News

Easter period drownings could be 'the worst' on record says Australian lifesavers

2025/04/22 10:00

In Australia, seven people drowned in New South Wales over the Easter long weekend, marking the country's deadliest holiday period on record. The victims include a nine-year-old boy, who became trapped between rocks at a beach on Sunday afternoon. Surf Life Saving NSW described the weekend as "absolutely horrific," attributing the incidents to a combination of warm weather, dangerous swells, and risky behavior. The group said it performed more than 150 rescues during the holiday period. Authorities urged the public to swim only at patrolled beaches and to adhere to safety warnings.

Chinese FM, defense minister hold talks with Indonesian counterparts

2025/04/22 10:00

China and Indonesia's foreign and defense ministers have met in Beijing to discuss improving mutual ties and economic collaboration. On Monday local time, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Defense Minister Dong Jun met with Indonesia's Foreign Minister Sugiono and Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin. Key outcomes included agreements to boost maritime security cooperation in the South China Sea, conduct joint counter-terrorism exercises, and collaborate on cyber threats and transnational crimes. China also expressed a willingness to increase imports of Indonesian products. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to free trade and promoting regional peace and stability.

Modi and Vance hold talks in New Delhi

2025/04/22 10:00

U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who is on a four-day visit to India, met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Monday to discuss bilateral ties and trade issues amid the Trump administration's new tariff policies. During the meeting, Vance and Modi discussed progress in areas such as trade and defense as well as plans for strengthened bilateral ties, as outlined in February when Modi met President Donald Trump at the White House. They also reviewed a bilateral trade agreement aimed at increasing trade between the two countries to 500 billion U.S. dollars by 2030. The United States is India's largest trading partner, and their bilateral trade reached 129 billion dollars in 2024. India seeks relief from proposed U.S. tariffs, while the U.S. encourages India to lower duties on American imports and boost purchases of U.S. defense equipment.

Seoul condemns Japan's Yasukuni tribute, urges Japan to confront its history

2025/04/22 10:00

Seoul's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Japan's continued tributes at the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, following Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's offering on Monday. In a statement released Tuesday, the ministry expressed deep disappointment and urged Japan's leaders to confront their history with sincerity. The statement also followed a visit to the shrine by a group of Japanese lawmakers on Tuesday morning. The ministry emphasized that such actions undermine trust and hinder efforts to build a future-oriented relationship. The shrine in Tokyo commemorates those who died in Japan's past wars, including 14 convicted Class A war criminals.

Fmr. President Yoon's legal team goes head-to-head with key witness at second criminal trial hearing

2025/04/22 10:00

The second criminal trial hearing of former President Yoon Suk Yeol took place on Monday, this time with footage of the former leader in the defendant's seat made public. Moon Hye-ryeon tells us more. A dark navy suit paired with a red tie — this is what former President Yoon Suk Yeol wore to the second hearing of his criminal trial on Monday. In the first footage made available to the public since his trial began, he was seen entering the courtroom and taking his seat at the defendant’s bench with his lips tightly closed, ignoring the press cameras flashing around him. The media were required to leave before proceedings officially began. Previously, the court did not allow the media to film in the courtroom, explaining that the request came in too late for the appropriate judicial procedures to be followed. At today’s trial, Yoon’s legal team cross-examined Cho Sung-hyun from the army’s capital defense command, who had been summoned as a key witness by the prosecution. During the first hearing last week, Cho testified that he received a direct order from his superior to enter the National Assembly and remove lawmakers on the night of the martial law order declaration last December. Yoon’s legal team questioned the feasibility of such an order before challenging the credibility of his testimony by highlighting inconsistencies between his statements across different legal proceedings. Throughout the session, the defense continued to warn Cho that false testimony could result in legal consequences and demanded that he “speak accurately.” The exchange escalated when Cho, frustrated by repeated questioning, appealed directly to the bench — which was acknowledged by the judge. To secure a conviction on charges of insurrection, prosecutors must prove that Yoon deliberately sought to overthrow the constitutional order by mobilizing the military. If found guilty, he could face life imprisonment — or even the death penalty. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

DP's Lee solidifies lead for presidential candidacy while PPP's first cut-off to come on Tues. evening

2025/04/22 10:00

The race for the presidential primaries of both the Democratic Party and the People Power Party is heating up, with the DP set to announce the party's presidential contender for the early election on Sunday. In fact, the PPP will narrow its candidates down to four tonight. Kim Do-yeon reports. As the Democratic Party of Korea's front-runner Lee Jae-myung strengthens his dominance in the party's presidential primary, with around 90 percent of the cumulative votes so far, he now looks beyond the primaries and eyes the undecided voters for the actual presidential race. On Monday he visited the Korea Financial Investment Association and discussed the stock exchange. He pledged to surpass 5-thousand points in the stock market through various measures around double of what it's at today. Meanwhile, the current runner-up, Kim Dong-yeon, has pledged to turn the primary around, saying having a clear front-runner is not good for the party overall. The party will announce the results of its primaries in the Jeolla-do provinces on Saturday, and those for the Seoul Metropolitan Area, alongside Gangwon-do Province and Jeju on Sunday. Public polls, accounting for 50 percent of the total, will be held for two days between April 21st and 27th, with the final candidate confirmed on April 27th. Meanwhile, after two days of heated debates, the open poll for the first round cut-off for the People Power Party primary started on Monday with four of eight to be cut. This is a 100-percent open opinion survey where both PPP and undecided supporters will be surveyed. And to boost their chances, three contestants traveled to Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do Province on Monday a region known as a conservative stronghold. Han Dong-hoon went to Gyeongju City to visit the preparations for this year's APEC Summit. Na Kyung-won and Ahn Cheol-soo also visited Daegu to meet with supporters there. Kim Moon-soo, who has a slight lead among the eight contestants according to recent polls, pledged to expand rapid train lines across the nation, while Hong Joon-pyo shared his vision for welfare through a press conference. The result of the polling done on Monday and Tuesday will be released sometime on Tuesday evening. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.

Stock

2025/04/21 20:00

2025. 4. 21. KOREAN STOCK MARKET KOSPI : 2,488.42 ▲5.00 +0.20% KOSDAQ : 715.45 ▼2.32 -0.32% KOSPI200 : 329.31 ▲0.96 +0.29% ASIAN STOCK MARKET NIKKEI225 : 34,279.92 ▼450.36 -1.30% HANG SENG : closed SHANGHAI : 3,291.43 ▲14.70 +0.45% WALL STREET (April 18) DOW JONES : CLOSED NASDAQ : CLOSED S&P500 : CLOSED EXCHANGE RATE USD : 1,419.10 (-4.20) JPY : 1,007.70 (+7.66) CNY : 194.66 (-0.28) EUR : 1,633.03 (+14.31)

Pope Francis has died at 88, Vatican announced on Easter Monday

2025/04/21 20:00

Thank you for joining us. I'm Yoon Jung-min. We begin this evening with the passing of a towering figure, not just in the Catholic Church, but for many on the world stage. Pope Francis died on Monday morning, local time, at the age of 88. The late Pope suffered from chronic lung disease. The iconic pontiff was known for his concern for the poorest and most marginalized. Our Choi Soo-hyung walks us through his legacy. Pope Francis died on Monday morning at the age of 88. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo, announced that "At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church." Recently, Pope Francis had been treated for severe pneumonia at Gemelli Hospital in Rome, Italy, for about a month starting in February. He then returned to the Vatican and resumed his duties. Ahead of Easter, he made a surprise visit to a prison in Rome and also held a private meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance. On Easter Sunday, April 20th, he delivered a blessing message in St. Peter's Square. "Dear brothers and sisters, Happy Easter. The Master of Ceremonies will read you the message." On March 13th, 2013, Argentine-born Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected as the 266th pope, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, following the surprise resignation of his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI . He became the first Latin-American pontiff and one of the oldest popes in the Catholic Church's history at the age of 76. "Brothers and sisters, good evening." From his very first greeting as pope, Francis went on to lead the world's 1-point-4 billion Catholics for 12 years. Since his election, Pope Francis drew global attention with his humble and modest lifestyle wearing simple shoes and carrying an iron cross instead of the golden one. He also led progressive reforms within the Catholic Church, often clashing with conservative factions. As part of his efforts to reform the Vatican, he took on entrenched bureaucracies and emphasized the need for the Church to be more inclusive. He dedicated his whole life to supporting minorities and vulnerable groups. Last year, his decision to allow Catholic priests to "bless" same-sex couples sparked controversy and backlash from traditionalists. In January, he appointed Sister Simona Brambilla as the first female prefect in the history of the Vatican. Pope Francis is also remembered for his strong and consistent messages on global conflict and peace. He visited the Arab Emirates, becoming the first pope in history to set foot on the Arabian Peninsula, and also visited Orthodox Christian countries like Bulgaria, promoting unity. He called for an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine, and urged a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. In 2014, he visited South Korea as the first stop on his tour of Asia, demonstrating his deep concern for peace on the Korean Peninsula. During Pope Francis's tenure, two South Korean cardinals were appointed Andrew Yeom Soo-jung and Lazzaro You Heung-sik. Cardinal You currently serves as the Prefect of the Vatican's Dicastery for the Clergy. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.

[Weather] Rain will begin from tonight, spread across whole country tomorrow

2025/04/21 20:00

Summer-like heat arrived from the weekend and continued today. The daytime temperature went up to 26 degrees Celsius in Seoul today, even higher than yesterday. These high temperatures will ease off a bit tomorrow with some rain. From late tonight, rain will begin on Jeju Island and spread to the whole country by tomorrow morning, and most of it will stop by tomorrow night. Looking at the rainfall, as much as 120 millimeters is forecast for Jeju Island, and up to 80 millimeters of rain is expected on the south coast. The south of the country will also see gusty winds, thunder and lightning. Seoul and other areas will get 10 to 50 millimeters of rain. Tomorrow morning, Seoul and Daejeon will start off at 16 degrees, Chuncheon, Daegu, and Busan at 14 degrees. Highs will move up to around 20 degrees all over the country. After the rain stops, clear and warm spring weather will continue for the time being. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

[Sports Round-up] Veteran striker Joo Min-kyu wins K League 1 Player of the Month award

2025/04/21 20:00

Time now to take a look at what's been happening in the world of sports. Joining us in the studio is our sports editor, Paul Neat. Hello Paul. Hello. Let's begin with golf. Kim Si-woo recorded a top-10 finish in a PGA event for the first time this season, but it could have been a lot better. Yes, Kim Si-woo finished tied for eighth, having been in the lead heading into the final round. At the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina, on Sunday local time, Kim finished at 12-under par 272. This was enough to secure a top-10 finish for the first time in a PGA event this season. His three-over-74 final round --which included three bogeys and one double bogey --left him ruing what might have been. He'd only hit four bogeys in the first three rounds combined. Kim is on the hunt for his first PGA win since January 2023. Justin Thomas of the U.S. finished first at 17-under par. Moving on to football now. A veteran striker has won the player of the month award in K League. Yes, that's 35-year-old Joo Min-kyu, who has enjoyed an excellent start to the new season. The K League announced on Monday that Daejeon Hana Citizen striker Joo Min-kyu is the player of the month for February-March. Joo scored five goals in six games during that period and laid on one assist, helping his team win four matches. His great start to the season has also helped Daejeon move top of the table, four points clear of Gwangju FC as surprise early contenders for the league title. Daejeon have never won K League 1. Meanwhile, over in Europe, Lee Jae-sung bagged his seventh goal of the season on Saturday, in Mainz's 2-2 draw with Wolfsburg. He made it 1-1 on 37 minutes after Mainz had fallen behind early on. Mainz sit in sixth place in the Bundesliga and have a chance of qualifying for Europe next year. They were in a relegation battle last year, so this is quite the turnaround. And finally, to baseball, the Hanwha Eagles have enjoyed a good start to the new season. And it appears as though this is down to the quality of the team's pitchers. Yes, it does. In fact, this season, teams facing the Hanwha Eagles are almost guaranteed to encounter a starting pitcher who throws an over 155 kilometers per hour fastball at least once during a three-game series. In the final innings, batters might even see pitches approaching 160. Hanwha have surged to second place with 10 wins in their last 11 games. Between April 13th against the Kiwoom Heroes and April 20th against the NC Dinos, the Eagles racked up a seven-game winning streak. Throughout, all starting pitchers—Moon Dong-ju, Cody Ponce , Ryan Weiss , Ryu Hyun-jin, and Eom Sang-baek—secured wins. It's the first time in 24 years that Hanwha have achieved seven straight wins from their starting pitchers, equalling a club record set in April 2001. Hanwha players also dominate this season's fastball speed charts. Moon Dong-ju has the fastest at 159-point-6-6-8 kilometers per hour, but there are five Hanwha players in the top 10. Making good use of that new stadium, it seems. Alright, thanks for that wrap-up. See you next week. Thank you.

Remembering Jeju 4.3 incident

2025/04/21 20:00

A while back, we highlighted the inclusion of a painful chapter in Jeju's history in UNESCO's documentary heritage, remembering the incident where thousands of civilians fell victim to armed crackdowns. Today we expand on that event by sharing with you the journey from loss to healing. Our Ahn Sung-jin reports from the southern island. The search for answers still continues nearly 80 years after the Jeju April 3rd incident. Mr. Yang's grandfather was one of the missing from the incident. Only around ten years ago did he find out his grandfather had died in prison. "I still get emotional every time I talk about it, but the older I get, the more I understand the hardships of what my grandpa went through. I work on understanding the pain of those who have passed away." Mr. Yang works for the association of victim's families from the Jeju 4.3 incident. There are some 4-thousand tombstones of the missing victims that the families still mourn. The Jeju 4.3 incident traces back to an uprising on the island in the late 1940s, at a time when South Korea was still working on forming its own government. Following discontent over the election process and economic hardships, the Worker's Party of South Korea launched an armed uprising, which the government violently suppressed. Many were killed by the government forces and others allegedly involved in the uprising were sent to prison and tortured. Many like Mr. Yang's grandfather died in prison. "The reason this stone can't be placed is because this still doesn't have a name to it. Some call it a massacre, some say it's a revolt, but there has been no name given to it." Around 30-thousand people are thought to have died. More than 30 percent of them were elderly, children or women who were not affiliated with any of the combatants. "Those who know the past and the story behind it, work on raising awareness so more people recognize the value and significance of what happened here." The Jeju April 3rd incident became the background for Nobel Prize literature winner Han Kang's book "We do not part", discussing humanity and the survivors of the incident. "I read testimonies from massacre survivors, pored over materials, and then, in as restrained a manner as I could without looking away from the brutal details that felt almost impossible to put into words, I wrote what became 'We Do Not Part'." To make sure the incident and the victims are not forgotten, the Jeju 4.3 archives have been designated as a UNESCO Memory of the World. The documents in the archives illustrated the underlying human stories of Jeju. Time passes but what remains important is that people continue to remember. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News, Jeju.

Fmr. President Yoon's legal team goes head-to-head with key witness at second criminal trial hearing

2025/04/21 20:00

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol was in court today for the second hearing of the criminal case against him on charges of insurrection. This time, the footage of him in the defendant's seat was made public. Moon Hye-ryeon reports. A dark navy suit paired with a red tie — this is what former President Yoon Suk Yeol wore to the second hearing of his criminal trial on Monday. In the first footage made available to the public since his trial began, he was seen entering the courtroom and taking his seat at the defendant's bench with his lips tightly closed, ignoring the press cameras flashing around him. The media were required to leave before proceedings officially began. Previously, the court did not allow the media to film in the courtroom, explaining that the request came in too late for the appropriate judicial procedures to be followed. At today's trial, Yoon's legal team cross-examined Cho Sung-hyun from the army's capital defense command, who had been summoned as a key witness by the prosecution. During the first hearing last week, Cho testified that he received a direct order from his superior to enter the National Assembly and remove lawmakers on the night of the martial law order declaration last December. Yoon's legal team questioned the feasibility of such an order before challenging the credibility of his testimony by highlighting inconsistencies between his statements across different legal proceedings. Throughout the session, the defense continued to warn Cho that false testimony could result in legal consequences and demanded that he "speak accurately." The exchange escalated when Cho, frustrated by repeated questioning, appealed directly to the bench — which was acknowledged by the judge. To secure a conviction on charges of insurrection, prosecutors must prove that Yoon deliberately sought to overthrow the constitutional order by mobilizing the military. If found guilty, he could face life imprisonment — or even the death penalty. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

DP's Lee solidifies lead for presidential candidacy while PPP's first cut-off to come on Tues. evening

2025/04/21 20:00

On the political front. The Democratic Party's presidential contender for the early election will be announced this weekend while the results of the People Power Party's first elimination will be shared late Tuesday. Kim Do-yeon covers the partisan campaigns. As the Democratic Party of Korea's front-runner Lee Jae-myung strengthens his dominance in the party's presidential primary, with around 90 percent of the cumulative votes so far, he now looks beyond the primaries and eyes the undecided voters for the actual presidential race. On Monday he visited the Korea Financial Investment Association and discussed the stock exchange. He pledged to surpass 5-thousand points in the stock market through various measures around double of what it's at today. Meanwhile, the current runner-up, Kim Dong-yeon, has pledged to turn the primary around, saying having a clear front-runner is not good for the party overall. The party will announce the results of its primaries in the Jeolla-do provinces on Saturday, and those for the Seoul Metropolitan Area, alongside Gangwon-do Province and Jeju on Sunday. Public polls, accounting for 50 percent of the total, will be held for two days between April 21st and 27th, with the final candidate confirmed on April 27th. Meanwhile, after two days of heated debates, the open poll for the first round cut-off for the People Power Party primary started on Monday with four of eight to be cut. This is a 100-percent open opinion survey where both PPP and undecided supporters will be surveyed. And to boost their chances, three contestants traveled to Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do Province on Monday a region known as a conservative stronghold. Han Dong-hoon went to Gyeongju City to visit the preparations for this year's APEC Summit. Na Kyung-won and Ahn Cheol-soo also visited Daegu to meet with supporters there. Kim Moon-soo, who has a slight lead among the eight contestants according to recent polls, pledged to expand rapid train lines across the nation, while Hong Joon-pyo shared his vision for welfare through a press conference. The result of the polling done on Monday and Tuesday will be released sometime on Tuesday evening. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.

How Trump's tariffs will impact S. Korea's exports after 90-day pause ends

2025/04/21 20:00

Against this backdrop, exports to the U.S. showed a notable drop of over 14-percent from a year ago during the first 20 days of April. Our Lee Soo-jin explains what the trade war means for Korea's outbound shipments. South Korea's exports declined during the first 20 days of April, reflecting an early impact of the U.S. administration's tariffs on global trade. According to the Korea Customs Service on Monday, outbound shipments stood at 33-point-9 billion U.S. dollars during this period, down 5-point-2 percent from the previous year. This, despite the number of working days during the period being the same as last year. The drop in exports comes as shipments to the U.S. showed a notable drop of 14-point-3 percent year-on-year, which the agency attributed to the tariffs. The U.S. set a 25 percent "reciprocal tariff" rate on South Korea, but President Donald Trump announced a 90-day pause on its implementation earlier this month for most nations. This means that as of now for Korea, a base tariff rate of 10 percent is in place, along with 25 percent tariffs on specific items, namely automobiles, steel and aluminum. But with these tariffs already contributing to a more than 5 percent year-on-year decline in exports during the first 20 days of April, concern is growing over a sharper downturn once the 90-day pause expires. "During the 90-day pause, there's uncertainty on two fronts, how the U.S. will proceed, and what kind of negotiations with South Korea will take place. But with base tariffs of 10 percent already in effect since April 6th, export figures aren't expected to improve anytime soon." Shipments of nine of the country's top ten export items, including automobiles and oil products, all saw declines, while only chip exports rose. But it's unclear whether shipments of semiconductors will remain strong with Trump expected to announce chip tariffs sometime this week. "But the tariffs will be in place in the not distant future because, as you know, like we did with steel, like we did with the automobiles, like we did with aluminum, we'll be doing that with semiconductors, with chips, " The same expert said that because uncertainty is a key factor, in the upcoming trade talks with the U.S., South Korea should not rush to conclude negotiations, but instead focus on understanding Washington's intentions and demands. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.

S. Korea "will not fight" U.S. over tariffs but will put nat'l interests first as top officials meet in D.C. on Thursday

2025/04/21 20:00

Top finance and trade officials are sitting down with their U.S. counterparts in Washington D.C. later this week for tariff talks. The nation's acting president says the strategy is dialogue, not dispute. Oh Soo-young explains. South Korea will not fight the United States over Donald Trump's tariffs But it will also seek national interest first, as top trade officials meet in Washington this Thursday. That's according to Acting President Han Duck-soo, who on Monday confirmed South Korea's finance and trade ministers will meet their U.S. counterparts for a "2+2" consultation. On Thursday, 8 AM local time or 9 PM in South Korea Choi Sang-mok and Ahn Duk-geun will sit down with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on the sidelines of the IMF–World Bank Spring Meetings. This will be followed by separate one-on-one meetings between the ministers. The bilateral was first proposed by the U.S., after the Trump Administration decided to delay its reciprocal tariffs, including a 25-percent duty on South Korean goods. The wide-ranging tariffs were paused for 90 days, after panic in U.S markets, wiped out five-point-four trillion dollars in just 48 hours. Shortly before implementing the pause on April 9th, the U.S. President held a half-hour phone call with Acting President Han Duck-soo, and ordered officials to prioritize deals with allied countries like South Korea and Japan, projecting optimism that a "great deal" could be made. Han told government officials Monday that the talks "won't be easy," but he expects it will mark the beginning of cooperation. "With the principle of putting our national interests first, the government will approach the consultations with the U.S. calmly and earnestly, doing our utmost to find a mutually beneficial win-win solution. We will specifically confirm each side's interests regarding the three key areas mentioned during my phone call with President Trump: trade balance, 무역 수지, shipbuilding, 조선, and LNG, 액화천연가스, and seek mutually reciprocal points of agreement. In interviews with foreign media, Han has said Seoul would not fight the U.S., but hinted there could be concessions, for a win-win deal between the long-term allies. He suggested South Korea could increase purchases of U.S. liquefied natural gas and commercial aircraft. Korean shipyards could also help America maintain its naval shipbuilding capacity. Seoul could further discuss non-tariff barriers, addressing existing U.S. concerns about auto emissions regulations, pharmaceutical pricing, beef imports, and network fees imposed on platforms like Netflix. It's unclear whether the cost of keeping U.S. soldiers in South Korea will be raised during the session. While Trump has indicated he'd like a "one-stop shopping" deal combining trade and defense issues into a single package, Seoul officials are prioritizing trade talks to tackle tariffs, keeping security matters separate. The government has described the meeting as a "consultation," not a "negotiation," signaling a measured approach. On whether the U.S. leader might appear at the meeting in person, as he did unexpectedly during talks with Japan last week, South Korea's trade minister said Sunday that Seoul is preparing for such a scenario. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

U.S. designates S.Korea as 'sensitive country' – what it means for bilateral relations

2025/04/21 20:00

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus. I'm Kim Mok-yeon. As of April 15th, the U.S. Department of Energy officially designated South Korea as a "sensitive country." This move has raised significant concerns about the future of their cooperation, particularly in areas like science, technology, and energy. Despite the lack of explanation from the U.S. government, questions are being raised about the implications of this decision for a long-standing alliance that has been vital to regional stability. As tensions grow over South Korea's role in global strategy, the Korean government now faces a delicate diplomatic challenge. Tonight, we'll explore what this means for the future of U.S.-South Korea relations and what steps the government may take to navigate these turbulent waters. For this, we invite Robert Kelly, Professor of International Relations at Pusan National University. Welcome Also joining us is Hannah Kim, Associate Professor at Sogang University GSIS. Thank you for joining us. (Kelly) 1. So last week, America's measure to include South Korea on its sensitive country list went into effect. However, the U.S. still hasn't disclosed specific reasons for designating Korea as a sensitive country. How should we read into this? (Kim) 2. While the U.S. has stated its intent to continue close cooperation with South Korea, there are concerns that the latest measure could hinder bilateral cooperation in the science and energy sectors. Prof. Kim, what specific disruptions are anticipated? (Kelly) 3. South Korea was included in the lowest-tier category for countries with relatively low levels of concern, labeled "Other Designated Countries." Prof. Kelly, what impact do you think this move has in terms of the ROK-U.S. alliance? (Kim) 4. Last month, Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun urgently traveled to the U.S. for negotiations but failed to prevent the implementation of the sensitive country designation. Prof. Kim, the Korean government says it may take more time to have the designation lifted. What kind of approach could be helpful for the Korean government? (Kelly) 5. Some analyses suggest that President Trump may use the lifting of the sensitive country designation as a bargaining chip in future negotiations over tariffs or defense cost-sharing. What's your take on that, Prof. Kelly? (Kim) 6. Meanwhile, concerns about ROK-U.S. diplomatic and security cooperation continue. Following Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, it has been reported that Senior Official Sean O'Neill of the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs also excluded South Korea from his Asia tour. Since the launch of Trump's second term, similar cases of South Korea being skipped in official visits are increasing. Prof. Kim, should we be concerned about a "Korea passing" situation? (Kelly) 7. If this pattern of Korea being sidelined continues, disruptions will inevitably occur in diplomatic and security cooperation between South Korea and the U.S. What diplomatic response strategy would you recommend for the Korean government, Prof. Kelly? (Kim) 8. In addition, following an executive order from the Trump administration, the Woodrow Wilson Center— a public policy research institution—has begun the process of closure. Korean studies programs at the Wilson Center have also been suspended. What kind of gap might this create in policy continuity and trust-building between the two countries, Prof. Kim? (Kelly) 10. Furthermore, foreign media reports suggest that the Trump administration is reviewing the shutdown of 27 overseas missions, including the U.S. Consulate in Busan. While the U.S. Embassy in Seoul has stated that "no official announcement has been made," could the review itself be interpreted as a weakening of U.S. strategic interest in South Korea, Prof. Kelly?

S. Korea "will not fight" U.S. over tariffs but will put nat'l interests first as top officials meet in D.C. on Thursday

2025/04/21 17:00

Top finance and trade officials are sitting down with their U.S. counterparts in Washington D.C. later this week for tariff talks and acting President Han Duck-soo says the strategy is dialogue not dispute. Our correspondent Oh Soo-young explains. South Korea will not fight the United States over Donald Trump's tariffs But it will also seek national interest first, as top trade officials meet in Washington this Thursday. That's according to Acting President Han Duck-soo, who on Monday confirmed South Korea's finance and trade ministers will meet their U.S. counterparts for a "2+2" consultation. On Thursday, 8 AM local time or 9 PM in South Korea Choi Sang-mok and Ahn Duk-geun will sit down with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on the sidelines of the IMF–World Bank Spring Meetings. This will be followed by separate one-on-one meetings between the ministers. The bilateral was first proposed by the U.S., after the Trump Administration decided to delay its reciprocal tariffs, including a 25-percent duty on South Korean goods. The wide-ranging tariffs were paused for 90 days, after panic in U.S markets, wiped out five-point-four trillion dollars in just 48 hours. Shortly before implementing the pause on April 9th, the U.S. President held a half-hour phone call with Acting President Han Duck-soo, and ordered officials to prioritize deals with allied countries like South Korea and Japan, projecting optimism that a "great deal" could be made. Han told government officials Monday that the talks "won't be easy," but he expects it will mark the beginning of cooperation. "With the principle of putting our national interests first, the government will approach the consultations with the U.S. calmly and earnestly, doing our utmost to find a mutually beneficial win-win solution. We will specifically confirm each side's interests regarding the three key areas mentioned during my phone call with President Trump: trade balance, 무역 균형, shipbuilding, 조선, and LNG, 그리고 LNG, and seek mutually reciprocal points of agreement. In interviews with foreign media, Han has said Seoul would not fight the U.S., but hinted there could be concessions, for a win-win deal between the long-term allies. He suggested South Korea could increase purchases of U.S. liquefied natural gas and commercial aircraft. Korean shipyards could also help America maintain its naval shipbuilding capacity. Seoul could further discuss non-tariff barriers, addressing existing U.S. concerns about auto emissions regulations, pharmaceutical pricing, beef imports, and network fees imposed on platforms like Netflix. It's unclear whether the cost of keeping U.S. soldiers in South Korea will be raised during the session. While Trump has indicated he'd like a "one-stop shopping" deal combining trade and defense issues into a single package, Seoul officials are prioritizing trade talks to tackle tariffs, keeping security matters separate. The government has described the meeting as a "consultation," not a "negotiation," signaling a measured approach. On whether the U.S. leader might appear at the meeting in person, as he did unexpectedly during talks with Japan last week, South Korea's trade minister said Sunday that Seoul is preparing for such a scenario. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

[Weather] Rain across the country tomorrow, rain will start from tonight

2025/04/21 17:00

Early summer heat arrived during the day yesterday. The temperature rose even higher today than yesterday. The daytime temperature went up to 26 degrees Celsius in Seoul today. These high temperatures will ease off a bit tomorrow with rain falling from late tonight. The rain will begin in Jeju Island and spread to the whole country by tomorrow morning, and most of it will stop tomorrow night. As for the amount of rainfall, as much as 120 millimeters will fall on Jeju Island, and up to 80 millimeters of rain is expected on the south coast. The south of the country will also see gusty winds, thunder and lightning. Other areas, including Seoul will get 10 to 50 millimeters of rain. Tomorrow morning, Seoul and Daejeon will start off at 16 degrees, Gwangju and Jeju at 17 degrees. Highs will move up to around 20 degrees all over the country. After the rain stops tomorrow, clear and warm spring weather will continue for the time being. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

World News: Iran and U.S. conclude second round of negotiations over Tehran's nuclear program

2025/04/21 17:00

This is the World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. The U.S. and Iran concluded a second round of nuclear talks in Rome on Saturday and agreed to hold another round this week. On April 19, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi engaged again in indirect talks mediated by Oman at the Omani embassy in Rome. The talks lasted for about four hours, focusing on reviving an agreement to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons while allowing for peaceful nuclear energy use. Both sides reported progress and agreed to begin "expert-level" discussions in Muscat, Oman, starting Wednesday, with a follow-up meeting scheduled for Saturday. Key negotiation points include how to handle Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium and how to ensure that the U.S. does not withdraw from any agreement. The U.S. suggests transferring the uranium to a third country, possibly Russia, while Iran insists on keeping it within its borders. The United States launched more airstrikes on Yemen's capital, Sanaa, and the coastal city of Hodeida over the weekend. This comes less than two days after a strike on the Ras Isa oil terminal on the Red Sea coast. On Saturday, local time, U.S. forces conducted 13 airstrikes targeting sites controlled by the Houthis Sanaa and Hodeida, including an airport and a port facility. The airstrikes resulted in at least 3 deaths and 4 injuries. This follows an attack on April 17 on the Ras Isa oil terminal, which reportedly killed at least 80 people and injured more than 150 others. The U.S. military says these strikes aim to degrade the Houthis' offensive capabilities and protect international shipping routes in the Red Sea. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed on Saturday grave concern over the attack on Ras Isa and escalating violence in the region. In Germany, the 37th annual Easter egg-throwing competition took place on Sunday in the western town of Horhausen. Participants were given a single brightly colored hard-boiled egg to throw as far as possible without it breaking. The longest recorded egg throw to date is 78 meters, set in 2002. Eggs that remain intact are collected and distributed to the crowd, while broken eggs become bird feed. The tradition of Easter egg throwing continues to be a part of Horhausen's Easter celebrations, dating back to the post-Second World War era. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.

Remembering Jeju 4.3 incident

2025/04/21 17:00

A while back we highlighted the inclusion of a painful chapter in Jeju's history in UNESCO's documentary heritage. Well today we expand on that event by sharing with you the journey from loss to healing. My colleague Ahn Sung-jin reports from the southern island. The search for answers still continues nearly 80 years after the Jeju April 3rd incident. Mr. Yang's grandfather was one of the missing from the incident. Only around ten years ago did he find out his grandfather had died in prison. "I still get emotional every time I talk about it, but the older I get, the more I understand the hardships of what my grandpa went through. I work on understanding the pain of those who have passed away." Mr. Yang works for the association of victim's families from the Jeju 4.3 incident. There are some 4-thousand tombstones of the missing victims that the families still mourn. The Jeju 4.3 incident traces back to an uprising on the island in the late 1940s, at a time when South Korea was still working on forming its own government. Following discontent over the election process and economic hardships, the Worker's Party of South Korea launched an armed uprising, which the government violently suppressed. Many were killed by the government forces and others allegedly involved in the uprising were sent to prison and tortured. Many like Mr. Yang's grandfather died in prison. "The reason this stone can't be placed is because this still doesn't have a name to it. Some call it a massacre, some say it's a revolt, but there has been no name given to it." Around 30-thousand people are thought to have died. More than 30 percent of them were elderly, children or women who were not affiliated with any of the combatants. "Those who know the past and the story behind it, work on raising awareness so more people recognize the value and significance of what happened here." The Jeju April 3rd incident became the background for Nobel Prize literature winner Han Kang's book "We do not part", discussing humanity and the survivors of the incident. "I read testimonies from massacre survivors, pored over materials, and then, in as restrained a manner as I could without looking away from the brutal details that felt almost impossible to put into words, I wrote what became 'We Do Not Part'." To make sure the incident and the victims are not forgotten, the Jeju 4.3 archives have been designated as a UNESCO Memory of the World. The documents in the archives illustrated the underlying human stories of Jeju. Time passes but what remains important is that people continue to remember. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News, Jeju.