News

[Features reporter] Ghibli-style AI-generated portrait boom; new wave in art scene?

2025/04/09 14:00

Kun-woo, I remember you said you've been stuck choosing your new profile picture. What's making it such a tough decision? Well, it's because I've been up to turning myself into all sorts of adorable animated characters using generative AI, so choosing just one has been tough. I'm pretty sure you've seen a lot of your friends doing the same, changing their pictures to AI-generated characters, especially in the popular Ghibli style, as it's been quite the trend lately. But before I tell you more, let's take a look at how this trend is unfolding. Social media is buzzing with Studio Ghibli-style portraits -not of actual characters but of real people transformed using generative AI. The global trend has also reached South Korea after OpenAI CEO Sam Altman posted his own version last month, showing how ChatGPT can now create intricate images with just simple prompts. "Whenever I open social media, it's flooded with these Ghibli-style images. A lot of my friends have tried them, some even shared their wedding photos in that style." Since the launch of the new image-generation tool in late March, over 700 million images were created, in just the first week. "This is my original photo, and I asked to be turned into a Ghibli character—and boom, two minutes later, here I am. And it's not just this but you can also turn into characters like Pororo or Marvel heroes. No wonder it’s gone viral." As the craze spreads, Sam Altman even joked on social media that "our GPUs are melting." However, the trend has also had backlash. A Japanese animation director known for "One Piece" expressed strong distaste, saying the trend is tarnishing the Ghibli brand. And Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki previously condemned AI-generated work as "an insult to life itself" adding that he would never use it in his pieces. Copyright concerns are also fueling the controversy. "Art styles and aesthetics are considered ideas, so the case is hard to judge whether it's violating copyrights. The issue is whether an AI company trained its model on works in the Ghibli style." She added that because this is a legal grey area with not much precedent, international and social consensus will be crucial moving forward. Despite the controversy, some believe this could be a new turning point in the culture and art scene. "The art world faces what's called "Baumol's cost disease" -rising labor costs without matching productivity. And hand-drawn animation is extremely labor-intensive. Ghibli, for example, hasn't released a new film since 2014. But AI could ease that burden and enable new creations while preserving the original identity." She also said that with proper consensus, AI-generated art could evolve into a new cultural movement, perhaps even gaining long-term value, much like Van Gogh's paintings did posthumously. And considering that, a tiny Ghibli-style AI portrait might just be the spark, redrawing the entire canvas of modern art. And Kun-woo since you mentioned that AI art could be reshaping the art world, can you tell us more about that? Of course. What we're seeing on social media is not just limited to Ghibli-style portraits but also other artworks created by so-called "AI artists." For those unfamiliar with them, one of the artists I spoke to explained how they create their art pieces. "With my own philosophy, I apply several prompts and combine generated images to make them my own. That's why it isn't that different from traditional art work, just the tools that we use are different. And it's not just an image generated in one-go, it takes several attempts and a lot of trial and error." She added that it could take hundreds of instances of "retouching" in order to create a unique artwork. Her goal is to build a new art scene where artists collaborate with AI as their tool, instead of brushes that artists would have usually used and said it will be able to make art even more valuable. Kun-woo, while AI-generated images are difficult to define as copyright infringement for now, I heard there are still some related cases that could lead to legal consequences. That's right. Recently, as AI-generated portraits have grown in popularity, some people have tried selling them or offering to create them for others on secondhand market platforms to 중고시장 플랫폼에서 판매하거나 다른 사람들을 위해 제작을 제공하여 이익을 얻으려고 시도했습니다. One lawyer I spoke to said in such cases, it could be punishable by law. "Although AI-generated portraits may not qualify as copyrighted work now—since they aren't considered creations that reflect human thoughts or emotions—profiting from them could still be problematic under the Unfair Competition Prevention Act, as it could be seen as commercially exploiting someone else’s achievements." So to recap, while simply creating or changing your image with AI seems fine for now, trying to make profit from it could lead to serious legal trouble. Thank you Kun-woo.

S. Korean, U.S. leaders hint at "win-win" deal in 1st phone call since Trump took office

2025/04/09 10:00

As South Korea's political uncertainty subsides after former President Yoon Suk Yeol's dismissal last Friday, and with Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo in full command of the nation's foreign affairs, the first leader-level talks with the U.S. took place on Tuesday. We have our Oh Soo-young who's at the Prime Minister's Office at the Sejong Government Complex. Q1. Good morning Sooyoung. The two leaders held quite a lengthy phone call, didn't they? Let's go over the highlights. Sure, Dami. According to the Acting President's office, Han and Trump held a 28-minute conversation, marking the first top-level talks between Seoul and Washington. The call also came around 16 hours ahead of Trump's 25 percent reciprocal tariffs targeting South Korea, that could significantly impact its export-driven industries. That's on top of the 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminium levied last month. Han's office said the two leaders agreed to continue ministerial-level dialogue on economic cooperation on issues including the allies' trade balance. As such, Han underscored South Korea's willingness to deepen cooperation in three key sectors: shipbuilding, liquefied natural gas, and addressing the trade imbalance. On the security front, Han called for stronger unity on North Korea, stressing that the allies' resolve for denuclearization must outweigh Pyongyang's ambitions. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to South Korea-U.S. military alliance and agreed to closely coordinate North Korea policy, while also advancing trilateral cooperation with Japan. 2. Of course, the phone call was full 의례적인 부분도 있었겠지만, 행간을 읽어보면 무역 긴장 속에서 두 정상이 전달하려던 메시지는 무엇이라고 생각하십니까? It seems both leaders could be angling for a deal. In an interview with CNN hours before the phone call, Acting President Han Duck-soo called for a win-win deal with President Trump—saying Seoul has no intention of retaliating against U.S. tariffs, unlike China and Japan. He proposed what he called a "cool negotiation," expressing confidence that the friends and allies could reach a "mutually beneficial deal" that might prompt Washington to recalibrate its trade policies. President Trump took to his social media Truth Social, describing what he called a "great phone call" with Han. He said they discussed South Korea's "tremendous and unsustainable trade surplus," as well as tariffs, LNG deals, a joint Alaska pipeline venture, and the cost of stationing U.S. troops on the Korean Peninsula. Trump claimed South Korea began paying "billions" in contributions towards military costs during his first term but that the deal was terminated by "Sleepy Joe Biden." However, this doesn't align with facts. A new defense cost-sharing agreement was reached last October, under the Biden government, under which South Korea will increase its contribution by 8.3 percent starting in 2026, with yearly increases based on the inflationary growth, marking a significant financial commitment by Seoul. Despite the sticking points, the U.S President said there is "room and potential for a great deal" that could benefit both countries. He expressed his preference for "one-stop shopping," which refers to bundling trade, defense, and industrial cooperation into a single, comprehensive deal. Trump further noted that their trade officials are to engage in talks, noting that South Korea's "top team" was coming to Washington, referring to Seoul's Trade Minister Cheong In-kyo meeting with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer during his two-day trip to D.C. After the call, several high-ranking officials including National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said Trump gave orders to "prioritize" reciprocal tariff negotiations with allies such as Korea and Japan. Alright, let's see what happens over in Washington. Thanks for your coverage Sooyoung.

[Weather] Afternoon rain in store from the west, dusty rain in the capital area

2025/04/09 10:00

Spring is really in the air now, even the morning chill is easing up. Meanwhile, a dry weather advisory has been expanded to more regions. But today's nationwide rain will help ease those dry conditions. Rain will begin later this afternoon in the western parts of Korea, gradually spreading to the rest of the country by tonight, continuing in some areas through tomorrow afternoon. Further south will see heavier rainfall with up to 40 millimeters in the forecast for Jeju. Heads up for those in the western regions, yellow dust from the Gobi Desert may mix in with the rain this afternoon. Checking on today's highs now, Seoul and Chuncheon will get up to 18 degrees. Those in the Gyeongsang-do provinces won't need an umbrella during the day unless planning to stay out late. Weekend rain is in the forecast which will bring down the highs to just 9 degrees in the capital on Sunday. But for today, be sure to keep an umbrella and a face mask if you are in the west!

Zelenskyy says Chinese nationals captured fighting for Russia in Ukraine

2025/04/09 10:00

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Tuesday, local time, that Ukrainian forces have captured two Chinese nationals fighting alongside the Russian army in the eastern part of the country. Zelenskyy stated that intelligence suggests more Chinese individuals are present in Russian military units. He directed Ukraine's foreign minister to engage with Beijing to seek clarification on this matter, but has not heard from the Chinese government yet. The development raises questions about China's role in the conflict, given its previously declared stance for peace.

At least 66 dead in a roof collapse at a nightclub in the Dominican Republic, including governor

2025/04/09 10:00

In the Dominican Republic's capital city Santo Domingo, at least 66 people died and over 150 were injured after the roof of a nightclub collapsed during a live performance. In the early hours of Tuesday, local time, the roof of the Jet Set nightclub collapsed during a concert by merengue singer Rubby Perez, with hundreds of people inside when the incident occurred. Among the deceased are Nelsy Cruz, the governor of Monte Cristi province, and the sister of former MLB player Nelson Cruz, as well as former Major League Baseball pitcher Octavio Dotel. Rubby Perez sustained injuries but is reported to be in stable condition. While investigations are underway to determine the cause of the collapse, the country's president expressed his condolences and assured all resources are being deployed for ongoing rescue efforts.

UN chief calls Gaza a 'killing field', condemning Israel for aid blockade

2025/04/09 10:00

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has described Gaza as a "killing field," following urgent appeals from UN agencies for immediate action to ensure the delivery of food and aid to Palestinians in Gaza. On Tuesday, the UN chief addressed the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, calling the area a "killing field" where civilians face extreme suffering. He emphasized the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, and humanitarian access to the enclave. Guterres also rejected an Israeli proposal to control aid deliveries into Gaza, saying it could potentially restrict humanitarian support "down to the last calorie and grain of flour." The heads of six UN agencies issued a joint appeal to world leaders calling for urgent action to facilitate the delivery of food and aid to Gaza's residents, who have been without supplies since March 2.

Korean government bonds' inclusion in the 'WGBI advanced group' delayed

2025/04/09 10:00

South Korea's inclusion in the World Government Bond Index, which was originally scheduled for November, has been delayed to April next year. That means the benefits of being included in the WGBI, including reduction in government bond procurement costs, will also be delayed. While some pundits say the delay reflects investors' concerns about the political instability in the country, the government said it's due to Japan's request for an improvement in the investment environment, and nothing to do with the political situation. The South Korean government projects at least 56 billion dollars would flow into the country's national bond market once it's included in the WGBI.

S. Korea sees three consecutive months of job growth; decline in construction and manufacturing

2025/04/09 10:00

South Korea added nearly 200,000 jobs in March compared to the previous year, marking the third consecutive month of job growth. According to Statistics Korea on Wednesday the health and social welfare sector gains, followed by the public administration, defense, and social security sector, as well as the finance sector. However, construction jobs fell by 185,000 year on year, while manufacturing jobs declined by 112,000. By age group, individuals aged 60 and older experienced a year-on-year surge in employment, whereas those aged 15 to 29 saw a decline.

Possible largest N. Korean-made new naval guided missile frigate spotted: Beyond Parallel

2025/04/09 10:00

What could possibly be the largest North Korean-manufactured warship, a new naval guided missile frigate, has been spotted at the Nampo Navy Shipyard. According to the U.S. think tank, the Center for Strategic and International Studies' affiliated website Beyond Parallel, the warship is undergoing a "fitting out" process, in which equipment is installed and supplies are loaded before it is handed over to the navy. The frigate is approximately 140 meters long, making it the largest warship made in the North, and is assumed to be the vessel leader Kim Jong-un visited in early March this year.

Russia “welcomes” U.S.-Iran nuclear talks, ratifies treaty to upgrade relations with Iran

2025/04/09 10:00

The United States and Iran will begin nuclear negotiations in Oman this weekend, while Russia ratified a treaty that upgrades its relations with Iran and has expressed willingness to help Washington and Tehran in negotiations. Lee Seung-jae reports. The United States and Iran will sit down for nuclear talks in Oman on Saturday. Tuesday's announcement comes a day after U.S. President Donald Trump warned that Iran could be in great danger if the nuclear negotiations do not go well. "He has said there will be direct talks with Iran on Saturday. You can strike a deal with the president, you can negotiate or there will be hell to pay. And as the president said yesterday, if they don't choose to move forward with diplomacy and a deal, which is the direction we do see them headed in, there will be grave consequences to pay." Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said a nuclear deal is possible as long as the U.S. is willing, while he dismissed the Libyan model, which would mean the full dismantling of Iran's nuclear program, mentioned by Israel. Russia welcomed the news of the upcoming talks, and expressed its willingness to provide assistance. According to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Tuesday, Moscow supports resolving the Iranian nuclear issue through political and diplomatic means. The remarks by the Kremlin also comes as Russia's lower-house, the State Duma, on Tuesday ratified a 20-year strategic partnership treaty with Iran, elevating their bilateral relations. The treaty which was signed by the leaders of Russia and Iran in January, strengthens political, military and economic cooperation between the two countries. One of the key provisions commits Moscow and Tehran to counter shared security threats, exchange intelligence and refrain from helping an aggressor if either country is attacked. However, unlike the treaty Russia signed with North Korea in October 2024, Iran did not include a clause allowing the deployment of troops to support military operations. Meanwhile, Russia also announced a separate expert-level talks with China and Iran on nuclear issues took place in Moscow on Tuesday. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Washington's 104% tariffs on Beijing to take effect on Wednesday: White House

2025/04/09 10:00

Reciprocal tariffs by the Trump administration come into force in the coming hours for South Korea. While leaving all options on the table for each country, the U.S. has also confirmed its total of whopping 104% tariffs on China. Kim Bo-kyoung reports. Washington announced it would impose an astounding one-hundred-four-percent tariff across all Chinese imports, starting Wednesday. The White House Press Secretary said the day earlier that Beijing's decision to retaliate was a mistake. "Countries like China, who have chosen to retaliate and try to double down on their mistreatment of American workers, are making a mistake. President Trump has a spine of steel and he will not break and America will not break under his leadership." China was already set to see tariffs increase by 34-percent on Wednesday, following two rounds of ten-percent levies. The rate shot up again as Beijing did not back down on its decision to impose 34-percent retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods by noon on Tuesday. Leavitt also said if China were to reach out to Trump over tariffs, Trump will be incredibly gracious, but will do what is best for American interests. The White House further noted that nearly 70 countries have already reached out to Trump to begin negotiations, for "tailor-made" trade deals. "All options are on the table for each country. But again, these are going to be tailor-made deals." US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, during a hearing with the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday, hinted at possible negotiations if a country offers a better alternative than the tariff plan but said Washington would not offer exemptions or exceptions in the near term. Meanwhile, with the imposition of a 25% reciprocal tariffs on South Korean imports to take effect starting Wednesday, Seoul's trade minister arrived in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, for talks with Washington's top trade negotiator. He said Korea would had two major projects it could bring to the table. "The Alaska LNG project is an important part, and shipbuilding, where discussions are already ongoing between the two countries is an area the U.S. is particularly interested in so it will likely be brought to the negotiating table for discussions." While saying his goal is to completely eliminate mutual tariffs, Cheong said Korea will aim to reduce the tariffs gradually if elimination is difficult. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.

S. Korea announces US$ 1.3 bil. support package for auto industry amid U.S. tariff pressures

2025/04/09 10:00

South Korea will funnel an additional 2 trillion won, or 1-point-3 billion U.S. dollars, into the auto and parts industry amid pressure from the 25% tariff imposed by the Trump administration. The announcement came during an economy-related ministers' meeting on Wednesday, which addressed responses to shifting trade conditions, including U.S. tariffs and global supply chain changes. Last year, U.S.-bound vehicle exports totaled 34-point-7 billion dollars, accounting for nearly half of Korea's total auto exports. The government is also speeding up efforts to diversify export markets. It plans to inject over 40 million U.S. dollars worth of support for overseas operations of small and mid-sized firms, while expanding R&D funding to boost technological competitiveness.

Stock

2025/04/08 20:00

2025. 4. 8. KOREAN STOCK MARKET KOSPI : 2,334.23 ▲6.03 +0.26% KOSDAQ : 658.45 ▲7.15 +1.10% KOSPI200 : 310.03 ▲0.43 +0.14% ASIAN STOCK MARKET NIKKEI225 : 33,012.58 ▲1,876.00 +6.03% HANG SENG : 20,127.68 ▲299.38 +1.51% SHANGHAI : 3,145.55 ▲48.97 +1.58% WALL STREET (April 7) DOW JONES : 37,965.60 ▼349.26 -0.91% NASDAQ : 15,603.26 ▲15.47 +0.10% S&P500 : 5,062.25 ▼11.83 -0.23% EXCHANGE RATE USD : 1,473.20 (+5.40) JPY : 998.68 (-9.53) CNY : 200.59 (+0.12) EUR : 1,616.76 (+1.81)

Gov't declares June 3 as early Election Day after Yoon's removal

2025/04/08 20:00

The date of the nation's next presidential election has been officially set for June 3rd. Oh Soo-young covers the protocols ahead for the presidential race. South Korea will hold an early presidential election on June 3rd, two months after the removal of former President Yoon Suk Yeol. In a meeting chaired by Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Cabinet ministers on Tuesday confirmed the date of the early election, and declared it a temporary holiday to encourage voter turnout. The decision comes four days after the Constitutional Court upheld former President Yoon's impeachment over his martial law declaration last year, effectively ousting the nation's 20th president. Under the Constitution, a snap election must be held within 60 days of a presidential vacancy, with a date set within 10 days. While June 3rd is the last possible day to hold the election, it's considered a necessary period of time for sufficient campaigning and preparation. In 2017, following former President Park Geun-hye's removal from office, an election was held 60 days later. “We considered the time required to smoothly execute legally mandated tasks for election management and preparation time for each political party. To ensure citizens can exercise their precious right to vote, we have designated election day as a temporary public holiday.” The National Election Commission Tuesday promptly confirmed the election schedule. It will accept candidate registrations on May 10th and 11th, before official campaigning starts on the 12th until June 2nd --the day before the vote. Televised interviews and debates hosted by electoral authorities will be held during this time. Overseas Koreans must register to vote 40 days before election day, and ballots for them will open from May 20th to 25th at embassies and consulates around the world. Early voting will be held the weekend before --on May 29th and 30th, from 6 AM to 6 PM. On the official election day, voting hours will be from 6 AM to 8 PM. To support a fair and transparent electoral process, the Interior Ministry will operate a “Fair Election Support Situation Room” through Election Day. A nationwide mock exam for the November college entrance test has been rescheduled to a day later on June 4th. In an early election, the winner must immediately assume presidential duties, without a transition committee. In the 2017 presidential race, then-President-elect Moon Jae-in took office straight after his victory was confirmed on May 10th, the day after ballots were cast. Until the leadership vacuum is filled, Acting President Han told Cabinet ministers they must devote themselves fully to ensuring the safety of the people, restoring livelihoods, and responding to the ongoing trade war triggered by the United States. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

[Weather] Warm conditions with dry weather, rain from tomorrow afternoon

2025/04/08 20:00

It is warm enough for the cherry blossoms to bloom. Seoul rose up to 19 degrees Celsius, and Yangsan in Gyeongsangnam-do Province was as warm as 25 degrees today. It will continue to be warm tomorrow with Seoul rising up to 18 degrees. The daily temperature difference will stay wide as well. Meanwhile, dry weather advisories are spreading. Dry weather advisories are in place in some parts of Gyeongsang-do provinces, southern parts of Chungcheongbuk-do Province, eastern parts of Jeolla-do provinces, and the mountainous areas of Jeju Island. In addition, strong winds of more than 15 meters per second are blowing throughout the county. Please take extra precautions. Tomorrow, Seoul will start off at 8 degrees, Gyeongju at 5 degrees. Daily highs will move up to 19 degrees in Chuncheon, 22 degrees in Daejeon and Jeju. Starting from western parts of the country tomorrow afternoon, rain is forecast across the country tomorrow night. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

S. Korea to provide additional US$ 2 mil. worth of relief items to earthquake-hit Myanmar

2025/04/08 20:00

Korea will provide an additional two-million U.S. dollars worth of urgent relief items to Myanmar to aid its recovery after the recent deadly earthquake there. According to the Foreign Ministry, the items will include 500 camping tents for the displaced, 4-thousand water bottles, and 80-thousand blankets. This follows Seoul's initial two-million dollars worth of humanitarian assistance sent last week through the International Committee of the Red Cross. More than ten days have passed since the massive quake, and as of Tuesday, the death toll stands at around three-thousand-six-hundred.

Foreign Ministry calls in senior Japanese diplomat over Tokyo's false territorial claims over Dokdo

2025/04/08 20:00

The Foreign Ministry has lodged a protest against Japan's false claim over South Korea's Dokdo Island. The protest follows Japan laying claim to Dokyo in its diplomatic bluebook released on Tuesday. In response, the Foreign Ministry called in Taisuke Mibae , deputy head of mission at the Japanese Embassy here in Seoul, to share its displeasure. In a separate statement, the ministry also stressed that Dokdo is South Korean territory historically, geographically, and under international law and that the government would respond firmly to any false claim over the island.

S. Korea logged current account surplus for 22nd straight month in February

2025/04/08 20:00

For the twenty-second month in a row, Korea's current account remained in the black with a surplus of over 7-billion dollars in February. Lee Soo-jin covers the latest findings. South Korea's current account stayed in the black for the 22nd month in a row in February. According to data from the Bank of Korea on Tuesday, the country logged a near 7-point-2 billion U.S. dollar current account surplus in the second month of the year. This also marks a sharp increase from January's surplus , when there were fewer working days on account of the Lunar New Year holiday. It comes as the goods balance, which tracks exports and imports of products and accounts for the largest portion of the current account, recorded an 8-point-2 billion dollar surplus , also marking a significant increase from the previous month. This extends the surplus streak for the goods balance to 23 consecutive months. Exports rose 3-point-6 percent compared to the previous year on strong demand for computers, computers, pharmaceuticals, cars, and IT equipment. But outbound shipments of chips dropped compared to the previous year, a decline recorded for the first time since October 2023. "Exports of lower-value DDR4 memory chips fell slightly in February due to price drops, but picked up again in March despite competition from China. Still, it's something we'll need to watch closely." The size of the country's service balance once again remained in the red, with the deficit deepening compared to the previous month. This was mostly due to the larger shortfall in the intellectual property account from increased payments by domestic firms to overseas companies for R&D-related royalty fees. When asked about when the impact of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs will be felt, the same official said the current account surplus will likely continue through March, with effects starting to show in April, but that while sectors like autos and auto parts will be affected, the impact is expected to be gradual, not immediate. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.

Won-to-dollar exchange rate hits 1,473.2 won, highest since global financial crisis

2025/04/08 20:00

As U.S. tariffs rattle global financial markets, the South Korean currency lost substantial ground against the U.S. dollar, weakening to one-thousand-4-hundred-73 won at one point during trade on Tuesday afternoon. This is the won's weakest level against the greenback since the global financial crisis. Accordingly, at an emergency meeting of the country's top economic officials convened by Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok , authorities acknowledged the vulnerability of the local financial market to external risk factors and agreed to remain vigilant in anticipation of further fluctuations.

S. Korea vows to negotiate with U.S. over 25% reciprocal tariffs

2025/04/08 20:00

Against this backdrop, a Korean trade delegation led by its trade minister has departed for the U.S. with intentions to address the 25-percent American tariff on Korean imports. Park Jun-han has more. Trade Minister Cheong In-kyo traveled to Washington on Tuesday to discuss tariffs imposed by the U.S. on South Korean products. Cheong will meet U.S. trade representatives in Washington, and emphasized that the 25% tariffs affecting steel and automobiles would be the subject of talks during his visit. "So we are trying to use multiple channels to solve the tariffs issue with the United States, and to come up with a trade policy outcome that will maximize South Korea's national interests." This is the first visit by a South Korean government official to the U.S. since Trump announced his detailed reciprocal tariffs plan on April 2nd. Regarding South Korea's stance on U.S. trade policy, Cheong said the Cabinet has been discussing the possibility of increasing imports from the United States, such as Alaskan liquefied natural gas. The move is aimed at addressing the trade imbalance that Trump has repeatedly raised. "I think as long as Korea is willing to provide some concessions to the United States, we could reduce the tariff rate from 25-percent to 15-percent or 10-percent." At a ministerial meeting on economic affairs, Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok outlined a plan to create a supplementary budget to combat issues related to trade and AI. Choi said the government is planning to spend 3 to 4 trillion won, about 2.04 to 2.72 billion dollars, to respond to rapid changes in the trade environment and enhance AI competitiveness. Choi also called on the National Assembly to swiftly approve the budget, emphasizing the need to seize this critical window to save South Korea's industries and businesses. Park Jun-han, Arirang News.