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2025/05/23 19:00

2025. 5. 23. KOREAN STOCK MARKET KOSPI : 2,592.09 ▼1.58 -0.06% KOSDAQ : 715.98 ▼1.69 -0.24% KOSPI200 : 345.28 ▲0.48 +0.14% ASIAN STOCK MARKET NIKKEI225 : 37,160.47 ▲174.60 +0.47% HANG SENG : 23,601.26 ▲56.95 +0.24% SHANGHAI : 3,348.37 ▼31.82 -0.94% WALL STREET (May 22) DOW JONES : 41,859.09 ▼1.35 -0.00% NASDAQ : 18,925.73 ▲53.09 +0.28% S&P500 : 5,842.01 ▼2.60 -0.04% EXCHANGE RATE USD : 1,375.60 (-5.70) JPY : 958.71 (-5.78) CNY : 191.07 (-0.70) EUR : 1,556.15 (-9.48)

Final opinion polls for S. Korea's Presidential Election indicates surprisingly tighter race

2025/05/23 17:00

Today we start with a gauge of voter sentiment AHEAD of the two-day early voting that begins next Thursday and the snap election on June 3rd. Oh Soo-youg has our top story. With just eleven days until the June 3rd Presidential Election, the stakes are higher in the final public opinion polls,.. and the candidates' televised debates. Gallup's final survey conducted this week, shows the Democratic Party's Lee Jae-myung is still ahead with 46 percent support. But compared to a week earlier, his approval dropped six points, while his main rival Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party, has gained seven points narrowing the gap between them from 22 points to 10. Meanwhile, the Reform Party's Lee Jun-seok saw his support jump to 10 percent marking two-digit figures for the first time in this race The final National Barometer Survey on Thursday showed a similar trend. Lee Jae-myung lost three points while Kim Moon-soo and Lee Jun-seok scored higher ratings at 32 percent, and 10 percent. It seems conservatives and moderates have been solidifying their votes as Election Day draws near. The gap between the main liberal and conservative candidates shrunk to about one-third of last week's level, in the Seoul capital region. "If you look at the regional voter distribution released monthly by Gallup Korea, conservatives actually outnumber progressives. Given this numerical advantage, how actively conservatives are willing to vote in this election is, in my view, critically important." Among independent voters, who don't affiliate themselves with any party, preference for the DP and Reform candidates was neck and neck, while the PPP contender fell to third place. Younger Koreans,.. regarded swing voters, also made decisive moves. Among voters aged 29 and under, support for Reform's Lee Jun-seok jumped to 26 percent, closely behind the DP's Lee Jae-myung's 30 percent. The PPP's Kim Moon-soo was significantly behind at 19 percent. As all candidates aim to solidify their support base, the number of respondents who said they could switch the candidate they vote for, fell one percentage point to 16 percent. More than 8 in 10 people say they'll vote in this election. According to the NBS survey,.. voters believe the biggest tasks for the new president will be reviving the local economy, reforming the structure of politics, and reducing social conflict. The leading presidential hopefuls will hold a second televised debate on Friday night, focusing on societal issues. Regardless of their preferred candidate, Korean adults under 40 believed the Harvard-educated Lee Jun-seok performed the best at the candidates' first live debate last Sunday, which touched upon trade and the economy. Those in their 40s and 50s, who are left leaning, overwhelmingly backed the DP candidate, and those over 70 believed PPP's Kim Moon-soo had outshined others in the TV debate. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

[Weather] Rain again from tonight, back to normal temperatures

2025/05/23 17:00

From today, temperatures return to the normal range. The daytime temperature in Seoul today and tomorrow will be 23 degrees Celsius, which is around the average for this time of year. However, from tonight, it will start to rain again in the north-central parts of the country, the south coast, and Jeju Island. It will then expand to other parts of the country tomorrow. The expected amount of rainfall will be as much as 60 millimeters on Jeju Island, 20 millimeters on the south coast, and 5 to 10 millimeters in other areas. Please bring an umbrella with you when you go outside. Tomorrow morning, Seoul, Gwangju, and Busan will start off at 14 degrees, Chuncheon at 12 degrees. Highs will move up to 19 degrees in Daejeon, 21 degrees in Gwangju. Sunny weather will continue from Sunday and the early summer-like heat is expected to return. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

World News: Four dead in Australia after torrential rain ravages rural towns

2025/05/23 17:00

This is the World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. In Australia, severe flooding across New South Wales has resulted in at least four deaths and left more than 50,000 residents under evacuation warnings. Reports say around four months of rain has fallen in the region over the past two days. New South Wales Police said Thursday that at least four people died and tens of thousands of residents have become isolated in a "once in a lifetime event." A slow-moving low-pressure system led to torrential rains and flash flooding over eastern Australia, overflowing rivers and inundating communities. A major river in Taree, a city on the Mid North Coast, has been among the worst affected, reaching about 6.3 meters on Wednesday, Wednesday, surpassing a century-old record. Towns including Port Macquarie and Kempsey have also been severely affected, with some areas experiencing flooding for the first time in recorded history. Emergency services have conducted hundreds of rescues, and over 140 flood warnings have been issued. While more rain is expected in the coming days, some 9,500 properties have been directly impacted and over 100 schools have been closed. Iran's Foreign Minister has issued a warning Israel and the United States, saying that any attack on its nuclear facilities would be met with a decisive response. This comes amid reports that suggest Israel is preparing for potential strikes if ongoing U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations fail. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Thursday, that Iran would hold the United States legally responsible for any Israeli attack on its nuclear sites. These words were delivered through a letter addressed to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. He added Tehran would view Washington as a "participant" if any Israeli attack on Iran's nuclear facilities were to occur and that Iran's actions will "correspond and be proportionate to preventive measures" taken by international bodies. Earlier reports indicate that Israel is preparing for rapid strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, should the current negotiations, a fifth round of which are slated for Friday in Rome, were to fail. Israeli officials have not confirmed such plans, but have previously stated that Iran's nuclear program poses an existential threat. A U.S. music talent agency said Thursday that three of its employees died after a small private plane, in which they were traveling, crashed into a residential area in the city of San Diego in the early hours of the same day. According to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration 6 passengers were onboard the plane, with some reports indicating there have been no survivors. Among them are the former drummer of a metal band, Daniel Williams, and music agent Dave Shapiro. Eight people on the ground have also been injured. Authorities say the incident occurred amid dense fog conditions, as the aircraft was attempting to land at nearby Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport. Multiple homes have caught fire due to the crash, and nearly 100 residents have been evacuated. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident. Also in the United States, Universal Orlando Resort has officially opened its highly anticipated theme park, Epic Universe, in Florida on Thursday. This marks the first major theme park launch in the U.S. in over two decades. Spanning approximately 750 acres, Epic Universe introduces five themed lands, including Celestial Park, Super Nintendo World, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter -Ministry of Magic, How to Train Your Dragon -Isle of Berk, and Dark Universe. Also, along with over 100 themed food menus and beverage options, Epic Universe's opening is expected to significantly boost tourism in Central Florida. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.

From access to excellence: Gaming powerhouse S. Korea’s esports future

2025/05/23 17:00

The strategy of South Korea's e-sport industry is to lower barriers and raise opportunities for all players with potential via inclusive competitions and more. Our Lee Eun-hee files this report. This group of people are university students in their everyday lives,. but for this moment, they are the stars of the stage as gamers. The 2025 Gyeonggi esports Festival has kicked off at KINTEX, bringing together a diverse range of participants. This annual event strives to reshape the perception of esports, and make it an integral part of everyday culture by making it more accessible. This year, the introduction of a tournament for disabled players adds greater meaning to the event. It shares the message that regardless of physical limitations, everyone can connect and enjoy the experience of gaming. "I have an intellectual disability, which makes it hard to express my emotions. I joined this tournament because it features a game I'm familiar with, so I felt confident. Whatever the result, I try to accept it and move forward." "Being here on the ground, we can clearly see just how much interest people of all ages in South Korea, a global gaming powerhouse, have in a wide variety of games. But beyond the popularity, what's truly striking is the growing effort to nurture new talent in the gaming industry." Debuting this year, the 2025 Korean Esports League kicked off with Eternal Return matches at the festival and continues with competitions across the country including PUBG Mobile and FC Mobile tournaments. Hosted by the Culture Ministry and co-organized by the Korea Esports Association alongside leading game developers including KRAFTON and Nexon Korea, the league aims to strengthen the foundation of the country's esports ecosystem. With teams from 14 regions participating, the league runs through October, providing a platform for the next generation of esports stars, the future 'Fakers' of Korea. Coming up in June, the Global Esports Forum hosted by the Korea Esports Association will bring together international experts to discuss global standards in esports, with Korea leading the conversation and paving the way for rising talents to take the global stage. Lee Eun-hee, Arirang News.

S. Korean film director Heo Ga-young wins La Cinef Award at Cannes 2025

2025/05/23 17:00

Meanwhile at this year's Cannes Film Festival. A Korean filmmaker has won the top prize in the La Cinef competition of the festival that acknowledges the work of promising film students. Heo Ga-young is the first Korean to win in this prestigious section of the Cannes event. Her short film "First Summer" was celebrated with the top honor and 15-thousand euros in prize money. The film centers around a 74-year-old woman who chooses to attend her late boyfriend's memorial service over her granddaughter's wedding.

April producer prices down 0.1% m/m

2025/05/23 17:00

Producer prices eased in April amid lower oil prices and greater agricultural output. According to the Bank of Korea on Friday the producer price index FELL zero-point-one percent on month. The on-month decline is the first in six months but ON YEAR the index remains zero-point-nine percent higher. By product that of agriculture saw the deepest plunge at five-point-eight percent with the price of onions down 15-point-8 percent and cucumbers down over 35 percent.

Kia's EV3 receives highest ranking in safety evaluation

2025/05/23 17:00

In other news. Kia's EV3 has secured the highest safety rating from the European New Car Assessment Program, an independent evaluation authority. According to the South Korean carmaker on this Friday its EV3 model was awarded five stars for safety following an extensive assessment in four categories. These included adult occupant protection, child occupant protection, vulnerable road users and "safety assist". Just last month Kia's EV3 also won the prestigious title of 2025 World Car of the Year.

Putin’s security buffer zone plan along Ukraine border underway

2025/05/23 17:00

Russia is creating a buffer zone along its border with Ukraine. Intentions to this end were shared by its leader Vladimir Putin on Thursday while addressing his government officials. Ukraine for its part has condemned the construction of the so-called "security buffer zone" with its Foreign Ministry calling it quote "aggressive". This latest development comes one day ahead of a planned prisoner swap between the two countries that was agreed during bilateral talks last week in Türkiye.

Trump administration blocks Harvard University from enrolling foreign students

2025/05/23 17:00

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is ending Harvard University's eligibility to enroll foreign students in a dramatic escalation of tensions between the prestigious school and the Trump administration. Lee Seung-jae has details. The Trump administration has barred Harvard University from enrolling international students moving forward. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on Thursday, it has revoked the school's Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification saying that Harvard "has created an unsafe campus environment by permitting anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators to harass and physically assault individuals, including many Jewish students, and otherwise obstruct its once-venerable learning environment." The DHS added that many of the "agitators are foreign students." The latest ban also means that currently enrolled students at the Ivy League school must transfer or lose their legal status. The move comes as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ordered the DHS to terminate the school's Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification, due to the university's refusal to hand over the conduct records of international students, as requested last month. In an interview with Fox News on Thursday, Noem said that her department is "absolutely" considering similar measures for other universities, including Columbia University. She stressed that what has happened to Harvard should be a warning to all other universities to get their "act together." The Trump administration's revoking of Harvard's Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification means 68-hundred international students enrolled in the school must transfer to keep hold of their legal status in the U.S. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Overseas S. Korean troops begin voting in upcoming presidential election: JCS

2025/05/23 17:00

South Korean troops deployed overseas began casting their ballots for the 21st Presidential Election back on Tuesday. The Hanbit Unit in South Sudan and the Dongmyeong Unit in Lebanon both deployed as part of UN peacekeeping operations set up polling stations within their bases with officials from the defense and foreign ministries and the National Election Commission dispatched as observers. Members of the Akh Unit deployed to the UAE are voting at the Korean Embassy there while the Cheonghae Unit is heading to the Korean Embassy in Oman.

U.S. could withdraw troops from S. Korea amid tensions with China

2025/05/23 17:00

An American daily says the U.S. Defense Department is exploring the option of relocating some American soldiers stationed here in South Korea to other parts of the Indo-Pacific. Bae Eun-ji covers this report. The U.S. is reportedly considering withdrawing around 4-thousand-500 American troops from South Korea to Guam or other locations in the Indo Pacific region. That's about 16-percent of the total number of U.S. forces in South Korea, where there are roughly 28-thousand-500 troops. Citing defense officials familiar with the matter, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that the idea is being developed by the Pentagon, for consideration by Trump as part of an informal policy review. While adding the proposal has yet to reach Trump's desk, it said this is one of several ideas under discussion by senior officials. Since his first term, Trump has considered changing the U.S. footprint in South Korea which relies on close coordination with American forces to deter threats from the North. "It depends. We pay for military over in Europe. We don't get reimbursed by much. South Korea too." But the head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command has presented negative views about the idea of a troop drawdown in a Senate hearing last month, saying the loss of the force on the Korean Peninsula, would mean a higher probability that North Korea would invade. "As General Brunson said, North Korea's development of advanced nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles pose a direct threat to our homeland and our allies, and are executing a deepening cooperation with Russia." Trump has been hinting at an attempt to renegotiate a deal on sharing the costs for American troops stationed in Korea, saying Washington cannot be taken advantage of any longer in military and trade. He's described South Korea as a "money machine," insisting that Seoul should be paying 10 billion dollars a year. Experts suggest pulling troops out of Korea could mean the Trump administration is looking to redeploy them to areas that better align with priority goals such as countering China. "What the United States is saying is: we're currently focused on China, so we want our allies to take responsibility in terms of conventional defense capabilities, while we are willing to fully support in areas such as nuclear deterrence. And in return, the U.S. is asking for help in preparing to respond to potential conflicts with China, especially in the event of a Taiwan contingency." Seoul's defense ministry explained there hasn't been any discussions with Washington over a possible troop reduction. The Pentagon reportedly said there were no policy announcements to make. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.

S. Korea concludes 2nd tariff talks with U.S. ahead of presidential election

2025/05/23 17:00

Trade delegates from Seoul and their counterparts in Washington D.C. ended their latest technical talks on tariffs amid hopes for a tangible deal once a new administration enters the top office here on June 4th. Moon Ji-young has the latest. South Korea and the U.S. concluded the second round of working-level consultations in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. These talks come as South Korea seeks to negotiate product-specific tariffs and the reciprocal tariffs imposed by the Donald Trump administration. The Korean delegation, led by Chang Sung-gil , Director-General of Trade Policy at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, met with officials from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. The technical discussions focused on six key areas: balanced trade, non-tariff measures, economic security, digital trade, country of origin, and commercial considerations. The U.S. side reportedly raised specific issues concerning Korea's non-tariff barriers, as detailed in the USTR's report from late March. That report listed 21 measures, including restrictions on imports of U.S. beef from cattle over 30 months old, digital trade barriers, and the "offset" defense trade policy. Washington wants Seoul to lower non-tariff barriers and expand imports from the U.S. to reduce trade deficits. The South Korean government intends to conclude negotiations with the U.S. after a new president takes office following the upcoming June 3rd election. "Once the election's over, then the new government, actually the administration team is going to start negotiating. So, if they make too much hasty decisions, and then, if the new government is going to just flip everything, that's going to be super costly in terms of both reputation and also actual time and efforts." Seoul aims to minimize the rates of the Trump administration's new duties, including 25-percent reciprocal tariffs as well as sectoral tariffs including 25-percent levies on automobiles, steel, and aluminum before July 8th, when Trump's 90-day suspension of reciprocal tariffs ends. Moon Ji-young, Arirang News.

Presidential candidates scale back their campaigns ahead of second televised debate

2025/05/23 17:00

As mentioned in that report presidential hopefuls are gearing up for tonight's second live debate that starts at EIGHT in the evening local time having spent the day with minimal campaign activities. Our political correspondent Shin Ha-young reports. The rival parties' presidential candidates scaled back their campaigns on Friday ahead of their second televised debate this evening. Instead, Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung wrapped up his trip to Gyeongsangnam-do Province after paying tribute to the late liberal President Roh Moo-hyun on the 16th anniversary of his passing away. "While paying tribute to former President Roh Moo-hyun, I reaffirmed my commitment to building a country where the people are respected as the rightful owners and can live happily." Lee met former President Moon Jae-in for lunch, during which Moon said now was a crucial time for South Korea and urged Lee to take responsibility in creating a country that respects the people. "With just 11 days to go to the 21st presidential election, key political figures from across the political spectrum gathered in Bongha Village, located in the city of Gimhae." Attendees of a memorial service included former President Moon Jae-in and his wife, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, and People Power Party interim leader Kim Yong-tae. In a social media post, Kim said former President Roh Moo-hyun put the country and its people first, beyond political affiliation, and said he would remember Roh's hope for a world without injustice or privilege. Meanwhile, the PPP's Kim Moon-soo attended a prayer breakfast for the nation and its people, where he emphasized unity, saying that economic struggles and social division have worsened conflict. The PPP said Kim's support is growing and expressed hope that he could lead in the polls before early voting starts if the trend continues. "In the end, Kim Moon-soo's distinct character, proven skills, and clear vision will bring him victory. As the election passes the halfway point, support is starting to pick up across the country." With the candidates set to fully resume their rallies after the debate, they are expected to put their utmost efforts into the final week of the official presidential campaign. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News, Gimhae.

CHANGING PERCEPTION TO TACKLE SOCIAL CONCERNS

2025/05/23 17:30

Welcome to Press Perspective. It's Friday May 23rd here in Seoul. I'm Min Sunhee. It's that time of the week during which we address a collection of diverse social stories here on the local front that made international headlines as well. For more I have Kelly Kasulis Cho with The Washington Post. Kelly it's good to have you here. I also have writer Colin Marshall with us. Colin welcome back. 1) Kelly, a growing number of young Koreans have been found to approve of childbirth outside of wedlock. 2) Colin, population pundits say prejudice against women who have children outside of marriage should be addressed to boost birth rates. 3) Kelly, the article claims there have been subtle shifts in perception regarding the practice of having children outside of marriage here in Korea in recent times. 4) Colin, later this evening, presidential contenders face off in a second live TV debate, this time on social matters. 5) Kelly, staying with presidential pledges by candidates this time around. 6) Kelly, let's now move on to another story about Korea carried by the foreign media. 7) And Colin, concerns continue to mount over the spread of fake news as we count down less than two weeks to the presidential election. 8) Colin, shifting gears now. 9) Kelly, on a light note.

K-wave AI News

2025/05/23 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. The 'Seoul International Book Fair,' Korea's largest literary festival, returns next month. Under the theme, 'The Last Resort,' this year's event invites visitors to explore books as sources of comfort and resilience amid today's increasingly challenging world. The fair will bring together over 530 publishers and literary organizations from 17 countries, including Germany, the UK, Thailand, and Saudi Arabia. It features a variety of programs, ranging from book markets and exhibitions to author talks and signing events, celebrating the power of books to inspire and connect. It runs from June 18 to 22 at COEX in Seoul. The Culture Ministry will launch the '2025 UNESCO Heritage Tour' in June, inviting foreign content creators living in Korea to dive deeper into the country's rich history and culture. The program, which will run across five sessions through November, explores Korea's UNESCO-listed cultural heritage that include 16 World Heritage sites, 23 items of Intangible Cultural Heritage, and 20 entries on the Memory of the World Register. Kicking things off at the 'Museong Seowon,' a historic Confucian academy located in Jeollabuk-do Province, the tour takes creators across Suwon, Gwangju, Yeosu and beyond, offering a firsthand look at Korea's deep cultural roots and historical legacy. Video highlights from each session will be shared on the 'Korea net' YouTube channel. For further details, visit www.heritageinkorea.kr. Korea's digital music market has nearly doubled in size in just four years. According to a recent report from the Korea Music Copyright Association, the combined value of streaming and downloads grew from about 950 billion won, or nearly 690 million U.S. dollars, in 2019 to roughly 1.8 trillion won, or more than 1.3 billion dollars, in 2023, marking an increase of over 90%. Streaming alone saw even sharper growth, surging by more than 95% during the same period. The association said Korea's digital music market has now surpassed Japan's, long recognized as Asia's leading music market, with streaming emerging as the key driver behind the rapid growth. That's all from me. Stay tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[Kulture Issue] "The King of Kings" raises expectations of K-animation to make leap to global stage

2025/05/23 14:00

Could K-animation become the next K-content leader? Well, in North America, Korean-made animation “The King of Kings“ is already the king among Korean animation movies targeted at the overseas market. Today, we want to delve into the K-animation world with our movie expert, Jae Soh, Professor and filmmaker at Seoul Institute of the Arts. Hello Professor Soh! Q1. Let’s start with this outstanding performance of the made-in-Korea animated movie “The King of Kings“. This one is writing history in the K-animation industry but for now, outside of Korea. Please tell us about the achievement. Q2. Impressive to have even Hollywood stars voicing the characters so this approach of targeting a foreign audience first, is this a new chapter in the potential of K-animation productions? Q3. Famous directors like Bong Joon-ho and Kim Tae-yong are also in the process of making animation productions. What do you make of their new attempts? Q4. Let’s now talk about the first Korean animated film to debut on Netflix. “Lost in Starlight“ is coming in a week from now. What are your expectations? (Bong Joon-ho I heard spoke well of it?) Q5. Why is Korean animation in the spotlight these days? Was it always a field of strength, or are we seeing significant progress lately? Q6. Let's shift gears to the 78th Cannes Film Festival, that is wrapping up tomorrow, Saturday. Korean director Heo Ga-young has won the first prize of the "La Cinef," an award dedicated to student-made movies. Please tell us about it. Q7. Also, staying with Cannes, but also going back to K-animation. For the first time, a Korean animated short film, by director Joung Yu-mi , called “Glasses“ was invited to compete in the short film category. What’s your assessment of this selection?

[K-enter] Baekhyun's new album becomes 4th consecutive million-seller

2025/05/23 14:00

Time for some K-entertainment news with Bella Kim. As you said in the opening, today’s K-enter is filled with K-pop stories. Who are we starting with? We are going to kick off with Baekhyun. His latest album, “Essence of Reverie” has become a million-seller. According to Hanteo Chart, Baekhyun’s fifth EP reached the milestone just two days after its release. This marks his fourth consecutive million-seller out of a total of five solo albums. It’s also notable that this record makes him the first K-pop solo singer to achieve the feat in the 21st century. “Essence of Reverie” explores Baekhyun’s reflection on his past and future, and it has topped iTunes top albums chart in 24 regions. Meanwhile, Baekhyun will meet with his fans around the globe during his first world tour, starting next month. We’ve seen several artists become million-sellers, but doing it four times! Wow! Our next story is on a K-pop group? NCT 127 just wrapped up their fourth world tour with a finale concert at the Tokyo Dome. The group kicked off “Neo City -The Momentum” world tour in January at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul and met with fans in over 15 regions across North America and Asia through 24 shows in total. This tour was held in the hopes of continuing to moving forward as one team and to show off their unlimited energy. They also reached their 100th solo concert during this world tour. The finale concert, to wrap up the five month-long tour, was held on May 21st to 22nd at the Tokyo Dome in Japan. On top of performing their hit songs, the group thrilled the fans even more by performing Japanese tracks as well. So much efforts they put into this concert for their fans! Lastly, we will continue with another K-pop group that is about to kick off their tour. RIIZE will hold their first solo concert, the “2025 RIIZE CONCERT TOUR ,” from July 4th to 6th at the KSPO DOME in Seoul. It will then expand to over 14 locations worldwide, including Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, and Indonesia. Notably, the Seoul concert, which will kick off the tour, sold out all the shows just through advance ticket sales for official fan club BRIIZE members. Meanwhile, RIIZE released their first full-length album “ODYSSEY” on May 19th, reaching number one on domestic and international charts. Exciting for all the BRIIZE around the world. Thank you Bella for today’s stories.

[Features reporter] From access to excellence: Gaming powerhouse S. Korea’s esports future

2025/05/23 14:00

Eunhee, I heard you have an esports story lined up for today, can you tell us what it's about? Yes Soa. As we all know, South Korea is already a global gaming powerhouse. And so this time I went to a gaming festival where I could really see how its continuously laying the groundwork to discover and develop the next generation of gaming talent. I went to check out the 2025 Gyeonggi Esports Festival, and it turned out to be so much more than just a celebration of gaming. Let's take a closer look. This group of people are university students in their everyday lives,. but for this moment, they are the stars of the stage as gamers. The 2025 Gyeonggi esports Festival has kicked off at KINTEX, bringing together a diverse range of participants. This annual event strives to reshape the perception of esports, and make it an integral part of everyday culture by making it more accessible. This year, the introduction of a tournament for disabled players adds greater meaning to the event. It shares the message that regardless of physical limitations, everyone can connect and enjoy the experience of gaming. "I have an intellectual disability, which makes it hard to express my emotions. I joined this tournament because it features a game I’m familiar with, so I felt confident. Whatever the result, I try to accept it and move forward." "Being here on the ground, we can clearly see just how much interest people of all ages in South Korea, a global gaming powerhouse, have in a wide variety of games. But beyond the popularity, what's truly striking is the growing effort to nurture new talent in the gaming industry." Debuting this year, the 2025 Korean Esports League kicked off with Eternal Return matches at the festival and continues with competitions across the country including PUBG Mobile and FC Mobile tournaments. With teams from 14 regions participating, the league runs through October, providing a platform for the next generation of esports stars, the future 'Fakers' of Korea. The variety of cosplay alone was such a feast for the eyes! How was it for you? It was exciting to see people of all ages coming together to enjoy the festival. What stood out most were the university student teams and the players with disabilities all incredibly meaningful and full of joy. On top of that, I'd love to highlight Korea's newly launched national esports league, which kicked off today. Hosted by the Culture Ministry and co-organized by the Korea Esports Association alongside leading game developers including KRAFTON and Nexon Korea, the league aims to empower local talent and strengthen the foundation of Korea's national esports ecosystem. After the Eternal Return matches which take place today at KINTEX, the next stop is the Busan Esports Arena where games start on Saturday. Teams representing their regional communities will be competing in popular games including popular PUBG Mobile and FC Mobile. Matches are being held in cities like Gwangju and Daejeon, helping to boost local communities while also supporting the development of new talent. A long competitive journey is ahead. For major titles like League of Legends, where South Korea is a dominant force, could participating in this league serve as a potential pathway to the national team? Yes definitely. For internationally recognized games, the league offers a valuable opportunity to showcase your potential. It also focuses on strengthening regional and national competitiveness by identifying and nurturing top esports talent, not only among players but also by creating employment opportunities through hands-on experience in areas like event operations and broadcasting. Also coming up in June, the Global Esports Forum hosted by the Korea Esports Association will bring together international experts to discuss global standards in esports, with Korea leading the conversation and paving the way for rising talents to take the global stage. Ever since esports are being officially recognized as a sports, it's crucial to standardize rules to further foster the sector. Thank you Eun-hee for always keeping us updated on the major esports events in the country. Thank you Eun-hee for sharing.

U.S. considers withdrawing of 4,500 troops from S. Korea to Guam or other locations

2025/05/23 10:00

The Trump administration could be pulling thousands of U.S. soldiers out of South Korea to have them stationed in other locations in the Indo-Pacific an idea that's reportedly yet to be greenlit by Trump. Bae Eun-ji has our top story. The U.S. is considering withdrawing around 4-thousand-500 American troops from South Korea to Guam or other locations in the Indo Pacific region. That's about 16-percent of the total number of U.S. forces in South Korea, where there are roughly 28-thousand-500 troops. Citing defense officials familiar with the matter, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that the idea is being developed by the Pentagon for consideration by Trump as part of an informal policy review on dealing with North Korea. It added the proposal has yet to reach Trump's desk and is one of several ideas under discussion by senior officials conducting the review. When asked about a possible troop withdrawal, the Pentagon reportedly said there were no policy announcements to make. Since his first term, Trump has considered changing the U.S. footprint in South Korea which relies on close coordination with U.S. forces to deter threats from North Korea. "It depends. We pay for military over in Europe. We don't get reimbursed by much. South Korea too." But the head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command has presented negative views about the idea of a troop drawdown in a Senate hearing last month, saying the loss of the force on the Korean Peninsula, would mean a higher probability that North Korea would invade. "As General Brunson said, North Korea's development of advanced nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles pose a direct threat to our homeland and our allies, and are executing a deepening cooperation with Russia." Trump has been hinting at an attempt to renegotiate a deal on sharing the costs for American troops stationed in Korea, saying Washington cannot be taken advantage of any longer in military and trade. He's described South Korea as a "money machine," insisting that Seoul should be paying 10 billion dollars a year. Pulling troops out of Korea could mean that the Trump administration is looking to redeploy them to areas that better align with priority goals such as countering China. The Washington Post reported in March that a secret internal guidance memo signed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth showed that the country considers China as its sole pacing threat,.. pressuring allies in East Asia, Europe and the Middle East to spend more on defense to deal with threats from North Korea, 러시아 and Iran. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.