News

Japan's ruling coalition loses majority in upper house election

2025/07/21 22:38

Japan's ruling coalition has lost control of the upper house in a major political setback. For the first time in 70 years, the long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party has failed to hold its majority in both the lower and upper houses. Choi Soo-hyung reports. Japan's ruling coalition has failed to secure a majority in the upper house. In the election on Sunday, the ruling coalition comprised of the Liberal Democratic Party and its partner Komeito lost its majority gaining only 47 seats. To keep their majority, the ruling coalition parties needed to win at least 50 seats, adding to the 75 they already held. But the LDP won just 39, and Komeito got 8, falling short of that target. Currently, Japan's House of Councilors has 248 members, each serving a 6-year term. Every three years, half of the seats are up for election and this year, 125 seats were voted on, including one vacant seat in Tokyo. As a result, the ruling camp now holds 122 seats, while the opposition claimed 126 taking over the upper house. Following last year's major defeat in the House of Representatives election, the Liberal Democratic Party has lost ground again. This is the first time since the party was founded in 1955 that the LDP-led government has failed to hold a majority in both the lower and upper houses. Taking its place is the rising Democratic Party for the People, which advocates a moderate line and gained strong support, winning 17 seats. The party earned votes with appeals to ordinary people, such as raising take-home pay and lowering insurance costs for young people. The right-leaning Sanseito won 14 seats by promoting a "Japanese First" policy, including restrictions on foreign land ownership in Japan, despite criticism for discriminating against foreigners. Voter turnout was 58-point-52 percent, rising more than 6 percentage points compared to three years ago. Regardless of the election results, experts say bilateral cooperation between South Korea and Japan will remain positive, especially on external threats. "We need to deal with non-conventional new emerging threats as well, and of course challenges from China technologically, economically, and politically, which is not simple at all. So, having had all these conflicts and threats and challenges surrounding us, I think again, the bilateral relationship will remain pretty much cooperative." Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is now expected to come under pressure to resign after the consecutive defeats. However, right after exit polls, he stated that he would fulfill his responsibility as the leader of the largest party, showing his determination to remain in office. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.

President Lee withdraws nomination for Lee Jin-sook as Education Minister

2025/07/21 22:35

President Lee Jae Myung's Cabinet is continuing to take shape, with several appointments confirmed and one notable nomination withdrawn over the weekend. Our Presidential Office correspondent Song Yoo-jin reports. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is building his first Cabinet, but not without a few bumps along the way. On Sunday, President Lee withdrew his nomination of Lee Jin-sook, the former president of Chungnam National University, as Education Minister. "President Lee has been carefully weighing up his decision, listening to a wide range of opinions. On Saturday, he met with Kim Byung-kee, floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party, and Song Eon-seog, interim leader and floor leader of the main opposition People Power Party, to hear their views as well." The nominee had come under fire following allegations of plagiarism in her academic work and controversy over sending her daughter abroad alone to study while still a middle school student, which is illegal under Korean law. Woo added that the government will search for a new candidate to lead the Education Ministry. However, the President is standing by his pick for the Minister of Gender Equality and Family, Democratic Party lawmaker Kang Sun-woo, who's also facing backlash over allegedly mistreating her aides. "After thoroughly reviewing the issues raised, Kang's explanation, and opinions shared through various channels, the President has made his final decision." President Lee has filled seven of the 19 minister posts in his first Cabinet so far: six new faces and one holdover, retaining Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryung. More appointments could follow this week, as confirmation hearings have been completed for all but the Culture and Land ministries. In South Korea, minister nominees must go through parliamentary confirmation hearings, though it's the President who makes the final decision. Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News.

President Lee visits downpour-devastated southern county

2025/07/21 22:34

President Lee toured a southern county in Gyeongsangnam-do Province today, which has been hit hard by recent downpours. He called for the need to speed up designating flood-hit areas as special disaster zones. Our presidential office correspondent Yoon Jung-min reports. Stepping on the ground where a trail of devastation was evident, President Lee Jae Myung met with residents, many of whose homes and farms had been turned into wreckage. He was in Sancheong-gun County in Gyeongsangnam-do Province on Monday, where at least 10 people were killed and four are missing. "Do you need anything?" "The entrance to our cattle shed has been completely blocked." "Do you need a machine to remove the debris?" The President also met rescue workers and was briefed about the situation by the county's deputy mayor. "Why has the town been hit particularly hard?" "We thought the clouds would dissipate, but they didn't and caused downpours." The President expressed his condolences and instructed officials to establish measures to prevent such disasters from happening again. He asked rescue workers to do their best searching for the missing, as he listened to the suffering of the people. "The president asked officials to provide recovery and relief support that people actually need, as he heard from the residents that they are in short supply of shoes and underwear because they had to evacuate abruptly." For that, Lee called for speedy aid, in line with the announcement the previous day to swiftly designate areas hit hard as special disaster zones to help facilitate financial and recovery support, while also mentioning providing special grants. Present at the site was the new interior minister Yun Ho-jung, who was instructed by the President to use all available measures to help support the residents affected. Yoon Jung-min, Arirang News.

Lee Jae Myung’s envoy diplomacy begins; shift in Korea’s foreign priorities?

2025/07/21 21:35

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus. I'm Kim Mok-yeon. It's been just over a month since President Lee Jae Myung officially took office, and already, diplomatic gears are turning. South Korea is signaling a full return to international engagement after a six-month vacuum following the impeachment of former President Yoon. Special envoy teams have been dispatched to key global players—including France, the UK, India, and the EU—marking a clear departure from the traditional focus on Washington, Beijing, Tokyo, and Moscow. At the same time, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun is reportedly preparing for his first trip to the U.S., aiming to break ground on stalled tariff negotiations. With summit diplomacy hanging in the balance and geopolitical tensions still active, many are asking—how is South Korea recalibrating its foreign policy? For more on this, we invite Hannah Kim, Associate Professor at Sogang University GSIS. Welcome. Also joining us is Robert Kelly, Professor of International Relations at Pusan National University. Good to see you. 1. (Kelly) Let's start with Prof.Kelly, the Lee Jae Myung's administration recently sent special envoys to three major countries—France, the UK, and India, as well as the EU—starting July 14th. This marks a shift from previous governments, which traditionally prioritized ties with the U.S., China, Japan, and Russia. How do you interpret the latest move? 2. (Kim) Building on that, South Korea went through a roughly six-month suspension of summit diplomacy following the impeachment of President Yoon. Could this latest round of envoy dispatches be read as a clear signal that Korea is reopening formal diplomatic channels? 3. (Kelly) Now turning to a broader scope, Seoul's presidential office has announced plans to send envoys to as many as 14 countries. How likely could this expanded outreach translate into tangible economic and security partnerships?(Some see this as a message of practical diplomacy, while others worry the impact may be diluted if too many countries are engaged at once. Where do you stand?) 4. (Kim) Let's narrow in on the U.S. angle, so just over a month into the new administration, a special envoy to the U.S. was formed, headed by former KCCI Chairman Park Yong-maan. Given that a business leader was chosen to represent the administration, should we interpret this as a signal that Korea intends to emphasize economic issues—especially trade—in its U.S. relations? 5. (Kelly) Looking eastward, envoys to China, Japan, and Russia haven't been finalized yet. These countries involve complex issues tied to history, security, and trade. Would you say the administration is taking a more cautious, calculated approach? 6. (Kim) Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, who officially took office today—reportedly is coordinating a visit to the U.S. During his confirmation hearing, he expressed optimism that the Korea-U.S. tariff negotiations could be concluded on time. Do you expect his trip to bring a potential breakthrough moment for those talks? 7. (Kelly) Taking all these factors into account, when do you think would be the most realistic timeframe for a Korea-U.S. summit to actually take place? 8. (Kim) In the absence of a confirmed Korea-U.S. summit date, there's speculation that a Korea-Japan summit might happen first. What's your outlook on that possibility? 9. (Kelly) Lastly, reports say President Lee has decided not to attend China's 80th Victory Day commemoration, after deliberation. While this may reflect consideration for Korea-U.S. ties, there's also talk of a Korea-China summit during the APEC meetings in Gyeongju later this year. What kind of impact do you think this might have on Seoul-Beijing relations? And more broadly—how should Korea navigate its diplomatic path with China?

JAPAN'S RULING COALITION LOSES MAJORITY IN UPPER HOUSE

2025/07/21 19:44

Welcome to Press Perspective. It's Monday July 21st here in South Korea. I'm Min Sunhee. Today we touch upon the results of a key parliamentary election in neighboring Japan and their broader implications. For this I have Celio Fioretti with French daily La Croix here in Seoul. Celio welcome back. I also have Walter Sim with Singaporean daily The Straits Times over in Tokyo. Walter it's great to have you on. Walter, let's begin with the result of Sunday's Upper House election and its political implications for the ruling coalition. Walter, what has been the public response to the election result? Celio, keeping in mind Sunday's election result, what potential policy changes in Japan are likely to be closely watched by South Korea? Celio, last week, Seoul condemned Tokyo's claim over Korea's Dokdo islets. Now the claim was carried in Japan's annual white paper, which also referred to South Korea as an important regional partner. Do you believe global geopolitics will help the two countries find a way to move beyond the past conflict and into a future of constructive collaboration? And why is such cooperation critical under the current climate of geopolitics? Walter, back in Japan, domestic concerns including inflation and immigration are believed to have strongly shaped voter sentiment. First, how severe is the inflation there? And Walter, do explain the anti-foreigner sentiment there in Japan. I hear some scholars have also shared concern over the growing xenophobia there? Celio, immigration has been proposed as one potential option to address South Korea's own population crisis, and UPI recently covered a dire reality for the country over the next one hundred years. Do tell us a bit about this petrifying population prediction, and the prospects of immigration as a tool to tackle it here in this country. Meanwhile, Walter, what's the latest with regard to Japan's tariff talks with the Trump administration? Celio, what has been the impact of Mr. Trump's trade protectionism on the concept of nationalism versus globalism here in this part of the world? And Walter, I extend the same question to you. How is the U.S. under the Trump administration shaping the regional debate over nationalism versus globalism? All right.

At least 92 killed by Israeli fire while seeking aid in Gaza

2025/07/21 19:39

Dozens of Palestinians were shot dead in Gaza while seeking much-needed food aid. Park Hyo-been covers this tragic event. Last Sunday marked one of the deadliest days for Gazans seeking humanitarian aid as, according to Al Jazeera, at least 92 Palestinians were killed by Israeli gunfire across the Gaza Strip. It was one of the highest death tolls reported in a string of recent incidents where civilians were killed while trying to access food and aid. The shootings came as Israel's ongoing siege deepened Gaza's hunger crisis, with health officials reporting at least 19 deaths from starvation over the past day. "We were just going to get food for our children. We were not going to beg or fight, we just wanted to eat." "Now, Al-Shifa hospital is full of martyrs and the wounded. The situation is catastrophic. We can no longer handle the influx of injuries, so we have started directing patients to other field hospitals." The Israeli military acknowledged the incident, saying troops had fired "warning shots to remove an immediate threat posed to the forces," but did not provide specific evidence. Hamas expressed outrage over the incident, warning that the growing humanitarian catastrophe could derail the ongoing ceasefire talks in Qatar. Meanwhile, the Israeli military has expanded its ground operations in central and northern Gaza. Residents in Deir al-Balah said Israeli planes dropped leaflets ordering evacuations and later bombed three homes in the area. It marks the first time such an evacuation order has been issued for the area since the war began. The city was believed to be a potential location where hostages were being held, and Israel had avoided launching attacks due to concerns Hamas might execute them. But with ceasefire talks between the two groups in Doha once again stalled, Israel now appears to be ramping up military pressure on Hamas by expanding its ground operations. Park Hyo-been, Arirang News.

Japan's ruling coalition loses majority in upper house election

2025/07/21 19:38

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's ruling coalition lost its majority at the upper house in a parliamentary election this past Sunday. Our Choi Soo-hyung covers this result and its broader implications. Japan's ruling coalition has failed to secure a majority in the upper house. In the election on Sunday, the ruling coalition comprised of the Liberal Democratic Party and its partner Komeito lost its majority gaining only 47 seats. To keep their majority, the ruling coalition parties needed to win at least 50 seats, adding to the 75 they already held. But the LDP won just 39, and Komeito got 8, falling short of that target. Currently, Japan's House of Councilors has 248 members, each serving a 6-year term. Every three years, half of the seats are up for election and this year, 125 seats were voted on, including one vacant seat in Tokyo. As a result, the ruling camp now holds 122 seats, while the opposition claimed 126 taking over the upper house. Following last year's major defeat in the House of Representatives election, the Liberal Democratic Party has lost ground again. This is the first time since the party was founded in 1955 that the LDP-led government has failed to hold a majority in both the lower and upper houses. Taking its place is the rising Democratic Party for the People, which advocates a moderate line and gained strong support, winning 17 seats. The party earned votes with appeals to ordinary people, such as raising take-home pay and lowering insurance costs for young people. The right-leaning Sanseito won 14 seats by promoting a "Japanese First" policy, including restrictions on foreign land ownership in Japan, despite criticism for discriminating against foreigners. Voter turnout was 58-point-52 percent, rising more than 6 percentage points compared to three years ago. Regardless of the election results, experts say bilateral cooperation between South Korea and Japan will remain positive, especially on external threats. "We need to deal with non-conventional new emerging threats as well, and of course challenges from China technologically, economically, and politically, which is not simple at all. So, having had all these conflicts and threats and challenges surrounding us, I think again, the bilateral relationship will remain pretty much cooperative." Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is now expected to come under pressure to resign after the consecutive defeats. However, right after exit polls, he stated that he would fulfill his responsibility as the leader of the largest party, showing his determination to remain in office. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.

New foreign minister Cho Hyun underlines pragmatic diplomacy; prioritizes establishing peace on Peninsula

2025/07/21 19:37

Newly-appointed Foreign Minister Cho Hyun has reaffirmed the importance of the Lee Jae Myung administration's pragmatic diplomacy centered on national interests especially in light of the rapid changes in geopolitics. Speaking at his inauguration ceremony earlier on this Monday the top diplomat also asserted that establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula is the top priority under the current climate of uncertainty and tension. And to this end he spoke of seeking dialogue with Pyongyang in close coordination with Washington. He also underscored the importance of seeking broader diplomatic relations with global partners amid the rivalry between the U.S. and China.

President Lee withdraws nomination for Lee Jin-sook as Education Minister

2025/07/21 19:36

In other news. The president's first Cabinet is taking tangible shape with a number of his nominees confirmed but one name withdrawn over the weekend. Our Presidential Office Correspondent Song Yoo-jin has the latest. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is building his first Cabinet, but not without a few bumps along the way. On Sunday, President Lee withdrew his nomination of Lee Jin-sook, the former president of Chungnam National University, as Education Minister. "President Lee has been carefully weighing up his decision, listening to a wide range of opinions. On Saturday, he met with Kim Byung-kee, floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party, and Song Eon-seog, interim leader and floor leader of the main opposition People Power Party, to hear their views as well." The nominee had come under fire following allegations of plagiarism in her academic work and controversy over sending her daughter abroad alone to study while still a middle school student, which is illegal under Korean law. Woo added that the government will search for a new candidate to lead the Education Ministry. However, the President is standing by his pick for the Minister of Gender Equality and Family, Democratic Party lawmaker Kang Sun-woo, who's also facing backlash over allegedly mistreating her aides. "After thoroughly reviewing the issues raised, Kang's explanation, and opinions shared through various channels, the President has made his final decision." President Lee has filled seven of the 19 minister posts in his first Cabinet so far: six new faces and one holdover, retaining Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryung. More appointments could follow this week, as confirmation hearings have been completed for all but the Culture and Land ministries. In South Korea, minister nominees must go through parliamentary confirmation hearings, though it's the President who makes the final decision. Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News.

Kulture Issue_Taking a look back at the development of hallyu ahead of APEC summit

2025/07/21 17:34

Gyeongju is hosting this year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. The APEC summit takes place in late October to early November this year. As a city that can best showcase South Korea's unique identity, Gyeongju may be seen as the root of hallyu. With that in mind, today we want to take a look back at the history of the Korean Wave from the period Korea joined APEC in 1989 until today. We're going to do that with Professor David Tizzard at Seoul Women's University and Hanyang University, who is now connected with us. Hello Professor Tizzard! Korea joined APEC in 1989. Back then, no one really spoke about the "Korean Wave", like we do today. (There may have been a few Korean songs that had become known overseas after the 1988 Seoul Olympics ) So, could you first give us an overall assessment of Korean culture before and after the late 1980s? In the late 1990s, the Korean Wave began to take off. Why did it take off around this time? Now let's travel to year 2005. South Korea hosted its first APEC summit in Busan back then. And it's also around this time that the Korean Wave really started to get going. What triggered this? So, which Korean content was popular around that time? And two decades later, that's this year, 2025, Gyeongju will host another APEC summit in the fall. Gyeongju was the capital of the Kingdom of Silla and is often referred to as a "museum without walls". How would you describe the city of Gyeongju? Professor Tizzard, please tell us about your own experience in Gyeongju. (Any differences you felt between your first and most recent visit?) What are some must-visit places or attractions there? Comparing Korea's culture from when the first APEC summit took place in 2005 to now in 2025, how has it evolved and how much has Korea's status on the international stage changed? (I'm also curious about whether the increase in tourists due to hallyu has impacted big cities in terms of infrastructure, new attractions, renovations, etc.) Do international events like APEC have an impact on the rising popularity of hallyu? Thank you Professor Tizzard for your insights. Have a great rest of the day. Thank you Walter, see you back tomorrow.

[NEWs GEN] North Korean Defectors’ Day: How the younger generation is reaching S. Korea

2025/07/21 14:33

[NEWs GEN] North Korean Defectors’ Day: How the younger generation is reaching S. Korea 탈북민 절반 이상이 MZ 세대… 남북 평화로 가는 길은?

[On-point] How will Ichiba's upper house loss affect Japan's foreign policy?

2025/07/21 13:35

Now, with those results in for Japan's upper house election. Let's discuss what this means for Japan going forward as well as for Seoul-Tokyo relations. For more on this we have Professor Lim Eun-jung of Kongju National University with us this morning. Thank you for joining us, Professor. 1. What were the central issues that drove voter behavior in this election, and how did the candidates frame their positions on those concerns? 2. What does the outcome of this election suggest about the direction Japan is heading, both politically and economically, in the coming months? 3. How might this election result influence Japan's relationship with South Korea, especially amid ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation? 4. Based on the results, what kind of leadership and policy tone should we expect from Tokyo going forward, more nationalist and pragmatic, especially when it comes to the tariff issues with the U.S.?

Japan's ruling party loses upper house control

2025/07/21 13:35

Japan's ruling party coalition is certain to fail to maintain its majority in the upper house election held on Sunday. That's according to NHK on Monday, which said that the Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner Komeito are predicted to win 46 to 49 seats in the election, falling short of the 50 seats needed to maintain a majority. The Asahi Shimbun also reported that the ruling party coalition is certain to fail to maintain a majority. NHK also projected that the main opposition party, the liberal Constitutional Democratic Party would win 21 seats.

President Lee withdraws Education Minister nominee Lee Jin-sook

2025/07/21 13:35

President Lee Jae Myung has withdrawn his nomination of Lee Jin-sook, the former president of Chungnam National University, as South Korea's Education Minister. Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Woo Sang-ho told reporters on Sunday that the decision was made after "carefully listening to various opinions," including those shared during President Lee's meeting with the floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party and the main opposition People Power Party on Saturday. The nominee had come under fire after allegations of plagiarism in her academic work and controversy over sending her daughter abroad alone to study while still a middle school student, which is illegal under Korean law. Woo added that the government will search for a new candidate to lead the Education Ministry.

S. Korea, U.S., Japan vice foreign ministers meet in Tokyo, call for strong deterrence against N. Korea

2025/07/18 22:36

South Korea, the U.S. and Japan have reaffirmed the need for strong deterrence against North Korea. Vice Foreign Ministers Park Yoon-joo, Christopher Landau, and Takehiro Funakoshi held talks in Tokyo Friday, marking 10 years since the deputy-level trilateral began. The three officials pledged to keep up coordinated pressure on Pyongyang, while backing diplomatic efforts to reopen talks. They also pushed for deeper cooperation in economic and tech resilience, from AI to supply chains and critical minerals, as core initiatives to safeguard regional stability. The vice ministers lauded the launch of a new trilateral secretariat between their governments, as a key measure to expand their three-way cooperation.

Nat'l Assembly approves confirmation hearing reports for top economic and foreign policy Cabinet positions

2025/07/18 22:35

In parliament. The National Assembly today approved confirmation hearing reports for top economic and foreign policy Cabinet positions. Our political correspondent Moon Hye-ryeon reports. South Korea's National Assembly has approved confirmation hearing reports for three high-profile ministerial nominees, including the government's top economic and foreign policy positions. On Friday, lawmakers adopted reports for Koo Yun-cheol , chosen to serve as Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Economy and Finance, Cho Hyun , nominated for Foreign Minister, and Kim Jung-kwan , the pick for Trade Minister. The opposition People Power Party, which had initially vowed to withhold approval for the Cabinet nominees, ultimately agreed to move forward with those seen as essential to national policy. "With less than two weeks left before the U.S. begins imposing reciprocal tariffs, this is an urgent situation. We'll do our part to make sure the confirmation reports for the finance, foreign, and trade ministers are adopted quickly so they can get to work on the tariff negotiations right away." "The new administration needs to complete its Cabinet as soon as possible and focus fully on running the country. That's the only way we can not only help people recover from economic hardships, but also respond swiftly and effectively to disasters like the recent heavy rains." But not all nominees have been given the green light. Confirmation hearings continued on Friday for the administration's final batch of nominees for the week. Among them were Jeong Eun-kyeong , the nominee for Minister of Health and Welfare, and Yun Ho-jung , up for Interior and Safety Minister. Jung, the former head of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, acknowledged challenges such as South Korea's aging population and outlined plans to push forward expanding healthcare benefits for children and the elderly. "The Ministry must double down on its core mission—strengthening the social security system and improving public health—to ensure a basic standard of living for all citizens." Yun, a five-term sitting lawmaker, pledged to prioritize AI innovation and balanced national development led by districts outside the capital region. Meanwhile, two more nominees — for Land Minister and Culture Minister — are still awaiting their confirmation hearings. The PPP also continues to hold firm against two other controversial picks: Lee Jin-sook for Education Minister, and Kang Sun-woo for Gender Equality Minister, citing allegations of academic misconduct and abuse of authority, respectively. As President Lee looks to finalize his first Cabinet, the outcome of these final hearings and the political tensions around them could help shape the early direction of his administration. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

President Lee holds emergency meeting in response to heavy rains

2025/07/18 22:34

To address the growing threat from heavy rains, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung canceled a scheduled town hall and instead convened an emergency response meeting. Our Presidential Office correspondent Song Yoo-jin has the details. Disasters may be inevitable, but their damage, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung says, can be reduced with thorough preparation. That was the key message from the President on Friday as he convened an emergency meeting in response to the heavy rains. "The state's top duty is to protect the lives and safety of its people. We must not hesitate to deploy every necessary resource, even if it feels excessive, to prevent accidents and minimize damage." With downpours battering the country for days and already claiming several lives, President Lee postponed a scheduled town hall in the southeastern city of Busan and instead visited the National Disaster and Safety Status Control Center in Seoul. Emphasizing preemptive action, he instructed the Korea Meteorological Administration to issue timely alerts tailored to each region. "We need thorough preemptive measures in vulnerable areas and for at-risk residents, including those living in semi-basement homes, those living alone, and regions prone to flooding, landslides, collapses, or sinkholes." The President also urged local governments to stay in full emergency mode and carry out post-disaster support and recovery efforts without delay. He then received updates on damage assessments and response measures from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and local authorities. "President Lee spoke to the mayor of Osan in detail about why the road wasn't fully closed off despite prior warnings from residents before the retaining wall collapsed." The collapse on Wednesday killed a man trapped in his vehicle. Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News.

U.S. Senate defense policy bill calls for maintaining USFK troop level

2025/07/18 19:37

A U.S. defense spending bill for next year recently passed by the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee prevents the Pentagon from withdrawing American soldiers stationed here in South Korea in the absence of congressional approval. Lee Seung-jae has details. For the first time in five years, the National Defense Authorization Act for the 2026 fiscal year, includes a ban on using funds to reduce the number of U.S. Forces Korea troops below the current level of 28-thousand-500. The U.S. defense policy bill was posted on Congress's website on Thursday, where it affirmed the reinforcement of the ROK-U.S. alliance by maintaining the current USFK troop level. The bill reads "Amounts authorized to be appropriated by this Act may not be obligated or expended to reduce the total number of members of the Armed Forces permanently stationed in or deployed to the Republic of Korea below 28,500, or to complete the transition of wartime operational control of the United States-Republic of Korea Combined Forces Command from United States-led command to Republic of Korea-led command." However,.. the NDAA leaves open the possibility of using defense funds for a USFK reduction or OPCON transition if it is in the national security interest of the United States, adding that the action could only be undertaken after proper consultations with its allies,.. including South Korea, Japan and other countries that have sent military contributions to the UN Command. The ban was previously included in the NDAA from the 2019 to 2021 fiscal years, to prevent any potential unilateral reduction during the first Trump administration. However, it was removed from the bill during former President Joe Biden's term in office. It's the first time that the Senate added a ban on the use of funds for the completion of wartime OPCON transfer. The latest bill comes amid speculation that the Trump administration could reduce the number of USFK, and ask Seoul to increase spending for its own defense. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Gov't clears West Sea of N. Korean uranium wastewater concerns

2025/07/18 19:36

South Korea says no contamination has been detected in the West Sea from North Korea's Pyongsan uranium plant wastewater. A two-week probe by agencies here including the Nuclear Safety Commission found no contamination at 10 sites along the West Sea and nearby rivers. Uranium cesium and heavy metals remained consistent with past levels and radioactive cesium was not detected. The government nonetheless will continue its monitoring at several key locations amid satellite analysis suggesting wastewater flow from North Korea into the West Sea.

Nat'l Assembly approves confirmation hearing reports for top economic and foreign policy Cabinet positions

2025/07/18 19:35

Also on this Friday. The parliament has approved the president's nominations for the posts of economy foreign and trade minister. Our political correspondent Moon Hye-ryeon has the latest on the confirmation hearings. South Korea's National Assembly has approved confirmation hearing reports for three high-profile ministerial nominees, including the government's top economic and foreign policy positions. On Friday, lawmakers adopted reports for Koo Yun-cheol , chosen to serve as Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Economy and Finance, Cho Hyun , nominated for Foreign Minister, and Kim Jung-kwan , the pick for Trade Minister. The opposition People Power Party, which had initially vowed to withhold approval for the Cabinet nominees, ultimately agreed to move forward with those seen as essential to national policy. "With less than two weeks left before the U.S. begins imposing reciprocal tariffs, this is an urgent situation. We'll do our part to make sure the confirmation reports for the finance, foreign, and trade ministers are adopted quickly so they can get to work on the tariff negotiations right away." "The new administration needs to complete its Cabinet as soon as possible and focus fully on running the country. That's the only way we can not only help people recover from economic hardships, but also respond swiftly and effectively to disasters like the recent heavy rains." But not all nominees have been given the green light. Confirmation hearings continued on Friday for the administration's final batch of nominees for the week. Among them were Jeong Eun-kyeong , the nominee for Minister of Health and Welfare, and Yun Ho-jung , up for Interior and Safety Minister. Jung, the former head of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, acknowledged challenges such as South Korea's aging population and outlined plans to push forward expanding healthcare benefits for children and the elderly. "The Ministry must double down on its core mission—strengthening the social security system and improving public health—to ensure a basic standard of living for all citizens." Yun, a five-term sitting lawmaker, pledged to prioritize AI innovation and balanced national development led by districts outside the capital region. Meanwhile, two more nominees — for Land Minister and Culture Minister — are still awaiting their confirmation hearings. The PPP also continues to hold firm against two other controversial picks: Lee Jin-sook for Education Minister, and Kang Sun-woo for Gender Equality Minister, citing allegations of academic misconduct and abuse of authority, respectively. As President Lee looks to finalize his first Cabinet, the outcome of these final hearings and the political tensions around them could help shape the early direction of his administration. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.