News

South Korea gears up for presidential election with emphasis on safety and participation

2025/06/02 17:00

The National Election Commission has pledged an orderly transparent election tomorrow while calling on voters to exercise their civic duty. Byun Ye-young reports. With just one day remaining before South Korea elects its new president, National Election Commission chairperson Roh Tae-ak has strongly urged citizens to exercise their voting rights. On Monday, Roh called for unity and active participation, saying, "Let us build a Korea united through the power of the vote." He emphasized that this election is a crucial opportunity to move beyond conflict and division and encouraged voters to use the final day of the campaign period to carefully assess candidates and their policies. Roh also promised transparency and accuracy in the vote count. Meanwhile, the National Fire Agency announced on the same day that 242 fire departments nationwide have launched special emergency operations. Crews will inspect polling and counting stations for fire hazards and increase patrols to prevent accidents. Precautions include a 24-hour surveillance and response system and maintaining direct communication with election officials and police. Privately operated polling stations are also drawing attention. While polling stations are typically set up in government buildings, private venues may be used when public facilities are unavailable. According to Yonhap News, among some polling places this year are recreational facilities like gyms and taekwondo studios, as well as food and beverage facilities, such as cafés and even pizza shops. The main voting will take place on Tuesday from 6 AM to 8 PM, with all citizens over the age of 18 having the right to vote. Byeon Ye-young, Arirang News.

Reform Party candidate to wrap up campaign focusing on young, conservative voters

2025/06/02 17:00

Also on this final day of the official campaign period Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok sought to reach out to young voters in the capital area before heading to the conservative stronghold of Daegu . At lunchtime earlier today he was at the Korea Polytechnic University in Gyeonggi-do Province for talks with students at the cafeteria there. Later he made his way to Gyeongsan Gyeongsangbuk-do Province to sit down with students at Yeungnam University. The final venue of his presidential rally this evening is Suseong Lake in Daegu City.

D-1 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN S. KOREA

2025/06/02 17:00

Hello and welcome. You're watching Press Perspective for this Monday June second. I'm Min Sunhee. Election day is tomorrow and today we touch upon the latest on the campaign front and more. For this I have freelance journalist Raphael Rashid here in the studio with me. Rashid as always it's great to have you here. I also have Steven Borowiec with Japanese weekly news magazine Nikkei Asia with us. Steven thank you for making time to be here. 1) Raphael, South Korea saw its second highest turnout for early voting last week at almost 34.7% 2) Steven, do you see this reality affecting voter turnout on June third? 3) Raphael, some pundits are calling this particular presidential election "the grey election" as the number of voters in their 60s and 70s surpass that of voters in their 20s and 30s. 4) Steven, some media outlets point out the political polarization here in South Korea appears more pronounced between the two genders among young first-time voters. 5) Raphael, the political events here in Korea over the past few months have raised concerns about a growing breeding ground for strong leader syndrome. 6) Steven, local media outlets have pointed to North Korea's silence with regard to South Korea's snap election. 7) Raphael, tomorrow June 3rd is election day. 8) Steven, what appears to be the focus of the foreign media as South Korea looks to usher in a new administration on June 4th? 9) And Raphael, I extend the same question to you. All right.

What happens to S. Korea after a potential U.S. troop drawdown?

2025/06/02 10:00

At a time when the world is facing myriad challenges, an international peace forum brought together pundits from around the world to Korea's Jeju island. Among the issues addressed was a possible U.S. troop drawdown from South Korea. Our foreign affairs correspondent Bae Eun-ji reports. A potential troop reduction will not have a negative impact on the U.S.'s ability to meet treaty obligations to help South Korea defend itself against an attack from North Korea. That's according to retired U.S. Navy Admiral Harry Harris --a former U.S. ambassador to South Korea and a former head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. Speaking to reporters on Friday at an annual peace forum held on Jeju Island, he stressed that threats in the region from the likes of North Korea, China, or Russia are not isolated from each other. "Again, we have to look at them holistically. And I believe that if there were, 'if' is the key word here. If there was a restructuring of some forces in Korea, ultimately it would serve to defend Korea better than it would not." His comments come after the U.S. is reportedly considering withdrawing around 4,500 troops deployed to South Korea, and as the Trump administration will likely seek to renegotiate a deal on sharing costs for maintaining forces in Korea. Scott Snyder, the head of the Korea Economic Institute of America, who was also at the Jeju Forum, noted that there needs to be a broader discussion on this issue, including in areas such as technology and defense industrial production. "Honestly, I don't think that President Trump could get what he wanted from it last time, in the first administration, and it basically fails to be used as a lever. But we have so many other ways that we're cooperating on defense issues in the world, and so there's a lot to be considered." During his first term, Trump called for a whopping fivefold increase in Seoul's contribution to maintaining U.S. troops. He will likely seek to renegotiate a deal on this once South Korea has a new president next week. With the Trump administration demanding that Seoul increase its share of defense costs, this issue remains a crucial challenge for the next Korean government to overcome. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News, Jeju.

Dozens killed at aid distribution site in Rafah

2025/06/02 10:00

Dozens were killed and over 100 others injured on Sunday when Israeli soldiers reportedly fired at Palestinians at a relief distribution site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. However, both the Israeli military and the foundation strongly deny the allegation. Lee Seung-jae has more. Dozens of Palestinians were reportedly killed and over a hundred others injured on Sunday, with the Palestinian Civil Defense saying Israeli soldiers at a relief distribution center run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation fired at people seeking food and aid. The AFP says 31 people were killed and over 176 injured in Rafah, at a relief distribution site run by the United States and Israel. According to the spokesperson for the Civil Defense, Mahmoud Basal,.. Israel targeted thousands of civilians. Hamas also released a statement saying that Israel "committed a terrible massacre targeting thousands of civilians heading to a distribution center." The Associated Press, citing a witness, said that at around 3 AM, Israeli soldiers ordered the crowd to disperse and come back later, when a crowd began forming about one kilometer from the distribution site, they opened fire. Another witness said that at around 5 AM, drones and drones suddenly attacked the relief center, killing several people. However,.. the Israeli military dismissed the reports in a statement, saying that false reports have been circulating that raise serious suspicions that Israeli soldiers have fired on civilians near a humanitarian aid distribution site, calling it false. The Israeli military explained that no civilians were fired at inside or around the distribution center. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation also issued a press release saying that relief supplies were distributed safely, and that Hamas is actively spreading rumors about casualties, which they called untrue and fabricated. The GHF announced that it distributed more than 15-thousand boxes of relief supplies on Sunday, and that more than 67 thousand boxes, have been distributed since the site opened last week. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Reform Party candidate to wrap up campaign focusing on young, conservative voters

2025/06/02 10:00

Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok will spend his last day of campaigning with young voters in the capital region, and return to the conservative stronghold of Daegu. Lee on Monday is scheduled to visit Korea Polytechnic University in Gyeonggi-do Province, where he will join students for a meal at the school cafeteria -- his final lunchtime outreach. Afterwards, he will travel down to Gyeongsan, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, to meet students at Yeungnam University. His final rally will take place at Suseong Lake in Daegu City.

DP's Lee to hold final rallies at Seoul's Yeouido Park, highlighting 'Revolution of Light'

2025/06/02 10:00

In less than 24 hours from now, the people of South Korea head to polling stations to elect their 21st president. The liberal camp's candidate Lee Jae-myung will wrap up his 22-day official campaign period at Seoul's Yeouido Park, where he is expected to focus on the message of ending insurrection. Our correspondent Shin Ha-young reports. Ahead of Tuesday's election, Lee has embarked on a final day of campaigning. After holding rallies in Seoul and the surrounding metropolitan area on Monday, he will hold his last major rally this evening at Yeouido Park in western Seoul. Yeouido is home to the National Assembly, where a vote put an end to December's martial law saga. It's also where protesters spent a cold winter calling for the impeachment of former President Yoon Seok Youl. Just like at the start of his campaign, Lee is expected to highlight his "Revolution of Light" message and emphasize his commitment to ending what he describes as insurrection. Meanwhile, Lee wrapped up his final weekend of campaigning with visits to the conservative-leaning south-eastern region of the country, including Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, Daegu, Ulsan, and Busan. During his speech in Ulsan on Sunday, Lee emphasized the need for balanced regional growth. "South Korea must shift to balanced growth to keep developing. Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongsangnam-do are hard to navigate without a car. Better infrastructure like transportation and targeted policies are needed to connect them." Lee reiterated the significance of the upcoming election, emphasizing the need to end insurrection and hold those responsible accountable. "It's important to think about why this election is happening. It was triggered by an insurrection and is part of the effort to overcome it. On June 3rd, it will be decided whether the forces behind the insurrection return to power or are defeated." He also urged voters to cast their ballots to exercise their sovereignty, saying that votes are more powerful than bullets. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

Trump holds firm on tariffs amid tensions with China and courts

2025/06/02 10:00

U.S. President Donald Trump is doubling down on tariffs as trade tensions with China escalate and court battles continue. A call with Chinese President Xi is expected soon, according to While House officials. Lee Eun-hee has the latest. U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to speak soon on ongoing trade negotiations, according to White House Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The anticipated phone talks come amid renewed tensions after Trump accused China of breaching a temporary agreement made last month in Geneva. That deal was aimed at easing trade tensions by mutually easing tariffs and trade restrictions. Bessent stressed that China is holding back its exports of rare earth minerals, which are critical for global industrial supply chains. Under the temporary truce, China reduced its tariffs on U.S. imports to 30%, down from the steep 145% level initially imposed in response to Trump's trade measures. Over the weekend, Trump took to his social media platform to say that if the courts somehow rule against the U.S. on tariffs, that would allow other countries to hold the U.S. hostage with their anti-American tariffs. His comments followed a Thursday decision by a federal appeals court to temporarily pause a lower-court ruling that had invalidated most of his tariffs. Trump added, "This would mean the economic ruination of the United States of America." While Trump administration officials say they have other options for imposing tariffs should they ultimately lose the case, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick made it clear there will be no extension to the 90-day pause. In a Sunday interview with FOX News, Lutnick stated, "Rest assured, tariffs are not going away." On Friday, Trump announced he would double tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from 25% to 50%. Lee Eun-hee, Arirang News.

World News 2: Seven killed after bridge collapses in Russia's Bryansk region bordering Ukraine

2025/06/02 10:00

Also, in Russia, two bridges in regions bordering Ukraine collapsed over the weekend, killing at least seven people and injuring dozens. On Saturday night, a bridge in Russia's Bryansk region collapsed onto a moving passenger train carrying over 300 people. Seven people were killed and more than 70 others were injured in the disaster. Hours later, early on Sunday, a second bridge collapsed in the neighboring Kursk region, derailing a cargo train and injuring the driver. Both the Bryansk and Kursk regions border Ukraine and have seen a surge in attacks on infrastructure since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Moscow's Investigative Committee has classified the collapses as terrorist acts. And the state-run Moscow Railways reported that the Bryansk bridge had been blown up in an "illegal interference." However, Ukrainian officials have denied the involvement, accusing Russians of staging a "false flag" operation to "manipulate international opinion" ahead of the Istanbul negotiations.

World News 1: Ukraine drones destroy Russian bombers ahead of second round of talks

2025/06/02 10:00

Good morning, I'm Choi Chi-hee, and this is the World Now. Ukraine says it has completed its biggest drone operation within Russian territory, reportedly destroying over 40 military aircraft. On Sunday, June 1, Ukraine's Security Service announced the successful execution of operation "Spider's Web," targeting multiple Russian airbases. The operation, which took around 18 months to plan, involved 117 drones. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, it damaged 34% of Russia's strategic cruise missile bombers. The attack caused approximately 7 billion U.S. dollars in damage. Meanwhile, Russia also launched a significant drone and missile attack on Ukrainian territory overnight on the same day, killing 12 Ukrainian soldiers and injuring over 60 others. All this comes just before the planned second round of peace talks in Istanbul on Monday.

[WEEKLY FOCUS] The foreign policy visions shaping S. Korea’s presidential election

2025/05/31 12:00

With just days to go before South Koreans vote for their next president, foreign policy may not be dominating the headlines at home, but globally, there's growing interest in how the next president will navigate the complex dynamics on the Korean Peninsula. For that, I have our correspondent Kim Jung-sil joining me in the studio. Welcome back, Jung-sil, it's been a busy week for you? Thank you for having me back, Dami. Yes, with the election just around the corner, tensions are rising fast. And at this point, every word from the candidates is making headlines, especially after that final televised debate. You've been closely following their foreign policy platforms. Let's start with Lee Jae-myung. What is his vision for this country on the world stage? Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party laid out a vision that emphasizes balance, practicality, and peace through strength. He opened by referencing the aftermath of the December 3rd unrest, saying the country is facing a serious diplomatic vacuum. He warned that South Korea is under growing external pressure, from U.S. protectionism to increased military moves by China and Russia, and Moscow's deepening ties with Pyongyang, and said diplomacy needs to catch up. "The U.S. alliance is the foundation of our foreign policy. It must be developed practically, inclusively, and with a long-term vision. But we must not neglect ties with China and Russia, they require careful, strategic management." In his written foreign policy platform released earlier this week, Lee signaled a shift from the North Korea policies of past progressive administrations. Rather than demanding full denuclearization up front, he called for step-by-step progress and practical engagement, likely shaped by uncertainty over U.S. policy under President Trump. Let's turn to Kim Moon-soo from the conservative side. How did he frame his approach to North Korea and regional security? The People Power Party candidate drew a hard line, especially on security, in sharp contrast to Lee Jae-myung. He argued that diplomacy begins with strength and warned that the North Korean regime continues to pose an existential threat. "Kim Jong-un's dictatorship threatens our lives and property with nuclear weapons and missile provocations. I will build a transparent, principled inter-Korean relationship and strengthen our defenses by reinforcing nuclear deterrence through the U.S. alliance." We got this directly from his campaign. Kim is calling for a "principled approach" to North Korea, grounded in South Korea's constitutional claim to a single Korean state. He criticized past administrations for inconsistent responses to provocations and says it's time for a clear, rule-based policy, which isn't far from the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's approach. Kim proposed economic and mutually beneficial projects such as cultural, sports, and humanitarian exchanges, to create shared values, and said he's open to meeting with the North Korean leader. And lastly, what did we hear from Lee Jun-seok? He hasn't exactly been a foreign policy heavyweight until now. This was one of the first times he clearly outlined his foreign policy, and he leaned into his international background and non-ideological approach. "The president of South Korea must have international experience and a practical mindset. If elected, I will merge the unification and foreign ministries, and appoint a deputy prime minister for national security to oversee foreign affairs, unification and defense policies." He promised to scrap the current structure entirely and re-center South Korea as a strategic architect, and not just dependent on the alliance. Three candidates, three foreign policy visions, and with the clock ticking, the next president will set the course for South Korea's role on the global stage. Fascinating and high-stakes. Jung-sil, thanks as always. My pleasure.

What happens to S. Korea after a potential U.S. troop drawdown?

2025/05/30 20:00

At a time when the world is facing myriad challenges, an international peace forum brought together pundits from around the world to Korea's Jeju island. Among the issues addressed was a possible U.S. troop drawdown from South Korea. Our foreign affairs correspondent Bae Eun-ji takes a look. A potential troop reduction will not have a negative impact on the U.S.'s ability to meet treaty obligations to help South Korea defend itself against an attack from North Korea. That's according to retired U.S. Navy Admiral Harry Harris --a former U.S. ambassador to South Korea and a former head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. Speaking to reporters on Friday at an annual peace forum held on Jeju Island, he stressed that threats in the region from the likes of North Korea, China, or Russia are not isolated from each other. "Again, we have to look at them holistically. And I believe that if there were, 'if' is the key word here. If there was a restructuring of some forces in Korea, ultimately it would serve to defend Korea better than it would not." His comments come after the U.S. is reportedly considering withdrawing around 4,500 troops deployed to South Korea, and as the Trump administration will likely seek to renegotiate a deal on sharing costs for maintaining forces in Korea. Scott Snyder, the head of the Korea Economic Institute of America, who was also at the Jeju Forum, noted that there needs to be a broader discussion on this issue, including in areas such as technology and defense industrial production. "Honestly, I don't think that President Trump could get what he wanted from it last time, in the first administration, and it basically fails to be used as a lever. But we have so many other ways that we're cooperating on defense issues in the world, and so there's a lot to be considered." During his first term, Trump called for a whopping fivefold increase in Seoul's contribution to maintaining U.S. troops. He will likely seek to renegotiate a deal on this once South Korea has a new president next week. With the Trump administration demanding that Seoul increase its share of defense costs, this issue remains a crucial challenge for the next Korean government to overcome. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News, Jeju.

MSMT's first report highlighting illegal arms transfers between Pyongyang and Moscow released

2025/05/30 20:00

More than a year ago, the UN Panel of Experts on North Korea which monitors sanctions against the regime was disbanded after Russia's veto. An alternative multi-national team is now filling the gap, which released its first report. It reveals details on arms trade between North Korea and Russia, including the latter's reward to the regime. Kim Bo-kyoung has more. North Korea has provided enough heavy artillery to Russia for three brigades, while Russia offered air defense systems to the North in return. This, from the very first report by the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team, released on Thursday. The team serves as an alternative framework to the UN Panel of Experts on North Korean sanctions monitoring after it was disbanded in March 2024 due to Russia's veto. The inaugural report by 11 participating states focused on the illegal military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow. The North has supplied Russia with over 20-thousand containers worth of artillery shells and related materials since September 2023. Around nine million artillery and rocket shells were transferred to Russia over 49 cargo shipments last year. and so were more than a hundred ballistic missiles, over two-hundred heavy artillery pieces, as well as anti-tank missiles and rockets. Furthermore, eight-thousand North Korean laborers were dispatched to Russia last year, and several thousand more are planned to be sent in the first half of this year. Russia, meanwhile, has transferred at least one Pantsir-class combat vehicle, along with electronic warfare jamming devices since last November. Through the joint statement, the team urged the North to engage in meaningful diplomacy, and said it will continue to monitor the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions on the North. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.

Trump gains temporary boost as U.S. appeals court keeps tariffs in place for now

2025/05/30 20:00

U.S. President Trump's sweeping tariffs stay in place for now. One day after a local trade court ruled against his tariffs, an appeals court paused the order. Kim Jung-sil explains. A U.S. appeals court has allowed President Trump's trade tariffs to stay in place for now, by putting a temporary hold on a lower court's decision to block them. This puts on hold Wednesday's ruling by the U.S. Court of International Trade, which said Trump had gone beyond his legal powers in imposing sweeping tariffs on imports under an emergency-powers law. The law, known as the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, says the president may use its powers only to address "unusual and extraordinary" national security threats. The court said IEEPA does not give the president full control over trade policy. But on Thursday, the appeals court said that decision would not be enforced while judges review the case. It gave the plaintiffs until June 5th to file their response. Also on Thursday, a federal judge in Washington, D.C., issued a separate ruling finding parts of Trump's tariff policy unlawful. The judge wrote that the IEEPA does not enable the president to "unilaterally impose, revoke, pause, reinstate, and adjust tariffs to reorder the global economy". Earlier that day, the White House defended the tariffs, saying they're necessary to protect American industries. "President Trump is in the process of rebalancing America's trading agreements with the entire world, bringing tens of billions of dollars in tariff revenues to our country, and finally ending the United States of America from being ripped off." With legal challenges mounting, the future of the tariffs remains uncertain. Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.

D-4: Lee Jun-seok reaches out to office workers, university students in central Seoul

2025/05/30 20:00

Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok for his part continued his engagement with young voters. Earlier in the day, Lee hosted a rally along the Gyeongui Line Forest Park in Mapo-gu District reaching out to white-collar workers and college students. He then made his way to popular university hangouts, including Sinchon in Seodaemun-gu District and Daehak-ro in Jongno-gu District. Public polls show his support base is largely made up of voters in their twenties. He also reiterated his words of regret for crude language during the final presidential debate earlier this week.

PPP's Kim Moon-soo makes final push, departs for 90-hour campaign journey

2025/05/30 20:00

Conservative party contender Kim Moon-soo launched a "non-stop" campaign, meaning he's not going home until the election campaign is over, to rally as much as possible across the nation. Kim Do-yeon has the latest. Covering as much ground as possible is People Power Party presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo's last-minute push strategy. On Friday, took off for a 90-hour trail without going home. And as he was about to meet as many voters as possible, he started off with a long plea for votes. "The People Power Party has had many shortcomings. I deeply reflect on and sincerely apologize for having disappointed the people. We deserve the criticism, and we will reflect on it deeply. We will not shy away from self-sacrifice, making tough decisions for the greater good, and pursuing policy innovation." For this first day of the marathon, Kim rallied in Gyeonggi-do Province and Chungcheongbuk-do Province before wrapping it up in Wonju of Gangwon-do Province. With the voters already casting their ballots, he's not trying to put in new messages against his rival, but has been reiterating that Lee Jae-myung has too many legal risks, and that DP will have too much power if it wins the presidency as well. "To add to the efforts, Kim has also been appearing on stage with some well-known liberal politicians such as Son Hak-gyu and Son Hak-gyu and Jun Byung-hun, who formed their own factions as anti-Lee Jae-myung." As for the high voter turnout in early voting, the party claimed the credit saying the number reflects anti-Lee Jae-myung sentiment and that it's also a signal that things are turning around. "I believe this high voter turnout reflects the people's strong and resolute will to stop a monstrous dictatorship. We are moving toward a miraculous comeback." As for the second day of his journey on Saturday, Kim is set to tour around Gangwon-do Province a bit more and head down to Gyeongsangbuk-do for rallies over the weekend. The Gyeongsangbuk-do region, including Daegu, is a region that has not participated in early voting as much as others. Having said that, it also means that many votes are up for grabs still in the conservative stronghold. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News, Wonju.

Lee campaigns in Wonju, home to public bio and medical institutions

2025/05/30 20:00

With the election day fast approaching, campaigning continues with the contenders out on the streets. Liberal party contender Lee Jae-myung addressed supporters in Gangwon-do Province for the first time during the race. Shin Ha-young reports. Marking the last day of early voting, the Democratic Party on Friday gave it their all, this time with its candidate focusing on regions outside the capital. "On the final day of early voting, Lee Jae‑myung chose Gangwon-do Province --known for its bio-health industry --as his rally location, for the first time during the official campaign period." During his visit to the city of Wonju, which the party describes as home to public bio and medical institutions, Lee emphasized the need to support the region in a way that aligns with its specialty. "Wonju is known for its focus on the medical industry. We should continue to support it as much as possible under the existing policies." On Friday, Lee pointed to reviving the domestic economy as the top priority after the election. "The most urgent priority is to revive the domestic economy. Since the current extra budget is too small, the focus should be on expanding it." Meanwhile, regarding Thursday's record-high early voting turnout, the DP said it was a clear reminder that votes are more powerful than bullets. The party attributed the high turnout to the public's strong desire to end the insurrection fallout and put the country back on track. "In the 2022 presidential election, early voting turnout hit a record high of 36-point-9 percent. Let's break that record again today. By taking part in early voting, you can help end the insurrection, restore livelihoods, and bring the country back together." The party said that it will stay humble and focus on the people's wish for a change in government. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News, Wonju.

Early voter turnout rate for 21st presidential election stands at 34.74%

2025/05/30 20:00

Thank you for joining us. I'm Yoon Jung-min. Early voting closed today, which took place for two days ahead of the 21st presidential election next Tuesday. Many voters in the country headed to polling stations throughout the day. The turnout hit over 34-percent, a little shy of the previous record. Ahn Sung-jin has our top story. One line became two, even three, folded with voters who'd queued up for early voting. "From 6 AM to 6 PM on Thursday and Friday, more than 3,500 early voting stations nationwide, including this one in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, were open." Starting from early morning until the last minute before the last day of early voting closed, people continued to show up to cast their ballots ahead of next Tuesday's presidential election. "I came here with my son to explain about how elections work and that this many people are interested in voting." "People nowadays say how living conditions are difficult, so I hope that the economy can be revitalized and that whichever candidate wins, they actually follow through with their election promises." "As someone who is job-hunting, I hope there will be more support related to employment." The first day of early voting saw a record high figure since 2014, when it first took place in national elections. However, the total early voter turnout rate for this presidential election stood at 34-point-74 percent, 2-point-16 percentage points lower than the previous one, marking the second highest figure. Jeollanam-do Province recorded the highest turnout at 56-point-5 percent, while Daegu the lowest at 25-point-63 percent. The capital Seoul stood at 34-point-28 percent. Voting for the 21st presidential election is scheduled for June 3rd, from 6 AM to 8 PM. Voters must be over 18 and bring a government-issued ID. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.

MSMT's first report highlighting illegal arms transfers between Pyongyang and Moscow released

2025/05/30 17:00

A multi-national team including South Korea and the U.S. to monitor sanctions against North Korea has made public its first report on the collaboration between North Korea and Russia revealing the latter's "reward" to the regime for its aid of war against Ukraine. Our defense correspondent Kim Bo-kyoung has details. North Korea has provided enough heavy artillery to Russia for three brigades, while Russia offered air defense systems to the North in return. This, from the very first report by the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team, released on Thursday. The team serves as an alternative framework to the UN Panel of Experts on North Korean sanctions monitoring after it was disbanded in March 2024 due to Russia's veto. The inaugural report by 11 participating states focused on the illegal military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow. The North has supplied Russia with over 20-thousand containers worth of artillery shells and related materials since September 2023. Around nine million artillery and rocket shells were transferred to Russia over 49 cargo shipments last year. and so were more than a hundred ballistic missiles, over two-hundred heavy artillery pieces, as well as anti-tank missiles and rockets. Furthermore, eight-thousand North Korean laborers were dispatched to Russia last year, and several thousand more are planned to be sent in the first half of this year. Russia, meanwhile, has transferred at least one Pantsir-class combat vehicle, along with electronic warfare jamming devices since last November. Through the joint statement, the team urged the North to engage in meaningful diplomacy, and said it will continue to monitor the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions on the North. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.

Israel signs off on latest Gaza ceasefire proposal

2025/05/30 17:00

Israel has accepted a new U.S.-proposed temporary truce with Hamas. According to the White House on Thursday Israel has signed on a 60-day truce drafted by the U.S. The deal calls for the release of 10 living and 18 deceased Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian detainees and increased humanitarian aid into Gaza. Hamas however has reportedly shared reservations claiming the deal fails to address key matters such as a permanent end to Israel's counteroffensive.