News

Fmr. President Yoon uses court's public entrance for first time at third criminal trial hearing

2025/05/12 17:00

Former President Yoon Suk-yeol attended the third hearing of his criminal trial on charges of insurrection at the Seoul Central District Court earlier on this Monday morning. He also passed through the main public entrance for the first time in sharp contrast to his earlier visits that allowed him entry via the underground car park area to avoid media scrutiny. On this Monday Yoon walked straight into the court building without any interaction with the press pool. Meanwhile a group of people were also gathered outside the court chanting his name in a show of support.

Reform Party candidate promises new future with stronger economy, democratic institutions

2025/05/12 17:00

Staying on the campaign trail. Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok has pledged to revitalize the economy and rebuild democratic institutions. Lee was at an industrial complex in the southern city of Yeosu in the wee hours of this Monday sharing plans to address slowing exports to bolster industrial safety standards and to create flexibility in minimum wage. Later in a speech here in Seoul the forty-year-old contender claimed the snap election is a showdown between "the future and the past integrity and corruption."

PPP candidate Kim Moon-soo kicks off uphill presidential election, stressing livelihoods and economy

2025/05/12 17:00

Up next after an eventful weekend the conservative camp is rallying behind its candidate Kim Moon-soo who opened his campaign at an open market also here in Seoul. For more I have our correspondent Kim Do-yeon standing by live. Do-yeon it's good to have you on. Now you are currently in Daegu? That's right, Sun-hee I'm currently at Seomun Market in Daegu a conservative stronghold where Kim is set to arrive momentarily. Kim when he arrives will first meet with shoppers and storekeepers here and appear on the stage behind me afterwards. As you said, it's quite a distance. Kim started early, earlier than his rival in fact, at 5 AM of the first day of the official campaign period at Garak Market an agricultural wholesale market in southern Seoul. This is to show his motivation in improving the livelihoods of working-class people, according to him, and this market is where wholesale and retail, sellers and consumers come together, starting from the early hours. The message is actually very important, as that is one of the main themes of his campaign. Take a listen. "I really need to become a market president. A president for livelihoods. Also, a president for the economy. I think I need to become a president who improves living in South Korea." After this, he was at the campaign headquarters to hold a campaign committee meeting. After that, Kim held a strategy meeting, then began his journey south—stopping at the Daejeon National Cemetery. There, he emphasized honoring those who gave their lives for the country—something he says lies at the core of his political philosophy. Do-yeon a market president is a key message for his campaign and it's a part of his top 10 pledges. Do tell us more. That's right, Sun-hee. First, as you heard from Ha-young as well, presidential candidates handed in their top 10 campaign pledges. The first one on the list for Kim is free markets, to make the nation a good place to run a business. The second one for him is growing AI capacities and the third is focused on helping the younger generations to grow. Now, this ties into the fact that Kim named a 34-year-old freshman lawmaker to lead the party as the chair of the emergency committee. Kim Yong-tae has been picked and is now among seven campaign committee chairs. While he was being awarded with certification, he said, as a young politician, he apologizes for what happened in he past five months. The People Power Party must acknowledge its faults: that the martial law declared by the president it produced was wrong; that the party failed to hold him properly accountable for his misguided pursuit of personal satisfaction; that it failed to achieve genuine cooperative governance with the president before this constitutional amendment came about. Of course, the change in party leadership comes after Kwon Young-se's resignation following the merger between Kim and independent candidate Han Duck-soo falling through. That's all for now. Back to you, Sun-hee.

DP’s Lee Jae-myung to focus on science and technology during campaigning in Daejeon

2025/05/12 17:00

We now turn our attention to the two main political camps. Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung launched his campaign at a major landmark in downtown Seoul before heading BEYOND the capital city. I have our political correspondent Shin Ha-young standing by with the latest from the liberal camp. Ha-young welcome. So I hear you are currently in the city of Daejeon ? Yes, Sunny, I'm here on Euneungjeongi Street in the central city of Daejeon, where Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung is set to arrive and continue his campaign in about an hour. Lee, who kicked off his campaign in Gwanghwamun today morning, has been heading south to visit what the party calls the "K-Initiative Belt," which includes Pangyo and Dongtan in Gyeonggi-do Province, as well as Daejeon. In this central city, a hub for scientific research, Lee will focus on science and technology. This afternoon, he visited Pangyo, which is known for its IT companies, to focus on innovation. Lee spoke with workers in IT research and development and said he plans to expand support for startups. On a visit to Dongtan, home to major chipmaker plants, Lee asked for support as he pledged to boost the semiconductor industry. Which of course is a major driver of the export market for Korea. Ha-young before you leave us do tell us a bit about the campaign launch in Gwanghwamun this morning. Sure, Sunny. The DP launched its campaign and Lee delivered his first public speech of the campaign as an official presidential candidate at Seoul's Cheonggye Plaza near Gwanghwamun, drawing around 20-thousand people. Lee's camp chose Gwanghwamun as his first stop of the official campaign because it's where people gathered with light sticks, calling for the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol. The DP refers to the process of overcoming the December 3rd martial law declaration and subsequent unrest as a "Revolution of Light." The concept of the campaign centers on "listening" and "unity." During the speech Lee emphasized that national unity was his number one priority. Take a listen. "I'm running not only as the DP's candidate, but for all people who seek to end insurrections, overcome crises, and ensure everyone's happiness. I will lead with humility to unite the country, which I believe is the president's most important duty." Today, Lee's camp also outlined three key goals: recovery, growth, and happiness along with ten major pledges. These included boosting the economy, restoring democracy, strengthening national security, and overcoming challenges such as the low birth rate, the aging population, and climate change. That's all I have for this hour. Back to you Sunny. All right Ha-young thank you for the coverage from the liberal camp.

[Kulture Issue] Year 1995 and the evolution of K-culture content

2025/05/12 14:00

Did you know that 1995, or 30 years ago was a turning point for Korean pop culture? It's said that the current Korean wave or hallyu has its roots in that year. Let's find out why in today's 'Kulture Issue' segment. For that, we're joined by culture critic, Professor Chie Hye-won at Kyung Hee University. Welcome Professor Chie! Q1. Let's travel back in time to 1995. What's significant about that year in terms of the K-culture industry, that's now loved around the world? Q2. It's impressive to hear that SM Entertainment and CJ ENM, two of the biggest names in K-pop and K-content, both started off in 1995. How have they revolutionized Korea's culture industry? Q3. Also, that year was the first year of cable TV in Korea, which opened up a wide variety of channels. (Riding on that trend, Arirang TV was also launched a couple years later.) How did this change affect the media/content consumption culture? Q4. Let's talk about Hongdae which not only is a famous art district in Seoul, but the indie music scene began to take root at clubs in Hongdae, which through to this day is a very hip place for young people. How have these scenes added diversity to Korean music? Q5. Online communities were also starting to take off around then. What was their impact like and were those clubs the foundation of the fandom community culture we see today? Q6. Anything else notable from a cultural aspect about the year 1995? Q7. There's been a resurgence of interest in 1990s culture lately. Why do you think that is? Thank you Professor Chie for your insights on this interesting topic. See you next time. Thank you Walter, we'll see you tomorrow.

[K-Enter] Jennie's "like JENNIE" MV surpasses 100 million views

2025/05/12 14:00

Starting off with some news on BlackPink's Jennie. Recently we talked about her latest music video "Seoul City", today it's her song "like JENNIE" making hits again it has been consistently performing well on the video streaming platform YouTube, correct? Jennie's music video "like JENNIE", from her first full solo album "Ruby" released on March 7, officially surpassed 100 million views on YouTube last Friday, making it the first K-pop music video of 2025 to hit that milestone. This marks Jennie's second music video to cross the 100 million mark, following "Mantra" off the album "Ruby". She also holds the record as the first female K-pop artist to reach 1 billion views on a single music video, with "SOLO" achieving that feat in February last year. On top of that, "like JENNIE" made Jennie the first female soloist this year to top both the Melon TOP 100 and daily charts in South Korea. Moving onto some news of a K-pop concert that we reported on before but now there's a possible cancellation in talk? K-pop boy group EPEX were scheduled to hold a concert in Fuzhou . But EPEX's agency, C9 Entertainment, announced on its official social media that "the concert originally scheduled to take place in Fuzhou on May 31 has been unavoidably postponed due to local circumstances." The eight-member boy group, composed entirely of Korean members, had planned to hold their solo concert "Youth Scarcity in Fuzhou" on May 31. The concert had drawn attention as it would have marked the first K-pop group concert in China in about nine years since the Chinese government unofficially imposed a "Hallyu Ban". According to sources C9 Entertainment is in talks with selecting a new date and venue for the concert and have said they will share the details as soon as possible. China has been enforcing the Hallyu Ban, an unofficial retaliatory measure limiting Korean music, dramas, and films, since around 2016 in response to South Korea's deployment of the U.S. THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area 데펜스) missile defense system. Last but not least let's talk about SHINee. Starting May 18 to 22 at 8 p.m. Korea time, SHINee will kick off "SHINee WEEK" a special event marking the 17th anniversary of their 데뷔 by streaming replays of their first through fifth solo concerts on their official YouTube channel. The band will also hold three concerts this month, titled "SHINee World Ⅶ (Every Stage Shines Around You), held from May 23 to 25 at the KSPO DOME in Seoul's Olympic Park, which will be followed by the release of a new single on May 25. The single will consist of two tracks, including the title song, and will be released on major music platforms at midnight on May 25. It will showcase SHINee's latest music and performances, and is timed for the anniversary of their debut. Definitely a week that SHINee fans will look forward to. Thanks for the news Walter, stick around as we move onto our AI anchor Ari who has some interesting culture-related news at hand. Ari!

K-wave AI News

2025/05/12 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. Korea's performance and exhibition services exports reached 754 million U.S. dollars last year with imports at 419 million dollars, posting a surplus for the third consecutive year. While exports to Asia remain dominant, K-pop performances and other Korean exhibition exports have significantly grown in North America and Europe. The Korea Culture and Tourism Institute noted that the surplus was achieved despite most other service sectors experiencing trade deficits. A replica of the "Joseon Tongsinsa" ship, once a symbol of Korea-Japan exchange, has arrived in Osaka. According to the National Research Institute of Maritime Heritage, this is the first time in 261 years that a Joseon Tongsinsa ship has made the journey to Osaka since its 11th mission in 1764. The term "Tongsinsa" refers to the official diplomatic envoys sent by the Joseon government to Japan from the 1600s to the 1800s to promote cultural exchanges. The symbolic reenactment comes as part of the two nations' celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of their normalized diplomatic relations. A one-of-a-kind event took over Seoul's Banpo Hangang River Park on Sunday — the annual "Space-Out Competition," where doing absolutely nothing earns you the top prize. This year, 126 participants across 80 teams joined the event in colorful flair, with some dressed as clowns and llamas while others opted for traditional 'hanbok.' Launched in 2016, the competition aims to challenge the modern obsession with constant productivity by celebrating stillness and mental rest. Contestants must sit in silence and remain motionless for 90 minutes, with winners determined by heart rate stability and audience votes. This year's champions, punk band "Pogo Attack," said the contest offered them a rare break from their packed daily schedules. That's all from me. Keep it tuned to the Kulture Wave.

On-point: Official campaigning begins for June 3 Election: How can overseas Koreans participate, vote on Election Day?

2025/05/12 10:00

And it's not just the candidates and their teams taking to the streets for the next 3 weeks. Voters too can participate, even if they are Koreans living abroad. We have our political correspondent Oh Soo-young in studio to discuss what's ahead. Sooyoung, it's great to have you in studio. 1. Official campaigning begins today, but there are important rules and restrictions to keep in mind. What can we expect to see? A total of seven candidates have officially registered for South Korea’s 21st presidential election, and they'll be able to campaign until the day before the election -so for a total of 22 days. During this period, we'll see large-scale street rallies with campaign vehicles blasting theme songs all over the country. There are some ground rules of course. From 7AM to 11PM, candidates can give speeches and hold talks in public spaces, with the use of loudspeakers only until 9PM. The candidates and their teams can also distribute banners, leaflets and namecards. Volunteers can help but are prohibited from receiving or requesting compensation. Voters can also take part in campaigning. According to the National Election Commission, you can express support for a party or candidate through speech or phone calls until the day before the election. Campaigning via text messages or social media is allowed even on election day. However, sharing false information, defamatory content, or producing and distributing deepfake videos may violate election laws and result in legal consequences. 2. Now some rules apply to overseas Koreans too. That's right. Overseas Koreans can participate in election campaigning even on election day as long as they do so within legal boundaries. They are permitted to send campaign-related information via text messages; post campaign messages or videos on personal websites, message boards, or chat rooms, as well as send related content through email. However, non-candidates cannot send out automated messages, advertise the campaign on news websites, nor can they use or outsource mass email delivery. These guidelines apply to Korean citizens residing abroad under the Public Official Election Act. Violation may result in penalties under Korean election law, so please check out the full guidelines at ok.nec.go.kr the National Election Commission’s Overseas Election website. 3. Over 258-thousand overseas voters are eligible to participate in this election. Yes, overseas ballots will be open at 182 diplomatic missions around the world for those who have registered already. Voting will be held from May 20 to 25 that's next Tuesday to Sunday, from 8 AM to 5 PM local time. Details about specific locations and time will be posted on the NEC’s Overseas Election website this week at least 20 days before election day. Now, as for the documents you need: Voters must bring valid photo ID issued by a Korean or a foreign government agency with their full name, and date of birth. Voters must also present documents that verify they have not acquired foreign nationality, such as a permanent resident certificate, or visa. If you're residing overseas but are in Korea during that time, you can vote between May 26th and June 3 here in Korea, by reporting to the local election commission in charge of their last registered Korean address. Again, you can find all the information you need, along with the candidates' campaign pledges, at ok.nec.go.kr. I see. There's a surge of energy that comes with the start of official election campaigning. Thanks for coming in today.

[Weather] Early summer warmth under plenty of sunshine

2025/05/12 10:00

After some typhoon-force weather on Saturday, we are having a beautiful start to the new week. The sun will be strong as we head into the afternoon, bringing with it a touch of early summer warmth. However, that familiar spring trend of a significant temperature difference between day and night is still with us, so if you're heading out, a light jacket for your commute is still a good idea. And with the sunshine, the UV index will be climbing. We're expecting 'high' levels across most of the country, with 'very high' levels along the south coast. Be mindful that ozone concentrations will also be elevated. And this afternoon, Seoul will see highs of 24 degrees, Daejeon and Gwangju climbing to 25 degrees Celsius. As we enter mid-May, morning temperatures will also get warmer as the week goes on with rain in the forecast for parts of central regions on Thursday. Today is shaping up to be a beautiful spring day so enjoy it!

Love in the air as giant Cannes posters go up for 2025 film festival

2025/05/12 10:00

Finally, in France, the 78th Cannes Film Festival kicks off Tuesday until May 24. This year's festival will open with the French comedy Leave One Day by Amelie Bonnin, marking the first time a debut director's film has been selected for the opening slot. 22 films have been officially selected for competition. Notably, actors Scarlett Johansson and Kristen Stewart will debut as directors with their respective films Eleanor the Great and The Chronology of Water. Despite global challenges, including potential U.S. tariffs on international films, the festival's president expressed confidence in Cannes' commitment to showcasing diverse and significant films.

Iran and US end 4th round of talks over Tehran's nuclear program on positive note

2025/05/12 10:00

Iran and the United States concluded their fourth round of nuclear negotiations in Muscat, Oman, on Sunday. The talks, mediated by Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi, lasted approximately three hours and were described as "difficult but useful." Both sides expressed cautious optimism at the progress made, despite ongoing disagreements over uranium enrichment, a central issue of the negotiations. Iran maintains that its right to enrich uranium for civilian purposes is non-negotiable, while the U.S. insists on a complete halt to such activities and dismantling related infrastructure. Despite the differences, both parties agreed to schedule a fifth round of talks.

India, Pakistan agree to ceasefire

2025/05/12 10:00

The truce between India and Pakistan remains fragile with reports of renewed tensions. On Saturday, May 10, India and Pakistan reached a ceasefire agreement following a series of military exchanges that had raised concerns about a broader conflict. However, within hours of the truce being announced, renewed hostilities were reported along the Line of Control in Kashmir. Both sides accused each other of violating the ceasefire, with incidents of shelling and drone activity occurring. The ceasefire was facilitated by the United States, with President Donald Trump announcing the agreement and praising both nations for their decision. It followed military clashes that had begun after a deadly attack by militants in Pahalgam in the Indian-administered region of Kashmir on April 22.

'No more war' says Pope Leo XIV in first Sunday message

2025/05/12 10:00

Starting in Rome, Pope Leo XIV delivered his inaugural Sunday address in St. Peter's Square, making a powerful plea for global peace, urging for an end to conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. "As Pope Francis has repeatedly stated, I too appeal to the great ones of the world, repeating the ever-relevant plea: No More War!'' On May 11, Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pope, stood on the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica to deliver his first Sunday blessing in front of a crowd of approximately 100,000. He chose this position over the usual Apostolic Palace window, departing from tradition to symbolize a new approach. In his address, Pope Leo XIV echoed the words of his predecessor, Pope Francis, by urging "No more war." He expressed deep concern over the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, describing the global situation as a "Third World War being fought piecemeal." While calling for lasting peace in Ukraine and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the pontiff also acknowledged the recent ceasefire between India and Pakistan.

Tracing the history of the Joseon Tongsinsa

2025/05/12 10:00

This year marks 60 years since South Korea and Japan normalized diplomatic ties. In light of the anniversary, the Seoul Museum of History is spotlighting a centuries-old goodwill mission, the Joseon Tongsinsa, with a special exhibition. Our culture correspondent Song Yoo-jin has more. These paintings offer a glimpse into the original Joseon Tongsinsa missions, depicting the formal procession and the ships that carried the envoys across the sea to Japan. For those curious about how these centuries-old diplomatic journeys helped bridge the two countries, you can step back in time here. "This exhibition, 'Bonds of the Heart, Waves of Resonance,' currently on at the Seoul Museum of History, is the largest-ever held on the Joseon Tongsinsa. It also marks the museum's biggest exhibition since its opening in 2002." More than 100 artifacts from both Korea and Japan are on display, some of them listed on the UNESCO Memory of the World Register. "The Tongsinsa missions were launched after the Imjin War, at a time when Japan was still viewed as a sworn enemy. But Joseon decided to restore diplomatic ties for the peace and stability of its people. Those efforts to rebuild trust is what we've focused on." The three-part exhibition traces the history of the 12 Tongsinsa missions from the 17th to 19th centuries, from their dispatch and sea voyage, to cultural exchanges in Japan, and their return home. "As the missions continued, mutual understanding grew, and many of the artifacts on display, such as the handwritten exchanges and literary works by the envoys, reflect that deepening relationship." That human connection is captured in this painting, collected by the late Korean historian Shin Gi-su. Shin donated over a hundred artifacts related to the Joseon Tongsinsa to the Osaka Museum of History. "This painting shows an everyday interaction. An envoy on horseback is greeted by a Japanese citizen, almost like an autograph signing. While we have many records of formal diplomacy, there's little that shows how ordinary people connected with the envoys." The first part of 'Bonds of the Heart, Waves of Resonance' will close on May 25th. The second and final phase will open on May 27th with new artifacts, until June 29th. Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News.

Lee Ok-sun, survivor of Japanese military sexual slavery, passes away at 97

2025/05/12 10:00

Lee Ok-sun, a victim and survivor of the Japanese military's wartime sexual slavery, passed away on Sunday at the age of 97. Born in Busan, Lee was taken to China at the age of 14, where she suffered three years as a sexual slave for the Japanese military. She has spoken out globally for about two decades, taking part in protests to demand an official apology from Japan and giving testimony abroad to raise awareness. Lee moved to a nursing hospital in Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do Province in March last year due to health issues. With her death, the number of registered surviving victims in South Korea now stands at six.

Zelenskyy says he's ready to meet Putin in Istanbul for peace talks

2025/05/12 10:00

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he'll travel to Türkiye later this week to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin for potential ceasefire talks over the Ukraine crisis. in what will be their first face-to-face since the war began over three years ago. Lee Seung-jae reports. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he's ready to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin face-to-face for talks to finally end the Russia-Ukraine War. The Ukrainian leader said Sunday that he would be in Istanbul to negotiate with his Russian counterpart "personally," raising hopes for a complete ceasefire. Zelenskyy took to X, saying that it was a "positive sign that the Russians have finally begun to consider ending the war." However, he stressed that "the very first step in truly ending any war is a ceasefire," adding that Kyiv hopes Moscow will confirm a ceasefire starting Monday. Zelenskyy's comments came after Putin announced that Moscow is ready to resume direct talks with Kyiv in Istanbul starting on May 15. According to the Associated Press on Sunday, Putin said that "Russia has continuously proposed a ceasefire," adding they "had never once refused dialogue with Ukraine." The Russian leader also stressed that "Ukraine bears the responsibility for the suspension of negotiations in 2022," and called on Kyiv to "resume the previously suspended negotiations unconditionally." However, Putin did not specify whether the talks in Istanbul would involve the two leaders directly. A number of world leaders,.. including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk met with Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Saturday. They issued a joint call for a 30-day ceasefire starting Monday, a plan which has also received support from both the EU and Washington. The leaders also pledged tougher sanctions on Moscow if Putin did not accept the ceasefire proposal. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

OECD says S. Korea's potential growth rate will fall below 2%

2025/05/12 10:00

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development says South Korea's potential GDP growth rate next year will fall below two percent. According to the economic outlook report released by the OECD on Monday, the country's potential growth rate for 2026 stands at 1-point-9-8 percent, down point-zero-four percentage points from this year's forecast of 2-point-zero-two percent. The outlook follows other forecasts, including the Korea Development Institute which predicted a figure below 2 percent. Potential GDP is the maximum level of production that a country can achieve by mobilizing all of its production factors, including labor, capital, and resources, without causing inflation.

U.S. and China make "substantial progress" in first high-level tariff talks

2025/05/12 10:00

The U.S. and China say they finished their first official trade talks on a positive note over the weekend, with the results of their negotiations set to be revealed on Monday. Our Choi Soo-hyung reports. The United States and China saw "substantial progress" in their first negotiations between senior officials since the trade war erupted. U.S. Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent said on Sunday at the end of a two-day meeting in Geneva, Switzerland that the talks were productive and constructive. "I'm happy to report that we've made substantial progress between the United States and China in these very important trade talks. And I spoke to President Trump, as did Ambassador Jamieson last night, and he is fully informed of what is going on." China also stated both sides' trade relations are mutually beneficial and that they will issue a joint statement on Monday, local time. Although details have not been disclosed, attention is on possible agreements over tariffs, illegal drugs, and China's rare earth export limits. The head of Chinese delegation, He Lifeng has also vowed to continue further talks. "The meeting achieved substantial progress. The two sides agreed on establishing a consultation mechanism for trade and economic issues, identified the lead persons on each side, and we'll carry on further consultations relating to trade and economic issues of their respective concerns." The latest high-level meeting marked the first between the two nations since U.S. President Donald Trump's return to office. Since February, President Trump has imposed tariffs on Chinese goods, reaching up to 145 percent. In response, China raised tariffs on U.S. imports to 125 percent and imposed a ban on rare earth exports. However, right before the latest talks, on Friday last week Trump suggested lowering tariffs to 80 percent and later on the first day of negotiations, he posted on his social media, saying "great progress" was made. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.

PPP's Kim kicks off presidential campaign stressing livelihoods at market

2025/05/12 10:00

1. Now we go to the opposing People Power Party's candidate, Kim Moon-soo. He was confirmed as the PPP candidate later than DP's candidate, but it seems like he started his campaign earlier. Let's go to the Party headquarters where our Kim Do-yeon standing by. Do-yeon, walk us through the latest. Good morning Dami. As you said, I'm at the campaign headquarters where Kim is having a campaign committee meeting. Now, this isn't his first official campaign activity he actually started earlier than his rival at 5 AM in the morning as he visited Garak Market an agricultural wholesale market in southern Seoul. This is to show his motivation in improving the livelihoods of working-class people according to him, and this market is where wholesale and retail, sellers and consumers come together starting from the early hours. Another interesting turn of events was how Kim picked a 34 year old as the new interim leader of the party. Kim Yong-tae a freshman lawmaker now leads the party as the emergency committee head after Kwon Young-se resigned due to Kim's merger with independent candidate Han falling through. From the beginning the new young leader opposed the change of candidates supporting Kim Moon-soo. As for his trail he's going to travel south after this meeting and be in Daejeon in the afternoon and then Daegu a conservative stronghold. 2. We weren't even sure if Kim was going to register as the People Power Party presidential candidate going into the weekend. But Kim is the PPP candidate now officially, let's recap what happened over the weekend. That’s right, Dami. It was late Saturday night when the registered members of the People Power Party put an end to the internal chaos—voting against replacing Kim Moon-soo with independent candidate Han Duck-soo. Kim clashed with PPP leadership all week, accusing them of trying to oust him. In a surprise move, the party revoked Kim’s candidacy early Saturday, naming Han instead—then held a survey to justify it which the party members voted against to reinstate Kim as the candidate. Now take a listen to what he had to say as he registered at the National Election Commission. "This was a rare outcome in a black-and-white vote. Despite heavy pressure from party leadership and lawmakers, fellow party members stood firm and upheld democracy—proving how strong and democratic the People Power Party truly is." After that Kim and Han met here at the People Power Party headquarters after Han closed his campaign due to the result. Kim also requested that Han join the campaign as a committee member but Han didn't accept it at least not yet. That's all for now back to you, Dami. Alright, Do-yeon. Thanks for the coverage.

DP’s Lee Jae-myung kicks off official campaign in Gwanghwamun, emphasizing “Revolution of Light”

2025/05/12 10:00

Starting today, seven candidates will go all out for the next 22 days to convince voters that they are the best choice to serve as the 21st president of South Korea. That includes Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung who's declaring his campaign at Gwanghwamun Square. We have our political correspondent Shin Ha-young at the site. Good morning, Ha-young. Ha-young, has Lee's campaign kicked off yet? Good morning Dami. I’m currently out here at Cheonggye Plaza near Seoul's Gwanghwamun where the Democratic Party launched its campaign and the party’s Lee Jae-myung is (giving/ set to deliver) his first public speech of the campaign as an official presidential candidate. Lee’s camp chose Gwanghwamun as his first stop of the official campaign because it’s where people gathered with light sticks, calling for the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol. The DP refers to the process of overcoming the December 3rd martial law declaration and subsequent unrest as a "Revolution of Light.” Here, the party aims to reaffirm its commitment to reflect the people’s will in overcoming the insurrection throughout the election. The concept of the campaign centers on ‘listening’ and ‘unity.’ "This time, choose someone who’ll truly work for the country, for you, your family, and your neighbors not based on party or background." Meanwhile, Lee registered his candidacy with the National Election Commission on Saturday and was assigned candidate number one, as numbers follow each party’s seat count in parliament, starting with the largest. 2. After launching his campaign in Gwanghwamun today, how is Lee Jae-myung spending the rest of the first day of official campaigning? After finishing in Seoul, Lee will head south in the afternoon to present his economic vision. He will visit what the party calls the "K-Initiative Belt," which includes Pangyo and Dongtan in Gyeonggi-do Province, as well as Daejeon. In Pangyo, which is known for IT companies, Lee will focus on innovation; and in Dongtan, home to major chipmaker plants, he will focus on semiconductors. In the central city of Daejeon, a hub for scientific research, Lee will focus on science and technology. This is to highlight Lee’s vision of leading in cutting-edge technologies like AI. Last month, Lee made his first campaign pledge, promising to open an era of 100 trillion Korean won or around 70 billion U.S. dollars in AI investment, stressing his commitment to advancing technology. That’s all I have for this hour, but I will bring more updates in a later newscast. All right, Ha-young thank you for the latest. That was our National Assembly correspondent Shin Ha-young.