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Reform Party candidate says People Power Party should force own candidate to resign, not him

2025/05/26 17:00

Also on the campaign trail. Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok has reaffirmed his resolve to remain in the presidential race rejecting the People Power Party's push for a merger. The resolve was shared on Monday with Lee adding that his party is determined to run and win the race and that the PPP should pressure its own candidate to resign not him. The 40-year-old contender recently saw his approval rating reach 10 percent amid growing support from those in their 20s as well as 30s and from moderate voters.

PPP's Kim continues targeting capital region with industry-friendly track record while merger still open

2025/05/26 17:00

AND NOW we turn to the conservative camp whose contender Kim Moon-soo is back in the capital area following his earlier regional rallies. For details I have Kim Do-yeon joining me live. Do-yeon welcome back. So you are currently in southern Gyeonggi-do Province? That's right, Sun-hee. I'm in Gyeonggi-do Province — where Kim served two terms as governor. He's been on a tour across the region and is expected to arrive here in Yongin within the hour. With the capital area home to half the nation's population, Kim is highlighting his record — from job creation to building new cities — to win over voters. First take a listen to what he said earlier this morning. During my eight years as Gyeonggi-do Governor, in total, I created 43-percent of all jobs in the nation. I created the most jobs and hosted Samsung's Pyeongtaek Chip complex, made Pangyo Technovalley, and LCD complexes for LG. This also comes as, after this interview, he visited the Pyeongtaek Samsung Electronics campus himself. The complex is known to be the largest in the world by land. There he spoke on how he supported industries and that it's worrisome for him that Samsung and other big companies recently are leaving for other nations, such as the U.S., because of tariffs. Meanwhile, as he rallies around the province he's been trying to compare himself to his DP rival Lee Jae-myung, who was governor here more recently. He tried to emphasize the legal risks that arose from Lee's time as the mayor of a city in the province and a former governor of the province, while he has no legal issues from his terms. Do-yeon we have roughly a week left to the June third election. How is the conservative camp assessing its prospects of victory? The PPP believes that the DP's lead is narrowing compared to the beginning of the election campaign and in the next eight days, they are trying to make a comeback. One big move, of course, is left for the party. The merger with the Reform Party. PPP says it'll do everything. I propose that the Reform Party present its conditions for a potential merger. We are prepared to do everything we can to make it happen. And let me be clear — we are fully ready to embrace the Reform Party's policies for the younger generation, especially those in their 20s and 30s. Of course, the ballots are already being printed, and the Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok's name will be on it regardless of the merger who, of course, says it won't happen. But, during the last election Ahn Cheol-soo merged with Yoon just before the early voting, so we'll keep a close watch. That's all for now, back to you, Sun-hee. All right Do-yeon thank you for that coverage of the conservative camp.

DP’s Lee promises pragmatic diplomacy, stronger trilateral ties with U.S. and Japan

2025/05/26 17:00

Presidential hopefuls have now ushered in their final week of the official campaign period. Liberal party contender Lee Jae-myung is addressing his supporters in the cities surrounding the capital Seoul today. I have our political correspondent Shin Ha-young standing by live with details. Ha-young it's good to have you on. Do FILL us in. Sunny. I'm currently in the city of Namyangju in Gyeonggi-do Province, where Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung is delivering his speech. During his rallies in the Seoul metropolitan area today, Lee aims to gain voters' support by promising to make southeastern of Gyeonggi-do Province a better place with improved access to education, housing, and transportation. Earlier today, Lee met with college students in Suwon to hear about the challenges they face with school and finding jobs. Lee said it's a serious problem that young people are worried about housing and stressed the need for more public dormitories. Take a listen. "It's a real problem that students have to worry about housing. The government should step up and use unused campus land to build more public dormitories." Lee also pointed out issues including high meal costs, and emphasized the need to expand programs like the one-thousand won meals. Ha-young I hear Lee also shared pledges to advance foreign policy. Do tell us more. Sure, Sunny. Lee Jae-myung today pledged to strengthen South Korea's diplomacy and security to protect national interests amid a rapidly changing international order. He said he would pursue pragmatic diplomacy centered on national interests, based on a strong South Korea-U.S. alliance. Lee added that he would work to rebuild trust in the alliance, which he says was damaged by a declaration of martial law. He also emphasized close trilateral cooperation with the U.S. and Japan, while maintaining a firm stance toward Tokyo when it comes to historical issues. Here's what Lee said about bilateral cooperation with Japan. "We need to take a principled stance on historical and territorial issues. At the same time, areas like security, the economy, society, and culture shouldn't be overly restricted because of the historical and territorial issues. While it's not easy to separate these issues, we should approach other areas in a practical way that looks toward the future." On China, Lee described it as an "important trading partner" and highlighted the need for stable Seoul-Beijing relations. Meanwhile, regarding North Korea, Lee aims to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula and achieve peace through denuclearization. He said Pyongyang's nuclear threats can no longer be ignored and vowed to work closely with the U.S. to resolve the issue. Lee also pledged to improve human rights for the North Korean people. That's all for now. Back to you Sunny. All right Ha-young as always thank you for that coverage of the liberal camp.

K-wave AI News

2025/05/26 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. The Korean government is stepping up efforts for the preservation and transmission of intangible heritage worldwide. The National Heritage Service has signed an agreement with UNESCO to contribute to the organization's Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund. Under the five-year agreement, Korea will provide an annual contribution of one billion won, or more than 734,000 U.S. dollars, for the development of an online platform that shares the world's best practices in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage. Korea currently has 23 cultural elements inscribed on UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, ranking fourth among the 184 convention member states. The '2025 Seoul International Garden Show' has officially opened at Boramae Park, spanning 400,000 square meters. The event showcases 111 gardens, reflecting various themes like ecology, sustainability, and coexistence. New lifestyle programs such as "Garden Weddings" and "Garden Workations" blend leisure and nature, and the newly introduced "Inclusive Garden Tour" offers accessible routes for seniors and people with disabilities, also providing free electric wheelchair rentals. The expo also features pet-friendly zones and educational gardens for children. The largest edition to date will run through October 20. Jeju City announced it will open six popular beaches earlier than usual this year amid forecasts of an early summer heatwave. Hyeopjae, Geumneung, Gwakji, Hamdeok, Iho, and Woljeong (협재, 금능, 곽지, 함덕, 이호, 월정) beaches will open on June 24, welcoming visitors before the usual date. Kimnyeong and Samyang (김녕, 삼양) beaches will open as scheduled on July 1. To ease the burden on visitors, rental fees for beach umbrellas and sunbeds will remain at last year's rates, ensuring affordable and enjoyable beach experiences. Starting this year, the eastern section of Hamdeok Beach has been designated as a pet-friendly area, allowing pet owners and non-pet owners to share the space harmoniously. That's all from me. Stay tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[Short-form] Ramyeon is spicing up the world!

2025/05/26 14:00

Exports hit a record US$ 1 billion in 2024 a sizzling 30% jump in just one year! And Ramyeon just keeps turning up the heat New releases are racing for the hottest spice level! What’s fueling the fiery spice showdown? Korea: the land where every dish gets a fiery kick from red pepper paste and chili powder Meals awash in fiery red everywhere! The history of Koreans’ love for spicy food doesn’t go back that far After the Korean War in the 1950s spicy food became the soul-soothing kick to beat stress SPICINESS = ENDORPHIN BOOST Spicy food triggers endorphins that dull pain They’re 100 times more powerful than morphine! A zesty blast that fires you up with feel-good energy Young people are also turning to spicy food to blow off steam! But too much heat can take a toll on your stomach so spice things up responsibly Ramyeon A fiery escape to turn down stress

[Features reporter] How far has the Korean wave, 'hallyu,' come in Japan?

2025/05/26 14:00

In 'The Kulture Wave', we explore Korean culture taking place here in Korea, but also abroad, when we connect to our K-correspondents overseas. This time, we had our very own News Features reporter Sung-jin, you, flying abroad to show us something new outside of the country for us? Right, so this year marks the 60th anniversary of Korea-Japan normalization of relations, and as this show's name suggests, I wanted to see in what aspects culture was playing a role between the two. I spent a week in Tokyo to have a look at it myself. "This year, 2025, marks the 60th anniversary of normalized relations between Korea and Japan. Though historical and social issues remain, 'hallyu,' or the Korean wave, has been a source of soft power. Though none of this is new, just how far have we come? To answer that question, I've spent some time here in Tokyo to see how much Korean culture has been integrated into everyday life." The beginning of the Korean culture boom in Japan started off with the 2003 drama "Winter Sonata," in which Japanese adoration of the main character Bae Yong-joon, also known as "Yonsama," was notable. But starting from the second and third wave of Hallyu, it was mostly driven by K-pop stars sweeping the Tokyo Dome and the hearts of numerous fans. "BTS, Bigbang, Boynextdoor" "Boynextdoor. First, I liked them for the music, but once I saw the members, I thought they were also very good-looking." With name shedding stars like Girls Generation and Kara in the late 2000s to BTS and Blackpink in the late 2010s, K-pop brought an influx of new lifestyles including beauty, fashion and food to Japan. "So this record shop I'm at in Tokyo is the largest of its kind and as you can see, not only does it have an entire floor dedicated to K-pop, but it's also flooded with fans of different artists." The consistent popularity of K-pop has been apparent for decades, with Japan topping the list of countries in terms of K-pop album export values. The fourth wave of Hallyu was characterized by something else. New content beyond K-pop began to evolve, and with the expansion of OTT platforms came a boom in Korean dramas, especially post-COVID-19. As these continued to garner more popularity, interestingly Japan has absorbed it into a unique form of its own kind. "Even though it was only aired on Netflix, everyone knew about the drama, and I think it could even be said to have brought a new boom of Korean dramas. There was no reason not to make this into a musical." Director Mariko was in charge of recreating the popular drama "Crash Landing on You" into a musical, which can only be seen in Japan. Though the main challenge for her was to create a condensed version of a long drama series, she said Korean dramas are fun to stage and is willing to do another if the chance comes along. "Even though the musical is in Korean, the audience will read off the subtitles from the side and still enjoy it." And now, as Tokyo slips into the fifth Hallyu boom, the Japanese public has been attracted to a wider range of cultural elements from Korea. "Here I am at a local bookstore in Roppongi, and in the international literature section, a wide range of Korean books can easily be spotted, including author Han Kang's well-known novel, 'The Vegetarian.'" The influence of Korean culture now extends beyond K-pop and K-dramas, stretching into literature, cuisine, and other various forms of Korean content, marking a broader cultural expansion. And this year's 60th anniversary serves as an opportunity to reflect on the past, and look ahead to the future of the Korea-Japan relationship, considering the changing international landscape and the ongoing challenges. So join me every Monday to explore the realms of Korean culture in Japan. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News, Tokyo.

[K-Enter] SEVENTEEN celebrates 10 years with fireworks at Jamsu Bridge

2025/05/26 14:00

Time for our daily dose of K-enter news with Walter Lee. Starting off with a celebration for boy group SEVENTEEN. On Sunday, SEVENTEEN turned Seoul’s Jamsu Bridge into a spectacular concert venue. The group performed on a stage spanning the bridge, as vibrant fireworks and laser lights lit up the sky, with over 6,000 fans gathered for the event. The free concert named "B-DAY PARTY: BURST Stage @Jamsu Bridge," marked the group’s 10th anniversary. To accommodate the concert, traffic on Jamsu Bridge was suspended. The group started the show with “Thunder,” a track from their fifth full-length album. Speaking of their fifth full-length album, on Monday, SEVENTEEN are set to release their fifth full-length album, "HAPPY BURSTDAY," kicking off the next chapter in their journey. Good luck to the next chapter in their journey. Now we move on to another celebration, for another boy group. To celebrate their 17th debut anniversary, boy group SHINee dropped the single "Poet | Artist," as well as their B-side track “Starlight,” across major music platforms on Sunday at midnight. The music video for “Poet | Artist” was also released simultaneously via YouTube’s SMTOWN channel. The title track “Poet | Artist” is an electro-pop song with lyrics that urge listeners to break free from convention and co-create something new, applying poetic and artistic expression. The accompanying track “Starlight”는 a bright, medium-tempo dance-pop song that likens the feeling of a first encounter to a star shining in the darkness. SHINee concluded their seventh solo concert, "SHINee WORLD VII : Every Stage Shines Around You," with a spectacular final performance at Seoul Olympic Park on Sunday. Great to see the boys active for so many years and hopefully so many more to come. Next, we have a great achievement for girl group ILLIT. ILLIT’s debut track “Magnetic” has surpassed 600 million streams on Spotify, according to their agency Belift Lab on Sunday. Released in March 2024, the song passed 600 million streams on Friday, setting a new record as the fastest time for a K-pop group’s debut song to hit this milestone. “Magnetic” has a catchy melody that gained widespread popularity, especially on short-form video platforms . ILLIT is scheduled to release their third mini-album, "Bomb", on the 16th of June, with promotions centred around the title track “Borrowed Cat.” (Do the Dance).

On-board voting for presidential election begins Monday

2025/05/26 10:00

We are now 8 days away from the election day. And on-board voting, in fact, begins from Monday to Thursday, allowing some 30-thousand Korean aboard 454 ships to vote. Polling stations are set up on ships under the watch of a designated observer. The ballots will be sent directly via fax to the city or provincial election commission that presides over each voter's registered address. On-board voting was first introduced in 2012, for the 18th presidential election. It's only held for presidential and parliamentary elections. In the last presidential election held in 2022, 95-point-one percent of those registered on board voters cast their ballots. Also this week, early voting booths will open throughout the country on Thursday and Friday, from 6 AM to 6 PM.

[Weather] Warmer days ahead with strong UV rays in the central areas

2025/05/26 10:00

We had such a pleasant day yesterday, along with a gentle breeze and plenty of sunshine. As we kick off the last week of May, summer is truly making its presence known. As we head into the latter half of the week, temperatures in the capital will climb a little higher, ushering in that summer feel. The sun will be quite strong today across the country. The UV index will be "very high" especially in the central region, and ozone concentrations will likely be "unhealthy" in most areas, so make sure you're protecting your skin! Most parts of Korea will see highs jumping to 26 degrees Celsius this afternoon, along with decent air quality. We're looking at mostly clear weather for the next few days in the capital area with warmth, but keep an eye out for passing showers in the eastern regions tomorrow and the day after.

Starbucks to implement first kiosks in S. Korea and Japan

2025/05/26 10:00

Starbucks announced on Monday a plan to implement the coffee franchise's first self-order kiosks in select stores across tourist-heavy areas in South Korea and Japan. The kiosks are aimed at enhancing the customer experience by reducing wait times and streamlining the ordering process. In South Korea, the kiosks will debut at the Starbucks Korea branch in Myeong-dong, one of Seoul's most crowded shopping districts, visited by international tourists. Customers are expected to be able to use the machines as early as next month. Starbucks Japan is also set to implement kiosks at around the same time. Unlike Starbucks' traditional service model that emphasizes human connection, the technology aims to make ordering easier, while also appealing to 최소한의 상호 작용을 선호하는 고객들에게도 어필하는 것을 목표로 합니다.

Pope Leo is installed as Bishop of Rome in Basilica of St. John Lateran

2025/05/26 10:00

On Sunday, Pope Leo XIV assumed his role as Bishop of Rome by taking possession of the Saint John Lateran Basilica, the cathedral or throne of the Diocese of Rome. By completing the final ceremony, the Pope completed the symbolic "taking possession" of four basilicas that signify full papal authority within Rome. During evening Mass on the same day, the pontiff declared, "I am Roman." He also highlighted the importance of listening and collaboration within the Church. Pope Leo, the first American-born pontiff, has now completed the formalities to become the bishop of Rome after succeeding Pope Francis on May 8.

Iran’s Security Council blocks enforcement of hijab law

2025/05/26 10:00

Iran's Supreme National Security Council, the country's highest decision-making body, has suspended the enforcement of a contentious hijab law, despite its prior approval by parliament. On Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf announced that the SNSC had directed parliament not to implement the Law to Support the Family by Promoting Chastity and Hijab. The legislation was passed in December 2023 and aimed to impose stricter penalties on women violating mandatory hijab regulations, including heavy fines and imprisonment. The law had faced significant domestic and international criticism, with the United Nations describing it as "gender apartheid." While the decision is seen by some as weakening Islamic principles, others argue for individuals' freedoms and women's rights.

Southern France power outage disrupts public transport in Cannes

2025/05/26 10:00

Police in southern France are investigating the possibility of "organized arson" after blackouts on Saturday and Sunday, in Cannes and Nice, respectively, disrupted daily life and critical infrastructure. On Saturday, a fire at an electrical substation near Cannes caused a blackout affecting approximately 160,000 households. The outage coincided with the closing day of the Cannes Film Festival, though the event at the main venue ended seamlessly using backup generators. Also, in the early hours of Sunday, a second incident occurred in Nice, where damage to an electrical facility left around 45,000 homes without power. An anonymous group claiming to be anarchists posted a statement online, claiming responsibility for the Cannes outage, asserting they had sabotaged key electrical infrastructure. Authorities have not verified this claim but have launched criminal investigations into both incidents. Nice's mayor condemned the attacks and has ordered an increase in police protection for sensitive electrical installations.

Trump demands list of names of Harvard’s foreign students

2025/05/26 10:00

U.S. President Donald Trump continues his war with Harvard University, this time demanding that the school provide his administration with the names of all its international students. Taking to Truth Social on Sunday, Trump called on the Ivy League school to provide "names and countries" of all its international students, stressing that some of the countries the schools come from are "not friendly to the United States." According to Harvard's latest data, this would mean names of over 6-thousand-700 international students. Meanwhile, other schools are expressing concern over the Trump administration's ban on Harvard's international students, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Its president said the government's decision is a "fatal blow to American excellence, openness, and creativity."

Hegseth and family clean Korean War Memorial in honor of Memorial Day

2025/05/26 10:00

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the Korean War Veterans Memorial Park in Washington, D.C., joining cleanup efforts, and highlighting the significance of the war. Marking the Memorial Day weekend, Hegseth cleaned the memorial's statues and monuments with his children on Saturday. Hegseth emphasized that the effort was more than just a cleanup, saying it is a chance to remind the kids what the Korean War was, and why it mattered according to the Defense Department. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins also joined in the cleaning up.

U.S. presses Israel to reenter Gaza talks, delay offensive

2025/05/26 10:00

The U.S. has pressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to delay plans for a full-scale ground offensive in Gaza. That's according to a report in the Jerusalem Post on Sunday that said the request was made to in order to allow ceasefire negotiations and a hostage deal "proceed in parallel with military operations." With the ceasefire negotiations deadlocked, Israel has intensified its bombardment and ground invasion in Gaza with reports saying that the Israeli army controls over 77-percent of the Gaza Strip. In Gaza, a four-year-old child died on Saturday due to severe malnutrition, bringing the death toll from hunger-related causes in the besieged enclave to 58. Nine children were also killed in an Israeli airstrike that struck a family home in Khan Younis on Friday.

Russia launches largest aerial assault of three-year war on Ukraine

2025/05/26 10:00

Russia's massive aerial assault on Ukraine over the weekend left at least 12 people dead, including children. Ukrainian leader blasted Washington over its silence. Our Kim Bo-kyoung has the details. At least 12 people were killed and 60 wounded in different regions of Ukraine, after the Kremlin launched a series of air assaults throughout Ukraine late Saturday night. Among those killed were three children from the same family in the Zhytomyr region – west of Kyiv – according to Ukraine's internal affairs minister. "Let the world wake up and see. How long can they bomb children? We go to bed and do not know what awaits us in the morning." Nearly three-hundred attack drones and almost 70 missiles of various types were fired, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on his social media X account, where he said ordinary citizens were subject to deliberate attacks. Zelenskyy condemned America's silence, saying it encouraged Putin, and asked for sanctions that would show the determination of the U.S. and European countries, to stop Russia's brutality. Later on Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump's Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, called Russia's overnight attacks a "clear violation of the 1977 Geneva Peace Protocols designed to protect innocents." The protocol, is an annex to the Geneva Conventions signed in 1949, containing provisions for the protection of victims of international armed conflicts. Europe too, strongly condemned Russia and warned of additional sanctions. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Putin, having no interest in peace, should not be tolerated and that the EU will agree to further sanctions. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas was on the same page, stating the strongest international pressure was needed to make Russia end the war. The assault overnight into Sunday came, despite the largest prisoner swap of the war taking place. Ukraine brought home 303 prisoners of war on Sunday in the final phase of a one-thousand-for-one-thousand prisoner exchange with Russia. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.

Political mudslinging takes over policy talk during 2nd live debate between presidential candidates

2025/05/26 10:00

And on Friday, political mudslinging took over the talk on social policy as the four leading presidential contenders held their second debate. Our Oh Soo-young has the highlights. While promising social unity, presidential candidates clashed ferociously over politics and policy in their second televised debate. Focusing on social affairs, Friday's topics were social division, social safety nets, and sustainability. The Democratic Party's Lee Jae-myung said he would overcome social division and inequality with technology such as AI,.. and continue to improve the current national pension system. As the former labor minister, the People Power Party's Kim Moon-soo promised to build wider income safety nets for small businesses, with improved pension schemes. Reform candidate Lee Jun-seok proposed a major pension overhaul, pointing out the two major parties' legislative revision last year, benefits the older generation while adding a 37-thousand-dollar burden on every young Korean. He also called for cuts to unnecessary, high-tech scans that ramp up health insurance premiums. Democratic Labor's Kwon Young-kook suggested doubling the basic pension to over 500 U.S. dollars, and building scores of state-run hospitals. Candidates also clashed over climate and energy policies. Left-leaning candidates continued pushing for renewable energy sources over nuclear power. Kim Moon-soo and Lee Jun-seok argued that nuclear power is much more efficient, affordable, and essential to support future industries like AI. But politics overrode policy throughout the two-hour debate. Lee Jae-myung said Kim Moon-soo was part of the impeached Yoon Suk Yeol administration that declared martial law last year. “The most extreme form of social conflict is an insurrection by martial law. Weren't they trying to completely wipe out the opposition?” Kim Moon-soo accused Lee's party of insurrection, for handing radical left-wing groups seats in parliament, and underscored Lee's five criminal trials. “In corruption cases like Baekhyeon-dong and Daejang-dong, just look at how many people close to him are in prison, or have died under suspicious circumstances? Uprooting lies and corruption is the first step toward national unity.” Lee Jun-seok blasted both the leading parties. He said that while the conservatives are tarnished with Yoon's martial law, the majority Democratic Party is just as guilty of creating a broken society. "You should be ashamed. Those who are jointly responsible for wrecking the country show up in red and blue only different in color fighting over power, in a shameless world." The third and final live debate takes place on Tuesday, focusing on politics. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

Last weekend before early voting starts candidates try to amplify messages

2025/05/26 10:00

With that being said, this past weekend was the final weekend before early voting, which kept the contenders busier than ever. The liberal party's Lee Jae-myung spent the weekend promising the people to revitalize the economy, while the People Power Party continued to request a merger with the Reform Party. Our Kim Do-yeon reports. The Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung held a press conference on Sunday ahead of early voting later this week, where he reiterated that restoring the economy is his top priority. But he also reminded voters of what triggered the election in the first place: the declaration of martial law. “Those who threatened our constitutional order and public safety must be held accountable. But I will not engage in political retaliation targeting individuals.” On the economic front, Lee pledged to launch a presidential emergency task force to tackle inflation and tariffs and said a supplementary budget will follow to jumpstart growth. Lee spent Sunday in the Chungcheong-do provinces after making stops in Gyeonggi-do Province, a familiar region where he previously served as governor. Both areas are key swing regions expected to play a decisive role in the race. Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party chose Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, a conservative stronghold, for Saturday. In Daegu, Kim met with former President Park Geun-hye and argued that her impeachment had been unjust the location and message come as he tries to strengthen support among traditional PPP supporters who aren't so enthusiastic yet. But at the same time, he appeared to draw a line between himself and another impeached president, Yoon Suk Yeol. “Criticism that the party is controlled by the president and his aides will no longer stand. I will put an end to power-driven, factional politics.” Kim pledged to revise the PPP charter to block presidential interference in party affairs seen as a direct response to criticism over Yoon’s role in internal decisions. Meanwhile, Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok campaigned in the capital region targeting younger voters and doubling down on attacks against both rivals: Lee Jae-myung for progressive economic policies, and Kim Moon-soo for his stance on martial law. As ballots began printing on Sunday, Lee’s name was confirmed as the fourth on the list, regardless of any merger talks with the PPP. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.

[WEEKLY FOCUS] 4.5-day workweek? How S. Korea's presidential candidates aim to reform labor, housing policies

2025/05/24 12:00

We are now about 10 days away from the big election day, and candidates’ pledges especially on the economy are beginning to draw more attention. Following last week's coverage on AI and trade, this week, we take a closer look at their plans for labor reform and housing. For more on this, we are joined in the studio by our economics correspondent Lee Soo-jin. Welcome Soo-jin. Great to be here. Let's start with labor reform. Can you tell us how the candidates are proposing to improve labor conditions? Sure, so South Korea's presidential candidates are hoping to win the votes of those wishing for a better work-life balance by, as you said, improving labor conditions. To do so, the two frontrunners have proposed a 4-point-5-day workweek. The current standard workweek is five days, and most full-time workers log 40 hours from Monday to Friday, with a legal maximum of 52 hours per week. The 5-day workweek was introduced under a 2003 revision to the Labor Standards Act, and fully implemented nationwide by 2011. Now, attention is on whether a 4-point-5 workweek will become a reality this year. And here's how an expert assesses the key goals behind the two leading candidates’ proposals. Let's take a listen. "he also focused on a 4-point-5 day workweek that is aimed at reducing worker fatigue and improving their work-life balance, with the hope that it would boost productivity. If you look at Kim Moon-soo's proposal, he believes that with good negotiations between workers and employers, a more flexible situation can be achieved without dramatic changes." So, can you walk us through what each candidate's 4-point-5 day workweek looks like? To start off with Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung, just as we heard from the expert, his focus is on easing worker burnout. He has proposed reducing the standard workweek from 40 to 36 hours by cutting Friday afternoons, without reducing wages. The proposal also includes providing incentives for companies to adopt the new schedule, and has the long-term goal of eventually transitioning to a 4-day workweek. "South Korea’s total working hours are too long, about 200 hours more than the OECD average. Longer hours no longer mean higher productivity; efficiency and creativity are now key." People Power Party candidate Kim Moon-soo has proposed a 4-point-5 day workweek that maintains the current 40 hours by redistributing working hours across the other four days in the week. Under this plan, employees work one extra hour from Monday to Thursday, and finish earlier on Friday, creating a shorter workday without cutting total weekly hours. He has also said that he supports granting exemptions to the 52-hour workweek limit for the semiconductor sector. "I will replace the rigid working hours system with a more flexible one; cut corporate and inheritance taxes significantly, and drastically reform regulations to help businesses thrive." Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok has strongly criticized the 4-point-5-day workweek proposal that reduces working hours without cutting wages, calling it unrealistic. He has instead pledged labor reforms that include giving local governments the authority to adjust the minimum wage to revitalize regional economies. Now turning to housing pledges, how do they compare? Housing is a key issue for all three candidates,. as the country's residence crisis has fueled voter concern, and also contributed to the country’s low birth rate. While they all aim to increase supply, their approaches differ, here’s how. The key theme of Lee Jae-myung's housing proposal is the "New Town." South Korea’s first New Town project from the late 1980s, which includes Bundang and Ilsan, now faces an aging infrastructure that he plans to rebuild. Lee has also pledged to cut red tape for Seoul’s downtown redevelopment, and to develop a 4th-generation New Town with more quality public housing. The key theme of Kim's proposal is "youth." Kim’s “3•3•3” Youth housing supply plan offers support for up to 9 years, 3 years after marriage, and 3 years each after a first and second child. His proposal includes supplying 200-thousand homes for young adults, newlyweds and families, and more housing for single-person households. The key theme of Lee Jun-seok's proposal is "life stages." He plans to increase the supply of 59㎡ homes by promoting the redevelopment and building of small-unit housing. Lee pledged to promote high-density urban development, citing strong housing demand, and proposed housing tax cuts tailored to newlyweds seeking smaller homes, growing families needing more space, and seniors looking to downsize. How can candidates reassure voters that these pledges will be carried out? Right, so feasibility has been raised as a key area of concern. And it looks like it will be crucial for candidates to make it clear to voters that they will be able to bridge the gap between parties to move policies forward. Here's what an expert said. "I think for the next six months after the new administration, everything depends upon how successful the National Assembly and government are in coming up with a revolutionary deregulation framework. All we need is a political consensus, which I think is very possible." Thank you for coming in today, Soo-jin. Thank you for having me.