News

Ukraine says Russia launched largest drone attack since beginning of war

2025/05/19 10:00

Ukrainian military officials said Sunday that Russia had launched its largest drone attack since the invasion began in February 2022. Ukraine's Air Force said the attack on Saturday night killed one person in the Kyiv region and injured at least three others, including a four-year-old child. Officials also said the strikes prove Russia has no intention of stopping the war, despite international pressure for a ceasefire. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated Sunday that a peace deal with Ukraine should "eliminate the causes that triggered this crisis" and "guarantee Russia's security." His comments come as U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he will speak separately to Putin and Zelenskyy on Monday about a potential ceasefire agreement.

Former President Joe Biden diagnosed with prostate cancer

2025/05/19 10:00

Former U.S. President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with cancer, which doctors say has metastasized to his bones. According to the New York Times on Sunday, the 82-year-old has been diagnosed with an aggressive form의 aggressive form of prostate cancer. A spokesperson from Biden's office said the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive, which allows for effective management. The former U.S. leader and his family are reviewing treatment options. President Donald Trump took to his social media to extend his best wishes to Biden and his family, hoping for a "fast and successful recovery."

On-point: S. Korea, U.S. to hold 2nd trade negotiations in Washington this week

2025/05/19 10:00

The United States' 90-day tariff pause will end in about 50 days, which makes the upcoming trade negotiations between Seoul and Washington this week more timely than ever. Let us turn to Professor Greg Buchak for more. Welcome back. 1. The trade talks this time will focus on technical discussions on six areas related to trade. They are trade imbalances, non-tariff measures, economic security, country of origin of products, and commercial considerations. Why these areas, and were they expected? Are these the areas that the U.S. has long been not too happy about? 2. Which of these areas will be pivotal in the upcoming discussions? Will shipbuilding be included? 3. What do you think the U.S. really wants? Will the U.S. side demand what it wants this time? 4. How much progress out of the talks will be considered tangible? What should Team Korea aim for at the second round of negotiations this week? 5. What is the likelihood that the two sides may not settle things before the July 8th deadline? Or will the two sides try their best to make it before then? Thank you so much for your time and your insight this morning. We appreciate it.

Presidential race heats up with Constitutional reform discussion and Yoon's PPP exit

2025/05/19 10:00

The anniversary of the May 18 Pro-democratization movement usually pushes politicians to address Constitutional reform. This year was no different, with a presidential election going on. Our Kim Do-yeon has more. Against the backdrop of the May 18 Pro-Democratization Movement anniversary, the presidential race is heating up over the issue of constitutional reform. It began with Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung posting on Facebook, renewing calls to enshrine the spirit of the movement in the Constitution and carry its legacy forward. But what drew more attention was his push to overhaul Korea’s power structure, proposing a four-year presidential term with the possibility of re-election, similar to the U.S. model. The rival People Power Party had already floated a similar idea but took it a step further, suggesting the next president serve a shortened three-year term, allowing the new four-year system to begin in 2028, in line with the next general election. Lee said such limitations are only necessary for those who abuse presidential power. "What truly matters isn’t just constitutional reform, but restoring stability, reviving the economy, and improving people’s lives." The PPP candidate Kim Moon-soo welcomed the discussion, even proposing to scrap a presidential immunity from criminal prosecution, which would mean presidents could face trial even while in office. He also called for an immediate agreement from Lee to amend the Constitution. Another key turning point came Saturday, with impeached former President Yoon Suk Yeol announcing he would leave the People Power Party. Pressure had been building, especially after the PPP’s interim leader publicly urged him to leave. Yoon said he would continue to support the PPP as a private citizen, not as a party member. With the race still overshadowed by Yoon’s martial law controversy and impeachment, the PPP has struggled to boost its approval ratings. Kim responded briefly, repeating his stance that Yoon’s decision is his alone. "I respect the president's decision to leave the party. The Party will now unite stronger and reform more to reflect the people's will." Opposition parties were quick to call it a political maneuver. The DP’s Lee Jae-myung said the PPP should have expelled Yoon long ago and called his departure a fake exit. With presidential power and the legacy of martial law both looming over the race, voters now head into the final stretch, with just over two weeks left until the June 3rd election. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.

U.S. Treasury Secretary says Trump will raise tariffs on nations that do not negotiatie in 'good faith'

2025/05/19 10:00

A top U.S. economic official says the Trump administration will raise tariffs again if countries don’t reach trade agreements during the 90-day pause period further raising tariff pressure. Bae Eun-ji has the details. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who acts as a principal advisor to Trump has said tariff rates will soon return to a "reciprocal" level for nations that do not reach trade agreements during the 90-day pause. In an interview with CNN on Sunday local time, he said Trump has put the countries on notice that if they don't negotiate in "good faith," they will ratchet back up to the April 2nd level. Calling it a "Liberation Day," Trump announced a set of reciprocal tariffs on April 2nd, before putting a temporary pause to those levies for 90 days. Speaking during a business roundtable in Abu Dhabi on Friday, he said that time is running out for countries to make a trade deal with the United States. "And we have, at the same time, 150 countries that want to make a deal but you're not able to see that many countries so at a certain point over the next two weeks I think Scott and Howard will be sending letters out, essentially telling people, we want to be very fair, but we'll be telling people what they'll be paying to do business in the United States." Meanwhile, Bessent also noted there are 18 important trading partners that the United States is most focused on solidifying deals with, while adding that there are a lot of smaller trading relationships. As the deadline looms, he said Washington may impose some tariffs by region rather than on individual countries.. saying they may impose a certain rate for Central America and a certain rate for Africa. Amid growing pressure,.. South Korea, which faces 25 percent U.S. reciprocal tariffs, is also making efforts to reach a trade deal. The country's finance minister and trade minister met with Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in late April, and requested exemptions from higher levies. With only about 50 days left until the July 8th deadline, senior trade officials from Seoul are scheduled to hold more consultations in Washington later this week. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.

Israeli military conducts large-scale operations in Gaza

2025/05/19 10:00

The Israeli military has launched wide-scale ground operation across Gaza, leading to massive casualties. However, in Qatar, ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas continue, with Israeli leaving open the possibility of a ceasefire. Lee Seung-jae reports. Smoke rises from buildings across Gaza, with residents running to collapsed buildings to rescue those trapped inside. It's become a common sight in the enclave, with the Israeli military having launched an "extensive" new ground operation across the Gaza Strip Sunday, marking the fourth straight day of offensives in the region. The Israeli military says, it is targeting Hamas' military infrastructure above and below ground, destroy Hamas commanders and the militants' remaining forces, and rescue the remaining Israeli hostages. However, significant civilian casualties are being reported in the region. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry reported that more than 400 people have been killed in the four days since the offensives began last week. This includes over 100 people killed in Gaza on Sunday. Meanwhile, Israel said ceasefire talks with Hamas have resumed in Doha, Qatar, adding that the negotiations are working on all possibilities, including ending the war. The remarks are a step back from their previous stance that the end of war is impossible until Hamas is completely eliminated. Local reports also say that Hamas' leader, Mohammed Sinwar, has been killed along with 10 of his associates. Sinwar, who was openly against negotiations with Israel, was found dead inside a Hamas-built tunnel during Israel's ground offensives. Israel has also announced that it will finally allow a "basic amount of food" to enter Gaza, to ensure that "a famine crisis does not develop" after blockading the enclave for ten weeks. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

2025 PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE

2025/05/18 20:00

- 2025 PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE

[WEEKLY FOCUS] Presidential hopefuls prioritize economy, highlighting AI and trade

2025/05/17 12:00

As the country gears up for a pivotal presidential election, one particular theme is consistent across all major campaigns: the economy. Candidates are packing their pledges with economic and business-related policies, with different approaches to similar issues. For more, we’re joined in the studio by our economics correspondent, Moon Hye-ryeon. Welcome, Hye-ryeon. It’s good to be here. So what are candidates promising, and why is the economic agenda taking up such a significant portion of their pledges? In South Korea, presidential candidates are required to submit a formal document to the National Election Commission that details their key policy proposals. Looking at the two major candidates this year — Lee Jae-myung and Kim Moon-soo, a significant portion of their pledges focus on economic issues. In the case of Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party candidate, half of his pledges have been classified under “economic” policies. For Kim Moon-soo, the People Power Party candidate, this comes to a total of seven out of ten. “It's true that Korea is now in a slump, with very low growth, among the worst globally, right? I will bring this economy back to life as a president of the economy, everyone!” “To overcome the trade crisis stemming from the U.S. and the fierce AI race, and to avoid getting crushed between global superpowers, the entire nation must unite and pool its strengths.” The prominence of economic pledges in their campaigns reflects how the country is grappling with slowing economic growth and global uncertainties stemming from U.S. trade policies. Recent data has shown that economic growth shrank in the first quarter of the year, and economic institutions at home and abroad are revising down their economic projections. As a result, both candidates are presenting themselves as the best equipped to tackle these issues. Out of the many economic pledges you’ve just pointed out for us, are there any topics that seem to be getting special attention from the candidates? Yes — and that’s evident in how the candidates have structured their pledges for submission. Here’s what an expert said. “Where a candidate places an issue, whether it ranks first or tenth, tells us a great deal about what they’re really focused on.” So when artificial intelligence shows up as Lee Jae-myung’s number one pledge, and as Kim Moon-soo’s second, it sends a clear message that both candidates consider this to be central to South Korea’s economic future. Both are pledging a huge sum of 100 trillion Korean won, approximately 71 billion U.S. dollars, in investments for AI, signaling the scale of their ambition for the sector. Another overlap in their AI-related pledges is that they both agree that the current regulatory framework in the country is lagging behind other countries. Lee wants to use special exemptions to help AI-convergent industries grow more quickly. Kim, on the other hand, talks about aligning AI regulation with global standards and conducting impact assessments before new rules are introduced. It’s a recognition that if Korea wants to compete with the likes of the U.S. or China, it can’t afford red tape that slows down innovation. In that case, what are some other differences in their AI strategies? Lee Jae-myung emphasizes public access. His “AI for All” initiative would offer citizens free, advanced AI services — including a Korean-made version of ChatGPT. He also pledges to secure over 50 thousand high-performance GPUs and establish a national AI data cluster. Meanwhile, Kim Moon-soo proposes a public-private fund to foster AI unicorn firms and expand industry talent. And he has very specific targets for talent: he plans to train 200 thousand young AI professionals through expanded graduate programs and software-centered universities. And worth mentioning here, although less prominent in the polls, is Lee Jun-seok, the former People Power Party leader now running as a third-party candidate. His AI vision calls for a dramatic reduction in state intervention and wants market-driven AI innovation, with stronger digital sovereignty and open-source infrastructure at the core. AI is a topic that’s become more prominent recently, and I’m wondering if the candidates also address another pressing issue these days: trade? That’s right, trade is a pressing issue as reciprocal tariff exemptions from the United States expire just a month after the elections. Kim Moon-soo’s top pledge centers around trade, as he proposes a reset of Korea’s trade strategy, starting with an immediate South Korea–U.S. summit and new negotiations on tariffs. Lee Jae-myung is more focused on domestic resilience. While he acknowledges the need to adapt to the global economic order, he doesn’t emphasize alliances or trade pacts in the same way. Instead, he prioritizes homegrown innovation and economic self-reliance, in line with his vision of building a more robust domestic economy that’s less vulnerable to external shocks. Lee Jun-seok, again, takes a different line: he supports a decentralized, tech-led foreign trade approach, advocating for the use of blockchain in customs, logistics, and trade settlement to reduce dependence on geopolitical dynamics. Hye-ryeon, thank you for your report. Thank you for having me.

DP's Lee continues campaign in liberal stronghold, emphasizing balanced regional growth

2025/05/16 20:00

We start yet again with the latest on the campaign trail. Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung continued his campaign in his party's stronghold for the second day in a row, where he continued carrying a message for balanced regional growth. Our Correspondent Shin Ha-young reports. The Democratic Party's Lee Jae-myung, who began rallying support in his party’s strongholds on Thursday, continued his campaign in them on Friday, this time in Jeollabuk-do Province. Lee's campaign trail took him through the cities of Iksan, Gunsan, Jeonju and Jeongeup. During his visit to Iksan, Lee emphasized balanced regional growth, noting that Jeollabuk-do has been especially overlooked. "If the current concentration in the capital region continues, the country won’t be able to grow sustainably. Balanced regional growth isn't just about helping local regions it's a necessary strategy for South Korea’s future." Lee also addressed the overconcentration of universities in the capital and the need to strengthen universities in other regions. He said he would increase support for national universities outside of Seoul and promised to improve conditions for young people through better education, cultural opportunities, and jobs, so they don't feel the need to leave their provinces. During his visit to Jeonju, where he was met with traditional Korean music and gugak musicians, Lee said the culture industry was a key strategic sector. He added that the government should consider guaranteeing a minimum living wage for artists and cultural workers. In a social media post, Lee also announced new policies for women, including tougher penalties for dating violence and digital sex crimes, and plans to close the gender pay gap. Meanwhile, lawmaker Kim Sang-wook, who was in favor of former President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment and recently broke away from the People Power Party, showed up at Lee’s campaign to support him. Kim described Lee as both a true conservative and a true progressive, saying that those who divide politics into sides shouldn’t be involved in politics. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

Trump touts 'freedom zone' plan for Gaza as scores killed in Israeli airstrikes on enclave

2025/05/16 20:00

In the Middle East. As the U.S. President Trump is on his trip to the region, Israel continues pounding Gaza, killing more than 100 people. His itinerary does not include Israel. Lee Seung-jae has the latest. With ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas stalled, the Israeli military conducted airstrikes on dozens of sites in Gaza from Wednesday night and into Thursday. The latest barrage of airstrikes killed at least 114 Gazans, with witnesses saying the Israeli military targeted medical facilities, including pediatric clinics. The airstrikes were also carried out as U.S. President Donald Trump was on his tour of the Middle East. Israel was excluded from his itinerary. However, Trump on Thursday doubled down on his proposal to displace Gazans, stressing again that the enclave should be made into a "freedom zone." Speaking to reporters after a round table with business leaders in Qatar, Trump said that "Gaza has been a territory of death and destruction for many years," adding that the U.S. should "get involved and make it a "freedom zone." All Arab states have rejected his plan, with Hamas calling it "ethnic cleansing." Meanwhile, Israeli media reported that ceasefire talks mediated by the U.S. have not made any progress due to differences in opinion between Israel and Hamas. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian delegations delayed by a day

2025/05/16 20:00

Peace talks between Russia and Ukraine that were scheduled for Thursday in Istanbul were delayed by one day, with the absence of Putin raising a question about whether Russia is serious about ending the war. Kim Bo-kyoung explains. All eyes were fixed on the first direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in more than three years, which were supposed to take place on Thursday but are now expected to happen on Friday in Istanbul. However, the negotiations failed to materialize amid criticism over the standard of the Russian delegation. Russian President Vladimir Putin was a noticeable absence on Moscow's list of attendees despite proposing the talks and a challenge from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to meet face to face. While making his announcement regarding the team headed by his defense minister to Istanbul for the peace talks, Zelenskyy criticized Moscow for not taking the negotiations seriously. "After we understood the level of the Russian delegation, we see that, unfortunately, they are not taking the real negotiations very seriously. So far, we do not see among those present anyone who actually makes decisions." The sides have also been separated with regard to the outcomes they each want from the direct talks. While Ukraine's top priority is a ceasefire, the Russian delegation, led by Vladimir Medinsky, said their goal was to "eliminate the basic root causes of the conflict", and to sooner or later establish long-term peace. He added that these negotiations are a continuation of the peace process that fell through in 2022, when Ukraine saw Russian demands as a threat to its sovereignty. Regarding the meeting, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday expressed limited optimism, saying Washington frankly does not have high expectations of the negotiations. Speaking to reporters in the southern Turkish city of Antalya, he said only the direct engagement between the U.S. and Russia could result in a breakthrough. "And frankly at this point I think it's abundantly clear that the only way we're going to have a breakthrough here is between President Trump and President Putin." Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.

Presidential candidate debates begin May 18, to be aired live on Arirang TV

2025/05/16 20:00

Arirang TV will broadcast three live debates featuring the major candidates, beginning this Sunday. Each debate will spotlight a different theme — economy on May 18th, social issues on May 23rd, and politics on May 27th. Four candidates will take the stage: Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party, Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party, Lee Jun-seok from the Reform Party, and Kwon Young-guk of the Democratic Labor Party. All three debates will begin at 8 PM Korea Standard Time.

Reform Party candidate calls on older conservative voters to back him, promises to turn Busan into data hub

2025/05/16 20:00

Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok was in the central city of Cheonan today to consolidate support. He claimed that the main conservative party's candidate cannot challenge his liberal counterpart and insisted his solid standing with young voters provides him with a strategic advantage. Earlier on this Friday, he also shared intentions to transform the southern port city of Busan into a global data hub with a strong legal framework in place against potential data breaches as feared by foreign firms.

PPP's Kim targets Gyeonggi-do and Chungcheong-do focusing on infrastructure

2025/05/16 20:00

Meanwhile, the People Power Party's presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo held rallies in Gyeonggi-do Province, where he vowed to upgrade transportation, before heading south to the Chungcheong-do region. Our Correspondent Kim Do-yeon reports. After a relatively quiet day on Thursday, Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party went into full rally mode on Friday. He started in Gyeonggi-do Province, where significantly he was governor for two terms and touted his starting of the GTX high-speed underground train system in the greater capital region. In fact, when he visited Dongtan in Hwanseong City, he pledged to improve transportation even more this time for owners of cars. "When you build a new city, because initially there are no jobs, everyone goes to Seoul for work. There is no way to get there. The Gyeongbu Expressway actually becomes the 'Gyeongbu Parking Lot.'" He pledged to construct six new beltways around the capital region. On top of this, Kim vowed to expand the GTX lines, saying those currently being constructed will have additional stops added. His campaign promised to build similar models around the country for major metropolitan areas. In the afternoon he held rallies in Chungcheong-do region and one major stop was Sejong City. He pledged to finish the process of making Sejong the nation's administrative capital by sending the National Assembly's major committees, alongside having a second office for the president there. While these pledges have been made by other candidates Kim added that the country's top five major commissions including the Korea Communication Commission and Korea Fair Trade Commission will be moved to Sejong to ensure administrative work can be done there. In addition, he promised to make Sejong more reachable with his specialty express train lines. "However, since the current railway infrastructure is insufficient for civilian access, there's a need to further develop the network — such as the CTX I mentioned earlier." In total, Kim went to 7 cities on Friday to hold rallies and make developmental pledges. All in Gyeonggi-do and Chungcheong-do provinces typically considered battleground regions. On Saturday he will campaign in the southwest Jeolla-do provinces the stronghold of the rival Democratic Party. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.

Top trade officials of S. Korea, U.S. to hold technical talks on tariffs next week in U.S.

2025/05/16 20:00

Moving on. Top trade officials from South Korea and the U.S. met in Jeju this afternoon on the margins of APEC trade talks, amid the Trump administration's tariff campaign. As a result, more consultations are slated for next week in Washington, focusing on six areas, including non-tariff measures. Our correspondent Bae Eun-ji has the details. South Korea's Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Ahn Duk-geun and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer met on Jeju Island on Friday, and agreed to hold technical talks on tariffs next week in Washington D.C. The meeting, held on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation trade ministers' meeting hosted by South Korea, comes as both countries have been working to produce a package of deals aimed at removing new U.S. tariffs before the July 8th deadline, when the 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs is lifted. "We have 50 days until the negotiation due date set by the U.S. government. Under the acting president, the South Korean government has been making efforts through inter-governmental cooperation and gathering opinions from industry stakeholders." Ahn explained that next week's talks will be focused on six key areas: balanced trade, non-tariff measures, economic security, digital trade, country of origin, and commercial considerations. Friday's meeting follows the two officials' meeting three weeks ago in Washington,.. where South Korea requested exemptions from reciprocal tariffs, while offering cooperation on shipbuilding and energy. In fact,.. prior to his meeting with Ahn, Greer met with the CEOs of South Korea's leading shipbuilding companies: HD Hyundai and Hanwha Ocean, to discuss cooperation. South Korea, which faces 25-percent U.S. reciprocal tariffs, hopes to leverage its shipbuilding capabilities in upcoming tariff negotiations, after the Trump administration reportedly showed great interest in this field as it seeks to revive the American shipbuilding industry. "As Seoul works to tackle trade uncertainties from Trump's tariffs, eyes are now on whether South Korea and the U.S will be able to make further progress during their talks next week. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News, Jeju."

USTR Greer’s visits S. Korea: High-stakes talks amid tariff deadlock

2025/05/16 20:30

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus. I'm Kim Mok-yeon. This week, all eyes are on Jeju, where the U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is visiting South Korea for a high-stakes bilateral meeting with Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun. The meeting, held on the sidelines of the APEC Ministerial, comes at a critical time — tariff negotiations between the two nations have been dragging for months, and hopes are now pinned on what’s being called the “July Package” to break the deadlock. But the timing is tight. With Korea’s new administration preparing to take office and the U.S. fast-tracking trade deals with the U.K. and China, pressure is mounting on Seoul and Washington to find common ground. For more on this, we are joined online by Song Soo-young, Professor of Business and Economics at Chung-Ang University. Welcome Also joining us from Texas is Hwagyun Kim, professor of Banking and Finance at Texas A&M University, Mays Business School. Great to see you. 1. (Kim) Let’s begin with the APEC Ministerial Meeting in Jeju, where Seoul's top trade officials Jung In-kyo, head of trade negotiations, and Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun held back-to-back talks with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. With bilateral tariff negotiations still making little headway, what is the significance and importance of these high-level bilateral meetings? 2. (Song) It’s now being reported that the trade ministers from both countries agreed to begin full-fledged discussions next week in the U.S., focusing on six key areas—including balanced trade and non-tariff measures. How do you assess this development? And would you say that the negotiations are entering a full-scale phase starting with the second round of technical talks next week? 3. (Song) Adding another layer to the negotiations — before the high-level talks even began — Greer, at Washington’s request, met with top executives from Korea’s shipbuilding industry, including HD Hyundai’s Chung Ki-sun and Hanwha’s Kim Hee-chul. Does this signal that shipbuilding cooperation is now emerging as a strategic bargaining chip in broader Korea-U.S. trade discussions? 4. (Kim) Looking at the broader picture, the U.S. has recently struck tentative deals with the U.K. and China involving tariff reductions and easing of non-tariff barriers. What’s behind this acceleration in Washington’s trade negotiation efforts? 5. (Kim) In that context, Korea has set a goal to conclude a deal by July, coinciding with the launch of the new administration. But if the U.S. pushes for an earlier outcome, how should Korea respond? And what lessons can we draw from the recent U.S. deals with the U.K. and China? 6. (Kim) Shifting to another key issue — exchange rates. Working-level discussions on this front reportedly began in earnest last week, as part of the broader Korea-U.S. trade agenda. With concerns that the U.S. may pressure Korea toward a stronger won, but reports suggesting currency policy might be left off the table, how do you see this playing out? 7. (Song) Given those currency discussions — along with ongoing U.S.-China trade negotiations — the won-dollar exchange rate has shown considerable volatility. What’s your outlook on how the market trend might evolve from here? 8. (Kim) At the same time, the domestic economic outlook is darkening. Korea’s KDI recently slashed its growth forecast to just 0.8% — a historic low among both domestic and international institutions. Is the fear of a recession becoming more than just sentiment at this point? 9. (Song) And with those economic worries mounting, a nationally televised presidential debate on the economy is set for May 18. What should viewers be watching for in that debate? And looking ahead, what should the next administration prioritize first to pull Korea out of stagnation and get the real economy moving again?

DP's Lee continues campaign in liberal stronghold; PPP's Kim stresses Gyeonggi-do governor experience

2025/05/16 17:00

We start yet again with the latest on the campaign trail. And for this our political correspondent Shin Ha-young joins me live on the line. Ha-young, it's good to have you on. Let's begin with the liberal camp. What's the latest there? Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung, who began rallying support in his party’s strongholds yesterday, is continuing his campaign in them today, this time in Jeollabuk-do Province. Lee's campaign trail today takes him through the cities of Iksan, Gunsan, Jeonju and Jeongeup. During his visit to Iksan, Lee emphasized balanced regional growth, noting that Jeollabuk-do has been especially overlooked. Take a listen. "If the current concentration in the capital region continues, the country won’t be able to grow sustainably. Balanced regional growth isn't just about helping local regions it's a necessary strategy for South Korea’s future." Lee also addressed the overconcentration of universities in the capital and the need to strengthen local universities in other regions. He said he would increase support for national universities outside of Seoul and promised to improve conditions for young people through better education, cultural opportunities, and jobs, so they don't feel the need to leave their provinces. Meanwhile, lawmaker Kim Sang-wook, who was in favor of former President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment and recently broke away from the People Power Party, showed up at Lee’s campaign to support him. Kim described Lee as both a true conservative and a true progressive, saying that those who divide politics into sides shouldn’t be involved in politics. I see. And now Ha-young, what's the latest at the conservative camp? I hear its candidate started the day in Gyeonggi-do Province before heading to the Chungcheong-do region? Sun-hee, that's right. Kim Moon-soo has moved southward from the capital region. His rallies in the Gyeonggi-do region in the morning were significant in that he was a two-term governor for the province and touts himself as being the person who started the GTX high-speed underground train system in the capital region. In fact, as he visited Dongtan City, he pledged to improve transportation even more this time for cars. "When you build a new city, because initially there are no jobs, everyone goes to Seoul for work. There is no way to get there. The Gyeongbu Expressway actually becomes the 'Gyeongbu Parking Lot.'" He pledged to construct six new beltways around the capital region. On top of this, the campaign revealed its pledge to expand the GTX lines, saying the lines currently being constructed will have additional stops built and they will build similar models around the country for major metropolitan areas. Now, he's currently in the Chungcheong-do region rallying support there as well. One major stop was Sejong City. He pledged to finish this process of making Sejong the nation's administrative capital by sending the National Assembly there and having a second office for the president there too. That's all for now. Back to you, Sun-hee. All right Ha-young, thank you for now. And do keep us posted.

World News: U.S. Supreme Court grapples with Trump bid to restrict birthright citizenship

2025/05/16 17:00

This is the World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. In the U.S., the Supreme Court began hearing arguments concerning President Donald Trump's executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship for children born in the United States to undocumented or temporary immigrant parents. On Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court started a session on the executive order President Trump signed in January. Trump's order seeks to reinterpret the 14th Amendment's Citizenship Clause and would deny automatic citizenship to children born on U.S. soil unless at least one parent is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. The directive faced legal challenges from 22 states and civil rights groups, with several federal judges issuing nationwide injunctions to stop its enforcement. The case taken by the Supreme Court centers on whether lower courts have the authority to issue such injunctions. During the session, justices' opinions were divided with arguments saying that allowing the injunctions may overextend judicial authority whereas limiting the injunctions could lead to an inconsistency of laws across states. Meanwhile, protests occurred outside the courthouse, where demonstrators voiced support for birthright citizenship. The Supreme Court's decision is expected by the end of June. In Europe, the United Kingdom and Germany have announced a collaborative effort to boost Europe's self-defense by developing a new long-range precision strike weapon. On Thursday, local time, British Defense Secretary John Healey and his German counterpart, Boris Pistorius, met in Berlin to sign an agreement for the joint development of a "deep precision strike" missile system. The weapon is designed to have a range exceeding 2,000 kilometers. The plan comes under the Trinity House Agreement on bilateral defense cooperation signed in October 2024. It aims to reduce Europe's reliance on external defense support and address security situations, such as the ongoing war in Ukraine. Joint procurement programs to counter undersea threats have also been agreed upon. Minister Healey stated that both nations are dedicated to "making progress, not just making promises." In Brazil, a dye spill accident occurred on Tuesday in Sao Paulo's Jardim das Tulipas neighborhood, approximately 75 kilometers from the central city. According to authorities, some 5,000 liters of chemical dye spilled after a transport truck crashed, contaminating local streets and entering a nearby creek through a manhole. The blue dye changed the colors of the waters and ducks in the area, and some fish were found dead in a lake. Cleanup operations began immediately. However, investigations have begun to assess the environmental impact of the incident. The new Pope is expected to move into the official papal residence, an apartment on the top floor of the Apostolic Palace, according to an Italian media report on Thursday. Pope Leo XIV , the first American-born pontiff, had reopened the traditional papal apartments on May 11, which had been sealed following the late Pope Francis' death. Pope Leo's decision is a departure from his predecessor's choice to live in the Casa Santa Marta guesthouse and a return to longstanding papal customs. The Apostolic Palace apartments, unused since 2013, have nearly a dozen rooms, including a study, library, and private chapel. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.

Trump touts 'freedom zone' plan for Gaza as scores killed in Israeli airstrikes on enclave

2025/05/16 17:00

And Mr. Trump has touted the idea of "taking" Gaza and turning it into a "freedom zone" even as Israel maintains its military campaign against the region. Lee Seung-jae has the latest. With ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas stalled, the Israeli military conducted airstrikes on dozens of sites in Gaza from Wednesday night and into Thursday. The latest barrage of airstrikes killed at least 114 Gazans, with witnesses saying the Israeli military targeted medical facilities, including pediatric clinics. The airstrikes were also carried out as U.S. President Donald Trump was on his tour of the Middle East. Israel was excluded from his itinerary. However, Trump on Thursday doubled down on his proposal to displace Gazans, stressing again that the enclave should be made into a "freedom zone." Speaking to reporters after a round table with business leaders in Qatar, Trump said that "Gaza has been a territory of death and destruction for many years," adding that the U.S. should "get involved and make it a "freedom zone." All Arab states have rejected his plan, with Hamas calling it "ethnic cleansing." Meanwhile, Israeli media reported that ceasefire talks mediated by the U.S. have not made any progress due to differences in opinion between Israel and Hamas. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian delegations delayed by a day

2025/05/16 17:00

Ukraine has cast doubt on Russia's sincerity for peace pointing to the Kremlin's dispatch of a delegation that lacks "decision-makers" for planned talks in Türkiye. Kim Bo-kyoung explains. All eyes were fixed on the first direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in more than three years, which were supposed to take place on Thursday but are now expected to happen on Friday in Istanbul. However, the negotiations failed to materialize amid criticism over the standard of the Russian delegation. Russian President Vladimir Putin was a noticeable absence on Moscow's list of attendees despite proposing the talks and a challenge from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to meet face to face. While making his announcement regarding the team headed by his defense minister to Istanbul for the peace talks, Zelenskyy criticized Moscow for not taking the negotiations seriously. "After we understood the level of the Russian delegation, we see that, unfortunately, they are not taking the real negotiations very seriously. So far, we do not see among those present anyone who actually makes decisions." The sides have also been separated with regard to the outcomes they each want from the direct talks. While Ukraine's top priority is a ceasefire, the Russian delegation, led by Vladimir Medinsky, said their goal was to "eliminate the basic root causes of the conflict", and to sooner or later establish long-term peace. He added that these negotiations are a continuation of the peace process that fell through in 2022, when Ukraine saw Russian demands as a threat to its sovereignty. Regarding the meeting, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday expressed limited optimism, saying Washington frankly does not have high expectations of the negotiations. Speaking to reporters in the southern Turkish city of Antalya, he said only the direct engagement between the U.S. and Russia could result in a breakthrough. "And frankly at this point I think it's abundantly clear that the only way we're going to have a breakthrough here is between President Trump and President Putin." Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.