News

Hamas suspends release of Israeli hostages over Israel's 'violation' of ceasefire deal

2025/02/11 20:00

Elsewhere. The Gaza ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas looks to have become even more fragile as Hamas intends to postpone the release of Israeli hostages who were expected to return home on Saturday. Cha Yun-kyung has the latest. The military spokesman for Hamas' Al-Qassam Brigades, Abu Obeida, announced on Monday that the release of the Israeli hostages, this coming Saturday, will be postponed until further notice, accusing Israel of violating the terms of Gaza ceasefire agreement. Obeida said Israel has been delaying the return of the displaced to the northern Gaza Strip, targeting Gaza with shelling and gunfire, and not allowing relief supplies of all kinds to enter as agreed upon. Israel has refuted the claims, and instead, according to the Times of Israel, blames the militant group for violating the ceasefire agreement. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz also announced on Monday that he had instructed his military to "prepare at the highest level of alert for any possible scenario in Gaza." In response, the Hostage and Missing Families Forum said it "stands with the Israeli government and encourages maintaining the conditions that will ensure the safe return of seventy-six brothers and sisters." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also moved up a political-security cabinet meeting, originally scheduled for Tuesday evening, after the Hamas announcement. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday, local time, urged Israel to cancel its ceasefire deal with Hamas and "let all hell break out" if Hamas does not return hostages held in Gaza by noon on Saturday. In a wide-ranging session with reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said he wanted the hostages released at once, instead of a few at a time. The three-phase ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas has been in place in Gaza since last month, however, tensions are escalating as both sides are accusing each other of the violation of agreement. Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.

Will leaders of China, Russia, N. Korea meet in Moscow in May?

2025/02/11 20:00

Chinese President Xi Jinping has reportedly accepted a Russian invitation to its Victory Day celebrations that are poised to take place in May. North Korea's Kim Jong-un has been also invited to this event. Our foreign affairs correspondent Bae Eun-ji has more. Leaders of Russia and China vowed to further develop their partnership throughout this year, in a video call last month, with Putin addressing Xi as his "dear friend." "It is safe to say that foreign policy ties and joint work between Russia and China objectively play an important and stabilizing role in international affairs." "In the new year, I'm willing to work with you to continue guiding China-Russia relations to a new height in 2025, to respond to external uncertainties with the stability and resilience of China-Russia ties, " Citing Russian Ambassador to China Igor Morgulov, Russia's Tass news agency reported Monday, local time, that Chinese President Xi Jinping has accepted Russia's invitation to attend a "Victory Day" ceremony, marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet contribution to victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two. The ambassador also reportedly said that Xi in return, has invited Putin to China for its own commemoration of the end of World War Two scheduled for September. Although China has yet to officially confirm Xi's visit to Russia, if he does decide to attend, it would be the first time in ten years for a Chinese leader to take part in the event. The Kremlin told Tass that preparations are already underway for Xi's visit to Moscow, and Putin's trip to Beijing. Earlier in December, the Kremlin said it had invited leaders of many countries to attend the 80th anniversary of the end of the war, and that includes North Korea. This means there is a possibility that the leaders of Beijing, Moscow and Pyongyang may hold talks to seek ways to push back against U.S. President Donald Trump. So, eyes are now on whether the three countries will further strengthen their relations and work together to pressure the United States. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.

S. Korea's economic growth rate in 2025 slashed to 1.6% with political instability and U.S. trade tariffs

2025/02/11 20:00

The South Korean economy is forecast to grow one-point-six percent this year. Now this is according to a state-run think tank following a downward revision to reflect the prolonged political paralysis here and the broader market ramifications of Trump tariffs. Our correspondent Moon Hye-ryeon reports. South Korea's economic growth projection for the year has been slashed on the back of rising uncertainties with U.S. trade tariffs and continued political instability in the country. In its outlook published on Tuesday, the state-run Korea Development Institute forecasts the economy to grow point-nine percent in the first half of 2025 and two-point-two percent in the second half – bringing the annual growth rate to one-point-six percent. That's down by point-four percentage points from its previous forecast of two percent released in November. This is lower than forecasts from major institutions such as the OECD at two-point-one percent, but similar to the Bank of Korea's projection of one-point-six to one-point-seven percent. The agency noted that the prolonged slump in domestic demand exacerbated by political turmoil in the country, combined with a slowdown in exports, is weighing on economic growth. The construction sector remains in recession while the service sector struggles to recover. Despite strong semiconductor demand, the goods exports were revised down from one-point-nine percent to one-point-five percent – reflecting deteriorating trade conditions. Weak domestic demand is, however, likely to limit inflationary pressure – keeping the KDI's consumer price inflation forecast at one-point-six percent. It is also expected to affect the labor market as sluggish domestic demand limits job growth. These projections, however, come with the KDI assuming that U.S. trade restrictions under the Trump administration would be implemented gradually. The faster-than-expected policy moves have significantly increased uncertainty. "If trade tensions under Trump escalate further or political instability drags on longer than expected, growth could fall below the one-point-six percent we've projected." That being said, the agency pointed out that tariffs on steel and aluminum are unlikely to have a great impact on the country's GDP growth. "Steel and aluminum make up about point-eight percent of our total exports to the U.S., so in the grand scheme of things, it's not a huge portion of our overall portions. If the tariffs do go into effect, these industries would take a significant hit, but in terms of GDP, we don't expect the impact to be that substantial." With weak consumption, slowing exports, and persistent uncertainty both at home and abroad, the KDI's latest outlook signals that the country's economic recovery remains vulnerable. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

Gov't to push for last-minute talks with U.S. following tariff announcement

2025/02/11 20:00

As South Korea braces for the impact of U.S. tariffs, top officials gathered today to assess possible damage and discuss the next steps, including negotiations with Washington. Our Kim Jung-sil reports. The South Korean government is on high alert as the U.S. moves forward with a 25-percent tariff on imported steel and aluminum—a move that could hit key industries hard. Following the U.S. announcement, top officials in Seoul met on Tuesday to discuss response measures. "While we are concerned about the decline in profitability for our industry, we also see opportunities in a fair competitive environment. We will work closely with the industry to strengthen its competitiveness." The government said it will also push for last-minute negotiations. "With some time left until March 12th, we will actively engage in negotiations with the U.S. to ensure our interests are fully reflected." South Korea had previously faced export limits instead of tariffs, but with the new policy, those restrictions will also be lifted on March 12th. "From calculations done in a report by an analyst at Citi Bank, this could reduce Korea's GDP by 0.1 to 0.2 percent. But because the quota has been removed the damage from tariffs should be less than 0.2 percent of the GDP." With Trump hinting at tariffs on autos and semiconductors, experts warn negotiations must be strategic. "Because Trump has threatened many other tariffs on other goods such as automobiles and pharmaceuticals. For a full negotiation, we should wait until we know exactly what range of goods that the U.S. will put tariffs on." Officials say they will closely monitor U.S. trade moves and coordinate responses with Japan and the EU. With time running out, South Korea faces tough choices to protect its export-driven economy. Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.

Live: President Yoon claims opposition was trying to "destroy administration," officials back legality of martial law

2025/02/11 17:00

The Constitutional Court opens its final week of formal hearings today with four witnesses taking the stand in the latest session. For details I have our correspondent Oh Soo-young is standing by live at the court. Soo-young welcome back. So the hearing today began with former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min . Let's start with his testimony. Former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min appeared to back the President's claims that his martial law was legal, against assertions that Yoon had bypassed Cabinet procedures required before declaring the decree. Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok has claimed a formal Cabinet meeting was not held beforehand, and he had not seen Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun recommend the decree to the Prime Minister, as per the Constitutional requirement for martial law. Lee said while it wasn't scheduled as a Cabinet meeting, around seven members initially gathered, and waited for the 11-member quorum to be filled. He said, "Those present would have considered themselves to be in a Cabinet meeting." "When martial law was declared for the first time in 45 years, there were concerns about whether the public would accept it, its diplomatic and economic impact, and the political backlash from the opposition." Also, in direct contradiction with prosecutors' records, Lee denied he'd asked the National Fire Agency to cut water and power to news organizations, and said he did not receive such orders from Yoon. While the former minister said he tried to dissuade the President from declaring martial law, he understood where the decision came from. Yoon himself took to reiterate his claim that the opposition Democratic Party had sabotaged the administration by constantly impeaching officials, and, crucially, cutting the government budget. National Security Advisor Shin Won-sik also indicated that external, hybrid security threats were mounting, calling for national unity, and the opposition-led forces were thwarting an effective government response. He said he and other senior secretaries had voiced their concerns over declaring martial law, but added Yoon agreed right away to lift martial law once Parliament passed a motion to revoke it. Now, former Third Deputy Director of the National Intelligence Service Baek Jong-wook is testifying. The questions for him and Secretary-General of the National Election Commission Kim Yong-bin,.., are expected to focus on election fraud allegations raised by Yoon as a pretext for declaring martial law. Meanwhile Soo-young I hear the Constitutional Court has yet to decide on additional hearings beyond what has been planned as the final and eighth hearing this coming Thursday? That's right. In order to conclude the hearings, the bench must hear the closing arguments from both legal teams and President Yoon's final statement. This would take around two to three hours, and given that four witness testimonies are planned for Thursday, it is unlikely that justices will conclude the hearings then. Experts say more witnesses are likely to be summoned as some of the main testimonies we've heard so far have caused more confusion due to discrepancies with previous statements made in prosecutorial records or conflicting narratives between witnesses. The President's side again on Tuesday contested the Court's decision to accept investigation records as evidence. While the Court has emphasized its commitment to a speedy trial, there's been concern that back-to-back witness questioning, twice a week doesn't allow much time for a thorough review of the testimonies or evidence. Still, the opposition has called for a quick end to the trial,.. saying the evidence is out there. "Our patience is wearing thin. How much longer must we put up with baseless conspiracy theories about election fraud? There's already been enough consideration given to the respondent through this week's witness examination. We hope for a swift conclusion to the proceedings." All right Soo-young thank you for the latest on the president's impeachment trial.

[Weather] Rain and snow all over the country on Wednesday

2025/02/11 17:00

During the day today, the temperatures recovered back to normal levels rising to 6 degrees Celsius in Seoul. All of the cold wave warnings have been lifted as well. However, as the cold recedes, it's being replaced by uninvited dust. The Seoul metropolitan area, Gangwon-do Province, and the Chungcheong-do provinces will see "bad" levels of ultra-fine dust on Wednesday. Rain will begin tonight on the west coast of Jeollanam-do Province and Jeju Island. Rain and snow are forecast all over the country tomorrow. Especially, it will snow strongly from dawn into tomorrow morning. Please be careful on the slippery roads on the way to work. Seoul will start off at zero degrees tomorrow morning, and Daejeon and Daegu at minus 1 degree. Daytime temperatures will move up to 4 degrees in Seoul and Chuncheon. In central parts of the country, you will be able to see the full moon of Jeongwoldaeboreum through the clouds. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism unveils 2025 plans to expand temple stays, cultural awareness

2025/02/11 17:00

The Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism has announced plans to expand temple stays as it seeks to nurture happiness through healing. In commemoration of the 2025 APEC Summit to be held in Gyeongju in November a special temple stay program will be set up to better accommodate foreign visitors. Efforts will also be made to raise awareness of temple cuisine through collaborations with renowned culinary institutions like Le Cordon Bleu. Tailored programs for the young and newlyweds will also be offered. Temple stays are unique cultural programs here in South Korea that allow visitors the chance to experience the daily life of Buddhist monks.

Rosé & Bruno Mars' 'APT.' sets record with 15th week at No. 1 on Billboard chart

2025/02/11 17:00

The global hit APT by BLACKPINK's Rosé and Bruno Mars has made new history on the Billboard Global Excluding U.S. chart. On Monday Billboard announced the song had topped this chart for 15 weeks breaking the previous record of 14 weeks set by Mariah Carey with her song "All I Want for Christmas Is You." Separately APT continues to maintain its 6th place standing on the Billboard Hot 100. Rosé also made history on this chart reaching number three to become the highest-ranking K-pop female artist in Hot 100 history.

Hamas threatens to postpone next hostage release citing broken terms of ceasefire deal by Israel

2025/02/11 17:00

In the Middle East. The fate of the ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas has been rendered uncertain with the latter speaking of plans to postpone the release of Israeli hostages who were expected to return home this coming Saturday. Lee Seung-jae has details. Palestinian militant group Hamas had planned to release Israeli hostages this coming Saturday, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. However, that swap may now be in doubt, as the militant group announced on Monday that it would delay those plans,.. accusing Israel of breaching the Gaza ceasefire agreement. According to Hamas Armed Wing Spokesperson Abu Obeida, the release of the Israeli hostages will be postponed until further notice, pending Israel's "compliance and retroactive compensation for the past weeks." He added that Hamas will reaffirm its commitment to the ceasefire agreement, as long as Israel adheres to it. The spokesperson further explained that for the past three weeks, the Israelis did not abide by the terms of the agreement, having delayed the return of residents of northern Gaza, targeting Palestinians with shelling and gunfire, and stopping aid from entering the enclave. Israel has refuted the claims made by Hamas, and instead blamed the militant group for violating the ceasefire agreement. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz also announced on Monday that he had instructed his military to "prepare at the highest level of alert for any possible scenario in Gaza." In response,.. the Israel Defense Forces said it was "raising its level of readiness in southern Israel and postponing leave for combat soldiers," raising concerns over further escalation of tension in the region. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also moved up a political-security cabinet meeting, originally scheduled for Tuesday evening, after the Hamas announcement. An Israeli official said the Israeli leader is consulting with his security leadership team to discuss response measures. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Will leaders of China, Russia, N. Korea meet in Moscow in May?

2025/02/11 17:00

Chinese President Xi Jinping has reportedly accepted a Russian invitation to its Victory Day celebrations that are poised to take place in May. North Korea's Kim Jong-un is also expected to attend this event. Our foreign affairs correspondent Bae Eun-ji has more. Leaders of Russia and China vowed to further develop their partnership throughout this year, in a video call last month, with Putin addressing Xi as his "dear friend." "It is safe to say that foreign policy ties and joint work between Russia and China objectively play an important and stabilizing role in international affairs." "In the new year, I'm willing to work with you to continue guiding China-Russia relations to a new height in 2025, to respond to external uncertainties with the stability and resilience of China-Russia ties, " Citing Russian Ambassador to China Igor Morgulov, Russia's Tass news agency reported Monday, local time, that Chinese President Xi Jinping has accepted Russia's invitation to attend a "Victory Day" ceremony, marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet contribution to victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two. The ambassador also reportedly said that Xi in return, has invited Putin to China for its own commemoration of the end of World War Two --scheduled for September. Although China has yet to officially confirm Xi's visit to Russia, if he does decide to attend, it would be the first time in ten years for a Chinese leader to take part in the event. The Kremlin told Tass that preparations are already underway for Xi's visit to Moscow, and Putin's trip to Beijing. Earlier in December, the Kremlin said it had invited leaders of many countries to attend the 80th anniversary of the end of the war, and that includes North Korea. This means there is a possibility that the leaders of Beijing, Moscow and Pyongyang may hold talks to seek ways to push back against U.S. President Donald Trump. So, eyes are now on whether the three countries will further strengthen their relations and work together to pressure the United States. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.

Why do global entrepreneurs choose S. Korea as a destination for their startup?

2025/02/11 17:00

Young entrepreneurs from overseas are opting to start their business ventures here in South Korea. Our Ahn Sung-jin tells us why. Eight years ago, former Samsung employee Pankaj Agarwal started his own business here in South Korea. Now, that business has dozens of employees across two countries. "My journey started with Samsung in Korea and in Samsung there is a program called C-lab that gave me a chance to spin off my company and very naturally from an employee at Samsung we became an individual company." He choose Seoul as the base for his edu-tech startup. "Then what are some of the opportunities that a lot of foreign entrepreneurs see in Korea whether it be perks or what are some of the characteristics or reasons as to why foreign entrepreneurs would find Korea as an attractive destination?" "I think Korea is very unique in that there are a lot of support programs. The government makes sure that startups have a lot of opportunities because startups are always afraid that they will die for us our first office was sponsored by the government." Pankaj says basing his business in Korea has helped in other ways too. "What I benefit the most from Korea is the brand, you know there is Kpop, K-drama and I say why not K-education. I want to create a successful venture that can help showcase Korea's image in the world that a foreign entrepreneur can really build up a business in Korea." U.S. consultancy Startup Genome has ranked Seoul's startup ecosystem 9th out of 300 cities around the world. And to help start-ups get off the ground, the Ministry of SMEs provides special programs to help foreign entrepreneurs settle and grow their businesses, including assistance with visa process, business development funds and other support. "So far we've mostly focused on helping Korean startups expand, but in order to foster a startup ecosystem in Korea, we figured its also important to host foreign entrepreneurs and startups and garner talents from abroad to Korea." More global entrepreneurs are choosing Korea as a place to start their business, and this global startup center also facilitates market entry for these companies through patent and administrative support or corporate partnership matching. "Korea was the one offering the biggest ecosystem, the most developed infrastructure and the best opportunities as well. I would say that the visa process was actually very smooth." "Being able to always ask other entrepreneurs how they're managing their startup entrepreneur life in Korea so we can accelerate our business here much faster." The beginning of a start-up involves struggles such as finding resources and investment. That's why efforts from the government and other stakeholders could be the catalyst for attracting global entrepreneurs and sustaining a healthy startup ecosystem for Korea. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.

Samsung Electronics voted "most trusted" refrigerator brand in UK

2025/02/11 17:00

Refrigerators by Samsung Electronics have been voted the "most trusted" by consumers in the U.K. This is according to a survey conducted by Newsweek an American magazine that recently shared its list of most trusted brands for the year in the U.K. Regarding the reasons cited for their vote of confidence in Samsung's fridges consumers in the U.K. highlighted the Korean company's ethical values its reasonable price and customer service.

PPP Floor Leader Kweon calls for prompt approval of supplementary budget, special act to support semiconductor industry

2025/02/11 17:00

And also on the economy ruling People Power Party Floor Leader Kweon Seong-dong called for prompt approval of a supplementary budget and a special act to better support the chip market Addressing the National Assembly today Kweon highlighted the importance of a parliamentary approval within this month to jump-start economic recovery as Korea faces mounting internal and external concerns. He also elaborated on the need to amend the Constitution to decentralize presidential authority to ease political strife among rival parties.

S. Korea's economic growth rate in 2025 slashed to 1.6% with political instability and U.S. trade tariffs

2025/02/11 17:00

The South Korean economy is forecast to grow one-point-six percent this year. Now this is according to a state-run think tank following a downward revision to reflect the prolonged political paralysis here and the broader market ramifications of Trump tariffs. Our correspondent Moon Hye-ryeon reports. South Korea's economic growth projection for the year has been slashed on the back of rising uncertainties with U.S. trade tariffs and continued political instability in the country. In its outlook published on Tuesday, the state-run Korea Development Institute forecasts the economy to grow point-nine percent in the first half of 2025 and two-point-two percent in the second half – bringing the annual growth rate to one-point-six percent. That's down by point-four percentage points from its previous forecast of two percent released in November. This is lower than forecasts from major institutions such as the OECD at two-point-one percent, but similar to the Bank of Korea's projection of one-point-six to one-point-seven percent. The agency noted that the prolonged slump in domestic demand exacerbated by political turmoil in the country, combined with a slowdown in exports, is weighing on economic growth. The construction sector remains in recession while the service sector struggles to recover. Despite strong semiconductor demand, the goods exports were revised down from one-point-nine percent to one-point-five percent – reflecting deteriorating trade conditions. Weak domestic demand is, however, likely to limit inflationary pressure – keeping the KDI's consumer price inflation forecast at one-point-six percent. It is also expected to affect the labor market as sluggish domestic demand limits job growth. These projections, however, come with the KDI assuming that U.S. trade restrictions under the Trump administration would be implemented gradually. The faster-than-expected policy moves have significantly increased uncertainty. "If trade tensions under Trump escalate further or political instability drags on longer than expected, growth could fall below the one-point-six percent we've projected." That being said, the agency pointed out that tariffs on steel and aluminum are unlikely to have a great impact on the country's GDP growth. "Steel and aluminum make up about point-eight percent of our total exports to the U.S., so in the grand scheme of things, it's not a huge portion of our overall portions. If the tariffs do go into effect, these industries would take a significant hit, but in terms of GDP, we don't expect the impact to be that substantial." With weak consumption, slowing exports, and persistent uncertainty both at home and abroad, the KDI's latest outlook signals that the country's economic recovery remains vulnerable. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

K-wave AI News

2025/02/11 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. Korea's iconic cherry blossom festival, 'Jinhae Gunhangje,' will kick off on March 28 in the southern city of Changwon in Gyeongsangnam-do Province. Visitors can immerse themselves in a picturesque floral wonderland while enjoying the festival's signature events such as a military band & honor guard performance, the Admiral Yi Sun-sin memorial ceremony, a multimedia fireworks show, and the Black Eagles air show. This year, it will also feature the 'Cherry Blossom Music Festival' for the first time. Changwon City is expanding its global outreach to accommodate more foreign visitors, securing TV broadcasts, 통역 부스, and cruise ship operations along the Jinhae coastline. Seoul City plans to host a range of cultural events this year at Bukchon Hanok Village. The Bukchon Cultural Center will feature a monthly program called 'Bukchon Dorak' offering immersive cultural experiences that reflect Korea's seasonal traditions, history, and heritage. Highlights include traditional crafts, pop-up libraries, yoga sessions, and year-round exhibitions showcasing K-living and hanok culture. In October, 'Bukchon Day' will be celebrated with hanok workshops, hanok camps, and guided alleyway tours led by local residents. On February 19, the musical "Once" will make its return to the domestic stage after a 10-year hiatus. Based on the beloved film known for hit songs like "Falling Slowly," the production will be a replica of the original musical, preserving the music, choreography, and other key elements. The musical first premiered in Korea in 2014, with a follow-up performance the following year. Co-director Conor Hanratty highlighted that, unlike the original film's quiet atmosphere, the stage version will feature more dynamic and energetic scenes. That's all from me. Keep it tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[K-wave] A step towards K-pop choreography copyright protection

2025/02/11 14:00

The popularity of K-pop goes beyond just its songs, with its dance elements also a key factor. But the choreography generally does not have proper copyrights. Last year, prominent figures in the dance industry gathered to set up an association to protect these rights. Lee Eun-jin tells us more. Choreography in the K-pop scene ranges from the soft to sharply angled group dance movements. Recently, there was great popularity for dance cover performances by military soldiers on a K-Force Special Show TV program. They are no idols, and without singing a single verse, their dance cover has gained a high number of views. High interest in K-pop choreography is not a new phenomenon. There are fans from abroad who come to Korea to learn from Korean choreographers. "For instance, in France it's just about music. But here in Korea it's about music and dance. And I feel like it has so much. The whole performance is another level. I think it's super nice and fun." But even with the global K-dance craze, returns for the choreographers behind the dance sequences have not changed over many years. They are indeed the creators, but not copyright holders. A survey of some 90 choreographers in Korea showed that only around 2 percent of them have ever held a copyright. That's because there is a longstanding practice regarding this in the industry. It is common for choreographers to sign contracts that include a special agreement condition to hand over the rights of their choreography to the party using it, which is usually an entertainment agency. "Even for me, it's not easy to ask 'Can you take this clause out?'. It's been such a longstanding practice " For young choreographers, they are often not even given the chance to contemplate the conditions of copyright. "I myself can't be proud because the reality is that I've signed contracts without having such knowledge." This is why, last year, choreographers gathered to launch an association to protect copyright. Their first step was carrying out promotional activity to establish that choreography is also subject to copyright. In line with this, the government also began a system reorganization of legal concepts surrounding this issue. Based on research and case studies, the government plans to release copyright guidelines and standard contracts accordingly this year. "There is a hidden effort by choreographers behind the growth of K-pop. I hope that a social atmosphere is established where these choreographers' efforts and their value are recognized." Major Korean entertainment agencies have said they would follow the copyright guidelines and standard contracts set out by the government. And this gives hope to those that have worked hard for years for "an era of copyright in choreography." Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.

[K-enter] "Dark Nuns" sees global box office success

2025/02/11 14:00

And we will start off with a K-movie. And it seems that one film is doing very well overseas, which one will you be talking about? Today's film is "The Dark Nuns". A story of two nuns who perform a forbidden ritual to save a boy possessed by a powerful evil spirit, it stars Song Hye-kyo and Jeon Yeo-bin , and has seen global box office success. Released in Korea on January 24, the film has surpassed its break-even point of 1.6 million viewers domestically and has also exceeded 1 million viewers in Indonesia. Additionally, it has remained No. 1 at the box office in the Philippines for two consecutive weeks since its release. The film continues to spread across the world, having been released in North America, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Laos and Myanmar . It is set for further releases in Singapore and Malaysia on February 13, followed by Vietnam on February 21. It's great to see people are still heading to the theatres to see movies and even better that K-movies are at the top of some viewers' lists. Moving onto some news about NewJeans or should I say NJZ? I'm confused. I remember how Bella introduced us to this new name but what's new? Yes, you said it Soa, we are talking about NJZ or are we talking about NewJeans? Well that is the current dispute that is making waves in the K-pop world. The girl group are still embroiled in a law suit with record label ADOR over contractual issues. On Monday, ADOR issued a statement to the media, saying something to the effect of, "On February 7, the NewJeans members announced plans to promote under a group name that was not agreed upon with ADOR." ADOR urged media outlets to "use the official team name, 'NewJeans,' which is based on a legally valid contract." adding "The exclusive contracts between NewJeans members and ADOR remain legally valid." This is a big issue and I am sure we will keep a close eye on developments as they happen. Moving onto another girl group and that is the brand new group Hearts2Hearts. SM Entertainment's new girl group, Hearts2Hearts, has unveiled the teaser image for their debut single. On Monday, the teaser image for their first single, "The Chase", was released through the Hearts2Hearts' official social media accounts. You should be able to see the teaser images on screen now. "The Chase", set to be released on the 24th of February at 6pm, has a total of two tracks: the title track and debut song "The Chase", along with the B-side track "Butterflies". Only a couple of weeks left until their debut so I can't wait for that, and lastly a touching gesture by a member of Stray Kids. I.N, a member of the boy group Stray Kids, donated 100 million Korean won, roughly 68,000 U.S. dollars to Samsung Medical Center in celebration of his birthday, which was February 8th, Saturday. According to the hospital on Monday, the donation made by I.N will be used to cover medical expenses for pediatric cancer patients from underprivileged families receiving treatment at Samsung Medical Center. Known for his continuous philanthropic efforts, I.N was appointed as the youngest-ever member at age 23 last year, of the "Green Noble Club", an exclusive donor society of ChildFund Korea for individuals who have contributed donations exceeding 100 million won.

Trump signs executive order to impose new tariffs on steel, aluminum imports

2025/02/11 10:00

As widely expected, U.S. President Donald Trump has raised steel and aluminum tariffs to 25%, bringing back his aggressive trade policies. They'll be effective as of March 4th. Our Park Kun-woo starts us off. U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order at the White House on Monday to impose new 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. The move raised fears over the impact of an escalating trade war. Canada, the country that exports the most steel and aluminum to the U.S., and another major steel and aluminum trading partner Mexico, are expected to be among the worst hit. The same goes for Asian countries, including South Korea and China which are also among the largest trading partners, according to 2024 data from the U.S. Department of Commerce. South Korea, ranked the U.S.' fourth largest steel and aluminum importer last year. Trump's latest announcement follows plans revealed by the U.S. president the day before to set reciprocal tariffs on countries that tax U.S. imports. Trump said those measures will be implemented in the next few days, adding that he is unconcerned about potential retaliation. That prompted a strong warning from the European Union. "We stand against unjustified barriers to free and fair trade. We will always take the necessary steps to protect our economic interests, as well as European businesses, workers and consumers from unjustified tariff measures." While describing the tariffs as "unlawful and economically counter-productive," he also said the EU remains committed to constructive talks with the U.S. to find mutually beneficial solutions. France's foreign minister also shared a strong response. "It's not a surprise, it's what Donald Trump did already in 2018 and at the time we responded, so this time we'll respond again." Trump also warned on Monday of the possibility of imposing tariffs on items including, automobiles and chips, exports that are critical to South Korea's economy. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

[Weather] Cold snap eases, dusty in west central regions

2025/02/11 10:00

After days of freezing temperatures, the cold snap is finally easing across Korea today. Under bright skies, we're in for a much more bearable afternoon, making it a great day to step outside. However, along with the rise in temperatures, the dust level could also go up high in most of the central regions either earlier in the day or tonight. Afternoon highs will reach around 5 to 10 degrees Celsius in most areas, a pleasant improvement from the bitter cold we've seen lately. But don't get too comfortable just yet. Another round of snow is on the way for tomorrow, west of central regions could see up to 8 centimeters of snow. The west of Gangwon-do could see 10 centimeters of heavy snow. So checking on the first full moon of the new year tomorrow because it is Jeongwol Daeboreum, might not be as clear as we wish it could be. Meanwhile, despite a shift to milder weather in the coming days, it's not quite time to put away your winter coats just yet.

Philadelphia Eagles fans celebrate Super Bowl victory

2025/02/11 10:00

Also, in the U.S., the city of Philadelphia celebrated the Eagles winning Super Bowl fifty-nine. The Eagles had a dominating 40-to-22 victory, over the Kansas City Chiefs, who failed to claim a third consecutive title. Thousands of fans flooded the streets in celebration, causing some destruction, with authorities reporting multiple arrests due to reckless behavior and vandalism. Meanwhile, during the game, Taylor Swift, attending to support her partner Chiefs' player Travis Kelce, faced boos from the crowd, and was later mocked by President Donald Trump, who was also at the game.