News

Global institutions continue to forecast S. Korea's growth at under 1%

2025/06/02 10:00

The outlook for the Korean economy from major domestic and international institutions is becoming increasingly bleak. More than 20 institutions are forecasting a growth rate under one percent this year, while the average growth rate forecast has fallen to zero-point-nine percent in just four weeks. France's Société Générale even forecast zero-point-three percent growth, less than half of the Bank of Korea's forecast of zero-point-eight percent. According to the Bank of Korea on Monday, as of May 30th, the growth rate forecast for Korea this year from 41 domestic and international institutions ranges from zero-point-three percent to 2-point-2 percent.

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.

Rain across Korea on the first commute of June with cooler highs

2025/06/02 10:00

It's the first commute of June, and rain is in the forecast! Wet clouds over the West Sea are moving inland. Starting from Jeju Island, rain will expand to the central-western regions and Jeolla-do provinces, then reach Gyeongsang-do this afternoon. Jeju could see up to 60 millimeters into Tuesday, most of the southern regions will see 5 to 20 millimeters, and it will be spotty rain for the capital area, mostly in the morning hours. With the cloudy skies and rain, temperatures won't be climbing much, dropping by 2 to as much as 8 degrees in some parts. We can look forward to some relief from yesterday's early summer heat. Seoul will be getting up to 23 degrees, Daegu at 24 degrees, from yesterday's 31 degrees heat. The rain in the Seoul metropolitan area will clear by this afternoon, but for other regions, it will continue until tomorrow morning, which is the Presidential Election Day.

World News 4: California track-and-field championships draw limited protest over trans student's participation

2025/06/02 10:00

In the United States, a 16-year-old transgender athlete has secured two golds and one silver medal at the California Interscholastic Federation State Track and Field Championships, stirring up a controversy over the participation of transgender athletes in a girls' competition. The championships that involved AB Hernandez saw protests, with demonstrators displaying signs opposing transgender inclusion in girls' sports. President Donald Trump criticized California's decision to permit Hernandez's participation, threatening to withdraw federal funding from the state.

World News 3: Death toll in Nigeria floods hits more than 200, officials say

2025/06/02 10:00

In Nigeria's Niger State, rescue operations continued over the weekend after at least 200 people died in flooding caused by torrential rain which hit on Thursday. Emergency services said 500 people were still missing and 3-thousand residents were displaced in the market town of Mokwa in what is being described as the worst disaster in the area in six decades. The National Emergency Management Agency announced on Sunday that it had begun providing relief packages to people affected, and authorities will focus on recovering bodies to prevent potential outbreaks of disease.

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.

[Weather] Early summer heat all over the country with strong UV rays

2025/05/30 20:00

Early summer heat is continuing all over the country. It felt hotter in the middle of the day today than yesterday. Today's daytime temperature in Seoul soared up to 29 degrees Celsius, about 2 degrees higher than yesterday. Temperatures will stay very similar to today throughout this weekend. Skies are expected to be mostly sunny on the weekend without any rain or showers. However, as the temperatures in the inland areas will be as hot as around 30 degrees, the ultraviolet index will also rise from 'high' to 'very high' across the country. It is recommended that people stay indoors or stay in the shade while enjoying outdoor activities. Tomorrow, Seoul and Jeju will start off at 16 degrees, Daegu at 12 degrees. Highs will move up to nearly 30 degrees in most parts of the country. On the day of the election, the sky will be cloudy nationwide. Rain is forecast only in Gyeongsangnam-do Province and Jeju Island. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

[Arts & Culture] How a Korean scholar left a legacy in the U.S.

2025/05/30 20:00

Friday means it's time for our Arts and Culture segment. We have our culture correspondent Song Yoo-jin back in the studio. Welcome back! Great to be back! What do you have for us today? Today, I want to introduce a 19th-century friendship between Korea and the U.S. that lives on today, through a recently reopened gallery in Massachusetts. Here's the full story. Founded in 1799, the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts, is the oldest continuously operating museum in the United States. It's also the first American museum to purposefully collect Korean art. This month, the museum reopened its newly expanded and more diverse Korea gallery, named after Yu Kil-chun, a pioneering Korean scholar and politician. "Our relationship with Korea is really based on this diplomatic kind of relationship as well as cultural exchange. We do believe that Yu Kil-chun was the first international student to be in the United States." Yu arrived in America in 1883 as part of Korea's very first diplomatic delegation to the U.S. During his stay in Salem, he developed a close friendship with Edward Sylvester Morse, then director of the Peabody Academy of Science, PEM's predecessor. Yu later donated his personal belongings, and Morse would go on to acquire over 2-hundred Korean items, laying the foundation for what is now PEM's Korea gallery. The gallery focuses on Korean art from the early 19th to the 20th centuries. The development was led by Dr. Jiyeon Kim, who spent two years researching, curating, and designing the gallery. "This is the period that Korea first opened its door to a wider world. It is not just the story of Yu Kil-chun and the elite, also our gallery and our collection contain the lives of so many people who lived that very pivotal period." Nearly one hundred Korean art and everyday objects are on display. Among the highlights are an eight-panel folding screen from the early 1800s depicting a grand royal banquet during the Joseon Dynasty, meticulously conserved in Korea. This is a newly unveiled family picture of Yi Beom-jin, a Korean diplomat in Washington, D.C., who befriended Edwin Vernon Morgan, one of the first American diplomats posted to Korea. These traditional instruments, saenghwang and janggo, were played at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. "What we aim to do at the museum is to create an environment and an experience in which people can become more curious about the larger world, their place in it , seeing what we, what we do share, and really what makes something individual and distinctive." At the same time, the gallery offers visitors a deeper window into Korea. "Give this very valuable opportunity to people who know Korea only through K-pop and popular culture, and give them more insight about the history, where this culture, where this originated from." Some friendships grow stronger over time. The bond between Yu Kil-chun and Edward Sylvester Morse has endured for well over a century, evolving into this one-of-a-kind cultural exchange between their countries. Revamping a gallery of this scale must have taken an incredible amount of effort and dedication. Yoo-jin, what did the museum share with you about what went into the project? Both Director Hartigan and Curator Kim emphasized that the reopening of the Yu Kil-Chun Gallery was a collaborative effort. The project was made possible thanks to the support of numerous organizations and individuals, including the Korea Foundation, National Museum of Korea, and Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation, to name a few. Notably, the local Korean community played a huge role, as they organized fundraising events and donated artworks for auction. That's truly heartwarming. Yoo-jin, beyond what you covered in your report, what additional experiences await visitors at the Korea Gallery? Currently, an exhibition on Korean contemporary media artist Jung Yeon-doo is currently running at the museum as well. It presents Jung's two works: 'Evergreen Tower' and 'Bewitched.' 'Evergreen Tower' is a series of photographs showing the diverse living rooms of families residing in identical apartment units, highlighting individuality within uniformity. 'Bewitched' is a video installation where subjects are portrayed in two contrasting images: one as they are and another representing their aspirational selves. The exhibition will run until January 25th, 2026. Alright, Yoo-jin, thank you so much for your report today. My pleasure.

How a 140-year friendship lives on at a museum in Salem, Massachusetts

2025/05/30 17:00

Up next we show you how friendship transcends national boundaries and stands the test of time to allow for rich cultural exchanges as witnessed at a museum in Massachusetts. Our culture correspondent Song Yoo-jin shares this story. Founded in 1799, the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts, is the oldest continuously operating museum in the United States. It's also the first American museum to purposefully collect Korean art. This month, the museum reopened its newly expanded and more diverse Korea gallery, named after Yu Kil-chun, a pioneering Korean scholar and politician. "Our relationship with Korea is really based on this diplomatic kind of relationship as well as cultural exchange. We do believe that Yu Kil-chun was the first international student to be in the United States." Yu arrived in America in 1883 as part of Korea's very first diplomatic delegation to the U.S. During his stay in Salem, he developed a close friendship with Edward Sylvester Morse, then director of the Peabody Academy of Science, PEM's predecessor. Yu later donated his personal belongings, and Morse would go on to acquire over 2-hundred Korean items, laying the foundation for what is now PEM's Korea gallery. The gallery focuses on Korean art from the early 19th to the 20th centuries. The development was led by Dr. Jiyeon Kim, who spent two years researching, curating, and designing the gallery. "This is the period that Korea first opened its door to a wider world. It is not just the story of Yu Kil-chun and the elite, also our gallery and our collection contain the lives of so many people who lived that very pivotal period." Nearly one hundred Korean art and everyday objects are on display. Among the highlights are an eight-panel folding screen from the early 1800s depicting a grand royal banquet during the Joseon Dynasty, meticulously conserved in Korea. This is a newly unveiled family picture of Yi Beom-jin, a Korean diplomat in Washington, D.C., who befriended Edwin Vernon Morgan, one of the first American diplomats posted to Korea. These traditional instruments, saenghwang and janggo, were played at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. "What we aim to do at the museum is to create an environment and an experience in which people can become more curious about the larger world, their place in it, seeing what we, what we do share, and really what makes something individual and distinctive." At the same time, the gallery offers visitors a deeper window into Korea. "Give this very valuable opportunity to people who know Korea only through K-pop and popular culture, and give them more insight about the history, where this culture, where this originated from." Some friendships grow stronger over time. The bond between Yu Kil-chun and Edward Sylvester Morse has endured for well over a century, evolving into this one-of-a-kind cultural exchange between their countries. Song Yoo-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.