News
Le Pen calls ban on running for public office 'political decision'
2025/04/01 10:00
Meanwhile, in France, leader of the right-wing National Rally party and presidential hopeful Marine Le Pen has been convicted of embezzlement and barred from running in the 2027 presidential election. Le Pen has denounced the court's decision as politically motivated and says she will appeal the ruling. "What she is doing here is she’s saying ‘I am going to make you ineligible straight away and I’m doing it precisely to stop you from being able to be elected president'. If that’s not a political decision, I don’t know what it is." On Monday local time, a French court found Le Pen guilty of embezzling European Union funds. The court sentenced her to four years in prison, with two years suspended, imposed a 108,000 U.S. dollar fine, and prohibited her from holding public office for five years. This ruling effectively disqualifies her from the 2027 presidential race.
European foreign ministers urge Russia to agree on Ukraine ceasefire
2025/04/01 10:00
Beginning in Europe, foreign ministers from six European countries convened in Madrid, where they urged Russia to agree to an immediate, unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine. The foreign ministers of Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the United Kingdom, along with the European Union's High Representative, met in Madrid on Monday local time to address the war in Ukraine. In a joint statement, they collectively urged Russia to abandon its "delaying tactics" and respond to Ukraine's commitment to peace by agreeing to an unconditional full ceasefire. The statement highlighted the importance of making progress within a specific timeframe, and they also considered possible new sanctions to increase pressure on Russia. The possibility of using frozen Russian sovereign assets to aid Ukraine was also discussed. The ministers said they will ensure Russia's full accountability for its war crimes.
On-point: Constitutional Court to notify Yoon's impeachment ruling date in April
2025/04/01 10:00
The last day of March has passed, meaning the final call will be made in April. Let's turn to Professor Lee Hee-eun for more this morning. Welcome back. 1. There are calls that the Constitutional Court should issue a statement and explain the reasons for the delay. How likely is it that the court will do so? Should the court make clear its stance and plan? Has the court done so in the past? 2. Some experts say Yoon's case is not as complicated as that of former President Park Geun-hye, expressing frustration over the delay. Is that so? 3. As an expert's point of view, when do you think the court will or must announce a ruling date to prevent any more confusion and instability? 4. The opposition Democratic Party has designated today, April 1st, as the deadline for Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to appoint justice nominee Ma Eun-hyuk and warned it would make a major decision if Han doesn't. Does that mean another impeachment motion for Han? Will the DP do that? Would that be the first time ever for a PM to be impeached twice? How might that unfold? 5. Let's say Han does appoint Ma. Can Ma play an active role in the ruling? To what extent? Does that mean the ruling will get delayed even more? Thanks so much for taking your time to be with us this morning. We appreciate it.
Court still conducting review of President Yoon's impeachment amid speculation over ruling date
2025/04/01 10:00
While the record delay in announcing an impeachment ruling for President Yoon Suk Yeol is leading to various speculations, the Constitutional Court is reportedly handling the case with a great deal of caution and prudence. Our correspondent Oh Soo-young reports. The Constitutional Court is working "cautiously" and "thoroughly" on President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment case, as speculation continues over when the justices will deliver their ruling. Appearing before the National Assembly on Monday, the Constitutional Court's Secretary-General Kim Jung-won said the eight-member bench is deliberating with "caution" in their frequent "in-depth" reviews and discussions. Kim added even he wasn't informed of how many times the justices convened or what stage they were in in their deliberation, due to the high level of confidentiality. The justices have been deliberating for more than a month after Yoon's final trial hearing in February, the longest period yet for a presidential case. Once each justice concludes their review, and expresses their opinion, the bench is expected to draw up their collective decision, before announcing the ruling date two to three days in advance. While some believe the ruling could be as early as this Thursday, if the bench schedules a Friday ruling in line with past presidential impeachments, April 4th and 11th are key dates to watch. But given the record deliberation period, other observers say the verdict could take longer to be issued, as the justices may be sharply split in their opinions on whether or not President Yoon's martial law declaration warrants an impeachment. The Court needs at least six votes to remove a President. If three or more justices are against impeachment Yoon would be restored to office. At this point, April 18th is broadly considered the deadline for the bench —the date Justices Moon Hyung-bae and Lee Mi-son retire. In 2017, the Court dismissed President Park Geun-hye on a Friday, before Acting Chief Justice Lee Jung-mi stepped down the next Monday. But this time around, the two vacancies would leave only six justices on the bench, below the seven-member threshold required to deliver a ruling. The opposition Democratic Party has been calling for the urgent appointment of a left-leaning judge, Ma Eun-hyeok, to secure a six-vote majority to impeach the President, as an early election would favour their party leader Lee Jae-myung. The DP has also been pushing to amend the Constitutional Court Act to extend the retiring justices' terms. The Court's Secretary General said while the suggestion is "under internal review," "there is no official position yet.” When asked if President Yoon's ruling would be made by the 18th, the Court's secretary general said the aim is still to issue a verdict as swiftly as possible, but declined to specify a date. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.
Trump confirms communication with North Korea, hints at taking action "at some point"
2025/04/01 10:00
U.S. President Donald Trump has hinted at further engagement with North Korea, confirming ongoing communication with leader Kim Jong-un. Speaking to reporters at the White House on Monday, Trump said he has a "very good relationship" with Kim, despite a rocky start during his first term. He said, "there is communication," although he didn't clarify whether this was through direct talks with Kim or via aides. Trump described North Korea as "a big nuclear nation" and called Kim "a very smart guy". He also said his administration will likely take some action at "some point", but offered no specifics.
Students at 38 of 40 medical schools apply to return before reinstatement deadline
2025/04/01 10:00
Medical students who boycotted classes over the government's medical school admissions increase say they'll be back in school just right before the government-imposed deadline for reinstatement on Monday. Lee Seung-jae has more. Out of 40 medical schools nationwide, students from 38 of the schools have decided to return to class before the Monday deadline imposed by the government. According to sources familiar with the matter, 38 of the medical schools saw almost all of their students, who had been on leave of absence, complete their registration to return to school. Among the schools that saw their students register for classes before the deadline were Seoul National University, Yonsei University, Korea University, Sungkyunkwan University, and Pusan National University. The two medical schools where students hadn't registered before the deadline were Inje University and Hallym University. The government last month set a March 31st deadline after it announced a conditional decision to set the medical school admissions quota at 3-thousand-58 for the 2026 academic year. That is similar to the figure before the current administration decided to increase admissions by 2-thousand a year ago. In order to transition into the delayed school semester, most medical schools will begin with a few weeks of online classes. Seoul National University announced last week that online classes will be held for the first one to two weeks starting Monday. Ulsan University and Korea University have started online classes as well. Yonsei University, which was among the first medical schools to announce a "full return" of students, will conduct both online and offline classes. Based on data on the number of medical school students returning, the Ministry of Education will finalize the enrollment quota for next year's admissions by the end of the month. While the government expects the medical admissions quota to return to 3-thousand-58, it warned that the quota could return to 5-thousand-58 if students take a leave of absence or boycott classes after returning. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.
S. Korea, China and Japan reaffirm trade cooperation ahead of U.S. reciprocal tariffs
2025/03/31 20:00
Here in Seoul. Trade ministers of South Korea, China and Japan met for their agenda ahead of new U.S. tariffs in the days to come. Moon Hye-ryeon has more. The trade ministers of South Korea, China, and Japan met in Seoul for the first time in nearly six years and underscored the need for stronger economic ties and pledged to expand trade partnerships amid growing global uncertainties. At the Trilateral Economic and Trade Ministers' Meeting on Sunday, South Korea's Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun, China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, and Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Muto Yoji emphasized the importance of a stable global trade system and vowed to strengthen cooperation in key economic sectors. Their discussions came just days before the U.S. government's scheduled announcement of new reciprocal tariffs as the three nations navigate rising protectionist pressures. The meeting was seen as a strategic move to coordinate a response with all three nations facing similar concerns as major U.S. trade deficit partners and potential targets of tariffs. And, as a result, the ministers aligned on the broader goal of preserving a stable international trade system. During the talks, the ministers reaffirmed their commitment to multilateral trade frameworks, supporting reforms at the World Trade Organization and expanding the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership to include new members. They also pledged to accelerate negotiations for a high-level trilateral Free Trade Agreement. "It is necessary to strengthen the implementation of RCEP, in which all three countries have participated, and to create a framework for expanding trade cooperation among the three countries through Korea-China-Japan FTA negotiations." While South Korea and China currently have an FTA in place, discussions on a three-way agreement have stalled due to differing economic conditions and national priorities. Beyond trade agreements, the ministers addressed broader economic concerns, committing to stabilizing supply chains and expanding cooperation in green and digital industries. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.
Trump warns of secondary tariffs on Russian oil if ceasefire agreement fails
2025/03/31 20:00
U.S. President Donald Trump is ramping up his rhetoric on both Russia and Ukraine with regard to sealing a ceasefire deal. He's threatening heavier tariffs on Russian oil and vowing "big problems" for Kyiv if it backs away from its mineral deal with Washington. Park Hyo-been has more. Amid the stalled progress on the Ukraine-Russia ceasefire, U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed strong dissatisfaction with Russian President Vladimir Putin. In an NBC interview on Sunday, Trump revealed that he was "very angry" after Putin criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's credibility. Trump also said that if Russia is found responsible for prolonging the conflict, he would impose "secondary tariffs" on Russian oil, ranging from 25 to 50 percent. He warned that countries purchasing Russian crude oil could face tariffs, signaling economic pressure as potential leverage in the ongoing conflict. Trump also had a message for Zelenskyy. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump criticized the Ukrainian leader for trying to back out of a rare earth metals agreement. "And I think Zelenskyy, by the way, I see he's trying to back out of the rare earth deal, and if he does that, he's got some problems. Big, big problems. We made a deal on rare earth, and now he's saying, 'Well, you know, I want to renegotiate the deal'." With U.S.-Ukraine negotiations now stalling, Russia has begun rare metals talks with Washington. On Monday, Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev confirmed that discussions were underway, with several companies already expressing an interest. Last month, Putin underscored Russia's vast reserves, looking to position Moscow as a more stable supplier than Ukraine. As diplomatic efforts stall, the potential economic pressure from tariffs may become a crucial turning point in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Park Hyo-been, Arirang News.
S. Korea's foreign ministry to dispatch consul to quake-stricken Mandalay
2025/03/31 20:00
In related news. The Korean government has decided to dispatch a consul from its embassy in Yangon to Mandalay to aid Korean nationals affected by the earthquake. According to the Foreign Ministry, there are some 2-thousand South Koreans residing in Myanmar, most of them in Yangon, and about 70 in Mandalay. No Korean casualties have been reported thus far. Authorities here are also offering some two-million U.S. dollars worth of humanitarian assistance to Myanmar as part of relief support.
Court still conducting review of President Yoon's impeachment amid speculation over ruling date
2025/03/31 20:00
President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment case has lasted for more than than three months, as the Constitutional Court justices take a record amount of time to deliberate on his political fate. This is leading to various speculations. Our correspondent Oh Soo-young explains. The Constitutional Court is working "cautiously" and "thoroughly" on President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment case, as speculation continues over when the justices will deliver their ruling. Appearing before the National Assembly on Monday, the Constitutional Court's Secretary-General Kim Jung-won said the eight-member bench is deliberating with "caution" in their frequent "in-depth" reviews and discussions. Kim added even he wasn't informed of how many times the justices convened or what stage they were in in their deliberation, due to the high level of confidentiality. The justices have been deliberating for more than a month after Yoon's final trial hearing in February, the longest period yet for a presidential case. Once each justice concludes their review, and expresses their opinion, the bench is expected to draw up their collective decision, before announcing the ruling date two to three days in advance. While some believe the ruling could be as early as this Thursday, if the bench schedules a Friday ruling in line with past presidential impeachments, April 4th and 11th are key dates to watch. But given the record deliberation period, other observers say the verdict could take longer to be issued, as the justices may be sharply split in their opinions on whether or not President Yoon's martial law declaration warrants an impeachment. The Court needs at least six votes to remove a President. If three or more justices are against impeachment Yoon would be restored to office. At this point, April 18th is broadly considered the deadline for the bench —the date Justices Moon Hyung-bae and Lee Mi-son retire. In 2017, the Court dismissed President Park Geun-hye on a Friday, before Acting Chief Justice Lee Jung-mi stepped down the next Monday. But this time around, the two vacancies would leave only six justices on the bench, below the seven-member threshold required to deliver a ruling. The opposition Democratic Party has been calling for the urgent appointment of a left-leaning judge, Ma Eun-hyeok, to secure a six-vote majority to impeach the President, as an early election would favour their party leader Lee Jae-myung. The DP has also been pushing to amend the Constitutional Court Act to extend the retiring justices' terms. The Court's Secretary General said while the suggestion is "under internal review," "there is no official position yet." When asked if President Yoon's ruling would be made by the 18th, the Court's secretary general said the aim is still to issue a verdict as swiftly as possible, but declined to specify a date. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.
World News: Greenland's new PM says U.S. will not get Greenland
2025/03/31 17:00
This is the World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. Greenland's new Prime Minister, sworn in on Friday, firmly rejected U.S. President Donald Trump's renewed interest in acquiring the Arctic territory, emphasizing Greenland's autonomy and self-determination. On Sunday local time, Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen responded to President Trump's push to acquire Greenland. In a social media post, Nielsen stated, "Let me be clear: The United States will not get it. We do not belong to anyone else. We decide our own future." President Trump on Friday once again expressed confidence in the U.S. acquiring Greenland, describing it as "100%" certain and citing national security interests. Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President JD Vance's recent visit to Greenland's U.S. military base further raised tensions as Vance criticized Denmark's administration of Greenland, implying that the U.S. could offer better security and governance. In the Middle East Hamas has accepted a new ceasefire proposal mediated by Egypt and Qatar. However, Israel has responded with a counteroffer. Hamas chief Khalil al-Hayya announced on Saturday that the Palestinian militant group has agreed to a ceasefire proposal from Egypt and Qatar, which includes the release of five hostages. In return, Israel would permit increased humanitarian aid into Gaza and a halt to hostilities. The deal also includes the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners by Israel. Israel has submitted a counter-proposal demanding the release of 11 living hostages and half of the deceased hostages in exchange for a 40-day ceasefire. Meanwhile, Israel is seeing large protests urging the government to prioritize negotiations for the hostages' release. In Europe, a space rocket launched by German startup Isar Aerospace on Sunday local time crashed approximately 40 seconds after takeoff from a spaceport in Norway. The uncrewed Spectrum rocket, 28 meters long, was designed to carry small and medium-sized satellites and marked Europe's first attempt at an orbital flight from the continent, excluding Russia. Despite the outcome, Isar Aerospace's CEO said the test was a "great success," citing the collection of valuable data for future missions. The attempt reflects Europe's ambition to establish independent space launch capabilities. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.
Trump warns of secondary tariffs on Russian oil if ceasefire agreement fails
2025/03/31 17:00
U.S. President Donald Trump is ramping up his rhetoric on both Russia and Ukraine with regard to sealing a ceasefire deal. He's threatening heavier tariffs on Russian oil and vowing quote "big problems" for Kyiv if it backs away from its mineral deal with Washington. Park Hyo-been has more. Amid the stalled progress on the Ukraine-Russia ceasefire, U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed strong dissatisfaction with Russian President Vladimir Putin. In an NBC interview on Sunday, Trump revealed that he was "very angry" after Putin criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's credibility. Trump also said that if Russia is found responsible for prolonging the conflict, he would impose "secondary tariffs" on Russian oil, ranging from 25 to 50 percent. He warned that countries purchasing Russian crude oil could face tariffs, signaling economic pressure as potential leverage in the ongoing conflict. Trump also had a message for Zelenskyy. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump criticized the Ukrainian leader for trying to back out of a rare earth metals agreement. "And I think Zelenskyy, by the way, I see he's trying to back out of the rare earth deal, and if he does that, he's got some problems. Big, big problems. We made a deal on rare earth, and now he's saying, 'Well, you know, I want to renegotiate the deal'." With U.S.-Ukraine negotiations now stalling, Russia has begun rare metals talks with Washington. On Monday, Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev confirmed that discussions were underway, with several companies already expressing an interest. Last month, Putin underscored Russia's vast reserves, looking to position Moscow as a more stable supplier than Ukraine. As diplomatic efforts stall, the potential economic pressure from tariffs may become a crucial turning point in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Park Hyo-been, Arirang News.
S. Korea's foreign ministry to dispatch consul to quake-stricken Mandalay
2025/03/31 17:00
In related news. The Korean government has decided to dispatch a consul from its embassy in Yangon to Mandalay to aid Korean nationals affected by the earthquake. According to the Foreign Ministry there are some two thousand South Koreans residing in Myanmar most of them in Yangon and about 70 in Mandalay. No Korean casualties have been reported thus far. Authorities here are also offering some two million U.S. dollars worth of humanitarian assistance to Myanmar as part of relief support.
Court rumored to be wrapping up ruling on Pres. Yoon's impeachment
2025/03/31 17:00
On the political front. Will it or will it not announce its verdict on the president's impeachment this week? That is the question facing the Constitutional Court as the wait continues for its ruling. Our Oh Soo-young touches upon the prospects ahead. The Constitutional Court could issue a ruling in President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial this week, as deliberations are believed to have reached the final stage. According to legal experts familiar with the matter, the eight-member bench is now wrapping up its review of key grounds for Yoon's impeachment, after more than a month of almost-daily meetings the longest the Court has ever deliberated on a presidential case. Once each justice expresses their opinion, they're expected to draw up their collective decision, before announcing the ruling date two to three days in advance. While it could be as early as this Thursday, if the bench schedules a Friday ruling in line with past presidential impeachments, April 4th and 11th are key dates to watch. But given the record deliberation period, observers say the verdict could take longer to be issued, as the justices may be sharply split in their opinions on whether or not President Yoon's martial law declaration warrants an impeachment. The Court needs at least six votes to remove a President. If three or more justices are against impeachment Yoon would be restored to office. At this point, April 18th is broadly considered the deadline for the bench —the date Justices Moon Hyung-bae and Lee Mi-son retire. In 2017, the Court dismissed President Park Geun-hye on a Friday, before Acting Chief Justice Lee Jung-mi stepped down the next Monday. But this time around, the two vacancies would leave only six justices on the bench, below the seven-member threshold required to deliver a ruling. Meanwhile, political tensions are escalating, following the recent acquittal of opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung in one of his five criminal trials. As Lee currently leads polls for presidential hopefuls, the ruling People Power Party fears an early election could benefit the opposition leader, and is pushing the Court to dismiss or reject Yoon's impeachment. On the other side, the DP is hardening its stance. Some lawmakers call for another motion to impeach Acting President Han Duck-soo, despite the Constitutional Court's dismissal of their previous attempt, along with Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok. Other DP members are demanding the urgent appointment of a left-leaning judge, Ma Eun-hyeok, to secure a six-vote majority to impeach the President. As for public opinion, support for the two major parties are split evenly at 36 percent, with moderates caught between both political extremes: Yoon's immediate return or the opposition party's continued offensives against the incumbent government. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.
Hamas agrees to ceasefire proposal from mediators Egypt, Qatar
2025/03/31 10:00
Moving over to the Middle East Hamas has accepted a new ceasefire proposal mediated by Egypt and Qatar. However, Israel has responded with a counteroffer. Hamas chief Khalil al-Hayya announced on Saturday that the Palestinian militant group has agreed to a ceasefire proposal from Egypt and Qatar, which includes the release of five hostages. In return, Israel would permit increased humanitarian aid into Gaza and a halt to hostilities. The deal also includes the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners by Israel. Israel has submitted a counter-proposal demanding the release of 11 living hostages and half of the deceased hostages in exchange for a 40-day ceasefire. Meanwhile, Israel is seeing large protests urging the government to prioritize negotiations for the hostages' release.
Greenland's new PM says U.S. will not get Greenland
2025/03/31 10:00
Good morning, I'm Choi Chi-hee, and this is The World Now. Greenland's new Prime Minister, sworn in on Friday, firmly rejected U.S. President Donald Trump's renewed interest in acquiring the Arctic territory, emphasizing Greenland's autonomy and self-determination. On Sunday local time, Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen responded to President Trump's push to acquire Greenland. In a social media post, Nielsen stated, "Let me be clear: The United States will not get it. We do not belong to anyone else. We decide our own future." President Trump on Friday once again expressed confidence in the U.S. acquiring Greenland, describing it as "100%" certain and citing national security interests. Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President JD Vance's recent visit to Greenland's U.S. military base further raised tensions as Vance criticized Denmark's administration of Greenland, implying that the U.S. could offer better security and governance.
Trump threatens tariffs on Russian oil over Ukraine
2025/03/31 10:00
U.S. President Donald Trump warned he will impose secondary tariffs on Russian oil, if Moscow does not agree to a ceasefire agreement with Ukraine. Speaking to NBC on Sunday, Trump warned that if Russia does not agree to the ceasefire, he will put secondary tariffs "on all oil coming out of Russia." He added that the 25 percent tariffs could happen at any moment. Trump also said that he plans to speak with Putin later this week. The U.S. president also told NBC News that he was very angry after Russian President Vladimir Putin questioned the credibility of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's leadership.
Court rumored to be wrapping up ruling on Pres. Yoon's impeachment
2025/03/31 10:00
President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment case has continued for more than three months, as justices take a record amount of time to deliberate on the embattled leader's fate. But pundits believe the Court is in the last phase of reviewing the case. Oh Soo-young reports. The Constitutional Court could issue a ruling in President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial this week, as deliberations are believed to have reached the final stage. According to legal experts familiar with the matter, the eight-member bench is now wrapping up its review of key grounds for Yoon's impeachment, after more than a month of almost-daily meetings the longest the Court has ever deliberated on a presidential case. Once each justice expresses their opinion, they're expected to draw up their collective decision, before announcing the ruling date two to three days in advance. While it could be as early as this Thursday, if the bench schedules a Friday ruling in line with past presidential impeachments, April 4th and 11th are key dates to watch. But given the record deliberation period, observers say the verdict could take longer to be issued, as the justices may be sharply split in their opinions on whether or not President Yoon's martial law declaration warrants an impeachment. The Court needs at least six votes to remove a President. If three or more justices are against impeachment Yoon would be restored to office. At this point, April 18th is broadly considered the deadline for the bench the date Justices Moon Hyung-bae and Lee Mi-son retire. In 2017, the Court dismissed President Park Geun-hye on a Friday, before Acting Chief Justice Lee Jung-mi stepped down the next Monday. But this time around, the two vacancies would leave only six justices on the bench, below the seven-member threshold required to deliver a ruling. Meanwhile, political tensions are escalating, following the recent acquittal of opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung in one of his five criminal trials. As Lee currently leads polls for presidential hopefuls, the ruling People Power Party fears an early election could benefit the opposition leader, and is pushing the Court to dismiss or reject Yoon's impeachment. On the other side, the DP is hardening its stance. Some lawmakers call for another motion to impeach Acting President Han Duck-soo, despite the Constitutional Court's dismissal of their previous attempt, along with Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok. Other DP members are demanding the urgent appointment of a left-leaning judge, Ma Eun-hyeok, to secure a six-vote majority to impeach the President. As for public opinion, support for the two major parties are split evenly at 36 percent, with moderates caught between both political extremes: Yoon's immediate return or the opposition party's continued offensives against the incumbent government. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.
S. Korea, China and Japan reaffirm trade cooperation ahead of U.S. reciprocal tariffs
2025/03/31 10:00
The Trump administration's reckless tariff policies have made the importance of regional economic cooperation more than ever. And ahead of Trump's looming April 2nd tariffs, trade ministers of Seoul, Tokyo, and Beijing met up in Seoul. Our Moon Hye-ryeon has the details. The trade ministers of South Korea, China, and Japan met in Seoul for the first time in nearly six years and underscored the need for stronger economic ties and pledged to expand trade partnerships amid growing global uncertainties. At the Trilateral Economic and Trade Ministers' Meeting on Sunday, South Korea's Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun, China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, and Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Muto Yoji emphasized the importance of a stable global trade system and vowed to strengthen cooperation in key economic sectors. Their discussions came just days before the U.S. government's scheduled announcement of new reciprocal tariffs as the three nations navigate rising protectionist pressures. The meeting was seen as a strategic move to coordinate a response with all three nations facing similar concerns as major U.S. trade deficit partners and potential targets of tariffs. And, as a result, the ministers aligned on the broader goal of preserving a stable international trade system. During the talks, the ministers reaffirmed their commitment to multilateral trade frameworks, supporting reforms at the World Trade Organization and expanding the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership to include new members. They also pledged to accelerate negotiations for a high-level trilateral Free Trade Agreement. "It is necessary to strengthen the implementation of RCEP, in which all three countries have participated, and to create a framework for expanding trade cooperation among the three countries through Korea-China-Japan FTA negotiations." While South Korea and China currently have an FTA in place, discussions on a three-way agreement have stalled due to differing economic conditions and national priorities. Beyond trade agreements, the ministers addressed broader economic concerns, committing to stabilizing supply chains and expanding cooperation in green and digital industries. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.
Why DP leader's criminal court case matters as window for Constitutional Court verdict narrows
2025/03/29 12:00
This past week was a big one for politics in South Korea. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo made his return after the Constitutional Court rejected his impeachment following a motion made unilaterally by the main opposition three months ago. On top of that, the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, leader Lee Jae-myung's appeals ruling came out. We have our political correspondent, Kim Do-yeon to tell us more. Hello, Do-yeon. 1. First, Lee Jae-myung was found not guilty by an appeals court, and this shook up the nation's political scene. What can you tell us about this? That's right Dami, let me begin with what happened in court. The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea leader Lee Jae-myung, was acquitted by an appeals court on election violation charges. The Seoul High Court on Wednesday overturned a ruling by a lower court, which had handed Lee a suspended prison term. Lee was indicted on charges of making false statements in December 2021 during a media interview where he denied knowing the late Kim Moon-ki, an executive involved in a development scandal in Seongnam City where Lee previously served as mayor. He is also accused of having made false claims that there was pressure from South Korea's land ministry to rezone a research institute site in the Baekhyeon-dong area. The appellate court ruled that neither of the statements made by Lee can be seen as spreading false information, overturning the Seoul Central District Court's ruling in November. Take a listen to Lee Jae-myung on what he described as a 'proper ruling.' "I appreciate the court for delivering a proper ruling based on truth and justice. But it's frustrating that so much effort and national resources were spent on something so obvious." 2. We do know he is a political heavyweight, 이재명 대표가 정치 거물이라는 것은 알고 있지만, 이번 판결의 시점도 중요합니다. Could you give us more context? That's right. This is important to note because Lee Jae-myung is the favored candidate to be the next president. And, as we all know, there could be an early presidential election that will kick off within a matter of weeks if the Constitutional Court upholds President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment. Take a look at this most recent survey. According to a Gallup survey on 1,000 adults aged over 18 from last Tuesday to Thursday, DP leader Lee Jae-myung was the most favored candidate for the next presidency at 34 percent, followed by Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo at 8 percent , and former PPP leader Han Dong-hoon at 5 percent. Remember this survey was taking place as the ruling came out.. So, maybe respondents on Thursday were able to answer this survey with that in mind. But next week, it'll be clearer whether voters who had doubts over Lee Jae-myung due to his ongoing legal battles will have changed their minds. 3. But he isn't completely off the hook from these accusations. What about the Supreme Court's decision? That's right, the case can be taken to the Supreme Court, which would be the final and definite ruling. Now, since prosecutors lost the case at the appeals court, they are the ones who will have to appeal the case. Lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party are already calling for prosecutors to do so. If there is an appeal and if the Supreme Court overturns the decision to acquit Lee Jae-myung, Lee will lose his legislative seat and be barred from running for public office for the next five years. Here's the thing the Supreme Court has three months to make a ruling if prosecutors do appeal. That means even if the Constitutional Court decides to uphold President Yoon's impeachment within the next couple weeks a presidential election would be just 60 days away. This means theoretically speaking, DP Chair Lee Jae-myung could be the president before the Supreme Court rules on his case anyway which would pause the legal process. Article 84 of South Korea’s Constitution states that the president shall not be charged with a criminal offense which basic during his tenure of office, barring insurrection or treason. And it's all up to the Supreme Court's decision. "Even if the prosecutors speed up the appeal process and Lee Jae-myung doesn't purposely delay the legal process, the final issue at hand would be the will of the Supreme Court" 4. So where does Lee Jae-myung's trial fit into the picture when it comes to President Yoon's impeachment? It's certainly unrelated, but surely there must be some effect. Dami, you're absolutely right this is a criminal trial and Yoon's impeachment is a Constitutional Court trial and we're looking at the two most influential politicians of the nation. Before the ruling, the ruling People Power Party had a bit of confidence in the trial of course because of the first result of Lee being guilty. Many of them had accused Lee of purposefully delaying the trial process so the final result comes out after the possible presidential election. Now, that message won't carry as much weight. But all in all, both parties are calling for the Constitutional Court to quickly announce the date of the verdict as the continued vacancy in the nation's presidency only prolongs uncertainties. 5. So when will there be the ruling, do we know? Dami, this is already the longest presidential impeachment trial in the nation's history. While many guessed that the decision was likely to come in March, that ship has sailed. Now, one thing to note is that two Constitutional Court justices will retire on April 18th leaving a bench with only 6 justices. Therefore, it's highly likely that the Court will rule before then. Now, if we consider the fact that all previous presidential impeachment decisions came on Fridays that means there's a chance of it happening on April 4th or 11th, but as we've seen anything is possible. That was our Kim Do-yeon. Thank you.