News

Vehicle plows into crowd in Vancouver festival

2025/04/28 10:00

In Vancouver, Canada, a vehicle drove into a crowd at a festival celebrating Filipino heritage, killing at least 11 people. On Saturday, at approximately 8:14 PM local time, a black SUV entered a pedestrian-only area, where the Lapu-Lapu Day Festival, an annual celebration of Filipino culture, was taking place. The vehicle accelerated into the crowd, killing at least 11 people and injuring more than twenty others. The victims' ages ranged from five to 65, according to police. The driver, a 30-year-old Vancouver resident known to have mental health issues, was taken into custody after being detained by bystanders at the scene. Police stated that the suspect acted alone and there was no evidence suggesting acts of terrorism.

Israel launches air strike on Beirut

2025/04/28 10:00

Starting in the Middle East, where Israel has conducted an airstrike on Beirut. Tell us more. Israel conducted an airstrike on Sunday targeting a Hezbollah facility in southern Beirut. The airstrike comes despite the ceasefire established in November 2024. It destroyed a building in the Dhiyeh suburb of Beirut, which the Israeli Defense Forces identified as a Hezbollah precision missile storage facility. No casualties have been reported. Before the strike, the IDF issued evacuation warnings to residents, advising them to maintain a distance of at least 300 meters from the site. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the airstrike and called upon the United States and France, co-guarantors of the existing ceasefire agreement, to intervene and prevent further hostilities. Another Israeli airstrike earlier this month in Beirut's southern suburbs had killed four people, including a Hezbollah official.

Fluttering wings, blooming spring in S. Korea: Hampyeong Butterfly Festival begins

2025/04/28 10:00

For those of you here in Korea looking to enjoy the most out of the spring warmth, how about a butterfly festival? Our Park Kun-woo shows us a glimpse of the spring festa. Busy and colorful wings flutter through the air, signaling the full arrival of spring. And there's no better place to experience it than at South Korea's biggest butterfly festival in Hampyeong-gun County, Jeollanam-do Province. Celebrating its 27th edition, Hampyeong Butterfly Festival showcases around 200 thousand butterflies of nearly 20 different species. Among them, the Korean tiger swallowtail has been named the Butterfly of the Year. Caterpillars, larvae, and other fascinating insects also add to the festival's charm, making it a rare opportunity to enjoy nature up close. After the festival kicked off on Friday, people from all over the country visited to enjoy not just the winged insects, but the vibrant scenes of spring. "My friends and I are all over 70, but we've been here since early this morning, feeling as excited as if we were 18 again. There are so many flowers, butterflies, and even people! It's such a joy to be here." "It's really fun to see butterflies I've only seen in books. There are so many kinds, like the cabbage white butterfly that I know, and I actually got to see them today! I hope more people can come and enjoy them too." The festival isn't just for observing, as it's filled with intriguing activities to encounter butterflies, including feeding them using floral bouquets. "Butterfly, Butterfly" "One of the most exciting things you can try here is releasing a butterfly, so I'm going to try it myself. As I do it, I'll be sending off my greatest wishes on their wings, hoping they'll spark a beautiful butterfly effect. Now go, fly away!" While butterfly populations are in decline globally, especially down by 22 percent in the U.S. over the past two decades, Hampyeong has worked hard to keep its ecosystem thriving. "Instead of collecting butterflies from the wild, we raise them using selected breeding stock. To thrive, butterflies need host plants for caterpillars and nectar plants for adults. And this clean and natural area of Hampyeong offers both in abundance." He stressed that the combination of natural resources, expertise, and sustainable practices is making Hampyeong an ideal place for both the butterflies and the festival. Offering visitors a colorful spring escape with butterflies galore, the festival runs through May 6th. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News, Hampyeong.

On-point: Trump's approval rating at lowest for any newly elected president after 100 days

2025/04/28 10:00

U.S. President Donald Trump's approval rating has reached the lowest for any newly elected president at 100 days mainly due to the rollout of his aggressive tariff plan. Why is he taking the risk, and what does that mean for South Korea? Let's turn to Professor Breg Buchak. Welcome back. 1. It's been less than 100 days since Trump returned to the Oval Office, and his 41% approval rating is the lowest for any newly elected U.S. leader. Why is he rushing through his tariff policies this time? 2. There's this 90-day tariff pause for now. 3. Seoul and Washington are looking to draw up a July package, but to realize a package that works in favor of South Korea, what would be crucial for South Korea to appeal to the U.S. in negotiations in the coming weeks and months? 4. Based on consultations held last week will South Korea's LNG imports be enough leverage for South Korea to find a breakthrough in Trump's tariff policies? 5. South Korea made a counterproposal to establish a consultative body with other Asian countries. How feasible is this idea, realistically speaking? Thanks so much for sharing your insight with us this morning.

S. Korea-U.S. tariff talks ease uncertainty, open path for orderly consultation: finance minister

2025/04/28 10:00

South Korea's Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok said Sunday that trade talks with the U.S. last week eased uncertainties and opened the path for orderly consultations. The finance chief made the remarks upon arriving at Incheon International Airport, returning from the U.S. capital, where he held trade talks with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, alongside Seoul's industry minister Ahn Duk-geun. According to Choi, Seoul "clarified the agenda items and laid the groundwork for future negotiations." The finance minister also said that he fully explained to the U.S. side about the upcoming snap presidential election, and the need for cooperation with the National Assembly on the tariff talks.

PPP presidential primary: 2nd round voting starts with no clear lead

2025/04/28 10:00

The People Power Party primary is still going on, with the voting for the second round opening on Sunday. The results will come on Tuesday, but whether there will be a run-off is still a question. Our Kim Do-yeon has the details. The People Power Party, on Sunday, began the voting process for the 2nd round of its presidential primaries. This will run for two days and if one of the four contestants Kim Moon-soo, Ahn Cheol-soo, Han Dong-hoon, and Hong Joon-pyo gets more than 50 percent of the total votes he will be the presidential candidate. If not, there will be a run-off for the top two. The competition will be decided by votes with, 50 percent of voters eligible PPP members, and the remaining 50 percent coming from an open survey. Meanwhile, on Sunday the contestants pushed for their candidacy. Kim Moon-soo seen as the most conservative and appealing to the older generation revealed his pledges for virtual assets including cryptocurrency. He's looking to make it so that government and financial institutions would be able to invest in them. Ahn Cheol-soo first had a press briefing at the National Assembly pleading for support, saying he's the only one to beat the Democratic Party of Korea's candidate Lee Jae-myung before visiting his hometown Busan. Han Dong-hoon traveled around the capital region meeting with local politicians and PPP members. He said he will give "200 percent" to beat Lee Jae-myung and asked for votes to finish the primary in this round with more than 50 percent of votes. Hong Joon-pyo took to the streets to meet with citizens especially younger ones on the streets of Hongdae a popular hangout area for students and young people. There, he appealed to those in their 20s and 30s to favor him the most among the PPP contestants. The talk of the town continues to be whether Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will declare candidacy. The window is closing as if he wants to run he has to step down from a public post by May 4th. As the Acting President's candidacy is being requested by some PPP supporters all PPP primary contestants have said they will merge with his camp if they become the PPP presidential candidate seeking the supporters' votes. As for the final result of the primary if the race ends in the second round it'll be announced on Tuesday. If there is a run-off it'll be announced during the party's convention on May 3rd. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.

Lee Jae-myung secures DP’s presidential nomination with landslide victory in party's primary

2025/04/28 10:00

Shifting gears to the presidential primaries here in the country. As widely expected, the Democratic Party’s front-runner Lee Jae-myung has secured his second presidential run as the party’s candidate for the 21st June presidential election. Our correspondent Shin Ha-young reports. "Lee Jae-myung has been confirmed as the DP’s presidential nominee after winning 89-point-7-7 percent of the vote." No surprises, as expected. The Democratic Party wrapped up its presidential primaries on Sunday with a victory for former party leader Lee Jae-myung. According to the DP, Lee won the votes of over 90 percent of party members and delegates, and over 89 percent in a public poll of one million people. With both results weighted 50 percent each, he secured 89-point-7-7 percent of the total vote against his two opponents Kim Kyung-soo, former Gyeongsangnam-do Province Governor, and Kim Dong-yeon, current Gyeonggi-do Province Governor. It's the highest figure ever recorded in a presidential primary among DP-affiliated candidates. Lee told reporters that overwhelming support comes with overwhelming responsibility, and he feels a heavy sense of duty. Kim Dong-yeon came in second with 6-point-8-7 percent, followed by Kim Kyung-soo with 3-point-3-6 percent. "Lee Jae-myung, who stayed as the front-runner throughout the primary, is now running for president as the Democratic Party's candidate for the second time, following his presidential bid in 2022." In his acceptance speech, Lee blamed himself for losing in the last presidential election and vowed to win this time. "The people and party members have given us a chance to build a new country, a true Republic of Korea. I will win and take back the government. I promise to build a new Korea, full of hope and energy, to repay your trust." During his 2022 presidential campaign, Lee emphasized redistribution policies, but in his second run, he has shifted his focus to economic growth and a pragmatic approach to leading the country. He also emphasized his focus on national unity. Lee kicked off his first day as a presidential candidate with a visit to the Seoul National Cemetery on Monday morning and will later hold a meeting at SK hynix headquarters on AI memory semiconductors. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

At least 40 killed in Iran port explosion

2025/04/28 10:00

A deadly explosion at a port in Iran on Saturday killed dozens, and left over a thousand others injured. Reports point to the possibility of chemicals used to make missile propellant being behind the explosion. Lee Seung-jae has more. A massive explosion at the port of Bandar Abbas on Saturday killed at least forty people,.. and left at least a thousand others injured. According to eyewitnesses and surveillance footage,.. chemicals in an area with shipping containers caught fire, setting off the massive explosion. According to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency, quoting an Iranian official,.. the explosion was likely due to containers of chemicals, but the official did not elaborate on what type of chemical. Iran's national oil company also explained that the explosion was "not related to refineries, fuel tanks, or oil pipelines" in the area. The deadly explosion on Saturday was also a grim reminder of another massive explosion in Beirut nearly five years ago. The similarity in the smoke created from the blast also shed light on what type of chemical could have been involved. Video and images from CNN showed orange-brown smoke rising from the port, suggesting that a chemical such as sodium or ammonia was involved. The New York Times also reported on Sunday, that a person with ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said what exploded in the incident was sodium perchlorate, a major ingredient in solid fuel for missiles. Other experts have said that ammonium nitrate was behind the deadly blast, the same chemical involved in the 2020 Beirut explosion. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

[WEEKLY FOCUS] Partisan primaries in full gear ahead of 21st presidential election

2025/04/26 12:00

As the presidential election draws closer, both rival parties have stepped up the pace in their primaries throughout this week. We turn to our political correspondent Shin Ha-young for a closer look at where things stand and what variables could shape the rest of the presidential race. Welcome. Thanks for having me. Ha-young, let's start with the Democratic Party. How did its primary unfold this week? Well, over the past two weeks, the Democratic Party's preliminary candidates have been traveling across the country as the party held regional primaries. The race began as a three-way contest between former party leader Lee Jae-myung; Kim Kyung-soo, former Gyeongsangnam-do Province Governor; and Kim Dong-yeon, current Gyeonggi-do Province Governor. The party's front-runner Lee, started off the week after strengthening his position as the DP's top contender, having secured nearly 90 percent of the cumulative votes from the Chungcheong-do and Gyeongsang-do provinces. This week alone, the DP held three rounds of debates, pushing the primary race into its final stretch. As of Friday, the remaining voting results are from the Jeolla-do provinces, the Seoul Metropolitan Area, Gangwon-do Province, and Jeju --with the final outcomes expected over the weekend. After announcing its final candidate on Sunday --based 50 percent on regional primary results and 50 percent on public opinion polls --the party is expected to shift into full-scale election mode starting next week. Let's talk about the People Power Party's primary. Originally, almost a dozen people signed up for it. How far has the party gone in its primary process? The People Power Party had 11 registered candidates originally, but the party narrowed them down to eight. And on Tuesday, the PPP announced the first round cut-off, which was decided by a 100 percent open poll to have candidates who align with public expectations. Former Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo, four-term lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo, former party leader Han Dong-hoon, and former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo survived after the eight initial contestants were cut to four. Without a clear front-runner, the race is between two candidates who were against former President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment, Kim and Hong, and two who were for the impeachment, Han and Ahn. The candidates faced off in one-on-one debates --two on Thursday and two on Friday. The party also scheduled a four-way debate for Saturday. The second round cut-off will be decided with 50 percent of eligible PPP voters and 50 percent through an open survey, with results expected next Tuesday. If a candidate receives more than 50 percent of the total votes, there won't be a run-off. But, if no one reaches that threshold, the final candidate will be announced on May 3rd. Then for the DP, what are the factors to be on the lookout for? For the Democratic Party, front-runner Lee Jae-myung's legal troubles are one factor to be considered. The Supreme Court on Tuesday started reviewing the election violation charge against Lee as a full bench. And on Thursday, all the current justices held a second deliberation session on the case, just two days after the first session. This shows that the court is progressing in the case at unprecedented speed. This also means the court is taking the case more seriously than others due to the level of public interest. Usually, Supreme Court cases are generally overseen by four justices. An initial guilty verdict was overturned on appeal last month. If the top court finds issues with that ruling, it can send the case back to the Seoul High Court for a rehearing. While this is unlikely to block his presidential run as it takes time, it could fuel a political backlash. If there's no final ruling before the election and Lee wins, his presidential immunity could spark debate over whether the trial can continue. For the PPP, Acting President Han Duck-soo's potential presidential run has emerged as a new variable in the race. Do tell us more about it. You're right. Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's unclear stance on a presidential bid remains a key variable that the People Power Party will need to keep an eye on. Though not in the PPP primary, speculation is growing that he may run as an independent. In such a case, some political insiders believe a merger with a conservative candidate later could shake up the race. There are concerns that his possible run is pulling the focus away from the PPP primary. While some party candidates have voiced discomfort, others say Han's presence could still work in their favor. If he plans to run, he must resign as Prime Minister by May 4. Alright, thank you, Ha-young, for your wrap-up. Keep us posted on future developments. Thank you.

S. Korea, U.S. to seek package deal on lifting tariffs by July

2025/04/25 20:30

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus. I'm Kim Mok-yeon. Top trade and finance officials from South Korea and the United States sat down in Washington for high-level talks on Thursday, in a strategic "2+2" format. The U.S. had requested the meeting, underscoring the urgency and weight of the agenda. With the current mutual tariff suspension set to expire on July 8th, and industrial stakes running high, much attention was focused on the meeting, which could prove to be a turning point in the economic bilateral relationship. Though the Korean government emphasized this was a consultation, not a negotiation, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called it a success, stating that Korea had brought its "best proposal." That rare praise hints at substantive groundwork being laid — possibly in key sectors like energy, shipbuilding, and advanced manufacturing. With formal negotiations set to begin next week and a change of government on the horizon in Seoul, the key question now is whether both sides can reach a consensus before political dynamics, policy differences, and mounting pressure come into play. For a deeper discussion on this, we're joined by Kim Minkyun, Professor at Sogang Business School. Welcome. Also joining us is Troy Stangarone, Former Senior Director at the Korea Economic Institute. Great to have you. 1. (Stangarone) So let's begin with Director Stangarone, the high-level Korea-U.S. trade talks, which took place at the request of the United States. Why do you think the U.S. proposed a "2+2" format involving both the Treasury Secretary and the Trade Representative? 2. (Kim) Now to Prof. Kim, the Korean government emphasized that this was a consultation, and not a negotiation. How would you assess the significance of this meeting? 3. (Kim) Following the talks, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described Korea as having "brought its best proposal" and called the consultation a success. While the details were not disclosed, what do you think Korea proposed, and why did the U.S. respond so positively? Could it relate to industrial cooperation in areas like energy or shipbuilding? 4. (Kim) It has been reported that both countries agreed to work on a "July Package" ahead of the expiration of the mutual tariff suspension on July 8th, which would address tariff elimination and industrial cooperation. In your view, what is the biggest sticking point in reaching this agreement? 5. (Stangarone) Director Stangarone, President Trump previously referred to a "one-stop shop" approach, suggesting that defense cost-sharing could be bundled with trade negotiations. However, it is said that there was no mention of defense cost-sharing during this round of consultations. Why do you think that is? 6. (Kim) Some believe that defense cost-sharing could come up in the next round. Korea maintains that trade and security are separate matters. Given that stance, Prof. Kim, how should Korea prepare for future talks? 7. (Kim) After the consultations, the Korean government said that both sides had a shared understanding of the need for calm and orderly discussions, taking Korea's political schedule into account. However, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that talks are moving quickly and suggested a deal could be reached as early as next week. How do you interpret this difference in tone between the two sides? 8. (Both) Formal negotiations are expected to begin as early as next week, but a comprehensive agreement — including tariff elimination — may be reached under the next Korean administration and the Trump administration. In that case, how should the current Korean government respond to the fast pace being pushed by the U.S.? 9. (Kim) From April 1st to 20th, Korea's exports to the U.S. dropped 14.3% compared to the same period last year. Even auto parts, which have yet to face tariffs, declined by 1.7%. What's driving this decline in export performance? And what economic impact could the now full-fledged Korea-U.S. trade talks have?

S. Korea, U.S. seek to reach deal on removing tariffs, before tariff pause ends in July

2025/04/25 20:00

Thank you for joining us. I'm Yoon Jung-min. During their first "two-plus-two" trading meeting, South Korea and the U.S. have explored what would be available when it comes to removing new U.S. tariffs. They have agreed upon a "July package" deal, with no mention of the allies' defense-cost sharing, when in fact U.S. President Trump signaled that the issue will be separated from tariff negotiations. Bae Eun-ji starts us off. South Korea and the United States have agreed to produce a package of deals to remove new U.S. tariffs before the July 8 deadline, when the 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs is lifted. This was discussed by South Korea's Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok and trade minister Ahn Duk-geun, alongside U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer during a high-level meeting in Washington on Thursday local time. Seoul's trade ministry said in a statement that it requested exemptions from reciprocal tariffs and offered cooperation on shipbuilding and energy. Following the meeting, finance minister Choi said the two sides agreed to aim for a deal by early July, and explained they will hold further discussions on four key areas of mutual interest: tariffs and non-tariff measures, economic security, investment cooperation, and currency policy. "We focused particularly on the automobile sector, which faces the greatest negative impact." Choi also said they asked for understanding from the U.S., as the negotiation process could be affected by Korea's political schedule and the upcoming presidential election. He added that the two sides agreed to discuss this in detail when Greer visits South Korea to take part in the APEC trade ministers' meeting, scheduled to take place for two days starting May 15th. Unlike trade talks between the U.S. and Japan, Thursday's meeting between Seoul and Washington did not include a discussion on the issue of sharing the cost of American troops in Korea. In fact, Trump said in a White House press briefing on Thursday that the military will not be subject to any deals, signaling that the issue of U.S. troop costs will be discussed separately, apart from tariff negotiations --in what pundits in Seoul believe the U.S. could be taking a "two-track approach." Meanwhile, Bessent also told reporters that the two countries had a "very successful" meeting, without disclosing further details on the talks. "We may be moving faster than I thought, and we will be talking technical terms as early as next week, as we reach an agreement on understanding as soon as next weekend. So South Koreans came early, they came with their A-game, and we will see if they follow through on that." South Korea, which faces 25% U.S. reciprocal tariffs, plans to leverage its shipbuilding capabilities in upcoming tariff negotiations. Trade minister Ahn told parliament earlier that the Trump administration has expressed great interest in cooperation in shipbuilding, and said this will become an important negotiating card for Korea. "U.S. is in urgent need of support in the shipbuilding sector as you mentioned, while Korea possesses world-most advanced shipbuilding capacity. Moving forward, if Korea and U.S. expand cooperation in shipbuilding and other technology sectors, it could serve as a channel to broaden discussion into other areas, leading to favorable negotiations." Eyes are now on whether the two countries will be able to reach a fruitful deal that will exempt South Korea from higher levies. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.

[Weather] Mild conditions as temperatures drop, dry weather advisory in place

2025/04/25 20:00

The summer-like heat has turned back to spring-like conditions. The cold air came down last night, and the temperature in Seoul dropped to the single digits this morning to 7 degrees Celsius. Even during the day, most areas were 1 to 7 degrees lower than yesterday. The weather will continue to be not too hot until early next week. Meanwhile, the atmosphere is very dry as the clear weather continues for days. Currently, a dry weather advisory is in place in most of the eastern areas and Gyeongsang-do provinces. The atmosphere is expected to get drier as there is no rain forecast for the time being. Tomorrow, Chuncheon will start off at 3 degrees, Daejeon at 6 degrees. Daily highs will move up to 20 degrees in Seoul, 19 degrees in Busan. This weekend will be perfect to enjoy outdoor activities with clear skies. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

Fluttering wings, blooming spring in S. Korea: Hampyeong Butterfly Festival begins

2025/04/25 20:00

For those of you here in Korea who have yet to make weekend plans, how about a trip to a stunning butterfly festival in the southern part of country? Our Park Kun-wo was there. Busy and colorful wings flutter through the air, signaling the full arrival of spring. And there's no better place to experience it than at South Korea's biggest butterfly festival in Hampyeong-gun County, Jeollanam-do Province. Celebrating its 27th edition, Hampyeong Butterfly Festival showcases around 200 thousand butterflies of nearly 20 different species. Among them, the Korean tiger swallowtail has been named the Butterfly of the Year. Caterpillars, larvae, and other fascinating insects also add to the festival's charm, making it a rare opportunity to enjoy nature up close. After the festival kicked off on Friday, people from all over the country visited to enjoy not just the winged insects, but the vibrant scenes of spring. "My friends and I are all over 70, but we've been here since early this morning, feeling as excited as if we were 18 again. There are so many flowers, butterflies, and even people! It's such a joy to be here." "It's really fun to see butterflies I've only seen in books. There are so many kinds, like the cabbage white butterfly that I know, and I actually got to see them today! I hope more people can come and enjoy them too." The festival isn't just for observing, as it's filled with intriguing activities to encounter butterflies, including feeding them using floral bouquets. "Butterfly, Butterfly" "One of the most exciting things you can try here is releasing a butterfly, so I'm going to try it myself. As I do it, I'll be sending off my greatest wishes on their wings, hoping they'll spark a beautiful butterfly effect. Now go, fly away!" While butterfly populations are in decline globally, especially down by 22 percent in the U.S. over the past two decades, Hampyeong has worked hard to keep its ecosystem thriving. "Instead of collecting butterflies from the wild, we raise them using selected breeding stock. To thrive, butterflies need host plants for caterpillars and nectar plants for adults. And this clean and natural area of Hampyeong offers both in abundance." He stressed that the combination of natural resources, expertise, and sustainable practices is making Hampyeong an ideal place for both the butterflies and the festival. Offering visitors a colorful spring escape with butterflies galore, the festival runs through May 6th. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News, Hampyeong.

Joseon Tongsinsa: Why this 400-year-old peace mission still matters today

2025/04/25 20:00

Centuries ago, Korea sent envoys to Japan to restore peace. That historic mission is brought back to life in full procession every year here in the country. And this year, it carries a message that feels more relevant than in the past, as it marks the 60th anniversary of normalized diplomatic ties between the two neighbors. Our culture correspondent Song Yoo-jin has the story. "Envoys bound for Japan, receive the royal command!" This is a recreation of the Joseon Tongsinsa, the diplomatic missions sent from Korea to Japan between the 17th and 19th centuries. The word Tongsinsa means "envoys of communication built on trust." Between 1607 and 1811, a total of 12 missions were dispatched at the request of Japan's Shogunate government. Their purpose was to restore diplomatic relations after Japan attacked Korea in the late 16th century. Each year, the Busan Cultural Foundation brings this historic journey back to life. This year's event carries more special meaning, marking the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties between South Korea and Japan. "Today's ceremony reenacts the moment the royal order is handed to the lead envoy, the jeongsa, before the mission sets off. This year, we're recreating the 1763 mission from during King Yeongjo's reign, an event being revived for the first time in 16 years." Every Tongsinsa mission begins with the appointment of the three key envoys: jeongsa, busa, and jongsagwan, the core of the 3-hundred to 5-hundred delegation. This year, the role of chief envoy, jeongsa, is being played by Shin Yoon-chan, the mother of the late Lee Soo-hyun, a Korean student who died in Tokyo in 2001 while trying to save a Japanese man who had fallen onto train tracks. "People call Japan a 'close but distant neighbor,' but reflecting on my experience, it's always been a close country, for example, through family and work. Even though there are political tensions, cultural exchanges like this show how we can move forward together." Following the appointment ceremony in Seoul, the procession travels south to Busan, where it will board a vessel modeled after the original Tongsinsa ships and set sail for Japan. Two weeks later, by mid-May, the vessel is set to arrive in Osaka. For those unable to follow the journey in person, the Seoul Museum of History is hosting a special exhibition introducing the goodwill mission. It features over one hundred artifacts, including diplomatic records inscribed on the UNESCO Memory of the World register. "These missions were reestablished after the devastation of war, at a time when Japan was still seen as a bitter enemy. And yet, Korea chose diplomacy. They reflect the desire to stabilize society and preserve peace, even with a former foe. That message of cultural dialogue is what we wanted to emphasize in this exhibition." Centuries ago, Korean envoys sailed not just across seas, but across political divides, guided by the pursuit of peace. And today, as Korea and Japan continue navigating a complex relationship, the spirit of the Tongsinsa reminds us that history, when honored, can still guide us toward a more thoughtful future. Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News.

Funeral Mass for Pope Francis to be held at 10 AM on Saturday in St. Peter's Square

2025/04/25 20:00

The funeral of Pope Francis is set for tomorrow in the Vatican City. His journey to eternity will not only bring together world leaders, but migrant and refugees as well. Our Choi Soo-hyung has more. The Funeral Mass for Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday, will be held at 10 AM local time on Saturday, April 26th, at St. Peter's Square in the heart of the Vatican. His body was moved to St. Peter's Basilica for public mourning, and in just two days, more than 90-thousand people have paid their respects. On the first day, there were larger crowds than expected, with people waiting more than eight hours. The Vatican extended visiting hours on that day until 5:30 AM to welcome them. It is expected that more than 250,000 mourners will pay their respects before the final day of public visiting, and an even larger crowd is anticipated for the Funeral Mass. The Funeral Mass will be presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the leader of the College of Cardinals, with cardinals, bishops, and priests from around the world jointly officiating. In accordance with the Pope's wishes, the ceremony will be a simple and modest one, significantly simplified from traditional papal funerals. Instead of the ornate, triple-layered coffin used in the past, his body will be placed in a single, simple wooden coffin. A scroll documenting the achievements of his papacy, along with coins and medals, will be sealed inside. Many world leaders will also gather for Pope Francis's funeral. U.S. President Donald Trump and his wife Melania, Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Prince William of the United Kingdom, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be present. South Korea is also sending a delegation, led by the country's Culture Minister Yu In-chon. Migrants and refugees, who were especially close to the Pope's heart during his lifetime, will also attend. After the Funeral Mass, the Pope will be laid to eternal rest at the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, a place he visited often and held dear. The funeral procession will slowly travel about six kilometers through central Rome, passing historic landmarks, including the Colosseum. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.

President Trump criticizes Russia's biggest attack on Kyiv since last summer

2025/04/25 20:00

Russia has launched an alarming attack against Ukraine amid U.S.-led efforts to secure a ceasefire, prompting a rare rebuke from U.S. President Donald Trump. Lee Eun-jin has the latest. In the early hours of Thursday local time, Russia conducted a massive combined missile and drone attack on Kyiv, killing at least 12 people and injuring over 90. The strikes, which began around 1 AM, targeted multiple districts and caused significant damage to residential buildings and vehicles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the assault one of Moscow's "most outrageous," while officials reported that it involved ballistic missiles. The country's Interior Minister said that apart from the Kyiv area, seven other regions were targeted in the "mass" attack. The attack marks the deadliest assault on the capital since last July and comes amid heightened tension over negotiations to end the ongoing conflict. On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump, in a rare move, criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging him to stop such attacks, adding that Putin demonstrated "very bad timing" and that the attacks were "not necessary." Trump had said on Wednesday that he believed Russia was ready for a peace deal with Ukraine. He also lashed out at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, saying he was harder to deal with than expected, accusing him of prolonging the war by refusing to surrender the Russia-occupied Crimean Peninsula as part of a possible deal. He also said that Russia had made a "pretty big concession" to end the war by not "taking the whole country." But Ukraine and much of Europe have fiercely pushed back, arguing that Russia holding back on a land grab is hardly a concession. And Zelenskyy reiterated that any peace agreement including Russia's demand to keep control of Crimea is a red line for Ukraine. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said further discussions were planned for the weekend to finalize a peace deal how things develop in the next few days will be crucial for the future direction of U.S.-led peace talks. Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.

Shipping volumes slump amid conflicting tariffs signals from U.S. and China

2025/04/25 20:00

Signs of the U.S. and China softening their stance on the trade war are being detected, as Washington signals de-escalation while Beijing looks to be withdrawing some of its harsh tariff measures behind the scenes. Moon Hye-ryeon has the latest. As the U.S. enters negotiations with countries around the world regarding its tariffs, China appears to be quietly rolling back some of its harshest retaliatory measures – despite denying that any trade negotiations with Washington are taking place. According to CNN on Friday, three import agencies in China confirmed that Chinese authorities had waived tariffs of up to 125 percent on certain U.S.-made semiconductors. The exemptions, which have not been officially announced, were only discovered during routine customs procedures this week and cover most integrated circuits, excluding memory chips. The move suggests that while Beijing continues to project strength on the global stage, it is now taking calculated steps to soften the economic fallout of the trade war — particularly in sectors where it remains reliant on U.S. technology. The ripple effects of the escalating trade war are also being felt across global shipping lanes. According to The Wall Street Journal, container bookings from China to the U.S. have dropped by nearly a third, prompting shipping giant Hapag-Lloyd to use smaller vessels and reroute operations. Some Chinese exporters have paused shipments altogether, facing uncertainty and rising costs. The rollback stands in stark contrast to China's recent public statements. Just days ago, Chinese officials flatly rejected U.S. President Donald Trump's claim that trade talks were underway. "This is fake news. As far as I know, China and the United States have not held consultations or negotiations on the tariff issue, let alone reached an agreement. This tariff war was initiated by the United States, and China's attitude is consistent and clear. If you want to fight, we will fight to the end; if you want to talk, the door is open. Dialogue and negotiation must be equal, respectful, and mutually beneficial." While Trump had told reporters that he had engaged in talks with Beijing on Thursday morning, his treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, said no formal negotiations had taken place. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

DP's primary nearing end while PPP contestants open to merging with Acting President Han

2025/04/25 20:00

Over this upcoming weekend, the primary for the Democratic Party of Korea will wrap up. While Lee Jae-myung has a clear lead, a last-minute push is being done by other candidates. Meanwhile the People Power Party continued with the one-on-one debates, but Acting President Han Duck-soo has been stealing the spotlight. Our Kim Do-yeon reports. The Democratic Party of Korea's primary is nearing its end and the last debate before the DP's candidate is finalized will be live at 10 PM on Friday. Utilizing the 90-minute debate, the three candidates will go over various issues. During the day, the candidates kept themselves busy with campaign work. Front-runner Lee Jae-myung was in Jeollanam-do Province to boost his support in the party's stronghold with the region's voting still open. Lee met with people in agriculture businesses and pledged to make the nation's agro industry globally strong. Both Kim Kyung-soo and Kim Dong-yeon joined the celebration for the 7th anniversary of the Panmunjom Declaration earlier in the afternoon at the National Assembly Library. The DP electors' voting for the Jeolla-do provinces will close on Saturday, while the capital, Gangwon-do Province, and Jeju will close on Sunday which is also when the convention will be held to name the primary's winner and officially kick off the presidential campaign for the party. Meanwhile, the People Power Party's one-on-one debates featured Han Dong-hoon and Hong Joon-pyo, who chose each other as partners making theirs a three-hour clash. The two were heated over how they view former President Yoon's declaration of martial law and over who is more competitive against DP's likely candidate Lee Jae-myung. Meanwhile, speculation grows over whether Acting President Han Duck-soo will join the race. All four PPP primary candidates—including Ahn Cheol-soo, who joined this morning—have now pledged to merge their campaigns with the acting president's if he runs. Initially, only Kim Moon-soo supported the idea. The remaining three still are not in favor of him running, but now they say they'll unite their camps if he does. Or, whatever it takes to win against DP's Lee Jae-myung. Some PPP supporters are also in favor, although the acting president himself remains silent on the matter. AND, such comments could be tied to the fact that the primary will be decided 50-50 between PPP electors and an open survey, meaning PPP supporters' votes are crucial for the candidates. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.

S.KOREA, U.S. SEEK DEAL ON TARIFFS BEFORE JULY DEADLINE

2025/04/25 17:00

Welcome to Press Perspective for this Friday April 25th here in Seoul. I'm Min Sun-hee. Top South Korean finance and trade officials sat down with their U.S. counterparts for talks on tariffs in Washington D.C. on Thursday local time and for details on those discussions and more I have Ruy Valdes with Spanish news agency EFE Spain. Ruy welcome back. I also have Professor Oh Joon-seok at Sookmyung Women's University joining this session virtually. Professor Oh it's a pleasure. 1) Ruy, let's begin with details about the two-plus-two meeting between South Korea and the U.S. in Washington D.C. 2) Professor Oh, what are your takeaways from the two-plus-two meeting ? 3) And Ruy, what has been the response to this latest meeting between the two countries? I mean, prior to the meeting, acting President Han Duck-soo had spoken about a win-win solution on tariffs and trade. 4) Professor Oh, what would you highlight as three immediate tasks for South Korea following these latest talks ? 5-1) Ruy, ahead of these talks, the International Monetary Fund shared some pessimistic projections about the global economy for this year. Walk us through the IMF's latest growth outlooks. 5-2) And Ruy, findings back on Thursday show the Korean economy contracted in the first quarter of this year. What are pundits saying about the causes of this contraction? 6) Professor Oh, also regarding the Korean economy. Exports during the first twenty days of April fell on year. Do share details about this decline with us, and is this trend likely to continue? And if so, what can South Korea do to ease it? 7) Ruy, moving forward. A number of foreign media outlets are citing a Korean daily for its report about China asking at least two South Korean transformer manufacturers not to supply products containing Chinese-sourced rare earth metals to U.S. defense companies. Do tell us more. 8) Professor Oh, how should South Korea seek to respond to the rivalry between the U.S. and China? All right.

S. Korea, U.S. seek to reach deal on removing tariffs, before tariff pause ends in July

2025/04/25 17:00

We start over in the U.S. where top finance and trade officials from Seoul and Washington met on Thursday for their much anticipated talks on tariffs. Our Bae Eun-ji covers these talks. South Korea and the United States have agreed to produce a package of deals to remove new U.S. tariffs before the July 8 deadline, when the 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs is lifted. This was discussed by South Korea's Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok and trade minister Ahn Duk-geun, alongside U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer during a high-level meeting in Washington on Thursday local time. Seoul's trade ministry said in a statement that it requested exemptions from reciprocal tariffs and offered cooperation on shipbuilding and energy. Following the meeting, finance minister Choi said the two sides agreed to aim for a deal by early July, and explained they will hold further discussions on four key areas of mutual interest: tariffs and non-tariff measures, economic security, investment cooperation, and currency policy. "We focused particularly on the automobile sector, which faces the greatest negative impact." Choi also said they asked for understanding from the U.S., as the negotiation process could be affected by Korea's political schedule and the upcoming presidential election. He added that the two sides agreed to discuss this in detail when Greer visits South Korea to take part in the APEC trade ministers' meeting, scheduled to take place for two days starting May 15th. Unlike trade talks between the U.S. and Japan, Thursday's meeting between Seoul and Washington did not include a discussion on the issue of sharing the cost of American troops in Korea. In fact, Trump said in a White House press briefing on Thursday that the military will not be subject to any deals, signaling that the issue of U.S. troop costs will be discussed separately, apart from tariff negotiations --in what pundits in Seoul believe the U.S. could be taking a "two-track approach." Meanwhile, Bessent also told reporters that the two countries had a "very successful" meeting, without disclosing further details on the talks. "We may be moving faster than I thought, and we will be talking technical terms as early as next week, as we reach an agreement on understanding as soon as next weekend. So South Koreans came early, they came with their A-game, and we will see if they follow through on that." South Korea, which faces 25% U.S. reciprocal tariffs, plans to leverage its shipbuilding capabilities in upcoming tariff negotiations. Trade minister Ahn told parliament earlier that the Trump administration has expressed great interest in cooperation in shipbuilding, and said this will become an important negotiating card for Korea. "U.S. is in urgent need of support in the shipbuilding sector as you mentioned, while Korea possesses world-most advanced shipbuilding capacity. Moving forward, if Korea and U.S. expand cooperation in shipbuilding and other technology sectors, it could serve as a channel to broaden discussion into other areas, leading to favorable negotiations." Eyes are now on whether the two countries will be able to reach a fruitful deal that will exempt South Korea from higher levies. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.