News

Rival parties hold joint talks on pending issues, excluding Acting President Choi

2025/03/06 17:00

At the National Assembly. Rival parties are engaged in talks on state affairs including pension reform, this year's supplementary budget, and efforts to bolster the chip industry. Floor leaders of the ruling People Power Party, Kweon Seong-dong, and main opposition Democratic Party, Park Chan-dae, are holding a closed-door meeting presided over by National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik. This meeting initially included the government but has been turned into a parliament-only gathering in the wake of continued conflict between opposition lawmakers and acting President Choi Sang-mok over the latter's failure to appoint justice nominee Ma Eun-hyuk to the Constitutional Court.

S. Korea's inflation holds at 2.0% as fuel prices rise, fresh produce costs dropped in February

2025/03/06 17:00

Korea's inflation rose moderately in February gaining two percent on year slower than the 2-point-2 percent posted in January. Our correspondent Moon Hye-ryeon has details. Consumer price hikes in South Korea showed signs of a gradual slowdown, but inflation continues to hover in the two percent range. Data from Statistics Korea on Thursday shows that the country's consumer price index – a key gauge of inflation – rose two percent in February year-on-year. This is a slight decline compared to the two-point-two percent growth seen in January, following three consecutive months of rising inflation figures. A surge in oil prices was a key factor in continued consumer price growth. Last month, petroleum product prices jumped by six-point-three percent year-on-year, marking the second consecutive month of price hikes of more than five percent. This is the first time since 2022 that fuel prices have recorded such sustained increases. Gasoline prices in particular spiked by more than seven percent. "The 6.3 percent increase is mainly due to factors like exchange rates and smaller cuts in fuel taxes. Compared to last February, global oil prices haven't changed much, but these domestic factors have driven up fuel prices." The government lowered its fuel tax cuts back in November last year – reducing the tax cut rate for gasoline from 20 percent to 15 percent, and 30 percent to 23 percent for diesel. And following the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump towards the end of January, the U.S. dollar has seen jumps alongside his new tariff policies. Reflecting the burden of higher fuel costs, the cost of living index rose by two-point-six percent last month --with the added weight of processed food prices shooting up. The index measures 140 items commonly bought by consumers, and this increase is the sharpest seen since July last year. However, prices of fresh produce fell by one-point-four percent – recording the first year-on-year drop since March 2022. In particular, the cost of fresh fruit fell by more than five percent, which the agency attributed to the base effect of high prices last year. During a review of price trends on the same day, the Bank of Korea noted that there is significant uncertainty in the inflation outlook due to geopolitical tensions, trade conflicts among major economies, exchange rate fluctuations, and domestic demand trends. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

Foreign exchange reserves fall below US$ 410 billion, lowest in nearly 5 years

2025/03/06 17:00

Korea's foreign exchange reserves are down to an almost five-year low. According to the Bank of Korea on this Thursday the reserves lost 1-point-8 billion U.S. dollars on month in February amounting to slightly below 4-hundred-10 billion U.S. dollars. Bank officials are linking the latest drop in reserves to their increased currency swap with the National Pension Service as part of efforts to ease the heightened volatility in the foreign exchange market. Meanwhile Korea stands as the world's ninth-largest holder of foreign reserves as of late January.

U.S. exempts automobiles from 25% tariffs on Mexico, Canada for 1 month

2025/03/06 17:00

Just one day after imposing a blanket tariff of 25 percent on Canadian and Mexican imports into the American market the Trump administration on Wednesday granted automobiles a one-month exemption. Our Lee Eun-hee explains. The United States announced on Wednesday that it would temporarily exempt automobiles from the 25-percent tariffs on Mexico and Canada for one month. According to White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt during a briefing, the decision followed conversations between President Trump and the heads of the big three automakers, General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis. "But at the request of the companies associated with USMCA, the president is giving them an exemption for one month, so they are not at an economic disadvantage.'" The tariffs were implemented starting on March 4th, local time, with failure to deal with the trafficking of drugs, particularly fentanyl, into the U.S. cited as a reason. Earlier the same day, President Trump also spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. In a social media post, Trump mentioned that he called Trudeau to discuss potential actions regarding the tariffs, and the call ended on a "somewhat friendly note." He added that he told Trudeau that Canada's efforts to curb the flow of fentanyl were not enough. Canada, which had swiftly imposed 25-percent tariffs on 20 billion U.S. dollars worth of U.S. imports in retaliation to the U.S. tariffs, took further action. On Wednesday, it officially filed a consultation request with the World Trade Organization, citing the unjustified U.S. tariffs on Canada. This means the disputing parties have sixty days to resolve the issue through consultations and if no agreement is reached, they can request a ruling from a WTO panel. Lee Eun-hee, Arirang News.

Top S. Korean security official expects 'good' outcome from tariff talks with U.S.

2025/03/06 17:00

National Security Adviser Shin Won-sik is in the U.S. to meet with senior government officials for talks on trade and security following the most recent remarks about reciprocal tariffs by Mr. Trump at a joint session of Congress Tuesday night. Lee Seung-jae reports. National Security Advisor Shin Won-shik arrived at Dulles International Airport on Wednesday en route to Washington to hold talks with his U.S. counterpart Mike Waltz and other senior U.S. officials. He's expected to discuss bilateral cooperation in security, the economy, the shipbuilding industry, and more. Amid recent comments from U.S. President Donald Trump that South Korea's average tariff is four times higher than that of the U.S., trade and tariff issues could top the agenda. While the security official said it would be "inappropriate" to comment on Trump's remarks he stressed that there are almost no tariffs between the two countries. Shin also expressed optimism, anticipating a "good" outcome, saying that the two allies seek a "win-win" result on the back of continued discussions between officials from two the countries. Responding to a question about whether he would discuss the possibility of President Trump engaging in direct talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Shin said all North Korea-related issues will be discussed. He noted that during a recent G7 foreign ministerial meeting held in Munich, Seoul confirmed through working channels that the Trump administration has stressed the need to closely communicate with Seoul on North Korean issues, including the possibility of a Trump-Kim summit. On whether the Trump administration could seek a significant rise in South Korea's share of the cost for stationing U.S. troops in Korea, Shin said no discussions have taken place on the matter, but said that the two countries will "smoothly disentangle" the issue based on the spirit of the longstanding alliance. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

[Weather] Large daily temperature differences, ultra-fine dust in west

2025/03/06 17:00

In most parts of the country, temperatures were below zero degrees this morning, around 1 to 5 degrees lower than yesterday. The daytime temperature in Seoul jumped to 10 degrees Celsius, returning back to early spring conditions. As there are large daily temperatures gaps of around 10 degrees, please take care not to catch a cold. In addition, an uninvited visitor has covered the atmosphere of the western regions. Looking at the ultra-fine dust forecast, Sejong, Chungcheongnam-do Province, Gwangju in Jeollanam-do Province, and Jeollabuk-do Province will have "bad" levels of ultra-fine dust tomorrow. Tomorrow morning will be a bit chilly with Seoul and Gyeongju at zero degrees, Chuncheon at minus 4 degrees. Daily highs will be higher than today across the country. Seoul, Chuncheon, Daegu and Busan will reach 11 degrees. The early spring weather will continue at this time of year for the time being, with the temperature in Seoul rising up to 13 degrees on Sunday. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

World News: Lawmakers injured as smoke grenades thrown in Serbian parliament

2025/03/06 17:00

This is The World Now, bringing you the latest stories around the globe. We begin in Serbia. At least three lawmakers were injured on Tuesday when opposition politicians protesting against the government and expressing support for ongoing student-led demonstrations threw smoke bombs and let off tear gas. Parliament on the day was set to confirm Prime Minister Milos Vucevic's resignation and vote on the dismissal of Speaker Ana Brnabic. The scenes come as protesters in Serbia have shown discontent with the country's hardline President Aleksandr Vucic with allegations of corruption which escalated after a railway station roof collapsed and killed 15 people last November. The Vucic administration has responded to the protests with a mix of crackdowns and concessions. Following the unrest, Brnabic declared that "Serbia's parliament will not back down" and condemned the lawmakers who disrupted the session, calling them "terrorists." Indonesia is using cloud seeding technology to mitigate severe flooding in the capital, Jakarta, and surrounding areas. The heavy rains, which began on Monday, local time have left at least one person dead and forced thousands to evacuate. Officials warn that the downpours could continue until next Tuesday. and have implemented precautionary measures to minimize further damage. One of those measures is cloud seeding, where salt or other chemicals are released into clouds to induce rainfall. Authorities are using cloud seeding to divert rain away from flood-affected areas or prevent the formation of heavier downpours. Biotech company Colossal Biosciences announced on Tuesday that it has successfully edited seven genes to create a mouse with thick, long fur. The genetically modified rodent exhibits several traits similar to the extinct woolly mammoth. The research team has named the new creation the "Colossal Woolly Mouse" and stated that it will play a key role in studying the link between DNA and the physical traits that allowed woolly mammoths to adapt to cold environments before their extinction around 4-thousand years ago. The team plans to expand their research by first experimenting with mice, and later editing embryos of Asian elephants, the closest living relatives of woolly mammoths. Yoon Se-young, Arirang News

K-wave AI News

2025/03/06 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. The 24th Gwangyang Maehwa Festival, or Plum Blossom Festival, will kick off this Friday, heralding the arrival of spring in Korea. Maehwa Village in Gwangyang, Jeollanam-do Province is recognized as one of Korea’s top 100 tourist destinations for its picturesque scenery. The festival will offer visitors a chance to immerse themselves in the breathtaking spring spectacle as well as the village’s traditional charms. Various activities, such as yacht rides on the Seomjin River and hot air balloon experiences, are also in store. A Gwangyang city official noted that while an unusual cold snap has made it difficult to predict the peak bloom, the plum blossoms are expected to reach full bloom this weekend and into next week. Renowned pianist Paik Kun-woo has released his third Mozart album, the final installment of his three-part Mozart piano recording project. Often described as a “seeker of truth on the keyboard,” Paik is revered for his meticulous artistry and relentless pursuit of musical depth. The album features “Fantasia in C Minor” as its centerpiece, alongside “Six German Dances,” “Adagio for Glass Harmonica,” and more. To mark the release, Paik will embark on a nationwide Mozart recital tour from this month through October. The tour kicks off in Yeosu this Saturday and will be held across 17 cities, including Seoul, Incheon, Andong, and Miryang. The 'Netmarble Game Museum' has officially opened in Seoul's Guro-gu District. Located at the headquarters of Korea's major game developer, Netmarble, the museum showcases a collection of over 2,000 items, including early console game devices, game software, and other collectibles. The museum's inaugural exhibition focuses on the history of Korean computer games, presenting them through key themes and a chronological timeline. Established by the Netmarble Cultural Foundation, the museum aims to promote the social and cultural value of 게임 while reexamining the gaming industry and its cultural impact. That’s all from me. Keep it tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[Hallyu People] Designer Yang Cheon-Shik spreads beauty of hanbok as way of reclaiming his identity

2025/03/06 14:00

Hanbok, Korea’s traditional attire is not just clothing worn in the past. It is an emblem of Korean culture, history and identity. Today, we meet a person who is searching for his Korean identity by designing, making, and wearing hanbok. For today’s “Hallyu People” we are joined by hanbok designer Yang Cheon-shik in the studio. Welcome Cheon-shik! 1-1) Cheon-shik, thank you for joining us during your current stay in Korea. Please introduce yourself to our viewers. 1-2) You practice “hanbok saenghwal”, which means you wear hanbok in your daily life, not just for special occasions. That’s why you are in one of your daily hanbok outfits today, that you designed yourself? 1-3) How did your affection for hanbok start and since when did you wear hanbok on a daily basis? 2) There are many different types of hanbok: men’s and women’s hanbok, hanbok worn by kings and queens, as well as different styles of hanbok for different eras. Do you have a personal favorite? 3) On the back of the hallyu boom, the interest in hanbok has also grown overseas. How is the response out in the streets in the U.S. (New York) when people see you wearing hanbok? 4) Let’s talk about some hanbok-related events that you were part of, either here in Korea or abroad. 5-1) You describe yourself as “Aggressively Korean” and a Korean American Adoptee (KAD), also seen on your social media. What is it that you want to express with that? 5-2) How much influence does hanbok exert on you and how does hanbok display your identity? 6) Can you share with us your goal or wish as a hanbok designer or someone who raises awareness about this beautiful Korean traditional attire? 7) Last but not least, what makes hanbok so beautiful?

[K-wave] MMCA Exhibition features art by Asian women

2025/03/06 14:00

Developed as part of an Asian art project by the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, an exhibition took place in Seoul showcasing around 130 works of post-1960s art by female artists from 11 Asian countries. The art pieces portray the perspective of female bodies. Lee Eun-jin has the story. This painting of a topless woman strutting in the middle of Myeong-dong in the 1970s represents the women who challenged the status quo of society's gender norms. Rough-textured concrete letters and unstructured waste wood pieces express the desire to escape institutional and disciplinary suppression. The elongated fabric rolled out from a structure that embodies a prison symbolizes the solidarity of women fighting for escape. "This installation of paintings expresses women in colonial Philippines the various social and historical stories of the Philippines, from the perspective of a female artist." The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art collected works that independently express the woman's body, and brought a large-scale exhibition of female Asian artists under the title "Connecting Bodies". There are more than 130 pieces by female artists from 11 different Asian countries since the 1960s. This is the first time for some of the works, including the works of Paik Nam-june's wife Kubota Shigeko and Mitsuko Tabe, as well as Chinese artist Guo Peng, to be showcased in Korea. "This exhibition showcases the artwork of Asian women not by defining it as a typology or ideology, but by telling the many stories of society through the lens of the body." Rather than organizing works in chronological order, or by artists or region, the exhibition is made up of six thematic sections, with focus put on the value of communication and connection, expressed through the body. Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.

[K-enter] Singer Lee Mi-ja announces retirement after 66 years

2025/03/06 14:00

Bella, today we have fully packed stories on Korean singers. Who are we going to talk about first? We are going to start off with singer Lee Mi-ja. Lee Mi-ja has announced her farewell performance as she declared that she will cease all activities after next month’s concert, indicating her intention to retire. On Wednesday, Lee Mi-ja held a press conference to discuss her upcoming concert, “Connecting the Pulse.” She will share the stage with younger traditional Korean music artists, Joo Hyun-mi and Jo Hang-jo, who will carry on her legacy. Lee Mi-ja’s farewell concert will be held on April 26th and 27th at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul. Let’s hear what she had to say at the press conference. Next, we have another farewell story from one of the members of Seventeen. Seventeen Wonwoo is set to enlist in the military, becoming the second member of the group to begin his service following Jeonghan. His agency, Pledis Entertainment, announced on Wednesday, that Wonwoo will begin his mandatory military service on April 3rd. As a result, Wonwoo will not be able to participate in scheduled activities after his enlistment, including the “Tecate Pa'l Norte 2025” festival in April and Seventeen’s Japan fan meeting. However, the agency reassured fans by saying that he will take part in the “Carat Land” fan meeting concerts on March 20th and 21st and will also make sure to stay connected with fans through pre-prepared content. And to end off on a happy note, we have some exciting news about singer-songwriter YOUNHA . Singer-songwriter YOUNHA is getting married! YOUNHA announced the news by posting a hand-written letter on her fan cafe on Wednesday. She wrote, “I have found my reliable partner in life and will be getting married.” She added, “I will now support and encourage your life as a stronger and more stable YOUNHA.” Her agency, C9 Entertainment, announced that YOUNHA will hold a private wedding ceremony with family and close friends at the end of this month with a non-celebrity fiancé. YOUNHA debuted in Japan back in 2004, before launching her career in Korea. She released several hit songs, including “Event Horizon” and “Password 486.” Thank you Bella for today’s stories.

Top S. Korean security official expects 'good' outcome from tariff talks with U.S.

2025/03/06 10:00

South Korea is actively keeping watch on the second Trump administration's careless tariff policy. National Security Adviser Shin Won-sik is now in Washington D.C. for a "win-win" trade talks with U.S. officials. Lee Seung-jae leads us this morning. National Security Advisor Shin Won-shik arrived at Dulles International Airport on Wednesday en route to Washington to hold talks with his U.S. counterpart Mike Waltz and other senior U.S. officials. He's expected to discuss bilateral cooperation in security, the economy, the shipbuilding industry, and more. Amid recent comments from U.S. President Donald Trump that South Korea's average tariff is four times higher than that of the U.S., trade and tariff issues could top the agenda. While the security official said it would be "inappropriate" to comment on Trump's remarks he stressed that there are almost no tariffs between the two countries. Shin also expressed optimism, anticipating a "good" outcome, saying that the two allies seek a "win-win" result on the back of continued discussions between officials from two the countries. Responding to a question about whether he would discuss the possibility of President Trump engaging in direct talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Shin said all North Korea-related issues will be discussed. He noted that during a recent G7 foreign ministerial meeting held in Munich, Seoul confirmed through working channels that the Trump administration has stressed the need to closely communicate with Seoul on North Korean issues, including the possibility of a Trump-Kim summit. On whether the Trump administration could seek a significant rise in South Korea's share of the cost for stationing U.S. troops in Korea, Shin said no discussions have taken place on the matter, but said that the two countries will "smoothly disentangle" the issue based on the spirit of the longstanding alliance. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

[Weather] Welcome back the sunshine with warmer highs

2025/03/06 10:00

After a chilly and gloomy stretch, it's finally time to welcome back the sunshine at least for the western regions. But mornings are still on the chilly to freezing side for many parts of Korea, those in cooler regions like Paju should feel the change. Do dress accordingly before heading out. However, the western parts of Korea and Jeju need to be aware of ultrafine dust levels that could go up respectively from early in the day. It shouldn't be too bad but keep a face mask handy. Afternoon highs will be similar to slightly higher than yesterday topping out at 10 degrees in Seoul as well as other major cities, there could be spotty rain in the afternoon in some of the east coast regions under cloudy skies. Speaking of rain, Jeju will see frequent rain for the next 5 days! The much-awaited spring is knocking on the door, and Korea is finally starting to feel it as temperatures keep climbing. We could have a high of 15 degrees Celsius by next Tuesday here in Seoul.

Indonesia uses cloud seeding to combat severe flooding

2025/03/06 10:00

Indonesia is using cloud seeding technology to mitigate severe flooding in the capital, Jakarta, and surrounding areas. The heavy rains, which began on Monday, local time have left at least one person dead and forced thousands to evacuate. Officials warn that the downpours could continue until next Tuesday. and have implemented precautionary measures to minimize further damage. One of those measures is cloud seeding, where salt or other chemicals are released into clouds to induce rainfall. Authorities are using cloud seeding to divert rain away from flood-affected areas or prevent the formation of heavier downpours.

Lawmakers injured as smoke grenades thrown in Serbian parliament

2025/03/06 10:00

Over in Serbia At least three lawmakers were injured on Tuesday when opposition politicians protesting against the government and expressing support for ongoing student-led demonstrations threw smoke bombs and let off tear gas. Parliament on the day was set to confirm Prime Minister Milos Vucevic's resignation and vote on the dismissal of Speaker Ana Brnabic. The scenes come as protesters in Serbia have shown discontent with the country's hardline President Aleksandr Vucic with allegations of corruption which escalated after a railway station roof collapsed and killed 15 people last November. The Vucic administration has responded to the protests with a mix of crackdowns and concessions. Following the unrest, Brnabic declared that "Serbia's parliament will not back down" and condemned the lawmakers who disrupted the session, calling them "terrorists."

U.S. holds direct talks with Hamas over Gaza hostages

2025/03/06 10:00

The Trump administration has reportedly been holding secret negotiations with the Palestinian militant group Hamas in an effort to secure the release of American hostages held in Gaza. U.S. Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Adam Boehler, reportedly met with Hamas representatives in Doha, Qatar in recent weeks. However, it remains unclear who represented Hamas in these discussions. The United States has designated Hamas as a terrorist organization since 1997 and has long refrained from direct engagement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office released a statement confirming that Israel has conveyed its stance on direct talks with Hamas to the United States but did not provide further details. Meanwhile, Hamas has not responded to requests for comment on the reported negotiations.

MWC 2025: Here are the S. Korean startups to pay attention to at 4YFN

2025/03/06 10:00

In Barcelona now. This year's MWC is not just for big firms to shine it's also a stage for startups to show off their innovative ideas and gain global recognition. Our correspondent Lee Soo-jin tells us more. Small business are competing to make their mark at this dedicated space nestled within the world's largest mobile event. This is where innovation begins. "4 Years From Now is a startup event on the sidelines of the Mobile World Congress, where inventors showcase their latest creations some award-winning, some intriguing, all with the goal of making it to the main event 'four years from now.'" And those award-winning startups generating buzz at the event include ones from South Korea. "Doctorpresso," an AI-powered mental health app, is the only Korean startup nominated this year for MWC's Global Mobile Awards, often called the "Oscars" of the mobile industry. I tested its AI by pretending to feel down. "I don't know what's wrong and nothing seems to change. I'm starting to lose hope." The technology quickly analyzed my voice, offering personalized recommendations about what I can do. Another South Korean startup, Sakak , was named a Top 20 finalist at the 4YFN Awards for its AI-powered platform, which provides customized responses based on sensitive data in industries like healthcare and insurance. "Our biggest challenge has been gaining global recognition. We hope to use this opportunity to find business opportunities abroad." And as 4YFN showcases cutting-edge startup innovations, it attracts industry leaders seeking promising startups for collaboration. "We're interested in startups with innovative AI technology. One of the biggest challenges that startups face is finding the right industry to apply their technology and that's where big corporations like us come in." One of the 15 startups SK Telecom is working with is "Tuat," an AI-powered visual assistance app that won GLOMO awards in 2022 and 2024. The app gives real-time voice descriptions for visually impaired users when they take a photo of their surroundings or objects. "A person's hand is visible on the monitor holding a cellphone and English is written on the screen." Another startup, "Hudson AI," uses AI to provide dubbing that captures nuances like tone and emotion. The company, like the other startups, is optimistic about the new opportunities and connections that 4YFN will bring as they take their first steps toward the global market. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News, Barcelona.

K-food exports see big growth over past ten years

2025/03/06 10:00

Exports of Korean food products, especially ramyeon and ready-made foods, have increased significantly over the past ten years. According to the Korea Trade Statistics Promotion Institute's report on K-food export trends in the past 10 years, released on Thursday, exports of Korean food items rose from three-point-5-1 billion U.S. dollars in 2015 to seven-point-zero-two billion dollars in 2024. On average, exports of food products rose eight percent annually during the same period. By item, ramyeon was on top with exports worth one-point-3-6 billion dollars, followed by ready-made food at 980 million dollars, beverages at 940 million dollars, and health food at 820 million dollars. By country, the U.S. was the top country importing Korean food items, followed by China and Japan.

On-point: U.S., Ukraine organizing new talks after U.S. suspension of military, intelligence support

2025/03/06 10:00

The U.S. and Ukraine are organizing new working-level talks after U.S. President Donald Trump suspended military and intelligence support for Ukraine. Will the two sides be able to make up for the Trump-Zelenskyy bust-up last week? Let's turn to Professor Choi Hyun Jin. Good morning. 1. In a letter from Zelenskyy to Trump, the Ukrainian president said he is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Would you say Trump's threat to halt military aid and now intelligence support worked? 2. Zelenskyy even said it himself that it's time to make things right. Does he think signing a minerals deal is the best bet for Ukraine? 3. Zelenskyy says nobody wants peace more than Ukrainians. Will Ukrainians be happy once a minerals deal is secured? 4. What's next in line after a much-debated minerals deal is sealed then? What moves will Trump make to bring peace to Ukraine? 5. Will Ukraine be finally invited to peace talks? Thanks so much for sharing your insight with us this morning. We appreciate it.

Trade ministry rebuts Trump's claim of S. Korea's average tariff being four times higher than U.S.

2025/03/06 10:00

And the security official's U.S. visit comes after Trump insisted in his congressional speech that South Korea's tariffs are 4 times higher than his country's. But South Korea's government says under the South Korea-U.S. FTA, that's not a valid statement. Our Kim Bo-kyoung reports. U.S. President Trump targeted some countries over what he called "unfair trade practices," specifically including South Korea. This was during his first address to a joint session of Congress since his inauguration in January on Tuesday local time. "South Korea's average tariff is four times higher. Think of that four times higher. And we give so much help militarily and in so many other ways to South Korea." Trump did not give specific evidence of his assertion, and South Korea's trade ministry was quick to rebut this. According to the trade ministry, Washington and Seoul have eliminated tariffs on most goods, under the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement that took effect in 2012, making its average tariff rate on imports from the U.S. stand at point-seven-nine percent in 2024. This rate is set to drop further this year in accordance with an annual tariff reduction plan stipulated in the agreement. For reference, the ministry added that the tariff rate on imported manufactured goods from the U.S. is zero-percent. In terms of what Trump said, the ministry assumed he would have been referring to Korea's most favored nation treatment tariff which stood at 13-point-4-percent in 2024, that is four times that of the U.S.'s 3-point-3-percent. But this rate, applies to WTO member countries without bilateral agreements, and thus is not applied to goods imported from the U.S. Amid such a potential tug of war on tariff schemes, Trump said he aims to "resurrect" America's shipbuilding industry, planning to offer special tax incentives to bring the industry back to the U.S., while also putting pressure on South Korea to participate in a natural gas pipeline project in Alaska. "My administration is also working on a gigantic natural gas pipeline in Alaska, among the largest in the world, where Japan, South Korea and other nations want to be our partner, with investments of trillions of dollars each." One expert says, however, that taking part in such projects would not be able to fully prevent Trump's reciprocal tariff scheme, and neither would the FTA be able to do it. "Trump threatened to impose a 25% tariff on Colombia and actually did on Canada and Mexico. All three countries have FTAs with the U.S., so having an FTA does not necessarily mean Korea can avoid such a measure." Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.