News
Former U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel of New York, veteran of Korean War dies at 94
2025/05/27 10:00
In the United States, Charles Rangel, a former U.S. Representative from New York and Korean War veteran, passed away on Monday local time, at the age of 94. Rangel, a gravelly-voiced Democrat congressman from Harlem, served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. After military service, Rangel pursued higher education, earning degrees from New York University and St. John's University School of Law. He began his political career in 1970 and served 23 terms in the House of Representatives, becoming the first African American to chair the House Ways and Means Committee. Rangel was also a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus and ended his 46-year congressional career in 2017. He is survived by his two children and three grandsons.
Presidential Election D-7: Early voting this week, will conservative candidates merge?
2025/05/27 10:00
Just 7 days away from the June 3rd Presidential Election. We have our political correspondent, Oh Soo-young, in studio to discuss the latest developments. Soo-young, good to have you here again. 1. Election day is next Tuesday but voting has actually been underway for Koreans overseas. We've seen the highest turnout to date. That's right. Preliminary figures released on Monday show last week's overseas voting saw a record turnout of 79-point-five percent. Some 205-thousand people out of 258-thousand who registered to cast their ballots overseas, showed up at polling stations across 118 countries. It's the biggest turnout since 2012, when the country adopted absentee voting. The previous presidential election saw 71-point-six percent, and last year's general election 62-point-eight percent. This week, on-board voting began for four days starting Monday. And on Thursday, two days of early voting will begin domestically from 6 AM til 6 PM. 2. It seems the stakes are higher, as we're expecting overall turnout to be high. The race is getting that much tighter. That's right. We saw Korea's pollsters release their final official surveys before the race last week. While the Democratic Party's Lee Jae-myung is still the clear front-runner, the gap between him and the People Power Party's Kim Moon-soo has shrunk considerably in Gallup's survey, from a 22-point margin to ten points in just a week. So what explains the shift in numbers? After a period of disillusionment caused by internal strife between Kim and PPP elders who pushed him to merge with former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, it seems now the so-called "shy conservatives" are getting behind him, after almost 3 weeks of campaigning and his live TV debates. "If you look at the regional voter distribution released monthly by Gallup Korea, conservatives actually outnumber progressives. Given this numerical advantage, how actively conservatives are willing to vote in this election is, in my view, critically important." Another notable trend was the Reform Party's Lee Jun-seok seeing his support jump to 10 percent for the first time in this race. This comes after his televised debate with the top two contenders and the Democratic Labor Party's Kwon Young-kook. Lee set distinctive policies on pension reform, health care reform, and high-tech growth for the country largely appeal to moderates and young voters. 3. It seems people in their 20s and 30s are a major force among swing voters. Yes, what's interesting about the past few elections is that against the backdrop of strong regionalism seen over the decades, we're seeing distinct generational differences emerge as a major factor. Those in their forties and fifties tend to be left-leaning, while people in their 60s, 70s, and above are traditionally conservative. But 20 and 30-somethings are much less regional or ideological. "The 20s and 30s generations sort of Gen Z they grew up in an era of low growth and housing insecurity and also the digital automation. So they are very skeptical of grand ideological narratives and also they have a little trust in previous generations globalist optimism. So their politics is very fragmented and they are grounded in their identity politics and pragmatism and their personal utility rather than collective and forced ideals." Following the start of official campaigning and the first TV debate, support for Reform's Lee Jun-seok jumped to 26 percent, closely behind the DP's Lee Jae-myung's 30 percent, among those aged between 18 and 29. The PPP's Kim Moon-soo was significantly behind at 19 percent. Among independent voters, who don't affiliate themselves with any party, preference for the DP and Reform candidates was neck and neck, while the PPP contender fell to third place. 4. And last time you were in studio, you suggested that if Lee Jun-seok reaches 10 percent support, it's unlikely he would merge with the PPP candidate. Having met Lee last year,.. I'd say he feels he was treated very badly by the PPP. Lee's spokesperson said they offered him party leadership if he merges with Kim Moon-soo, but Lee's already been the chairman of PPP, he's left, and he's not the type of person to turn back, or simply play a so-called casting voter. He himself has noted that his popularity has reached 10 percent, saying it will be his name and his party's name on the voting ballots. On Monday, he added if the PPP wants to pressure anyone to resign, it should be their own candidate, not him. Polls show more than half of his supporters do not want him to merge with the PPP presumably because they are tired of bipartisan politics between the main right and left-leaning parties. Yes, he has a narrow chance of winning the race, but the forty-year-old leader seems he's building up a support base for the next presidential election. But again, never say never in politics. We might see the merger issue revisited in tonight's third TV debate focusing on politics. If Lee changes his mind, he'll have until Wednesday, before the early voting starts on Thursday. Plenty of room for twists and turns, even with just a week left until the election. The final TV debate tonight will definitely be interesting. Thanks for coming in today.
DP’s Lee promises pragmatic diplomacy, stronger trilateral ties with U.S. and Japan
2025/05/26 20:00
Thank you for joining us. I'm Yoon Jung-min. Presidential hopefuls are now in their final week of the official campaign period. The liberal party's main contender today unveiled his diplomacy pledges, promising pragmatic diplomacy. Our correspondent Shin Ha-young reports. Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung on Monday pledged to strengthen South Korea's diplomacy and security amid a rapidly changing international order. He said he would pursue pragmatic diplomacy centered on the national interest, based on a strong South Korea-U.S. alliance. Lee added that he would work to rebuild trust in the alliance, which he says was damaged by a declaration of martial law. He also emphasized close trilateral cooperation with the U.S. and Japan, while maintaining a firm stance toward Tokyo when it comes to historical issues. "We need to take a principled stance on historical and territorial issues. At the same time, areas like security, the economy, society, and culture shouldn't be overly restricted because of the historical and territorial issues. While it's not easy to separate these issues, we should approach other areas in a practical way that looks toward the future." On China, Lee described it as an "important trading partner" and highlighted the need for stable Seoul-Beijing relations. Regarding North Korea, Lee aims to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula and achieve peace through denuclearization. He said Pyongyang's nuclear threats can no longer be ignored and vowed to work closely with the U.S. to resolve the issue. Lee also pledged to improve human rights for the North Korean people. Meanwhile, entering the final week of the official campaign period, Lee held rallies in the Seoul metropolitan area, focusing this time on southeastern Gyeonggi-do Province. "Lee Jae-myung has promised to make southeastern Gyeonggi-do Province a better place to live, with improved access to education, housing, and transportation." Earlier on Monday, Lee met with college students in Suwon to hear about the challenges they face with school and finding jobs. Lee said it's a serious problem that young people are worried about housing and stressed the need for more public dormitories. "It's a real problem that students have to worry about housing. The government should step up and use unused campus land to build more public dormitories." Lee also pointed out issues including high meal costs, and emphasized the need to expand programs like the one-thousand won meals. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.
Trump demands list of names of Harvard’s foreign students
2025/05/26 20:00
Over in the U.S. President Trump demands that Harvard University reveal the names of its international students, following his attempt to ban the school's foreign student enrollment amid a standoff over Harvard's campus policies. Lee Seung-jae has the latest. U.S. President Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Sunday to demand that Harvard University provide his administration with the names and nationalities of all its international students. In the late-night post, Trump noted that 31 percent of Harvard's students are from "FOREIGN LANDS," some of which are not "friendly to the United States." Trump added that his administration wants to know who those foreign students are, stressing that the demand is "a reasonable request" as the government gives the Ivy League school "BILLIONS OF DOLLARS." Harvard University says there would be over 6-thousand-700 names on the list. According to the New York Times on Sunday, the Trump administration's decision to block international students from enrolling at Harvard is raising concerns among other U.S. universities and colleges. The report notes that while Harvard is the administration's target now, it could spread to other schools in the country. In a Fox News interview last week, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem raised the possibility that other schools,.. including Columbia University, could face a similar fate. The President of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sally Kornbluth, slammed the Trump administration's ban on Harvard's international student enrollment, calling it a "fatal blow to American excellence, openness, and creativity." The Trump administration has been demanding changes to campus policies, citing the need to eradicate anti-Semitism at universities. Harvard has refused to implement those changes, claiming they infringe on academic freedom. A court has temporarily blocked the Trump administration's plan. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.
Israeli strikes kill children in Gaza amid aid blockade and rising global pressure
2025/05/26 20:00
The plight of people in Gaza persists as children fall victim to Israeli airstrikes too often, with the recent one killing nine children in one family, while others suffer from the lack of access to food. Lee Eun-hee reports. Hamdi Al-Najjar, a Palestinian doctor, is in critical condition following an Israeli airstrike that killed nine of his 10 children. His wife, also a doctor at Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, had to see her burned children in the ruins of their home. "So she (Hamdi's wife) told me her children have died, she went to her house and saw her children burned, may God help her." According to Gaza's Government Media Office, the children killed ranged in age from seven months to 12 years old. The only survivor, an 11-year-old, is severely injured. Israel's military confirmed it carried out the strike on Khan Younis on Friday, saying that it targeted suspected militants operating from a structure near Israeli troops in an area that had been told to evacuate. The IDF added that the "claim regarding harm to uninvolved civilians is under review." Meanwhile, Hamas accused Israel of deliberately targeting medical staff and their families and civilians. On Saturday, a four-year-old child died due to severe malnutrition, raising the hunger-related death toll to over 58 in the besieged enclave over the past 80 days. Also, more than 240 people, mostly children and the elderly, have died from a lack of food and medical care. "My message to the world, besiege the embassies, speak up, break this siege, stop this genocide on the Gaza Strip, on our hungry, besieged people." Amid growing global outrage, Spain hosted a high-level meeting in Madrid on Sunday with over 20 European and Arab countries to pressure Israel for a ceasefire and lift its humanitarian aid blockade into Gaza. The meeting included EU countries that were once considered close allies of Israel, now joining the international call for restraint as Israel expands its military operations in Gaza. The U.S. urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to delay plans for a full-scale ground offensive in Gaza. That's according to the Jerusalem Post on Sunday, which said the request was made in order to allow ceasefire negotiations and a hostage deal "proceed in parallel with military operations." With the ceasefire negotiations deadlocked, Israel has intensified its bombardment and ground invasion in Gaza, with reports saying that its forces now control over 77-percent of the Gaza Strip. Lee Eun-hee, Arirang News.
Trump calls Putin 'absolutely crazy' over escalating violence in Ukraine
2025/05/26 20:00
Russia launched aerial assaults on Ukraine on a massive scale over the weekend, which killed at least 12 people. It has drawn strong condemnation from European leaders, as well as from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has sharply criticized the Russian leader, calling him "absolutely crazy." Our Kim Jung-sil has the latest. Russia launched its largest aerial assault of the war, with at least 12 killed and 60 wounded across several Ukrainian regions after a series of airstrikes late Saturday night. Among the victims were three children from the same family in the Zhytomyr region, west of Kyiv, according to Ukraine's Internal Affairs Minister. "Let the world wake up and see. How long can they bomb children? We go to bed and do not know what awaits us in the morning." Ukrainian President Zelenskyy reported that nearly 300 attack drones and almost 70 missiles were fired during the assault. In a social media post on Sunday, he denounced the attacks, claiming they were "deliberate strikes on ordinary cities." Zelenskyy reiterated his call for stronger sanctions to halt Russia's brutality. Later in the day, U.S. President Donald Trump also weighed in on the escalating conflict. "I don't know what the hell happened to Putin. I've known him a long time. Always gotten along with him. But he's sending rockets into cities and killing people." Trump also responded to questions about the possibility of further sanctions on Russia. "Absolutely. He's killing a lot of people. I don't know what's wrong with him. What the hell happened to him, right? He's killing a lot people. I'm not happy about that." Later, in a social media post on Truth Social, Trump said Putin has gone "absolutely CRAZY!" and warned that if he takes all of Ukraine, it will result in the "downfall of Russia." European leaders also condemned Russia's actions, warning of additional sanctions. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Putin's disregard for peace cannot be tolerated, while EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called for the strongest international pressure to end the war. The massive airstrike came as Ukraine and Russia completed a three-day, 1,000-prisoner swap, with 303 Ukrainian soldiers returned on Sunday as part of the exchange. Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.
S. Korea's June 3rd presidential election sees record-high overseas voter turnout
2025/05/26 20:00
Overseas voter turnout for the June 3rd presidential election has hit a record high of almost 80-percent. The National Election Commission announced on Monday that a little over 205-thousand South Korean nationals living abroad cast their ballots which is around 79-point-5 percent of eligible overseas voters. Ballots will be shipped back to Korea, and will be checked at Incheon International Airport, watched by observers recommended by the National Assembly. They will then be mailed to regional election commissions, and remain sealed before they're counted on voting day. The overseas voting, which ran for six days starting May 20th, closed on Sunday at 223 polling stations in 118 countries.
Political mudslinging takes over policy talk during 2nd live debate between presidential candidates
2025/05/26 20:00
Last Friday, four presidential contenders appeared on the stage for their second debate to address social division among others, by the end of which they seemed to stand further apart. Oh Soo-young has the highlights. While promising social unity, presidential candidates clashed ferociously over politics and policy in their second televised debate. Focusing on social affairs, Friday's topics were social division, social safety nets, and sustainability. The Democratic Party's Lee Jae-myung said he would overcome social division and inequality with technology such as AI,.. and continue to improve the current national pension system. As the former labor minister, the People Power Party's Kim Moon-soo promised to build wider income safety nets for small businesses, with improved pension schemes. Reform candidate Lee Jun-seok proposed a major pension overhaul, pointing out the two major parties' legislative revision last year, benefits the older generation while adding a 37-thousand-dollar burden on every young Korean. He also called for cuts to unnecessary, high-tech scans that ramp up health insurance premiums. Democratic Labor's Kwon Young-kook suggested doubling the basic pension to over 500 U.S. dollars, and building scores of state-run hospitals. Candidates also clashed over climate and energy policies. Left-leaning candidates continued pushing for renewable energy sources over nuclear power. Kim Moon-soo and Lee Jun-seok argued that nuclear power is much more efficient, affordable, and essential to support future industries like AI. But politics overrode policy throughout the two-hour debate. Lee Jae-myung said Kim Moon-soo was part of the impeached Yoon Suk Yeol administration that declared martial law last year. "The most extreme form of social conflict is an insurrection by martial law. Weren't they trying to completely wipe out the opposition?" Kim Moon-soo accused Lee's party of insurrection, for handing radical left-wing groups seats in parliament, and underscored Lee's five criminal trials. "In corruption cases like Baekhyeon-dong and Daejang-dong, just look at how many people close to him are in prison, or have died under suspicious circumstances? Uprooting lies and corruption is the first step toward national unity." Lee Jun-seok blasted both the leading parties. He said that while the conservatives are tarnished with Yoon's martial law, the majority Democratic Party is just as guilty of creating a broken society. "You should be ashamed. Those who are jointly responsible for wrecking the country show up in red and blue only different in color fighting over power, in a shameless world." The third and final live debate takes place on Tuesday, focusing on politics. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.
Reform Party candidate says People Power Party should force own candidate to resign, not him
2025/05/26 20:00
Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok has reaffirmed his resolve to remain in the presidential race, rejecting the People Power Party's push for a merger. The resolve was shared on Monday, with Lee adding that his party is determined to run and win the race and that the PPP should pressure its own candidate to resign, not him. The 40-year-old contender recently saw his approval rating reach 10-percent amid growing support from those in their 20s as well as 30s and from moderate voters.
PPP's Kim continues targeting capital region with industry-friendly track record while merger still open
2025/05/26 20:00
The conservative party's main contender was also in Gyeonggi-do area, where he touted his economic achievements during his time as governor there. Meanwhile, despite the ballots already being printed, the merger is still on the table for the PPP. Our correspondent Kim Do-yeon has the latest. The capital region is yet again the People Power Party's candidate Kim Moon-soo's focus. The region consisting of half of the nation's population is always a battleground region and Kim could be seeing some hope of winning votes in Gyeonggi-do Province especially as he served two terms as governor with a track record of job-making. "During my eight years as Gyeonggi-do Governor, in total, I created 43-percent of all jobs in the nation. I created the most jobs and hosted Samsung's Pyeongtaek Chip complex, made Pangyo Technovalley, and LCD complexes for LG." He in fact visited the Pyeongtaek Samsung Electronics campus himself. The complex is known to be the largest in the world by land mass. There he spoke of how he supported industries and that it's worrisome for him that Samsung and other big companies recently are leaving for other nations, such as the U.S., because of tariffs. "Meanwhile, as he rallies around the province he's been trying to compare himself to his DP rival Lee Jae-myung, who was governor here more recently." He's been putting the focus on the legal risks that arose from Lee's time as the mayor of a city in the province and a former governor of the province, while Kim has no legal issues from his terms. As for the election landscape, the PPP believes that the DP's lead is narrowing compared to the beginning of the election campaign and in the next eight days, they are trying to make a comeback. One big move, course, is left for the party. The merger with the Reform Party. "I propose that the Reform Party present its conditions for a potential merger. We are prepared to do everything we can to make it happen. And let me be clear — we are fully ready to embrace the Reform Party's policies for the younger generation, especially those in their 20s and 30s." Of course, the ballots are already being printed, and the Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok's name will be on it regardless of the merger who, of course, says it won't happen. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.
Second presidential debate heats up: Candidates clash on social issues
2025/05/26 20:00
Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus. I'm Kim Mok-yeon. As the presidential race enters its final stretch, candidates are sharpening their focus on key social policies—issues that strike directly at the everyday lives of voters. The second televised debate on Friday was the last opportunity for candidates to sway public opinion before the pre-election polling blackout. The debate saw sharpened attacks and competing visions on how to address South Korea's most pressing social challenges—from deepening societal divides and pension sustainability to healthcare reform and administrative capital relocation. To help us unpack the key moments and implications, we connect to Choi Hyunsun, Professor of Public Administration at Myongji University. Welcome. Also joining us is Kim Jo-eun, Assistant Professor at the KDI School of Public Policy and Management. Great to see you. 1. (Choi) Let's begin with the tone of the debate itself. On Friday, four presidential candidates held their second TV debate. Compared to the first debate, the negative attacks seemed to intensify. How did you perceive the shift in tone? Since this was the final debate before the ban on polling results, do you think it could influence undecided voters? 2. (Kim) Now to the root causes of division. During the second debate focusing on social issues, progressive candidates cited polarization and low growth as the main causes of societal division, while conservative candidates pointed to corruption, dishonesty, and hate-based framing. In your view, what is the primary cause of division in Korean society? 3. (Choi) Each candidate proposed a different solution for national unity. What were the key differences in their approaches? Do you believe any of the proposed plans could effectively reduce the current societal polarization? 4. (Kim) Moving to pension reform. Lee Jae-myung and Kwon Young-guk emphasized strengthening old-age security, while Kim Moon-soo and Lee Jun-seok focused on easing the burden on younger generations. How do you assess these approaches? What would a realistic pension reform look like? 5. (Choi) Healthcare was another major focus. All candidates emphasized differentiating their healthcare policies from those of the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, including reconsidering the expansion of medical school admissions. Lee Jae-myung and Kwon Young-guk focused on strengthening public healthcare, while Kim Moon-soo and Lee Jun-seok emphasized enhancing medical professionalism. From a social integration perspective, do you find these approaches appropriate to restore the healthcare system? and what factors should be considered in healthcare reform? 6. (Choi) And on long-term care costs, both Lee Jae-myung and Kim Moon-soo pledged to include caregiver costs in long-term care hospital coverage. But estimates suggest it would require an additional 15 trillion Korean won annually from the National Health Insurance Fund. With projected deficits as early as next year, how feasible is this promise? 7. (Kim) Interestingly, one major social pledge where all candidates showed rare unity is the relocation of the administrative capital to Sejong City. Although this pledge resurfaces in every election, what are the practical hurdles to making it a reality? 8. (김) Still, criticism lingers over the pledges. While candidates have rolled out a range of social pledges, including those related to healthcare and elder care, critics argue many are aimed more at attracting votes than at offering viable solutions. In your view, what should be the top priority among these social policy pledges? 9. (Choi) Lastly, a major variable in the race. Whether Kim Moon-soo and Lee Jun-seok merge candidacies remains uncertain. Despite Lee's resistance, the People Power Party continues its push. Based on past examples like Yoon and Ahn in 2022, what impact could this have on the election?
On-board voting for presidential election begins Monday
2025/05/26 17:00
On-board voting is open starting today until Thursday offering some 30-thousand Koreans aboard 4-hundred-54 ships the opportunity to partake in the latest snap election. On-board voting was introduced back in 2012 during the 18th presidential election and during the last presidential election held in 2022 over 95 percent of those registered to vote on board cast their ballots. On-board voting is only available for the presidential and parliamentary elections. Meanwhile early voting is slated to start on Thursday and end on Friday across Korea from six in the morning to six in the evening.
Trump delays 50% tariffs on EU imports until July 9
2025/05/26 17:00
U.S. President Donald Trump has walked back his threat of a 50 percent tariff on EU imports which he claimed would commence this coming Sunday. Addressing a press pool on Sunday he spoke of quote "a very nice call" with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that led to a delay of the tariff to JULY 9th. Von der Leyen for her part took to her social media platform to reaffirm the "good" conversation adding that Europe is prepared to promote talks quote "swiftly and decisively."
Trump demands list of names of Harvard’s foreign students
2025/05/26 17:00
Harvard University and U.S. President Donald Trump remain locked in a hostile standoff as the latter seeks to exercise control over the former's campus policies. Lee Seung-jae has the latest. U.S. President Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Sunday to demand that Harvard University provide his administration with the names and nationalities of all its international students. In the late-night post, Trump noted that 31 percent of Harvard's students are from "FOREIGN LANDS," some of which are not "friendly to the United States." Trump added that his administration wants to know who those foreign students are, stressing that the demand is "a reasonable request" as the government gives the Ivy League school "BILLIONS OF DOLLARS." Harvard University says there would be over 6-thousand-700 names on the list. According to the New York Times on Sunday, the Trump administration's decision to block international students from enrolling at Harvard is raising concerns among other U.S. universities and colleges. The report notes that while Harvard is the administration's target now, it could spread to other schools in the country. In a Fox News interview last week, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem raised the possibility that other schools,.. including Columbia University, could face a similar fate. The President of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sally Kornbluth, slammed the Trump administration's ban on Harvard's international student enrollment, calling it a "fatal blow to American excellence, openness, and creativity." The Trump administration has been demanding changes to campus policies, citing the need to eradicate anti-Semitism at universities. Harvard has refused to implement those changes, claiming they infringe on academic freedom. A court has temporarily blocked the Trump administration's plan. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.
Israeli strikes kill children in Gaza amid aid blockade and rising global pressure
2025/05/26 17:00
The painful plight of people in Gaza persists amid the lack of access to basic necessities including food as Israel remains relentless in its retaliation against Hamas. Lee Eun-hee reports. Hamdi Al-Najjar, a Palestinian doctor, is in critical condition following an Israeli airstrike that killed nine of his 10 children. His wife, also a doctor at Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, had to see her burned children in the ruins of their home. "So she (Hamdi's wife) told me her children have died, she went to her house and saw her children burned, may God help her." According to Gaza's Government Media Office, the children killed ranged in age from seven months to 12 years old. The only survivor, an 11-year-old, is severely injured. Israel's military confirmed it carried out the strike on Khan Younis on Friday, saying that it targeted suspected militants operating from a structure near Israeli troops in an area that had been told to evacuate. The IDF added that the "claim regarding harm to uninvolved civilians is under review." Meanwhile, Hamas accused Israel of deliberately targeting medical staff and their families and civilians. On Saturday, a four-year-old child died due to severe malnutrition, raising the hunger-related death toll to over 58 in the besieged enclave over the past 80 days. Also, more than 240 people, mostly children and the elderly, have died from a lack of food and medical care. "My message to the world, besiege the embassies, speak up, break this siege, stop this genocide on the Gaza Strip, on our hungry, besieged people." Amid growing global outrage, Spain hosted a high-level meeting in Madrid on Sunday with over 20 European and Arab countries to pressure Israel for a ceasefire and lift its humanitarian aid blockade into Gaza. The meeting included EU countries that were once considered close allies of Israel, now joining the international call for restraint as Israel expands its military operations in Gaza. The U.S. urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to delay plans for a full-scale ground offensive in Gaza. That's according to the Jerusalem Post on Sunday, which said the request was made in order to allow ceasefire negotiations and a hostage deal "proceed in parallel with military operations." With the ceasefire negotiations deadlocked, Israel has intensified its bombardment and ground invasion in Gaza, with reports saying that its forces now control over 77-percent of the Gaza Strip. Lee Eun-hee, Arirang News.
Russia launches largest aerial assault of three-year war on Ukraine
2025/05/26 17:00
Russia staged a brutal aerial offensive against Ukraine this past weekend that has prompted harsh international condemnation. Our Kim Bo-kyoung has details. At least 12 people were killed and 60 wounded in different regions of Ukraine, after the Kremlin launched a series of air assaults throughout Ukraine late Saturday night. Among those killed were three children from the same family in the Zhytomyr region – west of Kyiv – according to Ukraine's internal affairs minister. "Let the world wake up and see. How long can they bomb children? We go to bed and do not know what awaits us in the morning." Nearly three-hundred attack drones and almost 70 missiles of various types were fired, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on his social media X account, where he said ordinary citizens were subject to deliberate attacks. Zelenskyy condemned America's silence, saying it encouraged Putin, and asked for sanctions that would show the determination of the U.S. and European countries, to stop Russia's brutality. Later on Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump's Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, called Russia's overnight attacks a "clear violation of the 1977 Geneva Peace Protocols designed to protect innocents." The protocol, is an annex to the Geneva Conventions signed in 1949, containing provisions for the protection of victims of international armed conflicts. Europe too, strongly condemned Russia and warned of additional sanctions. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Putin, having no interest in peace, should not be tolerated and that the EU will agree to further sanctions. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas was on the same page, stating the strongest international pressure was needed to make Russia end the war. The assault overnight into Sunday came, despite the largest prisoner swap of the war taking place. Ukraine brought home 303 prisoners of war on Sunday in the final phase of a one-thousand-for-one-thousand prisoner exchange with Russia. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.
Political mudslinging takes over policy talk during 2nd live debate between presidential candidates
2025/05/26 17:00
And just last Friday presidential contenders faced off in a second TV debate this time on matters of social concern and beyond their policy pledges they fiercely locked horns over alleged wrongdoings. Our correspondent Oh Soo-young covers the debate and the dispute. While promising social unity, presidential candidates clashed ferociously over politics and policy in their second televised debate. Focusing on social affairs, Friday's topics were social division, social safety nets, and sustainability. The Democratic Party's Lee Jae-myung said he would overcome social division and inequality with technology such as AI,.. and continue to improve the current national pension system. As the former labor minister, the People Power Party's Kim Moon-soo promised to build wider income safety nets for small businesses, with improved pension schemes. Reform candidate Lee Jun-seok proposed a major pension overhaul, pointing out the two major parties' legislative revision last year, benefits the older generation while adding a 37-thousand-dollar burden on every young Korean. He also called for cuts to unnecessary, high-tech scans that ramp up health insurance premiums. Democratic Labor's Kwon Young-kook suggested doubling the basic pension to over 500 U.S. dollars, and building scores of state-run hospitals. Candidates also clashed over climate and energy policies. Left-leaning candidates continued pushing for renewable energy sources over nuclear power. Kim Moon-soo and Lee Jun-seok argued that nuclear power is much more efficient, affordable, and essential to support future industries like AI. But politics overrode policy throughout the two-hour debate. Lee Jae-myung said Kim Moon-soo was part of the impeached Yoon Suk Yeol administration that declared martial law last year. “The most extreme form of social conflict is an insurrection by martial law. Weren't they trying to completely wipe out the opposition?” Kim Moon-soo accused Lee's party of insurrection, for handing radical left-wing groups seats in parliament, and underscored Lee's five criminal trials. “In corruption cases like Baekhyeon-dong and Daejang-dong, just look at how many people close to him are in prison, or have died under suspicious circumstances? Uprooting lies and corruption is the first step toward national unity.” Lee Jun-seok blasted both the leading parties. He said that while the conservatives are tarnished with Yoon's martial law, the majority Democratic Party is just as guilty of creating a broken society. "You should be ashamed. Those who are jointly responsible for wrecking the country show up in red and blue only different in color fighting over power, in a shameless world." The third and final live debate takes place on Tuesday, focusing on politics. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.
Reform Party candidate says People Power Party should force own candidate to resign, not him
2025/05/26 17:00
Also on the campaign trail. Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok has reaffirmed his resolve to remain in the presidential race rejecting the People Power Party's push for a merger. The resolve was shared on Monday with Lee adding that his party is determined to run and win the race and that the PPP should pressure its own candidate to resign not him. The 40-year-old contender recently saw his approval rating reach 10 percent amid growing support from those in their 20s as well as 30s and from moderate voters.
PPP's Kim continues targeting capital region with industry-friendly track record while merger still open
2025/05/26 17:00
AND NOW we turn to the conservative camp whose contender Kim Moon-soo is back in the capital area following his earlier regional rallies. For details I have Kim Do-yeon joining me live. Do-yeon welcome back. So you are currently in southern Gyeonggi-do Province? That's right, Sun-hee. I'm in Gyeonggi-do Province — where Kim served two terms as governor. He's been on a tour across the region and is expected to arrive here in Yongin within the hour. With the capital area home to half the nation's population, Kim is highlighting his record — from job creation to building new cities — to win over voters. First take a listen to what he said earlier this morning. During my eight years as Gyeonggi-do Governor, in total, I created 43-percent of all jobs in the nation. I created the most jobs and hosted Samsung's Pyeongtaek Chip complex, made Pangyo Technovalley, and LCD complexes for LG. This also comes as, after this interview, he visited the Pyeongtaek Samsung Electronics campus himself. The complex is known to be the largest in the world by land. There he spoke on how he supported industries and that it's worrisome for him that Samsung and other big companies recently are leaving for other nations, such as the U.S., because of tariffs. Meanwhile, as he rallies around the province he's been trying to compare himself to his DP rival Lee Jae-myung, who was governor here more recently. He tried to emphasize the legal risks that arose from Lee's time as the mayor of a city in the province and a former governor of the province, while he has no legal issues from his terms. Do-yeon we have roughly a week left to the June third election. How is the conservative camp assessing its prospects of victory? The PPP believes that the DP's lead is narrowing compared to the beginning of the election campaign and in the next eight days, they are trying to make a comeback. One big move, of course, is left for the party. The merger with the Reform Party. PPP says it'll do everything. I propose that the Reform Party present its conditions for a potential merger. We are prepared to do everything we can to make it happen. And let me be clear — we are fully ready to embrace the Reform Party's policies for the younger generation, especially those in their 20s and 30s. Of course, the ballots are already being printed, and the Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok's name will be on it regardless of the merger who, of course, says it won't happen. But, during the last election Ahn Cheol-soo merged with Yoon just before the early voting, so we'll keep a close watch. That's all for now, back to you, Sun-hee. All right Do-yeon thank you for that coverage of the conservative camp.
DP’s Lee promises pragmatic diplomacy, stronger trilateral ties with U.S. and Japan
2025/05/26 17:00
Presidential hopefuls have now ushered in their final week of the official campaign period. Liberal party contender Lee Jae-myung is addressing his supporters in the cities surrounding the capital Seoul today. I have our political correspondent Shin Ha-young standing by live with details. Ha-young it's good to have you on. Do FILL us in. Sunny. I'm currently in the city of Namyangju in Gyeonggi-do Province, where Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung is delivering his speech. During his rallies in the Seoul metropolitan area today, Lee aims to gain voters' support by promising to make southeastern of Gyeonggi-do Province a better place with improved access to education, housing, and transportation. Earlier today, Lee met with college students in Suwon to hear about the challenges they face with school and finding jobs. Lee said it's a serious problem that young people are worried about housing and stressed the need for more public dormitories. Take a listen. "It's a real problem that students have to worry about housing. The government should step up and use unused campus land to build more public dormitories." Lee also pointed out issues including high meal costs, and emphasized the need to expand programs like the one-thousand won meals. Ha-young I hear Lee also shared pledges to advance foreign policy. Do tell us more. Sure, Sunny. Lee Jae-myung today pledged to strengthen South Korea's diplomacy and security to protect national interests amid a rapidly changing international order. He said he would pursue pragmatic diplomacy centered on national interests, based on a strong South Korea-U.S. alliance. Lee added that he would work to rebuild trust in the alliance, which he says was damaged by a declaration of martial law. He also emphasized close trilateral cooperation with the U.S. and Japan, while maintaining a firm stance toward Tokyo when it comes to historical issues. Here's what Lee said about bilateral cooperation with Japan. "We need to take a principled stance on historical and territorial issues. At the same time, areas like security, the economy, society, and culture shouldn't be overly restricted because of the historical and territorial issues. While it's not easy to separate these issues, we should approach other areas in a practical way that looks toward the future." On China, Lee described it as an "important trading partner" and highlighted the need for stable Seoul-Beijing relations. Meanwhile, regarding North Korea, Lee aims to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula and achieve peace through denuclearization. He said Pyongyang's nuclear threats can no longer be ignored and vowed to work closely with the U.S. to resolve the issue. Lee also pledged to improve human rights for the North Korean people. That's all for now. Back to you Sunny. All right Ha-young as always thank you for that coverage of the liberal camp.