News

S. Korean gov't and business leaders urge U.S. for tariff exemptions and strong economic ties

2025/02/21 20:00

Korean trade officials and business leaders were in Washington this week with key trade agenda between the two countries amid the Trump administration's tariff campaign. Our Moon Hye-ryeon has the details. As South Korea seeks tariff relief and stronger economic cooperation, both government and business leaders are making a united effort to secure favorable conditions for Korean firms operating in the U.S. According to the trade ministry on Friday, Deputy Trade Minister Park Jong-won met with senior U.S. officials from the White House, the Commerce Department, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative during his visit to Washington D.C. this week. He urged the U.S. to exempt South Korea from its new import tariff plans, citing the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement that has eliminated most tariffs on goods between the two nations, and highlighted substantial investments and contributions under the Inflation Reduction Act and the CHIPS Act from South Korean firms. A South Korean delegation led by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Chey Tae-won also met with top U.S. officials in a bid to strengthen economic ties. During talks with senior White House officials, Chey emphasized that South Korean companies have invested over 160 billion dollars in the U.S. manufacturing sector in the past eight years – creating more than 80 thousand high-quality jobs. Chey requested close cooperation between the two governments, while White House officials reportedly described discussions with the delegation as the most productive they have had with a private-sector group. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

Pres. Yoon named suspect on charges of obstructing investigators' attempts to detain him

2025/02/21 20:00

In a separate development. The National Police Agency has booked President Yoon Suk Yeol on charges of obstructing the execution of an arrest warrant last month. Shin Ha-young explains. President Yoon Suk Yeol has been booked by the NPA for allegedly using the Presidential Security Service to block investigators' attempts to detain him last month over his declaration of martial law. According to police on Friday, Yoon has been booked on charges of "special" obstruction of public duty. However, as a sitting president, he cannot be criminally prosecuted. The special police investigation unit looking into the martial law declaration has reportedly obtained text messages between Yoon and PSS Deputy Chief Kim Seong-hoon regarding efforts to block the execution of the warrant to detain him. It was confirmed that they exchanged messages through the U.S.-based messaging app Signal on January 3rd, during the first attempt to serve the warrant. Four days later, they exchanged messages again, with Yoon ordering the security team to intervene if a second attempt was made. Kim relayed the order to his staff, but they refused to comply, leading to Yoon's arrest on January 15th. The police did not disclose the details of the messages. Meanwhile, the special investigation unit announced on Friday that they had transferred the case of six military officials, including Won Cheon-hee, head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials. The officials were booked on charges of insurrection. The CIO launched a search and seizure procedure the same day at Won's house and office. It is investigating allegations that Won met with former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and former commander of the Defense Intelligence Command, Moon Sang-ho, the day before Yoon's martial law declaration to discuss its imposition. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

S. Korea's FM holds talks with UK, Australia at G20 FM meeting in South Africa

2025/02/21 17:00

Meanwhile on the margins of the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in South Africa Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul sat down separately with his British and Australian counterparts. On the agenda were diverse global matters including Russia's invasion of Ukraine and North Korea's illicit military support. Top diplomats are gathered in Johannesburg for the first G20 ministerial meeting of the year centered around the theme of "Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability." Notably U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced his absence from the meeting finding fault with the theme of the latest talks for resembling diversity equity and inclusion initiatives which the Trump administration opposes.

Zelenskyy meets Trump’s Ukraine envoy but press conference canceled

2025/02/21 17:00

A scheduled joint press conference was cancelled following talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. envoy Keith Kellogg at the request of the U.S. Choi Min-jung covers this event and more. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg met in Kyiv on Thursday,. and held what Zelenskyy called a "productive meeting." Zelenskyy shared on social media that they had a "detailed conversation" about the battlefield situation, the return of Ukrainian prisoners of war, and effective security guarantees, emphasizing the importance of U.S.-Ukraine relations. However, the meeting did not result in significant breakthroughs in securing U.S. support, as evidenced by the cancellation of a planned joint press conference at the request of the U.S. What was supposed to be a media event turned into a brief photo opportunity without remarks or questions. Kellogg's visit to Kyiv came amid escalating tensions between U.S. President Donald Trump and Zelenskyy. On Wednesday, Ukraine rejected U.S. demands for 500 billion U.S. dollars in minerals as repayment for wartime aid, citing inadequate support from Washington and a lack of security guarantees. Trump's frustration with Zelenskyy is apparent, as he believes Zelenskyy has not taken advantage of the opportunities presented. "Look, President Trump is obviously very frustrated right now with President Zelenskyy. The fact that that he hasn't come to the table, that he hasn't been willing to take this opportunity that we have offered. I think he eventually will get to that point, and I hope so very quickly." Additionally, the U.S. is resisting putting the blame on Russia for the war by opposing the inclusion of "Russian aggression" in a G7 joint statement marking the war's third anniversary. This follows Trump's comments blaming Ukraine for the war and calling Zelenskyy a "dictator without elections." He has also proposed inviting Russia back to the G7. Next week, Trump is set to meet with the leaders of France and the UK to discuss strategies for ending the war in Ukraine and post-war planning. European nations have so far been left without a clear role in the peace talks. Choi Min-jung, Arirang News.

Deputy Trade Minister asks U.S. to leave S. Korea out of new tariffs scheme

2025/02/21 17:00

South Korea is seeking an exemption from the Trump administration's tariff campaign given the presence of the Free Trade Agreement between the two countries. According to the Trade Ministry here on this Friday Deputy Trade Minister Park Jong-won formally made a request to this end during talks in Washington this week with officials from the White House the Commerce Department and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. He also reportedly called for mutually beneficial trade endeavors while underscoring the substantial investment in the U.S. made by Korean companies in recent times.

Pres. Yoon named suspect on charges of obstructing investigators' attempts to detain him

2025/02/21 17:00

In a separate development. The National Police Agency has booked President Yoon Suk Yeol on charges of obstructing the execution of an arrest warrant. Shin Ha-young explains. President Yoon Suk Yeol has been booked by the NPA for allegedly using the Presidential Security Service to block investigators' attempts to detain him last month over his declaration of martial law. According to police on Friday, Yoon has been booked on charges of "special" obstruction of public duty. However, as a sitting president, he cannot be criminally prosecuted. The special police investigation unit looking into the martial law declaration has reportedly obtained text messages between Yoon and PSS Deputy Chief Kim Seong-hoon regarding efforts to block the execution of the warrant to detain him. It was confirmed that they exchanged messages through the U.S.-based messaging app Signal on January 3rd, during the first attempt to serve the warrant. Four days later, they exchanged messages again, with Yoon ordering the security team to intervene if a second attempt was made. Kim relayed the order to his staff, but they refused to comply, leading to Yoon's arrest on January 15th. The police did not disclose the details of the messages. Meanwhile, the special investigation unit announced on Friday that they had transferred the case of six military officials, including Won Cheon-hee, head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials. The officials were booked on charges of insurrection. The CIO launched a search and seizure procedure the same day at Won's house and office. It is investigating allegations that Won met with former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and former commander of the Defense Intelligence Command, Moon Sang-ho, the day before Yoon's martial law declaration to discuss its imposition. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

President Yoon's impeachment trial to end on February 25

2025/02/21 17:00

President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial will come to a close next Tuesday with an 11th hearing that will see the president and the parliamentary impeachment panel sharing their final remarks. Our Oh Soo-young reports. President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial will conclude next Tuesday with his final statement at the Constitutional Court. The Court announced Thursday at Yoon's 10th trial hearing, that the next and final session would be held on February 25th, some 74 days after the impeachment vote passed at the National Assembly. The bench will review remaining evidence before the National Assembly's legal team and the President's lawyers each make their closing arguments. Then the Assembly panel's Co-Chair Jung Chung-rae and President Yoon will deliver their final remarks. The Court on Thursday held the last round of witness examinations. "The questions focused on whether President Yoon had gone through proper Cabinet procedures before declaring martial law, and whether he'd ordered arrests of key politicians and judicial figures." First up was Prime Minister Han Duck-soo who said there had been anomalies in procedure and substance, compared to a standard Cabinet meeting. He said that the Defence Minister had not consulted him before recommending martial law to the President, as required by the Constitution, and said no minutes were taken. Han stopped short of judging whether or not a legitimate Cabinet meeting took place, saying that should be determined through investigative and judicial procedures. Former National Intelligence Service Deputy Director Hong Jang-won who was a witness earlier this month returned for further questioning by Yoon's legal team. Hong previously testified that he'd made note of 14 to 16 figures to arrest under martial law, claiming he'd written it in the night outside the residence of his boss Director Cho Tae-yong. He received the names from Defense Counterintelligence Commander Yeo In-hyung, who Hong phoned as the President told him to "help out the commander." But Hong changed his words on Thursday, saying he had been in his office after all. His boss told the Court last week that Hong had lied about his whereabouts citing CCTV footage. As Hong and Yoon's lawyers clashed over the veracity of his note which was reproduced and altered various times, the President spoke out, saying the debate misses the point. He said he'd called Hong to encourage him to work with Yeo on hunting down spies, without mentioning martial law. He pointed out Hong was the one who called the Commander, made notes, and then held onto them until he was dismissed from the NIS. National Police Agency chief Cho Ji-ho also stood witness, after two absences due to illness. He refused to answer most questions due to his own criminal case, but said he testified truthfully to prosecutors. Cho had said Yoon called him six times on December 3rd and told him to arrest lawmakers. Based on past presidential impeachment trials, a verdict is likely to be reached within two weeks around March 11th. Former President Park Geun-hye's impeachment was upheld in 11 days, while former President Roh Moo-hyun's was dismissed in 14 days. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

World News: Series of bus explosions near Tel Aviv being investigated

2025/02/21 17:00

This is The World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. In Israel, three buses exploded in Bat Yam, just south of Tel Aviv on Thursday, in what authorities are investigating as coordinated terror attacks. No casualties have been reported. The explosions on three empty buses parked approximately 500 meters apart happened within minutes of each other, and are believed to have been caused by makeshift explosive devices equipped with timers. Two bombs were discovered on other buses, but were defused by police. A note was found with one of the unexploded devices, referencing "Revenge from Tulkarem," alluding to a recent Israeli military operation in the West Bank. In response to the incident, a temporary halt to all public transportation nationwide has been ordered, to facilitate thorough investigations. Israel's internal security agency has taken over the investigation, and a search is underway for suspects. Meanwhile, Israel has received the bodies of what Hamas says are four hostages including a mother and her two young children. But Israel says one of the bodies is of someone else. On Thursday, Hamas returned the remains of what were claimed to be Shiri Bibas, aged 32, and her 4-year-old and 9-months-old sons, along with Oded Lifshitz, an 84-year-old journalist. However, the Israel Defense Forces says that one of the sets of remains was not that of Shiri Bibas. The handover in Khan Younis, Gaza, was marked by a provocative display by Palestinians, with coffins covered with offensive imagery and anti-Israel slogans. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the scene, calling Hamas "monsters" for their actions. In Tel Aviv's Hostages Square, thousands gathered to mourn the dead hostages, who were abducted during the October 2023 attacks. U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said on Thursday during a press conference at the White House that all NATO members should allocate at least 2% of their Gross Domestic Product to defense spending, a standard set in 2014. The call to action comes ahead of the NATO summit, slated for June, where defense budgets are expected to be a central topic of discussion. U.S. President Donald Trump has said that NATO member states should spend 5 percent of their GDP, beyond the 2 percent guideline. Currently, 18 of NATO's 32 member countries meet or exceed the 2 percent GDP defense spending benchmark. However, several nations, including Canada, have yet to reach this target. In the United Kingdom, London Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2025 has kicked off. The event, which runs until February 24, features a mix of traditional runway shows and digital presentations, encompassing both established and emerging designers. This season, the British Fashion Council has introduced sustainability requirements for brands, emphasizing the industry's commitment to environmental responsibility. Participants include Harris Reed, who opened the week with a showcase, while Burberry is set to close the event on Monday evening. A pop-up shop to commercially support designers will also run from February 22 to 24. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.

On-point: Why would U.S., Russia normalize ties all of a sudden?

2025/02/21 10:00

Washington and Moscow appear to be getting closer on the back of their Ukraine war peacemaking negotiations. Will their renewed ties mean the end of the war? Let's turn to Professor Mason Richey. Thanks for coming onto our program. 1. How did the U.S. and Russia agree to normalize their ties all of a sudden? Or is this not an 'of all a sudden' development? Are they using the Ukraine crisis as leverage? 2. Russian President Vladimir Putin appears to be quite satisfied with the latest peace talks between Washington and Moscow. What do you think satisfied him about the negotiations? Trump pleasing Putin? 3. Why do you think the U.S. and Russia decided to have the first peace talks alone? Why not invite Ukraine or other European nations? Will Russia make sure Ukraine doesn't get left out of peace talks? 4. Trump attacked Zelenskyy by calling him a "dictator" after Zelenskyy accused Trump of repeating Russian disinformation. Is Trump attacking Zelenskyy only because Zelenskky used harsh words? Or does Trump have something else in mind? 5. How likely is it that Trump and Putin will meet this month? If they do meet, will plans to end the Ukraine war be expedited? Thank you so much for connecting with us this morning. We appreciate it.

NATO members need to hit spending target by June: US security advisor Waltz

2025/02/21 10:00

U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said on Thursday during a press conference at the White House that all NATO members should allocate at least 2% of their Gross Domestic Product to defense spending, a standard set in 2014. The call to action comes ahead of the NATO summit, slated for June, where defense budgets are expected to be a central topic of discussion. U.S. President Donald Trump has said that NATO member states should spend 5 percent of their GDP, beyond the 2 percent guideline. Currently, 18 of NATO's 32 member countries meet or exceed the 2 percent GDP defense spending benchmark. However, several nations, including Canada, have yet to reach this target.

Israelis gather in Tel Aviv square following the release of bodies of four hostages by Hamas

2025/02/21 10:00

Meanwhile, Israel has received the bodies of what Hamas says are four hostages including a mother and her two young children. But Israel says one of the bodies is of someone else. On Thursday, Hamas returned the remains of what were claimed to be Shiri Bibas, aged 32, and her 4-year-old and 9-months-old sons, along with Oded Lifshitz, an 84-year-old journalist. However, the Israel Defense Forces says that one of the sets of remains was not that of Shiri Bibas. The handover in Khan Younis, Gaza, was marked by a provocative display by Palestinians, with coffins covered with offensive imagery and anti-Israel slogans. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the scene, calling Hamas "monsters" for their actions. In Tel Aviv's Hostages Square, thousands gathered to mourn the dead hostages, who were abducted during the October 2023 attacks.

Series of bus explosions near Tel Aviv, no casualties reported

2025/02/21 10:00

Beginning in the Middle East, where there were several bus explosions in Israel, suspected to be terrorist attacks. , tell us more. Right. Three buses exploded in Bat Yam, just south of Tel Aviv on Thursday, in what authorities are investigating as coordinated terror attacks. No casualties have been reported. The explosions on three empty buses parked approximately 500 meters apart happened within minutes of each other, and are believed to have been caused by makeshift explosive devices equipped with timers. Two bombs were discovered on other buses, but were defused by police. A note was found with one of the unexploded devices, referencing "Revenge from Tulkarem," alluding to a recent Israeli military operation in the West Bank. In response to the incident, a temporary halt to all public transportation nationwide has been ordered, to facilitate thorough investigations. Israel's internal security agency has taken over the investigation, and a search is underway for suspects.

Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team on N. Korea sanctions holds first meeting

2025/02/21 10:00

A new North Korean sanctions monitoring mechanism held its very first meeting in Washington D.C. this week. According to South Korea's foreign ministry on Friday, the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team, which oversees the enforcement of sanctions against North Korea, met on Wednesday, and urged all nations to join international efforts to maintain peace and security against ongoing threats from Pyongyang. The team consists of eleven countries including South Korea, the U.S., and Japan. It was formed last October, after Russia vetoed the renewal of the UN Panel of Experts on North Korea. Though the team operates outside of the UN system, it will publish reports detailing North Korea's violations of sanctions. The first report is set to be released by South Korea in the first half of this year.

Zelenskyy meets Trump’s Ukraine envoy but press conference canceled

2025/02/21 10:00

The Ukrainian President met with Trump's U.S. envoy for Ukraine to discuss the ongoing war, though their scheduled joint press conference was called off at Washington's request, amid rising tensions over ending the war. Choi Min-jung reports. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg met in Kyiv on Thursday,. and held what Zelenskyy called a "productive meeting." Zelenskyy shared on social media that they had a "detailed conversation" about the battlefield situation, the return of Ukrainian prisoners of war, and effective security guarantees, emphasizing the importance of U.S.-Ukraine relations. However, the meeting did not result in significant breakthroughs in securing U.S. support, as evidenced by the cancellation of a planned joint press conference at the request of the U.S. What was supposed to be a media event turned into a brief photo opportunity without remarks or questions. Kellogg's visit to Kyiv came amid escalating tensions between U.S. President Donald Trump and Zelenskyy. On Wednesday, Ukraine rejected U.S. demands for 500 billion U.S. dollars in minerals as repayment for wartime aid, citing inadequate support from Washington and a lack of security guarantees. Trump's frustration with Zelenskyy is apparent, as he believes Zelenskyy has not taken advantage of the opportunities presented. "Look, President Trump is obviously very frustrated right now with President Zelenskyy. The fact that that he hasn't come to the table, that he hasn't been willing to take this opportunity that we have offered. I think he eventually will get to that point, and I hope so very quickly." Additionally, the U.S. is resisting putting the blame on Russia for the war by opposing the inclusion of "Russian aggression" in a G7 joint statement marking the war's third anniversary. This follows Trump's comments blaming Ukraine for the war and calling Zelenskyy a "dictator without elections." He has also proposed inviting Russia back to the G7. Next week, Trump is set to meet with the leaders of France and the UK to discuss strategies for ending the war in Ukraine and post-war planning. European nations have so far been left without a clear role in the peace talks. Choi Min-jung, Arirang News.

President Yoon's impeachment trial to end on Feb. 25

2025/02/21 10:00

The Constitutional Court will wrap up President Yoon's impeachment case after 11 hearings. The President will deliver his closing statement at a session next Tuesday, and it's expected the Court will deliver a verdict in mid-March. Oh Soo-young has the details. President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial will conclude next Tuesday with his final statement at the Constitutional Court. The Court announced Thursday at Yoon's 10th trial hearing,. that the next and final session would be held on February 25th, some 74 days after the impeachment vote passed at the National Assembly. The bench will review remaining evidence before the National Assembly's legal team and the President's lawyers each make their closing arguments. Then the Assembly panel's Co-Chair Jung Chung-rae and President Yoon will deliver their final remarks. The Court on Thursday held the last round of witness examinations. "The questions focused on whether President Yoon had gone through proper Cabinet procedures before declaring martial law, and whether he'd ordered arrests of key politicians and judicial figures." First up was Prime Minister Han Duck-soo who said there had been anomalies in procedure and substance, compared to a standard Cabinet meeting. He said that the Defence Minister had not consulted him before recommending martial law to the President, as required by the Constitution,.. and said no minutes were taken. Han stopped short of judging whether or not a legitimate Cabinet meeting took place, saying that should be determined through investigative and judicial procedures. Former National Intelligence Service Deputy Director Hong Jang-won who was a witness earlier this month returned for further questioning by Yoon's legal team. Hong previously testified that he'd made note of 14 to 16 figures to arrest under martial law, claiming he'd written it in the night outside the residence of his boss Director Cho Tae-yong. He received the names from Defense Counterintelligence Commander Yeo In-hyung, who Hong phoned as the President told him to "help out the commander." But Hong changed his words on Thursday, saying he had been in his office after all. His boss told the Court last week that Hong had lied about his whereabouts citing CCTV footage. As Hong and Yoon's lawyers clashed over the veracity of his note which was reproduced and altered various times, the President spoke out,.. saying the debate misses the point. He said he'd called Hong to encourage him to work with Yeo on hunting down spies, without mentioning martial law. He pointed out Hong was the one who called the Commander, made notes, and then held onto them until he was dismissed from the NIS. National Police Agency chief Cho Ji-ho also stood witness, after two absences due to illness. He refused to answer most questions due to his own criminal case, but said he testified truthfully to prosecutors. Cho had said Yoon called him six times on December 3rd and told him to arrest lawmakers. Based on past presidential impeachment trials, a verdict is likely to be reached within two weeks around March 11th. Former President Park Geun-hye's impeachment was upheld in 11 days, while former President Roh Moo-hyun's was dismissed in 14 days. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

Acting pres., Nat'l Assembly speaker, leaders of PPP, DP in four-way meeting to discuss state affairs

2025/02/20 20:00

The nation's key political figures sat down at the National Assembly today, trying to iron out their differences over certain state affairs, surrounding the chip industry, in particular. Our political correspondent Lee Shi-hoo reports. At Sarangjae, a traditional Korean building tucked away in a corner of the National Assembly compound, political leaders sat down for discussions on state affairs. Those currently in charge of leading the government and National Assembly gathered there for the first-ever meeting of its kind four-way "joint consultative" talks between Acting President Choi Sang-mok, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, ruling People Power Party leader Kwon Young-se and main opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung. "The talks between the four respective leaders were held to (quote) "stabilize state affairs" after the aftermath of martial law declaration back in December." Acting President Choi called for a "bold reform" to revive the economy. "The difficulty in people's livelihoods is increasing due to political and external uncertainties. The government has consistently said that we need to respond to these changes through bold reform and investment." And one way to do that? Choi says, is by supporting the domestic semiconductor industry, by allowing chip companies an exception to the current labor law so that employees in the sector can work more than 52 hours per week. This is outlined in the proposal of a special act on semiconductors, pushed by the ruling People Power Party. The main opposition Democratic Party, while it agrees with the need to support the chip market, is opposed to the labor law exception that may lead to excessive work by those in the industry. Amid their differing opinions on this, and on other topics up for discussion, a strong plea was made by the Assembly speaker: "Instead of focusing on how to carry out the argument, I earnestly ask you to engage in this meeting around what can be yielded, compromised, and negotiated." However, the parties did not reach a consensus on the semiconductors act. The leaders also discussed the supplementary budget for this year, but decided to have further discussions in the near future. Lee Shi-hoo, Arirang News.

Yoon becomes first sitting S. Korean president to stand criminal trial, as hearing begins

2025/02/20 20:00

Earlier in the morning, President Yoon Suk Yeol became the first sitting Korean leader to stand trial in a criminal case for his brief imposition of martial law. And a separate hearing also took place to review the president's request to have his detention canceled. Our Bae Eun-ji reports. The first preliminary hearing of President Yoon's criminal trial on Thursday morning lasted only around 13 minutes. In a suit and a red tie, Yoon was present at the Seoul Central District Court. He was not required to attend,.. as a defendant does not have to be present at a preliminary hearing. So eyes were on whether if he would speak for himself, but he remained silent throughout. Yoon's lawyers said they need more time, asking for three more weeks to review records. The court said the next hearing is on March 24th and said it would proceed with the trial afterward. Meanwhile, a separate hearing was also held to review Yoon's request to have his detention canceled. Earlier this month, Yoon's legal team asked for the court to release the president, having been at the Seoul Detention Center since his arrest. His lawyers argued that Yoon was indicted a day after the detention period expired on January 25th, while the prosecutors said the whole process was done in a legal manner. The court on Thursday said both sides have 10 days to submit any additional documents and said it would make a decision after a thorough review. "Thursday's session marks the start of a criminal trial that could lead to life in prison or even the death penalty for Yoon, if found guilty of insurrection. Yoon has now become the first sitting president in South Korean history to undergo a criminal trial. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News."

Live: Have Prime Minister, police chief testified against Pres. Yoon at Thursday's impeachment trial?

2025/02/20 20:00

Thank you for joining us. I'm Yoon Jung-min. The 10th hearing of the president's impeachment trial is taking place at the Constitutional Court, which looks to be the last, or next-to-last hearing in the trial. For more, let's connect to our correspondent Oh Soo-young. Q1. Today's session involves three key witnesses, and it's still ongoing. Do tell us more. That's right. The tenth impeachment hearing began at 3 PM, an hour later than initially planned, with three witness examinations beginning with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. Han previously said that the President didn't hold a proper Cabinet meeting before declaring martial law on December 3rd. This has been a major ground for impeachment as the Constitution requires a Cabinet meeting and related procedures to implement martial law. He reiterated this stance on Thursday. He said that the Defence Minister had not consulted him regarding martial law before recommending it to the President, and said there were some "procedural abnormalities" compared to a proper Cabinet meeting. But he stopped short of declaring whether or not it was a legitimate Cabinet meeting, saying that wasn't his call to make but should be determined through investigation and judicial procedures. The Prime Minister however described how the opposition-led legislatures' unilateral budget cuts and extreme politics have been threatening the country's future industries and democracy. Q2. Next up was former intelligence official Hong Jang-won who was summoned as a key witness for the National Assembly's side. That's right. Hong returned to the Court for further questioning by Yoon's legal team. He continued to assert that the Counterintelligence Commander read out 14 to 16 names to track down and detain under martial law. Hong and Yoon's lawyers clashed over the veracity of his claim, and the memo he says he wrote and transferred onto a different note by his secretary. His boss National Intelligence Service Director Cho Tae-yong says there appears to have been 5 different memos with alternating details, indicating there has been fabrication on Hong's part. Hong today notably changed his previous statement that he'd written down the names in the dark outside the NIS Director's residence, and admitted he had been in his office. President Yoon spoke out saying that Hong had made it seem as though he had directly given Hong orders to aid arrest when he'd simply asked Hong to work closely with the Counterintelligence Commander on finding spies, as they are alumni of the Korea Military Academy. He said Hong lied when he said he did not recall that part of the conversation. Also standing witness today is National Police Agency chief Cho Ji-ho who finally attended after two absences due to illness. He's told prosecutors that Yoon ordered him to arrest lawmakers on the night martial law was declared,.. and heard from the Counterintelligence Commander 15 names of politicians and judicial figures to detain. He's undergoing questioning as we speak. He's mostly said he cannot confirm or answer questions about the orders he received on the night of martial law. Q3. For now, Thursday is the last hearing date scheduled for the trial. What comes next? Experts say the Court is likely to add one more session to wrap up the arguments made by each side and hear the President's final statement. A ruling will likely be made in the first half of March, as in past impeachment trials, the verdict normally took about two weeks to be reached. Now, President Yoon's lawyers have said they might apply for more witnesses after a day of review, but it's unclear whether the Court would approve, given how they've rejected most of the over thirty candidates, and have emphasized a swift trial process. Now as the Court continues to push through with the proceedings and shoots down requests by Yoon's team, his lawyers have said they might embark on a "big decision" which they hinted could involve their collective resignation as a show of protest. I see. Tensions remain high as the impeachment draws to an end. Thanks for your coverage today.

Putin expresses satisfaction over recent U.S.-Russia talks

2025/02/20 20:00

On the international front. Russia appears satisfied with current efforts on ending its invasion of Ukraine while the leaders of the U.S. and Ukraine are engaged in a war of words. Lee Seung-jae explains. After Russian President Vladimir Putin was briefed on the outcome of the recent U.S.-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia, the Russian leader expressed satisfaction, saying that he rates the talks "highly." "I rate them highly; there are results. They were open to the negotiating process without prejudice and condemnation of what has been done in the past." When asked about the exclusion of Ukraine from the recent talks in Saudi Arabia, Putin said Ukraine would not be excluded in future talks. "As for the negotiating process, President Trump told me during our phone call, I can confirm it, that, of course, the U.S. assumes that both Russia and Ukraine will take part in the negotiating process. Nobody is excluding Ukraine from this process. So, there are no reasons for such a reaction to the Russia-U.S. meeting." However, a war of words between the leaders of the U.S. and Ukraine is raising concerns of its potential impact on future negotiations. After the conclusion of the U.S.-Russia talks U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters at Mar-a-Lago that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's public approval rating was "down to 4%." Zelenskyy responded that Trump was living in a "space of disinformation," and expressed hopes that the U.S. leader and his team get a "clearer understanding" of what's really going on in Ukraine. Ukraine was not the only country left out of the recent negotiation talks. European countries were also absent, forcing their leaders to hold their own emergency meeting. The major talking point has been whether or not the European allies of Ukraine should send troops for further assistance. Germany, Italy, Spain, and Poland expressed reluctance,.. however, the UK said it is prepared to send its forces to Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will visit the U.S. next week, hopeful they too can take part in negotiations to end the Ukraine war. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

[Econ & Biz] Can S. Korean chip companies survive Trump's tariffs, China's tech progress?

2025/02/20 20:00

The Trump administration's tariff plans are now raising concerns for Korea's chip industry at a time when the sector also deals with China's rapid technological advancement. For more on this, we have our trade correspondent Lee Soo-jin in the studio. Soo-jin, to start us off can you tell us about the threats that Korea's chip industry is facing? Right, so little over a week ago Trump imposed tariffs on aluminum and steel. This marked the first item-specific tariffs of his second term. And this week he announced plans to impose tariffs of around 25 percent on auto imports, pharmaceuticals, as well as semiconductors. Here's what he said. " I've been contacted by some of the biggest companies in the world. And we'll be announcing various very large companies, the biggest, actually, and they'll be coming back, having to do with chips." Shifting global dynamics are expected to significantly impact the nation's economy, as semiconductors are its top export. In 2024, chips accounted for 20-point-8 percent of Korea's total exports, the highest share among all sectors. " In the area of semiconductor market, two to four-percent tariff rate makes a significant impact on the market. But now we're talking about 25 percent on semiconductors which means a lot of impact on semiconductors market generally and on Korean exporters particularly." The tariff threats come as China's CXMT challenges Korea's dominance in memory chips, with its successful production of high-performance DRAMs like DDR5 and HBM, both key components for AI and server applications. How is South Korea's chip industry planning to navigate these challenges? Well,.. Korea's chip industry is globally recognized for its innovation efforts. And it's these efforts that have led to it playing a key role in the semiconductor supply chain. So let's take a look at what these efforts look like, starting with none other than Samsung Electronics. "Semiconductors are essential to AI development. Important future developments include bonding technology that builds layers through chipsets and reducing resistance in the backend." Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, in the third quarter last year had a combined market share of a whopping 75-point-5 percent in the memory chip sector. But it's not just large conglomerates that are rapidly advancing their technologies. "We have developed a technology that makes materials like Teflon and other special materials bond well with metals, which was difficult before. This breakthrough is important because it helps create a better foundation for circuit boards." Yet another local company is supplying big-name firms like SK hynix and Samsung Electronics with ultrasonic non-destructive testing equipment that scans chips for defects. "Our technology inspects semiconductors before mass production. As we locally produce all our technology, this will also help us avoid tariff-related issues." The company also plans to further incorporate AI technology as it aims to take part in supply chains overseas as well. What are measures that are being carried out? So we're seeing efforts across various government sectors. We saw a report earlier about how the officials from the Trade Ministry are holding talks with representatives from major companies and think tanks to come up with response strategies. And the National Assembly's Strategy and Finance Committee earlier this week also passed an amendment to the so-called "K-Chips Act," aiming to provide greater tax incentives for the semiconductor industry. The amendment increases the tax credit rate for facility investments by chip companies by 5 percentage points, from the current 15 percent to 20 percent for large and mid-sized companies and 25 to 30 percent for small businesses. And according to an expert,. here's what else the government can do. "So the key is to try to keep exporters alive until the tariffs are removed. Try to engage with third markets, deepen FTA relationships with the European Union and Canada, deepen relationship with Southeast Asia, and as an option perhaps try to deepen relationship with China as well because if the U.S. market isn't available the next largest market is China." This looks like an issue that we'll have to continue following. Thank you for coming in today. Thank you for having me.