News
DP preliminary candidates pledge fair competition as party primary kicks off in Chungcheong-do Provinces
2025/04/16 17:00
Partisan primaries are now well underway and the Democratic Party has a total of three contenders competing for the liberal party ticket to the top office. Our political correspondent Shin Ha-young reports. As the Democratic Party kicks off its primary race for the 21st presidential election, its three preliminary candidates pledged to compete fairly and come together after the race. On Wednesday, former party leader Lee Jae-myung; Kim Kyung-soo, former Gyeongsangnam-do Province Governor; and Kim Dong-yeon, current Gyeonggi-do Province Governor, made their first joint appearance since registering for the primary. "For a better life for the people and a hopeful future, the DP and our candidate whoever that may be must win this election." "I hope this primary will be a chance to fully showcase the DP's experience and capabilities." "I will give my best through fierce competition and come together to bring real change, beyond just a change in government." Starting Wednesday, the party will run four primaries through April 27th: Chungcheong-do, Gyeongsang-do, Jeolla-do provinces, and the Seoul Metropolitan Area alongside Gangwon-do Province and Jeju. During the regional primaries, dues-paying party members and party delegates will cast their votes, which will account for 50 percent of the total in selecting the presidential candidate. On the last day in each region, the voting results will be announced. Public polls will be conducted for two days sometime between April 21st and 27th, and these will account for the remaining 50 percent. The final candidate will be confirmed on April 27th. All three candidates are focusing their policy visions on the economy. Lee Jae-myung's think tank officially launched on Wednesday, outlining a national vision that aims for 3 percent potential growth, becoming one of the world's top four exporters, and creating a gross national income per capita of 50-thousand U.S. dollars by 2030. Kim Kyung-soo announced his economic policy focused on boosting the AI industry and promoting balanced regional growth, promising 100 trillion Korean won, around 70 billion dollars, in public-private investment over the next five years to secure AI leadership and drive industrial change. Kim Dong-yeon, meanwhile, has been emphasizing the so-called "Five Big Deals" to differentiate his economic policies, which includes focusing on balanced regional growth, climate change, and tax reform. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.
N. Korea transferred millions of munitions to Russia in support of war in Ukraine: Reuters
2025/04/16 17:00
In other news. North Korea may have provided millions of munitions to Russia in support of the war in Ukraine. According to Reuters FOUR Russian-flagged container ships have made 64 trips from the North Korean port of Rajin to the Russian ports of Vostochny and Dunai delivering nearly 16-thousand containers of munitions since September 2023. Citing Ukrainian officials the outlet claims Pyongyang is supplying half the munitions Russia needs on the front lines and that at times Russian artillery units were almost entirely reliant on North Korean munitions.
TALKS THAN TENSIONS FOR TARIFFS
2025/04/16 17:00
Welcome to yet another edition of Press Perspective. It's Wednesday April 16th here in Seoul. I'm Min Sun-hee. South Korea's strategy in tackling U.S. tariffs is dialogue over dispute to draft a deal that will drive productive partnership. For more I have Lee Ji-hoon a correspondent for Reuters. Ji-hoon welcome back. I also have Christian Datoc White House Correspondent for Washington Examiner. Christian it's a pleasure. 1) Christian, for the sake of clarity, what import items currently face U.S. tariffs and what are the three broad tariff levels facing America's trade partners? 2) And Christian, what's the latest regarding talk about tariff exemptions on electronic devices and on cars and their parts? 3) Ji-hoon, what have been some of the support measures pledged by the Korean government in preparation of the fallout from U.S. tariffs? 4) Ji-hoon, beyond borders, South Korea is also seeking greater economic cooperation with partners like Vietnam amid Mr. Trump's protectionist trade policy. Do tell us more about the latest agreement between Seoul and Hanoi. 5) Christian, there is talk about Mr. Trump's tariff policy serving to push U.S. partners towards its rival China. Is this a concern shared by pundits there? 6) Ji-hoon, Trade and Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun is expected to fly to the U.S. for tariff talks next week. Now, he's spoken about South Korea holding the "shipbuilding card" in its negotiations with the U.S. Do tell us more. 7) Christian, how big of a leverage does South Korea's "shipbuilding card" look to be? I mean, you wrote a piece about Trump asserting that the tariffs will be back on track after 90 days if he doesn't get the deals he likes. What deals with South Korea does he desire, do you think? 8) Meanwhile, Christian, there have been reports about American consumers stockpiling on certain goods amid U.S. tariffs. What has been the impact of tariffs on people there thus far? 9) Ji-hoon, back here in Korea, pundits here EARLIER believed the Bank of Korea may "cut rates faster and deeper" amid growing tensions over global trade in light of U.S. tariffs. I understand there has been a change in these thoughts? 10) And Christian, what are market experts there saying about the risks of a U.S. recession under the current Trump administration's tariff campaign? All right.
Hamas rejects Israeli ceasefire disarmament proposal
2025/04/16 10:00
Let's begin with the ongoing Gaza conflict, as Hamas has reportedly rejected Israel's latest ceasefire proposal. Fill us in. Right. A senior Palestinian official said Hamas rejected a new Israeli ceasefire offer that demanded the group's disarmament. The ceasefire, presented by Israel to Hamas through mediators Egypt and Qatar on Monday, reportedly included the disarmament of Hamas as a condition for the first time. However, on Tuesday, Hamas is said to have rejected the offer, labeling the disarmament clause a "red line" for the group and asserting that it will not surrender its weapons under any circumstances. The offer also included a six-week truce and a phased release of more hostages. Hamas insists that any agreement must include a permanent end to hostilities and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The rejection of the ceasefire proposal comes amid ongoing negotiations in Cairo, which have yet to yield a breakthrough.
'Ball is in China's court' on tariffs: White House
2025/04/16 10:00
In the meantime, Trump continues to press China that it's up to Beijing to come to the negotiating table over tariffs, leaving the ball in China's court. Lee Seung-jae has more. The two biggest economies in the world have been going blow-for-blow on tariffs, with China imposing 125 percent tariffs on U.S. goods, while the U.S. has imposed tariffs of up to 145 percent on Chinese imports. With neither side backing down, U.S. President Donald Trump believes it's up to China to come to the negotiating table. "The president has made his position on China quite clear, although I do have an additional statement that he just shared with me in the Oval office. The ball is in China's court: China needs to make a deal with us, we don't have to make a deal with them." The White House Press Secretary added that "there's no difference between China and any other country except they are much larger," noting that other countries have initiated trade talks first. Leavitt also pointed to the strength of the U.S. consumer market as leverage against China. While trade tensions between Washington and Beijing have been brewing for years, the situation has worsened since Trump took office in January. While it started off with the U.S. leader imposing tariffs on Chinese goods over its alleged role in the fentanyl trade, it's gone beyond that, with Trump imposing additional tariffs, on top of duties from previous administrations. Not only has China imposed its own massive tariffs against U.S. goods, but it's also using its rare earth supplies as leverage. Consumers fear the tariff war between the two countries will only escalate further, with no sign of talks from either country. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.
EU calls for further efforts from U.S. for fair trade deal
2025/04/16 10:00
The U.S. and EU held their long-due tariff talks on Tuesday, only to make minimal progress in bridging their differences. Our Park Kun-woo starts us off EU trade officials met with their U.S. counterparts in Washington, D.C., on Monday to reach a deal on tariffs, but were unable to bridge gaps in their stances on trade. According to the European Commission on Tuesday, the EU's proposal of zero-for-zero reciprocal tariffs on industrial goods, including cars along with non-tariff barriers, were among the main items on the agenda. It added talks about overcapacity in steel and aluminum, and the resilience of supply chains in semiconductors and pharmaceutical sectors were also part of the talks. And the EU emphasized it would not budge on standards, standing firm on "red lines," including food, health, and safety, as well as regulations regarding technology and the digital market. European Commission spokesperson Olof Gill urged the U.S. to clarify its stance, saying the EU is doing its part, and more engagement from Washington is needed to keep the process moving. Following Monday's meeting, EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic posted on social media, saying a "significant joint effort" from both sides would be needed to reach a fair deal, adding that the EU is ready. Officials from the U.S. trade representative's office reportedly did not respond to requests for comments on the U.S. stance following the meeting. With the EU's 90-day pause on retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods set to last until July 14, EU officials say further measures are also being discussed internally in case no agreement is reached by then. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.
Macron decorates those who restored Notre-Dame on 6th anniversary of fire
2025/04/16 10:00
Finally, in France, President Emmanuel Macron honored a hundred-and-one individuals who played significant roles in the restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris on Tuesday local time. The ceremony at the Elysee presidential palace coincided with the sixth anniversary of the devastating fire at the cathedral in 2019. Among the honorees were carpenters, carpenters, ironworkers, scaffolders, organ restorers, and dozens of other craftspeople recognized for their contributions. Prestigious awards presented by Macron included the Legion of Honour and the National Order of Merit. Commander of the Legion of Honour, France's highest public distinction, was bestowed upon Philippe Jost, who supervised the reconstruction.
Trump threatens Harvard's tax-exempt status after freezing US$ 2 bil. funding
2025/04/16 10:00
In the United States, President Donald Trump threatened to revoke Harvard's tax-exempt status on Tuesday, accusing the university of promoting political agendas contrary to public interest. The Trump administration has frozen over 2.2 billion U.S. dollars in federal grants and contracts to Harvard after the university rejected demands to overhaul its academic programs, including eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and increasing cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Harvard's president hit back saying, "The university will not surrender its independence or its constitutional rights." Former President Barack Obama praised Harvard's stance and urged other institutions to defend academic independence.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu visits northern Gaza
2025/04/16 10:00
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made an unannounced visit to northern Gaza to encourage troops, marking a rare appearance in the conflict zone. On Tuesday local time, Netanyahu met with Israeli troops, accompanied by Defense Minister Israel Katz and top military officials. He received briefings on ongoing operations aimed at dismantling Hamas and securing the release of hostages. Netanyahu reiterated Israel's commitment to achieving its war objectives, stating, "We are fighting for our existence. We are fighting for our future." During his visit, he also addressed a recent statement by Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying that Iran's calls for Israel's destruction show the existential nature of the conflict.
Registration closes for presidential candidacy for major parties
2025/04/16 10:00
The candidate list for the presidential primaries is now complete. Three from the Democratic Party and 11 from the People Power Party. Those from the PPP who will advance to the first round of the primary will be announced on Wednesday. Our Kim Do-yeon reports. The official registration for candidacy for the upcoming presidential election closed for both parties on Tuesday. The Democratic Party of Korea has three contestants, while the People Power Party has eleven. The DP's race is largely seen as predictable, with its former chair Lee Jae-myung set to take the party's ticket. However, Kim Kyung-soo, former Gyeongsangnam-do Province Governor and Kim Dong-yeon, current Gyeonggi-do Province Governor are, in their own right, heavyweight politicians. With just one day to go until the first regional voting opens for electors of the Chungcheong-do provinces, candidates continued to promote their bids. Lee released an interview with Roh Moo-hyun Foundation's YouTube channel. Kim Kyung-soo, after handing in the registration paper himself met with small business owners in Gyeonggi-do Province. Kim Dong-yeon held a meeting to follow up on his visit to the U.S. to deal with U.S. tariffs, focusing on the auto industry. Both of them are non-Lee Jae-myung faction politicians in the DP, with backers of their own. Meanwhile, with many more contestants for People Power Party, in a week, the list will be cut down to 4 in the first round cut-off. Among the registered, 8 notable contestants are Kim Moon-soo, the latest labor minister, four-term lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo, former PPP chair Han Dong-hoon, the latest Daegu mayor Hong Joon-pyo, five-term lawmaker Na Kyung-won, Incheon mayor Yoo Jeong-bok, Gyeongsanbuk-do Province governor Lee Cheol-woo, and former lawmaker Yang Hyang-ja. With the media day for the runners coming up on Wednesday candidates promoted their bids. Han Dong-hoon, Hong Joon-pyo, and Na Kyung-won shared detailed pledges and visions. Kim Moon-soo and Lee Cheol-woo went to visit former president Park Jung-hee's memorial. What they all had in common, however, was their messages against the DP's Lee Jae-myung as he leads the polls to become the next president. They unilaterally criticized Lee's ongoing legal battles and said that his pledges are too liberal. All in all, the final candidate will be chosen within a couple of weeks. For DP, the final candidate is likely to be decided by April 27th, with Lee expected to take more than 50-percent of the final vote. For the PPP, if a candidate takes more than 50-percent of votes in the second round, then it'll end on April 29th if not, there's a run-off on May 3rd. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.
On-point: How to remove S. Korea from U.S. sensitive countries list?
2025/04/16 10:00
One thing after another South Korea is now officially a sensitive country to the U.S. as of Tuesday. How can it be removed from the sensitive country list? We are joined by Professor Chai Sangmi. Good morning. 1. What is a 'sensitive' country to begin with, according to the U.S.? 2. It all started with visitors to U.S. labs who mishandled sensitive information, the U.S. argues. 3. The designation is even more concerning in that it will impair bilateral cooperation in science and technology and pose economic limitations. 4. Does the designation have anything to do with Trump's tariffs? 5. Can the designation be dropped? How? Thank you Professor Chai for sharing your insight with us this morning.
Trump signals tariff relief for auto industry following exemptions on electronics
2025/04/15 20:00
And this time, Trump has hinted at potential relief from tariffs for the auto industry to give them time to adjust their supply chains. Moon Hye-ryeon reports. U.S. President Donald Trump has signaled another wave of temporary tariff suspensions — this time, for the auto industry. Speaking to reporters on Monday, he said that he was looking to help car companies with potential pushbacks on his 25 percent tariffs on complete vehicle and parts imports. "I'm looking at something to help some of the car companies where they're switching to parts that were made in Canada, Mexico, and other places, and they need a little bit of time because they're going to make them here, but they need a little bit of time." He did not specify when this pause would be implemented nor how long automakers would be granted relief. Levies on fully built vehicles took effect on April 3rd, and those on parts are due to be implemented in stages no later than May 3rd — prompting automakers to lobby for exclusions over the past few weeks. Shares of U.S. car companies, including General Motors and Ford Motor Company, peaked following his comments — reflecting investor optimism that the administration may be softening its stance, at least temporarily, to cushion the impact of trade tensions on vehicle manufacturers. Trump also mentioned that he had spoken to Tim Cook, the head of Apple, and "helped" him and "that whole business". On Friday, the Trump administration granted exemptions for popular consumer electronics from weighty tariffs on Chinese products and the baseline tariff on imports from other countries, stating that these products would instead be levied based on its national security investigation on semiconductors. Amid these shifts in trade policy, the U.S. stock market has seen fluctuations — and following these exemptions, Wall Street showed gains on Monday. The Dow Jones and S&P 500 both ended around point-eight percent higher than the previous session, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq rose more than point-six percent. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.
Washington says trade talks with S. Korea scheduled for next week
2025/04/15 20:00
Thank you for joining us. I'm Yoon Jung-min. South Korea and the U.S. are expected to hold trade talks next week, as the Trump administration prioritizes negotiations with certain countries while its trade policy continues adding much confusion. Our Shin Se-byuck has more. Trade negotiations between South Korea and the U.S. could take place next week. That's according to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, on Monday during an interview with Bloomberg TV. Bessent said that the U.S. held talks with Vietnam last week, with Japan scheduled for Wednesday, and South Korea penciled in for "next week," and added negotiations will proceed quickly. The Wall Street Journal reported on 월요일 that the Trump administration is prioritizing negotiations with five countries, namely South Korea, the United Kingdom, Australia, India and Japan. Meanwhile, Seoul's trade minister, Ahn Duk-geun, could visit the U.S. as early as next week for negotiations with Washington. Acting President Han Duck-soo on Monday announced plans to dispatch a delegation to the U.S., led by the Trade Minister, to launch negotiations with Washington. Minister Ahn previously visited the U.S. in February and March following the launch of the Trump administration to convey Seoul's stance on Washington's tariff plans. One expert says South Korea should consider increasing imports from the U.S. to help narrow its trade surplus, a move that could serve as a bargaining chip in the talks. "Seoul needs to increase its imports from the U.S. — such as energy, agricultural, and livestock products — to help narrow its trade surplus with Washington, so that, in turn, it can secure tariff reductions on crucial items like automobiles." He also added that Seoul could ease non-tariff barriers on relatively low-volume goods, such as meat and produce, in exchange for concessions in sectors that account for a larger share of South Korean exports. Shin Se-byuck, Arirang News.
Xi Jinping begins state visit to Vietnam seeking joint response to U.S. tariffs
2025/04/15 20:00
Chinese President Xi Jinping is on a SOUTHEAST Asia tour in a bid to rally the region against the Trump administration's tariff campaign. Lee Seung-jae covers his first agenda in Vietnam. Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived at Hanoi International Airport on Monday, to begin his two-day visit to Vietnam. The trip to the communist nation comes just days after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he's pausing reciprocal tariffs on most countries for 90 days while focusing his trade war on China. During his visit, Xi called on Vietnam to join China in upholding multilateral trade and countering Washington's tariff policies. Xi also signed dozens of cooperation agreements with Vietnam after holding talks with To Lam, the general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee. While the contents of the agreement have not yet been released, Xi's visit also comes as Vietnam has been tightening controls on some trade with China, to make sure products exported to the U.S. with a "Made in Vietnam" label have sufficient added value, after pressure from Washington. In order to bypass U.S. tariffs against Chinese goods, Beijing would ship products to Vietnam before they are exported to the U.S. as "Made in Vietnam" products. The Chinese leader will also visit Malaysia and Cambodia from Tuesday to Friday. The two countries have seen increased trade and investment with China in recent years. However, it's also worth noting that Vietnam and Cambodia were among the highest hit by Trump's sweeping reciprocal tariffs, set at 46 percent and 49 percent, respectively. As the U.S and China exchange tariff after tariff, Southeast Asian nations are growing increasingly anxious about being caught in the mix. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.
U.S. designation of S. Korea as 'sensitive country' goes into effect, despite Seoul's efforts to resolve issue
2025/04/15 20:00
The U.S.'s designation of South Korea as a "sensitive country" went into effect today. Working-level negotiations between the two countries are underway over the issue. Our foreign affairs correspondent Bae Eun-ji has more. The U.S. Energy Department's designation of South Korea as a "sensitive country" has taken effect, as of Tuesday midnight local time. The DOE reportedly put its Asian ally on the lowest tier of the "Sensitive and Other Designated Countries List" in January, shortly before then-President Joe Biden left office for it to take effect on April 15th. Korean researchers visiting laboratories in the U.S. will now be required to get approval by submitting relevant documents at least 45 days in advance. This led to fears that it could possibly hinder collaboration between Seoul and Washington in areas such as nuclear energy and artificial intelligence. In response, South Korea's Foreign Ministry reassured the public on Tuesday, saying that the government is actively in talks with the DOE to resolve the situation as soon as possible. But it added that it needs more time for South Korea to be removed from the list, as this matter is proceeding in accordance with the U.S. internal procedures. The ministry also clarified that Washington has said the designation will not significantly impact joint research projects. "During a recent working-level consultation between the two countries, the US Department of Energy reaffirmed that the designation of South Korea as a sensitive country will not affect on-going or future research and development cooperation between Seoul and Washington." The comments come after South Korea's Trade Minister Ahn Deok-geun met with U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright in Washington last month, where the two sides agreed to continue cooperation to swiftly resolve this issue. The Foreign Ministry also noted that South Korea has been on the list in the past and was removed through similar diplomatic efforts. According to a report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office in 1996, South Korea was previously on the DOE's sensitive country list from January 1993 to June 1996. But the report added that South Korea was a country no longer considered sensitive as of July 28th, 1994. The Foreign Ministry has repeatedly explained that it was told South Korea's inclusion is due to security-related issues rather than foreign policy concerns. But some experts in Seoul have suggested that it has to do with growing discussions on the need for South Korea to acquire its own nuclear weapons capability. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.
Registration closes for presidential candidacy for major parties
2025/04/15 20:00
Turning to the latest on the presidential primaries. Candidate registration closed today for both the Democratic Party and the People Power Party. Our Kim Do-yeon has the details. The official registration for candidacy for the upcoming presidential election closed for both parties on Tuesday. The Democratic Party of Korea has three contestants, while the People Power Party has eleven. The DP's race is largely seen as predictable, with its former chair Lee Jae-myung set to take the party's ticket. However, Kim Kyung-soo, former Gyeongsangnam-do Province Governor and Kim Dong-yeon, current Gyeonggi-do Province Governor are, in their own right, heavyweight politicians. With just one day to go until the first regional voting opens for electors of the Chungcheong-do provinces, candidates continued to promote their bids. Lee released an interview with Roh Moo-hyun Foundation's YouTube channel. Kim Kyung-soo, after handing in the registration paper himself met with small business owners in Gyeonggi-do Province. Kim Dong-yeon held a meeting to follow up on his visit to the U.S. to deal with U.S. tariffs, focusing on the auto industry. Both of them are non-Lee Jae-myung faction politicians in the DP, with backers of their own. Meanwhile, with many more contestants for People Power Party, in a week, the list will be cut down to 4 in the first round cut-off. Among the registered, 8 notable contestants are Kim Moon-soo, the latest labor minister, four-term lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo, former PPP chair Han Dong-hoon, the latest Daegu mayor Hong Joon-pyo, five-term lawmaker Na Kyung-won, Incheon mayor Yoo Jeong-bok, Gyeongsanbuk-do Province governor Lee Cheol-woo, and former lawmaker Yang Hyang-ja. With the media day for the runners coming up on Wednesday candidates promoted their bids. Han Dong-hoon, Hong Joon-pyo, and Na Kyung-won shared detailed pledges and visions. Kim Moon-soo and Lee Cheol-woo went to visit former president Park Jung-hee's memorial. What they all had in common, however, was their messages against the DP's Lee Jae-myung as he leads the polls to become the next president. They unilaterally criticized Lee's ongoing legal battles and said that his pledges are too liberal. All in all, the final candidate will be chosen within a couple of weeks. For DP, the final candidate is likely to be decided by April 27th, with Lee expected to take more than 50-percent of the final vote. For the PPP, if a candidate takes more than 50-percent of votes in the second round, then it'll end on April 29th if not, there's a run-off on May 3rd. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.
S. Korea stuck in the middle as U.S.-China trade war heightens
2025/04/15 20:00
Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus. I'm Kim Mok-yeon. The U.S. has raised tariffs on Chinese goods to 145%, escalating an economic standoff that's already reshaping global trade. For South Korea, the ripple effects are immediate: over half of its semiconductor exports go to China, and a significant share of its intermediate goods are embedded in Chinese exports now facing steep U.S. barriers. At the same time, Beijing is courting ASEAN partners and reviving its vision of a "shared destiny" in Asia. For Seoul, that means a complex recalibration: economic alignment with the U.S., regional interdependence with China, and rising competition across Southeast Asia. In Within The Frame tonight, we'll examine how these shifts are challenging South Korea's economic resilience, diplomatic strategy, and industrial future. For this, we invite Dr. Youngshik Bong, research fellow at Yonsei University Institute for North Korean Studies, here in the studio with us. Welcome. Also joining us online is Jeff Moon, President of China Moon Strategies at LLC and former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for China. Great to have you. (MOON) 1. Let's start with Mr. Moon. With U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods hitting 145%, how do you assess the economic implications for South Korea—especially as Korean intermediate goods flow heavily into Chinese export industries? (BONG) 2. In response to this pressure, President Xi Jinping is emphasizing a "community of shared destiny" with neighboring countries. Dr. Bong, what does this shift suggest about China's evolving diplomatic strategy—and how might it reshape Korea–China relations going forward? (BONG) 3. Xi Jinping's upcoming visits to Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia are seen as a strategic countermove to U.S. containment efforts. What are the implications of China strengthening ASEAN ties—and how should Korea diplomatically position itself in response? (BONG) 5. As ASEAN becomes a contested space in the new Cold War landscape, how can Korea avoid marginalization while maintaining diplomatic and economic balance between the U.S. and China, Dr. Bong? (MOON) 6. With around 60% of Korea's semiconductor exports going to China—and tech dependence on the U.S.—how can this dual over-dependence be reduced in a sustainable way? (MOON) 7. U.S. export controls and China's countermeasures are disrupting high-tech supply chains. Mr. Moon, how should Korean leaders at firms like Samsung and SK hynix navigate this strategic split in the global tech ecosystem? (BONG) 8. Regarding the currency, the weakening yuan is dragging down the Korean won. Do you see this as just a currency ripple—or a deeper sign of strategic vulnerability in Korea's financial independence? (BONG) 9. Are Korea's current diplomatic and corporate strategies sufficient in the face of this global realignment? What gaps or blind spots urgently need attention?
Trump signals tariff relief for auto industry following exemptions on electronics
2025/04/15 17:00
U.S. President Donald Trump has hinted at potential relief from tariffs on cars and those planned for car parts but details regarding the time frame have yet to be disclosed. Our correspondent Moon Hye-ryeon reports. U.S. President Donald Trump has signaled another wave of temporary tariff suspensions — this time, for the auto industry. Speaking to reporters on Monday, he said that he was looking to help car companies with potential pushbacks on his 25 percent tariffs on complete vehicle and parts imports. "I'm looking at something to help some of the car companies where they're switching to parts that were made in Canada, Mexico, and other places, and they need a little bit of time because they're going to make them here, but they need a little bit of time." He did not specify when this pause would be implemented nor how long automakers would be granted relief. Levies on fully built vehicles took effect on April 3rd, and those on parts are due to be implemented in stages no later than May 3rd — prompting automakers to lobby for exclusions over the past few weeks. Shares of U.S. car companies, including General Motors and Ford Motor Company, peaked following his comments — reflecting investor optimism that the administration may be softening its stance, at least temporarily, to cushion the impact of trade tensions on vehicle manufacturers. Trump also mentioned that he had spoken to Tim Cook, the head of Apple, and "helped" him and "that whole business". On Friday, the Trump administration granted exemptions for popular consumer electronics from weighty tariffs on Chinese products and the baseline tariff on imports from other countries, stating that these products would instead be levied based on its national security investigation on semiconductors. Amid these shifts in trade policy, the U.S. stock market has seen fluctuations — and following these exemptions, Wall Street showed gains on Monday. The Dow Jones and S&P 500 both ended around point-eight percent higher than the previous session, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq rose more than point-six percent. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.
Registration closes for presidential candidacy for major parties
2025/04/15 17:00
Today is the final day for candidate registration for the partisan primary elections. Our correspondent Kim Do-yeon now tells us what lies ahead. The official registration for candidacy for the upcoming presidential election closed for both parties on Tuesday. The Democratic Party of Korea has three contestants, while the People Power Party has eleven. The DP's race is largely seen as predictable, with its former chair Lee Jae-myung set to take the party's ticket. However, Kim Kyung-soo, former Gyeongsangnam-do Province Governor and Kim Dong-yeon, current Gyeonggi-do Province Governor are, in their own right, heavyweight politicians. With just one day to go until the first regional voting opens for electors of the Chungcheong-do provinces, candidates continued to promote their bids. Lee released an interview with Roh Moo-hyun Foundation's YouTube channel. Kim Kyung-soo, after handing in the registration paper himself met with small business owners in Gyeonggi-do Province. Kim Dong-yeon held a meeting to follow up on his visit to the U.S. to deal with U.S. tariffs, focusing on the auto industry. Both of them are non-Lee Jae-myung faction politicians in the DP, with backers of their own. Meanwhile, with many more contestants for People Power Party, in a week, the list will be cut down to 4 in the first round cut-off. Among the registered, 8 notable contestants are Kim Moon-soo, the latest labor minister, four-term lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo, former PPP chair Han Dong-hoon, the latest Daegu mayor Hong Joon-pyo, five-term lawmaker Na Kyung-won, Incheon mayor Yoo Jeong-bok, Gyeongsanbuk-do Province governor Lee Cheol-woo, and former lawmaker Yang Hyang-ja. With the media day for the runners coming up on Wednesday candidates promoted their bids. Han Dong-hoon, Hong Joon-pyo, and Na Kyung-won shared detailed pledges and visions. Kim Moon-soo and Lee Cheol-woo went to visit former president Park Jung-hee's memorial. What they all had in common, however, was their messages against the DP's Lee Jae-myung as he leads the polls to become the next president. They unilaterally criticized Lee's ongoing legal battles and said that his pledges are too liberal. All in all, the final candidate will be chosen within a couple of weeks. For DP, the final candidate is likely to be decided by April 27th, with Lee expected to take more than 50-percent of the final vote. For the PPP, if a candidate takes more than 50-percent of votes in the second round, then it'll end on April 29th if not, there's a run-off on May 3rd. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.
Air chiefs of S. Korea and UAE hold talks on defense cooperation on Tuesday
2025/04/15 17:00
South Korea's Air Force Chief of Staff General Lee Young-su sat down with UAE's Deputy Commander of Air Force and Air Defense Rashed Mohammed Al Shamsi at the Air Force headquarters in Gyeryongdae . The meeting comes ahead of plans by the UAE to put into operation the Cheongung-II mid-range surface-to-air missile weapon system which is often referred to as the "Korean Patriot" system. General Lee shared full support for a successful operation and the two officials also agreed to hold talks every six months making the UAE the first Middle Eastern nation to do so with South Korea. Meanwhile the two air force commanders are slated to sit down again tomorrow that is Wednesday to ink a letter of intent for cooperation on KF-21 fighter jets.