News
Yoon apologizes for not living up to expectations as he is stripped of presidency
2025/04/04 17:00
A few hours after the Constitutional Court's ruling the top office released a statement sharing the former leader's response. Our correspondent Kim Do-yeon is live on the line with details. Do-yeon let's begin with the gist of that statement. Sun-hee, there was a lot of speculation as to whether President Yoon was going to put out a statement if he were to lose the Constitutional Court case today, but the brief message was released through his legal representatives. While he didn't directly mention the Constitutional Court's ruling, he thanked his supporters and said I am sincerely grateful for your unwavering support and encouragement, even when I fell short. I deeply regret not being able to live up to your hopes and expectations. Now, the Office itself will be supporting Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. However, at around 3:30 PM, through a written statement, the Presidential Office said that the Chief of Staff, the Chief of Staff for Policy, and the National Security Advisor, along with all senior-level secretaries have passed on their intentions to resign to the Acting President. Whether the Acting President will accept their resignations is something to look out for. 2. I see. Meanwhile Do-yeon what are the protocols in place now that the court has upheld the presidential impeachment? I mean I hear he currently remains at the presidential residence? That's right, Sun-hee. Today marks day 1-thousand-and-60 since his inauguration. Just moments after the ruling, we saw the phoenix flag, the symbol of the South Korean president, coming down from this building. Yoon Suk Yeol is now a civilian. As you said, he is still at the Presidential Residence and will have to leave, but there are no clear rules for that, so we will have to wait. Former president Park Geun-hye left the former presidential Blue House two days after her ruling, but, as I say, there is no written rule about this. Yoon is expected to return to his home in the Seocho-gu District of Seoul. From this point on, he will not be treated as a former president due to today's ruling. This means no presidential pension or a spot at the National Cemetery. The Presidential Security Service will no longer be fully protecting him, but because he has state confidential information, there will be a downsized security team to at least guarantee his safety. This goes on for at least five years and ten at the maximum. 3. And before you go Do-yeon what's the latest with regard to the criminal case on charges of insurrection? As he has become a civilian, it'll be much easier for the prosecutors to call Yoon in for further questioning, as he won't have an official security system around him. That wasn't the case until now, as we had seen some conflict between the investigators for the criminal case and the Presidential Security Service. Keep in mind, in South Korea's legal system, if Yoon is convicted of leading an insurrection, he could face life in prison or the death penalty. On top of this, he has other accusations that he will have to deal with now as well. Presidents can't be charged with any crime except for insurrection or treason, but now that he's a civilian there could be additional legal battles brought against him. I see. All right Do-yeon thank you for that report.
World News: Israeli airstrike hits school in Gaza, killing at least 27 people
2025/04/04 17:00
This is the World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. In the Middle East, amid expanded military operations by Israel in Gaza an Israeli airstrike on a former school being used as a shelter in Gaza City has resulted in significant casualties. On Thursday local time, an Israeli airstrike hit the Dar Al-Arqam school in the Tuffah neighborhood of Gaza City, which was serving as a shelter for displaced individuals. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, at least 27 people were killed, including 14 children and five women. It says over 70 others were injured. The Israeli military said that the strike targeted a "Hamas command and control center" and asserted that measures were taken to minimize civilian harm. The incident is part of a broader escalation, with Israeli forces expanding strikes and issuing evacuation orders across Gaza. Hungary has announced its intention to withdraw from the International Criminal Court as the country's Prime Minister welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's official visit to Budapest. Netanyahu had received an arrest warrant from the ICC in 2024. On Thursday local time, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban declared plans for Hungary to withdraw from the ICC, calling the court a "political" institution. The announcement was made during Netanyahu's first visit to Europe since the ICC in May 2024 issued an arrest warrant against him and his former defense minister, as well as three top officials of Hamas for alleged war crimes. Orban stated that the withdrawal process would begin immediately, involving legislative action and formal notification to the United Nations. The procedure is expected to take about one year. Netanyahu praised Hungary's decision, describing it as "bold and principled." In Brussels, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen on the sidelines of a NATO meeting on Thursday local time for their first high-level talks since President Donald Trump's renewed interest in acquiring Greenland. Rasmussen firmly stated that Denmark would object to any U.S. claims on Greenland, while Rubio reaffirmed the "strong relationship" between the U.S. and Denmark. Shortly after their meeting, Denmark's Prime Minister, who is also on a visit to Greenland, voiced support on Thursday for enhanced Arctic defense collaboration with the United States, but firmly dismissed U.S. attempts to annex the Arctic island. Finally, Nintendo unveiled the Switch 2, the successor to its popular gaming console, released more than 8 years ago, during preview events in New York City and Paris on Wednesday. The official release is slated for June 5, with the console priced at approximately 450 U.S. dollars, 150 dollars more than the original's starting price. A bundle including the new game "Mario Kart World" will be available for 500 dollars. Key upgrades over the original Switch include a larger 7.9-inch screen with a brighter display and higher resolution, as well as a faster processor. Pre-orders at major retailers, both online and in stores, will begin on April 9. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.
Reciprocal tariffs to rebalance imbalance in trade, open doors for new negotiations: Rubio
2025/04/04 17:00
And against the backdrop of heightened trade uncertainties amid U.S. tariffs on all imports into its market the foreign ministers of South Korea the U.S. and Japan sat down in Brussels on the margins of a NATO meeting. And as Lee Seung-jae says security and trade concerns topped the agenda of the latest talks. The top envoys of Seoul, Washington and Tokyo held talks in Brussels on Thursday, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump announced his reciprocal tariffs. The meeting between Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya took place on the sidelines of a foreign ministerial meeting of members of NATO and its partner countries. According to Seoul's foreign ministry, Cho expressed deep concern over the U.S. reciprocal tariffs, asking the U.S. to consider the implications for the alliance, as well as investments in the U.S. In response, Rubio reiterated President Trump's stance, that the reciprocal tariffs have been introduced to readjust the trade imbalance. However, the U.S. Secretary of State stressed that it's now important to hold new negotiations based on the readjusted levies, raising the possibility that talks could take place between Seoul and Washington on adjusting the 25-percent tariff. Meanwhile, foreign minister Cho also called for cooperation among NATO member countries in dealing with the North Korea-Russia military alliance, which he says could lead to a "security decoupling" between the U.S. and its allies. He further called on member countries to prevent Pyongyang from believing it can secure advanced military technology that can directly threaten the global community. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.
White House fixes S. Korea's reciprocal tariff rate at 25%
2025/04/04 17:00
Much confusion over the Trump administration's tariff set for South Korea has been settled with all Korean imports into the American market slated to face a 25-percent import duty. Our correspondent Lee Soo-jin explains. The reciprocal tariff imposition on South Korea has been finalized at 25 percent. On Thursday local time, the annex to the executive order on the White House website was amended to 25 percent, from 26 percent. The amendment was made without a clear explanation. This comes after a panel presented by U.S. President Donald Trump at a Rose Garden event the day before listed the reciprocal tariff on South Korea as 25 percent, while the annex of the executive order stated it as 26 percent, causing confusion about the discrepancy. When the White House initially did not indicate any intention to make a correction, the South Korean government demanded one, arguing that under Trump's formula, Korea's tariff rate should be 25 percent, and not 26 percent. And this one percent difference is significant as it amounts to roughly 1-point-3 billion U.S. dollars. Meanwhile,.. the impact of the announcement of Trump's larger-than-expected tariffs was immediate in stock markets, with Wall Street on Thursday seeing its worst day since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The S&P 500 plunged nearly 5 percent, and the Dow Jones, 4 percent, both suffering the biggest one-day drop since June 2020. And the tech-heavy Nasdaq, dropped nearly 6 percent, the largest decline since March 2020. Trump, however, in response to a question about the severe impact of his tariffs, dismissed concerns. "The markets are going to boom, the stock is going to boom, the country is going to boom, and the rest of the world wants to see is there any way they can make a deal." But market analysts are less optimistic. "It is nerve-wracking to watch markets go down by a couple of percent in a day, but my career spans back to the 1987 crash . So this one still ranks up there and is very concerning. Any time markets are down with this amount of vehemence, if you will, especially on unexpected news, it's worrisome." Analysts say the sharp decline reflects investor concerns that U.S. companies reliant on global supply chains could soon be subject to retaliatory measures from trading partners. In the meantime, Trump says he is open to negotiations. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.
When will snap election be held in South Korea to replace Pres. Yoon?
2025/04/04 17:00
Now that the Constitutional Court has ruled to uphold the presidential impeachment the next big assignment for South Korea is an early election. Our Bae Eun-ji touches upon a possible time frame. Now that the Constitutional Court has ruled against President Yoon Suk Yeol, he has been removed from office immediately meaning a formal end to his presidency. An early presidential election will have to be held within two months, so that a new president can take office. South Korea's Constitution specifically says, "a successor must be elected within 60 days, in case the president is disqualified by a court ruling." And the nation's Public Official Election Act says, the day of the election must be publicly announced by the President or acting President by "not later than 50 days before the election day." This means, since the court ruled against Yoon on April 4th, Acting President Han Duck-soo must announce an election day before April 14th. The National Election Commission has already said that if a snap election were to take place, it would be sometime between May 24th and June 3rd. But it's widely believed that the election will be held on June 3rd, exactly 60 days after the ruling, to give parties as much time as possible to prepare for elections and leave some time for campaigning. Another reason is that June 3rd is a Tuesday. Mondays and Fridays are usually not seen as viable options for an election day, due to fear of low voter turnouts, as voters are less likely to head to polls right before or after weekends. And this is not the first time South Korea is holding a snap election. Eight years ago, an early presidential election was held after former President Park Geun-hye was removed from office over a corruption scandal. The court ruled against Park on March 10th, 2017 , and most parties registered their candidates to run for the presidential election from March 31st to April 4th. Then, the election was held on May 9th, exactly 60 days after the Constitutional Court's ruling. So just as was the case in 2017, the country is likely to set aside a full two months to prepare for an election to choose its next president.
White House fixes S. Korea's reciprocal tariff rate at 25%
2025/04/04 10:00
The White House finalized its reciprocal tariff on South Korea at 25% following confusion brought on by a discrepancy between the listing on Trump's panel announcement and the executive order annex. Our Lee Soo-jin reports. The reciprocal tariff imposition on South Korea has been finalized at 25 percent. On Thursday local time, the annex to the executive order on the White House website was amended to 25 percent, from 26 percent. The amendment was made without a clear explanation. This comes after a panel presented by U.S. President Donald Trump at a Rose Garden event the day before listed the reciprocal tariff on South Korea as 25 percent, while the annex of the executive order stated it as 26 percent, causing confusion about the discrepancy. When the White House initially did not indicate any intention to make a correction, the South Korean government demanded one, arguing that under Trump's formula, Korea's tariff rate should be 25 percent, and not 26 percent. And this one percent difference is significant as it amounts to roughly 1-point-3 billion U.S. dollars. Meanwhile,.. the impact of the announcement of Trump's larger-than-expected tariffs was immediate in stock markets, with Wall Street on Thursday seeing its worst day since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The S&P 500 plunged nearly 5 percent, and the Dow Jones, 4 percent, both suffering the biggest one-day drop since June 2020. And the tech-heavy Nasdaq, dropped nearly 6 percent, the largest decline since March 2020. Trump, however, in response to a question about the severe impact of his tariffs, dismissed concerns. "The markets are going to boom, the stock is going to boom, the country is going to boom, and the rest of the world wants to see is there any way they can make a deal." But market analysts are less optimistic. "It is nerve-wracking to watch markets go down by a couple of percent in a day, but my career spans back to the 1987 crash . So this one still ranks up there and is very concerning. Any time markets are down with this amount of vehemence, if you will, especially on unexpected news, it's worisome." Analysts say the sharp decline reflects investor concerns that U.S. companies reliant on global supply chains could soon be subject to retaliatory measures from trading partners. In the meantime, Trump says he is open to negotiations. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.
Reciprocal tariffs to rebalance imbalance in trade, open doors for new negotiations: Rubio
2025/04/04 10:00
The top envoys of Seoul, Washington and Tokyo met in Brussels on Thursday, to hold talks on threats from North Korea and ways to promote economic cooperation. Lee Seung-jae has the details. The top envoys of Seoul, Washington and Tokyo held talks in Brussels on Thursday, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump announced his reciprocal tariffs. The meeting between Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya took place on the sidelines of a foreign ministerial meeting of members of NATO and its partner countries. According to Seoul's foreign ministry, Cho expressed deep concern over the U.S. reciprocal tariffs, asking the U.S. to consider the implications for the alliance, as well as investments in the U.S. In response, Rubio reiterated President Trump's stance, that the reciprocal tariffs have been introduced to readjust the trade imbalance. However, the U.S. Secretary of State stressed that it's now important to hold new negotiations based on the readjusted levies, raising the possibility that talks could take place between Seoul and Washington on adjusting the 25-percent tariff. Meanwhile, foreign minister Cho also called for cooperation among NATO member countries in dealing with the North Korea-Russia military alliance, which he says could lead to a "security decoupling" between the U.S. and its allies. He further called on member countries to prevent Pyongyang from believing it can secure advanced military technology that can directly threaten the global community. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.
Live at Constitutional Court: Justices soon to deliver Pres. Yoon's impeachment fate
2025/04/04 10:00
South Korea's Constitutional Court in the coming hour will rule on whether to dismiss or reinstate impeached President Yoon after his martial law order last year triggered the National Assembly's impeachment motion against him. We connect with our correspondent Oh Soo-young at the court. Soo-young, aren't we less than an hour away from the ruling? It seems relatively quiet today! Yes Dami. I'm here at the Constitutional Court where it's relatively quiet, but there's a thick atmosphere of tension as extra layers of police lines, vehicles and metal barriers are keeping this place heavily fortified. At 11 AM, the eight-member bench will take their seats in the main courtroom, with Acting Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae at the center. He'll declare the start of the session that will end the months-long Constitutional battle between the executive and the legislature. Following President Yoon's martial law order last December, the National Assembly passed an impeachment motion against him, accusing Yoon of declaring and declaring and conducting martial law illegally, disrupting the nation's constitutional order by storming parliament and state institutions, and attempting to arrest political and judicial figures. Meanwhile, Yoon stated that declaring martial law is an executive right of the President, and his hand was forced by the majority-led National Assembly's legislative abuses, budget cuts, and sabotage against the government. The ruling itself will be delivered by the acting chief justice, but we don’t know when he will reveal the final decision reached by the bench. But, the order in which he delivers the verdict may offer early clues. Based on past cases, if the presiding justice shares the reasoning for the verdict first, it usually means there’s been a unanimous decision. In former President Park Geun-hye’s case in 2017, where the Court unanimously agreed on her impeachment, the reading of the ruling took around 25 minutes. But if the final judgment is stated first, it suggests a split decision, with other justices sharing dissenting or concurring opinions. That’s what happened in last month’s ruling on Prime Minister Han Duck-soo’s impeachment. The style of ruling is at the Court’s discretion so we’ll have to see if Justice Moon follows these practices. If 6 or more of the 8 justices determine that even one of the grounds for impeachment constitutes a serious violation of the Constitution or the law, President Yoon will be removed from office. The verdict takes immediate legal effect the moment it is read aloud, coming 111 days after the case began. President Yoon will not be attending the Court session considering the logistical and security complications so he's likely to be watching from his official residence, as it's all broadcast live. 20 public gallery seats are open to the public. An online lottery saw over 96-thousand people register for a spot, meaning the rate of competition was 48-hundred to one. 2. The fate of the President and the nation hangs in the balance of the Constitutional Court's decision on his impeachment. Walk us through the scenarios. If the Court upholds the impeachment, Yoon would become the nation's second president in history to be removed from office—following Park Geun-hye’s impeachment eight years ago. Effective immediately,. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will continue as Acting President until an early election is held within 60 days. Yoon would vacate his office for good and leave the official residence in Yongsan-gu District. As a removed president, he would lose all post-presidential privileges—no pension, no office, no staff support, and no burial rights at the National Cemetery. Just basic personal security would remain. On the flip side, if the impeachment is dismissed with prejudice, President Yoon would retain his status and immediately resume his duties. He'll likely make a public address, and his first tasks are expected to focus on foreign policy and engagement with the United States. He may also begin laying out proposals for constitutional and political reform, as pledged during his final court appearance. With his impeachment case closed for good, Yoon would still face investigations regarding the Dec. 3 Martial Law, but during his presidency, would be immune from charges other than for treason and insurrection. Another scenario is the Court dismissing the case without prejudice, or simply put, dropping the case for now due to legal or procedural issues. The President would return to office, but the National Assembly could reattempt impeachment in the future. Whatever the outcome may be, it will bring an end the months of uncertainty and hopefully amount to a constructive step forward for a mature Korean democracy. Thank you Sooyoung, we'll talk again when the ruling is out.
Rubio meets Danish foreign minister in first high-level talks since Trump's vow to take Greenland
2025/04/04 10:00
Meanwhile, in Brussels, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen on the sidelines of a NATO meeting on Thursday local time for their first high-level talks since President Donald Trump's renewed interest in acquiring Greenland. Rasmussen firmly stated that Denmark would object to any U.S. claims on Greenland, while Rubio reaffirmed the "strong relationship" between the U.S. and Denmark. Shortly after their meeting, Denmark's Prime Minister, who is also on a visit to Greenland, voiced support on Thursday for enhanced Arctic defense collaboration with the United States, but firmly dismissed U.S. attempts to annex the Arctic island.
Hungary says it is withdrawing from ICC as Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu visits Budapest
2025/04/04 10:00
Hungary has announced its intention to withdraw from the International Criminal Court as the country's Prime Minister welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's official visit to Budapest. On Thursday local time, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban declared plans for Hungary to withdraw from the ICC, calling the court a "political" institution. The announcement was made during Netanyahu's first visit to Europe since the ICC in May 2024 issued an arrest warrant against him and his former defense minister, as well as three top officials of Hamas for alleged war crimes. Orban stated that the withdrawal process would begin immediately, involving legislative action and formal notification to the United Nations. The procedure is expected to take about one year. Netanyahu praised Hungary's decision, describing it as "bold and principled."
Israeli airstrike hits school in Gaza, killing at least 27 people
2025/04/04 10:00
Starting in the Middle East, amid expanded military operations by Israel in Gaza an Israeli airstrike on a former school being used as a shelter in Gaza City has resulted in significant casualties. On Thursday local time, an Israeli airstrike hit the Dar Al-Arqam school in the Tuffah neighborhood of Gaza City, which was serving as a shelter for displaced individuals. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, at least 27 people were killed, including 14 children and five women. It says over 70 others were injured. The Israeli military said that the strike targeted a "Hamas command and control center" and asserted that measures were taken to minimize civilian harm. The incident is part of a broader escalation, with Israeli forces expanding strikes and issuing evacuation orders across Gaza.
On-point: What scenes to expect inside the courtroom on impeachment ruling day?
2025/04/04 10:00
We now have less than an hour to find out the outcome of the ruling. Only the 8 justices at the Constitutional Court know the fate of the South Korean leader. We turn to Professor Paik Eun-seok in the meantime. Good morning. 1. How are the 8 justices spending the last few hours leading up to the ruling at 11 AM? 2. Nearly 100 thousand people applied to attend today's ruling with only 20 seats available. 3. Yoon has managed to keep a low profile ever since the hearings came to an end back in February. 4. Should we expect him to say something right after the ruling or not? 5. Security and safety measures are deemed absolutely vital especially today. Thank you for taking your time to be with us on this big day.
Live from Anguk station near Constitutional Court ahead of Yoon's impeachment trial
2025/04/04 10:00
The atmosphere near the court is heated, with thousands of South Koreans rallying for AND against the impeached president. Our correspondent Park Kun-woo is there. Kun-woo, it seems the entire country is restless, but aren't things looking a lot more hectic there? Good morning, Dami. I'm pretty sure you can hear the loud noises from the massive protests taking place here in front of Anguk station. I've been standing close to the Constitutional Court for several hours, where protesters, mostly in favor of President Yoon's impeachment, continue their passionate chants with no sign of stopping. Yoon's supporters had been protesting nearby until this morning, but most of them have now moved to Hanam-dong, where the Presidential residence is located. And while continuing their protests, they will be watching a live broadcast of Yoon's impeachment ruling. The atmosphere here where I'm standing now is truly intense with less than an hour to go until a decision is announced. And the crowd is only getting larger, which is understandable given it's a historic moment. According to reports, thousands of people have registered as official protesters, demonstrating from places including where I am, Gwanghwamun and close to Yoon's residence. Many of these protesters have even been protesting around the clock stressing that this is the "last" protest. That is why safety and security measures are absolutely crucial, right? First of all, the police have raised their emergency alert to "Gapho," the highest level that allows for 100 percent mobilization of police forces. Over 2-hundred riot police units, with more than 14-thousand personnel, have been dispatched just in Seoul, along with special forces also on duty to prevent terrorist or drone attacks. A 1-hundred-50 meter radius around the Constitutional Court has been locked down with police vehicles, designating the area as a "vacuum zone," with protesters prohibited from entering. Anguk station, the nearest subway station, where I'm standing, is currently closed, and several schools and tourist attractions have shut down temporarily. We were told that nearby businesses have either shut down or are operating remotely for the day due to possible risks. But I saw some places open in the morning. These measures are reminiscent of those put in place eight years ago when former President Park Geun-hye's impeachment was upheld by the Court as four people died during clashes after the ruling was made. Kun-woo, thank you for reporting from the ground. You stay safe there.
U.S. President Trump reveals sweeping reciprocal duties on all U.S. trade partners; S. Korea facing 26% duty
2025/04/03 20:00
As promised, U.S. President Donald Trump announced his reciprocal tariffs on America's trade partners that includes a baseline of 10-percent on all imports and country-specific duties with 26 percent for South Korea. Lee Eun-hee has details. The 26-percent reciprocal tariff imposition on South Korea has become official as U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday local time, signed an executive order imposing his sweeping reciprocal tariff plan. According to the panel presented by President Trump, South Korea would face a 25-percent tariff. However, an annex to the executive order later released by the White House listed South Korea's rate as 26-percent, with no clear explanation for the discrepancy. "It's gonna be Liberation Day in America and it's gonna be a day that hopefully you're going to look back in years to come and you're gonna say, you know, he was right. This has turned out to be one of the most important days in the history of this country. God bless you and God Bless America." Trump announced a baseline tariff of 10% on all imports, set to take effect on April 5th. Higher rates will be imposed on select countries, which he labeled as the "worst offenders," and are scheduled to take effect on April 9th. South Korea faces a 26-percent reciprocal tariff, higher than the EU's 20-percent and Japan's 24-percent. Major U.S. trading partners will also be subject to steep tariff rates, including 34% on China, which will come in addition to existing 20-percent tariffs on Chinese imports, for a total 54-percent tariff rate. In response, a number of countries have announced plans for retaliatory measures, signaling a global escalation in the current trade war. The European Union says it will respond "through legal, legitimate, proportionate and decisive measures." The Chinese commerce ministry urged the Trump administration to cancel the tariffs and said China would take countermeasures to safeguard its interests. The Canadian prime minister said Canada will fight the decision with purpose and with force, while Italy's leader responded by calling the tariffs "wrong and not in the interest of either party." The reciprocal tariffs do not apply to certain goods, including semiconductors, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, energy, or "certain minerals that aren't found in the U.S." However, according to a White House official, Trump is planning additional tariffs targeting semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and potentially critical minerals. Lee Eun-hee, Arirang News.
S. Korean military to heighten surveillance posture against N. Korea on day of Yoon ruling: JCS
2025/04/03 20:00
The South Korean military is to heighten its surveillance posture against North Korea on Friday, the day of the Constitutional Court's impeachment ruling on President Yoon. The Joint Chiefs of Staff says that it will do so by expanding the operation of surveillance equipment such as reconnaissance aircraft. Acting Defense Minister Kim Seon-ho is also to hold a key commanders' meeting after the ruling comes out.
Political tensions at Nat'l Assembly ahead of President Yoon's impeachment ruling
2025/04/03 20:00
Tensions are also running high at the parliament as lawmakers await in anticipation the verdict that also holds immense implications for party plans going forward. Our National Assembly correspondent Shin Ha-young reports. Ahead of the ruling on President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial, the political standoff at the National Assembly continues, with rival parties holding different expectations for the outcome. The ruling People Power Party expects the Constitutional Court to dismiss the impeachment and for President Yoon to return to office. If Yoon is reinstated, the PPP plans to push for a constitutional amendment to fit present day values. Yoon said earlier that he would not cling to power, but instead pursue constitutional reform. Interim PPP leader Kwon Yong-se on Thursday reaffirmed that the party will accept the Court's ruling and urged the opposition to do the same. "The PPP and I will accept the Constitutional Court's impeachment ruling and prepare for what comes next. We strongly urge the Democratic Party to deeply reflect on its actions and accept the outcome." Kwon also urged the Court to deliver a ruling that the public can accept to minimize conflict and confusion. Some PPP lawmakers decided to hold an overnight sit-in near Anguk Station, close to the Constitutional Court, until Friday morning. On the other hand, the main opposition Democratic Party argues that Yoon's removal is the only option, urging the Court for a unanimous decision to impeach Yoon. The DP lawmakers have stepped up their protests, holding an all-night sit-in at their tent set up in Gwanghwamun Square for outdoor rallies. DP floor leader Park Chan-dae said there is enough evidence to prove Yoon's impeachment. "There is already overwhelming evidence to justify Yoon's removal. I have no doubt that the Court will remove him from office for violating the Constitution." While the National Assembly has tightened security, restricting outside personnel from entering the premises, both parties have ordered their lawmakers to stay on standby at the parliament this week. "Amid growing political tension between the rival parties as the impeachment ruling approaches, there are calls for politicians to prioritize national unity after the verdict. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News."
Live from Constitutional Court: One day to President Yoon's impeachment ruling
2025/04/03 20:00
Protestors both for and against President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment have been rallying near the Constitutional Court in downtown Seoul for weeks. Let's turn now to our reporter Song Yoo-jin, who's been on the ground since early afternoon. Yoo-jin, what's the atmosphere like there right now? Jung-min, as I mentioned in our previous newscast, the atmosphere right outside the Court today is subdued compared to the intense demonstrations that took place here in recent weeks. That's because authorities have implemented tight security measures ahead of tomorrow's ruling. The area within a 150-meter radius of the Court has been designated as a so-called "vacuum zone," a controlled, locked-down zone for vehicles, with only pedestrians allowed within, to minimize disruption and threats to the court. However, access to this 150-meter stretch leading directly to the Court's main gate, as you're seeing on the screen, is now limited to court staff and the press. We're also seeing an increased police presence, with more vehicles arriving and barricades being set up around the perimeter. Outside the restricted zone, near Anguk Station, thousands of pro and anti-impeachment demonstrators are continuing to gather in larger numbers. Both sides will keep their demonstrations going throughout the evening in different parts of Seoul. The demonstrations surely seem to be getting tense. What more can you tell us about how authorities are responding? Public safety has been top of the agenda ever since the Constitutional Court announced that it will deliver its verdict tomorrow. In 2017, when the Court upheld former President Park Geun-hye's impeachment, four demonstrators died during clashes that broke out in response to the ruling. This morning, police elevated the emergency alert level in Seoul to "eulho," the second-highest level in their three-tier emergency response system. This allows for up to half of the available national police forces to be mobilized. In a few hours, starting at midnight, that alert will be raised to the highest level, "gapho," which enables full nationwide police mobilization. "We expect a large turnout on the day of the ruling and will do everything we can to manage the crowds and maintain public order. We'll take a zero-tolerance approach to any serious illegal acts, such as violence or destruction of property. We're also closely monitoring threats made online and will respond swiftly to any signs of potential terrorism or intimidation." Tomorrow, 14-thousand riot police will be on duty across Seoul. Anguk Station, which closed a few hours ago, will remain shut, and some schools, banks, museums, and businesses nearby will either shut down or switch to remote work for the day. With an estimated 1-hundred-thousand protestors expected to take to the streets, the nation is on high alert, hoping to avoid any bloodshed. Back to you, Jung-min. That was our Song Yoo-jin live outside the Constitutional Court.
Trump unveils 10 pct 'baseline' tariff, 26 pct 'reciprocal' tariff on S. Korea
2025/04/03 20:00
Welcome to Within The Frame where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus, I'm Kim Mok-yeon. President Trump has taken a bold and controversial step—announcing a sweeping 10% tariff on all imports into the U.S., with even steeper rates for 60 countries. South Korea, despite its free trade pact with the U.S., has been hit with a 26% reciprocal tariff—more than Japan or the EU. The move is fueling fears of a new era of protectionism and a potential global trade war. With major economies preparing to retaliate, markets are on edge, and export-driven nations are bracing for impact. Is this the beginning of a broader trade conflict? And how should South Korea respond as the pressure builds? For more on this, we invite Troy Stangarone, Director of the Hyundai Motor-Korea Foundation Center for Korean History and Public Policy at Wilson Center. Welcome. Also joining us is Kim Yong-Jin, Professor at Sogang Business School. Great to have you. 1. (Kim) Let's start with the general idea Professor Kim, so President Trump has announced a base 10% tariff on all countries, and additional tariffs on 60 nations. Should we view this as a shift toward a "new era of protectionism"? What's your overall assessment of the Trump administration's latest tariff announcement? 2. (Stangarone) Now to Director Stangarone, President Trump imposed a 34% tariff on China, 24% on Japan, and 20% on the European Union. As major countries respond with plans for retaliatory measures, concerns of a global trade war are growing. What level of impact do you expect on the global economy? 3. (Stangarone) As for South Korea, we have been hit with a 26% reciprocal tariff— which is higher than Japan and the EU, despite their larger trade surpluses with the U.S. Director, on what grounds do you think this 26% rate was determined? 4. (Kim) With the announcement of the 26% reciprocal tariff, Korea's export-driven economy is expected to take a hit. While sectors like steel, aluminum, and automobiles—already subject to tariffs—are exempt from the latest reciprocal tariffs, impact across other industries seems inevitable. What's your outlook Professor? 5. (Stangarone) The 25% tariff on automobiles has been in effect since April 2nd local time. We are aware that Hyundai Motor Group previously announced major investment plans in the U.S., yet they still will have to face tariff burdens. Director, Do you think local production is the only viable alternative? 6. (Kim) Some view President Trump's tariff move as just the beginning. Key export items like semiconductors and emerging sectors such as pharmaceuticals are now being identified as potential targets for itemized tariffs. Professor Kim, How wide and deep do you expect these tariffs to go? 7. (Stangarone) Now turning to its impact, There are growing warnings that Trump's tariffs could deal a significant blow not only to trade partners but also to the U.S. economy itself. Director, could the President's tariff policy lead the U.S. into an economic downturn? And could domestic backlash affect Trump's trade strategy? 8. (Stangarone) Since President Trump hinted at post-announcement negotiations, some view the steep tariff levels as an opening bid. Is it reasonable to expect a sharp reduction in tariffs depending on how future negotiations unfold? 9. (Kim) As country-specific tariffs are set to go into effect starting April 9th, the Korean government has pledged to focus on negotiations. Professor, What negotiation cards does South Korea have in dealing with the U.S.? 10. (Kim) The reciprocal tariff measures have led some to assess that the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement is effectively nullified. Korea may now be forced into talks on a new agreement. If Korea enters renegotiations, what conditions might the U.S. demand—and how should Korea respond?
Pres. Yoon will not attend impeachment verdict session on Friday; 3 impeachment verdict scenarios
2025/04/03 20:00
Thank you for joining us. I'm Yoon Jung-min. The Constitutional Court's ruling on President Yoon Suk Yeol's fate comes tomorrow. The president will be absent. Our correspondent Oh Soo-young explains potential scenarios on Friday. The fate of President Yoon Suk Yeol and the nation hangs on the Constitutional Court's decision on his impeachment Friday. The ruling will mean immediate consequences regarding the governance of the country as the leader's removal or reinstatement spells out very different outcomes. If the Court upholds the impeachment, Yoon would become the nation's second president in history to be removed from office—following Park Geun-hye's impeachment eight years ago. Effective immediately,. Yoon would have to vacate his office for good and leave the official residence in Yongsan-gu District. He would lose all post-presidential privileges—no pension, no office, no staff support, and no burial rights at the National Cemetery. His protection would be limited to basic personal security. With the leadership vacuum made permanent, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo would continue as Acting President until an early election is held within 60 days. On the flip side, if the impeachment is dismissed with prejudice it would mean the Court has found the National Assembly's grounds for his removal insufficient and the case is closed for good. After over three months of suspension, the President would immediately resume his duties. It's expected he'd then address the public through a televised message or press conference. His first tasks back in office are likely to focus first on foreign policy and national security, as there has not been top-level engagement with the United States since President Donald Trump's inauguration.. Yoon would also begin laying out proposals for constitutional and political reform, as pledged during his final court appearance. While his impeachment case would be closed for good, Yoon would still face investigations regarding his Dec. 3 Martial Law declaration, but during his presidency, would be immune from charges other than for treason and insurrection. Another scenario is the Court dismissing the case without prejudice. The case would be dropped due to legal or procedural issues, meaning the bench decided not to rule on the grounds or evidence presented. The President would return to office, but the National Assembly could reattempt impeachment in the future. Six or more justices must consent to uphold an impeachment. Three or more justices deciding against impeachment would lead to a dismissal. "While sources say the justices have reached an understanding on the verdict, the bench is expected to sign off their decision at the last minute, either the evening before or early in the morning of the ruling, to maintain utmost confidentiality." The ruling takes legal effect the moment the presiding justice reads the decision on live TV. President Yoon's lawyers told the press on Thursday that the suspended leader has decided not to go to the Court to hear his verdict in person, taking into the account the need to maintain public order, and presidential security arrangements. In past impeachment cases, former Presidents Park Geun-hye and Roh Moo-hyun did not attend their ruling sessions either. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.
S. Korean gov't, ruling PPP to support temporary homes, financial aid for wildfire victims
2025/04/03 20:00
The government and the ruling People Power Party have announced support measures for the victims of the recent wildfires in the southeast. On Thursday, they said they will erect around 2-thousand-7-hundred temporary homes for those who lost their houses and offer emergency financial aid. The party has requested an extra budget of 3-trillion won approximately 2-point-3 billion U.S. dollars, to support small business owners and companies.