News

Biden administration announces new curbs on AI chip exports

2025/01/14 10:00

The U.S. has imposed new restrictions on AI chip exports, aiming to block advanced chips from reaching China, which has strongly opposed the decision. Shin Ha-young has the details. With just a week left in office, the Biden administration on Monday announced new export restrictions on artificial intelligence chips. The new rule exempts 18 allies, including South Korea, Japan, and the UK, while introducing additional measures to block China's access to such tech. A total of 22 so-called tier three countries, including China, Russia, and Cuba, are already barred from purchasing advanced chips and will be newly subject to restrictions on the sale of closed-weight AI models. North Korea is also banned. Another key change is that entities in countries that are considered neither allies nor adversaries will now face new caps on the amount of computing power they can purchase. Non-verified end-user entities located outside of close allies can still purchase large amounts of computational power, up to the equivalent of 50-thousand advanced graphics processing units, which are used to power data centers needed to train AI models. Those meeting security requirements and based in countries that are not "of concern" can apply for National Verified End-User status, allowing them to purchase up to 320 thousand advanced GPUs over the next two years. The new regulations are seen as ways to block China from building AI capabilities in third countries, like in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, or from importing AI chips with U.S. technology from those countries. Regarding the announcement, China's Ministry of Commerce criticized the move, saying it creates obstacles for third parties engaging in normal trade with China. U.S. AI chip giant Nvidia saw its stock drop on Monday due to fears of reduced export volumes. Nvidia opposed the restriction, saying it threatens to derail innovation and global economic growth and would undermine America's leadership. Now, all eyes are on President-elect Donald Trump. The Biden administration believes new U.S. limits on global sales of AI chips will likely continue under Trump, citing bipartisan national security concerns surrounding China's pursuit of advanced technology. However, chip companies are pushing to roll back Biden's regulations and urging Trump to create new policies. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

Trump's second term 1 week away, Cabinet confirmation hearings begin

2025/01/14 10:00

With one week to go until the launch of the second Donald Trump administration, the U.S. capital is preparing for the inauguration, with security greatly strengthened in the area. Lee Seung-jae has more. President-elect Donald Trump will return to the Oval Office as the 47th President of the United States at noon on January 20th, which is the third of four days of related events. Two days before inauguration day on January 18th, the president's reception will take place, along with a fireworks display at Trump National Golf Club in Virginia. Later that night, a Cabinet reception and vice president's dinner will take place. On the following day, a wreath-laying ceremony will take place at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. The official inauguration day will begin with a service at St. John's church, where Trump will be sworn into office. Trump will then head over to the President's Room near the Senate chamber, where as part of tradition, he will sign nominations. After a luncheon hosted by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, the presidential parade will take place from the Capitol to the White House. The parade will be followed by an Oval Office signing ceremony, before Trump attends the "Commander in Chief Ball," the "Liberty Inaugural Ball" and the "Starlight Ball." On the last day on January 21st, inaugural activities will conclude with the National Prayer Service in the morning. Ahead of the inauguration ceremonies across various locations in the U.S. capital, security in the city has been significantly strengthened. "More than 30 miles of anti-scale fence will be used for the inauguration -more than any other NSSE (National Special Security Event) ever before the Secret Service. This comprehensive security plan will continue to use drones as part of our protective posture." Officials expect nearly a quarter of a million people will attend the inauguration, with many more expected in the downtown area of D.C. for demonstrations. Ahead of the inauguration,.. the U.S. Senate is also set to hold its confirmation hearings for the Cabinet nominees. In particular, attention is focused on the confirmation hearing for the U.S. Secretary of Defense, held on Tuesday. This comes amid controversy surrounding Pete Hegseth, who was investigated by police over sexual assault allegations. More than a dozen other confirmation hearings will take place over a span of a week, as the country prepares for the inauguration of Trump. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Live: President Yoon objects to impeachment trial schedule as first trial begins

2025/01/14 10:00

For the third time in Korean history, the country's leader faces an impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court. President Yoon Suk Yeol's trial begins today with the first hearing scheduled for 2 PM. We have our correspondent Oh Soo-young standing by at the Constitutional Court. Q1. The trial already faces a rocky start, with Yoon's legal team disputing much of the proceedings and Yoon not expected to show up, right? That's right. Today, the Court's bench of eight justices will convene the first trial hearing on the President's impeachment, which the opposition-led National Assembly voted on last month. But the President himself will not be showing up, as his lawyers revealed before filing an objection to the hearing Monday afternoon. Now, his absence was expected by the Court, which already fixed four additional hearing dates. The court is obliged to reschedule if one party misses the first session, but a second absence on the 16th two days from now would enable the panel to continue the trial without him. A court official mentioned on Monday that without Yoon present at the first session, it is likely to end quickly. Former President Park Geun-hye's first trial hearing lasted around nine minutes due to her absence. 2. So we're continuing to see this tug-of-war over the timeline of the impeachment trial right? Yes, the President's legal team has criticised the Constitutional Court’s emphasis on “expedited proceedings” and insists that the 180-day trial period stipulated by law must be fully observed. Yoon's team on Monday also filed an objection to how the Constitutional Court scheduled five hearing dates without consulting the representatives, and further objected to Justice Chung Kye-sun presiding over the trial, and filed to recuse, or disqualify her. Yoon's lawyers say Chung who was appointed this month, has links to the opposition Democratic Party, and her husband is associated with former chief justice Kim Yisu who is on the National Assembly's panel of lawyers trying to impeach Yoon. Under the Constitutional Court Act, a party may file a motion to recuse a justice under circumstances that make it difficult to expect a fair trial. The Civil Procedure Act stipulates that trial procedures must be halted until the recusal motion is resolved. However, the court can dismiss the motion if it deems it was filed solely to delay proceedings. To discuss the recusal request, the Court's acting chief justice has decided to convene a meeting as we speak, beginning at 10am. 3. Now that's even before their official arguments begin. Not much progress on the guidelines for the trial either. That's right. Yoon and the Assembly failed to narrow down their differences in two pre-trial hearings where they should have set out the main grounds for impeachment and drawn up lists of witnesses and evidence they wish to present to make their case. Various sticking points remain unresolved. First, Yoon's team says the National Assembly's panel removing charges of insurrection as a main argument for impeachment makes no sense as the Assembly's motion to remove him from power cited insurrection as a major reason. They said National Assembly must vote on impeachment again without insurrection charges. If not, it should retract its withdrawal statement. The Constitutional Court is expected to rule on this matter. Second, there's the issue of whether the proclamation of martial law constitutes an “act of state,” under Yoon's executive powers as President, and therefore is not subject to judicial review. The National Assembly counters this, calling the martial law decree illegal. So the court must determine whether or not the decree was an "act of state." Also, Yoon's team filed an objection to the Court’s decision to obtain records from ongoing trials and criminal investigations over the martial law, arguing that it violates the Constitutional Court Act. On top of the procedural complaints raised by the team observers note that these challenges, if accepted by the court, could delay the trial’s progression. We'll have to see how this first session goes. Thanks for keeping us updated Sooyoung.

Greenland to strengthen defense and mining ties with U.S.

2025/01/14 10:00

Moving over to Greenland, the country's Prime Minister, Mute Egede , announced on Monday, the nation's intent to strengthen defense and mining collaborations with the United States, emphasizing that any agreements will be established on Greenland's terms. This follows President-elect Donald Trump's renewed interest in acquiring the mineral-rich Arctic island in recent weeks, highlighting the region's strategic significance. Also on Monday, Denmark, which currently manages Greenland's foreign affairs and defense, expressed a willingness to discuss the increased U.S. military presence on the island. The dialogue aims to address security concerns and ensure Greenland's safety while avoiding any scenario of American annexation.

Breaking $10 billion in exports: K-beauty trends captivate the world

2025/01/14 14:00

Welcome to Trend Vibes where we delve into the latest trends connected to Korea. For that, we have our trend reporter, Seyoung! Hello! Do you notice anything different about me today? I’ve put a little extra effort into my makeup today! That’s because our topic is K-beauty! Last week, we talked about Korean people’s New Year’s resolutions. One of them was self-improvement, and as a part of efforts to improve oneself many people also focus on enhancing their appearance. So today, we’ll dive into the world of K-beauty! Oh, that sounds exciting! I’ve heard about the K-beauty boom, but how popular is it overseas right now? It’s huge! Let’s look at the numbers first. Korea’s cosmetics exports surpassed 10 billion U.S. dollars last year, setting a record high. As you can see from the graph on the screen K-Beauty exports have almost quadrupled from 2015 to 2024. Compared to 2012, 12 years ago, they have grown tenfold. Notably, it surpassed France to become the top imported cosmetics brand in the U.S., the world’s largest cosmetics market. In terms of recognition, K-beauty is also one of the most well-known terms among global consumers and there is a survey that actually proves this popularity. A 2023 Euromonitor survey asked over 20-thousand people across 20 major countries if they had heard of beauty terms linked to specific nations. The top answer? K-beauty! Nearly 30% of respondents knew about it, surpassing J-beauty (Japanese beauty) by about 10 percentage points. So we can say K-beauty excels both in profitability and global recognition! Wow, that’s such a proud achievement! What types of K-beauty products are most popular? There’s a wide variety of Korean cosmetics, so competition is fierce. In the U.S., skincare products are dominant. Japan prefers color cosmetics and loves girl group-inspired makeup trends,.. while France is drawn to the Korean-style skincare layering routine. Also since COVID-19, interest in skincare products with natural and organic ingredients and a delicate skincare routine itself has surged in places where people had to wear face masks for long periods as masks irritate the skin, while more people also focused on eye makeup due to masks covering the lower face. It’s fascinating how each country focuses on different aspects of K-Beauty! Exactly. I found it particularly interesting that France admires the routine itself. For instance, I layer skincare products step-by-step every night, sometimes with a sheet mask. I used to take it for granted, because I’ve seen my mom doing it for a long time and it was my old habit, too. But it’s exciting to see Korean skincare routines gain global attention! Beyond the products themselves, what’s driving the global appeal of K-Beauty? First, we can’t ignore the influence of K-pop. Fans want to replicate their favorite idols’ looks, and YouTube is full of tutorials on K-pop-inspired makeup. This naturally translates into product sales. And I want to ask you guys this question. Have you watched any of these videos or tried the looks yourself? or have you seen anyone trying these makeup styles from the videos? I sometimes watch these videos for fun, too. Along with the popularity of K-pop K-beauty’s unbeatable value is another reason. Korean brands offer excellent quality at reasonable prices, making them hard to resist. Lastly, localization strategies play a big role. For instance, one brand released sun care and moisturizing creams tailored to Vietnam’s humid climate, while another launched compact-sized cushion foundations for the Japanese market. This success isn’t limited to major corporations; small and medium-sized businesses are also thriving. Their innovation and competitiveness add real value to the industry. It’s inspiring to see such a balanced ecosystem driving K-beauty’s global popularity. What’s the outlook for the industry? I’d say it’s bright! The Korean government actively promotes K-beauty. For instance, the Korea Beauty Festival last June targeted international tourists interested in K-beauty. Additionally, the global recognition of K-beauty means that strong product quality can now outshine branding. Many experts believe that this mix of quality and affordability will drive further growth. Seyoung, it’s been such an insightful session. Glad you found it insightful Walter. But yes, not only were we able to explore the products but we also learned about the significance in K-beauty as an export growth engine. Thanks, Seyoung! My pleasure! Thank you!

[Short-form] Easy ways to enjoy Korea’s stunning mountain snowscapes

2025/01/14 14:00

Feeling too cold, or apprehensive to go winter climbing? Check out these easy ways to reach the summit and enjoy Korea’s stunning mountain snowscapes.

[K-enter] BTS's 'Dynamite' Hits 2 Billion Streams on Spotify... A First for K-pop

2025/01/14 14:00

It's time for our K-entertainment news with Walter Lee. Our first story today is about a world famous song that goes like this "So I'ma light it up like dynamite, whoa" and the news you have on this song proves why it's a "world famous song" Yes, BTS have done it again, they can add another milestone to their already endless list of achievements. According to the latest data released on Sunday by the world's largest music streaming platform, Spotify, BTS's single "Dynamite," released all the way back in 2020, has reached 2 billion streams. What makes this so special is that BTS are the first K-pop group to surpass 2 billion streams on Spotify with a single song. "Dynamite" was the first song by a Korean artist to debut at No. 1 on Spotify's 'Daily Top Songs Global chart' and set a record as the most-streamed song on its release day. It was also the first K-pop song to reach 1 billion streams on Spotify. BTS aren't the only ones making waves in the K-pop world right now, we have updates on two members from BlackPink. Yes, so last week I reported that Rosé made a personal best and a K-pop record by reaching No. 5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 with her hit song "APT", a collaboration with pop star Bruno Mars. Well it looks like the singer is not going anywhere as the hit song has maintained its position at No. 5 on the Hot 100 chart for the second consecutive week, only cementing her achievement in K-pop history. And who is the other member we are going to talk about? Also last week, we mentioned Jisoo and her upcoming K-drama series "Newtopia" coming out on February 7. But that's not the only thing Jisoo plans to do in February as she also has her musical solo comeback planned for February 14, a week after her K-drama release. On Monday, Jisoo teased her new solo album through content shared on her agency BLISSOO's official social media channels. This will be her first solo project since her debut single “FLOWER” in March 2023. She sounds like a busy bee, good luck to Jisoo and her packed schedule for February and congratulations to Rosé for making more history. Lastly moving onto a K-movie. The occult K-movie "Exhuma" or "PaMyo" in Korean, which topped the 2024 annual box office, has emerged as the most talked-about film after being nominated in 11 categories at the 18th Asian Film Awards. According to the nominee list announced by the Asian Film Awards Academy last Friday, "Exhuma" received nominations in categories such as Best Picture, Best Director Jang Jae-hyun , Best Actor Choi Min-sik , Best Actress..Kim Go-eun , and Best Newcomer..Lee Do-hyun . It had the most nominations of all the films at the awards. The Asian Film Awards, held annually, are organised by the Asian Film Awards Academy, established by the international film festivals of Busan, Tokyo, and Hong Kong to promote the development of Asian cinema. The awards will be held on March 16 in Hong Kong. Thank you for that news Walter, stick around.

[K-wave] "Blockbuster games" being released throughout 2025

2025/01/14 14:00

In the new year, various gaming companies have made efforts to release their "masterpiece games" of the year. Let's take a look at what's in store from the gaming industry. Lee Eun-jin tells us more. The game "The First Berserker: Khazan" tells the story 800 years before the popular "Dungeon and Fighter." The narrative is a revenge journey of the betrayed captain Khazan, but depending on the game user's choices, the story varies slightly. The exciting battle and 3D-cell animation-style graphics add to the fun. "InZOI" is a life simulation game where the player can create and experience another life. The players can make the virtual people named "Zoi" fulfill certain tasks in various roles. AI technology is integrated into the virtual interactions, allowing people to make families and friends in the game. Both "The First Berserker: Khazan" and "inZOI" will be released on March 28. After six years of waiting, the long-awaited game "Crimson Desert" is expected to be released in the second half of this year. It's an open-world action-adventure game that depicts a mercenary group's journey through the power struggle-plagued continent of Pywel. Depending on the choice made by the player, the reputation of the main character changes, meaning it is a multivariate game, consequently affecting the ending of the story. "A multivariate narrative is a narrative that unfolds in various ways. Results like a prolonged life or increased profitability add to the satisfaction of the player, making them more loyal users." A series of major game projects will be released by each of the gaming companies throughout the year. Anticipation is high among users, but also among the creators as to which will be most popular among gamers. Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.