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Reform Party leader continues young voter outreach as last minute merger attempt fails

2025/05/29 20:00

Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok also cast his ballot at an early voting station in Hwaseong City, Gyeonggi-do Province. which he added was the closest to where he lives. On his campaign agenda for this Thursday are talks with tech workers, college students, and a visit to a popular street food alley in central Seoul. Also, pundits believe a merger between Lee Jun-seok and Kim Moon-soo is now essentially out of the equation as early voting has kicked off.

PPP's Kim rallies with theme 'Beginning of a Great Comeback,' resembling Incheon landings

2025/05/29 20:00

Conservative party contender Kim Moon-soo toured the Gyeonggi-do area, as he also called for strong voter participation for democracy. Our correspondent Kim Do-yeon reports. With the election campaign coming to the final stages, as early voting started on Thursday, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, Kim Moon-soo, focused on making a comeback. His rallies for the day were called "The Beginning of a Great Comeback," and he said he's done it before some 30 years ago when he first ran for a seat in the parliament. "I was third until the last three days before the election, but won it to become a lawmaker. Who picks parliamentary members? Citizens do. Who picks the president? Citizens do. We call this democracy, right?" The idea of a comeback comes as the election comes from PPP's former president having been impeached, and it needing a strong change in narrative. It showed at the rallies. Kim made his way to a rally in the central part of the capital region—Gyeonggi-do Province—after kicking off the day in the western port city of Incheon. The route is symbolic, echoing the Incheon Landing Operation during the Korean War—a turning point that shifted the tide of the conflict. He also urged people to vote during early voting. For his own ballot, he chose to do it at his rival Lee Jae-Myung's congressional district. While the party said the message was clear, Kim said he didn't try to force the idea. "Well, it's not just about Lee Jae-myung, but my daughter lives in Bucheon right across the street here. We just stopped by on our way to other rallies. Lee Jae-myung could be one of the reasons." Kim also told voters that the early voting process will be managed fairly, though some question the process as the transportation and opening of the ballot is more complicated than regular voting. He said not voting is a bigger problem. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.

DP's Lee casts vote in Seoul's Sinchon; campaigns in capital, seeking support amid early voting

2025/05/29 20:00

Liberal party contender Lee Jae-myung once again addressed his supporters in the capital, Seoul, today. With the start of early voting, he focused on encouraging the public to vote. Our correspondent Shin Ha-young reports. Marking the first day of early voting in the snap presidential election, Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung kicked off his campaign on Thursday morning after casting his ballot in Sinchon, Seoul, an area known for its many universities. After voting alongside young people, he encouraged the public to vote, emphasizing that it was the strongest way for them to exercise their sovereignty. "We can overcome the insurrection if people come out to vote. I chose to vote alongside young people because I hope this election marks the start of a new era for South Korea, led by its youth." The DP also focused its efforts on encouraging people to vote. Even though early voting takes place on weekdays, the party believes it's crucial to bring as many supporters as possible to the polls to secure victory in the presidential election. They urged voters to take part and clearly show who truly holds power in the country. Lee later addressed supporters again in the capital, including in Seocho-gu District, one of Seoul’s busiest transit hubs. "During his campaign in Seoul’s Seocho-gu District, Lee Jae-myung outlined plans to develop the area into a hub for K-culture and make the Gangnam region a more competitive and innovative center of the city’s economy." Ahead of Thursday's rallies, Lee joined a meeting on supporting startups, where he discussed expanding the research and development budget, and easing regulations. "We're now in a time when the private sector is more advanced than the public sector, so we need to shift the direction of the administration. That includes creating a chief policy coordinator for AI at the presidential office, and boosting the National Artificial Intelligence Committee." Lee will continue his campaign in Gangwon-do Province on Friday, where rival Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party is also scheduled to hold rallies. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

DIPLOMATIC PRIORITIES POST ELECTION

2025/05/29 17:30

Welcome to Press Perspective. Early voting began at six in the morning on this Thursday here in Korea and will end at six in the evening tomorrow that is Friday. Election day itself is now five days away. That being said today we touch upon the diplomatic implications of the election result on South Korea's partners including the U.S. and neighboring Japan. For more I have Kelly Kasulis Cho with American daily The Washington Post here in Seoul. Kelly welcome back. I also have Walter Sim with Singaporean daily The Straits Times over in Tokyo. Walter it's a pleasure. 1) Kelly, quite a number of foreign media outlets have highlighted the balancing act that the new South Korea leader will need to put into practice to maintain Seoul's trade ties with Beijing and security ties with Washington. 2) Kelly, do you suppose a conservative party victory will see Seoul's U.S. policy standing where it is? 3) Walter, speaking as a journalist observing the political events here from neighboring Japan, how does a liberal party victory look to affect Seoul's ties with Tokyo? 4) Walter, would it be fair to assume a conservative party victory will serve to keep bilateral ties between Seoul and Tokyo on its current track? 5) Kelly, talk about a possible relocation of some American soldiers stationed here in South Korea to other parts of the Indo-Pacific has raised quite a bit of concern. 6) Walter, how does the Trump administration's shift in security strategy look to affect its security partnership with South Korea and Japan? 7) Kelly, I believe some U.S. analysts are saying South Korea should be seeking "to persuade China not to create conflict in the Taiwan Strait" as a Chinese invasion of Taiwan would ultimately drag South Korea into the battlefield. 8) Meanwhile Walter, I hear Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong is in Japan as we speak. 9) Kelly, Mr. Trump's Oval Office receptions of foreign leaders are raising international eyebrows following his earlier exchange with Ukrainian President Vlodymyr Zelenksyy and his most recent interaction with South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa. 10) Finally, Walter, do you suppose the election result will serve to pave the path to healing for South Korea? And that is all today. Thank you for watching.

Trump suggests 15% cap on international students at Harvard

2025/05/29 17:00

Meanwhile from the trade sector to the academic arena U.S. President Donald Trump says Harvard University should slash its size of international student body to QUOTE some 15 percent from 31 percent. Kim Jung-sil has the latest. Speaking from the Oval Office on Wednesday, President Trump said Harvard’s international student enrollment is too high and should be reduced. "About 31% of their students are foreign-based. Almost 31%. I think they should have a cap of maybe around 15%, not 31%. We have people who want to go to Harvard. They can’t get in because we have foreign students there." It’s part of the growing pressure on the school from the Trump administration. Last month, it froze 2.2 billion U.S. dollars in federal funding to the school. It then suspended the school’s authority to issue I-20 visas, halting new international admissions. "We want to know where those students come from. Are they troublemakers? What countries do they come? Many of those students were troublemakers caused by the radical left lunatics in this country." Following President Trump’s remarks, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a new crackdown, saying the U.S. will aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, including those linked to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields. New applications from China and Hong Kong will also face tougher scrutiny. Trump says he wants Harvard to be "great again," but not everyone on campus agrees. "The attack on Harvard and its international students is part of a deeper effort to disband and dismantle the academic world." "What makes Harvard Harvard is ability to bring in the best and the brightest from all around the world and that is what is under threat right now." In South Korea, students say new visa appointments at the U.S. Embassy are currently unavailable. This comes as the U.S. moves to expand social media screening for international applicants. Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.

U.S. court blocks Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs, ruling they exceed legal authority

2025/05/29 17:00

The Trump administration's reciprocal tariffs on America's trade partners have hit a legal hurdle at home with the U.S. Court of International Trade asserting that the president is stepping beyond his authority. Shin Se-byuck has details. The U.S. Court of International Trade struck down core parts of Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs, saying they overstepped presidential authority under existing law. At the center of the ruling is the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA. The Trump administration cited the law on April 2 to justify a global 10-percent tariff, along with higher, reciprocal duties on major trading partners like South Korea, the EU, Japan, and China. But the court rejected this interpretation. It said the law was intended for true emergencies, not for addressing routine trade deficits. The judges emphasized that Congress never gave the president blanket authority to impose such broad trade measures. The ruling halts some of the administration's most controversial trade actions, including 30 percent tariffs on Chinese imports, 25-percent duties on select Mexican and Canadian goods, and a 10-percent universal tariff on most products entering the U.S. However, the ruling does not affect auto, steel, or aluminum tariffs imposed under a separate legal provision, Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, a law permitting tariffs for national security reasons. Just minutes after the decision, the Trump administration filed a notice of appeal. The White House pushed back against the ruling, arguing that decisions on national emergencies should rest with the president, not the courts. It also reaffirmed President Trump's commitment to fully exercising his executive powers to respond to the crisis and advance his "America First" agenda. The court has given the administration a ten-day window to issue any necessary administrative orders. If the ruling is upheld through appeal, and possibly the Supreme Court, most of the tariffs would be suspended. The lawsuit, brought by the nonpartisan Liberty Justice Center on behalf of five small importers affected by the tariffs, marked the first major legal challenge to Trump's so-called "Liberation Day" measures. Shin Se-byuck, Arirang News.

Reform Party leader continues young voter outreach as last minute merger attempt fails

2025/05/29 17:00

Moving on. Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok also cast his ballot at an early voting station in Hwaseong City Gyeonggi-do Province which he added was the closest to where he lives. Meanwhile on his campaign agenda for this Thursday are talks with tech workers college students and a visit to a popular street food alley in central Seoul. Also pundits believe a merger between Lee Jun-seok and Kim Moon-soo is now essentially out of the equation as early voting has kicked off.

PPP's Kim rallies with theme 'Beginning of a Great Comeback,' resembling Incheon landings

2025/05/29 17:00

Up next touch base with the latest at the conservative camp whose contender Kim Moon-soo is in Gyeonggi-do Province. My colleague Kim Do-yeon is there as well and joins me now. Do-yeon it's good to have you on. So what has Kim been saying today? Sun-hee, as you can see behind me, Kim is on stage right now delivering a speech here in Gunpo, Gyeonggi-do Province. With early voting now underway, today’s message is centered on what he calls “The Beginning of a Great Comeback.” He recalled his first run for parliament nearly 30 years ago—saying he was polling third until the final days, but still pulled off a win. "I was third until the last three days before the election, but won it to become a lawmaker. Who picks parliamentary members? Citizens do. Who picks the president? Citizens do. We call this democracy, right? We're now at a crossroads of either going into democracy or a dictatorship, aren't we?" He claims that giving his DP rival Lee Jae-myung the presidency would result in too much power concentrated in the Democratic Party. The PPP is well aware of the uphill battle it faces—especially with its former president impeached over martial law. The party needs a dramatic shift to change the narrative. That’s why Kim began today’s rally in Incheon—the symbolic port city where UN forces landed in 1950 during the Korean War to turn the tide. He’s now making his way westward, toward the heart of the capital region. Now he also urged voters to go out and vote, as to turn the tide around in this battle, he needs to win through votes. Speaking of voting Kim took part in early voting over in Incheon which in itself pundits believe is symbolic. Do tell us more. That's right, Sun-hee. As we discussed yesterday, he chose to vote at a booth in Lee Jae-myung's district. While the camp has emphasized this as he went to vote with his daughter, who lives nearby he didn't try to force that idea. Take a listen. "Well, it's not just about Lee Jae-myung, but my daughter lives in Bucheon right across the street here. We just stopped by on our way to other rallies. Lee Jae-myung could be one of the reasons." Now, as we know, he did have questions about whether the early voting system is being managed fairly. There had been conspiracies and with the early voting more complicated in terms of ballot transportation and counting, some conservative activists have raised questions which Kim also agreed with. However, he voted early for this election and says there still seem to be questions, but the party will do its best to manage it fairly. He also says not voting is a bigger problem and urged more people to vote. Sun-hee. All right Do-yeon we'll let you get back to your coverage of the conservative camp. Thank you for that report.

DP's Lee casts vote in Seoul's Sinchon; campaigns in capital, seeking support amid early voting

2025/05/29 17:00

Liberal party contender Lee Jae-myung was also among those who cast their ballots today. For more our political correspondent Shin Ha-young joins me live. Ha-young welcome. Now before we touch upon his trip to the polling station earlier this morning let's begin with his campaign. What's the latest on that front? Sunny. I'm currently at the Seoul Express Bus Terminal in Seocho-gu District, one of the busiest transit hubs in Seoul. As you can see behind me, a large crowd has already gathered in front of the stage, waiting for Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung to arrive as part of his continuing campaign in about 30 minutes. According to a party spokesperson, Lee is expected to present his plan to develop Seocho-gu into a hub for K-culture and to transform Gangnam into a more competitive and innovative core of Seoul's economy. Ahead of Thursday's rally, Lee joined a meeting on supporting startups, where he discussed expanding the research and development budget, and easing regulations. "We're now in a time when the private sector is more advanced than the public sector, so we need to shift the direction of the administration. That includes creating a chief policy coordinator for AI at the presidential office, and boosting the National Artificial Intelligence Committee." Right and now Ha-young as I mentioned earlier Lee has cast his ballot? You're right, Sunny. Lee Jae-myung cast his ballot this morning, the first day of early voting, in Sinchon, Seoul, an area known for its many universities. After voting alongside young people, he encouraged the public to vote, emphasizing that it is the strongest way to exercise their sovereignty. Take a listen. "We can overcome the insurrection if people come out to vote. I chose to vote alongside young people because I hope this election marks the start of a new era for South Korea, led by its youth." The DP today also focused on encouraging people to vote. Even though early voting takes place on weekdays, the party believes it's crucial to bring as many supporters as possible to the polls to secure victory in the presidential election. They urged voters to take part and clearly show who truly holds power in the country. The party also called on its campaign members to do their utmost until the very end. That's all for this hour. Back to you Sunny. All right Ha-young thank you for now and do keep us updated with the latest from the liberal camp.

Live from early voting polling station in Seoul

2025/05/29 20:00

Polling places nationwide opened doors at six in the morning on this Thursday for two days of early voting. That being said I have my colleague Ahn Sung-jin standing by at one such venue here in Seoul. Sung-jin it's great to have you on. So what's the atmosphere like there where you are? Right, so Sunny, I'm currently in front of an early voting location in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu District, a bustling area with offices and business people. I was out here early this morning, and we saw an influx of people coming in to vote before going to work, so many in fact that officials needed to control the line of people, which extended well beyond the front of the polling station. And it only got longer throughout the afternoon, with a waiting time of around 30 to 40 minutes. Now, we're heading closer to the end of the first day of early voting. Have a listen to some of the voters. "A good thing about early voting is we get to come in at a convenient time for us. Especially for this time because the previous president was impeached, I cast a ballot in hopes of a president with a vision for the country." "I had come here during lunchtime, but the line was so long, so I came again now. It's obvious for me to come and exercise my rights, so I came to vote to really end the insurrection incident we had." So far, there haven't been any notable issues with the voting process going smoothly. For this presidential election, there are more than 3-thousand-5-hundred polling stations nationwide, with around 420 of them in Seoul. Now Sung-jin this latest election comes amid random allegations of election fraud. Do walk us through the voting process this time around and the efforts in place to reassure the public about transparency. To first explain how early voting works, early voting takes place for two days, Thursday and Friday, from 6 AM till 6 PM. Voters must be over 18 and bring a government-issued ID. Turnout in previous early voting in 2017 was 26.1%, while in 2022 it was 36.9%, a record-high figure. Although we did see an increase in turnout in 2022, with voting taking place on a weekday, unlike previously, we may see a lower number. The process of verifying vote-counting officials will be strengthened after accusations in 2020 that Chinese voting officials may have rigged votes during the general election. The NEC emphasized that it will be hiring all 260-thousand voting and counting officials as Korean nationals. Ballot boxes will be monitored around the clock, and the NEC will also operate a "Fair Election Observation Team" for the first time to observe the entire election process from voting to counting. The NEC also announced that, in this presidential election, the number of voters per hour will be disclosed by each polling station for the first time. One more question before you go Sung-jin . It's past five P.M. as we speak with less than one hour left before polling places close their doors for day one of the two-day early voting period. How many voters have cast their ballots thus far? Right, now as, of 4 PM, at the poll station I'm at 6,683 people have voted, and the total for Seoul is 1,295,881. Other major cities like Busan saw 382,308 people, Daegu 210,174, and Sejong 52,996. However, as we pass 5 PM, new figures should be out, which I will be back with for our later newscast. All right then Sung-jin thank you for that coverage and do keep us posted.

Mexico gears up for first-ever public election for judges

2025/05/29 10:00

Mexico will hold its first-ever public election for federal judges, including Supreme Court justices, across the country on June 1 marking a shift in the nation's judicial selection process. The elections will fill 881 federal judicial positions, including nine Supreme Court justices, Electoral Tribunal magistrates, and district judges. The initiative stems from constitutional reform enacted in September 2024, which changed the judiciary from an appointment-based system to one determined by popular vote. Proponents, including President Claudia Sheinbaum and her predecessor, argue that electing judges will enhance accountability and reduce corruption within the judiciary. However, opponents expressed concerns that it may compromise judicial independence, making judges susceptible to political and criminal influence. Voters will receive six separate ballots to elect officials across various judicial levels. However, the complexity of the process means expected voter turnout below 30 percent.

Reform Party leader continues young voter outreach as last minute merger attempt fails

2025/05/29 10:00

Attempts to form a merger between conservative candidates have effectively fallen through, as early voting for the Presidential Election is now underway. Around midnight on Thursday, with just six hours left before early voting began, the People Power Party's Kim Moon-soo aimed to track down Lee Jun-seok of the Reform Party, at Lee's office at the National Assembly. However, Lee was not there, and did not respond to Kim's attempts to reach him through various channels. Lee has consistently said he will not merge with the PPP. The Reform Party candidate on Thursday is set to cast his vote at an early voting station, in Hwaseong City, Gyeonggi-do Province. He'll continue reaching out to young voters, meeting with tech sector workers and university students and drop by a popular street food alley in central Seoul.

Lee Jae-myung focuses campaign on eastern Seoul; DP urges early voting

2025/05/29 10:00

With five days left until the election Candidates are ramping up their campaigns. Yesterday, Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung set out to win over voters in Seoul, the biggest battleground. Our campaign correspondent Shin Ha-young reports. A day before early voting begins for the snap presidential election, Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung visited eastern Seoul, which the party describes as a region that shows Seoul's past, present, and future. "Lee Jae-myung's campaign on Wednesday is focusing on attracting support from voters in the capital, by sharing his plan to make eastern Seoul not only a new hub for business, culture and transportation growth, but also as a result a better place to live." Ahead of Wednesday's rally, Lee joined a live YouTube broadcast where he emphasized his commitment to push South Korea's benchmark index, the KOSPI, to 5-thousand points and outlined plans for stock market reform. "South Korea's conservative governments have not been typical conservative governments, which has made them irrational. The economy relies on rationality and predictability. With little economic policy and frequent corporate abuses, the market has stayed weak. Fixing these issues could boost the market by 200 to 300 points." Meanwhile, the DP focused on getting people out to the polls, urging the public to vote to end what the party described as an insurrection. "Let's bring peace, revive the economy, and unite the country by taking part in early voting this Thursday and Friday. Everyone, please make sure to vote your vote is more powerful than guns and swords." Floor leader and Acting Chairman Park Chan-dae, who also serves as a chair of the presidential campaign committee, also noted that overseas voter turnout had reached a record high, reflecting a strong desire among Koreans abroad for peace and change in the country. He stressed that it is now up to voters in South Korea to carry that momentum forward. Lee is expected to cast his vote in Seoul's Sinchon on the first day of early voting and encourage others to take part as well. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

Trump suggests 15% cap on international students at Harvard

2025/05/29 10:00

U.S. President Donald Trump has called for a drastic reduction in the number of international students at Harvard University, proposing a cap of just 15 percent, less than half of the current figure. Our Kim Jung-sil has details. Speaking from the Oval Office on Wednesday, President Trump said Harvard's international student enrollment is too high and should be reduced. "About 31% of their students are foreign-based. Almost 31%. I think they should have a cap of maybe around 15%, not 31%. We have people who want to go to Harvard. They can't get in because we have foreign students there." It's part of the growing pressure on the school from the Trump administration. Last month, it froze 2.2 billion U.S. dollars in federal funding to the school. It then suspended the school's authority to issue I-20 visas, halting new international admissions. "We want to know where those students come from. Are they troublemakers? What countries do they come? Many of those students were troublemakers caused by the radical left lunatics in this country." Following President Trump's remarks, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a new crackdown, saying the U.S. will aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, including those linked to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields. New applications from China and Hong Kong will also face tougher scrutiny. Trump says he wants Harvard to be "great again," but not everyone on campus agrees. "The attack on Harvard and its international students is part of a deeper effort to disband and dismantle the academic world." "What makes Harvard Harvard is ability to bring in the best and the brightest from all around the world and that is what is under threat right now." In South Korea, students say new visa appointments at the U.S. Embassy are currently unavailable. This comes as the U.S. moves to expand social media screening for international applicants. Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.

Russia proposes talks with Ukraine on June 2

2025/05/29 10:00

Russia has proposed holding second round of direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul next Monday. U.S. President Donald Trump doubled down on his criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying he'll know soon if the Russian leader is just "tapping" him along. Lee Seung-jae reports. Moscow has proposed holding another round of direct talks with Kyiv. The meeting which would again take place in Istanbul, is slated for June 2nd, with the aim of achieving a sustainable peace settlement. "The Russian side, as agreed, has promptly developed a relevant memorandum, which sets out our position on all aspects of reliably overcoming the root causes of the crisis. Our delegation, led by Vladimir Medinsky, is ready to present this memorandum to the Ukrainian delegation and to provide necessary clarifications during the second round of direct talks in Istanbul next Monday, June 2." However, there was no immediate response from Ukraine. The proposed talks come as their previous meeting on May 16 in Istanbul ended without an agreement on a ceasefire. Russia's top envoy Sergei Lavrov expressed hope that those "interested in the success of the peace process will support holding a new round of Russia-Ukraine negotiations in Istanbul." Meanwhile,.. U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he doesn't want to impose any new sanctions on Russia yet, as he does not want such penalties to interfere with getting a ceasefire. When asked by a reporter if he believe Russian President Vladimir Putin is sincere about ending the war, Trump said he'll know in about two week. "I can't tell you that, but I'll let you know in about two weeks, within two weeks, we're going to find out very soon. We're going to find out whether or not he's (Putin) tapping us along or not. And if he is, we'll respond a little bit differently. But it'll take about a week and a half, two weeks." The U.S. President also said Putin may be intentionally delaying ceasefire negotiations, while expressing his disappointment over recent Russian strikes in Ukraine. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Live from early voting polling station in Seoul

2025/05/29 10:00

Two days of early voting have begun in South Korea to elect the country's 21st president. Voters across the country are already making their way to polling stations 5 days earlier than the actual Election Day, and our Ahn Sung-jin is at one of them here in Seoul. Good morning, Sung-jin. 1. Sung-jin, which of the country's 3-thousand 5-hundred-69 polling stations are you at? Right, so Dami I'm currently in front of an early voting location in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu district, an area bustling with offices and business people. I've been out here since early this morning, and we saw an influx of voters coming in to vote before going to work, so many in fact that officials needed to control the line of people which extended well beyond the front of the polling station. "I'm 20 years old so this is my first time to vote. I hope someone who can bring national unity and enhance people's livelihoods becomes the next president." "I've been waiting to vote, and I wanted to do so as soon as I could. I came early before work because I couldn't wait out of frustration." So far there haven't been any notable issues with the voting process going smoothly. For this presidential election, there are more than 3-thousand-5-hundred polling stations nationwide with around 420 of them in Seoul. 2. Now, Sung-jin, tell us how early voting works. For this early presidential voting, the National Election Commission has made extra effort to realize a fair and transparent election, right? To first explain how early voting works, early voting takes place for two days, Thursday and Friday from 6 AM till 6 PM. Voters must be over 18 and bring government issued ID. Turnout in previous early voting in 2017 was 26.1% while in 2022 it was 36.9% a record-high figure. Although we did see an increase in turnout in 2022, with voting taking place on a weekday, unlike previously, we may see a lower number. The process of verifying vote-counting officials will be strengthened, after accusations in 2020 that Chinese voting officials during the general election may have rigged votes. The NEC emphasized that it will be hiring all 260-thousand voting and counting officials as Korean nationals to shut down any suspicions of election fraud. Ballot boxes will be monitored around the clock, and the NEC will also operate a "Fair Election Observation Team" for the first time to observe the entire election process from voting to counting. The NEC also announced that in this presidential election, the number of voters per hour will be disclosed by each polling station for the first time. 3. It's past 10 AM, which means four hours have passed since the early voting began. How many South Koreans have voted early so far? Right now as of 9AM, at the poll station I'm at 1,722 people have voted, and the total for Seoul is 293,852. Other major cities like Busan saw ______ people, Daegu _______ and Sejong _____. The Democratic Party spokesperson said that their party's candidate Lee Jae-myung will vote in Seoul this morning. The People Power's Party Kim Moon-soo is also believed to be voting early. That's all I have for now, and I will be back with updated figures for our later newscast. Alright Sung-jin, thanks for the coverage. That was our Ahn Sung-jin at one of the early voting polling stations here Seoul.

Final Debate Showdown: Presidential candidates clash on security, diplomacy, and political Reform

2025/05/28 20:00

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus. I'm Kim Mok-yeon. In the final televised debate before the presidential election, four major candidates faced off on the most pressing issues in politics, diplomacy and national security. On May 27th, the stage was set for a revealing confrontation: the Democratic Party's Lee Jae-myung emphasized diplomacy and engagement, pledging to restore the 9/19 military agreement, while pursuing balanced ties with the U.S., China, and Russia. The People Power Party's Kim Moon-soo countered with a hardline agenda — calling for the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons, and a NATO-style nuclear-sharing deal. The Reform Party's Lee Jun-seok proposed a sweeping reorganization of government, merging the unification and foreign ministries under a new security deputy prime minister. The Democratic Labor Party's Kwon Young-guk pledged to abolish the military's counterintelligence command and restart peace talks. As candidates clashed over North Korea, alliance costs, and wartime control, the debate laid bare a stark divide — offering voters a critical lens into each party's vision for the Republic of Korea's security and sovereignty. To delve deeper into the candidates' policies on the Korean peninsula, we invited Go Myong-hyun, senior research fellow at the Institute for National Security Strategy, into the studio with us. Welcome. Also joining us online is Christophe Gaudin, professor of political science at Kookmin University. Good to see you. 1. (GO) To start with the big picture just yesterday, the final TV debate among the four presidential candidates was held, focusing on foreign and security policy. What stood out most to you in terms of how each candidate framed their priorities? 2. (GAUDIN) Let's start by unpacking how they framed their core priorities, especially with regard to national security and foreign policy So all presidential candidates have pledged to pursue pragmatic diplomacy centered on the ROK-U.S. alliance. However, critics argue that they failed to present specific blueprints. How would you assess the candidates' diplomatic and security pledges? 3. (GO) Diving deeper into inter-Korean policy The candidates showed differing views on North Korea's denuclearization and ways to restore inter-Korean relations. DP Candidate Lee Jae-myung emphasized reviving the September 19 Military Agreement as part of reinitiating the denuclearization process. What challenges must be overcome to make this happen in this situation? 4. (GAUDIN) Building on that PPP Candidate Kim Moon-soo stressed a principled North Korea policy based on preconditions for denuclearization. He even suggested reviewing the redeployment of tactical nuclear weapons or adopting a NATO-style "nuclear sharing" policy to strengthen nuclear deterrence. This became a major point of contention with the DP's Lee Jae-myung. What is your assessment of Kim's policy? Is it realistic? 5. (GAUDIN) Turning now to structural reform proposals RP Candidate Lee Jun-seok proposed merging the Ministry of Unification and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and appointing a "Deputy Prime Minister for Security" to oversee diplomacy, unification and defense. How would this merger affect the consistency and flexibility of domestic and foreign policy strategy? 6. (GO) On the topic of military oversight DLP Candidate Kwon Young-guk, who pledged to restart the Korean Peninsula peace process, proposed abolishing the Defense Counterintelligence Command (DCIC), citing its involvement in last year's martial law controversy. What is your opinion on the pledge to abolish the DCIC? 7. (GAUDIN) Zooming out to alliance management The candidates also expressed differing opinions on the issue of increasing South Korea's share of defense costs for U.S. Forces Korea. Notably, the PPP's Kim Moon-soo left room for a possible increase. How effective are the proposed solutions to this cost-sharing issue under the next administration? 8. (GO) Staying with alliance dynamics Among Lee Jae-myung's foreign and security pledges, the plan to reclaim wartime operational control (OPCON) stands out. If OPCON transfer occurs, what changes might it bring to the ROK-U.S. combined defense structure? 9. (GAUDIN) And finally, looking at the bigger diplomatic chessboard With the geopolitical landscape on the Korean Peninsula shifting — U.S.-China tensions, and strengthening North Korea-Russia ties — foreign and security policies have never been more crucial. With less than a week left until the election, what should voters prioritize when evaluating the candidates' foreign and security pledges?

Lee Jae-myung focuses campaign on eastern Seoul; DP urges early voting

2025/05/28 20:00

Thank you for joining us. I'm Yoon Jung-min. Ahead of early voting tomorrow, the DP's Lee Jae-myung toured the capital, seeking voter support. The party also focused on asking for strong voter participation. Our campaign correspondent Shin Ha-young reports. A day before early voting begins for the snap presidential election, Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung visited eastern Seoul, which the party describes as a region that shows Seoul's past, present, and future. "Lee Jae-myung's campaign on Wednesday is focusing on attracting support from voters in the capital, by sharing his plan to make eastern Seoul not only a new hub for business, culture and transportation growth, but also – as a result a better place to live." Ahead of Wednesday's rally, Lee joined a live YouTube broadcast where he emphasized his commitment to push South Korea's benchmark index, the KOSPI, to 5-thousand points and outlined plans for stock market reform. "South Korea's conservative governments have not been typical conservative governments, which has made them irrational. The economy relies on rationality and predictability. With little economic policy and frequent corporate abuses, the market has stayed weak. Fixing these issues could boost the market by 200 to 300 points." Meanwhile, the DP focused on getting people out to the polls, urging the public to vote to end what the party described as an insurrection. "Let's bring peace, revive the economy, and unite the country by taking part in early voting this Thursday and Friday. Everyone, please make sure to vote your vote is more powerful than guns and swords." Floor leader and Acting Chairman Park Chan-dae, who also serves as a chair of the presidential campaign committee, also noted that overseas voter turnout had reached a record high, reflecting a strong desire among Koreans abroad for peace and change in the country. He stressed that it is now up to voters in South Korea to carry that momentum forward. Lee is expected to cast his vote in Seoul's Sinchon on the first day of early voting and encourage others to take part as well. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

U.S. pushing for mandatory review of social media pages of international students

2025/05/28 20:00

The Trump administration has halted visa interviews for international students seeking to study in the U.S., as it prepares to vet their social media accounts. Lee Seung-jae has the details. The U.S. government is now looking into mandating social media screening for international students who wish to study in their country. In preparation for the new review system, the U.S. State Department has ordered all diplomatic missions around the world to temporarily suspend visa interviews for international students. In an announcement made by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday, "consular sections should not add any additional student or exchange visitor visa appointment capacity until further guidance is issued," in preparation for "an expansion of required social media screening and vetting." However, Rubio said that the government will proceed with interviews that have already been scheduled. Those looking to apply for the F, M, and J visas will see their interviews temporarily suspended. F visas are issued to students who wish to study at a U.S. university or review language training, while the M visa is for those who wish to receive job training. The J visa is for exchanges in the fields of education, arts, and science, particularly for exchange researchers and students. If the Trump administration does carry out the screening process,.. it could significantly slow down student visa processing, effectively hurting many U.S. schools that rely heavily on foreign students to boost their financial coffers. The government had earlier imposed a partial social media screening requirement, mostly targeting returning students who may have participated in pro-Palestinian protests. However, the latest order does not specifically say what the government would be screening for, but that it aims to keep out terrorists and battle anti-Semitism. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Israel-Hamas war reaches 600th day amid continued conflict and lack of aid

2025/05/28 20:00

In the Middle East. Food aid started being distributed to people in Gaza afters weeks of blockade as the war drags on for 600 days now. Ahn sung-jin has the latest. Thousands of people storm towards an aid distribution point, causing a stampede. Shots are fired into the air to disperse the crowd. On Tuesday, following almost three months of aid being blocked, the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation distributed around 8-thousand food boxes or around 462-thousand meals in the southern city of Rafah. "We want to eat, we're hungry, we have been humiliated, with the communal kitchens and the (lack) of water and everything. Look what they've put for us." The Israel-Hamas war has reached the 600-day mark. Nearly two years into the conflict, more than 54-thousand people have been killed and over 123-thousand injured. Gazans suffer from severe food shortages and a lack of access to healthcare in the devastated enclave. Israel has faced widespread condemnation for the civilian suffering caused by the conflict. 600 days ago on October 7th, 2023, Hamas attacked Israel, killing more than 1,000 and kidnapping more than 200 people. That led to massive Israeli military offensives, air strikes and a ground invasion of Gaza. Though ceasefire negotiations continue with mediators including the U.S., Qatar and Egypt, a deal has yet to be reached. International organizations such as the World Health Organization urgently call for an immediate ceasefire and the release of all remaining hostages. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.