News

[Weather] Ultra-fine dust all over the country, poor air quality to continue tomorrow

2025/01/21 17:00

It's relatively mild, but on the way to work this morning, fog and ultra-fine dust were rampant. With the atmosphere stagnant, the air stays murky across the country today. In the Seoul metropolitan area and Chungcheongnam-do Province, preliminary measures to reduce the high concentration of fine dust are in place for the first time this winter. Please pay special attention to traffic safety by keeping a safe distance when driving. In particular, some parts of the Seoul metropolitan are have soared to "very bad" ultra-fine dust levels with ultra-fine dust advisories issued as well. Tomorrow this dusty air will fill out the skies in most areas. You need to wear a protective mask outside. Tomorrow morning, Seoul will start off at zero degrees Celsius, Busan and Jeju at 3 degrees. Daytime temperatures will move up to 7 degrees in Seoul and Chuncheon. Gwangju will reach 10 degrees. It is expected to rain or snow along the east coast later this week. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

World News: Pope Francis Condemns Trump's Mass Deportation Plans

2025/01/21 17:00

This is the World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. Pope Francis has strongly criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's plans, for mass deportation of undocumented immigrants. He described the plans as "a disgrace" in an interview on Italian television on Sunday, ahead of Trump's inauguration. Speaking from the Vatican, the Pope emphasized the human cost of the plan to deport millions of undocumented immigrants from the United States. He said, "This is not the way to solve things." President Trump is starting off his second term with several executive orders, including ones to accelerate deportations and enhance border security. In response, Pope Francis urged world leaders to focus on addressing the root causes of migration rather than punishing vulnerable people. Despite his criticisms, the Pope extended a congratulatory message to President Trump on Monday, the day of his inauguration, praying that Trump's "leadership fosters unity and compassion in addressing global challenges." In Taiwan, a 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck the southern region early on Tuesday, leaving 15 people with minor injuries. Taiwan's Central Weather Administration recorded, the quake struck at 12:17 a.m. roughly 38 kilometers southeast of Chiayi county hall, and with a depth of 9.7 kilometers. A 5.2-magnitude aftershock also occurred over an hour after the initial quake. The tremor resulted in 15 minor injuries, with six people rescued from a collapsed house in Nanxi District, Tainan City. Workers in this district, including those in the TSMC factory, have reportedly been evacuated. Last April, Taiwan suffered its strongest earthquake in 25 years, a 7.4 magnitude quake near Hualien City that led to at least 18 deaths. Tanzania's president confirmed on Monday that one out of more than 20 samples taken in the north of the country had tested positive for the infectious Marburg disease. That validated a WHO report on the 14th of this month, in which it said it suspected an outbreak of Marburg in Tanzania's Kagera region, following eight deaths manifesting symptoms in line with the virus. Initially, Tanzanian health officials denied the presence of the virus, citing negative test results. Marburg virus, similar to Ebola, is a highly contagious pathogen that causes high fever and bleeding and has a fatality rate of up to 90%. In the U.S., on the eve of her husband's inauguration as President, Melania Trump introduced her own cryptocurrency, the $MELANIA meme coin. She posted on X on Sunday that "The Official Melania Meme is live." The announcement follows Donald Trump's launch of his own meme coin ahead of his inauguration. According to CoinMarketCap, Trump's meme coin has a total market value of about 12 billion US dollars, while Melania's meme coin stands at around 1.7 billion US dollars. Despite previously calling cryptocurrency a scam, Trump became the first presidential candidate to accept digital assets as donations during his 2024 election campaign. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.

Producer prices up for 2nd month in Dec. amid weak Korean won

2025/01/21 17:00

Producer prices rose for the second month in a row in December amid the weakening Korean won. According to the Bank of Korea on this Tuesday the producer price index a barometer of barometer of inflation gained 0-point-3 percent on month in December. Agricultural livestock and fisheries goods saw the highest jump in prices last month soaring 2-point-8 percent on month. On year the producer price index climbed 1-point-7 percent last month.

Exports for first 20 days of Jan. drop on fewer working days

2025/01/21 17:00

Korea's exports declined during the first 20 days of January. According to the Korea Customs Service on this Tuesday the total value of exports during this period amounted to 31-point-6 billion U.S. dollars down over five percent on year. Pundits are linking the performance to fewer working days and believe the overall monthly performance will remain sluggish amid the extended lunar new year holiday during the final week of this month. Prior to this month exports expanded for 15 months in a row.

World leaders congratulate Trump on inauguration

2025/01/21 17:00

Leaders worldwide are welcoming the Trump administration back into the White House and the responses from the presidents of Ukraine and Russia have received quite a bit of media attention. Lee Seung-jae reports. Donald Trump on Monday became just the second U.S. president to serve two non-consecutive terms in the White House,. when he was sworn in during his inauguration ceremony. World leaders were quick to congratulate the 47th U.S. President. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took to his social media to note the opportunity the two neighboring countries have in working together to create more jobs and prosperity. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Trump, saying that he believes the U.S. and Israeli alliance will grow to "even greater heights." Calling the U.S. its closest ally, Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the aim of the two countries is to have "a good transatlantic relationship." British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stressed Trump's "longstanding affection and historical ties to the UK," adding that such "depth of friendship will continue." Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who was present at the inauguration noted that the friendship and values that the two countries share, will continue to strengthen their cooperation. But much of the attention was on what the leaders of Russia and Ukraine had to say on Trump's inauguration day. Russian President Vladimir Putin not only congratulated Trump on his return to the White House, but also said he's open to hold talks regarding the war in Ukraine. "We have never refused dialogue, we have always been ready to maintain an attitude of cooperation with any American administration. We are also open for dialogue with the new U.S. administration on the Ukrainian conflict. The most important thing here is to address the root causes of the crisis, that we have spoken about many times." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was also quick to congratulate Trump. The Ukrainian leader noted that Trump has always been "decisive," adding that Trump would provide an opportunity to strengthen American leadership, and achieve long-term peace. Zelenskyy also expressed hope that the two countries can work together to provide greater security, stability and economic growth to the world, and the two nations. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Trump revokes 78 Biden administration executive actions just hours after inauguration

2025/01/21 17:00

And within hours of entering the top office President Trump was quick to flex with his presidential powers with a flurry of executive initiatives. Our Kim Bo-kyoung covers a few of them. Right after being sworn in as the 47th U.S. President, Donald Trump wasted no time in signing a number of executive orders. At the Capital One Arena in Washington, he revoked what he called 78 "destructive and radical" executive actions made by the previous administration. One of which was directing the U.S. to again withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement. This is the second time he's done so, having exited it in his first term in 2017, only for then-President Biden to rejoin the agreement in 2021. "But I'm immediately withdrawing from the unfair one-sided Paris Climate Accord grip of. The United States will not sabotage our own industries while China pollutes with impunity." At the Oval Office, he signed several orders including a far-reaching immigration agenda. Just hours after his inauguration speech where he emphasized prioritizing a crackdown on illegal immigration, he signed an order declaring a national emergency at the southern border. "We will reinstate my Remain in Mexico policy. I will end the practice of catch and release. And I will send troops to the southern border to repel the disastrous invasion of our country." He also came up with new strategies, like ending birthright citizenship, and halted a Biden-era application the CBP One, which has been used by nearly a million migrants to enter America. In terms of trade, Trump did not immediately impose tariffs on other countries, but said his administration is considering imposing 25-percent tariffs on Mexico and Canada starting February first. He did order federal agencies such as Commerce and Treasury departments and USTR to review existing trade agreements. and recommend any necessary or appropriate revisions to secure or maintain what he called "reciprocal and mutually advantageous concessions" with partner countries under free trade agreements. Trump also took aim at electric vehicles, revoking Biden's 2021 executive order that sought to ensure half of all new vehicles sold in the States by 2030 were electric, and again, reversed Biden's decision to remove Cuba from a blacklist of state sponsors of terrorism. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.

Profiles of Donald Trump and JD Vance: A duo of businessman and "rust belt hillbilly"

2025/01/21 17:00

Up next we take time now to learn more about the two men behind the posts of president and vice-president of the U.S. for the next four years. Lee Shi-hoo has details. Donald Trump was born in 1946 to a wealthy American family running a real-estate business. He gained wide popularity in the early 2000s through his star role on reality TV. The image of a successful businessman he cultivated on television propelled his political career. In 2016, Trump ran for the presidency and won against Democratic candidate Hilary Clinton. His catchphrase both then and now: "America First." "From this day forward, it's going to be only, America first, America first." Upon entering the White House, Trump rolled back many of the preceding Obama administration's policies. He signed tax cuts for businesses, withdrew from the Paris Agreement on climate change, and boosted the production of fossil fuels. He adopted a strict immigration policy, partially building walls along the U.S.-Mexico border to stop migrants from seeking asylum. At the end of his first term, Trump entered the 2020 presidential race, but lost to Joe Biden. Four years later in 2024, Trump declared he was running again, "for all of America." "I am running to be president for all of America, not half of America because there is no victory in winning for half of America." During his campaign, Trump survived two assassination attempts, one at a Pennsylvania campaign rally in July. His message continued unrattled. "Four more years of incompetence and stupidity and failure and disaster, or whether we will begin the four greatest years in the history of our country?" Trump ultimately claimed victory in the election on November 6th. Helping Trump to win in "rust belt" swing states --Vice President JD Vance, a former Ohio Senator, who entered the public eye with his 2016 memoir "Hillbilly Elegy." In this memoir, Vance raised questions about social disintegration and economic insecurity among working-class Americans. He continued to vow support for the working class during the campaign last year. The New York businessman and the Rust Belt senator now stand together to face key tasks in America, just as culturally, and socioeconomically diverse as the duo. Lee Shi-hoo, Arirang News.

Trump's second term inauguration: Key priorities and bold promises for America's future

2025/01/21 17:00

Donald Trump has been sworn in as the 47th president of the United States and in his inauguration speech he shared some of his plans for the next four years with a pledge to quote "put America first." Kim Jung-sil has more on that message. "I, Donald John Trump, do solemnly swear and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. So help me God." Donald Trump has been sworn in as the 47th President of the United States, marking the beginning of a new chapter in American leadership. Trump's inaugural address set the tone for his next four years, echoing the core message of his first term – 'America First.' "The golden age of America begins right now. We will be the envy of every nation, and we will not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of any longer. During every single day of the Trump administration, I will very simply put America first." Shortly after his inauguration, the White House unveiled a revamped website with the bold declaration 'America Is Back,' promising to fight for a stronger, safer, and more prosperous nation. Key priorities for Trump's second term include securing the border and reinstating the 'Remain in Mexico' policy, which requires certain asylum-seekers to stay in Mexico while their cases are processed in U.S. immigration courts. Trump also vowed to address crime by cracking down on cartels and protecting law enforcement officers. And he pledged to enhance America's energy independence and prioritize domestic interests through regulatory reforms and his 'America First' trade policy. His second term will focus on strengthening the nation's global position, with a commitment to 'peace through strength'—a vision of security supported by military and economic dominance. Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.

Live from Seoul Detention Center: CIO stands firm on investigating Yoon despite impeachment hearings

2025/01/21 17:00

We move now to the Seoul Detention Center for the latest regarding the investigation into the president's abuse of office. For this Arirang's Moon Hye-ryeon joins us live. Hye-ryeon welcome. Let's start with the attempt back on Monday by anti-corruption investigators to take the president to their headquarters for questioning. Yes, Sunny, so after they failed to take Yoon in for questioning yesterday from the Seoul Detention Center where I stand now, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials announced that it would not attempt to do so Tuesday morning – considering his scheduled appearance at the Constitutional Court for impeachment hearings. During a briefing with reporters, a CIO official stated that there is a possibility that a forced summons attempt could be made after the hearing concludes – but did not confirm any specific plans. This comes following a six-hour standoff with six CIO prosecutors and investigators who visited the Seoul Detention Center at 3 PM to forcibly take President Yoon in for questioning – but the CIO eventually withdrew as Yoon refused to cooperate, and resistance from the president's legal team. The CIO official emphasized the need to conduct a face-to-face questioning, emphasizing that while President Yoon may be the sitting president, he is also a suspect and that investigating suspects is a fundamental duty of law enforcement. As the Constitutional Court plans to hold impeachment hearings twice a week and Yoon's stated intention is to attend these sessions and prepare arguments with his defense team, there has been speculation that he may continue to avoid cooperating with the CIO investigation. The CIO has not ruled out conducting on-site investigations at the detention center, as seen in cases involving former presidents in similar circumstances, but they are currently not considering conducting investigations in written form. And what has been the response from the president's team thus far? So in a social media post this morning, one of Yoon's lawyers criticized the CIO's attempts to bring Yoon in for questioning and emphasized that he would take steps during his meeting with President Yoon this morning to prevent any improper forced summons by the CIO. Yoon's legal team has also strongly criticized the CIO for prohibiting visits for the detained president for anyone other than his legal representatives – arguing that restricting family meetings unrelated to the charges of insurrection is a "vindictive" act rather than a legitimate investigative measure, and have demanded the immediate revocation of such a decision. The CIO has also decided to ban Yoon from sending or receiving correspondence. The CIO has cited concerns over potential evidence tampering as a reason for imposing these restrictions, but Yoon's attorney said that these allegations are "baseless and unjust." Meanwhile what's the latest regarding the rioters who staged a violent protest in the early hours of Sunday at the Seoul Western District Court? Following the violent intrusion into the Seoul Western District Court in protest of the arrest warrant being issued for President Yoon, all those detained during the incident are now facing possible arrest. The Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office reportedly filed arrest warrants the previous day for 46 individuals who were apprehended for storming the courthouse and damaging property. An additional 17 individuals who blocked vehicles belonging to the CIO, assaulted police officers, and trespassed over the court's walls are also facing warrants – bringing the total to 63. Police had earlier requested arrest warrants for 66 out of the 90 individuals detained, but prosecutors rejected three of those requests citing the need for further investigation in certain cases. Authorities are continuing their investigation into the protests and have pledged to hold all responsible parties accountable. That's all I have for now, but I'll be back in our later newscast. Back to you, Sunny. All right Hye-ryeon thank you for that coverage. That was our Moon Hye-ryeon with the latest on the investigation led by the anti-graft office.

TRUMP INAUGURATED AS 47TH U.S. PRESIDENT

2025/01/21 17:00

Welcome to Tuesday's edition of Press Perspective. It's January 21st here in Seoul. I'm Min Sunhee. Today we speak with a panel of American press about President Donald Trump's first day in office. For more I have Kelly Kasulis Cho with The Washington Post. Kelly it's great to have you back. I also have Christian Datoc with Washington Examiner joining this session virtually from Washington D.C. Christian thank you for being with us at this very early hour at your end. 1) Christian, let's begin with details of President Trump's inauguration speech. 2) And Kelly, before we turn back to Christian for the latest in Washington D.C., what were some of your takeaways from the president's speech? 3) Also, Christian, what has been the response to the president's speech there in D.C.? 4) Christian, media reports earlier spoke of over 200 executive actions on Monday by the president that some pundits have been clear to point out are different from executive orders of which, President Trump has also reportedly signed dozens. 5) Kelly, on the diplomatic front, it's clear that the priority for Mr. Trump is ending the war between Russia and Ukraine, but his nominees including that for Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, have underscored the threat posed by North Korea. 6) Christian, Mr. Trump's nominee for defense, Pete Hegseth, during his confirmation hearing called North Korea a "nuclear power", prompting backlash from South Korea. 7) Kelly, based on your coverage of the events here in South Korea in recent times, how do you respond to concerns regarding the country's current ability to deal with diplomatic and security-related agendas under a new U.S. leadership? 8) Christian, back in Washington, Mr. Trump has proposed buying Greenland from Denmark, taking the Panama Canal from Panama, and merging Canada with the U.S. All right.

[K-wave] Robert Pattinson visits Korea for first time to promote upcoming "Mickey 17"

2025/01/21 14:00

Award-winning Korean director Bong Joon-ho's first film in six years, "Mickey 17," is up for release next month. Before its official premiere, Bong and the lead actor, Robert Pattinson are on a promotional tour here in Korea. Here's our News Features reporter Park Kun-woo with the main takeaways from that event. The first Korean director to win an Oscar, Bong Joon-ho, is set to return to the big screen with his new film, "Mickey 17." With just about a month to go until its premiere, global promotions have kicked off this week, starting in Bong's home country. "Hollywood star Robert Pattinson, starring as Mickey, the main character of Mickey 17, is in Korea for the first time to meet fans. He and director Bong Joon-ho are holding a press conference at this cinema, and we're about to go meet them. Follow me." "Annyeonghaseyo. I always wanted to come. And just really really excited to show you guys the movie." He also shared why he wanted to appear in Bong's movie. "Bong manages, with a sense of humor, a very very prominent and such a huge movie. We turned up on set and it looked like a giant Star Wars-looking thing. (Bong is probably one of the) four or five directors in world working now that has that kind of appeal I think to every single actor in the world." Bong stressed that he had aimed to make a sci-fi movie with a strong human touch. "It's a sci-fi film full of the scent of humanity. Humans are printed out like documents from a printer, which in itself is very dehumanizing. You feel how miserable this character is. But despite that, you see how he overcomes his struggles." He added he tried to set the movie in the near future to make it more tangible for people. "You couldn't even have imagined talking with Chat GPT in the previous decade. The events in the movie may seem like science fiction, but they could happen to you soon." Fans waiting for the movie's release also waited from the early morning to see their favorite movie star and director. "Young girls who watched "Twilight" must have liked him. I have been waiting from the early morning cause I was happy to see him at last in Korea. Everybody will be waiting for the upcoming movie." Amid high anticipation, "Mickey 17" is set to screen at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival next month ahead of its theater premieres. With its premiere in Korea on February 28th ahead of other countries, one question remains: Will the new movie create another global sensation? Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

K-wave AI News

2025/01/21 14:00

Welcome to The Kulture Wave AI News. Here's our first story of the day. Korea's major palaces and tombs will offer free admission during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday. From January 25 to 30, visitors can enjoy free access to the four major palaces—Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Deoksugung, and Changgyeonggung—as well as Jongmyo Shrine and the royal tombs of the Joseon Dynasty. Visitors to Gyeongbokgung Palace between next Tuesday and Thursday will receive a special gift: a traditional 'Sehwa' painting that symbolizes good fortune for the year ahead. The National Museum of Korea has unveiled its key initiatives for 2025. Marking the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation, the museum will hold exhibitions dedicated to Admiral Yi Sun-sin known for his historic victories against the Japanese navy, and Sohn Kee-chung, Korea's Olympic hero who won a gold medal under Japanese colonial rule. To promote Korea's artistic heritage, the museum also plans to showcase the high-value art collection donated by the late Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee to audiences in the United States. Cruise tourism at Busan Port is expected to fully recover this year, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. The Busan Port Authority estimates around 200,000 cruise passengers will visit the southern city with over 170 ships arriving. That reflects a 48% increase in ship operations and a 31% rise in passenger numbers compared to last year. Port authorities plan on various initiatives to position Busan Port as a global maritime tourism hub. That's all for now. Stay tuned for more cultural updates and insightful discussions ahead!

[Short-form] Winter fun in Seoul you won’t want to miss

2025/01/21 14:00

Looking for exciting activities this winter vacation? Explore and catch the winter fun in the city before it slips away!

Shifting Traditions: A New Look at Lunar New Year Culture

2025/01/21 14:00

It’s time to explore trends in Korean culture! Joining us today is our trend reporter Yoon Seyoung! Hello, Seyoung! Hello! Korea’s biggest holiday, Lunar New Year, is just around the corner. Starting next week, we’ll enjoy a four-day holiday, as Monday has also been made a substitute public holiday. Right, can't wait for that although of course I'll be missing the Kulture Wave during that period. It's actually going to be a six-day holiday if you count the weekend. And even up to nine days for those who are able to take another day off (25th -2nd) When we think of Lunar New Year, the classic scene of families gathering comes to mind: preparing traditional foods, eating rice cake soup , and children bowing to elders to receive "New Year’s money” called 'saebaedon' . But, surprisingly, these traditional Lunar New Year customs have been changing recently. Today, I’ll introduce some of these changes. I see! Lunar New Year is such a culturally rich holiday with many traditions. What changes are we seeing? Let’s start with changes in the tradition of "New Year’s money." For those unfamiliar, after performing a respectful bow to elders, children or younger family members traditionally receive money in return. Speaking of which, you two are probably now more likely to be giving than receiving and I want to ask you two this question: "Until what age do you think people should receive New Year’s money?" Interestingly, the convenience store chain CU conducted a survey through its app, asking 800 people in their 20s to 40s the same question. The most popular answer, at 34.7%, was “until they start working.” Following this in second and third place were “all minors should receive it” and “anyone who bows should receive it.” This shows that New Year’s money is not just about rewarding polite children; it’s also a warm gesture from adults who want to support family members who may still be financially dependent. Along with the age the amount to give is always tricky, too. Actually there is also a research on that. According to a survey by KB Card last year, among 409 respondest, 46% said they’d give preschoolers less than 10-thousand Korean won (about $7), while elementary school children often received 30-thousand to 50-thousand won (about $23–$38). Of course, this becomes a significant expense if you have a large extended family! And fewer people carry cash these days, which makes it even harder to prepare. I’ve heard some people now give New Year’s money in non-traditional forms? That’s right! Some give stocks or mutual funds instead of cash, or parents invest the money their children receive in stocks for them. The idea is to teach kids about saving and investing early rather than spending it all at once. Adults usually accompany New Year’s money with words of encouragement . Have these changed too? Absolutely. Sometimes well-meaning advice about marriage, jobs, or salaries can feel like nagging. This has even led some younger people to avoid family gatherings during the holidays. In response, Kakao Pay launched a playful campaign called the "Nagging T-shirt." Popular nagging phrases like “When are you getting married?” or “Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend?” are printed on the back of shirts with QR codes. Scanning the code leads to a payment link, humorously suggesting, “Pay up if you’re going to nag!” For example, “When are you getting married?” is priced at 300-thousand Korean won (around $230). It’s a fun way for younger generations to make light of these situations. Honestly. I think it also can be a very clever way to satisfy their financial needs for those who need extra money. How funny! That really shows how much people want to avoid nagging. Speaking of traditions, rice cake soup is a must for Lunar New Year. But I heard even this has seen some changes? Yes! In Korea, it’s said, “You gain a year by eating rice cake soup.” Its white color symbolizes new beginnings, and the long cylinder-shaped rice cakes called "garaetteok" that people use when making tteokguk represent prosperity. However, a bowl can have 600 to 700 calories, which can be a concern, especially if you’re visiting several relatives' homes and eating multiple servings! Now, people are making healthier versions using brown rice or konjac (a low-calorie alternative). Some even opt for vegan versions, replacing beef broth with vegetable stock and using only plant-based toppings. They all still sound delicious! Seyoung, you mentioned earlier about visiting the homes of several relatives and eating multiple bowls of tteokguk but it seems like not as many people visit their relatives' homes as they used to. That’s true. More people are traveling abroad, staying in hotels, or even hosting parties with friends during the holidays. Some take advantage of the holiday to earn extra money by working, as holiday pay rates are higher. while others simply choose to spend the time completely alone. And for those spending the holiday alone, there’s even an AI “virtual relative” chatbot offering a fun way to feel connected and some events even let you win New Year’s money through these chatbots! While the changes are understandable, it’s a little sad to lose the warmth of big family gatherings and shared meals. I agree. Some traditions, like the immense pressure on women to continuously cook and host or the uncomfortable “advice,” could change, but the joy of spending time together shouldn’t disappear. No matter how or where we spend it, I hope everyone has a wonderful Lunar New Year. Happy Lunar New Year!

[K-enter] 'KickFlip', JYP Entertainment's first boy group to debut in 7 yearssecond inauguration day

2025/01/21 14:00

It's time for our daily dose of K-entertainment news with Walter Lee. Now, Walter you talked about them on a recent episode and we did say we would report on them again very soon, we are talking about JYP's new boy group 'KickFlip'. Yes! KickFlip, held a showcase on Monday afternoon to commemorate the release of their debut mini-album 'Flip it, Kick it!' and finally made their official debut. 'KickFlip' is a team led by leader Gyehun and are made up of four other Korean members, Donghwa , Juwang , Minje , Donghyun and two Japanese members, Amaru and Keiju . Their debut mini-album, Flip it, Kick it!, features six tracks, including the title song "Mama Said," as well as "Umm Great" "Warriors," and "Like a Monster." Notably, KickFlip’s first album, 'Flip it, Kick it!', surpassed 300,000 pre-orders as of January 15th. By 10pm on Monday, it ranked first on real-time album charts Hanteo Chart and Circle Chart. Good luck to 'KickFlip' on their new endeavours. Sticking with boybands but this time a generous donation by one, to a great cause. According to the social welfare foundation 'Walking with Us' on Tuesday, boy band RIIZE donated 100 million Korean won, that's just short of 70 thousand U.S. dollars, in the name of their fan club, BRIIZE, to support cultural and artistic programs for children and teenagers. Previously, RIIZE had also donated proceeds from the sales of their "RIMEticon event" where they invited fans to freely use photos and videos previously uploaded on RIIZE’s official social media accounts to create their own “RIMEticon,” a combination of RIIZE and emoticons, which was launched to commemorate the release of their first mini-album 'RIIZING'. With this donation, RIIZE has contributed over 120 million Korean won, just over 80 thousand U.S. dollars, in total to support the 'All-Kidstra' program and cultural arts education for underprivileged youths, continuing to encourage children and adolescents in pursuing their dreams and aspirations. A truly heartfelt story and hopefully a donation that goes a long way. Now on Monday with Professor Soh, our movie expert, we briefly talked about this movie but you have some updates on it. On Monday afternoon, a press screening and media conference for the film from a spin off of the 2015 film 'The Priests', 'Dark Nuns' was held with director Kwon Hyuk-jae , along with actors including the star Song Hye-kyo . 'Dark Nuns' tells the story of individuals who undertake a forbidden ritual to save a boy possessed by a powerful evil spirit. It is the second installment following the 2015 film The Priests, which captivated 5.4 million viewers. Song Hye-kyo plays the role of Sister Yunia . Song revealed that she challenged herself with her first on-screen smoking scenes in this project. She explained, "The first scene is a big close-up of a smoking moment. I didn’t want to fake it. While filming the movie, I practiced acting a lot, but I also practiced smoking quite a bit." The Priests 2: Dark Nuns will be released on January 24 just in time for the holidays.

Trump's second term inauguration: Key priorities and bold promises for America's future

2025/01/21 10:00

Donald Trump is officially back as the 47th president of the United States. He's declared a new golden age for his country on inauguration day. Our Kim Jung-sil starts us off. "I, Donald John Trump, do solemnly swear and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. So help me God." Donald Trump has been sworn in as the 47th President of the United States, marking the beginning of a new chapter in American leadership. Trump's inaugural address set the tone for his next four years, echoing the core message of his first term – 'America First.' "The golden age of America begins right now. We will be the envy of every nation, and we will not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of any longer. During every single day of the Trump administration, I will very simply put America first." Shortly after his inauguration, the White House unveiled a revamped website with the bold declaration 'America Is Back,' promising to fight for a stronger, safer, and more prosperous nation. Key priorities for Trump's second term include securing the border, reinstating the 'Remain in Mexico' policy, and addressing crime by cracking down on cartels and protecting law enforcement officers. Trump also pledged to make America energy dominant again, rolling back climate policies and streamlining energy production through regulatory reforms. His 'America First' trade policy aims to protect U.S. businesses and reduce reliance on foreign organizations for tax policy. His second term will also focus on strengthening America's global position, aligning with his commitment to 'peace through strength'—a vision of security backed by military and economic dominance. As President Trump begins his second term, the next four years will be crucial in testing his bold promises and shaping America's future. Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.

[Weather] Most of Korea trapped in severe levels of fine dust, warmer than norms

2025/01/21 10:00

Most of Korea is trapped in high levels of ultrafine dust. An ultrafine dust advisory has been issued in the capital, Gyeonggi-do and Chungcheongbuk-do Provinces. Even, Emergency Fine Dust Reduction Measures are in place for the capital area and Chungcheongnam-do Province. We could see dust level going to a very high level in the morning. Dusty air has built up since yesterday, it's best to avoid going outdoors if you can but when you do make sure to wear a face mask that can help filter out fine dust and cover as much skin as possible. It's better to keep your windows closed if you are in central regions. Afternoon highs will be as high as yesterday at 8 degrees Celsius in the capital, Daegu and Busan at 11 degrees. Sunny skies will be blurred with the dust. Warmer than average temperatures to continue with dusty air staying through the end of the week. That's Korea for you, here's a look at the international weather conditions.

Melania Trump joins crypto craze

2025/01/21 10:00

In the U.S., on the eve of her husband's inauguration as President, Melania Trump introduced her own cryptocurrency, the $MELANIA meme coin. She posted on X on Sunday that "The Official Melania Meme is live." The announcement follows Donald Trump's launch of his own meme coin ahead of his inauguration. According to CoinMarketCap, Trump's meme coin has a total market value of about 12 billion US dollars, while Melania's meme coin stands at around 1.7 billion US dollars. Despite previously calling cryptocurrency a scam, Trump became the first presidential candidate to accept digital assets as donations during his 2024 election campaign.

Sample test in Tanzania positive for Marburg disease

2025/01/21 10:00

Tanzania's president confirmed on Monday that one out of more than 20 samples taken in the north of the country had tested positive for the infectious Marburg disease. That validated a WHO report on the 14th of this month, in which it said it suspected an outbreak of Marburg in Tanzania's Kagera region, following eight deaths manifesting symptoms in line with the virus. Initially, Tanzanian health officials denied the presence of the virus, citing negative test results. Marburg virus, similar to Ebola, is a highly contagious pathogen that causes high fever and bleeding and has a fatality rate of up to 90%.

Earthquake strikes southern Taiwan

2025/01/21 10:00

In Taiwan, a 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck the southern region early on Tuesday, leaving 15 people with minor injuries. Taiwan's Central Weather Administration recorded, the quake struck at 12:17 a.m. roughly 38 kilometers southeast of Chiayi county hall, and with a depth of 9.7 kilometers. A 5.2-magnitude aftershock also occurred over an hour after the initial quake. The tremor resulted in 15 minor injuries, with six people rescued from a collapsed house in Nanxi District, Tainan City. Workers in this district, including those in the TSMC factory, have reportedly been evacuated. Last April, Taiwan suffered its strongest earthquake in 25 years, a 7.4 magnitude quake near Hualien City that led to at least 18 deaths.