News
S. Korean leader holds 1st phone call with Japanese PM, marking 2nd phone conversation with world leader after Trump
2025/06/10 10:00
President Lee held his first phone call with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba since taking office. According to the Presidential Office, the two leaders agreed to work together toward building a strong and stable relationship between Korea and Japan. Our foreign affairs correspondent Oh Soo-young reports. Agreeing on continued cooperation bilaterally and trilaterally with the United States, the leaders of South Korea and Japan held their first phone call since the Lee Jae-myung administration took office last week. According to Seoul's top office, President Lee Jae-myung and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba spoke on the phone for around 25 minutes on Monday, marking Lee's second phone call with a foreign leader following his conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump. Given the importance of Korea-Japan relations amid the current strategic environment, the leaders agreed on the need to build a "strong and mature" bilateral relationship, based on a responsible approach. Lee conveyed his hope that the two neighbours will seek ways to cooperate on future challenges in a mutually beneficial manner, grounded in their respective national interests. The two leaders further agreed to strengthen efforts to respond to various geopolitical challenges through the framework of trilateral cooperation with the United States. When asked by reporters whether historical issues related to Japan's colonisation of Korea and its wartime atrocities were raised during the conversation, a presidential official said that the leaders' dialogue remained within the bounds of customary diplomatic protocol. Throughout his campaign and since taking office, the President has consistently emphasised a "two-track" strategy of addressing historical issues based on principles, while promoting practical cooperation in economic and security matters. The Japanese PM's office noted that Ishiba expressed his intent to work closely together in responding to North Korea, including the issue of Pyongyang's abductions of Japanese citizens. In light of the 60th anniversary of the normalisation of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the two leaders also discussed the importance of enhancing communication between their governments and promoting active people-to-people exchanges. The two leaders plan to meet in person in the future for in-depth discussions on bilateral ties and other issues of mutual interest. Observers believe the face-to-face occasion could come as early as this weekend on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Canada. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.
Lee calls for measures to curb inflation, orders supplementary budget in speedy manner
2025/06/09 20:00
Good evening. President Lee Jae-myung kicked off his first full week in office by looking at the people's livelihoods and stressing the urgent need for an extra budget to revive the local economy. Our top office correspondent Yoon Jung-min starts us off. Noting higher prices cause too much pain to the people, this is how President Lee Jae-myung began the second emergency economic task force meeting: "I heard that prices have gone up sharply recently. Is it true that ramyeon costs 2,000 won each?" The President urged his team to seek out measures to tamp down inflation before they meet again next time. Present at Monday's meeting in Yongsan were newly appointed aides, including Chief of Policy Kim Yong-beom and Senior Secretary for Economic Growth Ha Joon-kyung as well as relevant government officials. "I hope you regard an hour we spend as worth 52-million hours. The impact is that great." The agenda behind closed doors outlined an additional supplementary budget, signaling a shift towards an expansionary fiscal approach at a time when the country is facing a low growth rate for this year, expected to hover around 1-percent, as well as sluggish demand at home. "The President ordered an extra budget to be organized in a speedy manner to revive the economy and boost consumption. Secondly, he urged for priority to be given to the vulnerable and small business owners for support." The National Assembly passed a 13-point-8 trillion-won extra budget bill in May, worth some 10-billion U.S. dollars, and the second batch is expected to be at least 20-trillion won. Details, including the size of the extra budget, have not been disclosed. The newly inaugurated South Korean leader ordered the launch of the emergency economic task force as his first executive order, as soon as he took office last week. Yoon Jung-min, Arirang News.
U.S. National Guard faces off with protestors as LA erupts over immigration raids
2025/06/09 20:00
In the U.S. now. Tensions are higher than ever in LA with the deployment of National Guard troops to tame immigration protests. Our Choi Soo-hyung has the details. Violent clashes continue as cars burn in downtown Los Angeles. Tear gas is fired at the protestors, covering the street with smoke. The protests were sparked when Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and the FBI raided downtown shops last Friday, detaining around 44 people, mostly Hispanic immigrants. "It is a beautiful day of resistance because Trump, the administration, Border Patrol, ICE, they know, now they know they cannot go anywhere in this country where our people are and try to kidnap our workers, our people." On Sunday local time, for a second day, protests erupted in several areas including Paramount and Paramount and Santa Barbara over surprise immigrant arrests. "It's disappointing. It's heartbreaking to know that our community is going through this. But it's also beautiful to see everybody come out together and stand against it and we're going to continue doing that." U.S. President Donald Trump deployed 2,000 National Guard troops. He described protesters as rioters and looters, and banned them from wearing masks. It is the first time since 1965 that a U.S. president has deployed the National Guard without a governor's request. And it's also the first time in 33 years that they've been deployed to control protestors the previous time being the 1992 LA riots. California's Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom condemned President Trump's decision. No Koreans are known to be among those detained in the recent mass arrests. However, under the Trump administration's tougher immigration policy, there have been individual cases of Korean nationals being arrested and detained in LA. The Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in LA said there have been about four to five cases involving issues such as missing visa documents. President Trump had pledged during last year's election to deport over one million undocumented immigrants every year. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.
Seoul High Court postpones President Lee's retrial for election law violation indefinitely
2025/06/09 20:00
President Lee Jae-myung's retrial for alleged election law violation has been postponed indefinitely. The Seoul High Court announced the postponement earlier on this Monday citing the constitutional protection granted to a sitting president. Article 84 of the Constitution stipulates that the president shall not be subject to criminal prosecution while in office with the exception of insurrection or treason.
S. Korean leader holds 1st phone call with Japanese PM, marking 2nd phone conversation with world leader after Trump
2025/06/09 20:00
President Lee also held his first phone call with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba since taking office. According to the Presidential Office, the two leaders agreed to work together toward building a strong and stable Korea-Japan relationship. Oh Soo-young reports. Agreeing on continued cooperation bilaterally and trilaterally with the United States, the leaders of South Korea and Japan held their first phone call since the Lee Jae-myung administration took office last week. According to Seoul's top office, President Lee Jae-myung and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba spoke on the phone for around 25 minutes on Monday, marking Lee's second phone call with a foreign leader following his conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump. Given the importance of Korea-Japan relations amid the current strategic environment, the leaders agreed on the need to build a "strong and mature" bilateral relationship, based on a responsible approach. Lee conveyed his hope that the two neighbours will seek ways to cooperate on future challenges in a mutually beneficial manner, grounded in their respective national interests. The two leaders further agreed to strengthen efforts to respond to various geopolitical challenges through the framework of trilateral cooperation with the United States. When asked by reporters whether historical issues related to Japan's colonisation of Korea and its wartime atrocities were raised during the conversation, a presidential official said that the leaders' dialogue remained within the bounds of customary diplomatic protocol. Throughout his campaign and since taking office, the President has consistently emphasised a "two-track" strategy of addressing historical issues based on principles, while promoting practical cooperation in economic and security matters. The Japanese PM's office noted that Ishiba expressed his intent to work closely together in responding to North Korea, including the issue of Pyongyang's abductions of Japanese citizens. In light of the 60th anniversary of the normalisation of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the two leaders also discussed the importance of enhancing communication between their governments and promoting active people-to-people exchanges. The two leaders plan to meet in person in the future for in-depth discussions on bilateral ties and other issues of mutual interest. Observers believe the face-to-face occasion could come as early as this weekend on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Canada. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.
Post-Election: Can President Lee Jae-myung bridge S. Korea's political divide?
2025/06/09 20:00
Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues into focus. I'm Kim Mok-yeon. South Korea has entered a new political era. On June 4th, President Lee Jae-myung was inaugurated after an emergency snap election—triggered under the exceptional circumstances of martial law declared last December. The vote, while constitutionally sound, exposed deep divisions across the country. Electoral data shows a nation split sharply by region, gender, and generation. The most striking trend: a generational gender divide, with young men and women voting in opposite directions, prompting global headlines about a democracy being reshaped by identity politics. With a legislative majority, the Lee administration now has the momentum to act decisively. But the broader question looms—how will it govern a polarized public? For a deeper discussion on this, we are joined in the studio by Hans Schattle, Professor of Political Science at Yonsei University And to my right is Soo Jin (Suzie) Kim, Professor of Political Theory at Kyung Hee University. Thank you for coming on. 1. (Schattle) President Lee took office on June 4th after an unprecedented snap election triggered by the martial law declaration. What does this unusual transition say about the current state of Korean democracy? 2. (Kim) Looking at the results of the 21st presidential election, the vote showed sharp divides by region, age, and gender. Why is Korea's political polarization getting so extreme? 3. (Schattle) A particularly notable trend was the gender divide. Young voters, especially Gen Z, were split sharply by gender. Some say this divide is reshaping Korean politics. Do you agree—and what's behind it? 4. (Kim) This deep political polarization and public division are widely considered the greatest challenge facing the Lee Jae-myung administration. In fact, President Lee stressed unity in his Memorial Day speech. What should be the top priority if he wants real social and political integration? 5. (Schattle) President Lee has consistently highlighted the need for constitutional reform, including a four-year, two-term presidency, to ease gridlock. Do you think that could help reduce polarization? 6. (Kim) This snap election has resulted in a new power dynamic—ruling party majority, opposition minority. With this, Lee can move fast—but that raises concerns about overreach. How can he push for reforms while keeping democratic balance? 7. (Schattle) At the same time, generational and gender-based conflicts have emerged as major social fault lines. With regards to gender and generational tensions—what kind of neutral, fair approach should the government take? 8. (Schattle) Political polarization is not unique to Korea—it is also observed in countries like the U.S. and across Europe. Are there any unity strategies from the U.S. or Europe that Korea could apply? 9. (Kim) Looking ahead—what kind of leadership and political culture are essential for the Lee Jae-myung administration to reach long-term social cohesion?
Lee calls for measures to curb inflation, orders supplementary budget in speedy manner
2025/06/09 17:00
Welcome to The Daily Report. We start here on the local front with the latest from the second economic task force meeting presided over by the president during which he shared grave concerns about the cost of groceries. Our top office correspondent Yoon Jung-min reports. Noting higher prices cause too much pain to the people, this is how President Lee Jae-myung began the second emergency economic task force meeting: "I heard that prices have gone up sharply recently. Is it true that ramyeon costs 2,000 won each?" The President urged his team to seek out measures to tamp down inflation before they meet again next time. Present at Monday's meeting in Yongsan were newly appointed aides, including Chief of Policy Kim Yong-beom and Senior Secretary for Economic Growth Ha Joon-kyung as well as relevant government officials. "I hope you regard an hour we spend as worth 52-million hours. The impact is that great." The agenda behind closed doors outlined an additional supplementary budget, signaling a shift towards an expansionary fiscal approach at a time when the country is facing a low growth rate for this year, expected to hover around 1-percent, as well as sluggish demand at home. "The President ordered an extra budget to be organized in a speedy manner to revive the economy and boost consumption. Secondly, he urged for priority to be given to the vulnerable and small business owners for support." The National Assembly passed a 13-point-8 trillion-won extra budget bill in May, worth some 10-billion U.S. dollars, and the second batch is expected to be at least 20-trillion won. Details, including the size of the extra budget, have not been disclosed. The newly inaugurated South Korean leader ordered the launch of the emergency economic task force as his first executive order, as soon as he took office last week. Yoon Jung-min, Arirang News.
World News: Colombia presidential hopeful shot in head at rally, fighting for life
2025/06/09 17:00
This is the World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. Colombian senator Miguel Uribe Turbay remains in critical condition after he was shot twice in the head during a campaign rally. The 39-year-old right-wing politician, from the country's largest opposition party, has entered "the critical hours" of recovery after surgery. Uribe, who had expressed his intention to run in next year's presidential election, was addressing supporters in a park on Saturday when he was shot, allegedly by a 15-year-old boy carrying a pistol. Uribe was airlifted to hospital, which said on Sunday morning that surgical procedures have been completed and he remains in intensive care. The suspect was arrested at the scene, and authorities are investigating whether others are involved. Colombian President Gustavo Petro condemned the attack, calling it a threat to "democracy and freedom in Colombia." A major prisoner swap between Ukraine and Russia has been delayed, with conflicting claims from both sides. On Saturday, Vladimir Medinsky, the head of Russia's delegation for peace talks, said that Ukraine had indefinitely postponed the agreed exchange of the largest number of prisoners, involving both wounded and seriously ill, as well as the bodies of fallen soldiers. Medinsky accused Ukraine of failing to show up at the exchange site. However, Ukraine rejected Russia's claims, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy calling them a "dirty political game" and reaffirming Kyiv's commitment to the swaps. Zelenskyy also said Russia did not provide a complete list of prisoners to be released under agreements made earlier in peace talks held in Istanbul. Ukraine's military intelligence chief said that the exchange would proceed as scheduled next week and described Russia's accusations of delays as misinformation. Pope Leo XIV , marking a month since his formal inauguration, condemned a formal surge in nationalist politics during his Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square. Addressing tens of thousands of people, he said we must "break down walls, dispel hatred," denouncing exclusionary ideologies without mentioning specific nations or leaders. Echoing the words of the late Pope Francis, the pontiff highlighted the irony of growing societal isolation amid increasing digital connection. Pope Leo also called for a just peace in Ukraine and Gaza, and prayed for reconciliation wherever conflict persists. Berlin is in festive mode as the annual Carnival of Cultures kicked off its 27th event on Friday under the theme "Join in -and give courage." The Carnival of Cultures began in 1996, showcasing the different cultures of Berlin's residents and visitors. The festival aims to provide an opportunity for multicultural communities to showcase their vibrant and diverse cultural roots through various performances. The event also offers food trucks and open-air concerts. Traffic is closed during the period along the parade route for security purposes. The festival comes to a close on Monday. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.
Israel, U.S. agree to end UNIFIL mission in southern Lebanon
2025/06/09 17:00
In the Middle East. A UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon set up almost 50 years ago looks to be shuttered amid U.S. intentions to oppose renewing its mandate. Lee Eun-jin explains. Israeli media reported on Sunday that the United States and Israel agreed that the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, should cease its operations in southern Lebanon. According to the Israel Hayom newspaper, U.S. President Donald Trump's administration decided not to renew the UNIFIL mandate, citing cost reduction as the reason, and Israel reportedly "did not try to convince them otherwise." Reports say that Israel considers the presence of the Lebanese Armed Forces to be much more effective in beating back the threat of Hezbollah, and that many of UNIFIL's operations in the region were redundant. UNIFIL's mandate is renewed annually through a UN Security Council resolution in August. As a permanent member of the Security Council, the U.S. could simply veto the next resolution, which would bring an end to UNIFIL's operations for the first time in 47 years since its establishment in 1978. However, Israel Hayom noted that another permanent member of the Security Council, France, is a long-time supporter of the UNIFIL. If France opposes the plan to cease operations, there may be a compromise to gradually scale down the mission rather than abruptly halting it. UNIFIL was deployed along the Israel-Lebanon border in 1978 to maintain peace after Israel first invaded Lebanon during clashes with Palestinian armed groups. Currently, about 11,000 troops and civilians from 48 countries are stationed there. According to the Jerusalem Post, no officials from the United States, Israel, or the UN have addressed the announcement. Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.
U.S. National Guard faces off with protestors as LA erupts over immigration raids
2025/06/09 17:00
Over in the U.S. Concerns are mounting over the deployment of National Guard troops to LA to quell public protests against raids by ICE agents this past weekend. Our Choi Soo-hyung reports. Violent clashes continue as cars burn in downtown Los Angeles. Tear gas is fired at the protestors, covering the street with smoke. The protests were sparked when Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and the FBI raided downtown shops last Friday, detaining around 44 people, mostly Hispanic immigrants. "It is a beautiful day of resistance because Trump, the administration, Border Patrol, ICE, they know, now they know they cannot go anywhere in this country where our people are and try to kidnap our workers, our people." On Sunday local time, for a second day, protests erupted in several areas including Paramount and Paramount and Santa Barbara over surprise immigrant arrests. "It's disappointing. It's heartbreaking to know that our community is going through this. But it's also beautiful to see everybody come out together and stand against it and we're going to continue doing that." U.S. President Donald Trump deployed 2,000 National Guard troops. He described protesters as rioters and looters, and banned them from wearing masks. It is the first time since 1965 that a U.S. president has deployed the National Guard without a governor's request. And it's also the first time in 33 years that they've been been deployed to control protestors the previous time being the 1992 LA riots. California's Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom condemned President Trump's decision. No Koreans are known to be among those detained in the recent mass arrests. However, under the Trump administration's tougher immigration policy, there have been individual cases of Korean nationals being arrested and detained in LA. The Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in LA said there have been about four to five cases involving issues such as missing visa documents. President Trump had pledged during last year's election to deport over one million undocumented immigrants every year. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.
Seoul High Court postpones President Lee's retrial for election law violation indefinitely
2025/06/09 17:00
President Lee Jae-myung's retrial for alleged election law violation has been postponed indefinitely. The Seoul High Court announced the postponement earlier on this Monday citing the constitutional protection granted to a sitting president. Article 84 of the Constitution stipulates that the president shall not be subject to criminal prosecution while in office with the exception of insurrection or treason.
Pres. Lee, Japan's PM Ishiba agree to tackle geopolitical crises in trilateral cooperation with U.S.
2025/06/09 17:00
On the diplomatic front. President Lee Jae-myung and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba have agreed to address geopolitical challenges within their trilateral framework with the U.S. This is according to Presidential Spokesperson Kang Yu-jung following the two leaders' first phone call earlier on this Monday. The 25-minute interaction also touched upon the importance of active communication between their governments and on plans to meet in person to discuss the direction of future bilateral ties as the two countries celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations this year.
PRES. LEE TO MAKE DIPLOMATIC DEBUT AT G7 IN CANADA
2025/06/09 17:00
Hope your workweek is off to a good start. It's Monday June 9th here in Seoul. I'm Min Sunhee. It's been less than a week since President Lee Jae-myung has entered the top office and already plans are in the works for his debut on the international stage at the G7 gathering over in Canada this coming Sunday. For more I have Fabian Kretschmer with the German news agency dpa. Fabian welcome back. I also have Steven Borowiec with Japanese weekly news magazine Nikkei Asia. Steven as always it's good to have you here. 1) Now Fabian, before we touch upon his diplomatic debut, let's begin with the president's victory of the snap election. 2) Steven, we spoke on the show on the eve of election day, and we are now talking about the DP's triumph. 3) Fabian, the annual NATO summit takes place later this month in the Netherlands. 4) Steven, despite the uncertainty with regard to South Korea's participation in the NATO summit in late June, President Lee Jae-myung is poised to partake in the G7 summit in Canada early next week . 5) Steven, President Lee Jae-myung is also likely to sit down with his Japanese counterpart Shigeru Ishiba on the sidelines of the G7 summit. 6) Fabian, also at the G7 gathering, there are plans for a separate bilateral exchange between President Lee Jae-myung and his American counterpart Donald Trump. 7) Steven, speaking at the annual Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore slightly more than a week ago, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned against the pursuit of security with the U.S. and trade with China. 8) Fabian, with regard to tensions here on the Korean peninsula, do you envision a tangible de-escalation in the conflict between Seoul and Pyongyang under the Lee Jae-myung administration? All right.
Pope criticizes surge of nationalist political movements as he prays for reconciliation, dialogue
2025/06/09 10:00
Pope Leo XIV , marking a month since his formal inauguration, condemned a global surge in nationalist politics during his Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square. Addressing tens of thousands of people, he said we must "break down walls, dispel hatred," denouncing exclusionary ideologies without mentioning specific nations or leaders. Echoing the words of the late Pope Francis, the pontiff highlighted the irony of growing societal isolation amid increasing digital connection. Pope Leo also called for a just peace in Ukraine and Gaza, and prayed for reconciliation wherever conflict persists.
Planned Russia-Ukraine prisoner swap delayed
2025/06/09 10:00
A major prisoner-swap between Ukraine and Russia has been delayed, with conflicting claims from both sides. On Saturday, Vladimir Medinsky, the head of Russia's delegation for peace talks, said that Ukraine had indefinitely postponed the agreed exchange of the largest number of prisoners, involving both wounded and seriously ill, as well as the bodies of fallen soldiers. Medinsky accused Ukraine of failing to show up at the exchange site. However, Ukraine rejected Russia's claims, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy calling them a "dirty political game" and reaffirming Kyiv's commitment to the swaps. Zelenskyy also said Russia did not provide a complete list of prisoners to be released under agreements made earlier in peace talks held in Istanbul. Ukraine's military intelligence chief said that the exchange would proceed as scheduled next week and described Russia's accusations of delays as misinformation.
Colombia presidential hopeful shot in head at rally, fighting for life
2025/06/09 10:00
Let's begin in Colombia, where a conservative senator and presidential candidate was shot during a campaign rally. Tell us more. Right. Colombian senator Miguel Uribe Turbay remains in critical condition after he was shot twice in the head. The 39-year-old right-wing politician, from the country's largest opposition party, has entered "the critical hours" of recovery after surgery. Uribe, who had expressed his intention to run in next year's presidential election, was addressing supporters in a park on Saturday when he was shot, allegedly by a 15-year-old boy carrying a pistol. Uribe was airlifted to hospital, which said on Sunday morning that surgical procedures have been completed and he remains in intensive care. The suspect was arrested at the scene, and authorities are investigating whether others are involved. Colombian President Gustavo Petro condemned the attack, calling it a threat to "democracy and freedom in Colombia."
Israeli military kills 4 near aid distribution site in south Gaza
2025/06/09 10:00
At least four Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces on Sunday at an aid distribution site in the southern Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, the U.S. and Israel agreed that the UN Interim Force in Lebanon must cease its operations in southern Lebanon. Lee Seung-jae has more. Four people were killed by Israeli forces on Sunday, as desperate Palestinians tried to make their way towards an aid distribution site in southern Gaza. The Israeli military said in a statement that its troops did open fire, but stressed that it had directed warning shots at a group of people moving towards soldiers, who were deemed a threat. The Israeli military added that the crowd was verbally warned to leave the area, as it was considered an active military zone at the time. It said that people are only allowed to move to and from the distribution sites between 6 AM and 6 PM, with non-daylight hours considered a closed military period. Dozens of deadly shootings have taken place at distribution sites around Gaza over the past week. Meanwhile, the U.S. and Israel have agreed that the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon must cease its operations in southern Lebanon. According to the Jerusalem Post on Sunday, the U.S. administration has decided not to renew UNIFIL's mandate, which is granted through a UN Security Council resolution annually. That means the U.S. could veto the next resolution in August. Meanwhile, the Israeli military said it located and identified the body of Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar. According to the Israel Defense Forces on Sunday, his body was discovered in a tunnel underneath the European Hospital in Khan Younis, while his identity was confirmed by DNA testing. Hamas has not publicly confirmed his death. Sinwar was killed in an air strike last month, with the body of Mohammad Sabaneh, the commander of Hamas' Rafah Brigade, found next to him. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.
S. Korean delegation inspects Alaska LNG project site for feasibility assessment
2025/06/09 10:00
A South Korean delegation has visited a liquefied natural gas project site in Alaska to assess its viability. According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on Sunday, the South Korean delegation returned after taking part in the 4th Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference in Anchorage last week. During the visit, the delegation inspected the Alaska LNG project site,.. currently being promoted by the Trump administration. They observed the project area and listened to the explanation of the project plan. U.S. officials, as well as government representatives from South Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Japan, took part in the inspection.
U.S. National Guard faces off with protestors as LA erupts over immigration raids
2025/06/09 10:00
In Los Angeles protests erupt as the Trump administration launches military-style immigration raids. Despite pushback from the state of California, 2,000 National Guard troops are on the ground facing off with protesters. Our Choi Soo-hyung has more. Violent clashes continue as cars burn in downtown Los Angeles. Tear gas is fired at the protestors, covering the street with smoke. The protests were sparked when Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and the FBI raided downtown shops last Friday, detaining around 44 people, mostly Hispanic immigrants. "It is a beautiful day of resistance because Trump, the administration, Border Patrol, ICE, they know, now they know they cannot go anywhere in this country where our people are and try to kidnap our workers, our people." On Sunday local time, for a second day, protests erupted in several areas including Paramount and Paramount and Santa Barbara over surprise immigrant arrests. "It's disappointing. It's heartbreaking to know that our community is going through this. But it's also beautiful to see everybody come out together and stand against it and we're going to continue doing that." U.S. 주미 대통령 Donald Trump deployed 2,000 National Guard troops. He described protesters as rioters and looters, and banned them from wearing masks. It is the first time since 1965 that a U.S. president has deployed the National Guard without a governor's request. And it's also the first time in 33 years that they've been deployed to control protestors the previous time being the 1992 LA riots. California's Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom condemned President Trump's decision. No Koreans are known to be among those detained in the recent mass arrests. However, under the Trump administration's tougher immigration policy, there have been individual cases of Korean nationals being arrested and detained in LA. The Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in LA said there have been about four to five cases involving issues such as missing visa documents. President Trump had pledged during last year's election to deport over one million undocumented immigrants every year. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.
Top office appoints figures with "extensive experience" as key secretaries
2025/06/09 10:00
President Lee Jae-myung continues to fill key posts at the presidential office, with four-term lawmaker Woo Sang-ho tapped as his secretary for political affairs. Also named were Lee Kyu-youn, former CEO of local cable channel JTBC, as presidential secretary for public relations and communication and prosecutor-turned-lawyer Oh Kwang-soo as secretary for civil affairs. In a briefing on Sunday, Lee's chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik said Woo was chosen to coordinate bipartisan communication and achieve integration based on his extensive legislative experience. He added that Lee, a veteran journalist, has been chosen to prioritize communication with the people while Oh has a profound understanding of the president's philosophy on prosecutorial reform.