News

Constitutional reform given green light, but will lawmakers slim presidential power with it up for grabs?

2025/04/07 20:00

With the country slated to hold an early presidential election in the weeks to come, politicians start responding to the idea of revising the Constitution. Kim Do-yeon covers responses from rival parties. The leaders of South Korea's two major parties on Monday gave the green light to National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik's proposal for Constitutional reform, in light of the upcoming presidential election. But it came with a caveat as the Chair of the Democratic Party of Korea, Lee Jae-myung, is cautious as there are more important tasks at hand. "But right now, what's far more urgent and important is preventing the destruction of democracy. The immediate focus should be on ending the insurrection. I hope the People Power Party isn’t thinking of using constitutional reform as a way to simply move past this. But yes, reform is necessary." However, he confirmed that he agrees that certain aspects of the Constitution need to be changed, such as adding the spirit of the Gwangju May 18th pro-democratization movement to the Constitution, among other things. Laws need to be revised for this nationwide referendum to happen and Lee has agreed to get work done to make it possible alongside the presidential election in less than 60 days. In terms of the presidential term, Lee agreed on two four-year terms like the U.S. model. Meanwhile, the People Power Party welcomed the Constitution reform proposal, while saying that they're already working on the details from their side. "It's not just about dispersing power. The system must be restructured so checks and balances function properly. Just as presidential powers are being reviewed, the authority of the National Assembly must also be adjusted in a balanced way. Kwon said that as much as the presidential authority needs to be adjusted, the parliament's authority needs to be adjusted as well. At the moment, the parliament has impeachment motion power over four different branches of government, and Kwon says it has been imperialistic with its power recently, as the opposition holds the majority of the floor. He said no one expected this in 1987 when the current Constitution was passed, saying it needs to reflect the world we live in now. Speaker Woo, after the two leaders' comments, welcomed that the two main parties are on board with the Constitutional reform. But, as the DP leader was cautious, the referendum targeted for the next presidential election in less than 60 days can just be on what's agreed upon until then. "With presidential powers at the heart of the constitutional reform debate, voters heading to the polls in less than 60 days won't just be choosing the next president — they'll also be weighing each party’s vision for the presidency and its power. Especially in the wake of a push for martial law rule by a former president. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News."

Myanmar earthquake death toll tops 3,500 as bad weather hampers rescue efforts

2025/04/07 20:00

The death toll from the strong earthquake that struck Myanmar has risen to over 3-thousand-5-hundred. According to the Associated Press, more than 5-thousand people were injured and at least 200 remain missing. Heavy rain and strong winds over the weekend disrupted rescue efforts, temporarily halting the use of electrical equipment. Despite the severe weather, recovery efforts continue, with Mandalay Airport reopening and rail services to Yangon restored.

Ukraine faces mounting pressure as Russian strikes escalate as mineral deal talks loom in Washington

2025/04/07 20:00

Elsewhere. Russia continues its air attacks on Ukraine despite U.S. efforts to hammer out a ceasefire. Byeon Ye-young reports. Twisted steel beams, shattered windows, and other mangled remains of residential blocks now scar the skyline of Kryvyi Rih after a Russian missile strike on April 4th killed at least 20 people, including children playing in a park. Dozens were injured. As Ukraine observed a day of mourning, Russia launched more missiles and drones at Kyiv on Sunday, killing one and wounding several others. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attacks and criticized the U.S.'s tepid response to the attack on Kryvyi Rih, his hometown. "Staying silent about the fact that it is Russia killing children with ballistic missiles is wrong and dangerous. It only emboldens Moscow to continue the war and keep ignoring diplomacy." While Washington has yet to respond officially, Secretary of State Marco Rubio hinted at a possible shift in policy. Speaking in Brussels on Friday following a two-day NATO meeting, Rubio suggested that Washington's patience with Moscow is wearing thin and warned that Russia could soon face additional U.S. sanctions. Amid the military crisis, Ukraine is preparing for talks in Washington next week on a new draft for a mineral deal. According to The Associated Press, Ukraine's Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko confirmed that a Ukrainian delegation, including officials from the Ministries of Economy, Foreign Affairs, Justice, and Finance, will head to the U.S. next week. The proposed agreement would give the U.S. access to critical resources such as rare earths, oil and gas. European leaders are also pushing for tougher measures. French President Emmanuel Macron called for an immediate ceasefire and "strong action" if Russia continues to stall. Finnish President Alexander Stubb proposed April 20th, which marks both Easter and the three-month anniversary of President Donald Trump's inauguration, which marks both Easter and the three-month anniversary of President Donald Trump's inauguration, as a deadline for Russia to comply with ceasefire terms. Byeon Ye-young, Arirang News.

S. Korea's industry minister, Philippine delegation agree to strengthen econ. cooperation

2025/04/07 20:00

South Korea's industry minister met with high-ranking government officials from the Philippines on Monday to discuss ways to strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries. Minister Ahn Duk-geun held talks in Seoul with a 23-member Philippine delegation, during which both sides pledged to expand cooperation in trade, investment, and supply chain resilience. They also agreed on the importance of deepening collaboration in critical minerals and clean energy. The meeting comes as South Korea is seeking to diversify its export markets in response to growing global trade uncertainties caused by U.S. President Trump's tariff campaign.

S. Korea looks to find response measures to respond to China's export curb on rare-earth elements

2025/04/07 20:00

South Korea has pledged to ramp up efforts in response to China's recent export restrictions on rare-earth elements. Following a meeting on Monday with relevant stakeholders, including the trade and foreign ministries, the government aims to secure a public and private inventory of these minerals while preventing any lack of supply. As it is not an entire export ban, countries can still import elements such as graphite and gallium after obtaining an export permit from China's Ministry of Commerce. This comes amid Beijing's export controls as part of non-tariff retaliatory measures against the U.S. China provides around 90-percent of the world's rare earth supply, which is used to make weapons, electronics, and other consumer goods.

How S. Korea could recover from its leadership vacancy caused by Presidential impeachment

2025/04/07 20:30

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus. I'm Kim Mok-yeon. Just days ago, the Constitutional Court delivered a unanimous verdict — 8 to 0 — removing President Yoon Suk-yeol from power. The ruling has not only triggered an early presidential election but also left a gaping void in Seoul's diplomatic leadership at a time of global uncertainty and geopolitical rivalry. For months, summit diplomacy has been paralyzed under emergency rule. Key alliances with the United States and Japan are now under scrutiny, while relations with China and Russia remain deeply fractured. The international community is closely monitoring how Seoul navigates this leadership vacuum — and what comes next for its role on the world stage. Tonight, we speak with two experts to unpack the implications of this unprecedented moment: Joining us from Cambridge is Dr. John Nilsson-Wright, Head of the Japan and Koreas Programme at the Centre for Geopolitics. Welcome. Also joining us is Hannah Kim, Assistant Professor at Sogang University GSIS. Great to see you. 1. (Nilsson-Wright) Let's start with Dr. Nilsson-Wright. With the removal of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, South Korea has entered an early presidential election phase. As an international expert, how do you view Yoon's impeachment and the resulting diplomatic vacuum? 2. (Kim) Prof Kim, Since the declaration of martial law in December last year, South Korea has been unable to engage in summit diplomacy at the government level. What do you see as the most urgent diplomatic and security issues that need to be addressed? 3. (Kim) The impeachment of President Yoon has put U.S.-South Korea diplomacy in a similar situation to eight years ago during the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye. Dr.Nilsson-Wright, how has the situation changed compared to back then? Also, the U.S. State Department has stated its willingness to work with Acting President Han Duck-soo and the Korean government — what kind of response do you believe is necessary? 4. (Nilsson-Wright) Former President Yoon emphasized "values-based diplomacy" and pursued a foreign policy centered on the U.S. and Japan. The U.S. media is now highlighting the possibility of a shift in South Korea's diplomatic direction under the next administration. What is your take on this? 5. (Kim) Given that former President Yoon pushed for improved Korea-Japan relations through trilateral cooperation with the U.S. and Japan, Tokyo is also closely monitoring the impact of the impeachment on bilateral ties. After the ruling, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba emphasized the importance of cooperation with Korea regardless of which administration takes office. Do you foresee any changes in South Korea's diplomatic approach toward Japan? 6. (Nilsson-Wright) On the other hand, some suggest that since the U.S. values trilateral cooperation with South Korea and Japan to check China, it would not welcome any instability in Korea-Japan relations. Dr.Nilsson-Wright, how much of an influence would you expect? And how do you see ties moving forward? 7. (Kim) On April 3, during the NATO Foreign Ministers' Meeting, the foreign ministers of South Korea, the U.S., and Japan reaffirmed the goal of complete denuclearization of North Korea. However, given ongoing concerns that the role of trilateral cooperation may diminish, should South Korea expand its leading role in responding to the North Korea nuclear issue? 8. (Nilsson-Wright) Since taking office, former President Yoon has had confrontational relations with China and Russia, both of which have had a major influence on the Korean Peninsula. There are views that his so-called "biased diplomacy" contributed to the strengthening of North Korea-Russia ties. Dr.Nilsson-Wright, how do you think South Korea's relations with China and Russia should proceed going forward? 9. (Kim) The current international community appears to be shifting away from values-based diplomacy toward a survival-of-the-fittest approach. In this global climate, how can the South Korean government under Prime Minister and Acting President Han Duck-soo restore its diplomatic credibility?

Rival parties begin preparations for two-month race as gov't tentatively set election date for June 3

2025/04/07 17:00

Come summer South Korea will usher in a new president into its top office as preparations are now underway for an early election most likely on the THIRD of June. Our political correspondent Shin Ha-young has the latest. The date for South Korea's 21st presidential election has been tentatively set for June 3rd. That's according to Yonhap News Agency, with the date expected to be confirmed at Tuesday's Cabinet meeting. South Korea's presidential race is heating up as rival parties roll up their sleeves to prepare for a two-month race following the Constitutional Court's decision to remove former President Yoon Suk Yeol from office. The People Power Party formed an election committee on Monday for the upcoming presidential primary. The party chose Hwang Woo-yea, a former party interim leader and former five-term lawmaker, as its election committee chair. "Since Hwang recently served as our party's interim emergency committee leader after the general election, he knows the party well. We believe he's the right person to run the primary fairly and objectively." The party on Sunday decided to continue with its current leadership, with interim leader Kwon Young-se and floor leader Kweon Seong-dong set to stay to carry out the remainder of the presidential election process. The party does not have a clear frontrunner, with some local media outlets expecting as many as 10 contenders to enter the race. Among them is Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, who hinted at another run after he finished second to Yoon Suk Yeol in the party's 2022 presidential primary. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon is also frequently mentioned as a potential candidate. The most high-profile name, however, is former party chair Han Dong-hoon, once a close confidant of Yoon, who later distanced himself from the former president and publicly supported impeachment following the martial law declaration. Meanwhile, Democratic Party chair Lee Jae-myung -widely seen as the likely DP candidate -is expected to step down from his leadership role and make an official declaration to enter the race as early as Wednesday. Running as party chair could raise concerns about bias in the primary process. Local media anticipate that his formal announcement will come when the presidential election date is officially confirmed. Once Lee steps down, the DP plans to hold a meeting to set up an election committee for the primary. "We only have about 30 days for the primary, so we need to sort out any party rules, make changes if needed, and set up the election committee to get ready for the presidential race." Politicians outside Lee's faction within the DP are also preparing to enter the race. Among them, former DP lawmaker Kim Du-kwan was the first to make an official declaration to join the race. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

World News: U.S. to revoke all visas held by South Sudanese over deportation dispute

2025/04/07 17:00

This is the World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. The U.S. has announced it will immediately revoke all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders, citing the African nation's failure to accept the return of its repatriated citizens. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement on Saturday that South Sudan's transitional government has not complied with international norms by refusing to accept its nationals deported from the United States. As a result, the U.S. Department of State is revoking all existing visas held by South Sudanese citizens and halting the issuance of new visas to these individuals. The unprecedented decision, the first of its kind aimed at a specific country since the Trump administration took office, comes amid concerns about a potential return to civil war in the African nation. Rubio accused South Sudan's government of "taking advantage of the United States" and added that the U.S. is prepared to review the recent actions once South Sudan demonstrates full cooperation in accepting its repatriated citizens. In the Middle East, two British Members of Parliament have been denied entry into Israel during a planned visit to the occupied West Bank. Israel accused the two lawmakers of plans to spread "anti-Israel hatred." Labour MPs Abtisam Mohamed and Yuan Yang, were detained upon arrival at Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport on Saturday local time. The Israeli immigration authority stated they intended to "document the security forces and spread hate speech against Israel," leading to their deportation. The MPs asserted that they were part of a parliamentary delegation, alongside charities, visiting humanitarian aid projects in the West Bank. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy called Israel's actions "unacceptable, counterproductive and deeply concerning." In the African country of the Democratic Republic of Congo, torrential rain led to severe flooding in the capital, Kinshasa, over the weekend, resulting in at least 22 deaths. 46 people were hospitalized, and 75 families also had to be temporarily relocated due to the conditions. The flooding disrupted access to more than half of the city and its main airport. While Kinshasa, home to over 12 million residents, experiences frequent flooding during the rainy season, the weekend's rain marks the city's first major deluge of the year. Similar flooding in the capital city in 2022 killed over 100 people. Finally, in the U.S. state of Los Angeles, a minke whale that had been swimming in Long Beach Harbor last week was found dead on Sunday morning local time. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is collaborating with local officials to determine the cause of death. Earlier efforts to guide the whale out of the harbor were unsuccessful as it repeatedly returned despite attempts by experts to encourage its departure. The whale's appearance in the harbor last week had attracted crowds eager to catch a glimpse of the marine mammal. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.

Ukraine faces mounting pressure as Russian strikes escalate as mineral deal talks loom in Washington

2025/04/07 17:00

Meanwhile a recent Russian air strike on a residential area in the Ukrainian leader's hometown is prompting much outrage as it comes amid U.S. efforts to hammer out a ceasefire. Byeon Ye-young reports. Twisted steel beams, shattered windows, and other mangled remains of residential blocks now scar the skyline of Kryvyi Rih after a Russian missile strike on April 4th killed at least 20 people, including children playing in a park. Dozens were injured. As Ukraine observed a day of mourning, Russia launched more missiles and drones at Kyiv on Sunday, killing one and wounding several others. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attacks and criticized the U.S.'s tepid response to the attack on Kryvyi Rih, his hometown. "Staying silent about the fact that it is Russia killing children with ballistic missiles is wrong and dangerous. It only emboldens Moscow to continue the war and keep ignoring diplomacy." While Washington has yet to respond officially, Secretary of State Marco Rubio hinted at a possible shift in policy. Speaking in Brussels on Friday following a two-day NATO meeting, Rubio suggested that Washington's patience with Moscow is wearing thin and warned that Russia could soon face additional U.S. sanctions. Amid the military crisis, Ukraine is preparing for talks in Washington next week on a new draft for a mineral deal. According to The Associated Press, Ukraine's Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko confirmed that a Ukrainian delegation, including officials from the Ministries of Economy, Foreign Affairs, Justice, and Finance, will head to the U.S. next week. The proposed agreement would give the U.S. access to critical resources such as rare earths, oil and gas. European leaders are also pushing for tougher measures. French President Emmanuel Macron called for an immediate ceasefire and "strong action" if Russia continues to stall. Finnish President Alexander Stubb proposed April 20th, which marks both Easter and the three-month anniversary of President Donald Trump's inauguration, which marks both Easter and the three-month anniversary of President Donald Trump's inauguration, as a deadline for Russia to comply with ceasefire terms. Byeon Ye-young, Arirang News.

G7 foreign ministers raise concerns over China's recent military drills around Taiwan

2025/04/07 17:00

Top diplomats of the G7 have shared concerns over China's recent war games around Taiwan. In a joint statement they described Beijing's activities as "destabilizing" and urged for dialogue to address differences. The foreign ministers also asserted these regional tensions endanger international stability and prosperity. Last week the Chinese military held two days of military drills around Taiwan involving long-range live fire drills.

Trump dismisses stock market turmoil caused by tariffs

2025/04/07 17:00

In other news. A baseline U.S. tariff of 10 percent on imports of all foreign-origin goods into the American market went into effect this past weekend and the heavier country-specific duties are poised to take effect this coming Wednesday U.S. time with no prospect of a postponement. Moon Ji-young has details. US President Donald Trump has refused to back down on tariffs on imports from most countries despite the market turmoil they have caused. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One on Sunday evening, Trump characterized the tariff duties as “medicine,” while panicked investors continued a massive sell-off of global stocks. He warned foreign governments that they would have to pay "a lot of money" to lift sweeping tariffs. “I spoke to a lot of leaders, European, Asian, from all over the world. They’re dying to make a deal. And I said, we’re not going to have deficits with your country. We’re not going to do that, because to me a deficit is a loss. We’re going to have surpluses or, at worst, going to be breaking even.” When asked about a potential trade deal with China, Trump underscored that no agreement would be reached unless the U.S. trade deficit with Beijing, currently at one trillion dollars, is addressed. He also claimed that tariffs caused China to pull back from a deal regarding TikTok, which was nearly finalized, highlighting this as evidence of "the power of tariffs." In response to tariffs on Europe, Trump stated that the U.S. cannot afford to spend heavily on NATO to protect Europe while losing money on trade. Meanwhile, speaking to NBC on Sunday morning, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said more than 50 countries have begun negotiating with the U.S. since the announcement of the reciprocal tariffs. The comments go in line with Trump's remarks last week that "every" country has called the U.S. for talks. On the same day, Trump shared a post on social media that massive financial deficits can be cured only with tariffs, calling them a “beautiful thing to behold.” Moon Ji-young, Arirang News.

Constitutional reform given green light, but will lawmakers slim presidential power with it up for grabs?

2025/04/07 17:00

The parliament is also looking to revise the country's Constitution. And within the reform proposals is one that grants presidents two four-year terms instead of the current single five-year term. Our Kim Do-yeon covers this plan and more. The leaders of South Korea's two major parties on Monday gave the green light to National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik's proposal for Constitutional reform, in light of the upcoming presidential election. But it came with a caveat as the Chair of the Democratic Party of Korea, Lee Jae-myung, is cautious as there are more important tasks at hand. "But right now, what's far more urgent and important is preventing the destruction of democracy. The immediate focus should be on ending the insurrection. I hope the People Power Party isn’t thinking of using constitutional reform as a way to simply move past this. But yes, reform is necessary." However, he confirmed that he agrees that certain aspects of the Constitution need to be changed, such as adding the spirit of the Gwangju May 18th pro-democratization movement to the Constitution, among other things. Laws need to be revised for this nationwide referendum to happen and Lee has agreed to get work done to make it possible alongside the presidential election in less than 60 days. In terms of the presidential term, Lee agreed on two four-year terms like the U.S. model. Meanwhile, the People Power Party welcomed the Constitution reform proposal, while saying that they're already working on the details from their side. "It's not just about dispersing power. The system must be restructured so checks and balances function properly. Just as presidential powers are being reviewed, the authority of the National Assembly must also be adjusted in a balanced way. Kwon said that as much as the presidential authority needs to be adjusted, the parliament's authority needs to be adjusted as well. At the moment, the parliament has impeachment motion power over four different branches of government, and Kwon says it has been imperialistic with its power recently, as the opposition holds the majority of the floor. He said no one expected this in 1987 when the current Constitution was passed, saying it needs to reflect the world we live in now. Speaker Woo, after the two leaders' comments, welcomed that the two main parties are on board with the Constitutional reform. But, as the DP leader was cautious, the referendum targeted for the next presidential election in less than 60 days can just be on what's agreed upon until then. "With presidential powers at the heart of the constitutional reform debate, voters heading to the polls in less than 60 days won't just be choosing the next president — they'll also be weighing each party’s vision for the presidency and its power. Especially in the wake of a push for martial law rule by a former president. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News."

S. KOREA PREPARES FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

2025/04/07 17:30

Hope your workweek is off to a good start. It's Monday April 7th here in Seoul and you're watching Press Perspective. I'm Min Sunhee. Come early summer this year South Korea will have a new leadership at the top office after the strength of its democracy went on full display last week according to a number of foreign media outlets. For more I have Chloe Borgnon with French broadcaster France 24 Chloe it's great to have you here. I also have Thomas Maresca with American news agency UPI. Thomas welcome back. 1) Thomas, you also covered the Constitutional Court's verdict to uphold the presidential impeachment last Friday. Quite a number of foreign media outlets are linking this latest development to South Korea's democratic resilience. What more can you tell us about this perspective among the foreign press? 2) Chloe, the decision to uphold the presidential impeachment was unanimous. What are the broader implications of this reality according to the foreign press? 3) Thomas, Korea needs to hold an election within two months. What is the latest with regard to a potential date and related preparations by rival political parties? 4) Chloe, Reuters published a piece about the top contenders for the early presidential election with focus on six political figures. Let's go over the first three potential candidates: Lee Jae-myung, Han Dong-hoon, and Kim Moon-soo. For the sake of our viewers who may not be familiar with these figures, do tell us a bit about them as shared by Reuters. 5) And now Thomas, do tell us a bit about the final three contenders: Oh Se-hoon, Hong Joon-pyo, and Kim Dong-yeon . 6) Chloe, foreign press members say Yoon leaves behind a deeply divided country. Do you suppose the election will serve to start the healing process? 7) Thomas, what do you believe will be some of the urgent tasks for the next president of South Korea? 8) Chloe, in hindsight, what are the lessons to be learnt from the latest political developments here in Korea starting early last December? 9) And Thomas, what do you suppose may be the lessons to be learnt?

On-point: Rival parties gear up for early election & new administration

2025/04/07 10:00

Now that South Korea took the weekend to digest and cool off following Friday's final verdict, politicians are now gearing up to map out a new administration. Let us discuss more with Professor Mason Richey. Good morning. 1. I'd like to start with the National Assembly speaker's proposal on a referendum on the election to revise the Constitution. 2. The leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, Lee Jae-myung, is one of the top contenders for the upcoming presidential election, but why has he kept a low profile since the final verdict came out? 3. When will he quit his position as the party's leader? 4. The People Power Party took the weekend to reflect on the ruling, but there's not much time to take things slowly now that we only have 60 days, right? 5. I asked you this on Friday when the final verdict came out. Professor Richey thank you for sharing your insight with us.

NA Speaker calls for Constitutional referendum during next presidential election

2025/04/07 10:00

And over the weekend, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik suggested a referendum on the election day to revise the Constitution. It will be aimed at reorganizing power structure he says. Kim Do-yeon reports. Calls for constitutional reform surface almost every election season in South Korea. But this time, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik says it must happen and soon. He is pushing for a nationwide referendum to take place within the next 60 days, alongside the upcoming presidential election triggered by President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment. Speaking on Sunday, Woo emphasized that although the declaration of martial law was ultimately blocked, it revealed serious vulnerabilities in the country's democracy. "To break this vicious cycle, we must pave the way before the new president's term begins. Now is the perfect time to achieve constitutional reform, as the public's call for decentralization of power, popular sovereignty, and national unity has never been clearer. I propose holding a national referendum on constitutional amendment on the same day as the upcoming presidential election." To move the process forward, Speaker Woo also proposed launching a special committee dedicated to constitutional amendments. He said the first round of reform, aimed at aligning with the presidential election timeline, would focus on the division of power. A second round of proposed changes could follow during next year's nationwide local elections. When asked whether he was referring to a four-year presidential term with the possibility of re-election -similar to the U.S. model -Woo said it's an idea both major parties appear open to. However, he emphasized that the specifics would be discussed within the newly proposed committee. On the other hand, the leadership and senior members of the Democratic Party of Korea also the party the Speaker is from said it's not the time for this reform yet. While the Chair of the DP, Lee Jae-myung, did not directly respond, those close to him said that now is the time to put effort into holding those who started the insurrection responsible. The People Power Party interim chair, however, said the Party is unchanged in its stance on Constitutional Reform and welcomed the idea. Kwon Young-se said that the floor leader will come up with those joining the special committee proposed by the Speaker, and all details will be discussed there. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.

Presidential race heats up as rival parties begin preparations for two-month race

2025/04/07 10:00

A snap presidential election following former President Yoon Suk Yeol's dismissal last week has reportedly been set for June 3rd. And presidential race is heating up as there are now less than two months to elect a new leader. Shin Ha-young reports. The date for South Korea's 21st presidential election has been tentatively set for June 3rd. That's according to Yonhap News Agency, with the date expected to be confirmed at Tuesday's Cabinet meeting. South Korea's presidential race is heating up as rival parties roll up their sleeves to prepare for a two-month race following the Constitutional Court's decision to remove former President Yoon Suk Yeol from office. The People Power Party on Sunday decided to continue with its current leadership, with interim leader Kwon Young-se and floor leader Kweon Seong-dong set to stay. Some argued they should step down over the president's impeachment, but most felt it was better to keep them to help stabilize the party and prepare for the upcoming election. "The party lawmakers reaffirmed their confidence in the current leadership to carry out the remaining presidential election process." The PPP also decided to form an election committee on Monday for the upcoming presidential primary. The party does not have a clear frontrunner, with some local media outlets expecting as many as 10 contenders to enter the race. Among them is Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, who hinted at another run after he finished second to Yoon Suk Yeol in the party's 2022 presidential primary. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon is also frequently mentioned as a potential candidate. The most high-profile name, however, is former party chair Han Dong-hoon, once a close confidant of Yoon, who later distanced himself from the former president and publicly supported impeachment following the martial law declaration. Meanwhile, Democratic Party chair Lee Jae-myung -widely seen as the likely DP candidate -is expected to step down from his leadership role and make an official declaration to enter the race as early as Wednesday. Running as party chair could raise concerns about bias in the primary process. Local media anticipate that his formal announcement will come when the presidential election date is officially confirmed. Once Lee steps down, the DP plans to hold a meeting to set up an election committee for the primary. "We only have about 30 days for the primary, so we need to sort out any party rules, make changes if needed, and set up the election committee to get ready for the presidential race." Politicians outside Lee's faction within the DP are also preparing to enter the race, with official announcements expected as early as Monday. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

UK MPs denied entry, deported from Israel

2025/04/07 10:00

In the Middle East, two British Members of Parliament have been denied entry into Israel during a planned visit to the occupied West Bank. Israel accused the two lawmakers of plans to spread "anti-Israel hatred." Labour MPs Abtisam Mohamed and Yuan Yang, were detained upon arrival at Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport on Saturday local time. The Israeli immigration authority stated they intended to "document the security forces and spread hate speech against Israel," leading to their deportation. The MPs asserted that they were part of a parliamentary delegation, alongside charities, visiting humanitarian aid projects in the West Bank. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy called Israel's actions "unacceptable, counterproductive and deeply concerning."

U.S. to revoke all visas held by South Sudanese over deportation dispute

2025/04/07 10:00

Let's start in the United States, where the country has announced the revocation of visas held by South Sudanese citizens. Tell us more. The U.S. has announced it will immediately revoke all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders, citing the African nation's failure to accept the return of its repatriated citizens. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement on Saturday that South Sudan's transitional government has not complied with international norms by refusing to accept its nationals deported from the United States. As a result, the U.S. Department of State is revoking all existing visas held by South Sudanese citizens and halting the issuance of new visas to these individuals. The unprecedented decision, the first of its kind aimed at a specific country since the Trump administration took office, comes amid concerns about a potential return to civil war in the African nation. Rubio accused South Sudan's government of "taking advantage of the United States" and added that the U.S. is prepared to review the recent actions once South Sudan demonstrates full cooperation in accepting its repatriated citizens.

G7 foreign ministers raise concerns over China's recent military drills around Taiwan

2025/04/07 10:00

G7 foreign ministers have raised concerns over China's recent military drills around Taiwan. In a joint statement released by the top envoys, they described Beijing's recent military drills as provocative and destabilizing and called for dialogue for a "peaceful resolution of issues." The foreign ministers said the "increasingly frequent" activities are raising cross-Strait tensions," adding that they are also putting "global security and prosperity" at risk. Last week, the Chinese military concluded two days of war games around Taiwan, involving long-range, live-fire drills.

NA Speaker calls for Constitutional referendum during next presidential election

2025/04/06 18:00

As the country enters the race for an early presidential election, Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik today proposed a referendum on the election day to revise the Constitution. It will be aimed at reorganizing power structure. Our Kim Do-yeon reports. Calls for constitutional reform surface almost every election season in South Korea. But this time, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik says it must happen and soon. He is pushing for a nationwide referendum to take place within the next 60 days, alongside the upcoming presidential election triggered by President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment. Speaking on Sunday, Woo emphasized that although the declaration of martial law was ultimately blocked, it revealed serious vulnerabilities in the country's democracy. "To break this vicious cycle, we must pave the way before the new president's term begins. Now is the perfect time to achieve constitutional reform, as the public's call for decentralization of power, popular sovereignty, and national unity has never been clearer. I propose holding a national referendum on constitutional amendment on the same day as the upcoming presidential election." To move the process forward, Speaker Woo also proposed launching a special committee dedicated to constitutional amendments. He said the first round of reform, aimed at aligning with the presidential election timeline, would focus on the division of power. A second round of proposed changes could follow during next year's nationwide local elections. When asked whether he was referring to a four-year presidential term with the possibility of re-election -similar to the U.S. model -Woo said it's an idea both major parties appear open to. However, he emphasized that the specifics would be discussed within the newly proposed committee. In the meantime, the Democratic Party of Korea held a press conference, announcing that preparations for the upcoming presidential election are now underway. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, DP Secretary General Kim Yun-duck said that while there are no specific updates yet, the party is taking care of the practical aspects needed to ensure a smooth campaign launch once the election date is set. He also urged Acting President Han Duck-soo to announce the date without delay. The People Power Party also held a closed-door full-floor meeting on Sunday. Key agenda items likely included setting the rules for the party's presidential primary and addressing the fallout from the impeachment of its former leader. Unlike the Democratic Party, the PPP has no clear frontrunner for the upcoming presidential race. Meanwhile, following the Constitutional Court's decision to uphold the impeachment on Friday, Acting President Han Duck-soo is expected to announce the presidential election date during Tuesday's Cabinet meeting. Most expect the vote to be held on June 3rd the final day within the 60-day limit set by law. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.