News

Passion for K-fashion in Australia

2025/03/05 14:00

Once a week we connect live to a correspondent overseas who fills us in on K-culture issues in their country. Today we will talk about K-fashion, which has been expanding its presence in the global fashion market, including in Australia. We are now connected to our K-correspondent, fashion writer Alexandra Feiam in Australia. Hello Alexandra! Q1-1. Alexandra, can you please tell us a little bit about yourself, as well as your interest in Korea? Q1-2. We heard you were quite surprised by Koreans’ passion for fashion? Q2-1. What about Australians? Walter, let me ask YOU first, you're from Australia. Were you into fashion back in Australia, and did things change for you after coming to Korea? Q2-2. Alexandra, in general, are Australians big fashion lovers? Also, where do they do their shopping? (online, offline, what kind of stores, etc.) Q3. As the Korean wave is spreading worldwide, K-fashion is also gradually taking over. As a fashion writer, do you feel this happening? Q4. So, how popular is K-fashion in Australia? And through which routes are Australians exposed to Korean fashion? Q5. How well known are Korean fashion brands and what are some unique features that make them popular? Q6. Many young people in Australia are influenced by K-pop idols’ fashion I hear? Which ones in particular? Q7. We see many Korean idols active as fashion brand ambassadors. How do you assess this trend and how much influence do they have on the fashion industry? Q8. (According to figures released by Seoul city last week, some 6.71 million U.S. dollars were secured from the 2025 F/W Seoul Fashion Week recently, with 100 international buyers having taken part in it.) Do you see any chances that Korea could become a fashion mecca as big as Paris, New York, Milan, London or Tokyo?

[K-enter] Jennie enters Billboard's 'Hot 100' for the fourth time

2025/03/05 14:00

Now it's time for our daily dose of K-enter news with Walter Lee. Walter, today we are starting off with news on Blackpink's Jennie. I told you we have nothing but 100% of the best entertainment news for you today and starting off with Queen J for Jennie and her recent release "ExtraL" . This marks the fourth time Jennie has had a solo track enter Billboard’s main singles chart, the ‘Hot 100.’ This comes as we count down to the release of "RUBY" which is Jennie’s first solo album since her debut as a Blackpink member. There are only two more days left until we get the full album as it will be released worldwide on March 7. In this album, Jennie plans to showcase a diverse range of music that reflects her identity, collaborating with renowned musicians, and with her releases so far such as "Mantra" and "Love Hangover," we are definitely seeing that range. But she is not the only one in the 'Hot 100' is she? That's correct. According to Billboard, my boy Jimin and his title track "WHO" from his second solo album "MUSE" ranked No. 33 on the ‘Hot 100’ climbing 11 spots from last week’s No. 44. "WHO" has now spent 31 weeks on the chart, tying the record set by PSY’s 2012 global hit "Gangnam Style." The only K-pop song to chart longer than "WHO" and "Gangnam Style" on the ‘Hot 100’ is you've guessed it BTS’s "Dynamite" with 32 weeks. Congratulations to both Jennie and Jimin and for keeping our theme of 100 alive for today. Staying with K-pop and moving onto a boy group that is set to entertain stages in Japan and around the world. That's right. Boy group ENHYPEN will hold four concerts for their "ENHYPEN WORLD TOUR 'WALK THE LINE' IN JAPAN -SUMMER EDITION"-at Tokyo’s Ajinomoto Stadium on July 5 and July 6 and Osaka’s Yanmar Stadium Nagai on August 2 and August 3. From November 2024 to January 2025, ENHYPEN successfully completed a three-city dome tour in Japan, performing at Belluna Dome in Saitama, Fukuoka PayPay Dome, and Kyocera Dome Osaka. In June, ENHYPEN will take the stage at Rajamangala National Stadium, Thailand’s largest concert venue. In April, the group will perform at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, the largest music festival in the U.S. Sounds like a busy but exciting schedule for the group and good luck to them. Lastly, let's delve into Korean animation. Korean animation "Exorcism Chronicles: The Beginning" which was released on February 21, had surpassed 300,000 viewers as of the morning of Tuesday, March 4. The animated prequel "Exorcism Chronicles: The Beginning" explores the origins of its protagonists, taking a different path from the original storyline. It unveils how the disgraced ex-priest Father Park, vengeance-driven martial artist Hyeon-am , and gifted young shaman Joon-hoo unite to form an unlikely team. It is based on the fantasy novel of the same name, which has sold over 10 million copies and amassed 230 million online views.

[Features reporter] Rise of virtual idols broadens K-pop spectrum

2025/03/05 14:00

Kun-woo, I heard you had the chance to dive deeper into the K-pop scene. What do you have for us this week? That's right. I had the amazing opportunity to speak with the members of a virtual idol group and also see how fans are following these virtual artists. But before I tell you more, follow me into the "virtual world." Five K-pop band members who claim to come from outer space. They make up PLAVE, the first virtual idol group to sell over a million albums. As their fan base continues to expand, a special cafe has even been created, offering an exclusive space for fans to enjoy related content. Fans from all over the world gather here daily, proving the popularity of these virtual idols. "I think it was just really refreshing. I didn't really listen to K-pop that much before. I was also interested in the technology behind it." Artists like PLAVE, who use motion capture technology from sensors attached to real artists behind the avatars, tend to be more popular than those created purely with advanced technology without an actual person. As a result, more motion-captured idols are being created, and finding ways to reach a broader audience. "Virtual idol groups aren’t just performing but they’re connecting with fans just like any real-life idols. Let me show you how they send their love." Virtual idols also have advantages on the production side, especially as they save time and money. "They don't need travel time or large entourages during tours and since they're not real people, the risk of mistakes is minimized. Investment costs are much lower compared to real artists, especially in areas like appearance management." The virtual artist market is growing rapidly and one research firm predicts it will grow tenfold by 2028 compared to 2021. "Virtual idols are based on animation and sub-culture, which makes it somewhat difficult to connect with the mainstream audience at first. But if they continue to share their "humanity" with their own stories included in their music-making efforts, they could gradually break through and more accepted." He also said virtual idols with "humanity" traits are similar to real K-pop idols in terms of their appeal to the audience, meaning the K-pop scene would be able to continue expanding, breaking beyond reality. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News. These idol groups may be virtual, but their popularity is "real" for real. And the numbers show that too I remember PLAVE recently entered the Billboard Global 200 chart, as the first virtual artists to do so. Your coverage is making me want to fanboy over some of them! So, can you tell us more about these virtual idol groups? Yes, so if you're interested in following some virtual idols, PLAVE is definitely one of the good choices. The fan culture I witnessed at the "PLAVE cafe," looked so much fun with fans sharing merchandise and information. And as you might expect, their concerts are incredibly popular as the tickets were sold out in just 10 minutes. But as I'm sure you're all familiar with PLAVE now, I'd like to introduce some other groups. The first one is Priz-V whom I had the chance to speak with. And I brought a special message for our viewers from them. First, take a listen. "Hello Arirang TV viewers! This is Priz-V! We've got a lot of exciting things coming up, so stay tuned and please show us your love and support. I truly appreciate it. Thank you! ! " So that was a lovely message from Priz-V who are preparing for their new release this April. Also, there's a boy band called AEONIT that will be releasing a new digital single next week. And I'm now wondering won't the rise of virtual idols be a threat to human K-pop trainees? As it's known that there are over a million K-pop trainees these days, it's quite interesting to think about that. I've been talking about it with my trainee friends as well. One expert I spoke to said this can actually be a new opportunity for the trainees. "The K-pop idol market is dominated by appearance and the endless pursuit of youth, constantly seeking replacements. So, if the idol trainees are tired of the system or can't express their strong musical philosophy due to various practical constraints, becoming a virtual artist can certainly be an opportunity." He also said that the fusion of technology and humans will continue in the future, and he hopes that whether as a virtual artist or a human artist, it's crucial to establish one's own music philosophy and style to succeed in the industry. Let's hope for a healthy coexistence of virtual and human K-pop artists. Alright Kun-woo, thanks for all of that. We'll see you next time. Thank you Kun-woo.

SEMICONDUCTORS AND NATIONAL SECURITY

2025/03/05 17:00

Welcome to Press Perspective for this Wednesday March 5th here in Seoul. I'm Min Sunhee. Today we take a look at the link between semiconductors and their role in supporting national security and diplomatic interests. For more on this I have freelance journalist Yang Chien-Hao from Taiwan based here in Seoul in the studio. Chien-Hao welcome back. I also have Professor Ramon Pacheco Pardo at King's College London joining this talk virtually. Professor Pacheco Pardo it's a pleasure. 1) Professor Pacheco Pardo, let's begin with details of an opinion piece for the American news publication, Foreign Policy, that you recently wrote in which you assert that "South Korea Has More Leverage Over China Than You Think". 2) Professor Pacheco Pardo, a recent survey by a Korean government affiliated research institute shows experts here ranking their country second in chip performance and related technology as compared to China. 3) And Chien-Hao, could you very briefly tell us a bit about the results of that survey on semiconductors? 4) Staying with semiconductors but beyond borders. 5) Professor Pacheco Pardo, does this latest pledge of investment by TSMC in America look to affect the Trump administration's support of Taiwan in the event of any Chinese hostility? 6) Professor Pardo, some pundits are voicing concern about the future of South Korea's foreign policy as they point out the Trump administration risks "reducing the bilateral alliance to a simple business transaction" as the latter seeks tangible economic returns in exchange for security efforts. 7) Chien-Hao, China this week began its annual "Two Sessions" gathering, a week-long political event that pundits believe offers a glimpse into the priorities of its leadership. 8) Professor Pacheco Pardo, as the Trump administration steps back from the international stage, do see you China stepping up to take on some roles? 9) Chien-Hao, moving forward, what are the prospects of more constructive ties among South Korea, Japan and China amid the more protectionist foreign policy of the U.S.? All right.

K-wave AI News

2025/03/05 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. The 95th Chunhyang Festival will kick off next month in Namwon City, Jeollabuk-do Province. Rooted in the Tale of Chunhyang, a Joseon-era story of love and devotion, the festival has been one of Korea's most iconic traditional cultural celebrations since its inception in 1931. This year's festival will feature 100 programs symbolizing its century-long legacy, blending tradition with modern trends. Highlights include Korea's oldest beauty contest, the Miss Chunhyang Pageant, along with dance and music performances and a food fair featuring local specialties. Last year, the festival drew over 1.2 million visitors. The National Theater of Korea in Seoul will host a special concert next Friday to celebrate the 90th anniversary of Pavarotti's birth and the Korea-Italy Year of Cultural Exchange. The late Pavarotti was one of Italy's most celebrated opera singers of all time. The event will feature performances by renowned young opera singers from around the world, accompanied by Maestro Paolo Andreoli, who served as Pavarotti's accompanist until his passing. Since last year, Korea and Italy have been actively engaging in cultural exchanges as part of the 2024–2025 Year of Mutual Cultural Exchange. A large-scale underground bunker in Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do Province, originally built for emergencies like war, has been transformed into a vibrant media art space. The bunker, which had been abandoned for nearly 20 years, is now emerging as a popular experiential tourist attraction under the name "Wansan Bunker The Space." Stretching over 280 meters, the space connects 10 media art rooms, including the signature "The Dimension Gate" made of LED lights and mirrors. Jeonju City says the bunker attracted over 31,000 visitors in the past month. That's all from me. Keep it tuned to the Kulture Wave.

Myanmar’s military leader visits Russia for discussions on cooperation with Putin

2025/03/05 10:00

Russian President Vladimir Putin has held talks with Myanmar's military leader. The talks at the Kremlin on Tuesday mark Senior General Min Aung Hlaing's fourth visit to Russia since Myanmar's military seized power in February 2021, ousting the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. During the meeting, Putin highlighted the increase in trade with Myanmar's military government, and emphasized close cooperation on the international stage. Russia, alongside China, remains a key supporter and arms supplier to Myanmar's military government. Min Aung Hlaing, in turn, expressed his open support for Russia's military operations in Ukraine. Meanwhile, according to Russia's TASS news agency, Myanmar officials have been invited to attend Moscow's Victory Day Parade on May 9th.

MWC 2025: World's biggest mobile and telecom companies go all in on AI

2025/03/05 10:00

Over in Spain. Artificial Intelligence is once again taking the spotlight at this year's Mobile World Congress, with global tech firms showing off their own upgraded versions of AI that are practical, handy and affordable. Our Lee Soo-jin reports from Barcelona. Thousands have once again made the annual pilgrimage to Barcelona for the latest innovations in mobile devices and telecommunications. And at the 2025 Mobile World Congress, one theme dominates: artificial intelligence. "Basically every booth that you are crossing is the one about AI integration so it's all about AI mostly." One such booth where AI is taking center stage is South Korean telecom giant LG Uplus's first-ever solo exhibition at MWC, where visitors are greeted not just by staff, but by the humanoid robot Alice. But it's not just about eye-catching AI technology, as LG Uplus is showcasing AI innovations that are secure. "As AI develops so there are more crimes related to AI, so the criminals use the AI-generated voices. Basically there are many generated AI defects such as personal information leakages." LG Uplus's AI-powered technology "Anti-DeepVoice" is designed to detect voice phishing and fraud by distinguishing between real human voices and deepfake voices. After my voice was recorded it was turned into a deepfake to test the technology. The AI technology successfully detected that my voice was a deepfake. The focus on secure AI is also evident in the mobile industry, particularly in Samsung Electronics' latest mid-range smartphones, unveiled for the first time at this year's convention. "The Galaxy AI is providing you this new way of interacting with the device also in a secure way. So it can be trusted that this information is never going to be compromised." And the more budget-friendly prices are set to make secure and advanced AI-powered features, such as AI-enhanced photography once limited to high-end models, more accessible. AI-enhanced photography features were also what drew large crowds to Chinese smartphones. Huawei showcased the world's first commercial tri-fold smartphone, utilizing AI to enhance zoom capabilities for photography, while Xiaomi debuted its 15 Ultra, featuring AI-driven extreme zoom and image clarity enhancements for photos. "From AI-driven security solutions to AI-powered smartphones, this year's MWC is making one thing clear: artificial intelligence is no longer an option but a necessity for telecom and mobile innovation." Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News, Barcelona.

Nominee for Under Secretary of Defense for Policy raises uncertainty over trilateral cooperation

2025/03/05 10:00

Nominee for U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Elbridge Colby, has voiced uncertainty over security cooperation between South Korea, the U.S. and Japan. During his Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday, when asked about an Indo-Pacific version of the NATO, he stated that with the political dynamics of Seoul in the past 6 to 8 months, it is unclear whether cooperation can continue. He added that he isn't against the idea of the multilateral alliance, but is skeptical on whether the alliance would be as ambitious as NATO. This comes as Colby argued that the U.S. couldn't focus on everything at once, though adding that it wouldn't "want North Korea to take over South Korea."

On-point: Trump hopes to announce Ukraine deal in address to Congress: Sources

2025/03/05 10:00

After a dramatic spat with his Ukrainian counterpart, U.S. President Donald Trump is apparently hoping to announce the minerals deal with Ukraine in his first address to Congress since returning to power. For more, we connect with Voice of America correspondent Jessica Stone. Hello there, Jessica. 1. Jessica, he should be delivering his speech in the coming hour. How important is this congressional speech? 2. Are Democrats showing up for the speech? 3. Now sources say the U.S. and Ukraine planned to sign a minerals deal on Tuesday, just in time for Trump's speech to Congress. How likely is it that he'll announce the deal tonight? 4. The speech also comes a day after Trump announced tariff plans on Mexico, Canada, and China. What is he expected to say about tariffs? 5. What about North Korea and related issues? Thanks Jessica, for the coverage. We appreciate it.

S. Korea secures key trade dialogue with U.S. amid tariff concerns

2025/03/05 10:00

Concerns are lingering that Trump's merciless tariffs could spill over to South Korea, but Korean trade authorities are taming those worries, saying a communication channel is ready with the U.S. to discuss tariffs. Our Moon Hye-ryeon has the details. South Korea's Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun says his recent visit to the United States has established a key communication channel with the Trump administration to discuss tariffs and industrial cooperation, including shipbuilding and energy. Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, Ahn described this as a major achievement, allowing negotiations to take place in a way that best serves South Korea's interests. He likened the tariff talks to a "marathon," warning that new tariffs on industries such as semiconductors, 반도체, bio-manufacturing, 바이오 제조, and automobiles 자동차 could emerge at any time. During his visit, Ahn met with senior U.S. officials, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and White House Energy Adviser Doug Burgum. He confirmed that four working-level dialogue groups have been established on shipbuilding, energy, Alaska gas development, and non-tariff barriers, alongside separate channels with the U.S. Commerce Department, the U.S. Trade Representative, and the National Energy Council. With the U.S. set to expand tariffs on steel and aluminum starting next week and poised to introduce more, Ahn stressed that securing a fair competitive environment is crucial saying South Korean firms will be able to adapt if they are not placed at a disadvantage compared to other countries. He also emphasized the need for consistent policy, highlighting the strong industrial ties between the two countries, and stated that Seoul is urging Washington to uphold commitments made to Korean companies under the previous administration such as the Inflation Reduction Act. On shipbuilding, Ahn said Washington views South Korea as a key partner in strengthening U.S. naval capabilities, with Commerce Secretary Lutnick expressing appreciation for Seoul's willingness to cooperate. Ahn further revealed that he had explored opportunities for South Korean participation in Alaska's gas development project, which has become a priority under President Trump's push for increased domestic oil and gas production. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

Zelenskyy calls White House meeting with Trump 'regrettable' after U.S. aid pulled

2025/03/05 10:00

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is trying to sort things out after his clash with Trump last week, now vowing to "make things right" after Trump announced the pulling of all military aid for Ukraine. Lee Seung-jae has more. In a video address on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed regret over his recent clash with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House. "We seek constructive cooperation and true partnership. What happened at the White House instead of our planned negotiations is regrettable. But we must find the strength to move forward, respect one another — as we have always respected America, Europe, and all our partners — and work together to bring peace closer." The Ukrainian leader said that maintaining a normal, partnership relationship with the U.S. is crucial to ending the war, adding that no one wants an endless war. He also vowed to "make things right," saying Ukraine was ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible. Zelenskyy also took to X on Tuesday, saying that he and his team are ready to work under Trump's "strong leadership" for lasting peace. The remarks from Zelenskyy come after President Trump ordered all military aid to Ukraine to be cut off, following the White House meeting. The decision was warmly welcomed by the Kremlin, who said that the U.S. suspending military aid to Ukraine would be the best contribution to peace. According to Russian media reports on Tuesday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said it's clear that the U.S. has been the main supplier of the Ukraine war, welcoming the decision to cut aid to Ukraine. He said while the details of the suspension need to be confirmed, it will allow Ukraine to enter into a peace process. Peskov also voiced optimism that Kyiv will lean towards resolving the situation through peaceful means. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

EU unveils US$ 840 bil. defense investment "ReArm Europe" plan

2025/03/05 10:00

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Tuesday that the EU bloc will boost collective defense by significantly boosting military spending. The European Commission President introduced the "ReArm Europe" plan, which would allow all European countries to access a fund worth 840 billion U.S. dollars for defense in the coming years. Calling it an "era of rearmament," she says the plan will allow EU member states to "pool demand and to buy together," while increasing interoperability and strengthening its defense. The announcement comes as EU leaders are set to meet in Brussels on Thursday, where they'll discuss a defense package for Europe and Ukraine.

S. Korea's GNI per capita rises to US$ 36,624 in 2024

2025/03/05 10:00

South Korea's gross national income per capita edged up by just over one percent last year due to the Korean won's depreciation against the U.S. dollar. Preliminary data from the Bank of Korea on Wednesday showed that in local currency GNI grew by five-point-seven percent, but when converted into U.S. dollars the rate was lower at one-point-two percent, amounting to 36-thousand-624 dollars. The country's GDP growth rate for 2024 was confirmed at two percent, unchanged from preliminary data released last year. South Korea's GNI per capita first surpassed the 30-thousand dollar mark back in 2014 and continued steady growth before dropping in 2022 due to the weakening of the won against the greenback.

Trump threatens Canada that reciprocal tariffs will be levied

2025/03/05 10:00

After Trump's tariffs took effect on Tuesday, those countries that are affected have been replying with their own retaliatory measures. Canada, Mexico and China have been firing off retaliatory tariffs, causing Trump to fire back. Ahn Sung-jin starts us off. Canada, Mexico and China have been gearing up for retaliatory measures after U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff impositions began on March 4th, local time. Trump cited the failure to hamper drug trafficking, especially fentanyl, into the U.S. as a major reason for the tariffs. However, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau refuted the claim and said it is false to say that Canada was unwilling to help. Canada immediately imposed 25 percent tariffs on 20 billion U.S. dollars of U.S. imports and will pursue several non-tariff measures as well. "The United States launched a trade war against Canada, their closest partner and ally, their closest friend. But in the meantime, our tariffs will remain in place until the U.S. tariffs are withdrawn and not a moment sooner." Trump immediately fired back as well. He referred Trudeau as Governor Trudeau and further added that retaliatory tariffs from Canada will only result in another round of immediate reciprocal tariffs increased by the same amount. Mexico said the U.S. import taxes had no justification and pledged to give details on retaliatory measures during the weekend, vowing to respond with tariff and non-tariff measures. "Nobody wins with this decision. On the contrary, it affects the people we represent." China is also expected to levy "import taxes" of 10 to 15 percent on some U.S. goods, including American beef, dairy and agricultural products starting from March 10th. As the U.S. will be levying tariffs on crop purchases as well starting from April 2nd, this may further startle the world economy and escalate into a global trade war. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.

[Weather] Today marks Gyeongchip, most parts in for a pleasant change

2025/03/05 10:00

After some rough winter weather conditions yesterday, we'll be rewarded with spring-like conditions from today. Today is Gyeongchip, the third spring seasonal term, a day of awakening from hibernation. To meet the term, we are in for a pleasant change. Afternoon temperatures are around normal for the time of year, a big rise from yesterday's chilly weather. However, the east of Gangwon-do is still under a heavy snow advisory with up to 15 centimeters of snow expected today. Some of the southern provinces will see spotty rain. The rest of the country will be under rather cloudy skies. Afternoon highs will range from 8 to 10 degrees Celsius this afternoon. Air quality will be good nationwide all day. Looking ahead, this warming trend is set to continue this week under sunnier skies. It will get even warmer next week. But there will be big gaps in readings between lows and highs remember to dress in layers to stay comfortable as temperatures fluctuate.

Runners in London race with frying pans for pancake day

2025/03/05 10:00

Runners with frying pans filled with pancakes took to the streets of central London to celebrate "Shrove Tuesday", also known as "Pancake Day." Hundreds of spectators gathered at Guildhall Yard, cheering on participants in the annual "Inter-Livery Pancake Race." This event is one of many held across the UK to mark the day before the start of Lent, the 40-day period of prayer, fasting, and repentance leading up to Easter. In the "Inter-Livery Race," teams representing traditional London guilds with nearly 1,000 years of history competed in costumes. The winners received a trophy and a frying pan as their prize.

SpaceX halts launch of its starship rocket due to last minute issues

2025/03/05 10:00

SpaceX's massive Starship rocket was set to launch on Monday, local time but the launch was called off due to technical issues just 40 seconds before liftoff. The rocket was scheduled for a test flight from South Texas, carrying four mock satellites. SpaceX said another launch attempt could be made as early as Tuesday if the issue is resolved quickly. In its previous test flight in January, Starship exploded over the Atlantic Ocean. NASA plans to use Starship for future crewed moon landings, while SpaceX CEO Elon Musk sees the rocket playing a key role in colonizing Mars.

Euro reaches 2025 high while the stocks fall most in 7 months

2025/03/05 10:00

The euro rose to its highest level in 2025 fueled by expectations of increased European defense spending. The official currency of 20 European countries rose 0.5% against the U.S. dollar, on Tuesday reaching about 1.05 US dollars, its strongest level since December 10th of last year. That came after the European Commission announced plans to extend 150 billion euros, or 158 billion U.S. dollars in loans to boost defense budgets across the continent. Meanwhile, European stock markets tumbled amid concerns over U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff policies. The pan-European STOXX 600 index fell 2.1%, hitting its lowest level since August 2024. Investors fear that tariffs recently imposed on Canada, Mexico, and China could further weaken global economic growth and might also be extended to Europe.

Trump says tariffs to go ahead as planned, target countries retaliate

2025/03/04 20:00

Thank you for joining us. I'm Yoon Jung-min. We start with a looming trade war as the U.S.' fresh tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports entering the American market took effect on Tuesday, as did additional levies against China. Ahn Sung-jin reports. U.S. President Donald Trump's imposition of 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico went into effect on March 4th, local time. Likewise, tariffs on China were doubled, to 20 percent on the same day. However, these countries issued immediate responses. China's Ministry of Commerce was quick to respond, issuing a statement that said Beijing will take retaliatory measures with "import taxes" of 10 to 15 percent on some U.S. goods, including American beef, pork, dairy and agricultural products starting from March 10th. The statement also said that imposing tariffs is a "typical act of unilateralism and bullying." China also vowed to impose export control sanctions on some American companies for strategic items. Canada has also retaliated by immediately imposing 25 percent tariffs on 30 billion Canadian dollars or 20 billion U.S. dollars worth of U.S. imports, adding that more will be levied on another 86 billion U.S. dollars worth of goods within the next 21 days. In a written statement, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said these tariffs will continue until U.S. trade measures are withdrawn. These corresponding measures come as Trump again cited drug trafficking as a major reason for the import taxes. "No room left for Mexico or for Canada. No, the tariffs, you know they're all set." Trump, on his social media, further announced that the U.S. will be levying tariffs on crop purchases as well, starting from April 2nd. Fruit, vegetable and nut imports have been climbing, leading to an agriculture trade deficit in the U.S. As Trump continues to slap tariffs, the U.S. economy has been startled. U.S. stocks plunged on Monday, with the Nasdaq dropping by around 3 percent and the Dow Jones losing nearly 2 percent. Pundits say that as investment confidence has fallen following the tariff impositions, there are growing concerns for the U.S. market, especially regarding inflation. "I think the tariff scenario is definitively an inflationary aspect to what can happen within the economy, in the market. Right now, what I'm seeing and hearing is a little bit of a stagflation concern." The tariffs are raising concerns that tit-for-tat levies could eventually lead to a global trade war. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.

[Weather] Snow will mostly stop tonight, typical spring conditions will return tomorrow

2025/03/04 20:00

Rain turned into snow today in areas with low temperatures. As the heavy snow advisories and warnings were extended further, heavy snow advisories were also issued in the eastern and southern parts of Seoul. Up to 40 centimeters or more has been falling in the mountainous areas of Gangwon-do Province and up to 30 centimeters in the northeastern mountainous areas of Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. Snow across the country will mostly stop tonight. From tomorrow, which is Gyeongchip on the traditional calendar, the cold will fall back and the normal temperatures for this time of year will be make a return. However, rain and snow will continue until tomorrow on the east coast and Jeju Island. Tomorrow morning, Seoul and Daejeon will start off at zero degrees Celsius, Jeju at 7 degrees. Daily highs will move up to around 10 degrees in Daejeon, Gwangju, Busan and Jeju. Temperatures will increase from tomorrow and stay in double digits throughout the week. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.