Special Act as well as measures to help protect small businesses affected by delayed payments.

Employment for late 20s in S. Korea sees biggest drop in 12 years

2025/04/14 17:00

The number of employed Koreans in their late 20s has retreated to its lowest level in 12 years. Data shared by Statistics Korea on this Monday show some 2-point-4 million Koreans between the ages of 25 and 29 were employed in the first quarter of this year DOWN 98-thousand on year. The agency is linking the drop to declines in manufacturing and construction jobs. Moreover this latest drop is not only the deepest since 2013 but also continues a nine-quarter run of on-year employment slumps for people.. in this age group.

Rebounds in chip, display shipments lead to ICT exports growth in March, reaching US$ 20.6 bil.

2025/04/14 17:00

Exports of Korean ICT products expanded almost 10 percent on year in March led by chips and display panels. Moon Ji-young has the latest numbers. Rebounds in chip and display sales led to an increase in South Korea's tech exports last month, according to data released by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on Monday. ICT exports in March reached almost 20-point-6 billion dollars, up 9-point 4 percent compared to the same month the previous year. Month-on-month data shows that tech exports surged by 24 percent, while the trade balance saw an increase of a whopping 48 percent during the same period. Exports of major tech items, such as chips, displays, cell phones and computers, have all risen together for the first time in eight months. Semiconductor exports increased by nearly 12 percent year-on-year, driven by rising demand for high-value memory chips, such as High Bandwidth Memory and Double Data Rate 5. This growth is attributed to expanded investments in AI servers and a reduction in companies' memory inventories. The display sector rebounded by one-point-three percent after eight months, thanks to the launch of new mobile phones. Experts and officials from the Trade Ministry attribute these rebounds to preemptive measures taken by leading companies to secure their inventories in anticipation of reciprocal tariffs imposed by the U.S. "Certainly, after the announcement of the tariffs imposition, there was a trend where companies tried to pull forward their shipments for the following month, and the month after that, before tariffs were increased." Exports of mobile phones soared by nearly 15 percent while computers jumped over 28 percent, both showing double-digit growth. By country, shipments to the U.S., Vietnam, and Japan performed strongly last month, driven by robust demand for chips. In contrast, exports to China, South Korea's top export destination, fell by over 12 percent due to decreased demand for chips and computers. There was also a drop in exports to Europe. Meanwhile, ICT imports totaled over 12-point-2 billion dollars, resulting in a positive ICT trade balance. Moon Ji-young, Arirang News.

Seoul says copper import restrictions will disrupt S. Korean investment in U.S.

2025/04/14 17:00

The government here is requesting that the Trump administration re-consider its restrictions on copper imports from South Korea. The request follows the launch of an investigation by the U.S. Commerce Department to assess the national security implications of U.S. imports of copper and copper derivative products. In response the Trade Ministry here has pointed out that South Korean copper products have contributed favorably to the American economy. The ministry also stressed that U.S. tariffs on copper imports would simply serve to raise prices and disrupt the current stability of the supply chain.

Trump clarifies there's no full "tariff exception" on electronics from China

2025/04/14 17:00

U.S. tariff exemptions on electronic devices are temporary in nature and a separate set of tariffs will be in place for semiconductors and smartphones in the near future. Lee Seung-jae has our top story. U.S. President Donald Trump and his key trade officials on Sunday made it clear that his administration's newly announced exemptions for reciprocal tariffs on electronic products would be partially or completely reversed in the coming weeks. After a technical guidance issued late Friday, Washington issued an exemption on select electronics, such as smartphones, laptops, personal computers, servers, and semiconductor equipment. Not only does this ease the burden on Samsung Electronics and Apple, it also means a possible exemption from some of the levies on Chinese imports. However,.. Trump took to his social media page on Sunday to clarify, saying tariffs would still be imposed on Chinese goods, specifically the existing 20 percent fentanyl tariffs. Trump also stressed that the U.S. administration is taking a look at semiconductors and the "WHOLE ELECTRONICS SUPPLY CHAIN" in upcoming National Security Tariff investigations. According to U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, while there may be some tariff exemptions on select electronics now, a separate tariff on semiconductors is coming. "So what he's doing is he's saying they're exempt from the reciprocal tariffs, but they're included in the semiconductor tariffs, which are coming in probably a month or two. So these are coming soon." Speaking to CNN on Sunday, White House National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett said that items subject to Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act have always been excluded from the reciprocal tariffs, and a separate investigation will be conducted to determine the necessary measures to protect the United States. He added that the tariff investigation into semiconductors has to do with broader concerns of U.S. dependence on Chinese-made imports. Hassett said that there is a "very uncomfortable amount of Chinese input" in U.S. weapons systems, stressing the importance of Section 232 of the Act. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

[Weather] Spring rain and snow through tomorrow dawn, rise in highs

2025/04/14 17:00

It certainly felt like the rewind button on the seasons was hit! Winter made a surprise comeback over the weekend with gusty winds. There has been more rain nationwide today, which could linger into tomorrow dawn, snow for mountainous regions in Gangwon-do. Highs were 5 to 10 degrees Celsius lower than norms today, but as the weather clears up tomorrow, daytime highs will return to near average. But you will need a light winter jacket for the morning commute. Seoul starts off at 4 degrees Celsius, Gwangju and Daegu at 5 degrees under brighter skies. Highs will jump to the mid-teens in most parts at 16 degrees in the capital and Daejeon, Daegu and Busan at 17 degrees with decent air quality. Then things will get much warmer heading into the weekend. That's Korea for you. Here's a look at the international weather conditions.

Winter makes unexpected return as Seoul sees snow in April for first time in 81 years

2025/04/14 17:00

In other news. For the first time in over 80 years Capital Seoul recorded snowfall in mid-April as winter made an unexpected call. Bae Eun-ji has more. Snow piled up on flowers and trees, as South Korea experienced unseasonably cold mid-April weather. Over 10 centimeters of snow accumulated in parts of Gangwon-do Province on Sunday. Light snow and hail also fell in the capital area, as it went through an unusual spring chill. Snow of up to 0-point-6 centimeters was recorded in central Seoul, between Saturday night and Sunday morning, making it the first time in 81 years that the city saw snow in April. This is mainly because of cold arctic air passing through the Korean peninsula. The weather turned turbulent as the lingering cold air from above clashed with a mild spring breeze on the ground, causing gusty winds and hail. Strong winds battered the country over the weekend, leading to widespread damage. In Jeju, the winds damaged roofs and toppled trees. In Busan, winds of up to 30 meters per second brought down signboards and caused power outages. Also in the capital area, at Incheon airport, a tug vehicle crashed into an aircraft on the ground, leading to flight delays. The national weather service says strong winds and falling temperatures are forecast for the coming days. "Damage from strong winds is expected until Monday, and temperatures will start to go up from Wednesday. We're expecting to see temperatures return to normal starting late this week." Rain or snow is expected across the country until Tuesday before spring warmth returns later this week. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.

Unit commanders additionally booked over charges related to accidental bombing in Pocheon

2025/04/14 17:00

The accidental bombing of a residential area in Pocheon city last month was indeed owing to negligence. According to findings of an interim investigation by the Defense Ministry released on this Monday the two pilots entered the wrong target coordinates. They also dropped the bombs without visually verifying the target NOR did the training follow the planned flight path for the live fire drill. Along with these two pilots unit commanders have been additionally booked for lax supervision. The ministry is seeking disciplinary action against nine officials who belatedly reported the case and will issue a warning against the Air Force's operations commander holding him accountable for command responsibility and insufficient reporting.

U.S. designation of S. Korea as 'sensitive country' to go into effect on Apr. 15

2025/04/14 17:00

The U.S. Energy Department's designation of South Korea as a "sensitive country" goes into effect tomorrow that is Tuesday. While the designation does NOT set new restrictions it does mandate internal reviews before joint programs or actual visits to listed countries. Accordingly pundits fear the designation will hinder collaboration between Seoul and Washington in areas such as nuclear energy and artificial intelligence. The Korean government had not been notified of the designation by Washington in advance although the decision had been made under the Biden administration.

U.S.-Iran nuclear talks set to resume amid pitfalls after "constructive" first round

2025/04/14 17:00

Over in Oman this past Saturday. Officials from the U.S. and Iran addressed the latter's nuclear weapons ambitions with more talks scheduled for this coming weekend. Our Park Kun-woo reports. Nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran are set to resume this weekend, but with potential pitfalls ahead, including the agenda and format. The first round that took place Saturday in Oman was participated in by U.S. and Iranian diplomats and conducted "indirectly" through Oman's mediation, marking the highest-level meeting between the two nations since 2018. After the talks ended, the two sides spoke for a few minutes face-to-face. On Sunday, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called the talks "constructive," but also said the U.S. continues to seek a diplomatic resolution to Iran's nuclear program. And he added that the U.S. military stands ready "to go deep and big" if talks fail. U.S. President Donald Trump also commented. "We'll be making a decision on Iran very quickly." That came after Trump said the day before that things were "going okay." Iran on Sunday also described the first round of talks with the U.S. as "productive," but maintained its stance of keeping the agenda and format the same amid remaining tensions. "What is clear at this stage is that the negotiations are indirect and, from our perspective, are solely about the nuclear issue and with the necessary will to reach an agreement based on equality." That comes as the U.S. is reportedly looking to broaden the agenda to include Iran's ballistic missile program and its support for the "axis of resistance" -a network of militant groups opposed to Israel. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

Israeli strike hits hospital in Gaza City

2025/04/14 17:00

In the Middle East. An Israeli airstrike hit one of the last remaining fully operational medical center in Gaza City. In the wee hours of Sunday local time Israeli missiles struck the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital reportedly destroying the emergency room outpatient clinic and pharmacy. Other buildings within its vicinity including a church were also damaged. The Israeli military claims the strike targeted a Hamas command center operating within the hospital.

K-wave AI News

2025/04/14 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. The 2025 Osaka-Kansai World Expo has kicked off, marking the start of its six-month journey. The Korean pavilion was unveiled on Sunday, boasting the largest scale among all international pavilions. It features three distinct exhibition zones designed to bridge tradition and modernity, people and technology, and Korea and the world. A striking media facade showcases Korea's cultural heritage alongside AI-powered media art, K-pop artist visuals, and more. The Nihon Keizai Shimbun newspaper named the Korean pavilion one of the event's "noteworthy exhibition halls." The night sky over the Hangang River will once again be illuminated with a spectacular light display this year as Seoul City presents the 2025 Hangang Drone Light Show at Ttukseom Hangang Park from April 19 to May 25. This year's drone show will return with 200 additional drones, bringing the total to 1,200, adorning the sky with a breathtaking light display. Various cultural performances, including magic shows and Taekwondo demonstrations, will entertain spectators before and after the main event. On opening night, a special performance featuring 2,000 drones will take place, portraying drones that transcend the boundaries of time and space. A solo exhibition by Ron Mueck, the acclaimed Australian sculptor known for his hyperrealistic, large-scale human figures, is now open at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Seoul. Marking his first solo show in Asia, the retrospective features ten major works from across his 30-year career. Highlights include "Mask II," a self-portrait roughly four times life-size, "In Bed," a larger-than-life sculpture that draws viewers into the subject's emotional state, and "Mass," a haunting installation that adapts to each exhibition space. Exploring themes of life, death, and the human condition, the exhibition runs through July 13. That's all from me. Keep it tuned to the Kulture Wave.